Maurice, after having tried all the bars and locks in answer to
his conscience, gave his attention to the breakfast. On lifting
the covers he found fish, eggs, toast and coffee.
"Here's luck!" he cried. "We were expected."
"Curse it, Maurice!" Fitzgerald began pacing the room.
"No, no," said Maurice; "let us eat it; that's what it's here
for," and he fell to with that vigor known only to healthy blood.
"But what's to be done?"
"Follow Solomon's advice, and wait."
"You're taking it cursed cool."
"Force of habit," breaking the toast. "What's the use of wasting
powder? Because I have shown only the exterior, our friend the
Colonel has already formed an opinion of me. I am brave if need
be, but young and careless. In a day or so--for I suppose we are
not to be liberated at once--he'll forget to use proper caution
in respect to me. And then, 'who can say?' as the Portuguese
says when he hasn't anything else to say. They'll keep a strict
watch over you, my friend, because you've played the lion too
much. Just before I left the States, as you call them, a new
slang phrase was going the rounds;--'it is better to play the
fox some of the time than to roar all of the time.
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