Monty dismissed the subject with a motion of his hand, and turned
to talk with Kagig, who shouted for yoghourt to be brought at once;
and that set the sons of the owner of the place to hurrying in great
style. The owner himself was a true Turk. He had subsided into
a state of kaif already over on the far side of the fire, day-dreaming
about only Allah knew what rhapsodies. But the Turks intermarry
with the subject races much more thoroughly than they do anything
else, and his sons did not resemble him. They were active young
men, rather noisy in their robust desire to be of use.

The gipsies, with Gregor Jhaere nearest to the owner of the kahveh
and the fireplace, occupied the whole long platform on the other
side, each with his women around him--except that I noticed that
Maga avoided all the men, and made herself a blanket nest in deep
shadow almost within reach of a mule's heels at the far end. I believed
at the moment that she chose that position so as to be near to Will,
but changed my mind later. Several times Gregor shouted for her,
and she made no answer.

The place had no other occupants. Either we were the only travelers
on that road that night or, as seemed more likely, Kagig had exercised
authority and purged the kahveh of other guests. Certainly our coming
had been expected, for there was very good yoghourt in ample quantity,
and other food besides--meat, bread, cheese, vegetables.

When we had all eaten, and lay back against the stone wall looking
at the fire, with great fanged shadows dancing up and down that made
the scene one of almost perfect savagery, Gregor called again for
Maga. Again she did not answer him. So be rose from his place and