The lad himself hid among the dead and was not discovered until the next morning, when he was made a slave by the man who found him.
This was terrible! But there was still hope.

If this boy had concealed himself among the dead, her husband might have done the same.

Not being a combatant officer, he might not have been near the others when the affair took place; and moreover, the lad had said that the black regiment in the rear of the square had kept together and marched away; he believed all had been afterwards killed, but this he did not know.
If Gregory had been there when the square was broken, he might well have kept with them, and at nightfall slipped on his disguise and made his escape.

It was at least possible--she would not give up all hope.
So years went on.

Things were quiet in Egypt.