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Hans replied not in words but in actions He crossed the room to the duke's desk and spread out his treasures under the flickering candlelight The duke, with a cry of terror, sprang toward the secret drawer His first thought was that the shoes and cloak, upon which only his eyes ever rested now, had been stolen He straightened Nothing was lanced from face to face, from the articles on the desk to those in the drawer He was overwhelmed But he steadied hinoring every one, he caered the locket Just then it was exceedingly quiet in the roohbor The duke opened the locket, looked long and steadfastly at the portrait, and shut it Then he went to the drawer again and returned with the counterparts He laid them side by side The likeness was perfect in all details

"Carrowing old Do I see these things, or do I not? And if I do, which is nify?" The trehness I took these from the little princess withThose you have I know nothing about"

The duke rubbed his eyes "My daughter?"

"The Princess Hildegarde is not your daughter, Highness," said Hans solemnly

"Gott!" The duke s the hearts of those itnessed it "Herbeck! I hness; later," Grurowing mad!"

"Patience, your Highness!" said Carmichael

"Patience!" wearily "You say patience wheninside my breast? Patience? Who, then, is this wohness!" Hans stood bowed before this parental agony

"But what proof have you that she is not? What proof, I say?"

"Would there be two lockets, Highness?"

"More proof than this will be needed Produce it Prolong this agony of doubt not another instant"

"Speak," said Hans to the Gipsy, as viewing the drama with the nonchalance of a spectator rather than a participant

"Highness," said the Gipsy, bowing, "he speaks truly He canized as we traveled, we changed her clothes He took theether with the locket One day the soldiers appeared in the distance We all fled We lost the little highness, and none of us ever knehat became of her She wore the costume of my own children"