ease to wear it."

"Then give it to me, Sir Max," she cried excitedly.

"I may not do that, Fraeulein," answered Max. "It was given to me by one
I respect."

"I know who the lady is," answered Yolanda, tossing her head saucily and
speaking with a dash of irritation in her voice.

"Ah, you do?" asked Max. "Tell me now, my little witch, who is the lady?
If you know so much tell me."

Yolanda lifted her eyes solemnly toward heaven, invoking the help of her
never failing familiar spirit.

"I see an unhappy lady," she said, speaking in a low whisper, "whose
father is one of the richest and greatest princes in all the world. A
few evenings ago while we were standing on the moat bridge talking, I
saw the lady's father on the battlements of yonder terrible castle. His
form seemed magnified against the sky till it was of unearthly size and
terrible to look on--doubly terrible to those who know him. If she
should disobey her father, he would kill her with his battle-axe, I
verily believe, readily as he would crush a rebellious soldier. Yet she
fears him not, because she is of his own dauntless blood and fears not
death itself. She is to marry the Dauphin of France, and her wishes are
of so small concern, I am told that she has not yet been notified. This
terrible man will sell his daughter as he would barter a horse. She is
powerless to move in her own behalf, being bound hand and foot by the
remorseless shackles of her birth. She will become an unhappy queen,
and, if she survives her cruel father, she will, in time, take to her
husband this fat land of Burgundy, for the sake of which he wishes to
marry her. She is Mary of Burgundy, and even I, poor and mean of
station, pity her. She--gave--you--the--ring."

"How did you learn all this, Fraeulein? You are not guessing, as you
would have had me believe, and you would not lie to me. What you have
just said is a part with what you said at Basel and at Strasburg. How
did you learn it, Fraeulein?"

"Twonette," answered Yolanda.

That simple explanation was sufficient for Max. Yolanda might very
likely know the private affairs of the Princess Mary through Twonette,
who was a friend of Her Highness.

"But you have not promised to visit Uncle Castleman's house when he
invites you," said Yolanda, drawing Max again to the bench beside her.

"I gladly promise," said Max.

"That brings me to the third promise I desire," said Yolanda. "I want
you to give me your word that you w