“And it is in the presence of these two that you wish to disclose your plan？” said Caspian.
“Yes，” said Nikabrik. “And by their help that I mean to execute it.”
There was a minute or two during which Trumpkin and the boys could hear Caspian and his two friends speaking in low voices but could not make out what they were saying. Then Caspian spoke aloud.
“Well， Nikabrik，” he said， “we will hear your plan.”
There was a pause so long that the boys began to wonder if Nikabrik was ever going to begin； when he did， it was in a lower voice， as if he himself did not much like what he was saying.
“All said and done，” he muttered， “none of us knows the truth about the ancient days in Narnia. Trumpkin believed none of the stories. I was ready to put them to the trial. We tried first the Horn and it has failed. If there ever was a High King Peter and a Queen Susan and a King Edmund and a Queen Lucy， then either they have not heard us， or they cannot come， or they are our enemies.”
“Or they are on the way，” put in Trufflehunter.