"I think so. I heard them let down the bridge."
"And so did I. But they can't be far away. Do they know that the Admiral is here?"
"I can't tell, but I don't think so. If only I could get free!"
"Oh yes, Fräulein, if only you could! As for me, it matters nothing, but His Excellency must escape. Then he can meet Her to-night and warn Her—even though the precious papers are all lost. He could go off in Her and escape that way. You know all about Her, Fräulein?"
Doris shook her head. "No," she said. "Tell me."
"If they have not told you already, Fräulein, I must not do so. I am sworn. I thought perhaps you knew everything."
"You won't tell me? If I can get away it would be of help for me to know."
"No, Fräulein; I am sworn and I must obey orders...."
"And now I think," said my brother, unlocking the door and speaking in his usual voice, "we've heard as much as we are likely to."
We all trooped into the cabin and, taking out his pocket-knife, Dickson max. cut the cloth strands which held Doris in the chair.