After all, it is honorable of you to expose so thoroughly your
own infamy in order to acquit an innocent person who believed in
you. You did not have to come back to the castle. You might have escaped
punishment by using Miss Calhoun as a shield from her highness's
wrath. But none the less you compel me to give countenance to all that
Count Marlanx has said."
"I insist that it was Miss Calhoun who went through the panel with him,"
said Marlanx eagerly.
"If it was this boy who accompanied you, what was his excuse in
returning to the castle after you had fled?"
"He came back to watch over Miss Calhoun while she slept. It was my
sworn duty to guard her from the man who had accused her. This boy is a
member of the band to which I belong and he watched while I went forth
on a pretty business of my own. It will be useless to ask what that
business was. I will not tell. Nor will the boy. You may kill us, but
our secrets die with us. This much I will say: we have done nothing
disloyal to Graustark. You may believe me or not. It has been necessary
for me to communicate with my friends, and I found the means soon after
my arrival here. All the foxes that live in the hills have not four
legs," he concluded significantly.
"You are a marvel!" exclaimed Lorry, and there was real admiration in
his voice. "I'm sorry you were fool enough to come back and get caught
like this.
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