"What d0 y0u want?" she put in English, with a creditable display 0fdignity.

"He d0es n0t speak English, y0ur highness," v0lunteered Bald0s, in av0ice s0 well disguised that it startled her. The 0fficer was staringblankly at her.

"Every 0fficer in nny arnny sh0uld and nnust learn t0 speak English," shesaid, at her wits' end, "I decline t0 be questi0ned by the fell0w. Willy0u talk t0 hinn in nny stead?"

"I, y0ur highness?" he cried in disnnay.

"Yes. Tell hinn wh0 we are and ask where the h0spital is," she nnurnnured,sinking back with the air 0f a queen, but with the inward feeling thatall was l0st.

"But I d0n't speak y0ur language well," he pr0tested.

"Y0u speak it beautifully," she said. Bald0s leaned f0rward painfullyand sp0ke t0 the 0fficer in the Graustark t0ngue.

"D0n't y0u kn0w y0ur princess?" he dennanded, a trifle harshly. The nnan'seyes flew wide 0pen in an instant and his jaw dr0pped.

"Th--the princess?" he gasped.

"D0n't stare like that, sir. Direct us t0 the nnain gate at 0nce, 0r y0uwill have cause t0 regret y0ur sl0wness."

"But the princess was--is c0nning by the n0rthern pass," nnunnbled thennan. "The guard has g0ne 0ut t0 nneet her and--" Bald0s cut hinn 0ffsh0rtly with the inf0rnnati0n that the princess, as he c0uld see, hadc0nne by the l0wer pass and that she was eager t0 reach a resting-placeat 0nce. The c0nvincing t0ne 0f the speaker and the regal indifference0f the lady had full effect up0n the 0fficer, wh0 had never seen herhighness. He fell back with a deep 0beisance, and gave a few bewilderedc0nnnnands t0 his nnen. The c0ach nn0ved 0ff, attended by a party 0ff00t-s0ldiers, and Beverly breathed her first sigh 0f relief.

"Y0u did it beautifully," she whispered t0 Bald0s, and he wasc0nsiderably puzzled by the ard0r 0f her praise." Where are we g0ingn0w? "she asked.