“I didn’t know, of course. I merely guessed it. As soon as I saw that covered door it flashed through my mind that it would most likely be the place where they would have him. And Captain Reyes’ manner confirmed my suspicions. When I inquired of him why the door of this cell was covered with sheets of tin instead of being grilled like all the other doors on that gloomy corridor, he became perceptibly nervous. He explained that the cell was unoccupied, and was used as a storage room; but while he was talking I heard the sound of somebody coughing behind that screened door, and I knew that he had lied to me. Captain Reyes heard it, too, but evidently he was in hopes that it had escaped my ears, for he tried to hurry me away by telling me that he had something exceedingly interesting to show me in another part of the prison. But I broke away from him and stepped close up to the door. It was then that I discovered the tiny peephole which the rust had eaten in one part of the tin, and before he could stop me I had put my eye to it.” “And you saw?” The Camera Chap’s voice was tense with eagerness. Virginia shuddered slightly. “I saw a man seated at a rough wooden table reading a book. Just at that moment he happened to look up, and I got a good view of his face. He had changed terribly since I had last seen him. His hair was snowy white, his face was pitifully thin, and looked as if it didn’t have a drop of blood in it. His eyes were sunken. But it was President Felix; I am absolutely positive of that.” The Camera Chap’s face was grim. “You say that he was reading. Was his cell light enough for that?” “Oh, yes; there was plenty of light, and air, too. I must say in justice to Portiforo that he has made his prisoner as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. The dungeon is much bigger than the other cells, and there is a large window, barred, of course, which commands a view of the sea.” Hawley’s face lighted up with excitement. “I rather like the idea of that window!” he murmured, as if to himself. “Our friend Portiforo is much more accommodating than I dared hope.” Guessing what was in his mind, Virginia shook her head. “I’m afraid you won’t be so optimistic when I tell you that there is a sentinel on guard every hour of the night and day outside of that window,” she said. “You couldn’t possibly get to him in that way.” Hawley received the announcement cheerfully. “I expected that,” he informed her. “I didn’t suppose for a minute, you know, that Portiforo would be so careless as to leave the window unguarded. Still, it’s easier to tackle the problem of a flesh-and-blood sentry than an inanimate stone wall. But go on with your story, please. What happened after you took that peep at Felix? Captain Reyes saw what you were up to, of course?”