n was as smooth as a mill pond; the reflected sky came down bleak and drab and no wind was stirring. The rush of the ship thr

e water beyond; naught but a vast space into which the vessel must topple and go on falling to the end of time. The great sirens were silent, for the fog of the night before had lifted, laying bare a desolate plain. The ship was sliding into oblivion, magnific

t manfully lop off miles when walking on the water, and get to be known-at least visually-to the entire first cabin before they have paraded half way across the Atlantic. (There was once a man who had the strutting disease so badly that he literally walked from Sandy Hook to Gaunt's Rock, but, who, on getting to London, refused to walk

d the brief Sunday service had come to a peaceful end. It died just in time to escape the horrors of a popu

, the third was old, and of the three there was one who merited the second glance that invariably was bestowed upon him by the circling passers-by. Each succeeding revolution increased th

the same material, and each lazily puffed at a very commonplace briar pipe. They in turn were watching the sprightly parade with an interest that was calmly impersonal. They saw no one person who deserved more tha

the young man was R. Schmidt of Vienna. He was busy thereafter mixing with the throng, volunteering information that had not been solicited but which appeared to be welcome.

fficer," he always proclaimed

of the first cabin parade, or he might have had something to

aid R. Schmidt, and his two comp

o," said the younger of his two companions. "I

Schmidt. "We ought to be thankful that we received anything

"All of the others appeared to be packed from h

r. Blithers hadn't thought of the Jupiter

though," growl

least. She's a steady old

"He can't understand it at all. The crowds go over in June and July and by this time they should be starting for home. I thoug

id the elderly man, who was down on the passenger list as Totten. "I was

e as queer that he had not heard of the

owning. "A million pounds sterling is what their holdings really represented; according to the despatches they must have sold at a loss of nearly

bid made in Paris for the bonds held by the French syndicate," said D

ment? London has sold all that were held there and Paris is approached on the same day. If Paris and Berlin should sell, nearly four mi

f his grizzled head. "The remainder are in the possession of our own institutions and the people themselves. We should hear from Ede

buying up our general bonds, w

not in the least apprehensive. In fact, he declared that Russia would not be buyin

politely accos

on, is this

es

you, sir, at

R. Schmidt briefly, and the old man hur

ed from the deck. A few minutes later, Totten entered the luxurious parlour of R.

it, To

nced at the contents. He nodded his h

asked R.

of them, Prince. Every b

ion the name

-'I have taken over the Paris and Berlin holdings

ee Graustarkians stared in speechless amazement at each oth

med Dank, sinking

tten, but with an entir

iction itself as

to nearly twenty million dollars, Count. That's a great

ed the sunny-faced Prince with a singularly sha

he crown father-in-law. I suppose he will expect Gra

no jest, Robin," sai

ustark but he hasn't enough to buy grandchildren that won't grow, you know. He is counting c

he said to yo

othing. Pur

eart on anything that he didn't

ing of the sort. I

ook it as

thr

et his heart on having the crown of Graustark worn

he set his mind to the job," said the Prince carelessly. "But you see, the old gentleman is not counting on

he young lady," said t

ter a bit there, and ha

riage is utterly impossible," said the Prince

a surrender on your part. You are a very pig-headed young man. The most pi

. Not only you but the entire House of Nobles have characterised me as pig-headed and

reference to our own great desire to bring about the un

that our point of view is apparently unique in this day and age of the world, No, my good friends, Mr. Blithers is making a poor investment. He will not get the return for his money that he is expecting. If it pleases him to buy our securities, all well and good. He shall lose nothing in the end. But he will find that Graustark is not a toy, nor the people puppets. More than a

ation. It becomes a purely business transaction. But he sees far ahead. This loan of his matures at practically the same time that our first series of government bonds are due for payment. It will be extremely difficult for a small country, such as Graustark, to raise nearly forty mi

rcising his power? You forget that marriage is his ambition. Isn't he taking a desperate risk in assuming that I wi

nox. "He is arranging it so that y

euce y

e same. So far as Graustark is concerned, she will stand by you no matter what betides. As you kno

question, Count," said th

you are not reasonable. How can you know that the Crown Princes

of giving in marriage without the consent of the people most

y young, my

r thinking that remark out for myself after a great deal of effort, and you may remember that I sprung it with considera

, high

oming from me, didn't they? Well, there you are.

y in a sort of luxurious defiance, and

ount, with scant reverence for ro

nied a privilege enjoyed by every good-looking soldier who carries a sword in my army-my army, do you understand? I leave it to you, Dank, is it fair? Who are you that you should presume to th

e two soldiers laughed and Dank ruefu

family, my lad, if we can help it," sai

ot!" said Dank,

aid R. Schmidt, getting up from his chair with

felt rather proud of himself when his companions favoured him with a stare of amazement. The e

thers congratulating him on his

Congratulating ourselve

ting to luck. It may give him something to thi

t unexpectedly. "I heard wot you said about my daughter, sir. I

order luncheon for us in the Ritz restaurant. The head steward has

," corrected Hobbs po

e table and refused to be dislodged, although the head waiter had vainly tried

young lady gave 'im the 'aughtiest look I've ever seen on mortal fice, sir, and

cessarily persistent,"

f no consequenc

ithout end," said Dank

ry subdued all the time he was hexplaining the situation

obbs. You orde

ss. Chops and swe

at we had yest

ot that it was yesterday I was thinking of. The young lady gave me such a sharp look, sir, whe

d fellow. I'm as hungry

stopped in the doorway. "I daresay it was 'er be

"He would make short work of the female inv

even Mr. Blithers could move that young woman, sir, if she didn'

said the Prince. "

es, sir, I quite rememb

look fairly into the eyes of the loveliest girl he had ever seen, and on the