"Hilton, old man," said Chumbley, as he took and liberally sugared a cup of coffee, smiling at the Inche Maida as he spoke. "Well?" said his companion in misfortune. "I have quite made up my mind, as I before hinted, not to knock the feathers off my noble breast against the bars of my cage." The Princess looked puzzled. "Pshaw!" ejaculated Hilton; "don't be absurd." "Why not? If to be patient in our present awkward position is being absurd. Won't you take coffee, Princess?" She shook her head, but altered her mind directly. "Yes," she said; and she took the cup Chumbley offered with a smile, while as he provided himself with a second, he nodded and said to himself: "That's very ladylike; so that we should not feel suspicious, I presume." "Ask her how long she means to keep on with this theatrical folly," said Hilton, in a low voice to his friend--in French. "What does he say?" cried the Princess, quickly. "He asks if you are still in earnest about keeping us prisoners," said Chumbley. "If you are serious." "Earnest? Serious?" she replied, with her eyes flashing. "Should I have taken such a step as this, and risked offending your people, if I were not serious? Suppose I let you go--what then?" "If Hilton has his own way," said Chumbley, laughing, "there will be an expedition to come and burn your place about your ears for abducting two of her Majesty's subjects." "No, no--no, no!" cried the Inche Maida, with a negative motion of her hand. "You would not be so cowardly as to come and attack a weak woman; that is for the Malays to do. You English are too brave and strong. I am not afraid." "Well, I don't know," said Chumbley; "we might, you know." "Oh, no, I won't believe it." "Well, perhaps not," said Chumbley, drily; "but history has a few ugly little records of English doings here and there. Do you know, madam, that you have given us an excellent excuse to pay you a peculiar visit?" "What! to come and attack and destroy my home--to kill my people?" cried the Princess, excitedly. "You could not--you dare not. But I am safe. I shall not let you go; and as to my other enemies, in a short time you will both be reconciled to your lot, and you will say, `Let me stop and defend you.'" "Hope told a flattering tale," muttered Chumbley, as he saw the Princess watching Hilton as she spoke; but his distant mien and contemptuous looks so annoyed her that she turned from him angrily and addressed herself to his friend, as if for him to speak. "Well," said the latter, coolly, "I am an Englishman, and I like fair play, so I shall speak out. Look here; you know, Princess, it won't do." "What do I know that will not do?" she said, in a puzzled way. "Why, this foolish kidnapping business of yours; and I frankly tell you that, much as we shall regret leaving such charming quarters, if you only leave the birds' cage door open for a moment we shall pop out and fly away."