"Were they wrong ?" and since Shere Ali paused before he answered, Ahmed repeated the question, holding the while the key of his door between his fingers.
"Were they wrong, your Highness ?" "No," said Shere Ali firmly.

"They were right." Ahmed Ismail put the key into the lock.

The bolt shot back with a grating sound, the door opened upon blackness.
"Will your Highness deign to enter ?" he said, standing aside.
"Yes," said Shere Ali, and he passed in.

His own people, his own country, had claimed and obtained him..