He clapped his hands as though in the Eastern manner calling a servant. Then the door swung open and Gloucester, Captain of the Guard, strode into the room. He seemed astonished, this old, grizzled soldier--over-astonished. "Trooper Ali!" The trooper rose and saluted. "Who let you out of the guard-room?" The trooper turned his slow gaze on Brand, and Gloucester, following the direction of his eyes-- "Mr. Brand," he cried, "have you harboured this prisoner?" Now, Brand was sitting with the aerograph upon his knee signalling rapidly for help. Gloucester's very presence was ignored by this commoner. "Mr. Brand!" He spoke imperatively. "Mr. Brand!" The master glanced up with one eye. "Well," he asked. "What's the matter with you?" "You forget yourself!" "Not at all. I observe that Prince Ali claps his hands to call a servant. The servant appears, and does well to stand awaiting my orders. You may go." Brand dearly loved a fight. The Duke flushed scarlet. "Sir, you insult me!" "If it is possible," said Brand. "Were you listening outside, or did you wear felt slippers? I should have heard you in that paved corridor." The Duke struck Brand across the face. The American remained perfectly still in his seat, laughing slightly, but otherwise unmoved. "Thank you," he said; "exactly what I wanted. Shall it be swords or revolvers?" "This is ridiculous; I cannot stoop to fight a commoner." "Your Royal Highness prefers to be publicly thrashed?" "I am commandant of this fortress!" "Of course," said the master, quietly; "so you struck the Queen's guest." "You are my prisoner!" "Well," Brand laughed, "that gets you off all right--don't have to fight when you're frightened." The Duke was beside himself with rage. "Now you're trying to back out! You shall fight me, sir! You shall fight!" Mr. Brand rose. "Then," he said, "name your weapons." So Gloucester, instead of delivering Brand a prisoner to the Lord Protector, must give the delay and the courtesies of a duel. But Prince Ali understood. "Allow me," he said graciously; "sir, as a witness to this quarrel, may I venture----" "Well, what have you got to say?" Gloucester was on dangerous ground, and seeing the position, the American intervened. "Look here, gentlemen, this situation is too damned delicate for a plain man. What passes between her Majesty's Commandant and a prisoner charged with high treason--well, I'm not a party to the conversation--so I'm going to clear out." Gloucester shrank back aghast, for he saw that he had been entrapped again by his antagonist. "As Mr. Brand remarks," said Prince Ali, with a low bow, "we are both prisoners, and her Majesty's command is that we must be delivered to Lord Ulster." Gloucester drew a deep breath of relief. "Sir,"--he faced Mr. Brand--"I shall be ready to meet you when you are free to fight. For the moment----" He strode to the door, and gave a rapid command to his orderly, who was waiting in the corridor.