"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,
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.