"Where is the malignant prince, woman?" he demanded, fiercely.
"Gone," she replied. "That is all I will tell you."
"Thou art deceiving me, woman," he exclaimed.
But finding threats useless, he proceeded to make a very careful investigation of the little room in which they stood. Had he searched the outer closet with equal strictness he must infallibly have discovered the trap-door.
Dreadfully frightened, Joan had great difficulty in supporting herself, and it was an inexpressible relief to her when Colonel James strode back into the bedchamber.
"'Tis plain the malignant prince is not here, Madmannah," he said to the trooper, who seemed greatly disappointed by the result of the search.
"I could have sworn I heard him," said Madmannah. "But there are other hiding-places in the house. Answer truthfully, on your life, woman," he added to Joan.
"I will conceal nothing," she replied, anxious to get them away. "There is a priest's hole in the garret."
"A priest's hole!" exclaimed Colonel James. "Show it to me."
Joan took them to the garret, raised the trap-door, and displayed the cavity.