ed a willingness to remain in
the prison until the excitement abated or until some one swore his life
against the supposed murderer. They were virtually prisoners, and they
knew it well. Furthermore, they could see that Baron Dangloss believed
Lorry guilty of the murder; protestations of innocence had been politely
received and politely disregarded.

"Do you expect one of his friends to take the oath?" asked Lorry.

"Yes; it is sure to come."

"But you will not do so yourself?"

"No."

"I thank you, captain, for I see that you believe me guilty."

"I do not say you are guilty, remember, but I will say that if you did
murder Prince Lorenz you have made the people of Graustark rejoice from
the bottoms of their hearts, and you will be eulogized from one end of
the land to the other."

"Hanged and eulogized," said Lorry, grimly.

XVII. IN THE TOWER

The two captives who were not prisoners were so dazed by the unexpected
events of the morning that they did not realize the vast seriousness of
the situation for hours. Then it dawned upon them that appearances were
really against them, and that they were alone in a land far beyond the
reach of help from home. One circumstance puzzled them with its
damning mystery: how came the blood stains upon the door-knob? Dangloss
courteously discussed this strange and unfortunate feature with them,
but with ill-concealed skepticism. It was evident that his mind was
clear in regard to the whole affair.

Anguish was of the opinion that the real murderer had stained the
knob intentionally, aiming to cast suspicion on the man who had been
challenged. The assassin had an object in leaving those convicting
finger-marks where they would do the most damage. He either desired
the arrest and death of the American or hoped that his own guilt would
escape attention through the misleading evidence. Lorry held, from his
deductions, that the crime had been committed by a fanatic who loved his
sovereign too devotedly to see her wedded to Lorenz. Then why should he
wantonly cast guilt upon the man who had been her protector, objected
Dangloss.

The police guards came in from the hotel about ten o'clock, bearing
marks of an ugly conflict with the Axphainians. They reported that the
avengers had been quelled for the time being, but that a deputation had
already started for the castle to lay the matter before the Princess.
Officers had searched the rooms of the Americans for blood stains