178 



MARK TWAIN'S SKETCHES. 



A solemn hush fell upon the great court — a silence so profound that men could 

 hear their own hearts beat. Then the princess slowly turned, with eyes gleaming 

 with hate, and pointing her finger straight at Conrad, said — 



"Thou art the man!" 



An appalling conviction of his helpless, hopeless peril struck a chill to Conrad's 



heart like the chill of death itself. What power on earth could save him ! To 

 disprove the charge he must reveal that he was a woman, and for an uncrowned 

 woman to sit in the ducal chair was death ! At one and the same moment he and 

 his grim old father swooned and fell to the ground. 



