ompanion, is not in correspondence with the enemy?"

"No, your Royal Highness," said the lad sadly.

"You knew it?"

"Yes."

"Then, as my servant, why did you not inform me, sir?"

"Because I was your servant, sir, and not a spy," said the boy proudly.

"Very fine language, upon my honour!" cried the Prince. "But you are
friends with him; and last night, after his first failure, you helped
him to escape."

"I did not, sir!" cried the boy passionately.

"Words, words, sir," said the Prince; "even your friend here, Captain
Murray, feels that you did."

"And it is most unjust of him, sir!" cried the boy.

"Don't speak so bluntly to me," said the Prince sternly. "Now attend.
You say you did not help him?"

"Yes, your Royal Highness."

"Mind this. I know all the circumstances. Give me some proof that you
knew nothing of his escape."

"I can't, sir," cried the boy passionately. "I was asleep, and when I
woke he was gone."

"Weak, weak, sir. Now look here; you say you are my servant, and want
me to believe in you. Be quite open with me; tell me all you know, and
for your mother's sake I will deal leniently with you. What do you know
about this rising and the enemy's plans?"

"Nothing, your Highness."

"What! and you were hand and glove with these people. That wretched boy
must have escaped to go straight to his father and acquaint him with
everything he knows. What reason have I to think you would not do the
same?"

"I!" cried the boy indignantly; "I could not do such a thing. Ah!" he
cried, with a look of joy, making his white face flush and grow
animated. "Your Royal Highness asked me for some proof;" and he lugged
at something in his pocket, with which, as he let his hands fall, one
had come in contact.

"What have you there, sir?"

"A book, your Highness," panted the boy; "but it won't come out. Hah!
that's it. Look, look! I found that on the table when I woke this
morning. See what he has written here."

Frank was thinking nothing about royalty or court etiquette in his
excitement. He dragged out the book, opened the cover, went close up to
the Prince, and banged it down before him, pointing to the words, which
the Prince took and read before turning his fierce gaze upon the lad's
glowing face.

"There!" cried the boy, "that proves it. You must see now, sir. He
cheated me. I thought he was very bad. But you see he was well enough
to go. That shows how he wanted me to join