"'The mule will be out of sight.' "'And what then?' "'When the four men are dead or past fighting, I shall raise the alarm?' "'And then?' "'My men will run away, and I shall cut the throats of the others to make certain, and there you are.' "'And where am I to meet you?' "'At the little harbour of Mergellina. I shall have swift rowers who will take us to a safe point away from those cursed English. I have sent you a cloak which will pass you out,' he replied. And then the Princess stole back to her room, put on the slippers she had just taken off, muffled herself up in the cloak, and passed out without so much as one of the sentries challenging her. "'Could you not have warned the Queen?' I asked the Princess. "'Yes; but that would have stayed the departure of the diamonds, and all the arrangements would have been to make afresh, and that in the face of the secret being out.' "'You are a better general than I,' I said to that lovely eager face. 'Now tell me what I am to do.' "'Send sailors, as many as are necessary to drive the cut-throats off, and see the chair safely to where the gentleman inside wishes to go, which will be here.' "There was a knock at the door, but so absorbing was the topic that neither of us heard; then came a louder knock, and the gravity of a situation, graver even than the loss of the Queen's diamonds, dawned upon me. "'What shall I do?' I asked: 'will you----?' "'Conceal myself?--no,' she answered proudly; adding quickly. 'No one but a friend of Her Majesty would come to your room at this hour.' "'No one but one of my officers,' I said; and I felt myself blushing, for I remembered those two visits from Emma, and the Princess might not understand the spirit in which dear Emma comes. Heavens! if it were Emma, in _deshabille_! to tell me of a relapse of Sir William and call my aid! All these thoughts flashed through my mind in a few seconds. There was a still louder knock at the door. "'What am I to do, Princess?' I asked. "'Open it,' she said, simply. "I opened it, with her standing by this table, with one hand resting on the corner, a picture of pride and innocence. But the blood flew to her cheeks as Will entered with an expression of utter astonishment on his face, which I could see would have turned into something stronger, but for his filial respect and affection. Disciplined as he was, he could not keep the question out of his eyes. A lesser man than Will would have beat a retreat--most likely have held his tongue, perhaps for the honour of the fleet, perhaps in gratitude for future favours. But Will stood plainly--as she had said plainly--'Open the door.' It was a picture: these two fine young creatures, so full of pride and breeding; and, placed in a false position, one whose rank prevented ordinary explanations, and who, as it seemed, was party to an injurious situation to which he should have been superior." * * * * *