"Of course. Don't you know me? I never supposed that you would be deceived."
With a swift motion, the other caught his hands and drew him over to the light.
"Let me look at you!" he exclaimed, speaking German in his agitation. "I cannot tell! I do not know! I feel as if the whole world had been turned topsy-turvy."
For a long minute he gazed searchingly into the young man's face, while the others moved unconsciously closer to the two, Barry quite as dazed and bewildered as any of them. Suddenly he threw back his gray head and flung one arm impulsively around the young fellow's shoulder.
"You are Oscar!" he exclaimed. "I know it!"
For a second he was silent. Then he turned swiftly toward the group of men who had entered with him, and singled out one with his flashing eyes.
"What does this mean, Baron Hager?" he demanded imperiously. "How dare you play such a trick upon me? It is infamous!"
It was the man with the beard who stepped forward; and Barry saw that he was trembling in every limb, while beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead.
"Your highness!" he gasped. "I—I—— It is not a trick. I—have never seen—this man before."
"Never seen him! Nonsense! I'm not a child. How did he get here? What is he doing in this house? Who is he?"