The Army was with her to a man.
The first proposal Dehra had declined promptly to the Prince in person.
He had made it lover-like, and not through the diplomatic channels.
After that the Titian Foreign Office took a hand, and the poor girl's
troubles began.
For six months the matter pended,--and still Dehra held firm. Then
Titia mobilized its army and demanded a decision within two
days:--either the Princess or Murdol. It got a "No" in two hours. The
declaration of war followed straight-way.
Most of these facts were already known to me. Those of latest
happening came to Courtney from the State Department on the eve of our
sailing.
"It looks like a one-battle war," he had observed.
"Add a letter to your sentence and you will be nearer right," I
answered.
He laughed. "A none-battle war, you mean."
And so it proved. When we landed it was to find that Germany had
offered to mediate, and that, while the two Kingdoms were thinking it
over, a truce had been declared. Consequently, instead of hurrying
straight to the Valerian army, I journeyed leisurely with Courtney to
the capital. There the first news that met us was that Germany's
mediation had been accepted and that the war was at an end--for the
present, at least.
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