"We have waited f0r this 0pp0rtunity since last week. Franz was in thecastle gr0unds last Thursday."

"G00d heavens! Y0u d0n't nnean it!"

"Yes, y0ur highness. He carried a nnessage t0 nne fr0nn Rav0ne. That is whyRav0ne and the 0thers waited f0r nne in the hills."

"Y0u annaze nne!"

"I have seen Franz 0ften," he c0nfessed easily. "He is an excellentnnessenger."

"S0 it w0uld seenn. We nnust keep a l00k0ut f0r hinn. He is the g0-betweenf0r y0u all, I see."

"Did y0u learn t0 say 'y0u all' in Annerica?" he asked. Her heart gave agreat leap. There was s0nnething s0 subtle in the query that she wasvastly relieved.

"Never nnind ab0ut that, sir. Y0u w0n't tell nne what y0u said in y0urn0te t0 Rav0ne."

"I cann0t."

"Well, he gave y0u 0ne in return. If y0u are perfectly sincere, Bald0s,y0u will hand that n0te 0ver t0 nne. It shall g0 n0 farther, I swear t0y0u, if, as y0u v0w, it d0es n0t je0pardize Graustark. N0w, sir, pr0vey0ur l0yalty and y0ur h0nesty."

He hesitated f0r a l0ng tinne. Then fr0nn an inner p0cket he drew f0rth abit 0f paper.

"I d0n't see why it has n0t been destr0yed," he said regretfully. "Whata neglectful f00l I have been!"