While Jan was doing so the driver burst into a volley of explanations.
We thought that he was asking for a tip, but made out that he had lost
(or gambled) the ten kronen which his employer had given to him for
expenses. We had intended to give him no tip, for on the yesterday he
had refused to carry our bags, but this made us waver. We asked Mr. Rad,
etc., what we should do.
"Sign his paper," he answered gruffly, "and kick him out; he's only a
dirty Turk anyhow."
The mayor sent our horses round early; but we stuck to our decision to
start in the afternoon, and ordered lunch at twelve. There was a huge
crowd gathered in front of the inn, and we saw that the Pasha and his
harem were off. One wife wore a blue furniture cover over her, one a
green, and one a brown, so that he might know them apart from the
outside, for they all had heavy black veils before their faces. The
Pasha himself seemed rather a decent fellow, and had much of the air of
a curate conducting a school feast. Four children were thrust into two
baskets which were slung on each side of one small horse, and various
furniture, including a small bath (or large basin), was strapped on to
others, and the Pasha followed by his wives set off walking, the Pasha
occasionally throwing a graceful remark behind him.
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