"Now, how do you feel?" cried the flushed American girl, pausing
in the door to point an impressive finger at the princess, who was lying
back in a huge chair, the picture of distress and annoyance.
"I shall never be able to look that man in the face again," came
dolefully from Yetive's humbled lips. Dagmar was all smiles and in the
fittest of humors. She was the kind of a culprit who loves the
punishment because of the crime.
"Wasn't it ridiculous, and wasn't it just too lovely?" she cried.
"It was extremely theatrical," agreed Beverly, seating herself on the
arm of Yetive's chair and throwing a warm arm around her neck. "Have you
all heard about it?" she demanded, naively, turning to the others, who
unquestionably had had a jumbled account of the performance.
"You got just what you deserved," said Lorry, who was immensely amused.
"I wonder what your august vagabond thinks of his princess and her
ladies-in-hiding?" mused Harry Anguish. The Count and Countess Halfont
were smiling in spite of the assault upon the dignity of the court.
"I'd give anything to know what he really thinks," said the real
princess. "Oh, Beverly, wasn't it awful? And how he marched us out of
that room!"
"I thought it was great," said Beverly, her eyes glowing. "Wasn't
it splendid? And isn't he good looking?"
"He is good looking, I imagine, but I am no judge, dear. It was utterly
impossible for me to look at his face," lamented the princess.
"What are you going to do with us?" asked Dagmar penitently.
"You are to spend the remainder of your life in a dungeon with Baldos as
guard," decided Miss Calhoun.
"Beverly, dear, that man is no ordinary person," said the princess,
quite positively.
"Of course he isn't. He's a tall, dark mystery."
"I observed him as he crossed the terrace this morning," said
Lorry. "He's a striking sort of chap, and I'll bet my head he's not what
he claims to be."
"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.