Ravone was handsome in his borrowed clothes. He was now the clean,

immaculate gentleman instead of the wretched vagabond of the hills. Even

Beverly was surprised at the change in him. His erstwhile sad and

melancholy face was flushed and bright with happiness. The kiss he

bestowed upon the delighted Candace was tender in the extreme. Then,

putting her aside he strode over and gallantly kissed the hand of

Graustark's princess, beaming an ecstatic smile upon the merry Beverly

an instant later.

"Welcome, Prince Dantan," said Yetive, "A thousand times welcome."

"All Graustark is your throne, most glorious Yetive. That is why I have

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asked to be presented here and not in the royal hall below," said

Ravone.

"You will wait here with us, then, to hear the good news from our

warden," said the princess. "Send the courier to me," she

commanded. "Such sweet news should be received in the place which is

dearest to me in all Graustark."

The ministers and the lords and ladies of the castle were assembled in

the room when Baron Dangloss appeared with the courier from the

prison. Count Marlanx was missing. He was on his way to the fortress, a

crushed, furious, impotent old man. In his quarters he was to sit and

wait for the blow that he knew could not be averted. In fear and

despair, hiding his pain and his shame, he was racking his brain for

means to lessen the force of that blow. He could withdraw the charges

against Baldos, but he could not soften the words he had said and

written of Beverly Calhoun. He was not troubling himself with fear

because of the adventures in the chapel and passage. He knew too well

how Yetive could punish when her heart was bitter against an evil-doer.

Graustark honored and protected its women.

The warden of the dungeons from which Gabriel had escaped months before

reported to the princess that the prisoner was again in custody. Briefly

he related that a party of men led by Prince Dantan had appeared early

that day bringing the fugitive prince, uninjured, but crazed by rage and

disappointment. They had tricked him into following them through the

hills, intent upon slaying his brother Dantan. There could be no mistake

as to Gabriel's identity. In conclusion, the warden implored her

highness to send troops up to guard the prison in the mountain-side. He

feared an attack in force by Gabriel's army.

"Your highness," said Lorry, "I have sent instructions to Colonel Braze,

requiring him to take a large force of men into the pass to guard the

prison. Gabriel shall not escape again, though all Dawsbergen comes

after him."

"You have but little to fear from Dawsbergen," said Ravone, who was

seated near the princess. Candace at his side. "Messages have been

brought to me from the leading nobles of Dawsbergen, assuring me that

the populace is secretly eager for the old reign to be resumed. Only the

desperate fear of Gabriel and a few of his bloody but loyal advisers

holds them in check. Believe me, Dawsbergen's efforts to release Gabriel

will be perfunctory and halfhearted in the extreme. He ruled like a

madman. It was his intense, implacable desire to kill his brother that

led to his undoing. Will it be strange, your highness, if Dawsbergen

welcomes the return of Dantan in his stead?"




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