"The Prince and the Princess are safe," said he, in explanation. "But it's been a bad business for us. We've lost the cook, Jackson, and Grant, and that little beggar, Pye."
I breathed a sigh of relief at his first words; and then as I took in the remainder of his sentence, "What! is Pye dead?"
"Well, he's missing, anyway," said Barraclough indifferently; "but he's not much loss."
"Perhaps he's in his cabin. He locked himself in earlier," I said. "Give me an arm, like a good fellow. I'm winged and I'm all bruises. I fell into the saloon."
"Gad, is that so?" said he; and I was aware that some one else was listening near. I raised my head, and, taking Barraclough's hand, looked round. It was Princess Alix. I could make her out from her figure, but I could not see her face.
"You have broken an arm?" she said quickly.
"It is not so bad as that, Miss Morland," I answered. "I got a scrape on the shoulder and the fall dazed me."
I was now on my feet again, and Barraclough dropped me into a chair. "They got in by the windows of the music-room," I said.
"Yes," he assented. "Ellison and Jackson ran up from the saloon on the alarm, apparently just in time to meet the rush. Ellison's bad--bullet in the groin."
"I must see to him," I said, struggling up. A hand pressed me gently on the shoulder, and even so I winced with pain.
"You must not go yet," said the Princess. "There is yourself to consider. You are not fit."
I looked past her towards the windows, some of which had been unbarred in the conflict.
"I fear I can't afford to be an invalid," I said. "There is so much to do. I will lie up presently, Miss Morland. If Sir John will be good enough to get me my bag, which is in the ante-chamber, I think I can make up on what I have."
Barraclough departed silently, and I was alone with the Princess.
"I did not come," I said. "I betrayed my trust."
She came a little nearer to my seat. "You would have come if there had been danger," she said earnestly. "Yet why do we argue thus when death is everywhere? Three honest men have perished, and we are nearer home by so much."
"Yes, I mean home," she said in a quick, low voice. "Don't think that I am a mere foolish woman. I have always seen the end, and sometimes it appears to me that we are wasting time in fighting. I know what threatens, what must fall, and I thank God I am prepared for it. See, did I not show you before?" and here she laid her hand upon her bosom, which was heaving.