“Forgive me,” he cried, sinking to his knee before the Princess, shame and contrition in his face.  “I have been half mad this whole day, and I have thought harshly of you.  I now see that you are suffering more intensely than I. I love Lorry, and that is my only excuse.  He is being foully wronged, your Highness, foully wronged.”

“I deserve your contempt, after all.  Whether he be guilty or innocent, I should have refused to sign the decree.  It is too late now.  I have signed away something that is very dear to me, —­his life.  You are his friend and mine.  Can you tell me what he thinks of me—­what he says—­how he feels?” She asked the triple question breathlessly.

“He believes you were forced into the act and said as much to me.  As to how he feels, I can only ask how you would feel if you were in his place, innocent and yet almost sure of conviction.  These friends of Axphain will resort to any subterfuge, now that one of their number has staked his life.  Mark my word, some one will deliberately swear that he saw Grenfall Lorry strike the blow and that will be as villainous a lie as man ever told.  What I am here for, your Highness, is to ask if that decree cannot be withdrawn.”

“Alas, it cannot!  I would gladly order his release if I could, but you can see what that would mean to us.  A war, Mr. Anguish,” she sighed miserably.

“But you will not see an innocent man condemned?” cried he, again indignant.

“I have only your statement for that, sir, if you will pardon me.  I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that he did not murder the Prince after being honorably challenged.”

“He is no coward!” thundered Anguish; startling both women with his vehemence.  “I say he did not kill the Prince, but I’ll stake my life he would have done so had they met this morning.  There’s no use trying to have the decree rescinded, I see, so I’ll take my departure.  I don’t blame you, your Highness; it is your duty, of course.  But it’s pretty hard on Lorry, that’s all.”

“He may be able to clear himself,” suggested the Countess, nervously.

“And he may not, so there you have it.  What chance have two Americans over here with everybody against us?”

“Stop!  You shall not say that!  He shall have full justice, at any cost, and there is one here who is not against him,” cried the Princess, with flashing eyes.

“I am aware that everybody admires him because he has done Graustark a service in ridding it of something obnoxious—­a prospective husband.  But that does not get him out of jail.”

“You are unkind again,” said the Princess, slowly.  “I chose my husband, and you assume much when you intimate that I am glad because he was murdered.”

“Do not be angry,” cried the Countess, impatiently.  “We all regret what has happened, and I, for one, hope that Mr. Lorry may escape from the Tower and laugh forevermore at his pursuers.  If he could only dig his way out!”