was sleeping' soundly, peacefully, with a smile on
her lips, when her Prime Minister sent an excited attendant to inform
her of the prisoner's escape. She sat up in bed, and, with her hands
clasped about her knees, sleepily announced that she would receive him
after her coffee was served. Then she thought of the wild, sweet ride to
the monastery, the dangerous return, her entrance to the castle through
the secret subterranean passage and the safe arrival in her own room.
All had gone well and he was safe. She smiled quaintly as she glanced
at the bundle of clothes on the floor, blue and black and red. They had
been removed in the underground passage and a loose gown substituted,
but she had carried them to her chamber with the intention of placing
them for the time being in the old mahogany chest that held so many of
her childhood treasures. Springing out of bed, she opened the chest,
cast them into its depths, turned and removed the key which had always
remained in the lock. Then she summoned her maids.

Her uncle and aunt, the Countess Dagmar (whose merry brown eyes were
so full of pretended dismay that the Princess could scarcely restrain
a smile), and Gaspon, the minister of finance, were awaiting her
appearance. She heard the count's story of the escape, marveled at
the prisoner's audacity, and firmly announced that everything possible
should be done to apprehend him. With a perplexed frown on her brow and
a dubious twist to her lips, she said;

"I suppose I must offer a reward."

"Certainly!" exclaimed her uncle.

"About fifty gavvos, uncle?"

"Fifty!" cried the two men, aghast.

"Isn't that enough?"

"For the murderer of a prince?" demanded Gaspon. "It would be absurd,
your Highness. He is a most important person."

"Quite so; he is a most important person. I think I'll offer five
thousand gavvos."

"More like it. He is worth that, at least," agreed Uncle Caspar.

"Beyond a doubt," sanctioned Gaspon.

"I am glad you do not consider me extravagant," she said, demurely.
"You may have the placards printed at once," she went on, addressing the
treasurer. "Say that a reward of five thousand gavvos will be paid to
the person who delivers Grenfall Lorry to me."

"Would it not be better to say 'delivers Grenfall Lorry to the tower'?"
submitted Gaspon.

"You may say 'to the undersigned,' and sign my name," she said,
reflectively.

"Very well, your highness. They shall be struck off this morning."

"In