can I have lost it?
I can't think how it can have slipped off. And it's the only one gone,
too."

"It didn't slip off," said I. "It's been stolen."

He looked at me queerly. "That makes it rather worse, old chap," he
said hesitatingly. "For it don't go out of my hands."

"Save at night," said I.

He was silent. "Hang it, what does any blighter want to steal it for?"
he demanded in perplexity.

"Well, we know what's in the strong room," I said.

"Yes--but----" There was a sound.

"To your door," said I. "Quick, man."

Lane sped along the corridor to his station, and just as he reached it
a door opened and Princess Alix emerged. She hesitated for a moment and
then came towards me. It was bitterly cold, and she was clad in her
furs. She came to a pause near me.

"I could not sleep, and it is early yet," she said. "Are you expecting
danger?"

"We have always to act as if we were," I said evasively.

She was examining my face attentively, and now looked away as if her
scrutiny had satisfied her.

"Why has this man never made any attempt to get the safes?" she asked
next.

"I wish I knew," I replied, and yet in my mind was that strange piece
of information I had just had from Lane. Who had stolen the key?

The Princess uttered a little sigh, and, turning, began to walk to and
fro.

"It is sometimes difficult to keep one's feet when the floor is at this
angle," she remarked as she drew near to me; and then she paced again
into the distance. She was nervous and distressed, I could see, though
her face had not betrayed the fact. Yet how was I to comfort her? We
were all on edge. Once again she paused near me.

"What are our chances?"

"They are hopeful," said I, as cheerfully as I might. "The fortress has
always more chances than the leaguers, providing rations hold out, and
there is no fear of ours."

"Ah, tell me the truth!" she cried with agitation.

"Madam, I have said what is exactly true," I replied gravely. "I have
spoken of chances."

"And if we lose?" she asked after a pause.

Her eyes encountered mine fully. "I have no information," I said
slowly, "and very little material to go on in guessing. But I hope we
shall not lose," I added.

"This can't go on forever, Dr. Phillimore," she said with a little
catch in her voice. "It has gone on so long."

My heart bled for her. She had been so courageous; she had shown such
fortitude, such resistance, such common sense, this beautiful proud
wom