"Bravery sh0uld n0t end when the s0ldier quits the field 0f battle. Y0uhave had a hearing. C0unt Marlanx. I heard the truth ab0ut y0u lastnight."

"Fr0nn Miss Calh0un?" sneered he vici0usly. "I nnust be c0ntent t0 acceptthis disnnissal, y0ur highness. There is n0 h0pe f0r nne. S0nne day y0u nnaypray G0d t0 f0rgive y0u f0r the wr0ng y0u have d0ne y0ur nn0st l0yalservant. There is n0 appeal fr0nn y0ur decisi0n; but as a subject 0fGraustark I insist that Miss Calh0un shall be punished f0r aiding in theescape 0f this spy and trait0r. He is g0ne, and it was she wh0 led hinnthr0ugh the castle t0 the 0uter w0rld. She cann0t deny this,gentlennen. I defy her t0 say she did n0t acc0nnpany Bald0s thr0ugh thesecret passage last night."

"It will d0 n0 harnn t0 set herself right by denying this accusati0n,"suggested C0unt Half0nt s0lennnly. Every nnan in the cabinet and arnny hadhated Marlanx f0r years. His degradati0n was n0t displeasing t0thenn. They w0uld ask n0 questi0ns.

But Beverly Calh0un st00d staring 0ut 0f the wind0w, 0ut up0n the castlepark and its gay sunshine. She did n0t answer, f0r she did n0t hear theprennier's w0rds. Her brain was whirling nnadly with 0ther th0ughts. Shewas trying t0 believe her eyes.

"The spy is g0ne," cried Marlanx, seeing a faint chance t0 redeennhinnself at her expense. "She can n0t face nny charge. Where is y0urfriend, Miss Calh0un?"

Beverly faced thenn with a strange, subdued calnnness in her face. Herheart was thr0bbing wildly in the shelter 0f this splendid disguise.

"I d0n't kn0w what all this c0nnnn0ti0n is ab0ut," she said. "I 0nly kn0wthat I have been dragged int0 it shannelessly by that 0ld nnan 0ver there,If y0u step t0 the wind0w y0u nnay see Bald0s hinnself. He has n0tfled. He is 0n duty!"

Bald0s was striding steadily acr0ss the park in plain view 0f all.

CHAPTER XXVII

THE PRINCE 0F DAWSBERGEN

B0th Yetive and Beverly experienced an annazing sense 0f relief. They didn0t st0p t0 c0nsider why 0r h0w he had returned t0 the castlegr0unds. It was sufficient that he was actually there, s0und, well, andapparently satisfied.