guilty of no misdemeanor or crime in being in my company. Therefore

she too should be released. In the name of justice and common

decency I am sure that you will liberate us both at once and furnish

the Princess von der Tann, at least, with a proper escort to her

home."

Maenck listened in silence until Barney had finished, a half smile

upon his thick lips.

"I am commencing to believe that you are not so crazy as we have all

thought," he said. "Certainly," and he let his eyes rest upon Emma

von der Tann, "you are not mentally deficient in so far as your

judgment of a good-looking woman is concerned. I could not have made

a better selection myself.

"As for my familiarity with your appearance, you know as well as I

that I have never seen you before. But that is not necessary--you

conform perfectly to the printed description of you with which the

kingdom is flooded. Were that not enough, the fact that you were

discovered with old Von der Tann's daughter is sufficient to remove

the least doubt as to your identity."

"You are governor of Blentz," cried Barney, "and yet you say that

you have never seen the king?"

"Certainly," replied Maenck. "After you escaped the entire

personnel of the garrison here was changed, even the old servants to

a man were withdrawn and others substituted. You will have

difficulty in again escaping, for those who aided you before are no

longer here."

"There is no man in the castle of Blentz who has ever seen the

king?" asked Barney.

"None who has seen him before tonight," replied Maenck. "But were we

in doubt we have the word of the Princess Emma that you are Leopold.

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