Zoraya. Last night, yes—But the night before—did Zaguir see them then?
Aisha. No.
Zoraya. (Constantly occupied in arranging the cards) Then it was something else.
Aisha. Perhaps some sudden duty?
Zoraya. Doubtful! He is free! He has no father, no mother, no wife, no children!
Aisha. He commands the archers, the blunderbuss men and the cross-bowmen of the city. He may be detained by the service.
Zoraya. For two days?
Aisha. He is a member of the Council of Castile, which may have been summoned to Aranjuez where the king is sojourning.
Zoraya. Yes, possibly that is so!—Ah! if only we had some means of secretly writing to each other!
Aisha. Allah protect us! That would be a quicker way of losing ourselves!—we are threatened often enough, now!