“Behold an honest man.  I would have saved him at the cost of my honor.  Scorn me if you will, but listen to this.  The man who stands here accused came voluntarily to this castle, surrendering himself to Captain Quinnox, that he might, though innocent, stand between us and disaster.  He was safe from our pursuit, yet returned, perhaps to his death.  For me, for you and for Graustark he has done this.  Is there a man among you who would have done as much for his own country?  Yet he does this for a country to which he is stranger.  I must commit him to prison once more.  But,” she cried in sudden fierceness, “I promise him now, before the trial, a royal pardon.  Do I make my meaning clear to you, Prince Bolaroz?”

The white lips of the old Prince could frame no reply to this daring speech.

“Be careful whet you say, your Highness,” cried the prisoner, hastily.  “I must refuse to accept a pardon at the cost of your honor.  It is because I love you better than my life that I stand here.  I cannot allow you and your people to suffer when it is in my power to prevent it.  All that I can ask is fairness and justice.  I am not guilty, and God will protect me.  Prince Bolaroz, I call upon you to keep your promise.  I am not the slayer of your son, but I am the man you would send to the block, guilty or innocent.”

As he spoke, the Princess dropped back in the chair, her rash courage gone.  A stir near the doorway followed his concluding sentence, and the other American stepped forward, his face showing his excitement.

“Your Highness,” he said, “I should have spoken sooner.  My lips were parted and ready to cry out when Prince Gabriel interposed and prevented the signing of the decree.  Grenfall Lorry did not kill the young Prince.  I can produce the guilty man!”

XXVI

THE GUESSING OF ANGUISH

The startling assertion created a fresh sensation.  Sensations had come so thick and so fast, however, that they seemed component parts of one grand bewildering climax.  The new actor in the drama held the center of the stage undisputed.

“Harry!” cried Lorry.

“Prince Gabriel, why do you shake like a leaf?  Is it because you know what I am going to say?” exclaimed Anguish, pointing his finger accusingly at the astonished Prince of Dawsbergen.

Gabriel’s lips parted, but nothing more than a gasp escaped them.  Involuntarily his eyes sought the door, then the windows, the peculiar uncontrollable look of the hunted coming into them.  Bolaroz allowed his gaze to leap instantly to that pallid face and every eye in the room followed.  Yetive was standing again, her face glowing.

“An accomplice has confessed all.  I have the word of the man who saw the crime committed.  I charge Prince Gabriel with the murder of His Highness, Prince Lorenz.”

With a groan, Gabriel threw his hands to his heart and tottered forward, glaring at the merciless face of the accuser.