She hastened away. Directly she reached her room, she locked the door, went out on to the balcony, and looked across the river to the Loulia. She saw the Egyptian flag flying. Was Baroudi on board? She must know, and immediately. She rang the bell, and unlocked the door.
"Ibrahim!" she said, to the Nubian who appeared.
He retreated, and in a moment Ibrahim came, with his soft stride, up the staircase.
"Ibrahim," she almost whispered, "is Baroudi on board the Loulia?"
"Yes, my lady."
She could hardly repress an exclamation.
"He is? Ibrahim"—in her astonishment she put one hand on his shoulder and grasped it tightly—"to-night, as soon as dinner is over, you are to have a felucca ready at the foot of the garden. D'you understand?"
He looked at her very seriously.
"Can you manage to row me across to the Loulia without help?"
"My lady, I am as strong as Rameses the Second."