“They won’t do that, old man.  Promises won’t tempt them,” protested Chase.  “We’ve got to do what we can to rescue them.  I’m with you, gentlemen, in the undertaking, first for humanity’s sake; secondly, because I am your friend; lastly, because I don’t want my clients to lose all chance of winning out in this controversy by acting like confounded asses.  It isn’t what Sir John expects of me.  Now, let’s consider the situation sensibly.”

In the meantime, the anxious coterie in the chateau were waiting eagerly for the return of the searchers.  Night had fallen swiftly.  The Princess and Drusilla were walking restlessly back and forth, singularly quiet and constrained.  The latter sighed now and then in a manner that went directly to the heart of her companion.  Genevra recognised the futility of imposing her sympathies in the face of this significant reserve.

Drusilla made one remark, half unconsciously, no doubt, that rasped in the ears of the Princess for days.  It was the cold, bitter, resigned epitome of the young wife’s thoughts.

“Robert has loved her for months.”  That was all.

Mr. and Mrs. Saunders, thankful that something had happened to divert attention from their own conspicuous plight, were discoursing freely in the centre of a group composed of the four Englishmen from the bank, all of whom had deserted their posts of duty to hear the details of the amazing disappearance.

“It’s a plain out and out elopement,” said Mrs. Saunders, fanning herself vigorously.

“But, my dear,” expostulated her husband, blushing vividly over the first public use of the appellation, “where the devil could they elope to?”

“I don’t know, Tommy, but elopers never take that into consideration.  Do they, Mr. Bowles?”

Mr. Bowles readjusted the little red forage cap and said he’d be hanged if he knew the eloping symptoms.

At last the four men appeared in the mouth of the cavern.  The watchers below fell into chilled silence when they discovered that the missing ones were not with them.  Stupefied with apprehension, they watched the men descend the ladder and cross the bridge.

“They are dead!” fell from Brasilia Browne’s lips.  She swayed for an instant and then sank to the ground, unconscious.

* * * * *

In the conference which followed the return of the searchers, it was settled that three of the original party should undertake the further prosecution of the hunt for the two heirs.  Lord Deppingham found ready volunteers in Chase and the faithful Selim.  They prepared to go out in the hills before the night was an hour older.  Selim argued that the abductors would not take their prisoners to the town of Aratat.  He understood them well enough to know that they fully appreciated the danger of an uprising among those who were known to be openly opposed to the high-handed operations of Rasula and his constituency.  He convinced Chase that the wily Rasula would carry his captives to the mines, where he was in full power.