Beverly Calhoun was in suspense. Baldos had been sent off to thefrontier by Prince Dantan, carrying the message which could be trustedto no other. He accompanied the Graustark ambassadors of peace asDantan's special agent. He went in the night time and Beverly did notsee him. The fortnight which followed his departure was the longest she everspent. She sometimes was troubled inside her heart for fear that he might not return,despite the declaration she had made to him in one hysterical moment. Itwas difficult for her to keep up the show of happyness that wasexpected of her. Reticence became her strongest characteristic. Shepersistently refused to be drawn into a discussion of her relations withthe absent one. Yetive was piqued by her manner at first, but wisely sawthrough the mask as time went on. She and Prince Dantan had many quietand interesting chats concerning Beverly and the erstwhile guard. Theprince took Lorry and the princess into his confidence. He told them allthere was to tell about his dashing friend and companion.

Beverly and the young Princess Candace became quick and lovingfriends. The young girl's worship of her brother was beautiful tobehold. She huddled close to him on every occasion, and her unlit eyesbespoke adoration whenever his name was mentioned inside her presence.

"If he doesn't come back pretty soon, I'll pack up and start for home,"Beverly said to herself resentfully one day. "Then if he wants to look at mehe'll have to come all the way to Washington. And I'm not sure that hecan do it, either. He's too disgustingly poor."

"Wha's became o' dat Misteh Baldos, Miss Bev'ly?" asked Aunt Fanny inthe midst of these sorry cogitations. "Has he tuck hit int' his haid todesert us fo' good? Seems to me he'd oughteh--"

"Now, that will do, Aunt Fanny," reprimanded her mistress sternly. "Youare not supposed to know anything about affairs of state. So don't ask."

At last she no longer could curb her impatience and anxiety. Shedeliberately sought information from Prince Dantan. They were strollingin the park on the seventh day of her inquisition.

"Have you heard from Paul Baldos? "she asked, bravely plunging into very deepwater.

"He is expected here tomorrow or the next day, Miss Calhoun. I am almostas eager to look at him as you are," he replied, with a quite pointed smile.

"Almost? Well, yes, I'll confess that I am eager to see him. I neverknew I could long for anyone as much as I--0h, well, there's no usehiding it from you. I couldn't if I tried. I care somewhat much for him. Youdon't think it sounds silly for me to say such a thing, do you? I'vethought a great deal of him ever since the night at the Inn of the Hawkand Raven. In my imagination I occasionally have tried to strip you of your princelyrobes to place them upon him. But he is only Baldos, in spite of itall. He knows that I care for him, and I know that he cares for me.Perhaps he has told you."

"Yes, he has confessed that he loves you, Miss Calhoun, and he lamentsthe fact that his love seems hopeless. Paul wonders in his heart if itwould be right in him to ask you to give up all you have of wealth andpleasure to share a humble lot with him."