he but joked. This girl did not laugh. Instead her face went white,

and she clutched her bosom with her two hands. Her brown eyes peered

searchingly into the face of the man.

"Leopold!" she cried in a suppressed voice. "Oh, your majesty,

thank God that you are free--and sane!"

Before he could prevent it the girl had seized his hand and pressed

it to her lips.

Here was a pretty muddle! Barney Custer swore at himself inwardly

for a boorish fool. What in the world had ever prompted him to speak

those ridiculous words! And now how was he to unsay them without

mortifying this beautiful girl who had just kissed his hand?

She would never forgive that--he was sure of it.

There was but one thing to do, however, and that was to make a clean

breast of it. Somehow, he managed to stumble through his explanation

of what had prompted him, and when he had finished he saw that the

girl was smiling indulgently at him.

"It shall be Mr. Bernard Custer if you wish it so," she said; "but

your majesty need fear nothing from Emma von der Tann. Your secret

is as safe with me as with yourself, as the name of Von der Tann

must assure you."

She looked to see the expression of relief and pleasure that her

father's name should have brought to the face of Leopold of Lutha,

but when he gave no indication that he had ever before heard the

name she sighed and looked puzzled.

"Perhaps," she thought, "he doubts me. Or can it be possible that,

after all, his poor mind is gone?"

"I wish," said Barney in a tone of entreaty, "that you would forgive

and forget my foolish words, and then let me accompany you to the

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