Beverly's face was a study in emotions. She was looking at him with

dilated eyes. Pain and disappointment were concentrated in their

expressive gray depths; indignation was struggling to master the love

and pity that had lurked in her face all along. It required but a single

glance to convince the most skeptical that she was ignorant of these

astounding movements on the part of her protege. Again every eye was

turned upon the bold, smiling guardsman.

"I have been bitterly deceived in you," said Lorry, genuine pain in his

voice. "We trusted you implicitly. I didn't think it of you,

Baldos. After all, it is honorable of you to expose so thoroughly your

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own infamy in order to acquit an innocent person who believed in

you. You did not have to come back to the castle. You might have escaped

punishment by using Miss Calhoun as a shield from her highness's

wrath. But none the less you compel me to give countenance to all that

Count Marlanx has said."

"I insist that it was Miss Calhoun who went through the panel with him,"

said Marlanx eagerly.

"If it was this boy who accompanied you, what was his excuse in

returning to the castle after you had fled?"

"He came back to watch over Miss Calhoun while she slept. It was my

sworn duty to guard her from the man who had accused her. This boy is a

member of the band to which I belong and he watched while I went forth

on a pretty business of my own. It will be useless to ask what that

business was. I will not tell. Nor will the boy. You may kill us, but

our secrets die with us. This much I will say: we have done nothing

disloyal to Graustark. You may believe me or not. It has been necessary

for me to communicate with my friends, and I found the means soon after

my arrival here. All the foxes that live in the hills have not four

legs," he concluded significantly.

"You are a marvel!" exclaimed Lorry, and there was real admiration in

his voice. "I'm sorry you were fool enough to come back and get caught

like this. Don't look surprised, gentlemen, for I believe that in your

hearts you admire him quite as much as I do." The faint smile that went

the rounds was confirmation enough. Nearly every man there had been

trained in English-speaking lands and not a word of the conversation had

been missed.

"I expected to be arrested, Mr. Lorry," said Baldos calmly. "I knew that

the warrant awaited me. I knew that my flight of last night was no

secret. I came back willingly, gladly, your highness, and now I am ready

to face my accuser. There is nothing for me to fear."




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