Now, we must not utter another word .-- If we are discovered, I will confess the truth; if you alone are seen, you can say--well, say you were waiting for Orion, to speak to him very early about the horse-fair at Niku." "A horse was off--off--offered me for sale this very day." "Good, very good; then you lingered in the vestibule to speak of that--to ask the master about it before he should go out.

It must be daylight in a few hours .-- Now, come." Paula went down the stairs with a sure and rapid step.

At the bottom Hiram again took off his shoes, holding them in his hand, so as to lose no time in following his mistress.

They went on in silence through the darkness till they reached the kitchen.

Here Paula turned and said to the Syrian: "If there is any one here, I will say I came to fetch some water; if there is no one I will cough and you can follow.