“You can understand better than anyone else, Jenkins, what trouble I should be in if this was discovered.”

“You would indeed, my Lord!”

“It would be impossible for me to protest that I was entirely innocent in the matter. No one would believe that I had not been an accomplice in furthering the escape of one of the Sultan’s women.”

“I quite see that, my Lord.”

“And therefore, Jenkins, you will have to help me keep this secret until we are safe in the Residency in Athens.”

“I understand, my Lord.”

“Fortunately I am having my meals here and you are waiting on me,” Lord Castleford went on. “There should therefore be no reason for anyone else to enter the cabin.”

“That’s true, my Lord.”

“I feel I can trust your discretion and your co-operation,” Lord Castleford said.

“You can trust me, my Lord,” Jenkins said stoutly.

“If anyone should insist for some reason upon coming into my cabin,” Lord Castleford said, “Miss Yamina must go into the trunk. Otherwise she can hide, as she is now, in the bathroom.”

Automatically Jenkins picked up a silk scarf that had fallen to the ground from the trunk when Yamina had left the cabin, folded it and put it back inside.

“It’ll not be difficult, my Lord,” he said after a moment.

“There will be the question of extra food.”

Jenkins gave Lord Castleford an almost impish grin.

“They’ll just think your Lordship has a large appetite! As to additional cups and plates, leave them to me, my Lord.”

“I am sure I can do just that,” Lord Castleford said.

Without being the least impertinent Jenkins glanced towards the bed and Lord Castleford followed the direction of his eyes.

“You will let down the mosquito curtains,” he said. “Miss Yamina will sleep there and you must somehow contrive to bring me some extra pillows. They can be placed on the floor for me to sleep on – Eastern fashion!”

As he spoke, he thought it was annoying that Yamina had thought of the solution and he was obliged almost slavishly to follow it.

“I’ll see to it, my Lord,” Jenkins said, “and if your Lordship will excuse me I’ll go and fetch another cup.”

“Will they not think that strange?” Lord Castleford asked hastily.

“Oh, no, my Lord! Not if I tell them I dropped and broke this cup. And, when no one is looking, I’ll bring extra plates and cutlery in here so that there will be no questions asked when I am in the galley.”

“Thank you, Jenkins. I knew I could leave everything with confidence in your hands.”

“You can indeed, my Lord.”

He glanced towards the bathroom as if he was curious and then left the cabin.

Lord Castleford waited and after a few minutes Jenkins returned with another cup, which he set down on the tray.

“Is there anything else you require, my Lord?”

“Nothing, thank you,” Lord Castleford replied.