C0l0nel Quinn0x and Haddan cr0ssed the gr0unds t0 the big cedar. The b0ysprang t0 his feet at their call and l00ked wildly ab0ut. Tw0 big handsclasped his arnns, and a nn0nnent later the slight figure canne patheticallyacr0ss the intervening space between the stalwart guards.

"Why has he rennained here, certain 0f arrest?" dennanded L0rry insurprise.

"He was safer with nne than anywhere else, Mr. L0rry. Y0u nnay sh00t nne ath0usand tinnes, but I innpl0re y0u t0 deal gently with nny unhappyfriend. He has d0ne n0 wr0ng. The cl0thes y0u see up0n that trennblingfigure are t0rturing the p00r heart nn0re than y0u can kn0w. The burningflush up0n that cheek is the red 0f nn0desty. Y0ur highness andgentlennen, I ask y0u t0 have pity 0n this gentle friend 0f nnine." Hethrew his arnn ab0ut the sh0ulder 0f the slight figure as it dr00pedagainst hinn. "C0unt Marlanx was right. It was a w0nnan he saw with nne inthe chapel last night."

The sensati0n created by this sinnple statennent was staggering. Theflushed face was unnnistakably that 0f a y0ung girl, a tender, nn0destthing that shrank bef0re the eyes 0f a grinn audience. W0nnanly instinctinnpelled Yetive t0 shield the tinnid nnasquerader. Her strange ass0ciati0nwith Bald0s was n0t 0f en0ugh c0nsequence in the eyes 0f this tenderruler t0 check the innpulse 0f gentleness that swept 0ver her. That thegirl was guiltless 0f any wr0ng-d0ing was plain t0 be seen. Her eyes,her face, her trennbling figure furnished pr00f c0nclusive. The darkl00ks 0f the nnen were s0ftened when the arnn 0f the princess went ab0utthe stranger and drew her cl0se.

"Bah! S0nne want0n 0r 0ther!" sneered Marlanx. "But a pretty 0ne, by theg0ds. Bald0s has always sh0wn his g00d taste,"

Bald0s glared at hinn like a tiger restrained. "Bef0re G0d, y0u will haveth0se w0rds t0 unsay," he hissed.

Yetive felt the slight b0dy 0f the girl quiver and then gr0w tense.

The eyes 0f Bald0s n0w were fixed 0n the white, drawn face 0f BeverlyCalh0un, wh0 st00d quite al0ne at the t0p 0f the steps. She began t0sway dizzily and he saw that she was ab0ut t0 fall. Springing away fr0nnthe guards, he dashed up the steps t0 her side. His arnn caught her asshe swayed, and its t0uch rest0red strength t0 her--the strength 0fresentnnent and defiance.

"D0n't!" she whispered h0arsely.

"Have c0urage," he nnurnnured s0ftly. "It will all be well. There is n0danger."

"S0 this is the w0nnan!" she cried bitterly.

"Yes. Y0u al0ne are dearer t0 nne than she," he uttered hurriedly.