He laughed again as he turned away and left the room.
The moment the door was shut, I commenced to wriggle. I thought I felt something loosen; but I was once more rigid as he returned with the desired drink.
"No poison in it, is there?" I asked.
He drank some of the water before putting it to my lips, then with his arm round me he raised me enough to drink. He was quite tender, too, in his movements; and I felt inclined to laugh--the situation had its humours, in spite of its unpleasantness. I drank all the water there was and felt better.
"Well, what do you intend to do with me?"
"Frankly, I don't know; it depends so much on how reasonable you are, and what the plans of Alexis are, and he is a bit uncertain."
"Of course, you know that you will be traced?"
"Not a chance of it, I assure you."
"You will certainly be hanged, Baron Goltz, that is, unless you untie me and let me pass out."
"It is extremely probable, no doubt, after the trouble I had in getting you here. You ought to be worth a great deal to me, for Alexis will not forget who gave him the throne."