Rani was angry.
“Little fool,” said Nicole.
“Doesn’t she know yet that she must not anger important people? I suppose she thinks she is so important she can do without their support.”
The dormitory was searched, but the earrings were not found.
Fatima said it was a terrible thing and even the children should be searched. There were some children who were born thieves and if her Feisal were proved to be such, she would see that he was severely punished.
Rani said the earrings would no doubt soon be found. They could not be far off. There would be no point in anyone stealing someone else’s jewellery. When would the thief be able to wear it?
I was with Nicole in the gardens.
She said: “Serve her right. The arrogant little idiot. She will not get very far.”
“Someone must have taken the earrings.”
“As a joke perhaps?”
I said slowly: “I remember something now. I was only half awake. It was someone standing in the room … yes … and it was by Aida’s divan.”
“When?”
“Last night. I thought I was dreaming. I was in that state when I was not sure whether I was awake or asleep. I
have had strange dreams . since I’ve been here . and particularly after taking that stuff you gave me to drink. Half sleeping . half waking . hallucinations almost. I am not really sure whether I dreamed this. “
“Well, if you saw someone at Aida’s bedside and in the morning her earrings have gone … the chances are that you were not dreaming.”
Just at that moment Samir came up. He was holding something bright in his hands.
“Look,” he said.
“Maman, pretty things …”
She took the jewelled box from his hands and opened it. There lay the ruby earrings.
Nicole exchanged a glance with me, fearful and full of meaning.
“Where did you find this, Samir?” she asked in a voice which trembled.
“In my boat.”
His toy boat, the pride of his life. He was hardly ever without it. He used to sail it in the pools.
Nicole looked at me and said: “I must take it to Rani immediately.”
I put out a hand to stop her. I looked at Samir hesitantly. She knew what I meant.
She said to him: “Go away and play. Don’t tell anyone what you found.
It’s not important. But don’t say a word. Promise, Samir. “
He nodded his head and darted off.
I said: “It’s coming back. It could have been Fatima whom I saw last night. What if she stole the earrings? The more I think of it, the more I believe that this is what it is all about. Didn’t she say we should all be searched … and she mentioned the children. Fatima is foolish sometimes. She has no subtlety. It is easy to read her mind. She wants to damage you . and Samir. So she stole the earrings, put them in the boat and wants it to be believed that Samir stole them.”
“Why?”
“To make a thief of him.”
“But he is a child.”
“Then perhaps I am wrong. What would have happened if the earrings had been found in his boat? He would have said he did not know how they got there, but would he have been believed? It might be reported to the Pasha. Aida would have reported it, if she went back to him … as she well might. Perhaps the boy would be punished. The Pasha would be displeased with him. Do you see what I mean? But perhaps I am wrong.”
“No … no. I do not believe that you are wrong.”
“I think she may say that Samir stole them and when the theft was discovered, he was afraid and gave them up.”
Then what. ? “
“Let’s get rid of them … at once. Drop them … anywhere. It would not do for them to be found with you. What explanation could you give?
How did they come to be in Samir’s boat? they would ask. Samir must have put them there, they would say. It would be an unpleasant business. Leave them . near the pool. The case will be conspicuous and soon found, then Samir will not come into it. I feel sure it is better that he does not. “
“You are right,” she said.
“Then the sooner it is out of your possession the better.”
She nodded. Cautiously she put the case down by the pool and we walked away.
I said: “I feel sure it was Fatima. I am trying to remember what I saw in the night. It would have been so easy for her to slip off her divan when everyone was asleep … and take the case.”
“It was Fatima. I know it. She was the one. Oh, how I hate that woman.
One day I will kill her. “
The case was found. Aida said she could not understand it. She had left it beside her divan. Someone must have taken it, and then become frightened and thrown it away.
Rani said the earrings were found and that was an end of the matter.
But it was not really so. The enmity between Fatima and Nicole grew alarmingly. It was almost certain that Aida was not pregnant and that deepened the rivalry between the mothers of Samir and Feisal. Aida was sullen. Someone said she had pretended her earrings were stolen to call attention to the fact that the Pasha had once liked her enough to present them to her. There was a great deal of wrangling and petty spite in the harem. Perhaps because there was so little for them to do.
Nicole was undoubtedly grateful to me. She could clearly see the danger through which she and Samir had passed, for if the boy could have been branded as a thief, his favour might have been tarnished with the Pasha, if not lost forever. It was a mean act and worthy of Fatima, Nicole was sure.
She became more open with me. I had always known that there was a special friendship between her and the Chief Eunuch, but now she told me that they had been on the ship together and there had been a friendship between them then. She did not say that they had been in love, but the seeds of it might have been sown. When she had been taken into the harem he had been sold to the Pasha at the same time.
They had then been in urgent need of eunuchs and that had been his fate. He was tall, handsome and clever so he had risen quickly to his present rank. Nicole passed on information to him from the harem and he gave her news of what was happening outside. They had both made the most of the life into which they had been thrust.
Now I knew how close they had been before they had been taken into captivity, I understood their relationship much better. It had taken some time for them to become resigned to this life; but he had become Chief Eunuch and she planned to be First Lady of the Harem in due course.
The relationship between myself and Nicole had deepened.
It was I who had saved her son from a situation which could have been damning to their chances. It was clear to me that I was accepted as her friend, and she wanted to repay me for what I had done for her.
I tried to make her understand that there should be no thought of payment between friends. She replied that she realized that, but if she could do anything for me, she would; and she knew that what I wanted more than anything was to escape from my present position. Once, long ago, she had felt exactly the same, and that gave her a special understanding of my case.
The first thing she did was, to bring me a note. I think she had told her friend the Chief Eunuch the story of the earrings and enlisted his help; and for her sake he helped to bring this about.
The note was smuggled to me as before, and when I was quite alone I read it.
Don’t give up hope. Through a friend of mine I have heard what is happening on the other side of the wall. If an opportunity comes, I’ll be ready. So must you be. Don’t despair. We have friends. I do not forget you. We shall succeed.
What a comfort it was to read that.
