"What was there to confess?" asked the Count, taking Lorry's hand
kindly. "They were caught in the act. My dear sir, they were
not even tried."

"I thought your police chief was such a shrewd man," cried Lorry,
angrily.

"What's that?" asked a gruff voice, and Baron Dangloss was a
member of the party, red and panting.

"Don't you know you should not have killed those men?" demanded
Lorry. They surveyed him in amazement, except Anguish, who had
buried his face in his hands dejectedly.

"And, sir, I'd like to know why not?" blustered Dangloss.

"And, sir, I'd like to know, since you have shot the only beings
on earth who knew the man that hired them, how in the name of
your alleged justice you are going to apprehend him?" said Lorry,
sinking back to his pillow, exhausted.

No reserve could hide the consternation, embarrassment and shame
that overwhelmed a very worthy but very impetuous nobleman, Baron
Jasto Dangloss, chief of police in Edelweiss. He could only sputter
his excuses and withdraw, swearing to catch the arch-conspirator or
to die in the attempt. Not a soul in the castle, not a being in all
Graustark could offer the faintest clew to the identity of the man or
explain his motive. No one knew a Michael, who might have been
inadvertently addressed as "your" possible "Highness." The greatest