"Quite," said Casteno. "Unfortunately, it also limits our possibilities of assistance." Then after a pause he added: "I wonder if Miss Napier will hear of the hole we are in!" "Why?" I queried fiercely, flushing rosy crimson, for deep in my heart, alas! all my thoughts were still of her. "Oh! nothing," he answered. "That's rubbish," I interposed rudely. "You meant something. What was it?" "Only this: Miss Napier is the kind of champion we want just now," said Casteno humbly. "You see, we can't get about for ourselves. We're cornered. We need somebody with brain and charm to approach people in high places!" "What about Cooper-Nassington," I said sternly. "You sent me to him. You relied on him. Look at the result!" "You forget, though, that he may be in prison like ourselves! Remember, Naylor had a warrant to search St Bruno's. Well, as likely as not, he had orders to take up some of the leaders of the Order too. Indeed, at a pinch, they might have arrested the lot of them." That was quite possible. I saw it immediately the Spaniard had spoken, and I did not attempt to controvert it. "We shall have to wait, that's all," said Casteno at length, with something uncommonly like a groan. And wait we did--but certainly not as long as we expected--for just when ten o'clock was about to strike we caught the sounds of a loud scuffling in the corridor, a burst of jovial laughter, and the next second the door of our cell was flung violently open, and two people literally raced into our prison--no other than Doris herself and Cooper-Nassington. "Joy! joy!" cried the burly legislator, waving a pile of documents and newspapers. "Lord Cyril has suddenly resigned from the Government, and my old friend the Marquis of Penarth has taken his place; more than that, I've put the whole matter of the sacred lake before the marquis, and not only have I got an order from the Home Office for the immediate release of both of you, but I've arranged such terms that England will win--win at every point." And, laughing and crying with excitement, Doris sprang to my arms. CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. AT THE PRESENT MOMENT. Overjoyed at this news, the four of us swept out of the police station. Even the inspectors and sergeants seemed to catch some of our enthusiasm, or was it the sight of Mr Cooper-Nassington and of the order from the Home Secretary that brought about so miraculous a change in their manner towards us? At all events, they led us quite in triumph out into Bow Street, and from thence, at a word from the Member of Parliament, we took our way to the Hotel Cecil, where, in a private room where a delightful supper had been spread, we found Colonel Napier awaiting us, apparently none the worse in temper or appearance for his bewildering experiences on the racecourse at Worcester. Then, as we discussed the meal, with many a merry jest and many a toast in the best champagne the hotel could produce, all the news poured about us like an avalanche.