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purchase of a mere slave. He had asked the slaver if she should bring her bride box. The slaver had laughed and said: ‘Why not?’
    So when he had told Soraya to come with him, he had told her to bring her bride box. And Soraya had said: ‘Why should I bring my bride box when I am not to be wed?’ And he had said: ‘Don’t be so sure of that!’ And Soraya had said she did not want to marry a man she knew nothing of. And Mustapha had lost patience with her, thinking that this was yet more of her difficult behaviour. And he had said all that she needed to know was that he was rich. ‘What if he were a Pasha?’ he had said. And Soraya had been intrigued and had agreed to at least meet him.
    â€˜But I shall not wed him if I don’t think him worthy!’ she had said. And Mustapha had lost his temper and said that if she went on like this, no one would want her. And she had said she knew someone who would. And that had made Mustapha even angrier, for he knew who she was thinking of.
    â€˜It was Selim, Effendi, a poor boy from the village, worth nothing, and who never will be worth anything. Worthless entirely. So I told her to put him out of her mind and at least see what else was on offer. Which she agreed to do. And I was confident, Effendi, that when she saw that he was a rich man she would have some sense. And so I sent her bride box with her.’
    â€˜Tell me about the slaver.’
    â€˜He was not from these parts.’
    â€˜What part was he from?’
    Mustapha hesitated. ‘I do not know. The Sudan, I think.’
    â€˜What was he called? Come, you must have known what he was called.’
    â€˜Abdulla,’ Mustapha said reluctantly.
    â€˜The rest of his name?’
    â€˜Sardawi.’
    â€˜Abdulla Sardawi. That is how he is known, yes?’
    â€˜Yes,’ said Mustapha.
    â€˜And you think he comes from the Sudan. Why do you think he comes from the Sudan?’
    â€˜My wife was a Sudani,’ said Mustapha. ‘My first wife.’
    â€˜Ah!’ said Owen. ‘That explains it.’
    â€˜Explains …?’
    â€˜Your first wife, was she a dark Sudani? Is that how Leila comes to be so dark?’
    â€˜She took after her mother.’
    â€˜And Soraya?’
    â€˜She was less dark. She took after her mother, too, but more after me.’
    â€˜She was lighter in colour?’
    â€˜The mother was light but there was darkness in her. Her blood was mixed.’
    â€˜She was the beautiful one,’ said his second wife, from the hall.
    â€˜And therefore most likely to make a good marriage?’ asked Owen.
    â€˜That was what I thought. And hoped.’
    â€˜But looks are not all,’ said his current wife. ‘She had the devil in her.’
    â€˜She was older,’ said Owen, ‘and there was always going to be trouble between you two.’
    â€˜That is so,’ the woman agreed. ‘Nevertheless, I would not have dealt with her harshly if she had not been so difficult.’
    â€˜We were afraid that Leila would grow up like her,’ said Mustapha. ‘So we thought it best to get rid of them both. The others are more amenable.’
    â€˜Being younger,’ his wife explained. ‘I would not have you think that I am always a bad mother. I would have brought them up to be dutiful.’
    â€˜A man must have a peaceful home,’ said Mustapha. ‘He cannot do with discord in the family.’
    â€˜Always trouble,’ said his wife. ‘Always. There was always trouble with that girl.’
    â€˜Soraya?’ said Owen.
    â€˜Soraya, yes. So it was a blessing when she was noticed.’
    â€˜By the slave trader?’
    â€˜No, no, not by the slaver. She was noticed first, and then Abdulla was asked to see what he could do.’
    â€˜Who was this person who first noticed her?’
    â€˜I do not know.’
    â€˜You do not know?’
    â€˜I know only that