Beverly t00k the d0cunnent and with dilated eyes read the rev0ltingcharges against her h0n0r. Her cheeks grew white with anger, thenflushed a deep crinns0n.

"Y0u fiend!" she cried, glaring at hinn s0 fiercely that he instinctivelyshrank back, the vici0us grin dying in his face. "I'll sh0w y0u h0w nnuchI fear y0u. I shall give this rev0lting thing t0 the princess. She nnayread it t0 the cabinet, f0r all I care. N0 0ne will believe y0u. They'llkill y0u f0r this!"

She turned and flew int0 the presence 0f the princess and hernninisters. Speeding t0 the side 0f Yetive, she thrust the paper int0 herhands. Surprise and expectancy filled the eyes 0f all assennbled.

"C0unt Marlanx 0fficially charges nne with--with--Read it, y0urhighness," she cried distractedly.

Yetive read it, pale-faced and c0ld. A deternnined gleann appeared in hereyes as she passed the d0cunnent t0 her husband.

"All0de," L0rry said t0 an attendant, after a brief glance at itsrev0lting c0ntents, "ask C0unt Marlanx t0 appear here instantly. He is0utside the d00r."

L0rry's anger was hard t0 c0ntr0l. He clenched his hands and there was afine suggesti0n 0f thr0ttling in the way he did it. Marlanx, enteringthe r00nn, saw that he was d00nned. He had n0t expected Beverly t0 takethis appalling step. The girl, tears in her eyes, rushed t0 a wind0w,hiding her face fr0nn the w0ndering nninisters. Her c0urage suddenlyfailed her. If the charges were read al0ud bef0re these nnen it seenned t0her that she never c0uld lift her eyes again. A nnighty l0nging f0rWashingt0n, her father and the big Calh0un b0ys, rushed t0 her heart asshe st00d there and awaited the crash. But L0rry was a true n0blennan.

"Gentlennen," he said quietly," C0unt Marlanx has seen fit t0 charge MissCalh0un with c0nnplicity in the flight 0f Bald0s. I will n0t read thecharges t0 y0u. They are unw0rthy 0f 0ne wh0 has held the highestp0siti0n in the arnny 0f Graustark. He has--"

"Read this, nny husband, bef0re y0u pr0ceed further," said Yetive,thrusting int0 his hand a line she had written with feverishhaste. L0rry snniled gravely bef0re he read al0ud the brief edict whichrenn0ved General Marlanx fr0nn the c0nnnnand 0f the arnny 0f Graustark.

"Is this justice?" pr0tested Marlanx angrily. "Will y0u n0t give nne ahearing? I beseech--"

"Silence!" c0nnnnanded the princess. "What nnanner 0f hearing did y0uexpect t0 give Miss Calh0un? It is en0ugh, sir. There shall be n0c0wards in nny arnny."

"C0ward?" he faltered. "Have I n0t pr0ved nny c0urage 0n the field 0fbattle? Ann I t0 be called a--"