“He is here, your highness, asking your forgiveness,” he said.
There was a puzzled expression upon the girl’s face as she looked at the man before her. She did not understand. Why should she? Barney drew a diamond ring from his little finger and held it out to her.
“You gave it to me to cut a hole in the window of the garage where I stole the automobile,” he said. “I forgot to return it. Now do you know who I am?”
Emma von der Tann’s eyes showed her incredulity; then, act by act, she recalled all that this man had said and done since they had escaped from Blentz that had been so unlike the king she knew.
“When did you assume the king’s identity?” she asked.
Barney told her all that had transpired in the king’s apartments at Blentz before she had been conducted to the king’s presence.
“And Leopold is there now?” she asked.
“He is there,” replied Barney, “and he is to be shot in the morning.”
“Gott!” exclaimed the girl. “What are we to do?”
“There is but one thing to do,” replied the American, “and that is for Butzow and me to ride to Blentz as fast as horses will carry us and rescue the king.”