Strangely enough her trouble did not as usual touch me to the quick.

When Mr. Trelawny had gone, silence reigned.  I do not think that any of us wanted to talk.  Presently Margaret went to her room, and I went out on the terrace over the sea.  The fresh air and the beauty of all before helped to restore the good spirits which I had known earlier in the day.  Presently I felt myself actually rejoicing in the belief that the danger which I had feared from the Queen’s violence on the coming night was obviated.  I believed in Margaret’s belief so thoroughly that it did not occur to me to dispute her reasoning.  In a lofty frame of mind, and with less anxiety than I had felt for days, I went to my room and lay down on the sofa.

I was awaked by Corbeck calling to me, hurriedly: 

“Come down to the cave as quickly as you can.  Mr. Trelawny wants to see us all there at once.  Hurry!”

I jumped up and ran down to the cave.  All were there except Margaret, who came immediately after me carrying Silvio in her arms.  When the cat saw his old enemy he struggled to get down; but Margaret held him fast and soothed him.  I looked at my watch.  It was close to eight.

When Margaret was with us her father said directly, with a quiet insistence which was new to me: 

“You believe, Margaret, that Queen Tera has voluntarily undertaken to give up her freedom for this night?  To become a mummy and nothing more, till the Experiment has been completed?  To be content that she shall be powerless under all and any circumstances until after all is over and the act of resurrection has been accomplished, or the effort has failed?” After a pause Margaret answered in a low voice: 

“Yes!”

In the pause her whole being, appearance, expression, voice, manner had changed.  Even Silvio noticed it, and with a violent effort wriggled away from her arms; she did not seem to notice the act.  I expected that the cat, when he had achieved his freedom, would have attacked the mummy; but on this occasion he did not.  He seemed too cowed to approach it.  He shrunk away, and with a piteous “miaou” came over and rubbed himself against my ankles.  I took him up in my arms, and he nestled there content.  Mr. Trelawny spoke again: 

“You are sure of what you say!  You believe it with all your soul?” Margaret’s face had lost the abstracted look; it now seemed illuminated with the devotion of one to whom is given to speak of great things.  She answered in a voice which, though quiet, vibrated with conviction: 

“I know it!  My knowledge is beyond belief!” Mr. Trelawny spoke again: 

“Then you are so sure, that were you Queen Tera herself, you would be willing to prove it in any way that I might suggest?”

“Yes, any way!” the answer rang out fearlessly.  He spoke again, in a voice in which was no note of doubt: 

“Even in the abandonment of your Familiar to death—­to annihilation.”