Each heard her own heart beating, and
imagined that she could hear the heart of the other.
At last there were steps on the stairs which led from Saidee's rooms to
the roof. Noura came up. "O twin stars, forgive me for darkening the
brightness of thy sky," she said, "but I have here a letter, given to me
to put into the hands of Lella Saida."
She held out a folded bit of paper, that had no envelope.
Saidee, pale and large-eyed, took it in silence. She read, and then
handed the paper to Victoria.
A few lines were scrawled on it in English, in a very foreign
handwriting. The language, known to none in this house except the
marabout, Maieddine, Saidee and Victoria, was as safe as a cypher,
therefore no envelope had been needed.
"Descend into thy garden immediately, and bring with thee thy sister,"
the letter said. And it was signed "Thy husband, Mohammed."
"What can it mean?" asked Victoria, giving back the paper to Saidee.
"I don't know. But we shall soon see--for we must obey. If we didn't go
down of our own accord, we'd soon be forced to go."
"Perhaps Cassim will let me talk to Mr. Knight," said the girl.
"He is more likely to throw you to his lion, in the court," Saidee
answered, with a laugh.
They went down into the garden, and remained there alone. Nothing
happened except that, after a while, they heard a noise of pounding. It
seemed to come from above, in Saidee's rooms.
Listening intently, her eyes flashed, and a bright colour rushed to her
cheeks.
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