An almost imperceptible smile went round the table, and every listener

but one breathed more freely. The candor and boldness of the guard won

the respect and confidence of all except Marlanx. The Iron Count was

white with anger. He took the examination out of Lorry's hands, and

plied the stranger with insulting questions, each calm answer making him

more furious than before. At last, in sheer impotence, he relapsed into

silence, waving his hand to Lorry to indicate that he might resume.

"You will understand, Baldos, that we have some cause for apprehension,"

said Lorry, immensely gratified by the outcome of the tilt. "You are a

stranger; and, whether you admit it or not, there is reason to believe

that you are not what you represent yourself to be."

"I am a humble guard at present, sir, and a loyal one. My life is yours

should I prove otherwise."

Yetive whispered something in Lorry's ear at this juncture. She was

visibly pleased and excited. He looked doubtful for an instant, and then

apparently followed her suggestion, regardless of consequences.

"Would you be willing to utilize your knowledge as an engineer by

suggesting means to strengthen the fortress?" The others stared in fresh

amazement. Marlanx went as white as death.

"Never!" he blurted out hoarsely.

"I will do anything the princess commands me to do," said Baldos easily.

"You mean that you serve her only?"

"I serve her first, sir. If she were here she could command me to die,

and there would be an end to Baldos," and he smiled as he said it. The

real princess looked at him with a new, eager expression, as if

something had just become clear to her. There was a chorus of coughs and

a round of sly looks.

"She could hardly ask you to die," said Yetive, addressing him for the

first time.

"A princess is like April weather, madam," said Baldos, with rare humor,

and the laugh was general, Yetive resolved to talk privately with this

excellent wit before the hour was over. She was confident that he knew

her to be the princess.

"I would like to ask the fellow another question," said Marlanx,

fingering his sword-hilt nervously. "You say you serve the princess. Do

you mean by that that you imagine your duties as a soldier to comprise

dancing polite attendance within the security of these walls?"

"I believe I enlisted as a member of the castle guard, sir. The duty of

the guard is to protect the person of the ruler of Graustark, and to do

that to the death."

"It is my belief that you are a spy. You can show evidence of good faith

by enlisting to fight against Dawsbergen and by shooting to

kill," said the count, with a sinister gleam in his eye.




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