Princess and Aunt Yvonne were at his side again, while Count Caspar
was coming rapidly toward them.

"You must not sit up, Mr. Lorry," began the Princess, but he was crying:

"Did they make a confession, Harry?"

"I don't know. Did they, Unc--Count Halfont? Did they confess? Great
heavens, I never thought of that before."

"What was there to confess?" asked the Count, taking Lorry's hand
kindly. "They were caught in the act. My dear sir, they were not even
tried."

"I thought your police chief was such a shrewd man," cried Lorry,
angrily.

"What's that?" asked a gruff voice, and Baron Dangloss was a member of
the party, red and panting.

"Don't you know you should not have killed those men?" demanded Lorry.
They surveyed him in amazement, except Anguish, who had buried his face
in his hands dejectedly.

"And, sir, I'd like to know why not?" blustered Dangloss.

"And, sir, I'd like to know, since you have shot the only beings on
earth who knew the man that hired them, how in the name of your alleged
justice you are going to apprehend him?" said Lorry, sinking back to his
pillow, exhausted.

No reserve could hide the consternation, embarrassment and shame that
overwhelmed a very worthy but very impetuous nobleman, Baron Jasto
Dangloss, chief of police in Edelweiss. He could only sputter his
excuses and withdraw, swearing to catch the arch-conspirator or to die
in the attempt. Not a soul in the castle, not a being in all Graustark
could offer the faintest clew to the identity of the man or explain
his motive. No one knew a Michael, who might have been inadvertently
addressed as "your" possible "Highness." The greatest wonder reigned;
vexation, uneasiness and perplexity existed everywhere.

Standing there with her head on her aunt's shoulder, her face grave and
troubled, the Princess asked:

"Why should they seek to abduct me? Was it to imprison or to kill me?
Oh, Aunt Yvonne, have I not been good to my people? God knows I have
done all that I can. I could have done no more. Is it a conspiracy to
force me from the throne? Who can be so cruel?"

And no one could answer. They could simply offer words of comfort and
promises of protection. Later in the day gruff Dangloss marched in
and apologized to the Americans for his suspicions concerning them,
imploring their assistance in running down the chief villain. And as the
hours went by Count Halfont font came in and, sitting beside Grenfall,
begged his pardon a