While Baldos was standing guard in the long, lofty hallway the Iron

Count was busy with the machinations which were calculated to result in

a startling upheaval with the break of a new day. He prepared and swore

to the charges preferred against Baldos. They were despatched to the

princess for her perusal in the morning. Then he set about preparing the

vilest accusations against Beverly Calhoun.

In his own handwriting and

over his own signature he charged her with complicity in the betrayal of

Graustark, influenced by the desires of the lover who masqueraded as her

protege. At some length he dwelt upon the well-laid plot of the spy and

his accomplice. He told of their secret meetings, their outrages against

the dignity of the court, and their unmistakable animosity toward

Graustark. For each and every count in his vicious indictment against

the girl he professed to have absolute proof by means of more than one

reputable witness.

It was not the design of Marlanx to present this document to the

princess and her cabinet. He knew full well that it would meet the fate

it deserved. It was intended for the eyes of Beverly Calhoun alone. By

means of the vile accusations, false though they were, he hoped to

terrorize her into submission. He longed to possess this lithe,

beautiful creature from over the sea. In all his life he had not

hungered for anything as he now craved Beverly Calhoun. He saw that his

position in the army was rendered insecure by the events of the last

day. A bold, vicious stroke was his only means for securing the prize he

longed for more than he longed for honor and fame.

Restless and enraged, consumed by jealousy and fear, he hung about the

castle grounds long after he had drawn the diabolical charges. He knew

that Baldos was inside the castle, favored, while he, a noble of the

realm, was relegated to ignominy and the promise of degradation.

Encamped outside the city walls the army lay without a leader. Each hour

saw the numbers augmented by the arrival of reserves from the districts

of the principality. His place was out there with the staff. Yet he

could not drag himself away from the charmed circle in which his prey

was sleeping. Morose and grim, he anxiously paced to and fro in an

obscure corner of the grounds.

"What keeps the scoundrel?" he said to himself angrily.

Presently, a villainous looking man dressed in the uniform of the

guards, stealthily approached. "I missed him, general, but I will get

him the next time." growled the man.




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