"Algeria," Aaliyah said. "Is that in the Middle East? A very dry, sandy place, I imagine. I expect you're grateful to be able to settle down somewhere more civilised, eh?" Alphonse didn't have the strongest grasp of geography and might not be able to pinpoint Algeria on a map, but wherever it was, it seemed in bad taste to call anyone's homeland uncivilised. But before he could open his mouth to call Featherstrop out on such a breach of manners, Aaliyah beat him to it, as was right. "It's in North Africa. And as a matter of fact, I prefer the Maghreb to England, Mr. Featherstrop. I'd prefer it
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