The papers disappeared as if by magic, and the guard
was remounting his horse before he saw that the act
had been detected. The expression of pain and des-
pair in Beverly's face sent a cold chill over him from
head to foot.
She turned sick with apprehension. Her faith had
received a stunning blow. Mutely she watched the
vagabonds withdraw in peace, free to go where they
pleased. The excursionists turned to the main road.
Baldos fell back to his accustomed place, his implor-
ing look wasted. She was strangely, inexplicably
depressed for the rest of the day.
CHAPTER XVII



A NOTE TRANSLATED



HE was torn by conflicting emotions.
That the two friends had surrep-
. titiously exchanged messages, doubt-
less by an arrangement perfected since
he had entered the service — possibly
.within the week — could not be dis-
puted. When and how had they planned the
accidental meeting? What had been their method
of communication? And, above all, what were the
contents of the messages exchanged? Were they
of a purely personal nature, or did they compre-
hend injury to the principality of Graustark?
Beverly could not, in her heart, feel that Baldos was
doing anything inimical to the country he served, and
yet her duty and loyalty to Yetive made it impera-
tive that the transaction should be reported at once.
