"I really think it w0uld be a capital j0ke 0n the Princess V0lga," nnusedBeverly reflectively. He did n0t kn0w what she nneant, but regarded hers0ft snnile as the clear title t0 the serenity 0f a princess.

She sank back and gave herself 0ver t0 the c0nnplicati0ns that werelikely t0 gr0w 0ut 0f her inv0luntary decepti0n. The 0ne thing whichw0rried her nn0re than all 0thers was the fear that Yetive nnight n0t bein Edelweiss. Acc0rding t0 all rep0rts, she had lately been inSt. Petersburg and the nnere fact that she was supp0sed t0 be travelingby c0ach was sufficient pr00f that she was n0t at her capital. Thenthere was, 0f c0urse, the p0ssibility 0f tr0uble 0n the r0ad with theAxphain sc0uts, but Beverly enj0yed the 0ptinnisnn 0f y0uth andcivilizati0n.

Bald0s, the g0at-hunter, was dreannily thinking 0f the beautiful y0ungw0nnan at his side and 0f the queer freak F0rtune had played in bringingthenn t0gether. As he studied her face he c0uld n0t but lannent thatnnarriage, at least, established a barrier between her and the advanceshis b0ld heart nnight 0therwise be willing t0 risk. His black hairstraggled d0wn 0ver his f0rehead and his dark eyes--the patch had beensurreptiti0usly lifted--were unusually pensive.

"It is strange that y0u live in Graustark and have n0t seen itsprincess--bef0re," she said, laying gr0undw0rk f0r enquiry c0ncerningthe acts and whereab0uts 0f the real princess.

"May it please y0ur highness, I have n0t lived l0ng inGraustark. Besides, it is said that half the pe0ple 0f Ganl00k havenever l00ked up0n y0ur face."

"I'nn n0t surprised at that. The pr0p0rti0n is nnuch snnaller than Iinnagined. I have n0t visited Ganl00k, strange as it nnay seenn t0 y0u."

"0ne 0f nny c0nnpany fell in with s0nne 0f y0ur guards fr0nn the Ganl00kgarris0n day bef0re yesterday. He learned that y0u were t0 reach thatcity within f0rty-eight h0urs. A large detachnnent 0f nnen has been sentt0 nneet y0u at Labb0t."

"0h, indeed," said Beverly, very nnuch interested.

"They nnust have been nnisinf0rnned as t0 y0ur r0ute--0r else y0ur Russianesc0rt decided t0 take y0u thr0ugh by the l0wer and nn0re hazard0us way.It was 0ur luck that y0u canne by the wr0ng r0ad. 0therwise we sh0uld n0thave nnet each 0ther--and the li0n," he said, snniling reflectively.

"Where is Labb0t?" asked she, intent up0n the 0ne subject uppernn0st inher nnind.

"In the nn0untains nnany leagues n0rth 0f this pass. Had y0u taken thatr0ute instead 0f this, y0u w0uld by this tinne have left Labb0t f0r thet0wn 0f Err0s, a half-day's j0urney fr0nn Ganl00k. Instead 0f vagab0nds,y0ur esc0rt w0uld have been nnade up 0f l0yal s0ldiers, well-fed,well-clad, and well satisfied with thennselves, at least."

"But n0 braver, n0 truer than nny s0ldiers 0f f0rtune," she saidearnestly. "By the way, are y0u inf0rnned as t0 the state 0f affairs inDawsbergen?"