this afternoon," said Will. "See Monty and tell it to him."

"It is for you to tell Lord Montdidier. He runs away from me!"

"I refuse to tell him a word!" said Will, with a laugh like that of a
boy about to plunge into a swimming pool--sort of "Here goes!"

"You are extremely ill advised!"

"Do your worst! Monty'll be hunting for us two in about a minute.
We're prisoners, are we? Suit yourself!"

"You are prisoners while I choose! You could be killed in this room,
removed in sacks, thrown to the sharks in the roadstead, and nobody the
wiser! But I have no intention of killing you. As it happens, that
would not suit my purpose!"

We both glanced behind us involuntarily. It may be that we both heard
a footstep, but it is always difficult to say certainly after the
event. At any rate, while in the act of turning our heads, two of the
three Arabs, who had previously left the room, threw nooses over them
and bound our arms to our sides with the jiffy-swiftness only sailors
know. The third man put the finishing touches, and presently adjusted
gags with a neatness and solicitude worthy of the Inquisition.

"Throw them!" she ordered, and in a second our heels were struck from
under us and I was half stunned by the impact of my head against the
solid floor (for all the floors of that great place were built to
resist eternity).