“What makes you think the Court is wicked?” asked Mortimer curiously.
“Oh,” replied the girl, “I have always been taught that. Everybody here says it is. But I am keeping you from your breakfast,” she added, hastily.
“Not at all,” protested Mortimer and the Professor together. “Pray stay.”
“No; I must go,” she replied regretfully. “I was specially told I must not talk much to you and if I stay too long, father will suspect and not let me come again, and,” she added with a saucy smile and a final admiring glance at Mortimer’s uniform, as she fled up the steps, “I want to come again.”
As the door closed behind her the Professor turned to Mortimer.
“They say that every woman is at heart a royalist and I verily believe this very attractive young woman has a leaning that way.”
“The saying is a very true one,” replied Mortimer. “From what little I have read and observed on the subject, I should say that the women—God bless them!—had much to do, by indirect but nevertheless powerful influence, with the formation of the monarchy, and womankind to-day is to be reckoned as one of the staunchest supports of the throne.”
And with this summary of the situation, he turned with interest to the breakfast before them.
They spent the remainder of the morning and afternoon in arguing over various measures and plans of escape. There was a sentinel, they knew, constantly on duty outside the cabin door, and should they break out and confront this man there were doubtless plenty of his comrades at hand to come to his assistance before an escape could be made. From what little they had seen of the valley they had perceived that it was apparently enclosed on all sides by high, precipitous mountains, which would take much time and effort to scale and would afford excellent opportunities for pursuit and recapture. Any clumsy and unsuccessful effort at escape would naturally lead to greater vigilance on the part of their captors. They were both agreed that they must be patient for the moment and watch for some favorable opportunity before venturing an attempt.
Their dinner was brought them by Valerie, who stayed longer than before, chatting gayly and coquetting at a lively rate with Mortimer. After dinner they received a visit from Captain Robert, who came with a bundle under his arm.