it the
crime, cannot be legally arrested until an accuser shall go before the
Princess, who is also High Priestess, and swear on his life that he
knows the guilty man. The man who so accuses agrees to forfeit his own
life in case the other is proved innocent. If you are to be charged with
the murder of the Prince, some one must go before the Princess and take
oath--his life against yours. I am holding you here, sir, because it is
the only place in which you are safe. Lorenz's friends would have torn
you to pieces had we not found you first. You are not prisoners, and you
may depart if you think it wise."

"But, my God, how can they accuse me? I knew nothing of the murder until
I reached this place," cried Lorry, stopping short in his restless walk
before the little Baron.

"So you say, but--"

"If you accuse me, damn you, I'll kill you!" whispered Lorry, holding
himself tense. Anguish caught and held him.

"Be calm, sir," cautioned Dangloss. "I may have my views, but I am not
willing to take oath before Her Royal Highness. Listen You were heard to
say you would kill him; you began the fight; you were the aggressor,
and there is no one else on earth, it is said, who could have wished to
murder him. The man who did the stabbing entered the room through the
hall door and left by the same. There are drops of blood in the carpet,
leading direct to your door. On your knob are the prints of bloody
fingers where you--or some one else--placed his hand in opening the
door. It was this discovery, made by me and my men, that fully convinced
the enraged friends of the dead Prince that you were guilty. When we
opened the door you were gone. Then came the search, the fight at the
head of the stairs, and the race to the prison. The reason I saved you
from that mob should be plain to you. I love my Princess, and I do not
forget that you risked your life--each of you--to protect her. I have
done all that I can, gentlemen, to protect you in return. It means death
to you if you fall into the hands of his followers just now. A few hours
will cool them off, no doubt, but now--now it would be madness to face
them. I know not what they have done to my men at the hotel--perhaps
butchered them."

There was anxiety in Dangloss's voice and there was honesty in his
keen old eyes. His charges now saw the situation clearly and apologized
warmly for the words they had uttered under the pressure of somewhat
extenuating circumstances. They express