I am afraid I shall be, too, ere long.

I have dreaded it so much! But oh, Sahib, you are a favourite of the sultan.

If he would but give me to you, I should not mind so much." Dick was about to reply, when he heard a distant footfall.
"Go in," he exclaimed.

"Someone is coming.

I will speak to you again, in a day or two." When he returned to his room, he told Surajah what had happened.
"It will, at any rate, give me a fresh interest here," he said.