"But it's only a reprieve," he thought. "There will be no commutation."
He turned again towards the dark corner.
"How did you come?" he asked in a low voice.
"By the orchard at the back of the house."
"Did no one see you?"
"I hid in the orchard until I saw the red coat of one of your servants. I called to him and he let me in secretly. But no one else saw me."
"No one in the city?"
"I came barefoot in a rough cloak with the hood drawn over my face," said the Khan. "No one paid any heed to me. There was much noise and running to and fro, and polishing of weapons. I crept out into the hill-side at the back and so came down into your orchard."
Captain Phillips shrugged his shoulders. He opened a door and led the
Khan into a room which looked out upon the orchard.
"Well, we will do what we can," he said, "but it's very little. They will guess immediately that you are here of course."