“She is the Princess von der Tann, you boor,” said Barney, “and let that help you remember it in future.”

The officer scrambled to his feet, white with rage.  Whipping out his sword he rushed at Barney.

“You shall die for that, you half-wit,” he cried.

Lieutenant Butzow, he of the Royal Horse, rushed forward to prevent the assault and Emma von der Tann sprang from her saddle and threw herself in front of Barney.

Butzow grasped the other officer’s arm.

“Are you mad, Schonau?” he cried.  “Would you kill the king?”

The fellow tugged to escape the grasp of Butzow.  He was crazed with anger.

“Why not?” he bellowed.  “You were a fool not to have done it yourself.  Maenck will do it and get a baronetcy.  It will mean a captaincy for me at least.  Let me at him—­no man can strike Karl Schonau and live.”

“The king is unarmed,” cried Emma von der Tann.  “Would you murder him in cold blood?”

“He shall not murder him at all, your highness,” said Lieutenant Butzow quietly.  “Give me your sword, Lieutenant Schonau.  I place you under arrest.  What you have just said will not please the Regent when it is reported to him.  You should keep your head better when you are angry.”

“It is the truth,” growled Schonau, regretting that his anger had led him into a disclosure of the plot against the king’s life, but like most weak characters fearing to admit himself in error even more than he feared the consequences of his rash words.

“Do you intend taking my sword?” asked Schonau suddenly, turning toward Lieutenant Butzow standing beside him.

“We will forget the whole occurrence, lieutenant,” replied Butzow, “if you will promise not to harm his majesty, or offer him or the Princess von der Tann further humiliation.  Their position is sufficiently unpleasant without our adding to the degradation of it.”

“Very well,” grumbled Schonau.  “Pass on into the courtyard.”

Barney and the girl remounted and the little cavalcade moved forward through the ballium and the great gate into the court beyond.

“Did you notice,” said Barney to the princess, “that even he believes me to be the king?  I cannot fathom it.”

Within the castle they were met by a number of servants and soldiers.  An officer escorted them to the great hall, and presently a dark visaged captain of cavalry entered and approached them.  Butzow saluted.

“His Majesty, the King,” he announced, “has returned to Blentz.  In accordance with the commands of the Regent I deliver his august person into your safe keeping, Captain Maenck.”

Maenck nodded.  He was looking at Barney with evident curiosity.

“Where did you find him?” he asked Butzow.

He made no pretense of according to Barney the faintest indication of the respect that is supposed to be due to those of royal blood.  Barney commenced to hope that he had finally come upon one who would know that he was not king.