ed between the bowing lines of courtiers to the spot
where sat the man who held Graustark in his grasp. A slender, graceful
figure in black, proud and serious, she walked unhesitatingly to the old
man's side. If she feared him, if she was impressed by his power, she
did not show it. The little drama had two stars of equal magnitude,
neither of whom acknowledged supremacy in the other.

Bolaroz arose as she drew near, his gaunt face black and unfriendly.
She extended her hand graciously, and he, a prince for all his wrath,
touched his trembling lips to its white, smooth back.

"I come in grief and sadness to your Court, most glorious Yetive. My
burden of sorrow is greater than I can bear," he said, hoarsely.

"Would that I could give you consolation," she said, sitting in the
chair reserved for her use at council gatherings. "Alas! it grieves me
that I can offer nothing more than words."

"You are the one he would have made his wife," said the old Prince,
sitting beside her. He looked into her deep blue eyes and tears sprung
to his own. His voice failed him, and long moments passed before he
could control his emotion. Truly she pitied him in his bereavement.

Then followed a formal discussion of the crime and the arrangement of
details in connection with the removal of the dead Prince from Graustark
to his own land. These matters settled, Bolaroz said that he had
heard of the murderer's escape and asked what effort was being made
to re-capture him. Yetive related all that had happened, expressing
humiliation over the fact that her officers had been unable to
accomplish anything, adding that she did not believe the fugitive could
get away from Graustark safely without her knowledge. The old Prince
was working himself back into the violent rage that had been temporarily
subdued; and at last broke out in a vicious denunciation of the
carelessness that had allowed the man to escape. He first insisted that
Dangloss and his incompetent assistants be thrown into prison for life
or executed for criminal negligence; then he demanded the life of Harry
Anguish as an aider and abettor in the flight of the murderer. In both
cases the Princess firmly refused to take the action demanded. She
warmly defended Dangloss and his men, and announced in no uncertain
tones that she would not order the arrest of the remaining American.
Then she acquainted him with her intention to detain Anguish as hostage
and to have his every action watche