"I never can forget you," she cried, touching his injured arm

gently. "Will you forget the one who gave you this wound?"

"It is a very gentle wound, and I love it so that I pray it may never

heal." She looked away suddenly.

"Tell me one thing," she said, a mist coming over her eyes. "You say

they are hunting you to the death. Then--then your fault must be a

grievous one. Have you--have you killed a man?" she added hastily. He

was silent for a long time.

"I fear I have killed more than one man," he said in low tones. Again

she shrank into the corner of the coach. "History says that your father

was a brave soldier and fought in many battles," he went on.

"Yes," she said, thinking of Major George Calhoun.

"He killed men then, perhaps, as I have killed them," he said.

"Oh, my father never killed a man!" cried Beverly, in devout horror.

"Yet Graustark reveres his mighty prowess on the field of battle," said

he, half laconically.

"Oh," she murmured, remembering that she was now the daughter of

Yetive's father. "I see. You are not a--a--a mere murderer, then?"

"No. I have been a soldier--that is all."

"Thank heaven!" she murmured, and was no longer afraid of

him. "Would--would a pardon be of any especial benefit to you?" she

asked, wondering how far her influence might go with the Princess

Yetive.

"It is beyond your power to help me," he said gravely. She was silent,

but it was the silence of deep reflection. "Your highness left the

castle ten days ago," he said, dismissing himself as a subject for

conversation. "Have you kept in close communication with Edelweiss

during that time?"

"I know nothing of what is going on there," she said, quite

truthfully. She only knew that she had sent a message to the Princess

Yetive, apprising her of her arrival In St. Petersburg and of her

intention to leave soon for the Graustark capital.

"Then you do not know that Mr. Lorry is still on the Dawsbergen frontier

in conference with representatives from Serros. He may not return for a

week, so Colonel Quinnox brings back word."

"It's news to me," murmured Beverly.

"You do not seem to be alarmed," he ventured. "Yet I fancy it is not a

dangerous mission, although Prince Gabriel is ready to battle at a

moment's notice."

"I have the utmost confidence in Mr. Lorry," said Beverly, with proper

pride.

"Baron Dangloss, your minister of police, is in these mountains watching

the operations of Axphain scouts and spies."

"Is he? You are very well posted, it seems."

"Moreover, the Axphainians are planning to attack Ganlook upon the first

signal from their ruler. I do not wish to alarm your highness, but we

may as well expect trouble before we come to the Ganlook gates You are

known to be in the pass, and I am certain an effort will be made to take

possession of your person."




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