He
had been telling us such monstrous lies," he mumbled.
"Are you sure they were lies?"
"Oh, quite sure, your highness. They were laughable. He said, for one
thing, that it was he who drove your highness's coach into Ganlook last
evening, when everybody knows that I had full charge of the coach and
horses."
"You are very much mistaken, Gartz," she said, distinctly. He blinked
his eyes.
"Your highness," he gasped, "you surely remember--"
"Enough, sir. Franz drove the princess into Ganlook last night. He says
so himself, does he not?"
"Yes, your highness," murmured poor Gartz.
"What more did he say to you?"
"He said he had come from his master, who is in the hospital, to inquire
after your health and to bear his thanks for the kindnesses you have
secured for him. He says his master is faring well and is satisfied to
remain where he is. Also, he said that his master was sending him back
into the mountains to assure his friends that he is safe and to bear a
certain message of cheer to them, sent forth by the princess. It was all
so foolish and crazy, your highness, that we could but jibe and laugh at
the poor creature."
"It is you who have been foolish, sir. Send the old man to me."
"He has gone, your highness," in frightened tones.
"So much the better," said the princess, dismissing him with a wave of
the hand.
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