Chapter 39

A deep purring sound came to my ears—continuous and strange. For a moment I stood still, whilst Rima’s fingers clung close to mine. Then an explanation occurred to me. Not noticing our direction, we had reached the corner of a sort of out-house connected by a covered passage with part of the servants’ quarters. “You understand now, darling,” I said, and drew Rima forward to an iron-barred window. Bright moonlight made the interior visible; and coiled on the floor, his wicked little head raised to watch us, lay a gr…