’I am not afraid of them! You do not know who I am!’ returned Alondra proudly. ’It does not matter to me who you are, any more than it matters to you who I am,’ was the cool answer. ’You would need to be some one very wonderful, or very clever, to get out of this place alive if Kazzaro knew you were here. If I help you to escape, will you promise to take me to King Ivanta? He will thank you for doing so when he hears what I have to tell him, and I have little doubt will reward you handsomely.’ At this the three looked at each other and burst out laughing. Jack was about to tell the stranger that he was talking to the son of Ivanta, when a look from Alondra stopped him. ’I suppose you expect to be rewarded too,’ said the young prince shrewdly. ’Well, I promise to take you to him; but if we do, and he gives you the reward you expect, it is only fair that we should share it.’ ’That you cannot do,’ answered the stranger with a sigh. ’I know not whether he will be able to give me what I am hoping for; but if he should it is not anything that I can share, or that you would care to have.’ ’You are very mysterious, my friend!’ Alondra commented. ’Why are you hiding in here?’ ’Well, I came here upon a little errand of my own—one somewhat similar to that which brought you, I fancy, judging by what I heard you say—to look about and find out what I could. As to who those people in purple were, I will tell you that at another time. The fact is, my friends, I have no reason to love King Agrando, though I am an officer of his household. He brought me here against my will from a distant country, and has forced me to be a sort of slave to him and to take part in things that I loathe and detest. But that is not the worst; I have a deeper wrong to set right. I have long hoped that King Ivanta might pay us a visit here so that I might appeal to him. But if you can take me to him it will be better still. Will you swear to do so if I lead you safely out of this den?’ ’You have my promise,’ returned Alondra a little haughtily. ’There is no need for me to repeat it or to swear.’ The other looked at the young prince keenly, and then said, in a satisfied tone, ’Your face is honest to look at, and I will trust to your promise. Follow me and I will get you a disguise.’ ’A disguise!’ exclaimed Alondra. ’What next?’ ’It is necessary. We cannot get out without the chance of running against some one.’ ’We can get out the way we came,’ Alondra asserted; but the stranger shook his head. ’No,’ he said decidedly. ’I saw you come in, and the door you came through is now locked and barred, and neither you nor I can open it. You must come my way, or I must give up the idea of befriending you and leave you to your own devices.’