One girl among a
crowd of men might attract suspicion, though in the daytime she was
more useful as a woman.
It naturally fell upon Emile to provide the details of her
transformation, and he presented himself at her lodgings one afternoon,
bearing an ungainly parcel which he deposited on the table.
"You'd better try these on," he said. "There is a complete suit of
boy's clothes, a wig and everything you'll want. You will have to put
your own hair out of the way somehow."
It was the drowsy hour of the _siesta_, when no one moved out if he
could help it, and all work and play were at a standstill. Arithelli
was sitting, as was her custom, absorbed in her own thoughts and
dreams. For a moment she stared with uncomprehending eyes. She felt
tired, she wanted to be alone, and she had not heard a single word.
Emile shrugged irritably and repeated his remarks.
"Oh, yes," said Arithelli. She rose slowly, took up the parcel and
retired into seclusion behind the curtains, with which she had screened
off the alcove and so made herself an improvised dressing room.
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