from disgrace and practical destruction. The Prince of Axphain's
son, Lorenz, was deeply enamoured of her, infatuated by her
marvelous beauty and accomplishments. He had persuaded his
father to consider a matrimonial alliance with her to be one of
great value to Axphain. The old prince, therefore, some months
before the arrival of the Americans in Graustark, sent to the
Princess a substitute ultimatum, couched in terms so polite and
conciliatory that there could be no mistaking his sincerity. He
agreed to give Graustark a new lease of life, as it were, by
extending the fifteen years, or, in other words, to grant the
conquered an additional ten years in which to pay off the
obligations imposed by the treaty. He furthermore offered a
considerable reduction in the rate of interest for the next ten
years. But he had a condition attached to this good and gracious
proposition; the marriage of Graustark's sovereign. His
ambassador set forth the advantages of such an alliance, and
departed with a message that the matter should have most serious
consideration.

The old Prince's proposition was a blow to the Princess, who was
placed in a trying position. By sacrificing herself she could
save her country, but in so doing her life was to be plunged into
interminable darkness. She did not love, nor did she respect
Lorenz, who was not favorably supplied with civilized
intelligence. The proposition was laid before the cabinet and
the nobility by the Princess herself, who said that she would be
guided by any decision they might reach. The counsellors, to a
man, refused to sacrifice their girlish ruler, and the people
vociferously ratified the resolution. But the Princess would not
allow them to send an answer to Axphain until she could see a way