Page 152 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1927

but flowers - better than nothing. Got a puncture when out there. Parke came in to tea & various of the conspirators called
to see me after dark. They are exactly like stage villains especially a certain one eyed mullah. We dined with Armstrong at
the Arab house which he has leased, really a nice house with a lot of very big rooms. A poor dinner & no one else so no
Bridge owing to which I was extremely bored.

Thursday 27th [January]

Joint Court. Before that was over at Agency for some time talking to Barrett & the Shaikh, there are 21 petitions, about 600
names, for the old Kadi objecting to the new man. The Shaikh doesnt seem agitated by them though - I expected that he
would be. He was trying to persuade Barrett to approve of his going back on a murder case, in which one of the royal family
was guilty 2 years ago. They didnt dare to open it up while Daly was still here, but now all these cases are being started
again. Walked down to see one of the wells in afternoon & then had ten people to tea & Bridge. Mrs Barrett was worse than
usual, Spence & Pickering lost their tempers over Bridge. The new P R is coming on Sunday - a bore, & the Stewart-Horners
with him. We may put up the latter.