"Unfortunately, yes." Paoli, too, glanced at the Princess; but for an instant only. "We landed after the fortress had fired one single gun at us, which we silenced. Beside it we found two men standing at bay; its only defenders; and they, strange to tell, were Corsicans. I have brought them with me on my own ship." "You need not tell me their names," said I. "My brother?" the Princess gasped. "Where is my brother?" The General lowered his eyes. "I regret to tell you, Princess, that your brother has fallen into our enemies' hands. They have carried him north, to Genoa, and with him the Priest who was his confessor. This I learned from your two heroes, who had entered Nonza with no other purpose than to rescue him, but had arrived too late. They shall be brought ashore, that you may question them. "But what is this?" said a voice from the turret-door behind us. "My son Camillo a prisoner, and in Genoa!" We turned all, to see the Queen standing there, on the threshold. The Princess, suddenly pallid, shot a look at Paoli--a look which at once defied and implored him. "It is true, dear mother," said she, steadying her voice. "God help us all!" The Queen clasped her hands. "The Genoese have no pity." "Let your Majesty be reassured," said Paoli, slowly, "The Genoese, to be sure, have no pity; yet I can almost promise they will not proceed to extremities with your son. An enemy, madam, may have good reasons for negotiating; and although the Genoese Government would be delighted to break me on the wheel, yet, on some points, I can compel them to bargain with me." He lifted his eyes. Mine were fixed on the Princess's, and I saw them thank him for the falsehood. "Come, dear mother," she said, taking the Queen's hand. "Though Camillo be in Genoa he can be reached." "My poor boy was ever too rash." "He can be reached," the Princess repeated--but I saw her wince-- "and he shall be reached. General, I pray you to send these two men to me. And now, mother, let one sorrow be enough for a time. There is woman's work to be done upstairs; take me with you that I may help." I did not understand these last words, but was left puzzling over them as the two passed through the turret-door and mounted the stairway. Nor did I remember the custom of the country until, ten minutes later, I heard their voices lifted together in the upper chamber intoning a lament over my father's body.