I staggered back into Bill Rolston's arms.
"Good God!" I cried, and then, "She's not dead, tell me she's not dead!"
"She's perfectly well, M'sieu, only she's had a fainting fit and I've given her something to keep her quiet."
"Then how do you come here, what's happened?"
"At some time in the night, M'sieu, I think it must have been between two and three, the warning bell, which is always attached to my bed, began to ring. I knew exactly what to do. It was part of Mr. Morse's precautions, in which he had drilled us. When that bell rang, at whatever time of day or night, I was to wake M'selle instantly, dress her without a second's delay, and bring her out of the Palace by a secret way.
"I did so, and arrived in this room, where M'selle fainted. The door was locked from the outside, and as I have strict orders never to exceed my instructions by a hair's breadth, I have been waiting.
"Not very long ago M'sieu here"--she pointed to Rolston--"hearing some noise, unlocked the door and came in. To him I told what had happened."
"Thank God," I said aloud, "that she's safe," and in my heart I paid a tribute to the minutely detailed genius of Gideon Morse, who had at least foiled the panthers on his track in one, and the greatest particular.
"Very well then. Now we must leave you here while we hurry to the Palace to try and learn what has happened, and do what we can. You will not be afraid?"
"No, M'sieu," she replied simply. "There's an angel with us," and she crossed herself devoutly. "And, moreover," from somewhere about her waist she withdrew a long, keen knife, "I know what to do with this, M'sieu, in the last resort."
I went to the bed, I looked down at Juanita and kissed her gently on the forehead.
"By the private way," he said, pointing to the French woman, who was removing a heavy Turkish rug which lay in front of the fireplace. There was a click, and a portion of the floor fell down, disclosing some steps, padded with felt.
"This way, M'sieu," she whispered, "the passage is lit, but here's a torch if you should need it, and here is the book."
She handed me a little leather-bound book about the size of a railway ticket.
"Instructions in English and Chinese in regard to the secret room at the other end. They are few and simple, but Mr. Morse had them printed so that there could be no mistake if ever it became necessary to use the place and its machinery."