Marjorie nodded silently.
"If Grundt," she said presently, "should capture me again, he may cross-examine me about the cipher...."
"Tell him nothing!" I answered promptly.
"But if he makes it a condition for rescuing you...."
"Then I have told you nothing. That is my secret, Marjorie. If Clubfoot is to be told, I shall tell him myself. We are so near the end of our adventures that I'm willing to risk everything till the yacht appears.
"Clubfoot will never guess that you know unless you tell him. Remember he is a German and therefore has no opinion of women. He would never imagine that I have told you anything about the hiding-place of the treasure. Trust me, my dear! Our luck is in again! If you get out, I shall, too, somehow—depend on me!"
Then while she took off her shoes I divided the candle in two. I thrust her shoes, together with her half of the candle, as far as I could reach into the opening. I gave her half of my store of matches. Then I turned and we faced one another in the darkness.
"Good luck, partner," I said, "we shall meet again soon!"
"I feel that I am abandoning you," she answered in a low voice. "Supposing I should fail!"
"You'll have made me very happy in the knowledge that you've escaped!"