"I have much that I want to say to you, child. This is not a good place for speaking. Someone might come along at any moment. How long can you be away, without fear of your absence being noticed?"
"Not long now," she said. "In the morning I am sent out on messages, and could meet you anywhere."
"Very well. I will remain in my room all the morning, tomorrow, and if you do not come then, I will stay in next day."
"I will come," the girl said unhesitatingly.
He then gave her full instructions how to find his room, and made her repeat them to him, in order to be sure that she had them correctly.
"Do you know my companion by sight?" he asked.
"Oh, yes. I have seen him often."
"Well, either he or I will be standing at my door. It is as well that you should look carefully round, before you enter, so as to be sure there is no one in the corridor, and that you can slip in unobserved. You may be sure that I am asking you to come for no idle freak, but because I have something very important to say to you.
"I fancy I hear footsteps. Good night."
Dick was sure that he and Surajah would both be at liberty next day, for Tippoo had that morning started for Bangalore, where a large number of men were at work, repairing the fortifications and removing all signs of the British occupation from the fort and palace. He was likely to be away for at least a fortnight. As soon as Ibrahim had swept the room, after their early breakfast, Dick gave him a number of small commissions to be executed in the town, and told him that he should not require him again until it was time to bring up their meal from the kitchen. Then he and Surajah, by turns, watched at the door.