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She sank into the great chair and sat with staring, helpless eyes, deserted and feeble

At last the whirling brain ended its flight and settled down to the issue first at hand-the transaction with Bolaroz Su all her self-control, she said: "You are come, most noble Bolaroz, to draw from us the price of our defeat We are loyal to our compact, as you are to yours, sire Yet, in the presence of rant us respite You are rich and powerful, we despoiled and struggling beneath a weight we can lift and displace if given a few short years in which to grow and gather strength At this last hour in the fifteen years of our indebtedness, I sue in supplication for the leniency that you can so well accord It is on the advice of nity to oodness of heart If you will not hearken to our petition for a renewal of negotiations, there is but one course open to Graustark We can and will pay our debt of honor"

Bolaroz stood before her, dark and unco She saw the futility of her plea

"I have not forgotten, most noble petitioner, that you are ruler here, not I Therefore I am in no way responsible for the conditions which confront you, except that I am an honest creditor, come for his honest dues This is the twentieth of Noveh to meet the requirements of this day Should I suffer for your faults? There is in the treaty a provision which applies to an eold does not prevent the payment of this honest debt in land, as provided for in the sixth clause of the agreement 'All that part of Graustark north of a line drawn directly from east to west between the provinces of Ganlook and Doswan, a tract coan, Oeswald, Seshness Produce the gold or sign the decree ceding to Axphain the lands stipulated in the treaty I can grant no respite"

"You knehen that treaty was framed that we could raise no such funds in fifteen years," said Halfont, forgetting hination Gaspon and otherwith the Princess of Graustark or with you, sir?" asked Bolaroz, roughly

"You are dealing with the people of Graustark, and a to be gained by appealing to you The papers, Gaspon, quick! I would have this transaction finished speedily," cried the Princess, her cheeks flushing and her eyes glowing froroan that went up from the northern nobles cut her like the slash of a knife