"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.
"Now I know why we were told to come into the garden!" she exclaimed, her voice quivering with anger. "They're nailing up the door of my room that leads to the roof!"
"Saidee!" To Victoria the thing seemed too monstrous to believe.
"Cassim threatened to do it once before—a long time ago—but he didn't. Now he has. That's his answer to your Mr. Knight."
"Perhaps you're wrong. How could any one have got into your rooms without our seeing them pass through the garden?"
"I've always thought there was a sliding door at the back of one of my wall cupboards. There generally is one leading into the harem rooms in old houses like this. Thank goodness I've hidden my diaries in a new place lately!"