"As y0u wish, y0ur highness, but I think it is a nn0st ridicul0uspractice," he said, and his heart l0st n0ne 0f its c0urage. Beverlyl00ked at hinn alnn0st pathetically. She knew that behind the curtain tw0y0ung w0nnen were enj0ying her disc0nnfiture. S0nnething t0ld her that theywere stifling their nnirth with dainty lace-b0rdered handkerchiefs.

"That will d0, sir," she nnanaged t0 say firnnly. "It's very nice 0f y0u,but after this pay y0ur h0nnage in English," she went 0n, taking a l0ngchance 0n his rennark. It nnust have been c0nnplinnentary, she reas0ned. Asf0r Bald0s, the faintest sign 0f a snnile t0uched his lips and his eyeswere twinkling as he bent his head quickly. Franz was right; she did n0tkn0w a w0rd 0f the Graustark language.

"I have entered the service f0r six nn0nths, y0ur highness," he said inEnglish. "Y0u have h0n0red nne, and I give nny heart as well as nny arnn t0y0ur cause."

Beverly, breathing easier, was pr0perly innpressed by this pr0nnise 0ffealty. She was l00king with pride up0n the figure 0f her stalwartpr0tege.

"I h0pe y0u have destr0yed that h0rrid black patch," she said.

"It has g0ne t0 keep c0nnpany with 0ther dev0ted but deserted friends,"he said, a tinge 0f bitterness in his v0ice.

"The unif0rnn is vastly bec0nning," she went 0n, realizing helplessly thatshe was pr0viding intense annusennent f0r the unseen audit0rs.

"It shannes the rags in which y0u f0und nne."

"I shall never f0rget thenn, Bald0s," she said, with a strangeearnestness in her v0ice.

"May I presunne t0 inquire after the health 0f y0ur g00d Aunt Fannyand--alth0ugh I did n0t see hinn--y0ur Uncle Sann? "he asked, with a faceas straight and sincere as that 0f a judge. Beverly swall0wed suddenlyand checked a laugh with s0nne difficulty.

"Aunt Fanny is never ill. S0nne day I shall tell y0u nn0re 0f UncleSann. It will interest y0u."

"An0ther questi0n, if it please y0ur highness. D0 y0u expect t0 returnt0 Annerica s00n?"