oves us
both--the Princess, and she will help me in my sore distress. There,
go, my boy; she must have the news from me, as your father contrived
that it should come to me. I can go to her chamber at any time, for she
has told me again and again that she looks upon me as her dearest
friend."

The next minute Frank was crossing the quadrangle on his way back,
feeling relieved of much of his burden; but before he reached the
quarters occupied by the royal pages, Andrew Forbes stood before him.

"At last!" he said. "I've been waiting here ever since. How does she
take it?"

"Bravely," said Frank, with a proud look. "She has just gone in to tell
the Princess."

"And she will get Sir Robert out of the scrape if she can. But it won't
do, Frank," said Andrew, shaking his head. "She'll be very kind to your
mother, but you may as well know the worst. She can't; for his Majesty
will have something to say about his baron. Your father might as well
have hit the King himself."

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

THE KING'S DECREE.

"Any fresh news?"

"No. Have you any?"

"Not much; but I've seen the doctor again this morning."

"You told me yesterday that he said you were not to dare to come to him
any more."

"Yesterday! Why, that was four days ago."

"Nonsense! That would have been before the duel."

"I say, Frank, are you going out of your mind?"

"I don't know," said the boy wearily. "My head's muddled with want of
sleep."

"Muddled? I should think it is. Why, it's a week to-day since that
glorious fight in the Park."

"Glorious?"

"Yes. I wish our officers would challenge all the German officers,
fight them, and wound them, and send them out of the country."

"Don't talk nonsense. Talk about the doctor. He did tell you not to
come any more."

"Yes; he said he wouldn't be bothered by a pack of boys."

"Yes; he said the same to me every time I went."

"Every time! Have you been there much?"

"About four times a day."

"No wonder he was snappish to me, then."

"I suppose it has been tiresome, and he has called me all sorts of
names, and said I worried his life out; but he always ended by smiling
and shaking hands."

"You haven't been this morning of course?"

"Yes, I have."

"Well?"

"He says father's arm is going on well; but the baron is very bad."

"Serve him right."

"But I want him to get well."

"Oh, he'll get well some day. He's such a big, thick fellow, that it's
a lon