He had ceased to be timid with Sara,and knew she would never throw anything but crumbs,and would never make any sound other than the soft,low,coaxing whistling;but strange men were dangerous things to remain near.He lay close and flat near the entrance of his home,just managing to peep through the crack with a bright,alarmed eye.
How much he understood of the talk he heard I am not in the least able to say;but,even if he had understood it all,he would probably have remained greatly mystified.
The secretary,who was light and young,slipped through the skylight as noiselessly as Ram Dass had done;and he caught a last glimpse of Melchisedec's vanishing tail.
"Was that a rat?"he asked Ram Dass in a whisper.
"Yes;a rat,Sahib,"answered Ram Dass,also whispering.
"There are many in the walls."
"Ugh!"exclaimed the young man."It is a wonder the child is not terrified of them."
Ram Dass made a gesture with his hands.He also smiled respectfully.
He was in this place as the intimate exponent of Sara,though she had only spoken to him once.
"The child is the little friend of all things,Sahib,"he answered.
"She is not as other children.I see her when she does not see me.
I slip across the slates and look at her many nights to see that she is safe.I watch her from my window when she does not know I am near.