"Is it Reilly you'rehiding from?"
"Of course not."
"Then why are you—"
"And why are you inKasanpore, Mr. MacClaren?"
"Ah, the offensive,"he murmured. "I was expecting that move earlier." He took another sipof his wine. "I'm trying to get an appointment with the maharajah. I'vehad little luck as yet."
"Why do you want to seehim?"
"He has something Iwant." He paused. "Perhaps you could intercede for me. I hear hecomes often to examine your progress on the railroad."
"Which never pleaseshim." Her hands clasped together on her lap. "I'd be the last one toinfluence him."
"Too bad." Hecasually lifted one leg, and the sole of his foot began to rub back and forthon the flat surface of the mattress. "I suppose I'll just have to look forhelp elsewhere."
Her stare was drawn by themotion of his foot, the flexing calf muscles, the contrast of warm, golden skinagainst the white of the sheet. She quickly shifted her glance up to thebandage she had noticed earlier. "How did you hurt your shoulder?"
"I allowed myself tobecome distracted and received a severe lesson for my carelessness. It won'thappen again." He suddenly set the glass on the table by the bed and swunghis legs to the floor. "I'm becoming restless, aren't you? Let's get outof here."
"We have to wait forZabrie."
"I don't likewaiting." He strolled over to a chair in a shadowy corner of the room andpicked up a white linen shirt. "I don't like locks." He was dressingquickly as he spoke. "And I particularly don't like the idea of a vengefullover rushing in to skewer me. Under the circumstances, I believe we shouldboth leave the premises." He sat down on the bed and pulled on his left boot."Pity. It's not at all what I had in mind for the evening."
"How are we supposed toget out? Both doors are locked."
"We still have awindow."
"We're on the secondfloor."
He drew on his right boot."A circumstance which can be overcome."
"I have no intention ofbreaking a leg trying to jump to the ground."
"I would have expectedyou to be more determined."
"I'm determined to getthe railroad built, and I can't do that by becoming a cripple."
"The railroad." Hesmiled as he rose to his feet. "I forgot about your railroad." Hemoved toward the window. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't injureyourself irretrievably." He sat down on the windowsill and swung his legsout the window. "As far as I can make out, this room must face to therear. There seems to be an alley below." He wrinkled his nose. "Yes,definitely an alley. The odor is the same the world over."
She followed him and peeredover his shoulder. Moonlight revealed the narrow alley he had mentioned, but itseemed very far down. "Are you mad? How are you—"
He jumped to the ground,landing with knees bent and immediately went into a somersault and roll. Thenhe was springing lithely to his feet and moving to stand beneath the window."Jump."
She stared at him with openmouth. "How did you do that?"
"Never mind that now.Jump. I'll catch you."
She looked at him uncertainly.
"You won't be hurt. Trustme." When she still hesitated, he explained impatiently, "When I wasa lad in London I earned my living as a street acrobat for a while."
The agility she had justwitnessed certainly bore testament to his claim. She hesitated, but withfreedom in sight she had no desire to sit and wait for Zabrie or be discoveredby Pachtal. She sat on the windowsill, her legs dangling over the edge as hehad done.
"Good," he said. Heheld up his arms. "Now come to me."
The ground was looking fartheraway every second.
