"Are we spied on, Risaldar?"
"Nay. Guarded, heavenborn! That man is my half-brother. May I take
the ayah through that doorway?"
"Why not question her in here?"
The mystery and sense of danger were getting the better of her; she
was thoroughly afraid now--afraid to be left alone in the room for
a minute even.
"There are things she would not answer in thy presence!"
"Very well. Only, please be quick!"
He bowed. Swinging the door open, he pushed the ayah through it to
the room beyond. Ruth was left alone, to watch the red glow on the
skyline and try to see the outline of the watcher in the gloom below.
No sound came through the heavy teak door that the Risaldar had slammed
behind him, and no sound came from him who watched; but from the
silence of the night outside and from dark corners of the room that
she was in and from the roof and walls and floor here came little
eerie noises that made her flesh creep, as though she were being
stared at by eyes she could not see. She felt that she must scream,
or die, unless she moved; and she was too afraid to move, and by
far too proud to scream! At last she tore herself away from the
window and ran to a low divan and lay on it, smothering her face
among the cushions.
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