Beverly was speechless.

"Of course, your highness," said Baldos, deep apology in his voice,

"Ravone is woefully misinformed. He is honest in his belief, and you

should not misjudge his motives. How he could have been so blind as to

confound you with that frisky American girl--but I beg your pardon. She

is to be your guest. A thousand pardons, your highness."

She had been struck dumb by the wording of the note, but his apparently

sincere apology for his friend set her every emotion into play once

more. While he was speaking, her wits were forming themselves for

conflict. She opened the campaign with a bold attack. "You--you believe

me to be the princess, sure 'nough, don't you?" But with all her

bravery, she was not able to look him in the face.

"How can you doubt it, your highness? Would I be serving you in the

present capacity if I believed you to be anyone else?"

"Ravone's warning has not shaken your faith in me?"

"It has strengthened it. Nothing could alter the facts in the case. I

have not, since we left Ganlook, been in doubt as to the identity of my

benefactress."

"It seems to me that you are beating around the bush. I'll come straight

to the point. How long have you known that I am not the princess of

Graustark?"

"What!" he exclaimed, drawing back in well-assumed horror. "Do you

mean--are you jesting? I beg of you, do not jest. It is very serious

with me." His alarm was so genuine that she was completely deceived.

"I am not jesting," she half whispered, turning very cold. "Have you

thought all along that I am the princess--that I am Grenfall Lorry's

wife?"

"You told me that you were the princess."

"But I've never said that I was--was anyone's wife."

There was a piteous appeal in her voice and he was not slow to notice it

and rejoice. Then his heart smote him.

"But what is to become of me if you are not the princess?" he asked

after a long pause. "I can no longer serve you. This is my last day in

the castle guard."

"You are to go on serving me--I mean you are to retain your place in the

service," she hastened to say. "I shall keep my promise to you." How

small and humble she was beginning to feel. It did not seem so

entertaining, after all, this pretty deception of hers. Down in his

heart, underneath the gallant exterior, what was his opinion of her?

Something was stinging her eyes fiercely, and she closed them to keep

back the tears of mortification.

"Miss Calhoun," he said, his manner changing swiftly, "I have felt from

the first that you are not the princess of Graustark. I knew it

an hour after I entered Edelweiss. Franz gave me a note at Ganlook, but

I did not read it until I was a member of the guard."




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