Later in the day the Princess Yetive received from the gaunt, hawkish

old man in the fortress a signed statement, withdrawing his charges

against Baldos the guard. Marlanx did not ask for leniency; it was not

in him to plead. If the humble withdrawal of charges against Baldos

could mitigate the punishment he knew Yetive would impose, all well and

good. If it went for naught, he was prepared for the worst. Down there

in his quarters, with wine before him, he sat and waited for the end. He

knew that there was but one fate for the man, great or small, who

attacked a woman in Graustark. His only hope was that the princess might

make an exception in the case of one who had been the head of the

army--but the hope was too small to cherish.

Baldos walked forth a free man, the plaudits of the people in his

ears. Baron Dangloss and Colonel Quinnox were beside the tall guard as

he came forward to receive the commendations and apologies of

Graustark's ruler and the warm promises of reward from the man he

served.

He knelt before the two rulers who were holding court on the

veranda. The cheers of nobles, the shouts of soldiery, the exclamations

of the ladies did not turn his confident head. He was the born knight.

The look of triumph that he bestowed upon Beverly Calhoun, who lounged

gracefully beside the stone balustrade, brought the red flying to her

cheeks. He took something from his breast and held it gallantly to his

lips, before all the assembled courtiers. Beverly knew that it was a

faded rose!




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