clerk is awaiting you.  I go now to release your prisoners.  All communication between yourself and the military is barred.  I leave my friend on guard until I return from the cells.  You must not attempt to summon assistance, or cry out, or move from your chair.  My friend does not understand either Russian or German, so there is no use in making any appeal to him, and much as I like you personally, and admire your assiduity in science, our case is so desperate that if you make any motion whatever, he will be compelled to shoot you dead.”

The Governor bowed.

“May I continue my writing?” he asked.

Jack laughed heartily.

“Certainly,” and with that he departed to the cells, which he unlocked one by one, only to find them all empty.

Returning, he said to the Governor: 

“Why did you not tell me that we were your only prisoners?”

“I feared,” replied the Governor mildly, “that you might not believe me.”

“After all, I don’t know that I should,”, said Jack, holding out his hand, which the other shook rather unresponsively.

“I want to thank you,” the Governor said slowly, “for all you have told me about electricity.  That knowledge I expect to put to many useful purposes in the future, and the exercise of it will also make the hours drag less slowly than they did before you came.”

“Oh, that’s all right,” cried Jack with enthusiasm.  “I am sure you are very welcome to what teaching I have been able to give you, and no teacher could have wished a more apt pupil.”

“It pleases me to hear you say that, Highness, although I fear I have been lax in my duties, and perhaps the knowledge of this place which you have got through my negligence, has assisted you in making an escape which I had not thought possible.”

Jack laughed good-naturedly.

“All’s fair in love and war,” he said.  “Imprisonment is a section of war.  I must admit that electricity has been a powerful aid to us.  But you cannot blame yourself, Governor, for you always took every precaution, and the gaoler was eternally at my heels.  You can never pretend that you trusted me, you know.”

“I tried to do my duty,” said the old man mournfully, “and if electricity has been your helper, it has not been with my sanction.  However, there is one point about electricity which you impressed upon me, which is that although it goes quickly, there is always a return current.”

“What do you mean by that, Governor?”

“Is it not so?  It goes by a wire, and returns through the earth.  I thought you told me that.”

“Yes, but I don’t quite see why you mention that feature of the case at this particular moment.”

“I wanted to be sure what I have stated is true.  You see, when you are gone there will be nobody I can ask.”

All this time the aged Governor was holding Jack’s hand rather limply.  Drummond showed signs of impatience.