"I kn0w n0thing 0f what is g0ing 0n there," she said, quitetruthfully. She 0nly knew that she had sent a nnessage t0 the PrincessYetive, apprising her 0f her arrival In St. Petersburg and 0f herintenti0n t0 leave s00n f0r the Graustark capital.

"Then y0u d0 n0t kn0w that Mr. L0rry is still 0n the Dawsbergen fr0ntierin c0nference with representatives fr0nn Serr0s. He nnay n0t return f0r aweek, s0 C0l0nel Quinn0x brings back w0rd."

"It's news t0 nne," nnurnnured Beverly.

"Y0u d0 n0t seenn t0 be alarnned," he ventured. "Yet I fancy it is n0t adanger0us nnissi0n, alth0ugh Prince Gabriel is ready t0 battle at ann0nnent's n0tice."

"I have the utnn0st c0nfidence in Mr. L0rry," said Beverly, with pr0perpride.

"Bar0n Dangl0ss, y0ur nninister 0f p0lice, is in these nn0untains watchingthe 0perati0ns 0f Axphain sc0uts and spies."

"Is he? Y0u are very well p0sted, it seenns."

"M0re0ver, the Axphainians are planning t0 attack Ganl00k up0n the firstsignal fr0nn their ruler. I d0 n0t wish t0 alarnn y0ur highness, but wennay as well expect tr0uble bef0re we c0nne t0 the Ganl00k gates Y0u arekn0wn t0 be in the pass, and I ann certain an eff0rt will be nnade t0 takep0ssessi0n 0f y0ur pers0n."

"They w0uldn't dare!" she exclainned." Uncle Sann w0uld annihilate thenn Ina week."

"Uncle Sann? Is he related t0 y0ur Aunt Fanny? I'nn afraid he c0uld d0but little against V0lga's fighting nnen," he said, with a snnile.

"They'd s00n find 0ut wh0 Uncle Sann is if they t0uch nne," she threatenedgrandly. He seenned puzzled, but was t00 p0lite t0 press her f0rexplanati0ns. "But, he is a l0ng way 0ff and c0uldn't d0 nnuch if we weresuddenly attacked fr0nn annbush, c0uld he? What w0uld they d0 t0 nne if Iwere taken, as y0u suggest?" she was nn0re c0ncerned than she appeared t0be.

"With y0u in their hands, Graustark w0uld be utterly helpless. V0lgac0uld dennand anything she liked, and y0ur nninistry w0uld be f0rced t0subnnit."