"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.