"Any unusual message?" asked Grauble.
"None," said the mate. "I think we will go through without interruption at least until we reach the lock; if anything is suspicioned we will be held up there for examination."
"Do you think the guards at the dock suspected anything?" questioned Grauble.
"It is not likely," replied the mate. "They saw him come aboard, but he spoke to none of them. They will presume he is going out to the lock. The presence of a woman will puzzle them; but, as she was with the Admiral, they will not dare interfere or even report the fact."
"Then what do you think we have to fear?" asked Grauble.
"Only the chance that the Admiral's absence may be noted at his office and inquiry be made."
"Of that the Princess could tell us something," said Grauble. "We will talk with her."
Grauble now led me to the mate's snug cabin, where we found Marguerite seated on the bunk, looking very pale and anxious.
"Everything is going nicely, so far," the Captain assured her. "We have only one thing to fear, and that is that inquiry from the Administration Office for the Admiral may be addressed to the Commander of the Lock."
"But how will they know that he is with us?" asked Marguerite. "Will the guards report it?"