It was the same room in which Alice had passed those dreary days with the princess.
But now she was alone and the room was all in disorder.
As for Alice herself she was tied in her chair, being bound hand and foot.
She had been gagged also, she explained, a handkerchief having been tied over her mouth, but this she managed to work off.
"I heard you when you called murder," she said, "but I couldn't speak then. Who fired? Who was killed?"
"Ah Lung," replied the old detective, and he explained as he cut Alice's bonds.
"As for my story, it is too long to tell now," she said. "Go for Harry."
"If we can get there. We seem to have taken another door than the one we intended."
"From that long corridor?"
"Yes."