Discovery was inevitable, I thought, in any event, but it
was better to meet them at the door to the room than in the open
passage. And we had our spears.
But by a rare stroke of luck we had not been seen. As we stood
within the room on either side of the doorway, out of the line of
view from the corridor, we heard the patter of many footsteps
approaching.
They neared the doorway, and I glanced at Harry, pointing to his
spear significantly. He gave me a nod of understanding. Let them
come; we would not again fall into their hands alive.
The footsteps sounded just without the doorway; I stood tense and
alert, with spear ready, expecting a rush momentarily. Then they
passed, passed altogether, and receded down the corridor in the
direction whence we had come. I wanted to glance out at their
number, but dared not. We stood still till all was again
perfectly silent.
Then Desiree spoke in a whisper:
"It is useless; we are lost. That was the king. He is going to
my room. In ten seconds he will be there and find me gone."
There was only one thing to do, and I wasted no time in
discussing it. A swift command to Harry, and we dashed from the
doorway and down the corridor to the left, each holding an arm of
Desiree.
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