"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.
"Oh, if it ever comes to that I shall be in a splendid position to explain it all to him," said Beverly. "Don't you see, I'll have to do a lot of explaining myself?"
"Baron Dangloss!" announced the guard of the upper hall, throwing open the door for the doughty little chief of police.
"Your highness sent for me?" asked he, advancing after the formal salutation. The princess exhibited genuine amazement.
"I did, Baron Dangloss, but you must have come with the wings of an eagle. It is really not more than three minutes since I gave the order to Colonel Quinnox." The baron smiled mysteriously, but volunteered no solution. The truth is, he was entering the castle doors as the messenger left them, but he was much too fond of effect to spoil a good situation by explanations. It was a long two miles to his office in the Tower. "Something has just happened that impels me to ask a few questions concerning Baldos, the new guard."
"May I first ask what has happened?" Dangloss was at a loss for the meaning of the general smile that went around.