"But he lives a very retired life. Such a visit will take him very much
by surprise."
"You are intimate with him; you introduce me. Nothing could be more
correct; that's why I brought you with me."
In truth nothing could be more correct; I was caught in her trap, and
could say nothing more, for fear of exciting suspicion in her alert and
penetrating mind. I had no doubt in my own mind that my aunt's real
object was to satisfy a curiosity which she had cherished for a long
time past. How could I oppose this tenacious purpose of hers? By what
plausible pretext could I divert her from taking a step so natural, and
so cleverly justified? I was caught, and my only hopes rested in
Mohammed's behaviour, and in his gibberish dialect, which would at least
render conversation so difficult, that it would be easy for me to
intervene. We rolled on in the carriage; my aunt was delighted. I
succeeded pretty well in concealing my apprehensions. After all, the
chief danger seemed to be over directly my aunt stopped at the official
entrance of El-Nouzha. The "selamlik," inhabited by Mohammed, where we
were received, is according to the Turkish custom, entirely separated
from the harem, the gardens of which are walled off from it, and hidden
from sight.
In a quarter of an hour we arrived in front of His Excellency's abode.
The gate was shut, as it always is. The footman got down and rang, but
no one answered the bell. For a moment I had hopes; but at the third
ring of the bell (which my aunt ordered), one of Mohammed's servants, a
Cerberus stationed on this side of the house, showed himself at the
grating of the inner door.
"His Excellency Mohammed-Azis is at home, is he not?" shouted my aunt.
"Tell him that Monsieur André de Peyrade has called to see him."
Recognising me in the carriage, Cerberus hesitated. He was actually
going to open the gate to let the carriage pass through. I sharply
commanded him to do as my aunt told him. To give Mohammed warning, was
at once to put him on his guard.
"There is no need for taking the carriage in," said my aunt; "we will
cross the lawn on foot. The lawn is there still, I suppose?"
"Yes, aunt."
"Well, then, give me your hand to get out, and now forward! If His
Excellency will not receive us, I shall at least have had a glimpse of a
corner of the park. What a funny idea it was of the Captain to let him
this place!"