"He is here!" cried a strong voice, and Lorry, breathless and haggard, pushed through the astonished crowd, followed by Captain Quinnox, upon whose ghastly face there were bloodstains.
A shout went up from those assembled, a shout of joy. The faces of Dangloss and Allode were pictures of astonishment and--it must be said--relief. Harry Anguish staggered but recovered himself instantly, and turned his eyes toward Gabriel. That worthy's legs trembled and his jaw dropped.
"I have the prisoner, your Highness," said Quinnox, in hoarse, discordant tones. He stood before the throne with his captive, but dared not look his mistress in the face. As they stood there the story of the night just passed was told by the condition of the two men. There had been a struggle for supremacy in the dungeon and the prisoner had won. The one had tried to hold the other to the dungeon's safety, after his refusal to leave the castle, and the other had fought his way to the halls above. It was then that Quinnox had wit enough to change front and drag his prisoner to the place which, most of all, he had wished to avoid.
"The prisoner!" shouted the northern nobles, and in an instant the solemn throne room was wild with excitement.
"Do not sign that decree!" cried some one from a far corner.
"Here is your man, Prince Bolaroz!" cried a baron.
"Quinnox has saved us!" shouted another.
The Princess, white as death and as motionless, sat bolt upright in her royal seat.
"Oh!" she moaned, piteously, and, clenching her hands, she carried them to her eyes as if to shut out the sight. The Countess Halfont and Dagmar ran to her side, the latter frantic with alarm. She knew more than the others.
"Are you the fugitive?" cried Bolaroz.
I am Grenfall Lorry. Are you Bolaroz?'
"The father of the man you murdered. Ah, this is rapture!"
"I have only to say to your Highness, I did not kill your son. I swear it, so help me God!"
"Your Highness," cried Bolaroz, stepping to the throne, "destroy that decree. This brave soldier has saved Graustark. In an hour your ministers and mine will have drawn up a ten Tears' extension of time, in proper form, to which my signature shall be gladly attached. I have not forgotten my promise."
Yetive straightened suddenly, seized the pen and fiercely began to sign the decree, in spite of all and before those about her fairly realized her intention. Lorry understood, and was the first to snatch the document from her hands. A half-written Yetive, a blot and a long, spluttering scratch of the pen told how near she had come to signing away the lands of Graustark, forgetful of the fact that it could be of no benefit to the prisoner she loved.