“What about you, Tony? Are you in on the deal, too?”
“I know not. I am at the will and service of the Princess. She has not yet spoken.”
“And you, Bill, what do you vote for?”
“I—I—that is—I’m with the Admiral, as always.”
“And the Admiral is for getting out of here. I’ve no fault to find with the young ladies, but I’ve got business in Bottle Bay. Come!”
We hastened outside. It was still dark and a second shower had gathered, though we did not notice this fact. What we did see was that more than half-way across the strip of water that separated us from the shore there was a crowd of torchlit barges, and that they were coming rapidly. For once in their lives these people had forgotten, and were hurrying. In front of the others came a smaller barge, driven by the sturdiest of their rowers. In it sat the Lady of the Lilies, and the three who had pressed our hands at parting. Clearly, there was no time to lose.
We made a hasty attempt to loosen our boat, but fumbled the knot and lost time.
“Haste, or you will be too late,” urged Ferratoni.
“Oh, Lord,” groaned Gale, “if we just hadn’t left our propeller boat down yonder!”
But at that instant the knot untied, and we tumbled in. We had no light and we did not believe they could see us, though they were now very near. Ferratoni still lingered on the step, looking at the approaching barges.