Intheearlymorning，whilstthemountainswerestillrathergreythanblue，thecable—linetookustotheBlueMouth，whereweembarkedintheKing’syacht，TheLady，whichtookusacrosstheAdriaticatapacewhichIhadhithertoconsideredimpossible。TheKingandQueencametothelandingtoseeusoff。Theystoodtogetherattheright—handsideofthered—carpetedgangway，andshookhandswitheachguestashewentonboard。Theinstantthelastpassengerhadsteppedondeckthegangwaywaswithdrawn。TheLordHighAdmiral，whostoodonthebridge，raisedhishand，andweswepttowardsthemouthofthegulf。Ofcourse，allhatswereoff，andwecheeredfrantically。IcantrulysaythatifKingRupertandQueenTeutashouldeverwishtofoundintheBlueMountainsacolonyofdiplomatistsandjournalists，thosewhoweretheirguestsonthisgreatoccasionwillvolunteertoaman。IthinkoldHempetch，whoisthedoyenofEnglish—speakingjournalists，voicedoursentimentswhenhesaid：
\"MayGodblessthemandtheirswitheverygraceandhappiness，andsendprosperitytotheLandandtherule！\"IthinktheKingandQueenhearduscheer，theyturnedtolookatourflyingshipagain。
BOOKIX：BALKA
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued（LongeIntervallo）。
February10，1908。
ItissolongsinceIeventhoughtofthisjournalthatIhardlyknowwheretobegin。Ialwaysheardthatamarriedmanisaprettybusyman；butsinceIbecameone，thoughitisanewlifetome，andofahappinessundreamtof，IKNOWwhatthatlifeis。ButIhadnoideathatthisKingbusinesswasanythinglikewhatitis。Why，itneverleavesmeamomentatalltomyself——or，whatisworse，toTeuta。IfpeoplewhocondemnKingshadonlyasinglemonthofmylifeinthatcapacity，theywouldformanopiniondifferentfromthatwhichtheyhold。ItmightbeusefultohaveaProfessorofKingshipintheAnarchists’College——wheneveritisfounded！
Everythinghasgoneonwellwithus，Iamgladtosay。Teutaisinsplendidhealth，thoughshehas——butonlyverylately——practicallygivenupgoingonherownaeroplane。Itwas，Iknow，agreatsacrificetomake，justasshehadbecomeanexpertatit。TheysayherethatsheisoneofthebestdriversintheBlueMountains——andthatisintheworld，forwehavemadethatformofmovementourown。
Eversincewefoundthepitch—blendepocketsintheGreatTunnel，anddiscoveredthesimpleprocessofextractingtheradiumfromit，wehavegoneonbyleapsandbounds。WhenfirstTeutatoldmeshewould\"aero\"nomoreforawhile，Ithoughtshewaswise，andbackedherupinit：fordrivinganaeroplaneistryingworkandhardonthenerves。Ionlylearnedthenthereasonforhercaution——theusualoneofayoungwife。Thatwasthreemonthsago，andonlythismorningshetoldmeshewouldnotgosailingintheair，evenwithme，tillshecoulddoso\"withoutrisk\"——shedidnotmeanrisktoherself。AuntJanetknewwhatshemeant，andcounselledherstronglytosticktoherresolution。SoforthenextfewmonthsIamtodomyair—sailingalone。
ThepublicworkswhichwebeganimmediatelyaftertheCoronationaregoingstrong。Webeganattheverybeginningonanelaboratesystem。
ThefirstthingwastoadequatelyfortifytheBlueMouth。Whilstthefortificationswerebeingconstructedwekeptallthewarshipsinthegulf。Butwhenthepointofsafetywasreached，wemadetheshipsdosentry—goalongthecoast，whilstwetrainedmenforserviceatsea。
Itisourplantotakebydegreesalltheyoungmenandteachthemthiswise，sothatattheendthewholepopulationshallbetrainedforseaaswellasforland。Andasweareteachingthemtheairshipservice，too，theywillbeathomeinalltheelements——exceptfire，ofcourse，thoughifthatshouldbecomeanecessity，weshalltackleittoo！
WestartedtheGreatTunnelatthefarthestinlandpointoftheBlueMouth，andranitdueeastatanangleof45degrees，sothat，whencomplete，itwouldgorightthroughthefirstlineofhills，comingoutontheplateauPlazac。Theplateauisnotverywide——halfamileatmost——andthesecondtunnelbeginsontheeasternsideofit。
Thisnewtunnelisatasmallerangle，asithastopiercethesecondhill——amountainthistime。Whenitcomesoutontheeastsideofthat，itwilltaptherealproductivebelt。Hereitisthatourhardwood—treesarefinest，andwherethegreatestmineraldepositsarefound。Thisplateauisofenormouslength，andrunsnortharidsouthroundthegreatbulkofthecentralmountain，sothatintime，whenweputupacircularrailway，wecanbring，atamerelynominalcost，allsortsofmaterialupordown。Itisonthislevelthatwehavebuiltthegreatfactoriesforwarmaterial。Wearetunnellingintothemountains，wherearethegreatdepositsofcoal。Werunthetrucksinandoutonthelevel，andcangetperfectventilationwithlittlecostorlabour。Alreadyweareminingallthecoalwhichweconsumewithinourownconfines，andwecan，ifwewish，withinayearexportlargely。Thegreatslopesofthesetunnelsgiveusthenecessaryaidofspecificgravity，andaswecarryanendlesswater—
supplyingreattubesthatwayalso，wecandowhateverwewishbyhydraulicpower。AsonebyonetheEuropeanandAsiaticnationsbegantoreducetheirwarpreparations，wetookovertheirdisbandedworkmenthoughouragents，sothatalreadywehaveaproductivestaffofskilledworkmenlargerthananywhereelseintheworld。Ithinkmyselfthatwewerefortunateinbeingabletogetaheadsofastwithourpreparationsforwarmanufacture，forifsomeofthe\"GreatPowers，\"astheycallthemselves，knewthemeasureofourpresentproduction，theywouldimmediatelytrytotakeactivemeasuresagainstus。Insuchcaseweshouldhavetofightthem，whichwoulddelayus。Butifwecanhaveanotheryearuntroubled，weshall，sofaraswarmaterialisconcerned，beabletodefyanynationintheworld。Andifthetimemayonlycomepeacefullytillwehaveourbuildingsandmachinerycomplete，wecanpreparewar—storesandimplementsforthewholeBalkannations。Andthen——Butthatisadream。Weshallknowingoodtime。
Inthemeantimeallgoeswell。Thecannonfoundriesarebuiltandactive。Wearealreadybeginningtoturnoutfinishedwork。Ofcourse，ourfirstgunsarenotverylarge，buttheyaregood。Thebigguns，andespeciallysiege—guns，willcomelater。Andwhenthegreatextensionsarecomplete，andtheboringandwire—windingmachinesareinworkingorder，wecangomerrilyon。Isupposethatbythattimethewholeoftheupperplateauwillbelikeamanufacturingtown——atanyrate，wehaveplentyofrawmaterialtohand。Thehaematiteminesseemtobeinexhaustible，andastheraisingoftheoreischeapandeasybymeansofourextraordinarywater—power，andascoalcomesdowntotheplateaubyitsowngravityonthecable—line，wehavenaturaladvantageswhichexisthardlyanywhereelseintheworld——certainlynotalltogether，ashere。
Thatbird’seyeviewoftheBlueMouthwhichwehadfromtheaeroplanewhenTeutasawthatvisionofthefuturehasnotbeeninvain。Theaeroplaneworksarehavingasplendidoutput。Theaeroplaneisalargeandvisibleproduct；thereisnomistakingwhenitisthere！Wehavealreadyalargeandrespectableaerialfleet。
Thefactoriesforexplosivesare，ofcourse，farawayinbarevalleys，whereaccidentaleffectsareminimized。So，too，aretheradiumworks，whereinunknowndangersmaylurk。Theturbinesinthetunnelgiveusallthepowerwewantatpresent，and，lateron，whenthenewtunnel，whichwecallthe\"watertunnel，\"whichisalreadybegun，iscomplete，theavailablepowerwillbeimmense。Alltheseworksarebringingupourshipping，andweareingreathopesforthefuture。
Somuchforourmaterialprosperity。Butwithitcomesalargerlifeandgreaterhopes。Thestressoforganizingandfoundingthesegreatworksispracticallyover。Astheyarenotonlyself—supporting，butlargelyproductive，allanxietyinthewayofnationalexpenditureisminimized。And，morethanall，Iamabletogivemyunhamperedattentiontothosemattersofevenmorethannationalimportanceonwhichtheultimatedevelopment，ifnottheimmediatestrength，ofourcountrymustdepend。
IamwellintothesubjectofagreatBalkanFederation。This，itturnsout，hasforlongbeenthedreamofTeuta’slife，asalsothatofthepresentArchimandriteofPlazac，herfather，who，sinceIlasttouchedthisjournal，havingtakenonhimselfaHolyLife，was，bywilloftheChurch，theMonks，andthePeople，appointedtothatgreatofficeontheretirementofPetrofVlastimir。
SuchaFederationhadlongbeenintheair。Formyself，Ihadseenitsinevitablenessfromthefirst。ThemodernaggressionsoftheDualNation，interpretedbyherpasthistorywithregardtoItaly，pointedtowardsthenecessityofsuchaprotectivemeasure。Andnow，whenServiaandBulgariawereusedasblindstocoverherrealmovementstoincorporatewithherselfasestablishedtheprovinces，onceTurkish，whichhadbeenentrustedtohertemporaryprotectionbytheTreatyofBerlin；whenitwouldseemthatMontenegrowastobedeprivedforalltimeofthehopeofregainingtheBocchediCattaro，whichshehadacenturyagowon，andheldatthepointofthesword，untilaGreatPowerhad，underawrongconviction，handeditovertoherneighbouringGoliath；whentheSandjackofNovi—BazarwasthreatenedwiththefatewhichseemedtohavealreadyovertakenBosniaandHerzegovina；whengallantlittleMontenegrowasalreadyshutoutfromtheseabytheoctopus—likegripofDalmatiacrouchingalongherwesternshore；whenTurkeywasdwindlingdowntoalmostineptitude；whenGreecewasalmostabyword，andwhenAlbaniaasanation——thoughstillnominallysubject——wasofsuchunimpairedvirilitythatthereweregreatpossibilitiesofherfuture，itwasimperativethatsomethingmusthappeniftheBalkanracewasnottobedevouredpiecemealbyhernorthernneighbours。TotheendofultimateprotectionIfoundmostofthemwillingtomakedefensivealliance。
Andasthetruedefenceconsistsinjudiciousattack，Ihavenodoubtthatanalliancesobasedmustultimatelybecomeoneforallpurposes。Albaniawasthemostdifficulttowintothescheme，asherowncomplicationswithhersuzerain，combinedwiththeprideandsuspiciousnessofherpeople，madeapproachamatterofextremecaution。ItwasonlypossiblewhenIcouldinduceherrulerstoseethat，nomatterhowgreatherprideandvalour，themagnitudeofnorthernadvance，ifunchecked，mustultimatelyoverwhelmher。
Iownthatthismap—makingwasnervouswork，forIcouldnotshutmyeyestothefactthatGermanlustofenlargementlaybehindAustria’sadvance。AtandbeforethattimeexpansionwasthedominantideaofthethreeGreatPowersofCentralEurope。Russiawenteastward，hopingtogathertoherselftherichnorth—easternprovincesofChina，tillultimatelysheshoulddominatethewholeofNorthernEuropeandAsiafromtheGulfofFinlandtotheYellowSea。GermanywishedtolinktheNorthSeatotheMediterraneanbyherownterritory，andthusstandasaflawlessbarrieracrossEuropefromnorthtosouth。
WhenNatureshouldhaveterminatedtheheadshipoftheEmpire—
Kingdom，she，asnaturalheir，wouldcreepsouthwardthroughtheGerman—speakingprovinces。ThusAustria，ofcoursekeptinignoranceofherneighbour’sultimateaims，hadtoextendtowardsthesouth。
ShehadbeenbarredinherwesternmovementbytheriseoftheIrredentistpartyinItaly，andconsequentlyhadtowithdrawbehindthefrontiersofCarinthia，Carniola，andIstria。
Myowndreamofthenewmapwastomake\"Balka\"——theBalkanFederation——takeinultimatelyallsouthofalinedrawnfromtheIsleofSerpentstoAquileia。Therewould——must——bedifficultiesinthecarryingoutofsuchascheme。Ofcourse，itinvolvedAustriagivingupDalmatia，Istria，andSclavonia，aswellasapartofCroatiaandtheHungarianBanat。Onthecontrary，shemightlookforcenturiesofpeaceinthesouth。ButitwouldmakeforpeacesostronglythateachoftheStatesimpingingonitwouldfinditworthwhiletomakeaconsiderablesacrificetohaveiteffected。Toitsownintegersitwouldofferalastingsettlementofinterestswhichatpresentconflicted，andashareinanewworld—power。Eachoftheseintegerswouldbeabsolutelyself—governingandindependent，beingonlyunitedforpurposesofmutualgood。IdidnotdespairthatevenTurkeyandGreece，recognizingthatbenefitandsafetywouldensuewithoutthedestructionorevenminimizingofindividuality，would，soonerorlater，comeintotheFederation。ThematterisalreadysofaradvancedthatwithinamonththevariousrulersoftheStatesinvolvedaretohaveasecretandinformalmeeting。Doubtlesssomelargerplanandfurtheractionwillbethenevolved。Itwillbeananxioustimeforallinthiszone——andoutsideit——tillthismatterisallsettled。Inanycase，themanufactureofwarmaterialwillgoonuntilitissettled，onewayoranother。
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
March6，1908。
Ibreathemorefreely。ThemeetinghastakenplacehereatVissarion。Nominalcauseofmeeting：ahunting—partyintheBlueMountains。Notanyformalaffair。NotaChancellororSecretaryofStateorDiplomatistofanysortpresent。Allheadquarters。Itwas，afterall，arealhunting—party。Goodsportsmen，plentyofgame，lotsofbeaters，everythingorganizedproperly，andaneffectivetallyofresults。Ithinkweallenjoyedourselvesinthematterofsport；andasthepoliticalresultwasabsoluteunanimityofpurposeandintention，therecouldbenopossiblecauseofcomplaint。
Soitisalldecided。Everythingispacific。Thereisnotasuggestionevenofwar，revolt，orconflictingpurposeofanykind。
Weallgoonexactlyaswearedoingforanotheryear，pursuingourownindividualobjects，justasatpresent。Butwearealltoseethatinourownhouseholdsorderprevails。Allthatissupposedtobeeffectiveistobekeptingoodworkingorder，andwhateveris，atpresent，notadequatetopossibilitiesistobemadeso。Thisisallsimplyprotectiveanddefensive。Weunderstandeachother。Butifanyhulkingstrangershouldundertaketointerfereinourdomesticconcerns，weshallalluniteontheinstanttokeepthingsaswewishthemtoremain。Weshallbeready。Alfred’smaximofPeaceshallbeoncemoreexemplified。Inthemeantimethefactoriesshallworkovertimeinourownmountains，andtheoutputshallbeforthegeneralgoodofourspecialcommunity——thebilltobesettledafterwardsamicably。Therecanhardlybeanydifferenceofopinionaboutthat，astheotherswillbetheconsumersofoursurplusproducts。Wearetheproducers，whoproduceforourselvesfirst，andthenforthelimitedmarketofthosewithintheRing。Asweundertaketoguardourownfrontiers——seaandland——andareabletodoso，thegoodsaretobewarehousedintheBlueMountainsuntilrequired——ifatall——forparticipationinthemarketsoftheworld，andespeciallyintheEuropeanmarket。Ifallgoeswellandthemarketsareinactive，thegoodsshallbedulydeliveredtothepurchasersasarranged。
Somuchforthepurelymercantileaspect。
THEVOIVODINJANETMACKELPIE’SNOTES。
May21，1908。
AsRupertbegantoneglecthisJournalwhenhewasmadeaKing，so，too，Ifindinmyselfatendencytoleavewritingtootherpeople。
ButonethingIshallnotbecontenttoleavetoothers——littleRupert。ThebabyofRupertandTeutaismuchtoopreciousathingtobespokenofexceptwithlove，quiteindependentofthefactthathewillbe，innaturalcourse，aKing！SoIhavepromisedTeutathatwhatevershallbeputintothisrecordofthefirstKingoftheSentLegerDynastyrelatingtoHisRoyalHighnesstheCrownPrinceshallonlyappearineitherherhandormyown。Andshehasdeputedthemattertome。
OurdearlittlePrincearrivedpunctuallyandinperfectcondition。
Theangelsthatcarriedhimevidentlytookthegreatestcareofhim，andbeforetheylefthimtheygavehimdowerofalltheirbest。Heisadear！Likebothhisfatherandhismother，andthatsayseverything。MyownprivateopinionisthatheisabornKing！Hedoesnotknowwhatfearis，andhethinksmoreofeveryoneelsethanhedoesofhisdearlittleself。Andifthosethingsdonotshowatrulyroyalnature，Idonotknowwhatdoes……
Teutahasreadthis。Sheheldupawarningfinger，andsaid：
\"AuntJanetdear，thatisalltrue。Heisadear，andaKing，andanangel！Butwemustn’thavetoomuchabouthimjustyet。ThisbookistobeaboutRupert。Soourlittlemancanonlybewhatweshallcallacorollary。\"Andsoitis。
IshouldmentionherethatthebookisTeuta’sidea。BeforelittleRupertcameshecontrolledherselfwonderfully，doingonlywhatwasthoughtbestforherunderthecircumstances。AsIcouldseethatitwouldbeahelpforhertohavesomequietoccupationwhichwouldinterestherwithouttiringher，Ilookedup（withhispermission，ofcourse）allRupert’soldlettersanddiaries，andjournalsandreports——allthatIhadkeptforhimduringhisabsencesonhisadventures。AtfirstIwasalittleafraidtheymightharmher，forattimesshegotsoexcitedoversomethingsthatIhadtocautionher。Hereagaincameinherwonderfulself—control。IthinkthemostsoothingargumentIusedwithherwastopointoutthatthedearboyhadcomethroughallthedangerssafely，andwasactuallywithus，strongerandnoblerthanever。
Afterwehadreadovertogetherthewholematterseveraltimes——foritwaspracticallynewtometoo，andIgotnearlyasexcitedasshewas，thoughIhaveknownhimsomuchlonger——wecametotheconclusionthatthisparticularvolumewouldhavetobeofselectedmatter。ThereisenoughofRupert’sworktomakealotofvolumesandwehaveanambitiousliteraryprojectofsomedaypublishinganeditiondeluxeofhiswholecollectedworks。ItwillbearareshowingamongsttheworksofKings。Butthisistobeallabouthimself，sothatinthefutureitmayserveasasortofbackboneofhispersonalhistory。
By—and—bywecametoapartwhenwehadtoaskhimquestions；andhewassointerestedinTeuta’swork——heisreallyboundupbodyandsoulinhisbeautifulwife，andnowonder——thatwehadtotakehimintofullconfidence。Hepromisedhewouldhelpusallhecouldbygivingustheuseofhislaterjournals，andsuchlettersandpapersashehadkeptprivately。Hesaidhewouldmakeonecondition——Iusehisownwords：\"Asyoutwodearwomenaretobemyeditors，youmustpromisetoputineverythingexactlyasIwroteit。Itwillnotdotohaveanyfakeaboutthis。Idonotwishanythingfoolishoregotisticaltoneddownoutofaffectionforme。Itwasallwritteninsincerity，andifIhadfaults，theymustnotbehidden。Ifitistobehistory，itmustbetruehistory，evenifitgivesyouandmeoranyofusaway。\"
Sowepromised。
Healsosaidthat，asSirEdwardBinghamTrent，Bart。——asheisnow——
wassuretohavesomematterwhichweshouldlike，hewouldwriteandaskhimtosendsuchtous。HealsosaidthatMr。ErnestRogerHalbardMelton，ofHumcroft，Salop（healwaysgivesthisnameandaddressinfull，whichishiswayofshowingcontempt），wouldbesuretohavesomerelevantmatter，andthathewouldhavehimwrittentoonthesubject。Thishedid。TheChancellorwrotehiminhismostgrandiloquentstyle。Mr。E。R。H。Melton，ofH。，S。，repliedbyreturnpost。Hisletterisadocumentwhichspeaksforitself：
HUMCROFT，SALOP，May30，1908。
MYDEARCOUSINKINGRUPERT，IamhonouredbytherequestmadeonyourbehalfbytheLordHighChancellorofyourkingdomthatIshouldmakealiterarycontributiontothevolumewhichmycousin，QueenTeuta，is，withthehelpofyourformergoverness，MissMacKelpie，compiling。Iamwillingtodoso，asyounaturallywishtohaveinthatworksomecontemporaryrecordmadebytheHeadoftheHouseofMelton，withwhichyouareconnected，thoughonlyonthedistaffside。Itisanaturalambitionenough，evenonthepartofabarbarian——orperhapssemi—barbarian——
King，andfarbeitfromme，asHeadoftheHouse，todenyyousuchacovetedprivilege。PerhapsyoumaynotknowthatIamnowHeadoftheHouse；myfatherdiedthreedaysago。IofferedmymothertheuseoftheDowerHouse——totheincumbencyofwhich，indeed，sheisentitledbyhermarriagesettlement。Butshepreferredtogotoliveatherseat，Carfax，inKent。Shewentthismorningafterthefuneral。InlettingyouhavetheuseofmymanuscriptImakeonlyonestipulation，butthatIexpecttoberigidlyadheredto。ItisthatallthatIhavewrittenbeputinthebookinextenso。Idonotwishanyrecordofminetobegarbledtosuitotherendsthanthoseostensible，orwhatevermaybetothehonourofmyselformyHousetobeburked。Idaresayyouhavenoticed，mydearRupert，thatthecompilersoffamilyhistoriesoften，throughjealousy，altermatterthattheyareallowedtousesoastosuittheirownpurposeorministertotheirownvanity。IthinkitrighttotellyouthatI
havehadacertifiedcopymadebyPetterandGalpin，thelawstationers，sothatIshallbeabletoverifywhethermystipulationhasbeenhonourablyobserved。Iamhavingthebook，whichisnaturallyvaluable，carefullypacked，andshallhaveitforwardedtoSirEdwardBinghamTrent，Baronet（whichhenowis——Heavensavethemark！），theAttorney。Pleaseseethathereturnsittome，andinproperorder。Heisnottopublishforhimselfanythinginitabouthim。Amanofthatclassisapttoadvertisethefactofanyoneofdistinctiontakinganynoticeofhim。IwouldbringouttheMS。toyoumyself，andstayforawhilewithyouforsomesport，onlyyourlot——subjectsIsupposeyoucallthem！——aresuchboundersthatagentleman’slifeishardlysafeamongstthem。Inevermetanyonewhohadsopooranappreciationofajokeastheyhave。Bytheway，howisTeuta？Sheisoneofthem。Iheardallaboutthehatchingbusiness。Ihopethekidisallright。Thisisonlyawordinyourear，sodon’tgetcocky，oldson。Iamopentoagodfathership。
Thinkofthat，Hedda！Ofcourse，iftheothergodfatherandthegodmotherareuptothemark；Idon’twanttohavetoboostupthewholelot！Savvy？KissTeutaandthekidforme。Imusthavetheboyoverhereforabitlateron——whenheispresentable，andhaslearnednottobeanuisance。Itwillbegoodforhimtoseesomethingofarealfirst—classEnglishcountryhouselikeHumcroft。
Toapersononlyaccustomedtoroughwaysandmeagrelivingitsluxurywillmakeamemorywhichwillserveintimeasanexampletobeaimedat。Ishallwriteagainsoon。Don’thesitatetoaskanyfavourwhichImaybeabletoconferonyou。Solong！
Youraffectionatecousin，ERNESTROGERHALBARDMELTON。
ExtractfromLetterfromE。BinghamTrenttoQueenTeutaoftheBlueMountains……SoIthoughtthebestwaytoservethatappallingcadwouldbetotakehimathisword，andputinhisliterarycontributioninfull。Ihavehadmadeandattestedacopyofhis\"Record，\"ashecallsit，soastosaveyoutrouble。ButIsendthebookitself，becauseIamafraidthatunlessyouseehiswordsinhisownwriting，youwillnotbelievethatheoranyoneelseeverpennedseriouslyadocumentsoincriminating。Iamsurehemusthaveforgottenwhathehadwritten，forevensuchadulldogasheiscouldneverhavemadepublicsuchathingknowingly。
Suchanaturehasitsrevengesonitself。Inthiscasetheofficersofrevengearehisipsissimaverba。
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
February1，1909。
Allisnowwellintrain。WhentheCzarofRussia，onbeingaskedbytheSclavs（aswasmeet）tobetherefereeinthe\"BalkanSettlement，\"declinedonthegroundthathewashimselfbyinferenceaninterestedparty，itwasunanimouslyagreedbytheBalkanrulersthattheWesternKingshouldbeaskedtoarbitrate，asallconcernedhadperfectconfidenceinhiswisdom，aswellashisjustice。Totheirwishhegraciouslyassented。Thematterhasnowbeenformorethansixmonthsinhishands，andhehastakenendlesstroubletoobtainfullinformation。HehasnowinformedusthroughhisChancellorthathisdecisionisalmostready，andwillbecommunicatedassoonaspossible。
Wehaveanotherhunting—partyatVissarionnextweek。Teutaislookingforwardtoitwithextraordinaryinterest。ShehopesthentopresenttoourbrothersoftheBalkansourlittleson，andsheiseagertoknowiftheyendorsehermother—approvalofhim。
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
April15，1909。
Thearbitrator’sdecisionhasbeencommunicatedtousthroughtheChancelloroftheWesternKing，whobroughtittoushimselfasaspecialactoffriendliness。Itmetwiththeenthusiasticapprovalofall。ThePremierremainedwithusduringtheprogressofthehunting—party，whichwasoneofthemostjoyousoccasionseverknown。
Weareallofgoodheart，forthefutureoftheBalkanracesisnowassured。Thestrife——internalandexternal——ofathousandyearshasceased，andwelookwithhopeforalongandhappytime。TheChancellorbroughtmessagesofgraceandcourtlinessandfriendlinesstoall。AndwhenI，asspokesmanoftheparty，askedhimifwemightconveyarequestofHisMajestythathewouldhonourusbyattendingtheceremonyofmakingknownformallytheBalkanSettlement，heansweredthattheKinghadauthorizedhimtosaythathewould，ifsuchwerewishedbyus，gladlycome；andthatifheshouldcome，hewouldattendwithafleetasanescort。TheChancelloralsotoldmefromhimselfthatitmightbepossibletohaveothernationalitiesrepresentedonsuchagreatoccasionbyAmbassadorsandevenfleets，thoughthemonarchsthemselvesmightnotbeabletoattend。HehintedthatitmightbewellifIputthematterintrain。（Heevidentlytookitforgrantedthat，thoughIwasonlyoneofseveral，thematterrestedwithme——possiblyhechosemeastheonetowhomtomaketheconfidence，asIwasbornastranger。）Aswetalkeditover，hegrewmoreenthusiastic，andfinallysaidthat，astheKingwastakingthelead，doubtlessallthenationsoftheearthfriendlytohimwouldliketotakeapartintheceremony。Soitislikelytoturnoutpracticallyaninternationalceremonyofauniquekind。
Teutawillloveit，andweshallalldowhatwecan。
JANETMACKELPIE’SNOTES。
June1，1909。