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He had long wished for a diplomatic way to rid himself of the troublesome province, and the marriage of Casimir and Dehra would afford it. Murdol could be settled upon the Princess as her dower. It was an admirable solution of the whole vexing question.
This ravished Murdol had always been a standing menace to the peace of the two countries; Titia had never forgiven its seizure, and Valeria was afflicted with the plague of disaffected subjects on its very border. Here, as I have said, was the real casus belli, a constant irritation that had at length got past bearing. But, in truth, the actual breach was due to a woman.
"The Princess is saved, of course, but in deference to the national self-respect, he dare give up Murdol only in one contingency: if Titia can be persuaded to pay a money value for it. Which I doubt." I said nothing. I, too, doubted. "However, it's not important to us," said he. "Whatever the outcome the lady will be here long enough for you to lose the wager." "Damn the wager," I exclaimed.
As we drove from the station to the Embassy we observed flags flying from almost every house, and that the public buildings were lavishly decorated. "Peace seems to be well received," I remarked. "It's the King's birthday," Courtney answered. "And a very happy one, I fancy." Courtney stared at me. "How so?" he said. "He can now both keep his daughter and be rid of Murdol."
It provided that Murdol should be permitted to determine for itself, by the vote of its citizens, whether it would remain a province of Valeria or become, once more, a part of Titia. In the latter event, Titia was to pay Valeria the value of all the public buildings in Murdol erected or rebuilt by Valeria, and, further, to reimburse Valeria for her war expenses.
But, if Murdol voted to remain with Valeria, then, Titia was to pay all the cost of the war. "I need hardly say to the Council," the Prime Minister remarked, "that, thus far, the terms are entirely satisfactory to His Majesty; but there is another detail, suggested by our friend, the intermediary, which is not so agreeable.
They were becoming very weary of Murdol and the turmoil it maintained on the border, and the great force of troops required there to preserve order. Then, too, Titia had grown vastly in wealth and population since old Henry's time, and, now, was likely more than a match for its ancient enemy. Frederick was aging and desired peace in his closing years.
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.
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