respectful humor when he returned to the hall and stood in the presence of the tall, flushed stranger with the ragged uniform.
A short, fierce little man in the picturesque uniform of a Graustark officer arose as Beverly entered the office. His short beard bristled as though it were concealing a smile, but his manner was polite, even deferential. She advanced fearlessly toward him, a wayward smile struggling into her face.
“I daresay you know I am not the princess,” she said composedly. Every vestige of fear was gone now that she had reached the line of battle. The doughty baron looked somewhat surprised at this frank way of opening the interview.
“I am quite well aware of it,” he said politely.
“They say you know everyone, Baron Dangloss,” she boldly said. “Pray, who am I?”
The powerful official looked at the smiling face for a moment, his bushy eyebrows contracting ever so slightly. There was a shameless streak of dust across her cheek, but there was also a dimple there that appealed to the grim old man. His eyes twinkled as he replied, with fine obsequiousness:
“You are Miss Beverly Calhoun, of Washington.”
CHAPTER IX
THE REDOUBTABLE DANGLOSS
Beverly’s eyes showed her astonishment. Baron Dangloss courteously placed a chair for her and asked her to be seated.
“We were expecting you, Miss Calhoun,” he explained. “Her royal highness left St. Petersburg but a few hours after your departure, having unfortunately missed you.”
“You don’t mean to say that the princess tried to find me in St. Petersburg?” cried Beverly, in wonder and delight.
“That was one of the purposes of her visit,” said he brusquely.
“Oh, how jolly!” cried she, her gray eyes sparkling. The grim old captain was startled for the smallest fraction of a minute, but at once fell to admiring the fresh, eager face of the visitor.
“The public at large is under the impression that she visited the Czar on matters of importance,” he said, with a condescending smile.
“And it really was of no importance at all, that’s what you mean?” she smiled back securely.
“Your message informing her highness of your presence in St. Petersburg had no sooner arrived than she set forth to meet you in that city, much against the advice of her counsellors. I will admit that she had other business there but it could have waited. You see, Miss Calhoun, it was a great risk at this particular time. Misfortune means disaster now. But Providence was her friend. She arrived safely in Ganlook not an hour since.”
“Really? Oh, Baron Dangloss, where is she?” excitedly cried the American girl.
“For the night she is stopping with the Countess Rallowitz. A force of men, but not those whom you met at the gates, has just been dispatched at her command to search for you in the lower pass. You took the most dangerous road, Miss Calhoun, and I am amazed that you came through in safety.”
“The Russians chose the lower pass, I know not why. Of course, I was quite ignorant. However, we met neither brigands nor soldiers, Axphain or Graustark. I encountered nothing more alarming than a mountain lion. And that, Baron Dangloss, recalls me to the sense of a duty I have been neglecting. A poor wanderer in the hills defended me against the beast and was badly wounded. He must be taken to a hospital at once, sir, where he may have the proper care.”
Whereupon, at his request, she hurriedly related the story of that trying journey through the mountains, not forgetting to paint the courage of Baldos in most glowing colors. The chief was deeply interested in the story of the goat-hunter and his party. There was an odd gleam of satisfaction in his eyes, but she did not observe it.
“You will see that he has immediate attention, won’t you?” she implored in the end.
“He shall have our deepest consideration,” promised he.
“You know I am rather interested, because I shot him, just as if it were not enough that his legs were being torn by the brute at the time. He ought not to walk, Baron Dangloss. If you don’t mind, I’d suggest an ambulance,” she hurried on glibly. He could not conceal the smile that her eagerness inspired. “Really, he is in a serious condition. I think he needs some quinine and whiskey, too, and—”
“He shall have the best of care,” interrupted the captain. “Leave him to me, Miss Calhoun.”
“Now, let me tell you something,” said she, after due reflection. “You must not pay any attention to what he says. He is liable to be delirious and talk in a terrible sort of way. You know delirious people never talk rationally.” She was loyally trying to protect Baldos, the hunted, against any incriminating statements he might make.
“Quite right, Miss Calhoun,” said the baron very gravely.
“And now, I’d like to go to the princess,” said Beverly, absolutely sure of herself. “You know we are great friends, she and I.”
“I have sent a messenger to announce your arrival. She will expect you.” Beverly looked about the room in perplexity.
“But there has been no messenger here,” she said.
“He left here some minutes before you came. I knew who it was that came knocking at our gates, even though she traveled as Princess Yetive of Graustark.”
“And, oh! that reminds me, Baron Dangloss, Baldos still believes me to be the princess. Is it necessary to—to tell him the truth about me? Just at present, I mean? I’m sure he’ll rest much easier if he doesn’t know differently.”
“So far as I am concerned, Miss Calhoun, he shall always regard you as a queen,” said Dangloss gallantly.
“Thank you. It’s very nice of you to—”
A man in uniform entered after knocking at the door of the room. He saluted his superior and uttered a few words in his own language.
“Her royal highness is awaiting you at the home of the countess, Miss Calhoun. A detail of men will escort you and your servant to her place.”
“Now, please, Baron Dangloss,” pleaded Beverly at the door, “be nice to him. You know it hurts him to walk. Can’t you have him carried in?”
“If he will consent,” said he quietly. Beverly hurried into the outer room, after giving the baron a smile he never forgot. Baldos looked up eagerly, anxiously.
“It’s all right,” she said in low tones, pausing for a moment beside his chair. “Don’t get up! Good-bye. I’ll come to see you tomorrow. Don’t be in the least disturbed. Baron Dangloss has his instructions.” Impulsively giving him her hand which he respectfully raised to his lips, she followed Aunt Fanny and was gone.
Almost immediately Baldos was requested to present himself before Baron Dangloss in the adjoining room. Refusing to be carried in, he resolutely strode through the door and stood before the grim old captain of police, an easy, confident smile on his face. The black patch once more covered his eye with defiant assertiveness.
“They tell me you are Baldos, a goat-hunter,”
