"I will leave no room unvisited," replied Colonel James. "But I will first examine the bedchambers."
Joan's heart quaked as the stern officer marched up-stairs and proceeded to the principal bedroom. Colonel James was astonished by finding Madmannah standing in the midst of the room, leaning on his pike, with the door of the secret closet wide open.
"Hast thou found the malignant prince?" he exclaimed.
"Yea, verily, colonel, I have discovered his hiding-place, as you perceive," replied Madmannah. "There is the stool on which he somewhile sat—there is the cup from which he drank—above all, there is his sword. I have waited for you to make further search, that you may have the credit of the capture. But I claim the reward."
"Thou shalt have it," replied Colonel James, stepping into the closet.
He saw at a glance that it was empty, but feeling sure there must be some secret recess, he struck the panels on either side with the pommel of his sword, but discovering nothing, he at last turned to Joan, who was standing by watching his proceedings with ill-disguised anxiety, and remarked:
"There must be a hiding-place here. Disclose it at once, or I will cause my men to break down the panels."
Joan obeyed, drew back the sliding door, and Colonel James instantly sprang through the aperture into the inner room.
Finding no one within it, he vented his disappointment in an angry exclamation.