noon
In his blindness and obstinacy and hurt Ben Kelham carried out his intention and went after lion , the report of which , for all he knew , might have been the outcome of some _ fellah 's _ vision of a tame pussy mixed up with the nocturnal habits of the lion-headed goddess Sekhet , who , so tradition avers , prowls about ruins by the light o ' the moon , seeking whom she may devour . The moon plays havoc with the strongest-minded , out yonder ! Anyway , love-sick , he left Heliopolis , placing the panacea of sport like a poultice upon his hurt . Shortly after , one day during the noon hours , in the cool shadows of his great palace in Cairo , there came to Hugh Carden Ali an overpowering desire to see the girl he loved amongst her own people . She was his at dawn in the desert , although miles of sand stretched between them ; his in the rush of the wind , the glory of the sky and the thunder of the horses ' hoofs ; but to whom did she turn at night ; in the maze of the dance ; the hothouse atmosphere of the hotel ; the crush of the winter visitors ? So , giving a twist to the dagger of love in his heart , he tucked the dogs of Billi in beside him and drove as the sun set to Heliopolis , and , guessing that the duchess would have a table near the window , chose one on the opposite side of the dining-room , so that his presence should not be thrust upon the girl or the old woman who had known his mother . He sat there , indifferent to or oblivious of the interest his presence aroused , unconsciously counting the vertebrae of the lady at the next table , who had evidently forgotten some essential part of her bodice .