"He is my truest friend," said Ravone, as they led Baldos away." I am

called Ravone, gentlemen, and I am content to be known by that name

until better fortune gives me the right to use another. You can hardly

expect a thing in rags to be called a prince. There is much to be

accomplished, much to be forgiven, before there is a Prince Dantan of

Dawsbergen again."

"You are faint and week," said Lorry, suddenly perceiving his

plight. "The hospitality of the castle is yours. The promise we made a

few days ago holds good. Her highness will be proud to receive you when

you are ready to come to the throne-room. I am Grenfall Lorry. Come,

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sir; rest and refresh yourself in our gladdened home. An hour ago we

were making ready to rush into battle; but your astonishing but welcome

news is calculated to change every plan we have made."

"Undoubtedly, sir, it will. Dawsbergen hardly will make a fight to

release Gabriel. He is safe in your dungeons. If they want him now, they

must come to your strongholds. They will not do it, believe me," said

Ravone simply. "Alas, I am faint and sore, as you suspect. May I lie

down for an hour or two? In that time you will have heard from your

wardens and my story will be substantiated. Then I shall be ready to

accept your hospitality as it is proffered. Outside your city gates my

humble followers lie starving. My only prayer is that you will send them

cheer and succor."

No time was lost in sending to the gates for the strollers who had

accomplished the marvel of the day. The news of Gabriel's capture was

kept from the city's inhabitants until verification came from the proper

sources, but those in control of the affairs of state were certain that

Ravone's story was true. All operations came to a standstill. The

movements of the army were checked. Everything lay quiescent under the

shock of this startling climax.

"Hang it," growled Anguish, with a quizzical grin, as Ravone departed

under the guidance of Count Halfont himself, "this knocks me

galley-west. I'd like to have had a hand in it. It must have been

great. How the devil do you think that miserable little gang of tramps

pulled it off?"

"Harry," said Lorry disgustedly, "they taught us a trick or two."

While the young princess was being cared for by Yetive's own maids in

one of the daintiest bedchambers of the castle, Beverly was engaged in

writing a brief but pointed letter to her Aunt Josephine, who was still

in St. Petersburg. She had persistently refused to visit Edelweiss, but

had written many imperative letters commanding her niece to return to

the Russian capital. Beverly now was recalling her scattered wits in the

effort to appease her aunt and her father at the same time. Major

Calhoun emphatically had ordered her to rejoin her aunt and start for

America at once. Yesterday Beverly would have begun packing for the trip

home. Now she was eager to remain in Graustark indefinitely. She was so

thrilled by joy and excitement that she scarcely could hold the pen.




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