rion approached me in order to
obtain the necessary "sinews of war."

The situation was complicated by the fact that the Elective Council
was at present largely held together by the old Greek Church, which
was the religion of the people, and which had had since the beginning
its destinies linked in a large degree with theirs. Thus it was
possible that if a war should break out, it might easily
become--whatever might have been its cause or beginnings--a war of
creeds. This in the Balkans must be largely one of races, the end of
which no mind could diagnose or even guess at.

I had now for some time had knowledge of the country and its people,
and had come to love them both. The nobility of Vissarion's
self-sacrifice at once appealed to me, and I felt that I, too, should
like to have a hand in the upholding of such a land and such a
people. They both deserved freedom. When Vissarion handed me the
completed deed of sale I was going to tear it up; but he somehow
recognized my intention, and forestalled it. He held up his hand
arrestingly as he said:

"I recognize your purpose, and, believe me, I honour you for it from
the very depths of my soul. But, my friend, it must not be. Our
mountaineers are proud beyond belief. Though they would allow
me--who am one of themselves, and whose fathers have been in some way
leaders and spokesmen amongst them for many centuries--to do all that
is in my power to do--and what, each and all, they would be glad to
do were the call to them--they would not accept aid from one outside
themselves. My good friend, they would resent it, and might show to
you, who wish us all so well, active hostility, which might end in
danger, or even death. That was why, my friend, I asked to put a
clause in our agreement, that I might have right to repurchase my
estate, regarding which you would fain act so generously."

Thus it is, my dear nephew Rupert, only son of my dear sister, that I
hereby charge you solemnly as you value me--as you value yourself--as
you value honour, that, should it ever become known that that noble
Voivode, Peter Vissarion, imperilled himself for his country's good,
and if it be of danger or evil repute to him that even for such a
purpose he sold his heritage, you shall at once and to the knowledge
of the mountaineers--though not