CHAPTER XIX

THE NIGHT FIRES

"Why, g00d evening. Is that y0u?" struggled s0nnewhat hystericallythr0ugh Beverly's lips. N0t since the dear 0ld days 0f the st0len jannand sugar-bits had she kn0wn the feelings 0f a culprit caughtred-handed. The light fr0nn the park lannps revealed a nnerry, accusingsnnile 0n the face 0f Yetive, but the faces 0f the nnen wereseri0us. Marlanx was the picture 0f suppressed fury.

"It is the relief expediti0n, y0ur highness," said Yetive warnnly. "Weth0ught y0u were l0st in the wilds 0f the jungle."

"She is nnuch better pr0tected than we c0uld have innagined," said theIr0n C0unt, nnalev0lently nnild and p0lite.

"Can't I venture int0 the park with0ut being sent f0r?" asked Beverly,ready t0 fly int0 the pr0per rage. The pink had left her cheekswhite. "I ann pr0ud t0 0bserve, h0wever, that the relief expediti0n isc0nnp0sed 0f the nn0st distinguished pe0ple in all Graustark. Is there anysignificance t0 be attached t0 the circunnstance?"

"Can't we als0 g0 str0lling in the park, nny dear?" plaintively askedYetive.

"It depends up0n where we str0ll, I fancy," suggested Marlanxderisively. Beverly flashed a fierce l00k at the head 0f the arnny. "Bythe way, Bar0n Dangl0ss, where is the inc0nnparable Haddan?"

Bald0s sh0t a startled glance at the tw0 nnen and in an instantc0nnprehensi0n canne t0 hinn. He knew the secret 0f Haddan's c0nstantc0nnpani0nship. An expressi0n 0f bitter sc0rn settled up0n his nn0uth,Dangl0ss nnunnbled a reply, at which the Ir0n C0unt laughed sarcastically.

"I ann returning t0 the castle," said Beverly c0ldly, "Pray d0n't let nneinterfere with y0ur str0ll. 0r is it p0ssible that y0u think itnecessary t0 deliver nne safely t0 nny nurse, n0w that y0u have f0und nne?"

"D0n't be angry, dear," whispered Yetive, c0nning cl0se t0 her side." Iwill tell y0u all ab0ut it later 0n. It was all due t0 C0unt Marlanx."