displace if given a few
short years in which to grow and gather strength. At this last hour in
the fifteen years of our indebtedness, I sue in supplication for
the leniency that you can so well accord. It is on the advice of my
counsellors that I put away personal pride and national dignity to
make this request, trusting to your goodness of heart. If you will not
hearken to our petition for a renewal of negotiations, there is but one
course open to Graustark. We can and will pay our debt of honor."

Bolaroz stood before her, dark and uncompromising. She saw the futility
of her plea.

"I have not forgotten, most noble petitioner, that you are ruler here,
not I. Therefore I am in no way responsible for the conditions which
confront you, except that I am an honest creditor, come for his honest
dues. This is the twentieth of November. You have had fifteen years to
accumulate enough to meet the requirements of this day. Should I suffer
for your faults? There is in the treaty a provision which applies to
an emergency of this kind. Your inability to liquidate in gold does not
prevent the payment of this honest debt in land, as provided for in the
sixth clause of the agreement. 'All that part of Graustark north of a
line drawn directly from east to west between the provinces of Ganlook
and Doswan, a tract comprising Doswan, Shellotz, Varagan, Oeswald,
Sesmai and Gattabatton.' You have two alternatives, your Highness.
Produce the gold or sign the decree ceding to Axphain the lands
stipulated in the treaty. I can grant no respite."

"You knew when that treaty was framed that we could raise no such funds
in fifteen years," said Halfont, forgetting himself in his indignation.
Gaspon and other men present approved his hasty declaration.

"Am I dealing with the Princess of Graustark or with you, sir?" asked
Bolaroz, roughly.

"You are dealing with the people of Graustark, and among the poorest, I.
I will sign the decree. There is nothing to be gained by appealing to
you. The papers, Gaspon, quick! I would have this transaction finished
speedily," cried the Princess, her cheeks flushing and her eyes glowing
from the flames of a burning conscience. The groan that went up from the
northern nobles cut her like the slash of a knife.

"There was one other condition," said Bolaroz, hastily, unable to gloat
as he had expected. "The recapture of the assassin who slew my son
would have meant much to Graustark. It is unfortunate that you