"What was the meaning of the disturbance I witnessed this morning?" she

demanded.

Gartz hung his head. "We thought the man was crazy, your highness. He

had been telling us such monstrous lies," he mumbled.

"Are you sure they were lies?"

"Oh, quite sure, your highness. They were laughable. He said, for one

thing, that it was he who drove your highness's coach into Ganlook last

evening, when everybody knows that I had full charge of the coach and

horses."

"You are very much mistaken, Gartz," she said, distinctly. He blinked

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his eyes.

"Your highness," he gasped, "you surely remember--"

"Enough, sir. Franz drove the princess into Ganlook last night. He says

so himself, does he not?"

"Yes, your highness," murmured poor Gartz.

"What more did he say to you?"

"He said he had come from his master, who is in the hospital, to inquire

after your health and to bear his thanks for the kindnesses you have

secured for him. He says his master is faring well and is satisfied to

remain where he is. Also, he said that his master was sending him back

into the mountains to assure his friends that he is safe and to bear a

certain message of cheer to them, sent forth by the princess. It was all

so foolish and crazy, your highness, that we could but jibe and laugh at

the poor creature."

"It is you who have been foolish, sir. Send the old man to me."

"He has gone, your highness," in frightened tones.

"So much the better," said the princess, dismissing him with a wave of

the hand. Gartz went away in a daze, and for days he took every

opportunity to look for other signs of mental disorder in the conduct of

his mistress, at the same time indulging in speculation as to his own

soundness of mind.

Ganlook's population lined the chief thoroughfare, awaiting the

departure of the princess, although the hour was early. Beverly peered

forth curiously as the coach moved off. The quaint, half-oriental

costumes of the townspeople, the odd little children, the bright colors,

the perfect love and reverence that shone in the faces of the multitude

impressed her deeply. She was never to forget that picturesque

morning. Baron Dangloss rode beside the coach until it passed through

the southern gates and into the countryside. A company of cavalrymen

acted as escort. The bright red trousers and top-boots, with the

deep-blue jackets, reminded Beverly more than ever of the operatic

figures she had seen so often at home. There was a fierce, dark cast to

the faces of these soldiers, however, that removed any suggestion of

play. The girl was in ecstasies. Everything about her appealed to the

romantic side of her nature; everything seemed so unreal and so like the

storybook. The princess smiled lovingly upon the throngs that lined the

street; there was no man among them who would not have laid down his

life for the gracious ruler.




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