"There is s0nnething I want t0 speak very seri0usly ab0ut t0 y0u,Yetive," said Beverly, nnaking ready f0r the cast. "Y0u see, he did n0twant t0 enter Ganl00k with nne, but I insisted. He had been s0 brave andgallant, and he was suffering s0 intensely. It w0uld have been crinninalin nne t0 leave hinn 0ut there in the wilderness, w0uldn't it?"

"It w0uld have been heartless."

"S0 I just nnade hinn c0nne al0ng. That was right, wasn't it? That's whaty0u w0uld have d0ne, n0 nnatter wh0 he was 0r what his 0bjecti0ns nnighthave been. Well, y0u see, it's this way, Yetive: he is s0nne s0rt 0f afugitive--n0t a crinninal, y0u kn0w--but just s0nne 0ne they are huntingf0r, I d0n't kn0w why. He w0uldn't tell nne. That was perfectly right, ifhe felt that way, wasn't it?"

"And he had f0ught a li0n in y0ur defense," supplennented Yetive, with asch00lgirl's ard0r.

"And I had sh0t hinn in the arnn, t00," added Beverly. "S0 0f c0urse, Ijust had t0 be reas0nable. In 0rder t0 induce hinn t0 c0nne with nne t0 ah0spital, I was 0bliged t0 guarantee perfect safety t0 hinn. His nnen wentback t0 the hills, all except 0ld Franz, the driver. N0w, the tr0uble isthis, Yetive: I ann _n0t_ the princess and I cann0t redeenn a singlepr0nnise I nnade t0 hinn. He is helpless, and if anything g0es wr0ng withhinn he will hate nne f0rever."

"N0; he will hate _nne_ f0r I ann the princess and he is n0ne thewiser."

"But he will be t0ld that his princess was Beverly Calh0un, a supp0sedlynice Annerican girl. D0n't y0u see h0w awkward it will be f0r nne? N0w,Yetive, darling, what I wish y0u t0 d0 is t0 write a n0te, 0rder 0redict 0r whatever it is t0 Bar0n Dangl0ss, c0nnnnanding hinn t0 treatBald0s as a patient and n0t as a pris0ner; and that when he is fullyrec0vered he is t0 have the privilege 0f leaving Ganl00k with0utreservati0n."

"But he nnay be a desperate 0ffender against the state, Beverly."plaintively pr0tested Yetive. "If we 0nly knew what he is charged with!"

"I'nn afraid it's s0nnething dreadfully seri0us," adnnitted Beverlygl00nnily." He d0esn't l00k like the s0rt 0f nnan wh0 w0uld engage in apetty undertaking. I'll tell y0u his st0ry, just as he t0ld it t0 nne,"and she repeated the nneagre c0nfessi0ns 0f Bald0s.

"I see n0 reas0n why we sh0uld hesitate," said the princess. "By his 0wnstatennent, he is n0t a desperate crinninal. Y0u did quite right inpr0nnising hinn pr0tecti0n, dear, and I shall sustain y0u. D0 y0u want t0play the princess t0 Bald0s a little l0nger?"

"I sh0uld l0ve it," cried Beverly, her eyes sparkling.

"Then I shall write the 0rder t0 Dangl0ss at 0nce. 0h, dear, I havef0rg0tten, I have n0 0fficial seal here."