d in the hope that a clue to the
whereabouts of the fugitive might be discovered, providing, of course,
that the friend knew anything at all about the matter. The Duke of
Mizrox and others loudly joined in the cry for Anguish's arrest, but she
bravely held out against them and in the end curtly informed them that
the American, whom she believed to be innocent of all complicity in the
escape, should be subjected to no indignity other than detention in the
city under guard, as she had ordered.

"I insist that this man be cast into prison at once," snarled the
white-lipped Bolaroz.

Her eyes flashed and her bosom heaved with anger.

"You are not at liberty to command in Graustark, Prince Bolaroz," she
said, slowly and distinctly. "I am ruler here."

The heart of every Graustark nobleman leaped with pride at this daring
rebuff. Bolaroz gasped and was speechless for some seconds.

"You shall not be ruler long, madam," he said, malevolently,
significantly.

"But I am ruler now, and, as such, I ask your Highness to withdraw from
my castle. I did not know that I was to submit to these threats and
insults, or I should not have been kind enough to grant you an audience,
Prince though you are. When I came to this room it was to give you my
deepest sympathy and to receive yours, not to be insulted. You have lost
a son, I my betrothed. It ill becomes you, Prince Bolaroz, to vent your
vindictiveness upon me. My men are doing all in their power to capture
the man who has so unfortunately escaped from our clutches, and I shall
not allow you or any one else to dictate the manner in which we are to
proceed." She uttered these words cuttingly, and, at their conclusion,
arose to leave the room.

Bolaroz heard her through in surprise and with conflicting emotions.
There was no mistaking her indignation, so he deemed it policy to
bottle his wrath, overlook the most offensive rebuke his vanity had ever
received, and submit to what was evidently a just decision.

"Stay, your Highness. I submit to your proposition regarding the other
stranger, although I doubt its wisdom. There is but one in whom I
am really interested,--the one who killed my son. There is to be no
cessation in the effort to find him, I am to understand. I have a
proposition. With me are three hundred of my bravest soldiers. I offer
them to you in order that you may better prosecute the search. They will
remain here and you may use them in any way you see fit. The Duke