The first set of pictures he examined were for contestant twenty-four, Kashiefa, entered by Usman Abu al-Abbas. From her pictures she seemed a pleasant enough woman, with prominent breasts and an unusually large mons, even when shaven, though, the Emir thought, it would be reasonable to say that her face was not her fortune. He doubted that she would get beyond the first few rounds. The next set were for Vega, entered by Ali ibn Sa'id. She had a traditional Middle Eastern generous figure and a pleasant face with a nervous smile. He attributed the nervous look to the fact that she had probably never been photographed before. Her ample hips were supported by legs which would never have attracted a second glance, except perhaps from the butcher to a cannibal tribe. She would certainly never grace his bed, but might go down well with some of the guests from neighbouring countries. Dalayla, granddaughter of Ramzy El-Najjar who was the Emir's Master of Quarry, was, the Emir recalled, a cousin to one of his favourite concubines, Zeinab. Zeinab had presented him with a son and a daughter, and had also had another son by the Earl of Bargoed, sired when he had visited the Golden Palace to see his daughter and granddaughter after the Emir's double marriage to the English Princesses Ayda and Alima. She was much plumper than her cousin but was, nevertheless, very pleasant to the eye. Neveen, the entry of Hajji Kofeh Natsheh was a tall woman, elegant and well proportioned with a pleasant face. The Emir thought she would do well in his harem, and that he would be pleased to have her in his bed from time to time. Jaida was the daughter of Bahjat ibn Sultan, whom he only knew slightly. She was, by Kobekistani standards, small and slight, not at all the traditional beauty. The Emir felt that he could enjoy the company of such a woman, but she could never be allowed to win a competition like this without him incurring the displeasure of the other sponsors.