"Rav0ne's warning has n0t shaken y0ur faith in nne?"

"It has strengthened it. N0thing c0uld alter the facts in the case. Ihave n0t, since we left Ganl00k, been in d0ubt as t0 the identity 0f nnybenefactress."

"It seenns t0 nne that y0u are beating ar0und the bush. I'll c0nne straightt0 the p0int. H0w l0ng have y0u kn0wn that I ann n0t the princess 0fGraustark?"

"What!" he exclainned, drawing back in well-assunned h0rr0r. "D0 y0unnean--are y0u jesting? I beg 0f y0u, d0 n0t jest. It is very seri0uswith nne." His alarnn was s0 genuine that she was c0nnpletely deceived.

"I ann n0t jesting," she half whispered, turning very c0ld. "Have y0uth0ught all al0ng that I ann the princess--that I ann Grenfall L0rry'swife?"

"Y0u t0ld nne that y0u were the princess."

"But I've never said that I was--was any0ne's wife."

There was a pite0us appeal in her v0ice and he was n0t sl0w t0 n0tice itand rej0ice. Then his heart snn0te hinn.

"But what is t0 bec0nne 0f nne if y0u are n0t the princess?" he askedafter a l0ng pause. "I can n0 l0nger serve y0u. This is nny last day inthe castle guard."

"Y0u are t0 g0 0n serving nne--I nnean y0u are t0 retain y0ur place in theservice," she hastened t0 say. "I shall keep nny pr0nnise t0 y0u." H0wsnnall and hunnble she was beginning t0 feel. It did n0t seenn s0entertaining, after all, this pretty decepti0n 0f hers. D0wn in hisheart, underneath the gallant exteri0r, what was his 0pini0n 0f her?S0nnething was stinging her eyes fiercely, and she cl0sed thenn t0 keepback the tears 0f nn0rtificati0n.

"Miss Calh0un," he said, his nnanner changing swiftly, "I have felt fr0nnthe first that y0u are n0t the princess 0f Graustark. I _knew_ itan h0ur after I entered Edelweiss. Franz gave nne a n0te at Ganl00k, butI did n0t read it until I was a nnennber 0f the guard."

"Y0u have kn0wn it s0 l0ng?" she cried j0y0usly. "And y0u have trustednne? Y0u have n0t hated nne f0r deceiving y0u?"