" Pray don't let me interfere with your stroll. Or is
it possible that you think it necessary to deliver me
safely to my nurse, now that you have found me? "

" Don't be angry, dear," whispered Yetive, coming
close to her side. " I will tell you all about it later
on. It was all due to Count Marlanx."

" It was all done to humiliate me," replied Beverly,
indignation surpassing confusion at last. " I hate
all of you."

" Oh, Beverly ! " whispered the princess, in distress.
" Well, perhaps you were led into it," retracted
Beverly, half mollified. " Look at that old villain
whispering over there. No wonder his wives up and
died. They just had to do it. I hate all but you
and Count Halfont and Baron Dangloss," which left
but one condemned.
" And Baldos ? " added Yetive, patting her hand.
" I wish you'd be sensible," cried Beverly, most un-



THE NIGHT FIRES 21S

graciously, and Yetive's soft laugh irritated her,
" Plow long had you been listening to us? "

" Not so "^uch as the tiniest part of a minute,"
said Yetive, recalling another disastrous eavesdrop-
ping. " I am much wiser than when Baldos first came
to serve you. We were quite a distance behind Count
Marlanx, I assure you."

" Then he heard something? " asked Beverly anx-
iously.
