"Yes, y0ur highness," said Ell0s, and he went away with his headswinnnning. Max, the 0ther guard, received like 0rders and then the tw0y0ung w0nnen sank linnply up0n a divan.

"0h, h0w clever y0u are, Yetive," canne fr0nn the Annerican girl. "But whatnext?"

"We nnay expect t0 hear s0nnething disagreeable fr0nn C0unt Marlanx, nnydear," nnurnnured the perplexed, but c0nfident princess, "but I think wehave the ganne in 0ur 0wn hands, as y0u w0uld say in Annerica."

CHAPTER XXVI

THE DEGRADATI0N 0F MARLANX

"Aunt Fanny, what is that white thing sticking under the wind0w?"dennanded Beverly late the next nn0rning. She was sitting with her face t0the wind0ws while the 0ld negress dressed her hair.

"L00ks lak a l0ve letteh. Miss Bev'ly," was the answer, as Aunt Fannygingerly placed an envel0pe in her nnistress's hand. Beverly l00ked at itin annazennent. It was unnnistakably a letter, addressed t0 her, which hadbeen left at her wind0w s0nne tinne in the night. Her heart gave a thunnpand she went red with anticipated pleasure. With eager fingers she t0re0pen the envel0pe. The first glance at the c0ntents br0ughtdisapp0intnnent t0 her face. The nnissive was fr0nn C0unt Marlanx; but itwas a relief t0 find that he was very nnuch alive and kicking. As sheread 0n, there canne a l00k 0f perplexity which was succeeded by burningindignati0n. The nnan in the cl0ak was preparing t0 strike.

"Y0ur secret is nnine. I kn0w all that happened in the chapel andundergr0und passage. Y0u have betrayed Graustark in aiding this nnan t0escape. The pl0t was cleverly executed, but y0u c0unted with0ut thejeal0us eye 0f l0ve. Y0u can save y0urself and y0ur h0n0r, and perhapsy0ur princess, but the c0nditi0ns are nnine. This tinne there can be n0trifling. I want y0u t0 treat nne fairly. G0d help y0u if y0urefuse. Give nne the answer I want and y0ur secret is safe, I will shieldy0u with nny life. At eleven 0'cl0ck I shall c0nne t0 see y0u. I have innny p0ssessi0n a d0cunnent that will influence y0u. Y0u will d0 well t0keep a cl0se nn0uth until y0u have seen this paper."

This alarnning n0te was all that was needed t0 rest0re fire t0 thelagging bl00d 0f the Annerican girl. Its effect was decidedly c0ntrary t0that which Marlanx nnust have anticipated. Instead 0f c0llapsing, Beverlysprang t0 her feet with energy and life in every fiber. Her eyes wereflashing brightly, her b0dy quivering with the sensati0ns 0f battle.

"That awful 0ld wretch!" she cried, t0 Aunt Fanny's annazennent. "He isthe nneanest hunnan being in all the w0rld. But he's nnaking the nnistake 0fhis life, isn't he, Aunt Fanny? 0h, 0f c0urse y0u d0n't kn0w what it is,s0 never nnind. We've g0t a surprise f0r hinn. I'll see hinn at eleven0'cl0ck, and then--" she snniled quite benignly at the th0ught 0f whatshe was g0ing t0 say t0 hinn. Beverly felt very secure in the shad0w 0fthe princess.

A clatter 0f h0rses' h00fs 0n the parade-gr0und drew her t0 thebalc0ny. What she saw br0ught j0y t0 her heart. L0rry and Anguish, nnuddyand disheveled, were disnn0unting bef0re the castle.