Page:A child of the Orient (IA childoforient00vakarich).pdf/237

 She turned to me. "I should like to find out whether he will really give orders that I am not to leave the house. Make ready to go out, and we shall see."

She was waiting for me with a slave when I came to her room, and together we went down the hall. There stood the eunuch with his back to the door, looking determined to die at his post, if necessary.

"Silly, come with us. We are going out for a walk," Semmeya said casually.

He salaamed to the floor, but did not stir She spoke to him more sharply, and again he salaamed. No matter what she said, he salaamed.

Ignominiously at last she retreated to her room. She sat down and pondered over the situation earnestly. For once, I thought, she would have to acknowledge herself beaten.

At length she sprang to her feet, and I looked up expectantly, but she only told me to take off my wraps, since we should be unable to go out. She stepped out of the room, and I heard her whispering to her slave outside. Presently she re-entered the room briskly.

"When the eunuch comes up, tell him to wait a minute, if I am not here. And meanwhile make yourself as comfortable as you can."

I took a French novel from the table, became interested in it, and had quite forgotten our state of siege when the eunuch spoke to me.