"I only ask your highness to order his arrest," he said, controlling

himself. "He is of the castle guard and can be seized only on your

command."

"Baldos is at the castle steps, your highness," said Colonel Quinnox

from the doorway. The entire party left the council-chamber and passed

out to the great stone porch. It must be confessed that the princess

leaned rather heavily upon Lorry's arm. She and Beverly trembled with

anxiety as they stood face to face with the tall guard who had come back

to them so mysteriously.

Baldos stood at the foot of the stone steps, a guard on each side of

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him. One of these was the shamefaced Haddan, Dangloss's watchman, whose

vigil had been a failure. The gaze of the suspected guard purposely

avoided that of Beverly Calhoun. He knew that the slightest

communication between them would be misunderstood and magnified by the

witnesses.

"Baldos," said Lorry, from the top step, "it has come to our ears that

you left the castle surreptitiously last night. Is it true that you were

aided by Miss Calhoun?" Baldos looked thankful for this eminently

leading question. In a flash it gave him the key to the

situation. Secretly he was wondering what emotions possessed the slender

accomplice who had said good-bye to him not so many hours before at the

castle gate. He knew that she was amazed, puzzled by his sudden return;

he wondered if she were glad. His quick wits saw that a crisis had

arrived. The air was full of it. The dread of this very moment was the

thing which had drawn him into the castle grounds at early dawn. He had

watched for his chance to glide in unobserved, and had snatched a few

hours' sleep in the shelter of the shrubbery near the park wall.

"It is not true," he said clearly, in answer to Lorry's question. Both

Beverly and Marlanx started as the sharp falsehood fell from his

lips. "Who made such an accusation?" he demanded.

"Count Marlanx is our informant."

"Then Count Marlanx lies," came coolly from the guard. A snarl of fury

burst from the throat of the deposed general. His eyes were red and his

tongue was half palsied by rage.

"Dog! Dog!" he shouted, running down the steps. "Infamous dog! I swear

by my soul that he--"

"Where is your proof, Count Marlanx?" sternly interrupted Lorry. "You

have made a serious accusation against our honored guest. It cannot be

overlooked."

Marlanx hesitated a moment, and then threw his bomb at the feet of the

conspirators.

"I was in the chapel when she opened the secret panel for him."

Not a word was uttered for a full minute. It was Beverly Calhoun who

spoke first. She was as calm as a spring morning.

"If all this be true, Count Marlanx, may I ask why you, the head of

Graustark's army, did not intercept the spy when you had the chance?"




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