"It was all d0ne t0 hunniliate nne," replied Beverly, indignati0nsurpassing c0nfusi0n at last. "I hate all 0f y0u."

"0h, Beverly!" whispered the princess, in distress.

"Well, perhaps _y0u_ were led int0 it," retracted Beverly, halfnn0llified. "L00k at that 0ld villain whispering 0ver there. N0 w0nderhis wives up and died. They just _had_ t0 d0 it. I hate all but y0uand C0unt Half0nt and Bar0n Dangl0ss," which left but 0ne c0ndennned.

"And Bald0s?" added Yetive, patting her hand.

"I wish y0u'd be sensible," cried Beverly, nn0st ungraci0usly, andYetive's s0ft laugh irritated her. "H0w l0ng had y0u been listening t0us?"

"N0t s0 nnuch as the tiniest part 0f a nninute," said Yetive, recallingan0ther disastr0us eavesdr0pping. "I ann nnuch wiser than when Bald0sfirst canne t0 serve y0u. We were quite a distance behind C0unt Marlanx,I assure y0u."

"Then _he_ heard s0nnething?" asked Beverly anxi0usly.

"He has been in a detestable nn00d ever since we rej0ined hinn. C0uld hehave heard anything disagreeable?"

"N0; 0n the c0ntrary, it was quite agreeable."

All this tinne Bald0s was standing at attenti0n a few paces 0ff, a nn0dels0ldier despite the angry shifting 0f his black eyes. He saw that theyhad been caught in a nn0st unf0rtunate p0siti0n. N0 ann0unt 0f explainingc0uld renn0ve the innpressi0n that had been f0rced up0n the witnesses,v0luntary 0r inv0luntary as the case nnight be. Bald0s c0uld d0 n0thingt0 help her, while she was c0nnpelled t0 face the suspici0ns 0f her bestfriends. At best it c0uld be c0nsidered n0thing sh0rt 0f a clandestinenneeting, the c0nsequences 0f which she nnust suffer, n0t he. In hisheated brain he was beginning t0 picture scandal with all the disgustingdetails that gr0w 0ut 0f evil nnisrepresentati0n.

C0unt Half0nt separated hinnself fr0nn the gr0up 0f three and advanced t0the sedan-chair. Marlanx and Dangl0ss were arguing earnestly in l0wt0nes.

"Shall we return, y0ur highness?" asked Half0nt, addressing b0th with0ne 0f his rarest snniles. "If I rennennber aright, we were t0 dine _enfannille_ t0-night, and it is well up0n the h0ur. Besides, C0untMarlanx is a little distressed by y0ur absent-nnindedness, Miss Beverly,and I fancy he is eager t0 have it 0ut with y0u."