at! Ach,
gentlemen--gentlemen! I cannot think of it without tearing out a
heart-string and suffering such pains as mortal man has never endured.
I lived in Graustark's days of wealth, power and supremacy; God has
condemned me to live in the days of her dependency, weakness and
poverty. Let us talk no more of this unpleasant subject."

His hearers pitied the frank, proud old man from the bottoms of their
hearts. He had told them the story with the candor and simplicity of
a child, admitting weakness and despondency. Still he sat erect and
defiant, his face white and drawn, his figure suggesting the famous
picture of the stag at bay.

"Willingly, your excellency, since it is distasteful to you. I hope,
however, you will permit me to ask how much you are short of the
amount," said Lorry, considerately yet curiously.

"Our minister of finance, Gaspon, will be able to produce fifteen
million gavvos at the stated time--far from enough. This amount has been
sucked from the people from excessive levy, and has been hoarded for the
dreaded day. Try as we would, it has been impossible to raise the full
amount. The people have been bled and have responded nobly, sacrificing
everything to meet the treaty terms honorably, but the strain has been
too great. Our army has cost us large sums. We have strengthened our
defenses, and could, should we go to war, defeat Axphain. But we have
our treaty to honor; we could not take up arms to save ourselves from
that honest bond. Our levies have barely brought the amount necessary
to, maintain an army large enough to inspire respect among those who are
ready to leap upon us the instant we show the least sign of distress.
There are about us powers that have held aloof from war with us simply
because we have awed them with our show of force. It has been our
safeguard, and there is not a citizen of Graustark who objects to the
manner in which state affairs are conducted. They know that our army
is an economy at any price. Until last spring we were confident that
we could raise the full amount due Axphain, but the people in the rural
districts were unable to meet the levies on account of the panic that
came at a most unfortunate time. That is why we were hurrying home from
your country, Mr. Lorry. Gaspon had cabled the Princess that affairs
were in a hopeless condition, begging her to come home and do what she
could in a final appeal to the people, knowing the love they had for
her. She came, and