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Updated: August 5, 2024
Indemnity was agreed upon by the peace commissioners, amounting to 20,000,000 gavvos, or nearly $30,000,000 in your money. In fifteen years this money was to be paid, with interest. On the twentieth of November, this year, the people of Graustark must pay 25,000,000 gavvos. The time is at hand, and that is why we recall the war so vividly. It means the bankruptcy of the nation, gentlemen."
"Do you wish to purchase it?" "Certainly." "Three hundred gavvos." "What's that in dollars?" "Four hundred and twenty." "Whew!" "It is genuine, sir, and three hundred years old. Old Prince Boris carried it. It's most rare. Ten years ago you might have had it for fifty gavvos.
"I thought you might." "I've had a glimpse of the swells, my good friend." "It's all the good you'll get of it," said Spantz gruffly. "I daresay you're right. Clean that sword up a bit for me, and I'll drop in to-morrow and get it. Here's sixty gavvos to bind the bargain. The rest on delivery. Good day, Mr. Spantz." "Good day, Mr. King." "How do you happen to know my name?"
"I have wondered why you were never tempted to turn traitor to the Princess and claim the fortune that is represented in the reward." "Not for five million gavvos, sir!" "By George, you are a faithful lot! Dangloss, Allode and Ogbot and yourself, four honest men to whom she trusts her life, her honor. You belong to a rare species, and I am proud to know you."
Without a word she opened a small traveling bag and drew forth a heavy purse. This she pressed into the hand of the student. It was filled with Graustark gavvos, for which she had exchanged American gold in Russia. "God be with you," she fervently cried.
Anguish requested an audience. "Conduct him to my boudoir," she said, her eyes sparkling with triumph. In the seclusion of the boudoir she and the Countess laughed like children over the reward that had been so solemnly ordered. "Five thousand gavvos!" cried Dagmar, leaning back in her chair, to emphasize the delight she felt. "What a joke!"
The flood of gavvos that had been pouring into the treasury dwindled into a pitiful rivulet; the little that came in was applied, of necessity, to administration purposes and the maintenance of the army, and there was not so much as a penny left over for the so-called sinking fund. A year of grace remained.
It is true that Graustark was in Russia's debt to the extent of some twenty million gavvos, about thirty millions of dollars, in other words, and that the day of reckoning was very near at hand.
That was surely worth while. With a low, mocking bow, the shrivelled hag stood aside and motioned for him to precede her into the hovel. He looked back at Mr. Hobbs. That gentleman's eyes seemed to be starting from his head. "A hundred gavvos is a fortune not easily to be won," said the old dame. "How can I be sure that you will pay me if you lose?" "It is in my pocket, madam.
Then she summoned her maids. She heard the count's story of the escape, marveled at the prisoner's audacity, and firmly announced that everything possible should be done to apprehend him. With a perplexed frown on her brow and a dubious twist to her lips, she said; "I suppose I must offer a reward." "Certainly!" exclaimed her uncle. "About fifty gavvos, uncle?" "Fifty!" cried the two men, aghast.
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