"We told them that if he were not surrendered to our authorities inside

of sixty days we would declare war and go down and take him," concluded

"The American."

"Two months," cried Yetive. "I don't understand."

"There was method in that ultimatum. Axphain, of course, will set up a

howl, but we can forestall any action the Princess Volga may

undertake. Naturally, one might suspect that we should declare war at

once, inasmuch as he must be taken sooner or later. But here is the

point: before two months have elapsed the better element of Dawsbergen

will be so disgusted with the new dose of Gabriel that it will do

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anything to avert a war on his account. We have led them to believe that

Axphain will lend moral, if not physical, support to our cause. Give

them two months in which to get over this tremendous hysteria, and

they'll find their senses. Gabriel isn't worth it, you see, and down in

their hearts they know it. They really loved young Dantan, who seems to

be a devil of a good fellow. I'll wager my head that in six weeks

they'll be wishing he were back on the throne again. And just to think

of it, Yetive, dear, you were off there in the very heart of Axphain,

risking everything," he cried, wiping the moisture from his brow.

"It is just eleven days since I left Edelweiss, and I have had a lovely

journey," she said, with one of her rare smiles. He shook his head

gravely, and she resolved in her heart never to give him another such

cause for alarm.

"And in the meantime, Mr. Grenfall Lorry, you are blaming me and hating

me and all that for being the real cause of your wife's escapade," said

Beverly Calhoun plaintively. "I'm awfully sorry. But, you must remember

one thing, sir; I did not put her up to this ridiculous trip. She did it

of her own free will and accord. Besides, I am the one who met the lion

and almost got devoured, not Yetive, if you please."

"I'll punish you by turning you over to old Count Marlanx, the commander

of the army in Graustark," said Lorry, laughingly. "He's a terrible

ogre, worse than any lion."

"Heaven pity you, Beverly, if you fall into his clutches," cried

Yetive. "He has had five wives and survives to look for a sixth. You see

how terrible it would be."

"I'm not afraid of him," boasted Beverly, but there came a time when she

thought of those words with a shudder.

"By the way, Yetive, I have had word from Harry Anguish. He and the

countess will leave Paris this week, if the baby's willing, and will be

in Edelweiss soon. You don't know how it relieves me to know that Harry

will be with us at this time."




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