wrongs done him. Valeria, with its great general and powerful army,
was too strong in those days for Titia to do more than protest--and,
then, to take its punishment, which, for some reason that was doubtless
sufficient to him. Henry had seen fit to make as easy as it might be,
by giving his daughter, Adela, to Casimir for wife.

Whether the lady went voluntarily or not I cannot say. Yet it was,
doubtless, the same with both Kings: The one got an unwilling province;
the other, an unwilling bride. Only, Titia's trouble was soonest over.

This ravished Murdol had always been a standing menace to the peace of
the two countries; Titia had never forgiven its seizure, and Valeria
was afflicted with the plague of disaffected subjects on its very
border. Here, as I have said, was the real _casus belli_,--a constant
irritation that had at length got past bearing.

But, in truth, the actual breach was due to a woman. The Crown Prince
of Titia had come a wooing of the Princess Royal of Valeria, and had
been twice refused by her. King Frederick had left the question
entirely in her hands. Her choice was her own, to marry or to decline.
As a matter of state policy the match was greatly desired by him and
his Ministers. They were becoming very weary of Murdol and the turmoil
it maintained on the border, and the great force of troops required
there to preserve order. Then, too, Titia had grown vastly in wealth
and population since old Henry's time, and, now, was likely more than a
match for its ancient enemy. Frederick was aging and desired peace in
his closing years. He had long wished for a diplomatic way to rid
himself of the troublesome province, and the marriage of Casimir and
Dehra would afford it. Murdol could be settled upon the Princess as
her dower.