t's side, when a quick beat in octave sent it
spinning from his hand, while at the same instant, and before the flying
sword had reached the ground, Sir Robert's blade had passed completely
through his adversary's body.

The German officers rushed forward, not to assist their fallen leader,
but, sword in hand, evidently to avenge his fall, so taking the
Englishmen by surprise that, save Sir Robert's second, neither had time
to draw.

It would have gone hard with them, but, to the surprise of all, there
was a short, sharp order, and an officer and a dozen of the Guards
dashed out of the clump of trees which sheltered the duellists, to
arrest the whole party for brawling within the Palace precincts.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

THE CONQUEROR.

The German party blustered, but the officer in command of the Guards had
no hesitation in forcing them to submit. They threatened, but the fixed
bayonets presented at their breasts, and the disposition shown by the
sturdy Englishmen who bore them to use them on the instant that an order
was given, ended in a surrender.

As the baron fell, the feeling of horror which attacked Frank passed
away, and, handkerchief in hand, he sprang to his father's side, binding
it tightly round the wound, and following it up by the application of a
scarf from his neck.

"Ah, Frank lad," said Sir Robert, as if it were quite a matter of course
that his son should help him; and he held up his arm, so that the wound
could be bound while he spoke to Captain Murray.

"It was an accident," he said excitedly. "I swear that I was only on my
defence."

"We saw," said the captain quietly. "He regularly forced himself on
your blade."

"How is he, doctor?" said Sir Robert excitedly.

"Bad," replied the surgeon, who was kneeling beside the fallen man,
while his disarmed companions looked fiercely on.

"Don't worry yourself about it, Gowan," said one of Sir Robert's
brother-officers; "the brute fought like a savage, and tried his best to
kill you."

"I'd have given ten years of my life sooner than it should have
happened.--That will do, boy."

"Bad job, Gowan," said the officer who had arrested them. "The colonel
was very wild as soon as he knew that you had broken arrest and come to
this meeting, and it will go hard with you, Murray, and you others."

"Oh, we were spectators like the boys here," said one of the officers.

"Yes, it's a bad job," said Captain Murray; "but a man must stand by his
f