The guardsmen, seeing now who their quarry was, halted beside the kneeling Klein. The king extended his hand and lifted the trembling secretary to his feet.

"Quick, man!" he cried. "What brings you here? What has happened?"

"The Princess Mary!" sobbed the overwrought secretary. "She has run away. She locked me' in a closet, and then she ran away."

A poorly suppressed titter ran around the banquet board. Even the king smiled.

"I cannot say that I blame her, Klein," he said, "can you?"

The secretary rose, dumbfounded. He had expected the wrath of his sovereign to be poured upon his head, and instead he found anything but anger in the aspect and the tones of the king.

"She would have been no Margothian princess had she willingly consented to mate with that Karlovian swineherd," said Prince Stroebel, who sat at the king's right. "Even I would rather have war with Constans of Karlova than see our beloved princess wed to the impossible boor whom we had among us this morning."

"I am glad that you have come to your senses, Stroebel," said the king, and then, turning to his secretary; "Come, Klein, don't look so downhearted. We forgive you. Her Highness has doubtless, gone to Vitza-she always goes to Vitza when she is angry with me. Inform Captain Polnik that it is our wish that he ride at once to Vitza and see that her highness has arrived safely."

The king was still speaking when an officer of the guard entered the room hastily and approached the ruler.

"And now what, Polnik?" asked Alexis, looking up at the white face and startled eyes of the officer.

"My God, your majesty," blurted the guardsman, "it is awful. Stefan has just ridden in with the most frightful news of the Princess Mary "

Alexis leaped to his feet. His-face went as white as that of the soldier before him.

"What has happened?" he cried in a hoarse voice. "Quick, maul Tell me," and then, his eyes chancing to glance in the direction of the doorway, he espied Stefan leaning, wide eyed, against the frame. "Here, Stefan!" he called. "Come here, man, and tell us your story."

Hatless, dust covered, and trembling, Stefan staggered across the room where he would have fallen to one knee before the king had not the latter deterred him with an impatient snap of his fingers.

"Your story, Stefan!" demanded Alexis. "What has happened to the Princess Mary?"

"The Rider, Sire," cried Stefan. "The Rider held us up upon the highway, and at the point of a pistol drove me away. Then he entered the machine and taking the wheel himself rode off with her highness and Mademoiselle Carlotta. It happened just before we turned from the Roman road into the Vitza way. I mounted his horse, Sire, and rode here as fast as the beast could go. That is all, Sire!"

"God knows it is enough," cried Alexis. "Captain Polnik, turn out the guard. Impress into your service as many of the private machines as you may need, in addition to .the military and royal cars at your disposal here, to transport your men in pursuit. Lose no time. At the border scatter your forces in both directions, unless you strike the trail before, and search the mountains thoroughly-The Rider lairs somewhere not far from the Roman road. We will go at once to Demia where you will keep us advised of the progress of your search. Do not cross into Karlova except under the most pressing necessity, though I do not need tell you that I shall expect you to cross even into Hell, if necessary, to rescue Her Highness from the clutches of that Devil's spawn."

"No, Sire," replied Polnik, "we of The Guard need not be told that."

"Good! Now go. In the meantime we will wire Sovgrad to co-operate with us from their side of the border."

Captain Polnik saluted and left the hall. The guests who had risen when the king rose, were now talking excitedly among themselves.