Page 244 - Belgrave Diaries(N)_Neat

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1927

Met the Shaikh at the palace by appointment & told him that he had done wrong to Parke by countermanding his orders. He
seemed to understand & was quite amiable but continued to wish to get the men off because they belonged to K. The whole
thing is that he is terrified of Bin Saoud who is the bugbear of all the Shaikhs in the Gulf. They dont seem to understand that
he wouldnt have a chance unless we backed him. The Shaikh then went to interview Alban who gave him a sound ticking off,
he asked me to come too but I left him at the door - to his regret!! Afterwards took cases till very late as I was late starting.
Went up to meet the Shaikh at the Palace after tea, he didnt turn up so I motored out to the Rafaa road to see the repairs &
there met the Shaikh - as usual he said that because Alban had been in a bad temper he had talked hardly about the case.

Friday 24th [June]

Went down the bazaar in the morning, hot getting to it but quite cool in the roofed in part. Its empty now as all the people
are diving. Saw nothing of interest. Grapes are beginning to arrive in the market, then to the Customs & back along the sea
road. The filling in is getting on well & will soon be done. Went over to Agency but there were a lot of people there so didnt
go in. Wrote letters & read. Tennis at the Agency & after dinner bathed in Idari. Alban has bought one of Spence's new
"whippet" cars, quite nice ones. Decidedly hot & damp.