"Now, how do you feel?" cried the flushed American girl, pausing

in the door to point an impressive finger at the princess, who was lying

back in a huge chair, the picture of distress and annoyance.

"I shall never be able to look that man in the face again," came

dolefully from Yetive's humbled lips. Dagmar was all smiles and in the

fittest of humors. She was the kind of a culprit who loves the

punishment because of the crime.

"Wasn't it ridiculous, and wasn't it just too lovely?" she cried.

"It was extremely theatrical," agreed Beverly, seating herself on the

arm of Yetive's chair and throwing a warm arm around her neck. "Have you

all heard about it?" she demanded, naively, turning to the others, who

unquestionably had had a jumbled account of the performance.

"You got just what you deserved," said Lorry, who was immensely amused.

"I wonder what your august vagabond thinks of his princess and her

ladies-in-hiding?" mused Harry Anguish. The Count and Countess Halfont

were smiling in spite of the assault upon the dignity of the court.

"I'd give anything to know what he really thinks," said the real

princess. "Oh, Beverly, wasn't it awful? And how he marched us out of

that room!"

"I thought it was great," said Beverly, her eyes glowing. "Wasn't

it splendid? And isn't he good looking?"

"He is good looking, I imagine, but I am no judge, dear. It was utterly

impossible for me to look at his face," lamented the princess.

"What are you going to do with us?" asked Dagmar penitently.

"You are to spend the remainder of your life in a dungeon with Baldos as

guard," decided Miss Calhoun.

"Beverly, dear, that man is no ordinary person," said the princess,

quite positively.

"Of course he isn't. He's a tall, dark mystery."

"I observed him as he crossed the terrace this morning," said

Lorry. "He's a striking sort of chap, and I'll bet my head he's not what

he claims to be."

"He claims to be a fugitive, you must remember," said Beverly, in his

defense.

"I mean that he is no common malefactor or whatever it may be. Who and

what do you suppose he is? I confess that I'm interested in the fellow

and he looks as though one might like him without half trying. Why

haven't you dug up his past history, Beverly? You are so keen about

him."

"He positively refuses to let me dig," explained Beverly. "I tried, you

know, but he--he--well, he squelched me."

"Well, after all is said and done, he caught us peeping to-day, and I am

filled with shame," said the princess. "It doesn't matter who he is, he

must certainly have a most unflattering opinion as to what we

are."

"And he is sure to know us sooner or later," said the young countess,

momentarily serious.




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