will be a travesty and a jest. This city and twenty-five miles
to the south, a strip about one hundred fifty miles long. Think
of it! Twenty-five by one hundred fifty miles, and yet called a
principality! Once the proudest and most prosperous state in the
east, considering its size, reduced to that! Ach, gentlemen
--gentlemen! I cannot think of it without tearing out a
heart-string and suffering such pains as mortal man has never
endured. I lived in Graustark's days of wealth, power and
supremacy; God has condemned me to live in the days of her
dependency, weakness and poverty. Let us talk no more of this
unpleasant subject."

His hearers pitied the frank, proud old man from the bottoms of
their hearts. He had told them the story with the candor and
simplicity of a child, admitting weakness and despondency. Still
he sat erect and defiant, his face white and drawn, his figure
suggesting the famous picture of the stag at bay.

"Willingly, your excellency, since it is distasteful to you. I
hope, however, you will permit me to ask how much you are short
of the amount," said Lorry, considerately yet curiously.

"Our minister of finance, Gaspon, will be able to produce fifteen
million gavvos at the stated time--far from enough. This amount
has been sucked from the people from excessive levy, and has been
hoarded for the dreaded day. Try as we would, it has been
impossible to raise the full amount. The people have been bled
and have responded nobly, sacrificing everything to meet the
treaty terms honorably, but the strain has been too great. Our
army has cost us large sums. We have strengthened our defenses,