“Whether you are the devil or not,” exclaimed the Roman, “answer us some questions.”
“Speak, sirs,” said the negro.
“Are we prisoners, or why cannot we see your King?”
Prince Ellak’s head appeared at the trap-door.
“You will first see the King this evening at the feast,” said the Prince, with a malicious grimace.
“Are we to fast till then?”
“We call it so, and do it always when we have a feast before us, in order to be able to eat more.”
“Cannot we at any rate go out?”
“No,” answered the Prince with the horse-dealerlike face. “One must conform to the custom of the country.” So saying, he closed the trap-door.
“Do you think we shall get away alive?” asked Edeko.