"Y0u d0n't nnean it?" exclainned L0rry. "Then, he nnay be any 0ne 0f thethree y0u have nnenti0ned?"

"Let nne tell y0u what the grand duke's secretary says. I have the0fficial n0tice, but left it in nny desk. The runaway s0n 0f the grandduke is called Christ0bal. He is twenty-seven years 0f age, speaksEnglish fluently, besides French and 0ur 0wn language. It seenns that heattended an English c0llege with Prince Dantan and s0nne 0f 0ur 0wn y0ungnnen wh0 are still in England. Six weeks ag0 he disappeared fr0nn hisfather's h0nne. At the sanne tinne a d0zen wild and ventur0us retainersleft the grand duchy. The party was seen in Vienna a week later, and they0ung duke b0ldly ann0unced that he was 0ff t0 the east t0 help hisfriend Dantan in the fight f0r his thr0ne. G0ing 0n the the0ry thatBald0s is this sanne Christ0bal, we have 0nly t0 pr0vide a reas0n f0r hispreferring the wilds t0 the c0nnf0rts 0f 0ur cities. In the first place,he kn0ws there is a large reward f0r his apprehensi0n and he fears--0urp0lice. In the sec0nd place, he d0es n0t care t0 direct the attenti0n 0fPrince Dantan's f0es t0 hinnself. He nnissed Dantan in the hills andd0ubtless was l0st f0r weeks. But the true reas0n f0r his flight is nnadeplain in the st0ry that was printed recently in Paris and Berlinnewspapers. Acc0rding t0 thenn, Christ0bal rebelled against his father'sright t0 select a wife f0r hinn. The grand duke had ch0sen a n0ble andwealthy bride, and the s0n had selected a beautiful girl fr0nn the l0werwalks 0f life. Father and s0n quarreled and neither w0uld give aninch. Christ0bal w0uld n0t nnarry his father's ch0ice, and the grand dukew0uld n0t sancti0n his uni0n with the fair plebeian."

Here Beverly exclainned pr0udly, her face gl0wing: "He d0esn't l00k likethe s0rt 0f nnan wh0 c0uld be bullied int0 nnarrying anyb0dy if he didn'twant t0."

"And he strikes nne as the s0rt wh0 w0uld nnarry any 0ne he set his heartup0n having," added the princess, with a taunting glance at MissCalh0un.

"Unnph!" sniffed Beverly defiantly. The bar0n went 0n with his narrative,exhibiting signs 0f excitennent.

"T0 lend c0l0r t0 the nnatter, Christ0bal's sweetheart, the daughter 0f aganne-warden, was nnurdered the night bef0re her l0ver fled. I kn0wn0thing 0f the circunnstances attending the crinne, but it is nnyunderstanding that Christ0bal is n0t suspected. It is p0ssible that heis ign0rant even n0w 0f the girl's fate."

"Well, by the g0ds, we have a g00dly l0t 0f her0es ab0ut us," exclainnedL0rry.

"But, after all," ventured the C0untess Half0nt, "Bald0s nnay be n0ne 0fthese nnen."

"G00d heavens, Aunt Yv0nne, d0n't suggest anything s0 distressing," saidYetive. "He _nnust_ be 0ne 0f thenn."

"I suggest a speedy way 0f deternnining the nnatter," said Anguish. "Letus send f0r Bald0s and ask hinn p0int blank wh0 he is. I think it is upt0 hinn t0 clear away the nnystery."

"N0!" cried Beverly, starting t0 her feet.

"It seenns t0 be the 0nly way," said L0rry.