She put out towards him her hand, covered with a corner of her face-veil, and he took it, pressed it twice, and dropping it turned towards Willems.

She looked at the two men searchingly, then backed away and seemed to melt suddenly into the night.
"I know what you came for, Tuan Abdulla," said Willems; "I have been told by that man there." He nodded towards Babalatchi, then went on slowly, "It will be a difficult thing." "Allah makes everything easy," interjected Babalatchi, piously, from a distance.
The two men turned quickly and stood looking at him thoughtfully, as if in deep consideration of the truth of that proposition.

Under their sustained gaze Babalatchi experienced an unwonted feeling of shyness, and dared not approach nearer.

At last Willems moved slightly, Abdulla followed readily, and they both walked down the courtyard, their voices dying away in the darkness.

Soon they were heard returning, and the voices grew distinct as their forms came out of the gloom.