ly miserable.

"It is not possible, Yvonne," he said hoarsely. "These men must be
handed over to justice."

I confess I had some sympathy with Mademoiselle at the moment, so
obstinately stupid was this obsession of his. To talk of handing the
mutineers over to justice when we were within an ace of our end and
death knocking veritably on the door!

"The men, sir, wish to parley with you," I said somewhat brusquely.
"They are without and offer terms."

He got up. "Ah, they are being defeated!" he said, and nodded. "Our
resistance is too much for them." I could not have contradicted him
just then, for it would probably have led to an explosion on the lady's
part. But it came upon me to wonder if the Prince knew anything of the
contents of the safes. They were his, and he had a right to remove
them. Had he done so? I couldn't blame him if he had. He walked out
with a ceremonious bow to Mademoiselle, and I followed. She had dried
her eyes, and was looking at me eagerly. She passed into the corridor
in front of me, and pressed forward to where Barraclough and Lane
stood.

"The mutineers, sir, offer terms," said Barraclough to the Prince.
"They propose that if we hand over the contents of the safes we shall
be landed on the coast with a week's provisions."

The Prince gazed stolidly and stupidly at his officer.

"I do not understand," said he. "The scoundrels are in possession of
the safes."

"That is precisely what we should all have supposed," I said drily.
"But it seems they are not."

"Look here, Holgate," called out Barraclough after a moment's silence,
"are we to understand that you have not got the safes open?"

It seemed odd, questioning a burglar as to his success, but the
position made it necessary.

"We have the safes open right enough," called Holgate hoarsely, "but
there's nothing there--they're just empty. And so, if you'll be so good
as to fork out the swag, captain, we'll make a deal in the terms I have
said."

"It is a lie. They have everything," said the Prince angrily.

"Then why the deuce are they here, and what are they playing at?" said
Barraclough, frowning.

"Only a pretty little game of baccarat. Oh, my hat!" said Lane.

"It seems to me that there's a good deal more in this than is
apparent," I said. "The safes were full, and the strong-room was
secure. We are most of us witnesses to that. But what has happened? I
think, Sir John, it would be well if we asked the--Mr. Morland
forth