Princess Zara

"Perhaps; we will discuss it another time, Ivan. Shall we go in here?"

They had paused directly in front of the place where I was concealed,

or rather, only half concealed, for they could have seen me if either

had chanced to look in my direction. I could see them plainly. As it

was, I nestled closer among the cushions and closed my eyes, expecting

discovery; but for some reason--fate impelled, doubtless--they passed

on a few steps, and entered another of the Turkish bowers which was the

counterpart of the one that concealed me, and they seated themselves so

near to me that I could have reached out one hand and touched them had

it not been for the intervening screen of tapestry which partitioned

the two enclosures. The few words I had overheard convinced me that I

was not to listen to confidences of a sentimental nature; otherwise I

should have made my presence known, and escaped. The sentence that had

reached me, uttered by the man, suggested another reason for the tryst,

and I therefore listened, convinced that it was my duty to do so.