Page 126 (1/1)

The old chief read the decree of the Princess slowly and impressively It was as follows: "Jacot, Duke of Mizrox, before his God and on his life, swears that Grenfall Lorry did foully, nedly slay Lorenz, Prince of Axphain, on the 20th day of October, in the year of our Lord 189-, and in the city of Edelweiss, Graustark It is therefore my decree that Grenfall Lorry be declared murderer of Lorenz, Prince of Axphain, until he be proved innocent, in which instance, his accuser, Jacot, Duke of Mizrox, shall forfeit his life, according to the law of this land providing penalty for false witness, and by which he, hined: Yetive"

There was silence for some moments, broken by the dreary tones of the accused

"What chance have I to prove my innocence?" he asked, hopelessly

"The sauilt The Duke uilty beyond all doubt," spoke the young captain

"When am I to be tried?"

"Here isover the other paper "It says that I am to confine you securely and to produce you before the tribunal on the 26th day of October"

"A week! That is a long tinature affixed to those papers?" Dangloss handed thelanced at the na away his life, perhaps A e joy filled his soul The hand that signed the na so, had treers "I aloss Do with ed to place you in a cell, sir, and under guard Believe me, I aloomily

"And I," cried Quinnox

"But what is to becouish, half in tears "I won't leave you, Gren It's an infernal outrage!"

"Be cool, Harry, and it will coht He has no proof, you know," said the other, wringing his friend's hand

"But I'll have to stay here, too If I go outside these walls, I'll be killed like a dog," protested Harry

"You are to have a guard of six uish Those are the instructions of the Princess I do not believe the scoundrels--I mean the Axphain nobles--will o to your hotel, I will accompany you"