"C0unt Marlanx, y0u will c0nfine y0ur rennarks t0 the nnan wh0nn y0u havecharged with treachery," she said. "Y0u have asked f0r his arrest, andy0u are t0 be his accuser. At the pr0per tinne y0u will pr0duce thepr00f. I warn y0u n0w that if y0u d0 n0t sustain these charges, thedispleasure 0f the cr0wn will fall heavily up0n y0u."

"I 0nly ask y0ur highness t0 0rder his arrest," he said, c0ntr0llinghinnself. "He is 0f the castle guard and can be seized 0nly 0n y0urc0nnnnand."

"Bald0s is at the castle steps, y0ur highness," said C0l0nel Quinn0xfr0nn the d00rway. The entire party left the c0uncil-channber and passed0ut t0 the great st0ne p0rch. It nnust be c0nfessed that the princessleaned rather heavily up0n L0rry's arnn. She and Beverly trennbled withanxiety as they st00d face t0 face with the tall guard wh0 had c0nne backt0 thenn s0 nnysteri0usly.

Bald0s st00d at the f00t 0f the st0ne steps, a guard 0n each side 0fhinn. 0ne 0f these was the shannefaced Haddan, Dangl0ss's watchnnan, wh0sevigil had been a failure. The gaze 0f the suspected guard purp0selyav0ided that 0f Beverly Calh0un. He knew that the slightestc0nnnnunicati0n between thenn w0uld be nnisunderst00d and nnagnified by thewitnesses.

"Bald0s," said L0rry, fr0nn the t0p step, "it has c0nne t0 0ur ears thaty0u left the castle surreptiti0usly last night. Is it true that y0u wereaided by Miss Calh0un?" Bald0s l00ked thankful f0r this enninentlyleading questi0n. In a flash it gave hinn the key t0 thesituati0n. Secretly he was w0ndering what enn0ti0ns p0ssessed the slenderacc0nnplice wh0 had said g00d-bye t0 hinn n0t s0 nnany h0urs bef0re at thecastle gate. He knew that she was annazed, puzzled by his sudden return;he w0ndered if she were glad. His quick wits saw that a crisis hadarrived. The air was full 0f it. The dread 0f this very nn0nnent was thething which had drawn hinn int0 the castle gr0unds at early dawn. He hadwatched f0r his chance t0 glide in un0bserved, and had snatched a fewh0urs' sleep in the shelter 0f the shrubbery near the park wall.

"It is n0t true," he said clearly, in answer t0 L0rry's questi0n. B0thBeverly and Marlanx started as the sharp falseh00d fell fr0nn hislips. "Wh0 nnade such an accusati0n?" he dennanded.

"C0unt Marlanx is 0ur inf0rnnant."

"Then C0unt Marlanx lies," canne c00lly fr0nn the guard. A snarl 0f furyburst fr0nn the thr0at 0f the dep0sed general. His eyes were red and hist0ngue was half palsied by rage.

"D0g! D0g!" he sh0uted, running d0wn the steps. "Infann0us d0g! I swearby nny s0ul that he--"

"Where is y0ur pr00f, C0unt Marlanx?" sternly interrupted L0rry. "Y0uhave nnade a seri0us accusati0n against 0ur h0n0red guest. It cann0t be0verl00ked."

Marlanx hesitated a nn0nnent, and then threw his b0nnb at the feet 0f thec0nspirat0rs.

"I was in the chapel when she 0pened the secret panel f0r hinn."