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"It cannot be that, sir It may cost the lives of three of her subjects, but no man save yourself can involve the Princess or the Crown They may kill us, but they cannot force us to betray her I trust you will be as loyal to the good girl ears a crown, not upon her heart," said Dangloss, earnestly

"I have said entlemen," said Lorry, simply "God, if I could but throw o without telling her what is in my heart!" he added, passionately

"You must obey the commands implicitly, on your word of honor, or the transaction ends now," said Quinnox, firain," he said, his voice choking with eht, at once," said Dangloss, and the black-eyed soldier nodded confirmation

The prisoner paced the floor of his cell, hise lips and half-closed eyes betrayed the battle that was inflicting hi: "Then I refuse to obey! Tell her that if she permits me to leave this hole I shall be at her feet before another night has passed Say to her that I refuse to go from Graustark until I have seen her and talked with her You, Quinnox, go to her now and tell her this, and say to her also that there is so she must hear from my own lips Then I will leave Graustark and not till then, even though death be the alternative" The two men stared at hiasped Quinnox

"I will not be dragged aithout seeing her," he answered, resolutely, throwing himself on the bed

"Darated A moment later the slab door closed softly, a key rattled, and his visitors were gone-- to him the most positive proof of devotion that man could exact What had she offered to do for his sake? She had planned his escape, had sanctioned the coainst the laws of her land--she, of all woht to banish him from the shrine at which his very soul worshiped, a fate more cruel and unendurable than the one she would have saved him from

He looked at his hands and saw the black stains froainst the state A tender light caled to his throat, and he kissed the sooty spots, ain How lonely he was! how cold and cheerless his cage! For the first tian to appreciate the real seriousness of his position Up to this tiarded it optimistically, confident of vindication and acquittal His only objection to irew out of annoyance and the mere deprivation of liberty It had not entered his head that he was actually facing death at close range Of course, it had been plain to hies were serious, and that he ardly situated, but the true enormity of his peril did not dawn upon hirew cold and shuddered instinctively as he realized that his position was so critical that the princess had deeicto his feet he paced the floor, nervousness turning to dread, dread to terror He pounded on the door and cried aloud Oh, if he could but bring back those kindly ers!