"Are those your orders, Alix? You were always wilful from a child."
"No, no," she cried, smiling too, "I always obeyed your orders, Frederic. It was you who were hero to me, not Karl or Wilhelm—only you."
He patted her hand and glanced at the food I had obtained. "We owe to Dr. Phillimore a debt of gratitude," he said in his friendliest manner. The talking had disturbed Barraclough also, who now awoke and saluted us. He made no difficulty of beginning at once on his breakfast, cracking a joke at my expense. It was a strangely pacific gathering after the terrible night; but I suppose we were all too worn to take things in duly.
There is a limit to the power of facts to make impressions on one's senses, and I think we had reached it. For the most part we were just animals with an appetite. But there was my news, and I hastened to break it. It was not startling, but it had an interest for us all. The Prince deliberated.
"It is fate," he said slowly. "It is the luck of the Hochburgers."
Barraclough's comment was from a different aspect. "That's a trick to us. We've a shot in the locker yet."
"What is it you mean?" asked the Prince.
"Why, that we can drive a bargain with them," replied Barraclough. "We've got the whip-hand."
"There shall no bargain be made with murderers," said the Prince in his deep voice.
"Frederic," said Princess Alix in a quick, impulsive way, "let us escape while there is time. The way is clear now. We can get to the island and be quit forever of those dreadful men and horrible scenes."