"No, but they will not let her go to the Sudân and an official has arrived who will see that she does not move a step out of Port Said." "Why?" Stas, who was fourteen years old and who loved his eight-year-old companion very much, but looked upon her as a mere child, said with a conceited air: "When you reach my age, you will know everything which happens, not only along the Canal from Port Said to Suez, but in all Egypt. Have you ever heard of the Mahdi?" "I heard that he is ugly and naughty." The boy smiled compassionately.