When news of the colonel's death reached Hemming, he sighed with relief.
"That ends it," he said. "The old man was a fool, but he held them together."
"What about that Penthouse-Cuddlehead chap? He seems to be taking an interest in it," said Hicks.
"He is sneak enough for anything, but he is also a coward," replied Hemming.
"This is a poor sort of revolution," said O'Rourke. "I have had more excitement waiting for my mail at the window of a country post-office. A Sunday-school treat beats it hands down. Davis could invent a better one in his sleep."
"Please don't talk like an ass, old chap," said Hemming. He found the revolution quite exciting enough.
"I shall go and look at my prisoner—he may be in a better humour than you," remarked O'Rourke, pensively.
Hicks followed him to the door of the locked room.
"These duffers don't want to fight. They never did, either. It was all a bluff of the colonel's," he said.
The other shook his head.