They soon arrived at a room which was simply furnished with a few chairs and an armchair placed at a table.

Across the two windows hung heavy curtains, and behind these the midshipmen took their places, the curtains extending far enough beyond the windows for them to stand between them and the walls; so that any one going to the windows would not necessarily see them.

Then leaving them with many injunctions to remain quiet, and with a promise to return at the end of the day and release them, she left, being, she said, due with her pupils at nine o'clock.
For half an hour the boys conversed in low tones with each other as to their chances of escape.

Then footsteps were heard, and the governor entered, followed by several officers.

He took his seat at the table.
"If," he said to one of them, "your report, that you were so short a distance behind these men that it was impossible they could have reached the end of the lane before you entered it, be correct, it is clear they must have taken refuge here.