Some one at Vienna dealt a mortal blow to all the iron mines in the land with a single drop of ink.

He lowered the tariff, and native iron production thenceforth could go on only at a loss.

But Blanka was determined not to close her mines and her foundries.

She recognised the hand that had dealt her this severe blow, but she knew the harsh decree would have to be repealed before long, such an outcry was sure to go up against it.

So she pawned her jewels, kept all her men at work,--they seconded her efforts nobly by volunteering to take less than full pay,--and wrote nothing at all about her troubles to Manasseh..