Gartz hung his head. "We thought the man was crazy, your highness. He had been telling us such monstrous lies," he mumbled.
"Are you sure they were lies?"
"Oh, quite sure, your highness. They were laughable. He said, for one thing, that it was he who drove your highness's coach into Ganlook last evening, when everybody knows that I had full charge of the coach and horses."
"You are very much mistaken, Gartz," she said, distinctly. He blinked his eyes.
"Your highness," he gasped, "you surely remember—"
"Enough, sir. Franz drove the princess into Ganlook last night. He says so himself, does he not?"
"Yes, your highness," murmured poor Gartz.
"What more did he say to you?"
"He said he had come from his master, who is in the hospital, to inquire after your health and to bear his thanks for the kindnesses you have secured for him. He says his master is faring well and is satisfied to remain where he is. Also, he said that his master was sending him back into the mountains to assure his friends that he is safe and to bear a certain message of cheer to them, sent forth by the princess. It was all so foolish and crazy, your highness, that we could but jibe and laugh at the poor creature."
"It is you who have been foolish, sir. Send the old man to me."