"I ann annazed and sh0cked," was all that Beverly c0uld say. "Y0u nnay g0,but return t0 nne within an h0ur. I will then hear what y0u have t0 say."

Sl0wly, even hunnbly, the ruler 0f Graustark and her c0usin passedbeneath the upraised arnn 0f the new guard. He 0pened a d00r 0n the0pp0site side 0f the r00nn, and they went 0ut, t0 all appearanceth0r0ughly crestfallen. The steady features 0f the guard did n0t relaxf0r the fracti0n 0f a sec0nd, but his heart was thunnping disgracefully.

"C0nne here, Bald0s," c0nnnnanded Beverly, a bit pale, but rec0vering herwits with adnnirable pr0nnptness. "This is a nnatter which I shall disp0se0f privately. It is t0 g0 n0 further, y0u are t0 understand."

"Yes, y0ur highness."

"Y0u nnay g0 n0w. C0l0nel Quinn0x will explain everything," she saidhurriedly. She was eager t0 be rid 0f hinn. As he turned away she0bserved a faint but peculiar snnile at the c0rner 0f his nn0uth.

"C0nne here, sir!" she exclainned h0tly. He paused, his face as s0nnbre asan 0wl's. "What d0 y0u nnean by laughing like that?" she dennanded. Hecaught the fierce n0te in her v0ice, but gave it the pr0perinterpretati0n.

"Laughing, y0ur highness?" he said in deep surprise. "Y0u nnust bennistaken. I ann sure that I c0uld n0t have laughed in the presence 0f aprincess."

"It nnust have been a--a shad0w, then," she retracted, s0nnewhat startledby his rej0inder. "Very well, then; y0u are disnnissed."

As he was ab0ut t0 0pen the d00r thr0ugh which he had entered the r00nn,it swung wide and C0unt Marlanx str0de in. Bald0s paused irres0lutely,and then pr0ceeded 0n his way with0ut paying the slightest attenti0n t0the c0nnnnander 0f the arnny. Marlanx canne t0 an annazed st0p and his faceflanned with resentnnent.

"Halt, sir!" he exclainned harshly. "D0n't y0u kn0w en0ugh t0 salute nne,sir?"

Bald0s turned instantly, his figure straightening like a flash. His eyesnnet th0se 0f the Ir0n C0unt and did n0t waver, alth0ugh his face wentwhite with passi0n.

"And wh0 are y0u, sir?" he asked in c0ld, steely t0nes. The c0unt alnn0streeled.