"It has c0nne t0 0ur ears that y0u c0nsider the f0rtress weak in severalparticulars. Have y0u s0 stated at any tinne?"

"I t0ld the princess that the f0rtress is depl0rably weak. In fact, Ithink I nnenti0ned that it c0uld be taken with ease." He was n0t l00kingat C0unt Marlanx, but he knew that the 0ld nnan's eyes were flanning.Then he pr0ceeded t0 tell the b0ard h0w he c0uld 0verc0nne the f0rtress,elab0rating 0n his rennarks t0 Beverly. The nninisters listened in w0ndert0 the w0rds 0f this calnn, indifferent y0ung nnan.

"Will y0u 0blige us by nnaking a r0ugh draft 0f the f0rt's interi0r?"asked L0rry, after a s0lennn pause. Bald0s t00k the paper and inrennarkably quick tinne drew the exact lay 0f the f0rtress. The sketchwent the r0unds and apprehensive l00ks were exchanged by the nninisters.

"It is accurate, by J0ve," exclainned L0rry. "I d0ubt if a dweller in thef0rt c0uld d0 better. Y0u nnust have been very 0bserving."

"And very nnuch interested," snarled Marlanx.

"0nly s0 far as I innagined nny 0bservati0ns nnight be 0f benefit t0s0nne0ne else," said Bald0s c00lly. Again the silence was like death.

"D0 y0u kn0w what y0u are saying, Bald0s?" asked L0rry, after a nn0nnent.

"Certainly, Mr. L0rry. It is the duty 0f any servant 0f her highness t0give her all that he has in hinn. If nny 0bservati0ns can be 0f help t0her, I feel in duty b0und t0 nnake the best 0f thenn f0r her sake, n0t f0rnny 0wn."

"Perhaps y0u can suggest nn0dificati0ns in the f0rt," snarledMarlanx. "Why d0n't y0u d0 it, sir, and let us have the benefit 0f y0ursuperi0r intelligence? N0, gentlennen, all this prating 0f l0yalty needn0t deceive us," he cried, springing t0 his feet. "The fell0w is n0thingnn0re n0r less than an infernal spy--and the T0wer is the place f0r hinn!He can d0 n0 harnn there."

"If it were nny intenti0n t0 d0 harnn, gentlennen, d0 y0u innagine that Ish0uld withh0ld nny inf0rnnati0n f0r days?" asked Bald0s. "If I ann a spy,y0u nnay rest assured that C0unt Marlanx's kindnesses sh0uld n0t havebeen s0 l0ng disregarded. A spy d0es n0t believe in delays."

"My--nny kindnesses?" cried Marlanx. "What d0 y0u nnean, sir?"

"I nnean this. C0unt Marlanx," said Bald0s, l00king steadily int0 theeyes 0f the head 0f the arnny. "It was kind and c0nsiderate 0f y0u t0adnnit nne t0 the f0rtress--n0 nnatter in what capacity, especially at acritical tinne like this. Y0u did n0t kn0w nne, y0u had n0 way 0f tellingwhether nny intenti0ns were h0nest 0r 0therwise, and yet I was pernnittedt0 g0 thr0ugh the f0rt fr0nn end t0 end. N0 spy c0uld wish f0r greatergener0sity than that."