, and to grant you a meeting."

"I'm delighted by his Highness' condescension, which I perfectly
understand," observed Mr. Anguish. "Now, what have we to settle,
gentlemen?"

"The detail of weapons."

When Anguish announced that his principal chose pistols a strange gleam
crept into the eyes of the Axphainians, and they seemed satisfied.
Colonel Attobawn acted as interpreter during this short but very
important interview which was carried on in the Axphain language. Lorry
sat on the window-sill, steadfastly gazing into the night. The visitors
departed soon, and it was understood that Prince Lorenz would condescend
to meet Mr. Lorry at eight o'clock on the next morning in the valley
beyond the castle, two miles from town. There was no law prohibiting
duels in Graustark.

"Well, you're in for it, old man," said Anguish, gloomily, his chin in
his hands as he fastened melancholy eyes upon his friend.

"Don't worry about me, Harry. There's only one way for this thing to
end. His Royal Highness is doomed." Lorry spoke with the earnestness and
conviction of one who is permitted to see into the future.

Calmly he prepared to write some letters, not to say farewell, but to
explain to certain persons the cause of the duel and to say that he
gloried in the good fortune which had presented itself. One of these
letters was addressed to his mother, another to the father of Prince
Lorenz, and the last to the Princess of Graustark. To the latter he
wrote much that did not appear in the epistles directed to the others.
Anguish had been in his room more than an hour, and had frequently
called to his friend and begged him to secure what rest he could in
order that their nerves might be steady in the morning. But it was not
until after midnight that the duellist sealed the envelopes, directed
them and knocked at his second's door to say:

"I shall entrust these letters to you, Harry. You must see that they
start on their way tomorrow."

Then he went to bed and to sleep.

At six his second, who had slept but little, called him. They dressed
hurriedly and prepared for the ride to the valley. Their own new English
bull-dog revolvers were to serve as weapons in the coming combat, and
a carriage was to be in waiting for them in a side street at seven
o'clock.

Before leaving their room they heard evidences of commotion in the
hotel, and were apprehensive lest the inmates had learned of the duel
and were making ready to follow the f