The hours seemed intolerably long to the lads, standing upright and motionless against the wall.  No one approached their hiding-place.  At four o’clock the general gave orders that his horse and escort should be at the door, and a few minutes afterwards he went out, and the room was left deserted.  The midshipmen were now able to stand in easier positions, but they did not venture to leave their hiding-places, in case any one should suddenly return.  The hours passed slowly on, and it was nine o’clock before the door opened.  It closed again, and a voice asked in low tones whether they were still there.

The lads joyfully replied that they were.

“Follow me, then,” she said, “as quietly as you can.  There is no one about.”

They were soon in the room where they had first entered.  The curtains were drawn, and candles burning on the table.

“You are safe here,” the lady said.  “I have just dined with my charges, and my duties are over for the day.  No one is likely to disturb us here.  This is my private sitting-room.  My bedroom is next door.  If any one is heard coming, you must hide there.  I will go in at once and change my dress for a dressing-gown, and I can then lock the door; so that if any one comes, there will be time for you to go in there, and when I open it, and say I am preparing for bed, it will account for the door being locked.”

She did as she had said, and then produced from a cupboard a box of biscuits and a decanter of wine, which she placed before them.

“You must be starving,” she said.  “I am sorry that I have nothing more to offer you, but it was impossible for me to get any food.  I have been thinking all day,” she went on, as the boys fell to at the biscuits, “how you are to be smuggled out; I can only think of one plan, and that is a fearfully dangerous one.  But I do not know that it is more so than your continued stay here.  The palace is to be searched to-morrow afternoon again, even more strictly than to-day, and that was strict enough.  They turned every room topsy-turvy, opened every closet, and not only looked under the beds, but pulled the beds to pieces, to assure themselves that nobody was hidden within them.  I hear that the general says that he is so convinced that you are here somewhere, that he will keep the soldiers round the house, and search it every day till you are found, if it is a month hence.  Consequently, great as is the risk of the plan I have thought of, it is scarcely as great as that of remaining here.”

The midshipmen expressed their willingness to try any plan, however desperate, rather than remain day after day standing in the governor’s room, with the risk of betrayal by a cough or other involuntary movement.

“This is my plan, then.  The governor’s eldest daughters are women as old as myself.  They are tall and stout, and as far as figure goes I think you might pass in their places.  They go out for a drive every morning.  I have this afternoon slipped into their rooms and have borrowed two of their dresses, mantles and bonnets.  Fortunately they usually wear veils.  They do not generally go to dress until the carriage is at the door, and I propose that you shall boldly walk down and take their places.  Of course, the risk is dreadful, but I really see no other chance for your escape.  What do you say?”