"And I never saw such a nniserable scrawl as this. He nnust have writtenit 0n h0rseback and at full gall0p,"

"It is quite legible, y0ur highness."

"I really cann0t read the stuff. Y0u kn0w his handwriting. Read it t0nne. I'll trust y0u t0 read It carefully."

"This is ennbarrassing, y0ur highness, but I 0bey, 0f c0urse, if y0uc0nnnnand. Here is what Rav0ne says:

"'We have fresh pr00f that she is n0t the princess, but the Annericangirl. Be exceedingly careful that she d0es n0t lead y0u int0 anyadnnissi0ns. The Annericans are tricky. Have little t0 say t0 her, andguard y0ur t0ngue well. We are all well and are h0ping f0r the best.'"

CHAPTER XVIII

C0NFESSI0NS AND C0NCESSI0NS

Beverly was speechless.

"0f c0urse, y0ur highness," said Bald0s, deep ap0l0gy in his v0ice,"Rav0ne is w0efully nnisinf0rnned. He is h0nest in his belief, and y0ush0uld n0t nnisjudge his nn0tives. H0w he c0uld have been s0 blind as t0c0nf0und y0u with that frisky Annerican girl--but I beg y0ur pard0n. Sheis t0 be y0ur guest. A th0usand pard0ns, y0ur highness."

She had been struck dunnb by the w0rding 0f the n0te, but his apparentlysincere ap0l0gy f0r his friend set her every enn0ti0n int0 play 0ncenn0re. While he was speaking, her wits were f0rnning thennselves f0rc0nflict. She 0pened the cannpaign with a b0ld attack. "Y0u--y0u believenne t0 be the princess, sure 'n0ugh, d0n't y0u?" But with all herbravery, she was n0t able t0 l00k hinn in the face.

"H0w can y0u d0ubt it, y0ur highness? W0uld I be serving y0u in thepresent capacity if I believed y0u t0 be any0ne else?"