RUPERT OF HENTZAU

FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM

Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda

By Anthony Hope

CONTENTS

 I. THE QUEEN'S GOOD-BY II. A STATION WITHOUT A CAB III. AGAIN TO ZENDA IV. AN EDDY ON THE MOAT V. AN AUDIENCE OF THE KING VI. THE TASK OF THE QUEEN'S SERVANTS VII. THE MESSAGE OF SIMON THE HUNTSMAN VIII. THE TEMPER OF BORIS THE HOUND IX. THE KING IN THE HUNTING-LODGE X. THE KING IN STRELSAU XI. WHAT THE CHANCELLOR'S WIFE SAW XII. BEFORE THEM ALL! XIII. A KING UP HIS SLEEVE XIV. THE NEWS COMES TO STRELSAU XV. A PASTIME FOR COLONEL SAPT XVI. A CROWD IN THE KONIGSTRASSE XVII. YOUNG RUPERT AND THE PLAY-ACTOR XVIII. THE TRIUMPH OF THE KING XIX. FOR OUR LOVE AND HER HONOR XX. THE DECISION OF HEAVEN XXI. THE COMING OF THE DREAM

CHAPTER I. THE QUEEN'S GOOD-BY

A man who has lived in the world, marking how every act, althoughin itself perhaps light and insignificant, may become the source ofconsequences that spread far and wide, and flow for years or centuries, could scarcely feel secure in reckoning that with the death of theDuke of Strelsau and the restoration of King Rudolf to liberty and histhrone, there would end, for good and all, the troubles born of BlackMichael's daring conspiracy. The stakes had been high, the strugglekeen; the edge of passion had been sharpened, and the seeds of enmitysown. Yet Michael, having struck for the crown, had paid for the blowwith his life: should there not then be an end? Michael was dead, the Princess her cousin's wife, the story in safe keeping, and Mr. Rassendyll's face seen no more in Ruritania. Should there not then be anend? So said I to my friend the Constable of Zenda, as we talked by thebedside of Marshal Strakencz. The old man, already nearing the deaththat soon after robbed us of his aid and counsel, bowed his head inassent: in the aged and ailing the love of peace breeds hope of it. ButColonel Sapt tugged at his gray moustache, and twisted his black cigarin his mouth, saying, "You're very sanguine, friend Fritz. But is Rupertof Hentzau dead? I had not heard it. "

Well said, and like old Sapt! Yet the man is little without theopportunity, and Rupert by himself could hardly have troubled ourrepose. Hampered by his own guilt, he dared not set his foot in thekingdom from which by rare good luck he had escaped, but wandered to andfro over Europe, making a living by his wits, and, as some said, addingto his resources by gallantries for which he did not refuse substantialrecompense. But he kept himself constantly before our eyes, and neverceased to contrive how he might gain permission to return and enjoy theestates to which his uncle's death had entitled him. The chief agentthrough whom he had the effrontery to approach the king was hisrelative, the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim, a young man of high rank andgreat wealth who was devoted to Rupert. The count fulfilled his missionwell: acknowledging Rupert's heavy offences, he put forward in hisbehalf the pleas of youth and of the predominant influence which DukeMichael had exercised over his adherent, and promised, in words sosignificant as to betray Rupert's own dictation, a future fidelity noless discreet than hearty. "Give me my price and I'll hold my tongue, "seemed to come in Rupert's off-hand accents through his cousin'sdeferential lips. As may be supposed, however, the king and those whoadvised him in the matter, knowing too well the manner of man theCount of Hentzau was, were not inclined to give ear to his ambassador'sprayer. We kept firm hold on Master Rupert's revenues, and as good watchas we could on his movements; for we were most firmly determined thathe should never return to Ruritania. Perhaps we might have obtained hisextradition and hanged him on the score of his crimes; but in these daysevery rogue who deserves no better than to be strung up to the nearesttree must have what they call a fair trial; and we feared that, ifRupert were handed over to our police and arraigned before the courtsat Strelsau, the secret which we guarded so sedulously would become thegossip of all the city, ay, and of all Europe. So Rupert went unpunishedexcept by banishment and the impounding of his rents. 

Yet Sapt was in the right about him. Helpless as he seemed, he didnot for an instant abandon the contest. He lived in the faith that hischance would come, and from day to day was ready for its coming. Heschemed against us as we schemed to protect ourselves from him; ifwe watched him, he kept his eye on us. His ascendency overLuzau-Rischenheim grew markedly greater after a visit which his cousinpaid to him in Paris. From this time the young count began to supplyhim with resources. Thus armed, he gathered instruments round him andorganized a system of espionage that carried to his ears all our actionsand the whole position of affairs at court. He knew, far more accuratelythan anyone else outside the royal circle, the measures taken for thegovernment of the kingdom and the considerations that dictated the royalpolicy. More than this, he possessed himself of every detail concerningthe king's health, although the utmost reticence was observed onthis subject. Had his discoveries stopped there, they would have beenvexatious and disquieting, but perhaps of little serious harm. Theywent further. Set on the track by his acquaintance with what had passedduring Mr. Rassendyll's tenure of the throne, he penetrated the secretwhich had been kept successfully from the king himself. In the knowledgeof it he found the opportunity for which he had waited; in its bold usehe discerned his chance. I cannot say whether he were influenced morestrongly by his desire to reestablish his position in the kingdom orby the grudge he bore against Mr. Rassendyll. He loved power and money;dearly he loved revenge also. No doubt both motives worked together, andhe was rejoiced to find that the weapon put into his hand had a doubleedge; with one he hoped to cut his own path clear; with the other, towound the man he hated through the woman whom that man loved. In fine, the Count of Hentzau, shrewdly discerning the feeling that existedbetween the queen and Rudolf Rassendyll, set his spies to work, andwas rewarded by discovering the object of my yearly meetings with Mr. Rassendyll. At least he conjectured the nature of my errand; this wasenough for him. Head and hand were soon busy in turning the knowledge toaccount; scruples of the heart never stood in Rupert's way. 

The marriage which had set all Ruritania on fire with joy and formedin the people's eyes the visible triumph over Black Michael and hisfellow-conspirators was now three years old. For three years thePrincess Flavia had been queen. I am come by now to the age when a manshould look out on life with an eye undimmed by the mists of passion. My love-making days are over; yet there is nothing for which I am morethankful to Almighty God than the gift of my wife's love. In storm ithas been my anchor, and in clear skies my star. But we common folk arefree to follow our hearts; am I an old fool for saying that he is a foolwho follows anything else? Our liberty is not for princes. We need waitfor no future world to balance the luck of men; even here there is anequipoise. From the highly placed a price is exacted for their state, their wealth, and their honors, as heavy as these are great; to thepoor, what is to us mean and of no sweetness may appear decked in therobes of pleasure and delight. Well, if it were not so, who could sleepat nights? The burden laid on Queen Flavia I knew, and know, so well asa man can know it. I think it needs a woman to know it fully; for evennow my wife's eyes fill with tears when we speak of it. Yet she bore it, and if she failed in anything, I wonder that it was in so little. Forit was not only that she had never loved the king and had loved anotherwith all her heart. The king's health, shattered by the horror andrigors of his imprisonment in the castle of Zenda, soon broke utterly. He lived, indeed; nay, he shot and hunted, and kept in his hand somemeasure, at least, of government. But always from the day of his releasehe was a fretful invalid, different utterly from the gay and jovialprince whom Michael's villains had caught in the shooting lodge. Therewas worse than this. As time went on, the first impulse of gratitude andadmiration that he had felt towards Mr. Rassendyll died away. He came tobrood more and more on what had passed while he was a prisoner; he waspossessed not only by a haunting dread of Rupert of Hentzau, at whosehands he had suffered so greatly, but also by a morbid, half madjealousy of Mr. Rassendyll. Rudolf had played the hero while he layhelpless. Rudolf's were the exploits for which his own people cheeredhim in his own capital. Rudolf's were the laurels that crowned hisimpatient brow. He had enough nobility to resent his borrowed credit, without the fortitude to endure it manfully. And the hateful comparisonstruck him nearer home. Sapt would tell him bluntly that Rudolf did thisor that, set this precedent or that, laid down this or the other policy, and that the king could do no better than follow in Rudolf's steps. Mr. Rassendyll's name seldom passed his wife's lips, but when she spoke ofhim it was as one speaks of a great man who is dead, belittling allthe living by the shadow of his name. I do not believe that the kingdiscerned that truth which his wife spent her days in hiding from him;yet he was uneasy if Rudolf's name were mentioned by Sapt or myself, andfrom the queen's mouth he could not bear it. I have seen him fall intofits of passion on the mere sound of it; for he lost control of himselfon what seemed slight provocation. 

Moved by this disquieting jealousy, he sought continually to exact fromthe queen proofs of love and care beyond what most husbands can boastof, or, in my humble judgment, make good their right to, always askingof her what in his heart he feared was not hers to give. Much she didin pity and in duty; but in some moments, being but human and herself awoman of high temper, she failed; then the slight rebuff or involuntarycoldness was magnified by a sick man's fancy into great offence orstudied insult, and nothing that she could do would atone for it. Thusthey, who had never in truth come together, drifted yet further apart;he was alone in his sickness and suspicion, she in her sorrows andher memories. There was no child to bridge the gulf between them, andalthough she was his queen and his wife, she grew almost a stranger tohim. So he seemed to will that it should be. 

Thus, worse than widowed, she lived for three years; and once only ineach year she sent three words to the man she loved, and received fromhim three words in answer. Then her strength failed her. A pitiful scenehad occurred in which the king peevishly upbraided her in regard to sometrivial matter--the occasion escapes my memory--speaking to her beforeothers words that even alone she could not have listened to withdignity. I was there, and Sapt; the colonel's small eyes had gleamed inanger. "I should like to shut his mouth for him, " I heard him mutter, for the king's waywardness had well-nigh worn out even his devotion. Thething, of which I will say no more, happened a day or two before Iwas to set out to meet Mr. Rassendyll. I was to seek him this time atWintenberg, for I had been recognized the year before at Dresden;and Wintenberg, being a smaller place and less in the way of chancevisitors, was deemed safer. I remember well how she was when she calledme into her own room, a few hours after she had left the king. She stoodby the table; the box was on it, and I knew well that the red rose andthe message were within. But there was more to-day. Without preface shebroke into the subject of my errand. 

"I must write to him, " she said. "I can't bear it, I must write. My dearfriend Fritz, you will carry it safely for me, won't you? And he mustwrite to me. And you'll bring that safely, won't you? Ah, Fritz, I knowI'm wrong, but I'm starved, starved, starved! And it's for the lasttime. For I know now that if I send anything, I must send more. So afterthis time I won't send at all. But I must say good-by to him; I musthave his good-by to carry me through my life. This once, then, Fritz, doit for me. "

The tears rolled down her cheeks, which to-day were flushed out of theirpaleness to a stormy red; her eyes defied me even while they pleaded. Ibent my head and kissed her hand. 

"With God's help I'll carry it safely and bring his safely, my queen, "said I. 

"And tell me how he looks. Look at him closely, Fritz. See if he is welland seems strong. Oh, and make him merry and happy! Bring that smile tohis lips, Fritz, and the merry twinkle to his eyes. When you speak ofme, see if he--if he looks as if he still loved me. " But then she brokeoff, crying, "But don't tell him I said that. He'd be grieved if Idoubted his love. I don't doubt it; I don't, indeed; but still tell mehow he looks when you speak of me, won't you, Fritz? See, here's theletter. "

Taking it from her bosom, she kissed it before she gave it to me. Thenshe added a thousand cautions, how I was to carry her letter, how I wasto go and how return, and how I was to run no danger, because my wifeHelga loved me as well as she would have loved her husband had Heavenbeen kinder. "At least, almost as I should, Fritz, " she said, nowbetween smiles and tears. She would not believe that any woman couldlove as she loved. 

I left the queen and went to prepare for my journey. I used to take onlyone servant with me, and I had chosen a different man each year. Noneof them had known that I met Mr. Rassendyll, but supposed that I wasengaged on the private business which I made my pretext for obtainingleave of absence from the king. This time I had determined to take withme a Swiss youth who had entered my service only a few weeks before. His name was Bauer; he seemed a stolid, somewhat stupid fellow, but ashonest as the day and very obliging. 

He had come to me well recommended, and I had not hesitated to engagehim. I chose him for my companion now, chiefly because he was aforeigner and therefore less likely to gossip with the other servantswhen we returned. I do not pretend to much cleverness, but I confessthat it vexes me to remember how that stout, guileless-looking youthmade a fool of me. For Rupert knew that I had met Mr. Rassendyll theyear before at Dresden; Rupert was keeping a watchful eye on all thatpassed in Strelsau; Rupert had procured the fellow his fine testimonialsand sent him to me, in the hope that he would chance on something ofadvantage to his employer. My resolve to take him to Wintenberg mayhave been hoped for, but could scarcely have been counted on; it was theadded luck that waits so often on the plans of a clever schemer. 

Going to take leave of the king, I found him huddled over the fire. The day was not cold, but the damp chill of his dungeon seemed to havepenetrated to the very core of his bones. He was annoyed at my going, and questioned me peevishly about the business that occasioned myjourney. I parried his curiosity as I best could, but did not succeedin appeasing his ill-humor. Half ashamed of his recent outburst, half-anxious to justify it to himself, he cried fretfully:

"Business! Yes, any business is a good enough excuse for leaving me! ByHeaven, I wonder if a king was ever served so badly as I am! Why did youtrouble to get me out of Zenda? Nobody wants me, nobody cares whether Ilive or die. "

To reason with such a mood was impossible. I could only assure him thatI would hasten my return by all possible means. 

"Yes, pray do, " said he. "I want somebody to look after me. Who knowswhat that villain Rupert may attempt against me? And I can't defendmyself can I? I'm not Rudolf Rassendyll, am I?"

Thus, with a mixture of plaintiveness and malice, he scolded me. At lastI stood silent, waiting till he should be pleased to dismiss me. At anyrate I was thankful that he entertained no suspicion as to my errand. Had I spoken a word of Mr. Rassendyll he would not have let me go. Hehad fallen foul of me before on learning that I was in communicationwith Rudolf; so completely had jealousy destroyed gratitude in hisbreast. If he had known what I carried, I do not think that he couldhave hated his preserver more. Very likely some such feeling was naturalenough; it was none the less painful to perceive. 

On leaving the king's presence, I sought out the Constable of Zenda. Heknew my errand; and, sitting down beside him, I told him of the letterI carried, and arranged how to apprise him of my fortune surely andquickly. He was not in a good humor that day: the king had ruffled himalso, and Colonel Sapt had no great reserve of patience. 

"If we haven't cut one another's throats before then, we shall all be atZenda by the time you arrive at Wintenberg, " he said. "The court movesthere to-morrow, and I shall be there as long as the king is. "

He paused, and then added: "Destroy the letter if there's any danger. "

I nodded my head. 

"And destroy yourself with it, if there's the only way, " he went on witha surly smile. "Heaven knows why she must send such a silly message atall; but since she must, she'd better have sent me with it. "

I knew that Sapt was in the way of jeering at all sentiment, and Itook no notice of the terms that he applied to the queen's farewell. Icontented myself with answering the last part of what he said. 

"No, it's better you should be here, " I urged. "For if I should lose theletter--though there's little chance of it--you could prevent it fromcoming to the king. "

"I could try, " he grinned. "But on my life, to run the chance for aletter's sake! A letter's a poor thing to risk the peace of a kingdomfor. "

"Unhappily, " said I, "it's the only thing that a messenger can wellcarry. "

"Off with you, then, " grumbled the colonel. "Tell Rassendyll from methat he did well. But tell him to do something more. Let 'em say good-byand have done with it. Good God, is he going to waste all his lifethinking of a woman he never sees?" Sapt's air was full of indignation. 

"What more is he to do?" I asked. "Isn't his work here done?"

"Ay, it's done. Perhaps it's done, " he answered. "At least he has givenus back our good king. "

To lay on the king the full blame for what he was would have been rankinjustice. Sapt was not guilty of it, but his disappointment was bitterthat all our efforts had secured no better ruler for Ruritania. Saptcould serve, but he liked his master to be a man. 

"Ay, I'm afraid the lad's work here is done, " he said, as I shook himby the hand. Then a sudden light came in his eyes. "Perhaps not, " hemuttered. "Who knows?"

A man need not, I hope, be deemed uxorious for liking a quiet dinneralone with his wife before he starts on a long journey. Such, at least, was my fancy; and I was annoyed to find that Helga's cousin, Anton vonStrofzin, had invited himself to share our meal and our farewell. Heconversed with his usual airy emptiness on all the topics that weresupplying Strelsau with gossip. There were rumors that the king wasill; that the queen was angry at being carried off to Zenda; that thearchbishop meant to preach against low dresses; that the chancellor wasto be dismissed; that his daughter was to be married; and so forth. I heard without listening. But the last bit of his budget caught mywandering attention. 

"They were betting at the club, " said Anton, "that Rupert of Hentzauwould be recalled. Have you heard anything about it, Fritz?"

If I had known anything, it is needless to say that I should not haveconfided it to Anton. But the suggested step was so utterly at variancewith the king's intentions that I made no difficulty about contradictingthe report with an authoritative air. Anton heard me with a judicialwrinkle on his smooth brow. 

"That's all very well, " said he, "and I dare say you're bound to say so. All I know is that Rischenheim dropped a hint to Colonel Markel a day ortwo ago. "

"Rischenheim believes what he hopes, " said I. 

"And where's he gone?" cried Anton, exultantly. "Why has he suddenlyleft Strelsau? I tell you he's gone to meet Rupert, and I'll bet youwhat you like he carries some proposal. Ah, you don't know everything, Fritz, my boy?"

It was indeed true that I did not know everything. I made haste to admitas much. "I didn't even know that the count was gone, much less why he'sgone, " said I. 

"You see?" exclaimed Anton. And he added, patronizingly, "You shouldkeep your ears open, my boy; then you might be worth what the king paysyou. "

"No less, I trust, " said I, "for he pays me nothing. " Indeed, at thistime I held no office save the honorary position of chamberlain toHer Majesty. Any advice the king needed from me was asked and givenunofficially. 

Anton went off, persuaded that he had scored a point against me. I couldnot see where. It was possible that the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim hadgone to meet his cousin, equally possible that no such business claimedhis care. At any rate, the matter was not for me. I had a more pressingaffair in hand. Dismissing the whole thing from my mind, I bade thebutler tell Bauer to go forward with my luggage and to let my carriagebe at the door in good time. Helga had busied herself, since our guest'sdeparture, in preparing small comforts for my journey; now she cameto me to say good-by. Although she tried to hide all signs of it, Idetected an uneasiness in her manner. She did not like these errands ofmine, imagining dangers and risks of which I saw no likelihood. I wouldnot give in to her mood, and, as I kissed her, I bade her expect me backin a few days' time. Not even to her did I speak of the new and moredangerous burden that I carried, although I was aware that she enjoyed afull measure of the queen's confidence. 

"My love to King Rudolf, the real King Rudolf, " said she. "Though youcarry what will make him think little of my love. "

"I have no desire he should think too much of it, sweet, " said I. Shecaught me by the hands, and looked up in my face. 

"What a friend you are, aren't you, Fritz?" said she. "You worship Mr. Rassendyll. I know you think I should worship him too, if he asked me. Well, I shouldn't. I am foolish enough to have my own idol. " All mymodesty did not let me doubt who her idol might be. Suddenly she drewnear to me and whispered in my ear. I think that our own happinessbrought to her a sudden keen sympathy with her mistress. 

"Make him send her a loving message, Fritz, " she whispered. "Somethingthat will comfort her. Her idol can't be with her as mine is with me. "

"Yes, he'll send something to comfort her, " I answered. "And God keepyou, my dear. "

For he would surely send an answer to the letter that I carried, andthat answer I was sworn to bring safely to her. So I set out in goodheart, bearing in the pocket of my coat the little box and the queen'sgood-by. And, as Colonel Sapt said to me, both I would destroy, if needwere--ay, and myself with them. A man did not serve Queen Flavia withdivided mind. 

CHAPTER II. A STATION WITHOUT A CAB

The arrangements for my meeting with Mr. Rassendyll had been carefullymade by correspondence before he left England. He was to be at theGolden Lion Hotel at eleven o'clock on the night of the 15th of October. I reckoned to arrive in the town between eight and nine on the sameevening, to proceed to another hotel, and, on pretence of taking astroll, slip out and call on him at the appointed hour. I should thenfulfil my commission, take his answer, and enjoy the rare pleasure ofa long talk with him. Early the next morning he would have leftWintenberg, and I should be on my way back to Strelsau. I knew that hewould not fail to keep his appointment, and I was perfectly confident ofbeing able to carry out the programme punctually; I had, however, takenthe precaution of obtaining a week's leave of absence, in case anyunforeseen accident should delay my return. Conscious of having doneall I could to guard against misunderstanding or mishap, I got into thetrain in a tolerably peaceful frame of mind. The box was in my innerpocket, the letter in a portemonnaie. I could feel them both with myhand. I was not in uniform, but I took my revolver. Although I had noreason to anticipate any difficulties, I did not forget that what Icarried must be protected at all hazards and all costs. 

The weary night journey wore itself away. Bauer came to me in themorning, performed his small services, repacked my hand-bag, procuredme some coffee, and left me. It was then about eight o'clock; we hadarrived at a station of some importance and were not to stop again tillmid-day. I saw Bauer enter the second-class compartment in which hewas traveling, and settled down in my own coupe. I think it was at thismoment that the thought of Rischenheim came again into my head, and Ifound myself wondering why he clung to the hopeless idea of compassingRupert's return and what business had taken him from Strelsau. But Imade little of the matter, and, drowsy from a broken night's rest, soonfell into a doze. I was alone in the carriage and could sleep withoutfear or danger. I was awakened by our noontide halt. Here I saw Baueragain. After taking a basin of soup, I went to the telegraph bureau tosend a message to my wife; the receipt of it would not merely set hermind at case, but would also ensure word of my safe progress reachingthe queen. As I entered the bureau I met Bauer coming out of it. Heseemed rather startled at our encounter, but told me readily enoughthat he had been telegraphing for rooms at Wintenberg, a very needlessprecaution, since there was no danger of the hotel being full. In factI was annoyed, as I especially wished to avoid calling attention to myarrival. However, the mischief was done, and to rebuke my servant mighthave aggravated it by setting his wits at work to find out my motive forsecrecy. So I said nothing, but passed by him with a nod. When the wholecircumstances came to light, I had reason to suppose that besideshis message to the inn-keeper, Bauer sent one of a character and to aquarter unsuspected by me. 

We stopped once again before reaching Wintenberg. I put my head out ofthe window to look about me, and saw Bauer standing near the luggagevan. He ran to me eagerly, asking whether I required anything. I toldhim "nothing"; but instead of going away, he began to talk to me. Growing weary of him, I returned to my seat and waited impatiently forthe train to go on. There was a further delay of five minutes, and thenwe started. 

"Thank goodness!" I exclaimed, leaning back comfortably in my seat andtaking a cigar from my case. 

But in a moment the cigar rolled unheeded on to the floor, as I sprangeagerly to my feet and darted to the window. For just as we wereclearing the station, I saw being carried past the carriage, on theshoulders of a porter, a bag which looked very much like mine. Bauerhad been in charge of my bag, and it had been put in the van under hisdirections. It seemed unlikely that it should be taken out now by anymistake. Yet the bag I saw was very like the bag I owned. But I was notsure, and could have done nothing had I been sure. We were not to stopagain before Wintenberg, and, with my luggage or without it, I myselfmust be in the town that evening. 

We arrived punctual to our appointed time. I sat in the carriage amoment or two, expecting Bauer to open the door and relieve me of mysmall baggage. He did not come, so I got out. It seemed that I had fewfellow-passengers, and these were quickly disappearing on foot or incarriages and carts that waited outside the station. I stood looking formy servant and my luggage. The evening was mild; I was encumbered withmy hand-bag and a heavy fur coat. There were no signs either of Bauer orof baggage. I stayed where I was for five or six minutes. The guard ofthe train had disappeared, but presently I observed the station-master;he seemed to be taking a last glance round the premises. Going up to himI asked whether he had seen my servant; he could give me no news ofhim. I had no luggage ticket, for mine had been in Bauer's hands; but Iprevailed on him to allow me to look at the baggage which had arrived;my property was not among it. The station-master was inclined, I think, to be a little skeptical as to the existence both of bag and ofservant. His only suggestion was that the man must have been left behindaccidentally. I pointed out that in this case he would not have hadthe bag with him, but that it would have come on in the train. Thestation-master admitted the force of my argument; he shrugged hisshoulders and spread his hands out; he was evidently at the end of hisresources. 

Now, for the first time and with sudden force, a doubt of Bauer'sfidelity thrust itself into my mind. I remembered how little I knew ofthe fellow and how great my charge was. Three rapid movements of myhand assured me that letter, box, and revolver were in their respectiveplaces. If Bauer had gone hunting in the bag, he had drawn a blank. Thestation-master noticed nothing; he was stating at the dim gas lamp thathung from the roof. I turned to him. 

"Well, tell him when he comes--" I began. 

"He won't come to-night, now, " interrupted the stationmaster, none toopolitely. "No other train arrives to-night. "

"Tell him when he does come to follow me at once to the Wintenbergerhof. I'm going there immediately. " For time was short, and I did not wish tokeep Mr. Rassendyll waiting. Besides, in my new-born nervousness, I wasanxious to accomplish my errand as soon as might be. What had becomeof Bauer? The thought returned, and now with it another, that seemedto connect itself in some subtle way with my present position: why andwhither had the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim set out from Strelsau a daybefore I started on my journey to Wintenberg?

"If he comes I'll tell him, " said the station-master, and as he spoke helooked round the yard. 

There was not a cab to be seen! I knew that the station lay on theextreme outskirts of the town, for I had passed through Wintenberg onmy wedding journey, nearly three years before. The trouble involved inwalking, and the further waste of time, put the cap on my irritation. 

"Why don't you have enough cabs?" I asked angrily. 

"There are plenty generally, sir, " he answered more civilly, with anapologetic air. "There would be to-night but for an accident. "

Another accident! This expedition of mine seemed doomed to be the sportof chance. 

"Just before your train arrived, " he continued, "a local came in. Asa rule, hardly anybody comes by it, but to-night a number of men--oh, twenty or five-and-twenty, I should think--got out. I collected theirtickets myself, and they all came from the first station on the line. Well, that's not so strange, for there's a good beer-garden there. But, curiously enough, every one of them hired a separate cab and drove off, laughing and shouting to one another as they went. That's how it happensthat there were only one or two cabs left when your train came in, andthey were snapped up at once. "

Taken alone, this occurrence was nothing; but I asked myself whether theconspiracy that had robbed me of my servant had deprived me of a vehiclealso. 

"What sort of men were they?" I asked. 

"All sorts of men, sir, " answered the station-master, "but most of themwere shabby-looking fellows. I wondered where some of them had got themoney for their ride. "

The vague feeling of uneasiness which had already attacked me grewstronger. Although I fought against it, calling myself an old womanand a coward, I must confess to an impulse which almost made me begthe station-master's company on my walk; but, besides being ashamedto exhibit a timidity apparently groundless, I was reluctant to drawattention to myself in any way. I would not for the world have itsupposed that I carried anything of value. 

"Well, there's no help for it, " said I, and, buttoning my heavy coatabout me, I took my hand-bag and stick in one hand, and asked my wayto the hotel. My misfortunes had broken down the station-master'sindifference, and he directed me in a sympathetic tone. 

"Straight along the road, sir, " said he, "between the poplars, for hardon half a mile; then the houses begin, and your hotel is in the firstsquare you come to, on the right. "

I thanked him curtly (for I had not quite forgiven him his earlierincivility), and started on my walk, weighed down by my big coat andthe handbag. When I left the lighted station yard I realized that theevening had fallen very dark, and the shade of the tall lank treesintensified the gloom. I could hardly see my way, and went timidly, withfrequent stumbles over the uneven stones of the road. The lamps weredim, few, and widely separated; so far as company was concerned, I mighthave been a thousand miles from an inhabited house. In spite of myself, the thought of danger persistently assailed my mind. I began to reviewevery circumstance of my journey, twisting the trivial into some ominousshape, magnifying the significance of everything which might justlyseem suspicious, studying in the light of my new apprehensions everyexpression of Bauer's face and every word that had fallen from his lips. I could not persuade myself into security. I carried the queen's letter, and--well, I would have given much to have old Sapt or Rudolf Rassendyllby my side. 

Now, when a man suspects danger, let him not spend his time in askingwhether there be really danger or in upbraiding himself for timidity, but let him face his cowardice, and act as though the danger were real. If I had followed that rule and kept my eyes about me, scanning thesides of the road and the ground in front of my feet, instead of losingmyself in a maze of reflection, I might have had time to avoid the trap, or at least to get my hand to my revolver and make a fight for it; or, indeed, in the last resort, to destroy what I carried before harm cameto it. But my mind was preoccupied, and the whole thing seemed to happenin a minute. At the very moment that I had declared to myself the vanityof my fears and determined to be resolute in banishing them, I heardvoices--a low, strained whispering; I saw two or three figures in theshadow of the poplars by the wayside. An instant later, a dart was madeat me. While I could fly I would not fight; with a sudden forward plungeI eluded the men who rushed at me, and started at a run towards thelights of the town and the shapes of the houses, now distant about aquarter of a mile. Perhaps I ran twenty yards, perhaps fifty; I do notknow. I heard the steps behind me, quick as my own. Then I fell headlongon the road--tripped up! I understood. They had stretched a rope acrossmy path; as I fell a man bounded up from either side, and I found therope slack under my body. There I lay on my face; a man knelt on me, others held either hand; my face was pressed into the mud of the road, and I was like to have been stifled; my hand-bag had whizzed away fromme. Then a voice said:

"Turn him over. "

I knew the voice; it was a confirmation of the fears which I had latelybeen at such pains to banish. It justified the forecast of Anton vonStrofzin, and explained the wager of the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim--forit was Rischenheim's voice. 

They caught hold of me and began to turn me on my back. Here I saw achance, and with a great heave of my body I flung them from me. For ashort instant I was free; my impetuous attack seemed to have startledthe enemy; I gathered myself up on my knees. But my advantage was not tolast long. Another man, whom I had not seen, sprang suddenly on me likea bullet from a catapult. His fierce onset overthrew me; I was stretchedon the ground again, on my back now, and my throat was clutchedviciously in strong fingers. At the same moment my arms were againseized and pinned. The face of the man on my chest bent down towardsmine, and through the darkness I discerned the features of Rupert ofHentzau. He was panting with the sudden exertion and the intense forcewith which he held me, but he was smiling also; and when he saw bymy eyes that I knew him, he laughed softly in triumph. Then cameRischenheim's voice again. 

"Where's the bag he carried? It may be in the bag. "

"You fool, he'll have it about him, " said Rupert, scornfully. "Hold himfast while I search. "

On either side my hands were still pinned fast. Rupert's left hand didnot leave my throat, but his free right hand began to dart aboutme, feeling, probing, and rummaging. I lay quite helpless and in thebitterness of great consternation. Rupert found my revolver, drew it outwith a gibe, and handed it to Rischenheim, who was now standing besidehim. Then he felt the box, he drew it out, his eyes sparkled. He sethis knee hard on my chest, so that I could scarcely breathe; then heventured to loose my throat, and tore the box open eagerly. 

"Bring a light here, " he cried. Another ruffian came with adark-lantern, whose glow he turned on the box. Rupert opened it, andwhen he saw what was inside, he laughed again, and stowed it away in hispocket. 

"Quick, quick!" urged Rischenheim. "We've got what we wanted, andsomebody may come at any moment. "

A brief hope comforted me. The loss of the box was a calamity, but Iwould pardon fortune if only the letter escaped capture. Rupert mighthave suspected that I carried some such token as the box, but he couldnot know of the letter. Would he listen to Rischenheim? No. The Count ofHentzau did things thoroughly. 

"We may as well overhaul him a bit more, " said he, and resumed hissearch. My hope vanished, for now he was bound to come upon the letter. 

Another instant brought him to it. He snatched the pocketbook, and, motioning impatiently to the man to hold the lantern nearer, he began toexamine the contents. I remember well the look of his face as the fiercewhite light threw it up against the darkness in its clear pallor andhigh-bred comeliness, with its curling lips and scornful eyes. He hadthe letter now, and a gleam of joy danced in his eyes as he tore itopen. A hasty glance showed him what his prize was; then, coolly anddeliberately he settled himself to read, regarding neither Rischenheim'snervous hurry nor my desperate, angry glance that glared up at him. Heread leisurely, as though he had been in an armchair in his own house;the lips smiled and curled as he read the last words that the queen hadwritten to her lover. He had indeed come on more than he thought. 

Rischenheim laid a hand on his shoulder. 

"Quick, Rupert, quick, " he urged again, in a voice full of agitation. 

"Let me alone, man. I haven't read anything so amusing for a longwhile, " answered Rupert. Then he burst into a laugh, crying, "Look, look!" and pointing to the foot of the last page of the letter. I wasmad with anger; my fury gave me new strength. In his enjoyment of whathe read Rupert had grown careless; his knee pressed more lightly on me, and as he showed Rischenheim the passage in the letter that caused himso much amusement he turned his head away for an instant. My chancehad come. With a sudden movement I displaced him, and with a desperatewrench I freed my right hand. Darting it out, I snatched at the letter. Rupert, alarmed for his treasure, sprang back and off me. I also sprangup on my feet, hurling away the fellow who had gripped my other hand. For a moment I stood facing Rupert; then I darted on him. He was tooquick for me; he dodged behind the man with the lantern and hurled thefellow forward against me. The lantern fell on the ground. 

"Give me your stick!" I heard Rupert say. "Where is it? That's right!"

Then came Rischenheim's voice again, imploring and timid:

"Rupert, you promised not to kill him. "

The only answer was a short, fierce laugh. I hurled away the man who hadbeen thrust into my arms and sprang forward. I saw Rupert of Hentzau;his hand was raised above his head and held a stout club. I do notknow what followed; there came--all in a confused blur of instantsequence--an oath from Rupert, a rush from me, a scuffle, as though someone sought to hold him back; then he was on me; I felt a great thud onmy forehead, and I felt nothing more. Again I was on my back, with aterrible pain in my head, and a dull, dreamy consciousness of a knot ofmen standing over me, talking eagerly to one another. 

I could not hear what they were saying; I had no great desire to hear. Ifancied, somehow, that they were talking about me; they looked at me andmoved their hands towards me now and again. I heard Rupert's laugh, andsaw his club poised over me; then Rischenheim caught him by the wrist. Iknow now that Rischenheim was reminding his cousin that he had promisednot to kill me, that Rupert's oath did not weigh a straw in the scales, but that he was held back only by a doubt whether I alive or my deadbody would be more inconvenient to dispose of. Yet then I did notunderstand, but lay there listless. And presently the talking formsseemed to cease their talking; they grew blurred and dim, running intoone another, and all mingling together to form one great shapelesscreature that seemed to murmur and gibber over me, some such monsteras a man sees in his dreams. I hated to see it, and closed my eyes; itsmurmurings and gibberings haunted my ears for awhile, making me restlessand unhappy; then they died away. Their going made me happy; I sighed incontentment; and everything became as though it were not. 

Yet I had one more vision, breaking suddenly across my unconsciousness. A bold, rich voice rang out, "By God, I will!"

"No, no, " cried another. Then, "What's that?" There was a rush of feet, the cries of men who met in anger or excitement, the crack of a shot andof another quickly following, oaths, and scuffling. Then came the soundof feet flying. I could not make it out; I grew weary with the puzzle ofit. Would they not be quiet? Quiet was what I wanted. At last they grewquiet; I closed my eyes again. The pain was less now; they were quiet; Icould sleep. 

When a man looks back on the past, reviewing in his mind the chancesFortune has given and the calls she has made, he always torments himselfby thinking that he could have done other and better than in fact hedid. Even now I lie awake at night sometimes, making clever plans bywhich I could have thwarted Rupert's schemes. In these musings I am veryacute; Anton von Strofzin's idle talk furnishes me with many a clue, and I draw inferences sure and swift as a detective in the story books. Bauer is my tool, I am not his. I lay Rischenheim by the heels, sendRupert howling off with a ball in his arm, and carry my precious burdenin triumph to Mr. Rassendyll. By the time I have played the whole game Iam indeed proud of myself. Yet in truth--in daylight truth--I fear that, unless Heaven sent me a fresh set of brains, I should be caught in muchthe same way again. Though not by that fellow Bauer, I swear! Well, there it was. They had made a fool of me. I lay on the road with abloody head, and Rupert of Hentzau had the queen's letter. 

CHAPTER III. AGAIN TO ZENDA

By Heaven's care, or--since a man may be over-apt to arrogate to himselfgreat share of such attention--by good luck, I had not to trust for mylife to the slender thread of an oath sworn by Rupert of Hentzau. Thevisions of my dazed brain were transmutations of reality; the scuffle, the rush, the retreat were not all dream. 

There is an honest fellow now living in Wintenberg comfortably and athis ease by reason that his wagon chanced to come lumbering along withthree or four stout lads in it at the moment when Rupert was meditatinga second and murderous blow. Seeing the group of us, the good carrierand his lads leapt down and rushed on my assailants. One of the thieves, they said, was for fighting it out--I could guess who that was--andcalled on the rest to stand; but they, more prudent, laid hands on him, and, in spite of his oaths, hustled him off along the road towardsthe station. Open country lay there and the promise of safety. My newfriends set off in pursuit; but a couple of revolver shots, heard by me, but not understood, awoke their caution. Good Samaritans, but not menof war, they returned to where I lay senseless on the ground, congratulating themselves and me that an enemy so well armed shouldrun and not stand his ground. They forced a drink of rough wine down mythroat, and in a minute or two I opened my eyes. They were for carryingme to a hospital; I would have none of it. As soon as things grew clearto me again and I knew where I was, I did nothing but repeat in urgenttones, "The Golden Lion, The Golden Lion! Twenty crowns to carry me tothe Golden Lion. "

Perceiving that I knew my own business and where I wished to go, onepicked up my hand-bag and the rest hoisted me into their wagon and setout for the hotel where Rudolf Rassendyll was. The one thought my brokenhead held was to get to him as soon as might be and tell him how I hadbeen fool enough to let myself be robbed of the queen's letter. 

He was there. He stood on the threshold of the inn, waiting for me, asit seemed, although it was not yet the hour of my appointment. As theydrew me up to the door, I saw his tall, straight figure and his red hairby the light of the hall lamps. By Heaven, I felt as a lost child muston sight of his mother! I stretched out my hand to him, over the side ofthe wagon, murmuring, "I've lost it. "

He started at the words, and sprang forward to me. Then he turnedquickly to the carrier. 

"This gentleman is my friend, " he said. "Give him to me. I'll speak toyou later. " He waited while I was lifted down from the wagon intothe arms that he held ready for me, and himself carried me across thethreshold. I was quite clear in the head by now and understood all thatpassed. There were one or two people in the hall, but Mr. Rassendylltook no heed of them. He bore me quickly upstairs and into hissitting-room. There he set me down in an arm-chair, and stood oppositeto me. He was smiling, but anxiety was awake in his eyes. 

"I've lost it, " I said again, looking up at him pitifully enough. 

"That's all right, " said he, nodding. "Will you wait, or can you tellme?"

"Yes, but give me some brandy, " said I. 

Rudolf gave me a little brandy mixed in a great deal of water, and thenI made shift to tell him. Though faint, I was not confused, and I gavemy story in brief, hurried, yet sufficient words. He made no sign till Imentioned the letter. Then his face changed. 

"A letter, too?" he exclaimed, in a strange mixture of increasedapprehension and unlooked-for joy. 

"Yes, a letter, too; she wrote a letter, and I carried that as well asthe box. I've lost them both, Rudolf. God help me, I've lost them both!Rupert has the letter too!" I think I must have been weak and unmannedfrom the blow I had received, for my composure broke down here. Rudolfstepped up to me and wrung me by the hand. I mastered myself again andlooked in his face as he stood in thought, his hand caressing the strongcurve of his clean-shaven chin. Now that I was with him again it seemedas though I had never lost him; as though we were still together inStrelsau or at Tarlenheim, planning how to hoodwink Black Michael, send Rupert of Hentzau to his own place, and bring the king back to histhrone. For Mr. Rassendyll, as he stood before me now, was changed innothing since our last meeting, nor indeed since he reigned in Strelsau, save that a few flecks of gray spotted his hair. 

My battered head ached most consumedly. Mr. Rassendyll rang the belltwice, and a short, thickset man of middle age appeared; he wore a suitof tweed, and had the air of smartness and respectability which marksEnglish servants. 

"James, " said Rudolf, "this gentleman has hurt his head. Look after it. "

James went out. In a few minutes he was back, with water, basin, towels, and bandages. Bending over me, he began to wash and tend my wound verydeftly. Rudolf was walking up and down. 

"Done the head, James?" he asked, after a few moments. 

"Yes, sir, " answered the servant, gathering together his appliances. 

"Telegraph forms, then. "

James went out, and was back with the forms in an instant. 

"Be ready when I ring, " said Rudolf. And he added, turning to me, "Anyeasier, Fritz?"

"I can listen to you now, " I said. 

"I see their game, " said he. "One or other of them, Rupert or thisRischenheim, will try to get to the king with the letter. "

I sprang to my feet. 

"They mustn't, " I cried, and I reeled back into my chair, with a feelingas if a red-hot poker were being run through my head. 

"Much you can do to stop 'em, old fellow, " smiled Rudolf, pausing topress my hand as he went by. "They won't trust the post, you know. Onewill go. Now which?" He stood facing me with a thoughtful frown on hisface. 

I did not know, but I thought that Rischenheim would go. It was a greatrisk for Rupert to trust himself in the kingdom, and he knew that theking would not easily be persuaded to receive him, however startlingmight be the business he professed as his errand. On the other hand, nothing was known against Rischenheim, while his rank would secure, andindeed entitle, him to an early audience. Therefore I concluded thatRischenheim would go with the letter, or, if Rupert would not let thatout of his possession, with the news of the letter. 

"Or a copy, " suggested Rassendyll. "Well, Rischenheim or Rupert will beon his way by to-morrow morning, or is on his way to-night. "

Again I tried to rise, for I was on fire to prevent the fatalconsequences of my stupidity. Rudolf thrust me back in my chair, saying, "No, no. " Then he sat down at the table and took up the telegraph forms. 

"You and Sapt arranged a cipher, I suppose?" he asked. 

"Yes. You write the message, and I'll put it into the cipher. "

"This is what I've written: 'Document lost. Let nobody see him ifpossible. Wire who asks. ' I don't like to make it plainer: most cipherscan be read, you know. "

"Not ours, " said I. 

"Well, but will that do?" asked Rudolf, with an unconvinced smile. 

"Yes, I think he'll understand it. " And I wrote it again in the cipher;it was as much as I could do to hold the pen. 

The bell was rung again, and James appeared in an instant. 

"Send this, " said Rudolf. 

"The offices will be shut, sir. "

"James, James!"

"Very good, sir; but it may take an hour to get one open. "

"I'll give you half an hour. Have you money?"

"Yes, sir. "

"And now, " added Rudolf, turning to me, "you'd better go to bed. "

I do not recollect what I answered, for my faintness came upon me again, and I remember only that Rudolf himself helped me into his own bed. Islept, but I do not think he so much as lay down on the sofa; chancingto awake once or twice, I heard him pacing about. But towards morningI slept heavily, and I did not know what he was doing then. At eighto'clock James entered and roused me. He said that a doctor was to be atthe hotel in half an hour, but that Mr. Rassendyll would like to see mefor a few minutes if I felt equal to business. I begged James to summonhis master at once. Whether I were equal or unequal, the business had tobe done. 

Rudolf came, calm and serene. Danger and the need for exertion acted onhim like a draught of good wine on a seasoned drinker. He was not onlyhimself, but more than himself: his excellences enhanced, the indolencethat marred him in quiet hours sloughed off. But to-day there wassomething more; I can only describe it as a kind of radiance. I haveseen it on the faces of young sparks when the lady they love comesthrough the ball-room door, and I have seen it glow more softly ina girl's eyes when some fellow who seemed to me nothing out of theordinary asked her for a dance. That strange gleam was on Rudolf's faceas he stood by my bedside. I dare say it used to be on mine when I wentcourting. 

"Fritz, old friend, " said he, "there's an answer from Sapt. I'll lay thetelegraph offices were stirred in Zenda as well as James stirred themhere in Wintenberg! And what do you think? Rischenheim asked for anaudience before he left Strelsau. "

I raised myself on my elbow in the bed. 

"You understand?" he went on. "He left on Monday. To-day's Wednesday. The king has granted him an audience at four on Friday. Well, then--"

"They counted on success, " I cried, "and Rischenheim takes the letter!"

"A copy, if I know Rupert of Hentzau. Yes, it was well laid. I like themen taking all the cabs! How much ahead had they, now. "

I did not know that, though I had no more doubt than he that Rupert'shand was in the business. 

"Well, " he continued, "I am going to wire to Sapt to put Rischenheimoff for twelve hours if he can; failing that, to get the king away fromZenda. "

"But Rischenheim must have his audience sooner or later, " I objected. 

"Sooner or later--there's the world's difference between them!" criedRudolf Rassendyll. He sat down on the bed by me, and went on in quick, decisive words: "You can't move for a day or two. Send my message toSapt. Tell him to keep you informed of what happens. As soon as you cantravel, go to Strelsau, and let Sapt know directly you arrive. We shallwant your help. "

"And what are you going to do?" I cried, staring at him. 

He looked at me for a moment, and his face was crossed by conflictingfeelings. I saw resolve there, obstinacy, and the scorn of danger; fun, too, and merriment; and, lastly, the same radiance I spoke of. He hadbeen smoking a cigarette; now he threw the end of it into the grate androse from the bed where he had been sitting. 

"I'm going to Zenda, " said he. 

"To Zenda!" I cried, amazed. 

"Yes, " said Rudolf. "I'm going again to Zenda, Fritz, old fellow. Byheaven, I knew it would come, and now it has come!"

"But to do what?"

"I shall overtake Rischenheim or be hot on his heels. If he gets therefirst, Sapt will keep him waiting till I come; and if I come, he shallnever see the king. Yes, if I come in time--" He broke into a suddenlaugh. "What!" he cried, "have I lost my likeness? Can't I still playthe king? Yes, if I come in time, Rischenheim shall have his audienceof the king of Zenda, and the king will be very gracious to him, and theking will take his copy of the letter from him! Oh, Rischenheim shallhave an audience of King Rudolf in the castle of Zenda, never fear!"

He stood, looking to see how I received his plan; but amazed at theboldness of it, I could only lie back and gasp. 

Rudolf's excitement left him as suddenly as it had come; he was againthe cool, shrewd, nonchalant Englishman, as, lighting another cigarette, he proceeded:

"You see, there are two of them, Rupert and Rischenheim. Now you can'tmove for a day or two, that's certain. But there must be two of us therein Ruritania. Rischenheim is to try first; but if he fails, Rupert willrisk everything and break through to the king's presence. Give him fiveminutes with the king, and the mischief's done! Very well, then; Saptmust keep Rupert at bay while I tackle Rischenheim. As soon as you canmove, go to Strelsau, and let Sapt know where you are. "

"But if you're seen, if you're found out?"

"Better I than the queen's letter, " said he. Then he laid his hand onmy arm and said, quite quietly, "If the letter gets to the king, I and Ionly can do what must be done. "

I did not know what he meant; perhaps it was that he would carry off thequeen sooner than leave her alone after her letter was known; but therewas another possible meaning that I, a loyal subject, dared not inquireinto. Yet I made no answer, for I was above all and first of all thequeen's servant. Still I cannot believe that he meant harm to the king. 

"Come, Fritz, " he cried, "don't look so glum. This is not so great anaffair as the other, and we brought that through safe. " I suppose Istill looked doubtful, for he added, with a sort of impatience, "Well, I'm going, anyhow. Heavens, man, am I to sit here while that letter iscarried to the king?"

I understood his feeling, and knew that he held life a light thingcompared with the recovery of Queen Flavia's letter. I ceased to urgehim. When I assented to his wishes, every shadow vanished from hisface, and he began to discuss the details of the plan with business-likebrevity. 

"I shall leave James with you, " said Rudolf. "He'll be very useful, andyou can rely on him absolutely. Any message that you dare trust to noother conveyance, give to him; he'll carry it. He can shoot, too. " Herose as he spoke. "I'll look in before I start, " he added, "and hearwhat the doctor says about you. "

I lay there, thinking, as men sick and weary in body will, of thedangers and the desperate nature of the risk, rather than of the hopewhich its boldness would have inspired in a healthy, active brain. I distrusted the rapid inference that Rudolf had drawn from Sapt'stelegram, telling myself that it was based on too slender a foundation. Well, there I was wrong, and I am glad now to pay that tribute to hisdiscernment. The first steps of Rupert's scheme were laid as Rudolf hadconjectured: Rischenheim had started, even while I lay there, for Zenda, carrying on his person a copy of the queen's farewell letter and armedfor his enterprise by his right of audience with the king. So far wewere right, then; for the rest we were in darkness, not knowing or beingable even to guess where Rupert would choose to await the result of thefirst cast, or what precautions he had taken against the failure of hisenvoy. But although in total obscurity as to his future plans, I tracedhis past actions, and subsequent knowledge has shown that I was right. Bauer was the tool; a couple of florins apiece had hired the fellowswho, conceiving that they were playing a part in some practical joke, had taken all the cabs at the station. Rupert had reckoned that I shouldlinger looking for my servant and luggage, and thus miss my last chanceof a vehicle. If, however, I had obtained one, the attack would stillhave been made, although, of course, under much greater difficulties. Finally--and of this at the time I knew nothing--had I evaded themand got safe to port with my cargo, the plot would have been changed. Rupert's attention would then have been diverted from me to Rudolf;counting on love overcoming prudence, he reckoned that Mr. Rassendyllwould not at once destroy what the queen sent, and had arranged to trackhis steps from Wintenberg till an opportunity offered of robbing him ofhis treasure. The scheme, as I know it, was full of audacious cunning, and required large resources--the former Rupert himself supplied;for the second he was indebted to his cousin and slave, the Count ofLuzau-Rischenheim. 

My meditations were interrupted by the arrival of the doctor. He hummedand ha'd over me, but to my surprise asked me no questions as to thecause of my misfortune, and did not, as I had feared, suggest that hisefforts should be seconded by those of the police. On the contrary, heappeared, from an unobtrusive hint or two, to be anxious that I shouldknow that his discretion could be trusted. 

"You must not think of moving for a couple of days, " he said; "but then, I think we can get you away without danger and quite quietly. "

I thanked him; he promised to look in again; I murmured something abouthis fee. 

"Oh, thank you, that is all settled, " he said. "Your friend Herr Schmidthas seen to it, and, my dear sir, most liberally. "

He was hardly gone when 'my friend Herr Schmidt'--alias RudolfRassendyll--was back. He laughed a little when I told him how discreetthe doctor had been. 

"You see, " he explained, "he thinks you've been very indiscreet. I wasobliged, my dear Fritz, to take some liberties with your character. However, it's odds against the matter coming to your wife's ears. "

"But couldn't we have laid the others by the heels?"

"With the letter on Rupert? My dear fellow, you're very ill. "

I laughed at myself, and forgave Rudolf his trick, though I think thathe might have made my fictitious inamorata something more than a baker'swife. It would have cost no more to make her a countess, and the doctorwould have looked with more respect on me. However, Rudolf had said thatthe baker broke my head with his rolling-pin, and thus the story restsin the doctor's mind to this day. 

"Well, I'm off, " said Rudolf. 

"But where?"

"Why, to that same little station where two good friends parted from meonce before. Fritz, where's Rupert gone?"

"I wish we knew. "

"I lay he won't be far off. "

"Are you armed?"

"The six-shooter. Well, yes, since you press me, a knife, too; but onlyif he uses one. You'll let Sapt know when you come?"

"Yes; and I come the moment I can stand?"

"As if you need tell me that, old fellow!"

"Where do you go from the station?"

"To Zenda, through the forest, " he answered. "I shall reach the stationabout nine to-morrow night, Thursday. Unless Rischenheim has got theaudience sooner than was arranged, I shall be in time. "

"How will you get hold of Sapt?"

"We must leave something to the minute. "

"God bless you, Rudolf. "

"The king sha'n't have the letter, Fritz. "

There was a moment's silence as we shook hands. Then that soft yetbright look came in his eyes again. He looked down at me, and caught meregarding him with a smile that I know was not unkind. 

"I never thought I should see her again, " he said. "I think I shall now, Fritz. To have a turn with that boy and to see her again--it's worthsomething. "

"How will you see her?"

Rudolf laughed, and I laughed too. He caught my hand again. I think thathe was anxious to infect me with his gayety and confidence. But I couldnot answer to the appeal of his eyes. There was a motive in him thatfound no place in me--a great longing, the prospect or hope of whosesudden fulfilment dwarfed danger and banished despair. He saw that Idetected its presence in him and perceived how it filled his mind. 

"But the letter comes before all, " said he. "I expected to die withoutseeing her; I will die without seeing her, if I must, to save theletter. "

"I know you will, " said I. 

He pressed my hand again. As he turned away, James came with hisnoiseless, quick step into the room. 

"The carriage is at the door, sir, " said he. 

"Look after the count, James, " said Rudolf. "Don't leave him till hesends you away. "

"Very well, sir. "

I raised myself in bed. 

"Here's luck, " I cried, catching up the lemonade James had brought me, and taking a gulp of it. 

"Please God, " said Rudolf, with a shrug. 

And he was gone to his work and his reward--to save the queen's letterand to see the queen's face. Thus he went a second time to Zenda. 

CHAPTER IV. AN EDDY ON THE MOAT

On the evening of Thursday, the sixteenth of October, the Constable ofZenda was very much out of humor; he has since confessed as much. Torisk the peace of a palace for the sake of a lover's greeting had neverbeen wisdom to his mind, and he had been sorely impatient with "thatfool Fritz's" yearly pilgrimage. The letter of farewell had been anadded folly, pregnant with chances of disaster. Now disaster, or thedanger of it, had come. The curt, mysterious telegram from Wintenberg, which told him so little, at least told him that. It ordered him--and hedid not know even whose the order was--to delay Rischenheim's audience, or, if he could not, to get the king away from Zenda: why he was to actthus was not disclosed to him. But he knew as well as I that Rischenheimwas completely in Rupert's hands, and he could not fail to guess thatsomething had gone wrong at Wintenberg, and that Rischenheim came totell the king some news that the king must not hear. His task soundedsimple, but it was not easy; for he did not know where Rischenheim was, and so could not prevent his coming; besides, the king had been verypleased to learn of the count's approaching visit, since he desired totalk with him on the subject of a certain breed of dogs, which the countbred with great, his Majesty with only indifferent success; thereforehe had declared that nothing should interfere with his reception ofRischenheim. In vain Sapt told him that a large boar had been seen inthe forest, and that a fine day's sport might be expected if he wouldhunt next day. "I shouldn't be back in time to see Rischenheim, " saidthe king. 

"Your Majesty would be back by nightfall, " suggested Sapt. 

"I should be too tired to talk to him, and I've a great deal todiscuss. "

"You could sleep at the hunting-lodge, sire, and ride back to receivethe count next morning. "

"I'm anxious to see him as soon as may be. " Then he looked up at Saptwith a sick man's quick suspicion. "Why shouldn't I see him?" he asked. 

"It's a pity to miss the boar, sire, " was all Sapt's plea. The king madelight of it. 

"Curse the boar!" said he. "I want to know how he gets the dogs' coatsso fine. "

As the king spoke a servant entered, carrying a telegram for Sapt. Thecolonel took it and put it in his pocket. 

"Read it, " said the king. He had dined and was about to go to bed, itbeing nearly ten o'clock. 

"It will keep, sire, " answered Sapt, who did not know but that it mightbe from Wintenberg. 

"Read it, " insisted the king testily. "It may be from Rischenheim. Perhaps he can get here sooner. I should like to know about those dogs. Read it, I beg. "

Sapt could do nothing but read it. He had taken to spectacles lately, and he spent a long while adjusting them and thinking what he shoulddo if the message were not fit for the king's ear. "Be quick, man, bequick!" urged the irritable king. 

Sapt had got the envelope open at last, and relief, mingled withperplexity, showed in his face. 

"Your Majesty guessed wonderfully well. Rischenheim can be here at eightto-morrow morning, " he said, looking up. 

"Capital!" cried the king. "He shall breakfast with me at nine, and I'llhave a ride after the boar when we've done our business. Now are yousatisfied?"

"Perfectly, sire, " said Sapt, biting his moustache. 

The king rose with a yawn, and bade the colonel good-night. "He musthave some trick I don't know with those dogs, " he remarked, as he wentout. And "Damn the dogs!" cried Colonel Sapt the moment that the doorwas shut behind his Majesty. 

But the colonel was not a man to accept defeat easily. The audience thathe had been instructed to postpone was advanced; the king, whom hehad been told to get away from Zenda, would not go till he had seenRischenheim. Still there are many ways of preventing a meeting. Someare by fraud; these it is no injustice to Sapt to say that he had tried;some are by force, and the colonel was being driven to the conclusionthat one of these must be his resort. 

"Though the king, " he mused, with a grin, "will be furious if anythinghappens to Rischenheim before he's told him about the dogs. "

Yet he fell to racking his brains to find a means by which the countmight be rendered incapable of performing the service so desired by theking and of carrying out his own purpose in seeking an audience. Nothingsave assassination suggested itself to the constable; a quarrel and aduel offered no security; and Sapt was not Black Michael, and had noband of ruffians to join him in an apparently unprovoked kidnapping of adistinguished nobleman. 

"I can think of nothing, " muttered Sapt, rising from his chair andmoving across towards the window in search of the fresh air that a manso often thinks will give him a fresh idea. He was in his own quarters, that room of the new chateau which opens on to the moat immediately tothe right of the drawbridge as you face the old castle; it was the roomwhich Duke Michael had occupied, and almost opposite to the spot wherethe great pipe had connected the window of the king's dungeon with thewaters of the moat. The bridge was down now, for peaceful days had cometo Zenda; the pipe was gone, and the dungeon's window, though stillbarred, was uncovered. The night was clear and fine, and the still watergleamed fitfully as the moon, half-full, escaped from or was hidden bypassing clouds. Sapt stood staring out gloomily, beating his knuckles onthe stone sill. The fresh air was there, but the fresh idea tarried. 

Suddenly the constable bent forward, craning his head out and down, faras he could stretch it, towards the water. What he had seen, or seemeddimly to see, is a sight common enough on the surface of water--largecircular eddies, widening from a centre; a stone thrown in makes them, or a fish on the rise. But Sapt had thrown no stone, and the fish in themoat were few and not rising then. The light was behind Sapt, and threwhis figure into bold relief. The royal apartments looked out the otherway; there were no lights in the windows this side the bridge, althoughbeyond it the guards' lodgings and the servants' offices still showed alight here and there. Sapt waited till the eddies ceased. Then he heardthe faintest sound, as of a large body let very gently into the water; amoment later, from the moat right below him, a man's head emerged. 

"Sapt!" said a voice, low but distinct. 

The old colonel started, and, resting both hands on the sill, bentfurther out, till he seemed in danger of overbalancing. 

"Quick--to the ledge on the other side. You know, " said the voice, andthe head turned; with quick, quiet strokes the man crossed the moat tillhe was hidden in the triangle of deep shade formed by the meeting ofthe drawbridge and the old castle wall. Sapt watched him go, almoststupefied by the sudden wonder of hearing that voice come to him out ofthe stillness of the night. For the king was abed; and who spoke in thatvoice save the king and one other?

Then, with a curse at himself for his delay, he turned and walkedquickly across the room. Opening the door, he found himself in thepassage. But here he ran right into the arms of young Bernenstein, theofficer of the guard, who was going his rounds. Sapt knew and trustedhim, for he had been with us all through the siege of Zenda, whenMichael kept the king a prisoner, and he bore marks given him by Rupertof Hentzau's ruffians. He now held a commission as lieutenant in thecuirassiers of the King's Guard. 

He noticed Sapt's bearing, for he cried out in a low voice, "Anythingwrong, sir?"

"Bernenstein, my boy, the castle's all right about here. Go round to thefront, and, hang you, stay there, " said Sapt. 

The officer stared, as well he might. Sapt caught him by the arm. 

"No, stay here. See, stand by the door there that leads to the royalapartments. Stand there, and let nobody pass. You understand?"

"Yes, sir. "

"And whatever you hear, don't look round. "

Bernenstein's bewilderment grew greater; but Sapt was constable, and onSapt's shoulders lay the responsibility for the safety of Zenda and allin it. 

"Very well, sir, " he said, with a submissive shrug, and he drew hissword and stood by the door; he could obey, although he could notunderstand. 

Sapt ran on. Opening the gate that led to the bridge, he sped across. Then, stepping on one side and turning his face to the wall, hedescended the steps that gave foothold down to the ledge running six oreight inches above the water. He also was now in the triangle of deepdarkness, yet he knew that a man was there, who stood straight and tall, rising above his own height. And he felt his hand caught in a suddengrip. Rudolf Rassendyll was there, in his wet drawers and socks. 

"Is it you?" he whispered. 

"Yes, " answered Rudolf; "I swam round from the other side and got here. Then I threw in a bit of mortar, but I wasn't sure I'd roused you, andI didn't dare shout, so I followed it myself. Lay hold of me a minutewhile I get on my breeches: I didn't want to get wet, so I carried myclothes in a bundle. Hold me tight, it's slippery. "

"In God's name what brings you here?" whispered Sapt, catching Rudolf bythe arm as he was directed. 

"The queen's service. When does Rischenheim come?"

"To-morrow at eight. "

"The deuce! That's earlier than I thought. And the king?"

"Is here and determined to see him. It's impossible to move him fromit. "

There was a moment's silence; Rudolf drew his shirt over his head andtucked it into his trousers. "Give me the jacket and waistcoat, " hesaid. "I feel deuced damp underneath, though. "

"You'll soon get dry, " grinned Sapt. "You'll be kept moving, you see. "

"I've lost my hat. "

"Seems to me you've lost your head too. "

"You'll find me both, eh, Sapt?"

"As good as your own, anyhow, " growled the constable. 

"Now the boots, and I'm ready. " Then he asked quickly, "Has the kingseen or heard from Rischenheim?"

"Neither, except through me. "

"Then why is he so set on seeing him?"

"To find out what gives dogs smooth coats. "

"You're serious? Hang you, I can't see your face. "

"Absolutely. "

"All's well, then. Has he got a beard now?"

"Yes. "

"Confound him! Can't you take me anywhere to talk?"

"What the deuce are you here at all for?"

"To meet Rischenheim. "

"To meet--?"

"Yes. Sapt, he's got a copy of the queen's letter. "

Sapt twirled his moustache. 

"I've always said as much, " he remarked in tones of satisfaction. Heneed not have said it; he would have been more than human not to thinkit. 

"Where can you take me to?" asked Rudolf impatiently. 

"Any room with a door and a lock to it, " answered old Sapt. "I commandhere, and when I say 'Stay out'--well, they don't come in. "

"Not the king?"

"The king is in bed. Come along, " and the constable set his toe on thelowest step. 

"Is there nobody about?" asked Rudolf, catching his arm. 

"Bernenstein; but he will keep his back toward us. "

"Your discipline is still good, then, Colonel?"

"Pretty well for these days, your Majesty, " grunted Sapt, as he reachedthe level of the bridge. 

Having crossed, they entered the chateau. The passage was empty, save for Bernenstein, whose broad back barred the way from the royalapartments. 

"In here, " whispered Sapt, laying his hand on the door of the roomwhence he had come. 

"All right, " answered Rudolf. Bernenstein's hand twitched, but he didnot look round. There was discipline in the castle of Zenda. 

But as Sapt was half-way through the door and Rudolf about to followhim, the other door, that which Bernenstein guarded, was softly yetswiftly opened. Bernenstein's sword was in rest in an instant. Amuttered oath from Sapt and Rudolf's quick snatch at his breath greetedthe interruption. Bernenstein did not look round, but his sword fell tohis side. In the doorway stood Queen Flavia, all in white; and nowher face turned white as her dress. For her eyes had fallen on RudolfRassendyll. For a moment the four stood thus; then Rudolf passed Sapt, thrust Bernenstein's brawny shoulders (the young man had not lookedround) out of the way, and, falling on his knee before the queen, seizedher hand and kissed it. Bernenstein could see now without looking round, and if astonishment could kill, he would have been a dead man thatinstant. He fairly reeled and leant against the wall, his mouth hangingopen. For the king was in bed, and had a beard; yet there was the king, fully dressed and clean shaven, and he was kissing the queen's hand, while she gazed down on him in a struggle between amazement, fright, andjoy. A soldier should be prepared for anything, but I cannot be hard onyoung Bernenstein's bewilderment. 

Yet there was in truth nothing strange in the queen seeking to see oldSapt that night, nor in her guessing where he would most probably befound. For she had asked him three times whether news had come fromWintenberg and each time he had put her off with excuses. Quick toforbode evil, and conscious of the pledge to fortune that she had givenin her letter, she had determined to know from him whether there werereally cause for alarm, and had stolen, undetected, from her apartmentsto seek him. What filled her at once with unbearable apprehension andincredulous joy was to find Rudolf present in actual flesh and blood, no longer in sad longing dreams or visions, and to feel his live lips onher hand. 

Lovers count neither time nor danger; but Sapt counted both, and nomore than a moment had passed before, with eager imperative gestures, hebeckoned them to enter the room. The queen obeyed, and Rudolf followedher. 

"Let nobody in, and don't say a word to anybody, " whispered Sapt, ashe entered, leaving Bernenstein outside. The young man was half-dazedstill, but he had sense to read the expression in the constable's eyesand to learn from it that he must give his life sooner than let the doorbe opened. So with drawn sword he stood on guard. 

It was eleven o'clock when the queen came, and midnight had struck fromthe great clock of the castle before the door opened again and Sapt cameout. His sword was not drawn, but he had his revolver in his hand. He shut the door silently after him and began at once to talk in low, earnest, quick tones to Bernenstein. Bernenstein listened intently andwithout interrupting. Sapt's story ran on for eight or nine minutes. Then he paused, before asking:

"You understand now?"

"Yes, it is wonderful, " said the young man, drawing in his breath. 

"Pooh!" said Sapt. "Nothing is wonderful: some things are unusual. "

Bernenstein was not convinced, and shrugged his shoulders in protest. 

"Well?" said the constable, with a quick glance at him. 

"I would die for the queen, sir, " he answered, clicking his heelstogether as though on parade. 

"Good, " said Sapt. "Then listen, " and he began again to talk. Bernenstein nodded from time to time. "You'll meet him at the gate, "said the constable, "and bring him straight here. He's not to goanywhere else, you understand me?"

"Perfectly, Colonel, " smiled young Bernenstein. 

"The king will be in this room--the king. You know who is the king?"

"Perfectly, Colonel. "

"And when the interview is ended, and we go to breakfast--"

"I know who will be the king then. Yes, Colonel. "

"Good. But we do him no harm unless--"

"It is necessary. "

"Precisely. "

Sapt turned away with a little sigh. Bernenstein was an apt pupil, butthe colonel was exhausted by so much explanation. He knocked softly atthe door of the room. The queen's voice bade him enter, and he passedin. Bernenstein was left alone again in the passage, pondering over whathe had heard and rehearsing the part that it now fell to him to play. Ashe thought he may well have raised his head proudly. The service seemedso great and the honor so high, that he almost wished he could die inthe performing of his role. It would be a finer death than his soldier'sdreams had dared to picture. 

At one o'clock Colonel Sapt came out. "Go to bed till six, " said he toBernenstein. 

"I'm not sleepy. "

"No, but you will be at eight if you don't sleep now. "

"Is the queen coming out, Colonel?"

"In a minute, Lieutenant. "

"I should like to kiss her hand. "

"Well, if you think it worth waiting a quarter of an hour for!" saidSapt, with a slight smile. 

"You said a minute, sir. "

"So did she, " answered the constable. 

Nevertheless it was a quarter of an hour before Rudolf Rassendyll openedthe door and the queen appeared on the threshold. She was very pale, and she had been crying, but her eyes were happy and her air firm. Themoment he saw her, young Bernenstein fell on his knee and raised herhand to his lips. 

"To the death, madame, " said he, in a trembling voice. 

"I knew it, sir, " she answered graciously. Then she looked round on thethree of them. "Gentlemen, " said she, "my servants and dear friends, with you, and with Fritz who lies wounded in Wintenberg, rest my honorand my life; for I will not live if the letter reaches the king. "

"The king shall not have it, madame, " said Colonel Sapt. He tookher hand in his and patted it with a clumsy gentleness; smiling, sheextended it again to young Bernenstein, in mark of her favor. They twothen stood at the salute, while Rudolf walked with her to the end of thepassage. There for a moment she and he stood together; the others turnedtheir eyes away and thus did not see her suddenly stoop and cover hishand with her kisses. He tried to draw it away, not thinking it fit thatshe should kiss his hand, but she seemed as though she could not letit go. Yet at last, still with her eyes on his, she passed backwardsthrough the door, and he shut it after her. 

"Now to business, " said Colonel Sapt dryly; and Rudolf laughed a little. 

Rudolf passed into the room. Sapt went to the king's apartments, andasked the physician whether his Majesty were sleeping well. Receivingreassuring news of the royal slumbers, he proceeded to the quartersof the king's body-servant, knocked up the sleepy wretch, and orderedbreakfast for the king and the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim at nineo'clock precisely, in the morning-room that looked out over the avenueleading to the entrance to the new chateau. This done, he returned tothe room where Rudolf was, carried a chair into the passage, bade Rudolflock the door, sat down, revolver in hand, and himself went to sleep. Young Bernenstein was in bed just now, taken faint, and the constablehimself was acting as his substitute; that was to be the story, if astory were needed. Thus the hours from two to six passed that morning inthe castle of Zenda. 

At six the constable awoke and knocked at the door; Rudolf Rassendyllopened it. 

"Slept well?" asked Sapt. 

"Not a wink, " answered Rudolf cheerfully. 

"I thought you had more nerve. "

"It wasn't want of nerve that kept me awake, " said Mr. Rassendyll. 

Sapt, with a pitying shrug, looked round. The curtains of the windowwere half-drawn. The table was moved near to the wall, and the arm-chairby it was well in shadow, being quite close to the curtains. 

"There's plenty of room for you behind, " said Rudolf; "And whenRischenheim is seated in his chair opposite to mine, you can put yourbarrel against his head by just stretching out your hand. And of courseI can do the same. "

"Yes, it looks well enough, " said Sapt, with an approving nod. "Whatabout the beard?"

"Bernenstein is to tell him you've shaved this morning. "

"Will he believe that?"

"Why not? For his own sake he'd better believe everything. "

"And if we have to kill him?"

"We must run for it. The king would be furious. "

"He's fond of him?"

"You forget. He wants to know about the dogs. "

"True. You'll be in your place in time?"

"Of course. "

Rudolf Rassendyll took a turn up and down the room. It was easy to seethat the events of the night had disturbed him. Sapt's thoughts wererunning in a different channel. 

"When we've done with this fellow, we must find Rupert, " said he. 

Rudolf started. 

"Rupert? Rupert? True; I forgot. Of course we must, " said he confusedly. 

Sapt looked scornful; he knew that his companion's mind had beenoccupied with the queen. But his remarks--if he had meditated any--wereinterrupted by the clock striking seven. 

"He'll be here in an hour, " said he. 

"We're ready for him, " answered Rudolf Rassendyll. With the thought ofaction his eyes grew bright and his brow smooth again. He and old Saptlooked at one another, and they both smiled. 

"Like old times, isn't it, Sapt?"

"Aye, sire, like the reign of good King Rudolf. "

Thus they made ready for the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim, while my cursedwound held me a prisoner at Wintenberg. It is still a sorrow to me thatI know what passed that morning only by report, and had not the honorof bearing a part in it. Still, her Majesty did not forget me, butremembered that I would have taken my share, had fortune allowed. IndeedI would most eagerly. 

CHAPTER V. AN AUDIENCE OF THE KING

Having come thus far in the story that I set out to tell, I have half amind to lay down my pen, and leave untold how from the moment that Mr. Rassendyll came again to Zenda a fury of chance seemed to catch us allin a whirlwind, carrying us whither we would not, and ever driving usonwards to fresh enterprises, breathing into us a recklessness thatstood at no obstacle, and a devotion to the queen and to the man sheloved that swept away all other feeling. The ancients held there to be afate which would have its fill, though women wept and men died, andnone could tell whose was the guilt nor who fell innocent. Thus did theyblindly wrong God's providence. Yet, save that we are taught to believethat all is ruled, we are as blind as they, and are still left wonderingwhy all that is true and generous and love's own fruit must turn sooften to woe and shame, exacting tears and blood. For myself I wouldleave the thing untold, lest a word of it should seem to stain her whomI serve; it is by her own command I write, that all may one day, intime's fullness, be truly known, and those condemn who are without sin, while they pity whose own hearts have fought the equal fight. So muchfor her and him; for us less needs be said. It was not ours to weigh heractions; we served her; him we had served. She was our queen; we boreHeaven a grudge that he was not our king. The worst of what befell wasnot of our own planning, no, nor of our hoping. It came a thunderboltfrom the hand of Rupert, flung carelessly between a curse and alaugh; its coming entangled us more tightly in the net of circumstances. Then there arose in us that strange and overpowering desire of which Imust tell later, filling us with a zeal to accomplish our purpose, andto force Mr. Rassendyll himself into the way we chose. Led by this star, we pressed on through the darkness, until at length the deeper darknessfell that stayed our steps. We also stand for judgment, even as she andhe. So I will write; but I will write plainly and briefly, setting downwhat I must, and no more, yet seeking to give truly the picture of thattime, and to preserve as long as may be the portrait of the man whoselike I have not known. Yet the fear is always upon me that, failing toshow him as he was, I may fail also in gaining an understanding of howhe wrought on us, one and all, till his cause became in all thingsthe right, and to seat him where he should be our highest duty and ournearest wish. For he said little, and that straight to the purpose;no high-flown words of his live in my memory. And he asked nothing forhimself. Yet his speech and his eyes went straight to men's hearts andwomen's, so that they held their lives in an eager attendance on hisbidding. Do I rave? Then Sapt was a raver too, for Sapt was foremost inthe business. 

At ten minutes to eight o'clock, young Bernenstein, very admirablyand smartly accoutred, took his stand outside the main entrance ofthe castle. He wore a confident air that became almost a swagger as hestrolled to and fro past the motionless sentries. He had not long towait. On the stroke of eight a gentleman, well-horsed but entirelyunattended, rode up the carriage drive. Bernenstein, crying "Ah, it isthe count!" ran to meet him. Rischenheim dismounted, holding out hishand to the young officer. 

"My dear Bernenstein!" said he, for they were acquainted with oneanother. 

"You're punctual, my dear Rischenheim, and it's lucky, for the kingawaits you most impatiently. "

"I didn't expect to find him up so soon, " remarked Rischenheim. 

"Up! He's been up these two hours. Indeed we've had the devil of atime of it. Treat him carefully, my dear Count; he's in one of histroublesome humors. For example--but I mustn't keep you waiting. Prayfollow me. "

"No, but pray tell me. Otherwise I might say something unfortunate. "

"Well, he woke at six; and when the barber came to trim his beard therewere--imagine it, Count!--no less than seven gray hairs. " The king fellinto a passion. "Take it off!" he said. "Take it off. I won't havea gray beard! Take it off!' Well what would you? A man is free to beshaved if he chooses, so much more a king. So it's taken off. "

"His beard!"

"His beard, my dear Count. " Then, after thanking Heaven it was gone, and declaring he looked ten years younger, he cried, "The Countof Luzau-Rischenheim breakfasts with me to-day: what is there forbreakfast?" And he had the chef out his of bed and--"But, by heavens, I shall get into trouble if I stop here chattering. He's waiting mosteagerly for you. Come along. " And Bernenstein, passing his arm throughthe count's, walked him rapidly into the castle. 

The Count of Luzau-Rischenheim was a young man; he was no more versedin affairs of this kind than Bernenstein, and it cannot be said that heshowed so much aptitude for them. He was decidedly pale this morning;his manner was uneasy, and his hands trembled. He did not lack courage, but that rarer virtue, coolness; and the importance--or perhaps theshame--of his mission upset the balance of his nerves. Hardly notingwhere he went, he allowed Bernenstein to lead him quickly and directlytowards the room where Rudolf Rassendyll was, not doubting that he wasbeing conducted to the king's presence. 

"Breakfast is ordered for nine, " said Bernenstein, "but he wants to seeyou before. He has something important to say; and you perhaps have thesame?"

"I? Oh, no. A small matter; but--er--of a private nature. "

"Quite so, quite so. Oh, I don't ask any questions, my dear Count. "

"Shall I find the king alone?" asked Rischenheim nervously. 

"I don't think you'll find anybody with him; no, nobody, I think, "answered Bernenstein, with a grave and reassuring air. 

They arrived now at the door. Here Bernenstein paused. 

"I am ordered to wait outside till his Majesty summons me, " he said ina low voice, as though he feared that the irritable king would hear him. "I'll open the door and announce you. Pray keep him in a good temper, for all our sakes. " And he flung the door open, saying, "Sire, the Countof Luzau-Rischenheim has the honor to wait on your Majesty. " With thishe shut the door promptly, and stood against it. Nor did he move, saveonce, and then only to take out his revolver and carefully inspect it. 

The count advanced, bowing low, and striving to conceal a visibleagitation. He saw the king in his arm-chair; the king wore a suit ofbrown tweeds (none the better for being crushed into a bundle the nightbefore); his face was in deep shadow, but Rischenheim perceived that thebeard was indeed gone. The king held out his hand to Rischenheim, andmotioned him to sit in a chair just opposite to him and within a foot ofthe window-curtains. 

"I'm delighted to see you, my lord, " said the king. 

Rischenheim looked up. Rudolf's voice had once been so like the king'sthat no man could tell the difference, but in the last year or two theking's had grown weaker, and Rischenheim seemed to be struck by thevigor of the tones in which he was addressed. As he looked up, there wasa slight movement in the curtains by him; it died away when the countgave no further signs of suspicion, but Rudolf had noticed his surprise:the voice, when it next spoke, was subdued. 

"Most delighted, " pursued Mr. Rassendyll. "For I am pestered beyondendurance about those dogs. I can't get the coats right, I've triedeverything, but they won't come as I wish. Now, yours are magnificent. "

"You are very good, sire. But I ventured to ask an audience in orderto--"

"Positively you must tell me about the dogs. And before Sapt comes, forI want nobody to hear but myself. "

"Your Majesty expects Colonel Sapt?"

"In about twenty minutes, " said the king, with a glance at the clock onthe mantelpiece. 

At this Rischenheim became all on fire to get his errand done beforeSapt appeared. 

"The coats of your dogs, " pursued the king, "grow so beautifully--"

"A thousand pardons, sire, but--"

"Long and silky, that I despair of--"

"I have a most urgent and important matter, " persisted Rischenheim inagony. 

Rudolf threw himself back in his chair with a peevish air. "Well, if youmust, you must. What is this great affair, Count? Let us have it over, and then you can tell me about the dogs. "

Rischenheim looked round the room. There was nobody; the curtains werestill; the king's left hand caressed his beardless chin; the right washidden from his visitor by the small table that stood between them. 

"Sire, my cousin, the Count of Hentzau, has entrusted me with amessage. "

Rudolf suddenly assumed a stern air. 

"I can hold no communication, directly or indirectly, with the Count ofHentzau, " said he. 

"Pardon me, sire, pardon me. A document has come into the count's handswhich is of vital importance to your Majesty. "

"The Count of Hentzau, my lord, has incurred my heaviest displeasure. "

"Sire, it is in the hopes of atoning for his offences that he has sentme here to-day. There is a conspiracy against your Majesty's honor. "

"By whom, my lord?" asked Rudolf, in cold and doubting tones. 

"By those who are very near your Majesty's person and very high in yourMajesty's love. "

"Name them. "

"Sire, I dare not. You would not believe me. But your Majesty willbelieve written evidence. "

"Show it me, and quickly. We may be interrupted. "

"Sire, I have a copy--"

"Oh, a copy, my lord?" sneered Rudolf. 

"My cousin has the original, and will forward it at your Majesty'scommand. A copy of a letter of her Majesty's--"

"Of the queen's?"

"Yes, sire. It is addressed to--" Rischenheim paused. 

"Well, my lord, to whom?"

"To a Mr. Rudolf Rassendyll. "

Now Rudolf played his part well. He did not feign indifference, butallowed his voice to tremble with emotion as he stretched out his handand said in a hoarse whisper, "Give it me, give it me. "

Rischenheim's eyes sparkled. His shot had told: the king's attention washis; the coats of the dogs were forgotten. Plainly he had stirred thesuspicions and jealousy of the king. 

"My cousin, " he continued, "conceives it his duty to lay the letterbefore your Majesty. He obtained it--"

"A curse on how he got it! Give it me!"

Rischenheim unbuttoned his coat, then his waistcoat. The head of arevolver showed in a belt round his waist. He undid the flap of a pocketin the lining of his waistcoat, and he began to draw out a sheet ofpaper. 

But Rudolf, great as his powers of self-control were, was but human. When he saw the paper, he leant forward, half rising from his chair. Asa result, his face came beyond the shadow of the curtain, and the fullmorning light beat on it. As Rischenheim took the paper out, helooked up. He saw the face that glared so eagerly at him; his eyes metRassendyll's: a sudden suspicion seized him, for the face, though theking's face in every feature, bore a stern resolution and witnessed avigor that were not the king's. In that instant the truth, or a hint ofit, flashed across his mind. He gave a half-articulate cry; in one handhe crumpled up the paper, the other flew to his revolver. But he wastoo late. Rudolf's left hand encircled his hand and the paper in an irongrip; Rudolf's revolver was on his temple; and an arm was stretched outfrom behind the curtain, holding another barrel full before his eyes, while a dry voice said, "You'd best take it quietly. " Then Sapt steppedout. 

Rischenheim had no words to meet the sudden transformation of theinterview. He seemed to be able to do nothing but stare at RudolfRassendyll. Sapt wasted no time. He snatched the count's revolver andstowed it in his own pocket. 

"Now take the paper, " said he to Rudolf, and his barrel held Rischenheimmotionless while Rudolf wrenched the precious document from his fingers. "Look if it's the right one. No, don't read it through; just look. Is itright? That's good. Now put your revolver to his head again. I'm goingto search him. Stand up, sir. "

They compelled the count to stand up, and Sapt subjected him to a searchthat made the concealment of another copy, or of any other document, impossible. Then they let him sit down again. His eyes seemed fascinatedby Rudolf Rassendyll. 

"Yet you've seen me before, I think, " smiled Rudolf. "I seem to rememberyou as a boy in Strelsau when I was there. Now tell us, sir, wheredid you leave this cousin of yours?" For the plan was to find out fromRischenheim where Rupert was, and to set off in pursuit of Rupert assoon as they had disposed of Rischenheim. 

But even as Rudolf spoke there was a violent knock at the door. Rudolfsprang to open it. Sapt and his revolver kept their places. Bernensteinwas on the threshold, open-mouthed. 

"The king's servant has just gone by. He's looking for Colonel Sapt. The King has been walking in the drive, and learnt from a sentry ofRischenheim's arrival. I told the man that you had taken the count for astroll round the castle, and I did not know where you were. He says thatthe king may come himself at any moment. "

Sapt considered for one short instant; then he was back by theprisoner's side. 

"We must talk again later on, " he said, in low quick tones. "Now you'regoing to breakfast with the king. I shall be there, and Bernenstein. Remember, not a word of your errand, not a word of this gentleman! Ata word, a sign, a hint, a gesture, a motion, as God lives, I'll put abullet through your head, and a thousand kings sha'n't stop me. Rudolf, get behind the curtain. If there's an alarm you must jump through thewindow into the moat and swim for it. "

"All right, " said Rudolf Rassendyll. "I can read my letter there. "

"Burn it, you fool. "

"When I've read it I'll eat it, if you like, but not before. "

Bernenstein looked in again. "Quick, quick! The man will be back, " hewhispered. 

"Bernenstein, did you hear what I said to the count?"

"Yes, I heard. "

"Then you know your part. Now, gentlemen, to the king. "

"Well, " said an angry voice outside, "I wondered how long I was to bekept waiting. "

Rudolf Rassendyll skipped behind the curtain. Sapt's revolver slippedinto a handy pocket. Rischenheim stood with arms dangling by his sideand his waistcoat half unbuttoned. Young Bernenstein was bowing low onthe threshold, and protesting that the king's servant had but just gone, and that they were on the point of waiting on his Majesty. Then the kingwalked in, pale and full-bearded. 

"Ah, Count, " said he, "I'm glad to see you. If they had told me youwere here, you shouldn't have waited a minute. You're very dark in here, Sapt. Why don't you draw back the curtains?" and the king moved towardsthe curtain behind which Rudolf was. 

"Allow me, sire, " cried Sapt, darting past him and laying a hand on thecurtain. 

A malicious gleam of pleasure shot into Rischenheim's eyes. "In truth, sire, " continued the constable, his hand on the curtain, "we were sointerested in what the count was saying about his dogs--"

"By heaven, I forgot!" cried the king. "Yes, yes, the dogs. Now tell me, Count--"

"Your pardon, sire, " put in young Bernenstein, "but breakfast waits. "

"Yes, yes. Well, then, we'll have them together--breakfast and thedogs. Come along, Count. " The king passed his arm through Rischenheim's, adding to Bernenstein, "Lead the way, Lieutenant; and you, Colonel, comewith us. "

They went out. Sapt stopped and locked the door behind him. "Why do youlock the door, Colonel?" asked the king. 

"There are some papers in my drawer there, sire. "

"But why not lock the drawer?

"I have lost the key, sire, like the fool I am, " said the colonel. 

The Count of Luzau-Rischenheim did not make a very good breakfast. Hesat opposite to the king. Colonel Sapt placed himself at the back of theking's chair, and Rischenheim saw the muzzle of a revolver resting onthe top of the chair just behind his Majesty's right ear. Bernensteinstood in soldierly rigidity by the door; Rischenheim looked round at himonce and met a most significant gaze. 

"You're eating nothing, " said the king. "I hope you're not indisposed?"

"I am a little upset, sire, " stammered Rischenheim, and truly enough. 

"Well, tell me about the dogs--while I eat, for I'm hungry. "

Rischenheim began to disclose his secret. His statement was decidedlywanting in clearness. The king grew impatient. 

"I don't understand, " said he testily, and he pushed his chair back soquickly that Sapt skipped away, and hid the revolver behind his back. 

"Sire--" cried Rischenheim, half rising. A cough from Lieutenant vonBernenstein interrupted him. 

"Tell it me all over again, " said the king. Rischenheim did as he wasbid. 

"Ah, I understand a little better now. Do you see, Sapt?" and he turnedhis head round towards the constable. Sapt had just time to whisk therevolver away. The count lent forward towards the king. Lieutenant vonBernenstein coughed. The count sank back again. 

"Perfectly, sire, " said Colonel Sapt. "I understand all the count wishesto convey to your Majesty. "

"Well, I understand about half, " said the king with a laugh. "Butperhaps that'll be enough. "

"I think quite enough, sire, " answered Sapt with a smile. The importantmatter of the dogs being thus disposed of, the king recollected that thecount had asked for an audience on a matter of business. 

"Now, what did you wish to say to me?" he asked, with a weary air. Thedogs had been more interesting. 

Rischenheim looked at Sapt. The revolver was in its place; Bernensteincoughed again. Yet he saw a chance. 

"Your pardon, sire, " said he, "but we are not alone. "

The king lifted his eyebrows. 

"Is the business so private?" he asked. 

"I should prefer to tell it to your Majesty alone, " pleaded the count. 

Now Sapt was resolved not to leave Rischenheim alone with the king, for, although the count, being robbed of his evidence could do little harmconcerning the letter, he would doubtless tell the king that RudolfRassendyll was in the castle. He leant now over the king's shoulder, andsaid with a sneer:

"Messages from Rupert of Hentzau are too exalted matters for my poorears, it seems. "

The king flushed red. 

"Is that your business, my lord?" he asked Rischenheim sternly. 

"Your Majesty does not know what my cousin--"

"It is the old plea?" interrupted the king. "He wants to come back? Isthat all, or is there anything else?"

A moment's silence followed the king's words. Sapt looked full atRischenheim, and smiled as he slightly raised his right hand and showedthe revolver. Bernenstein coughed twice. Rischenheim sat twisting hisfingers. He understood that, cost what it might, they would not let himdeclare his errand to the king or betray Mr. Rassendyll's presence. Hecleared his throat and opened his mouth as if to speak, but still heremained silent. 

"Well, my lord, is it the old story or something new, " asked the kingimpatiently. 

Again Rischenheim sat silent. 

"Are you dumb, my lord?" cried the king most impatiently. 

"It--it is only what you call the old story, sire. "

"Then let me say that you have treated me very badly in obtainingan audience of me for any such purpose, " said the king. "You knew mydecision, and your cousin knows it. " Thus speaking, the king rose;Sapt's revolver slid into his pocket; but Lieutenant von Bernensteindrew his sword and stood at the salute; he also coughed. 

"My dear Rischenheim, " pursued the king more kindly, "I can allow foryour natural affection. But, believe me, in this case it misleads you. Do me the favor not to open this subject again to me. "

Rischenheim, humiliated and angry, could do nothing but bow inacknowledgment of the king's rebuke. 

"Colonel Sapt, see that the count is well entertained. My horse shouldbe at the door by now. Farewell, Count. Bernenstein, give me your arm. "

Bernenstein shot a rapid glance at the constable. Sapt noddedreassuringly. Bernenstein sheathed his sword and gave his arm to theking. They passed through the door, and Bernenstein closed it with abackward push of his hand. But at this moment Rischenheim, goaded tofury and desperate at the trick played on him--seeing, moreover, thathe had now only one man to deal with--made a sudden rush at the door. He reached it, and his hand was on the door-knob. But Sapt was upon him, and Sapt's revolver was at his ear. 

In the passage the king stopped. 

"What are they doing in there?" he asked, hearing the noise of the quickmovements. 

"I don't know, sire, " said Bernenstein, and he took a step forward. 

"No, stop a minute, Lieutenant; you're pulling me along!"

"A thousand pardons, sire. "

"I hear nothing more now. " And there was nothing to hear, for the twonow stood dead silent inside the door. 

"Nor I, sire. Will your Majesty go on?" And Bernenstein took anotherstep. 

"You're determined I shall, " said the king with a laugh, and he let theyoung officer lead him away. 

Inside the room, Rischenheim stood with his back against the door. He was panting for breath, and his face was flushed and working withexcitement. Opposite to him stood Sapt, revolver in hand. 

"Till you get to heaven, my lord, " said the constable, "you'll never benearer to it than you were in that moment. If you had opened the door, I'd have shot you through the head. "

As he spoke there came a knock at the door. 

"Open it, " he said brusquely to Rischenheim. With a muttered curse thecount obeyed him. A servant stood outside with a telegram on a salver. 

"Take it, " whispered Sapt, and Rischenheim put out his hand. 

"Your pardon, my lord, but this has arrived for you, " said the manrespectfully. 

"Take it, " whispered Sapt again. 

"Give it me, " muttered Rischenheim confusedly; and he took the envelope. 

The servant bowed and shut the door. 

"Open it, " commanded Sapt. 

"God's curse on you!" cried Rischenheim in a voice that choked withpassion. 

"Eh? Oh, you can have no secrets from so good a friend as I am, my lord. Be quick and open it. "

The count began to open it. 

"If you tear it up, or crumple it, I'll shoot you, " said Sapt quietly. "You know you can trust my word. Now read it. "

"By God, I won't read it. "

"Read it, I tell you, or say your prayers. "

The muzzle was within a foot of his head. He unfolded the telegram. Thenhe looked at Sapt. "Read, " said the constable. 

"I don't understand what it means, " grumbled Rischenheim. 

"Possibly I may be able to help you. "

"It's nothing but--"

"Read, my lord, read!"

Then he read, and this was the telegram: "Holf, 19 Konigstrasse. "

"A thousand thanks, my lord. And--the place it's despatched from?"

"Strelsau. "

"Just turn it so that I can see. Oh, I don't doubt you, but seeing isbelieving. Ah, thanks. It's as you say. You're puzzled what it means, Count?"

"I don't know at all what it means!"

"How strange! Because I can guess so well. "

"You are very acute, sir. "

"It seems to me a simple thing to guess, my lord. "

"And pray, " said Rischenheim, endeavoring to assume an easy andsarcastic air, "what does your wisdom tell you that the message means?"

"I think, my lord, that the message is an address. "

"An address! I never thought of that. But I know no Holf. "

"I don't think it's Holf's address. "

"Whose, then?" asked Rischenheim, biting his nail, and looking furtivelyat the constable. 

"Why, " said Sapt, "the present address of Count Rupert of Hentzau. "

As he spoke, he fixed his eyes on the eyes of Rischenheim. He gave ashort, sharp laugh, then put his revolver in his pocket and bowed to thecount. 

"In truth, you are very convenient, my dear Count, " said he. 

 * * * * *

CHAPTER VI. THE TASK OF THE QUEEN'S SERVANTS

THE doctor who attended me at Wintenberg was not only discreet, but alsoindulgent; perhaps he had the sense to see that little benefit wouldcome to a sick man from fretting in helplessness on his back, when hewas on fire to be afoot. I fear he thought the baker's rolling-pin wasin my mind, but at any rate I extorted a consent from him, and was onmy way home from Wintenberg not much more than twelve hours after RudolfRassendyll left me. Thus I arrived at my own house in Strelsau on thesame Friday morning that witnessed the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim'stwo-fold interview with the king at the Castle of Zenda. The moment Ihad arrived, I sent James, whose assistance had been, and continuedto be, in all respects most valuable, to despatch a message to theconstable, acquainting him with my whereabouts, and putting myselfentirely at his disposal. Sapt received this message while a council ofwar was being held, and the information it gave aided not a little inthe arrangements that the constable and Rudolf Rassendyll made. Whatthese were I must now relate, although, I fear, at the risk of sometediousness. 

Yet that council of war in Zenda was held under no common circumstances. Cowed as Rischenheim appeared, they dared not let him out of theirsight. Rudolf could not leave the room into which Sapt had locked him;the king's absence was to be short, and before he came again Rudolf mustbe gone, Rischenheim safely disposed of, and measures taken against theoriginal letter reaching the hands for which the intercepted copy hadbeen destined. The room was a large one. In the corner farthest fromthe door sat Rischenheim, disarmed, dispirited, to all seeming ready tothrow up his dangerous game and acquiesce in any terms presented to him. Just inside the door, guarding it, if need should be, with their lives, were the other three, Bernenstein merry and triumphant, Sapt blunt andcool, Rudolf calm and clear-headed. The queen awaited the result oftheir deliberations in her apartments, ready to act as they directed, but determined to see Rudolf before he left the castle. They conversedtogether in low tones. Presently Sapt took paper and wrote. This firstmessage was to me, and it bade me come to Zenda that afternoon; anotherhead and another pair of hands were sadly needed. Then followed moredeliberation; Rudolf took up the talking now, for his was the bold planon which they consulted. Sapt twirled his moustache, smiling doubtfully. 

"Yes, yes, " murmured young Bernenstein, his eyes alight with excitement. 

"It's dangerous, but the best thing, " said Rudolf, carefully sinkinghis voice yet lower, lest the prisoner should catch the lightest wordof what he said. "It involves my staying here till the evening. Is thatpossible?"

"No; but you can leave here and hide in the forest till I join you, "said Sapt. 

"Till we join you, " corrected Bernenstein eagerly. 

"No, " said the constable, "you must look after our friend here. Come, Lieutenant, it's all in the queen's service. "

"Besides, " added Rudolf with a smile, "neither the colonel nor I wouldlet you have a chance at Rupert. He's our game, isn't he, Sapt?"

The colonel nodded. Rudolf in his turn took paper, and here is themessage that he wrote:

"Holf, 19, Konigstrasse, Strelsau. --All well. He has what I had, butwishes to see what you have. He and I will be at the hunting-lodgeat ten this evening. Bring it and meet us. The business isunsuspected. --R. "

Rudolf threw the paper across to Sapt; Bernenstein leant over theconstable's shoulder and read it eagerly. 

"I doubt if it would bring me, " grinned old Sapt, throwing the paperdown. 

"It'll bring Rupert to Hentzau. Why not? He'll know that the king willwish to meet him unknown to the queen, and also unknown to you, Sapt, since you were my friend: what place more likely for the king to choosethan his hunting-lodge, where he is accustomed to go when he wishes tobe alone? The message will bring him, depend on it. Why, man, Rupertwould come even if he suspected; and why should he suspect?"

"They may have a cipher, he and Rischenheim, " objected Sapt. 

"No, or Rupert would have sent the address in it, " retorted Rudolfquickly. 

"Then--when he comes?" asked Bernenstein. 

"He finds such a king as Rischenheim found, and Sapt, here, at hiselbow. "

"But he'll know you, " objected Bernenstein. 

"Ay, I think he'll know me, " said Rudolf with a smile. "Meanwhile wesend for Fritz to come here and look after the king. "

"And Rischenheim?"

"That's your share, Lieutenant. Sapt, is any one at Tarlenheim?"

"No. Count Stanislas has put it at Fritz's disposal. "

"Good; then Fritz's two friends, the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim andLieutenant von Bernenstein, will ride over there to-day. The constableof Zenda will give the lieutenant twenty-four hours' leave of absence, and the two gentlemen will pass the day and sleep at the chateau. Theywill pass the day side by side, Bernenstein, not losing sight of oneanother for an instant, and they will pass the night in the same room. And one of them will not close his eyes nor take his hand off the buttof his revolver. "

"Very good, sir, " said young Bernenstein. 

"If he tries to escape or give any alarm, shoot him through the head, ride to the frontier, get to safe hiding, and, if you can, let us know. "

"Yes, " said Bernenstein simply. Sapt had chosen well, and the youngofficer made nothing of the peril and ruin that her Majesty's servicemight ask of him. 

A restless movement and a weary sigh from Rischenheim attracted theirattention. He had strained his ears to listen till his head ached, butthe talkers had been careful, and he had heard nothing that threw lighton their deliberations. He had now given up his vain attempt, and sat inlistless inattention, sunk in an apathy. 

"I don't think he'll give you much trouble, " whispered Sapt toBernenstein, with a jerk of his thumb towards the captive. 

"Act as if he were likely to give you much, " urged Rudolf, laying hishand on the lieutenant's arm. 

"Yes, that's a wise man's advice, " nodded the constable approvingly. "Wewere well governed, Lieutenant, when this Rudolf was king. "

"Wasn't I also his loyal subject?" asked young Bernenstein. 

"Yes, wounded in my service, " added Rudolf; for he remembered howthe boy--he was little more then--had been fired upon in the park ofTarlenheim, being taken for Mr. Rassendyll himself. 

Thus their plans were laid. If they could defeat Rupert, they would haveRischenheim at their mercy. If they could keep Rischenheim out of theway while they used his name in their trick, they had a strong chance ofdeluding and killing Rupert. Yes, of killing him; for that and nothingless was their purpose, as the constable of Zenda himself has told me. 

"We would have stood on no ceremony, " he said. "The queen's honor was atstake, and the fellow himself an assassin. "

Bernenstein rose and went out. He was gone about half an hour, beingemployed in despatching the telegrams to Strelsau. Rudolf and Sapt usedthe interval to explain to Rischenheim what they proposed to do withhim. They asked no pledge, and he offered none. He heard what theysaid with a dulled uninterested air. When asked if he would go withoutresistance, he laughed a bitter laugh. "How can I resist?" he asked. "Ishould have a bullet through my head. "

"Why, without doubt, " said Colonel Sapt. "My lord, you are verysensible. "

"Let me advise you, my lord, " said Rudolf, looking down on him kindlyenough, "if you come safe through this affair, to add honor to yourprudence, and chivalry to your honor. There is still time for you tobecome a gentleman. "

He turned away, followed by a glance of anger from the count and agrating chuckle from old Sapt. 

A few moments later Bernenstein returned. His errand was done, andhorses for himself and Rischenheim were at the gate of the castle. Aftera few final words and clasp of the hand from Rudolf, the lieutenantmotioned to his prisoner to accompany him, and they two walked outtogether, being to all appearance willing companions and in perfectfriendliness with one another. The queen herself watched them go fromthe windows of her apartment, and noticed that Bernenstein rode half apace behind, and that his free hand rested on the revolver by his side. 

It was now well on in the morning, and the risk of Rudolf's sojourn inthe castle grew greater with every moment. Yet he was resolved tosee the queen before he went. This interview presented no greatdifficulties, since her Majesty was in the habit of coming to theconstable's room to take his advice or to consult with him. The hardesttask was to contrive afterwards a free and unnoticed escape for Mr. Rassendyll. To meet this necessity, the constable issued orders thatthe company of guards which garrisoned the castle should parade atone o'clock in the park, and that the servants should all, after theirdinner, be granted permission to watch the manoeuvres. By this means hecounted on drawing off any curious eyes and allowing Rudolf to reach theforest unobserved. They appointed a rendezvous in a handy and shelteredspot; the one thing which they were compelled to trust to fortune wasRudolf's success in evading chance encounters while he waited. Mr. Rassendyll himself was confident of his ability to conceal his presence, or, if need were, so to hide his face that no strange tale of the kingbeing seen wandering, alone and beardless, should reach the ears of thecastle or the town. 

While Sapt was making his arrangements, Queen Flavia came to the roomwhere Rudolf Rassendyll was. It was then nearing twelve, and youngBernenstein had been gone half an hour. Sapt attended her to the door, set a sentry at the end of the passage with orders that her Majestyshould on no pretence be disturbed, promised her very audibly to returnas soon as he possibly could, and respectfully closed the door aftershe had entered. The constable was well aware of the value in a secretbusiness of doing openly all that can safely be done with openness. 

All of what passed at that interview I do not know, but a part QueenFlavia herself told to me, or rather to Helga, my wife; for although itwas meant to reach my ear, yet to me, a man, she would not disclose itdirectly. First she learnt from Mr. Rassendyll the plans that had beenmade, and, although she trembled at the danger that he must run inmeeting Rupert of Hentzau, she had such love of him and such a trust inhis powers that she seemed to doubt little of his success. But she beganto reproach herself for having brought him into this peril by writingher letter. At this he took from his pocket the copy that Rischenheimhad carried. He had found time to read it, and now before her eyes hekissed it. 

"Had I as many lives as there are words, my queen, " he said softly, "foreach word I would gladly give a life. "

"Ah, Rudolf, but you've only one life, and that more mine than yours. Did you think we should ever meet again?"

"I didn't know, " said he; and now they were standing opposite oneanother. 

"But I knew, " she said, her eyes shining brightly; "I knew always thatwe should meet once more. Not how, nor where, but just that we should. So I lived, Rudolf. "

"God bless you!" he said. 

"Yes, I lived through it all. "

He pressed her hand, knowing what that phrase meant and must mean forher. 

"Will it last forever?" she asked, suddenly gripping his hand tightly. But a moment later she went on: "No, no, I mustn't make you unhappy, Rudolf. I'm half glad I wrote the letter, and half glad they stoleit. It's so sweet to have you fighting for me, for me only this time, Rudolf--not for the king, for me!"

"Sweet indeed, my dearest lady. Don't be afraid: we shall win. "

"You will win, yes. And then you'll go?" And, dropping his hand, shecovered her face with hers. 

"I mustn't kiss your face, " said he, "but your hands I may kiss, " and hekissed her hands as they were pressed against her face. 

"You wear my ring, " she murmured through her fingers, "always?"

"Why, yes, " he said, with a little laugh of wonder at her question. 

"And there is--no one else?"

"My queen!" said he, laughing again. 

"No, I knew really, Rudolf, I knew really, " and now her hands flew outtowards him, imploring his pardon. Then she began to speak quickly:"Rudolf, last night I had a dream about you, a strange dream. I seemedto be in Strelsau, and all the people were talking about the king. Itwas you they meant; you were the king. At last you were the king, and Iwas your queen. But I could see you only very dimly; you were somewhere, but I could not make out where; just sometimes your face came. Then Itried to tell you that you were king--yes, and Colonel Sapt and Fritztried to tell you; the people, too, called out that you were king. Whatdid it mean? But your face, when I saw it, was unmoved, and very pale, and you seemed not to hear what we said, not even what I said. It almostseemed as if you were dead, and yet king. Ah, you mustn't die, even tobe king, " and she laid a hand on his shoulder. 

"Sweetheart, " said he gently, "in dreams desires and fears blend instrange visions, so I seemed to you to be both a king and a dead man;but I'm not a king, and I am a very healthy fellow. Yet a thousandthanks to my dearest queen for dreaming of me. "

"No, but what could it mean?" she asked again. 

"What does it mean when I dream always of you, except that I always loveyou?"

"Was it only that?" she said, still unconvinced. 

What more passed between them I do not know. I think that the queen toldmy wife more, but women will sometimes keep women's secrets even fromtheir husbands; though they love us, yet we are always in some sort thecommon enemy, against whom they join hands. Well, I would not look toofar into such secrets, for to know must be, I suppose, to blame, and whois himself so blameless that in such a case he would be free with hiscensures?

Yet much cannot have passed, for almost close on their talk about thedream came Colonel Sapt, saying that the guards were in line, and allthe women streamed out to watch them, while the men followed, lest thegay uniforms should make them forgotten. Certainly a quiet fell overthe old castle, that only the constable's curt tones broke, as he badeRudolf come by the back way to the stables and mount his horse. 

"There's no time to lose, " said Sapt, and his eye seemed to grudge thequeen even one more word with the man she loved. 

But Rudolf was not to be hurried into leaving her in such a fashion. Heclapped the constable on the shoulder, laughing, and bidding him thinkof what he would for a moment; then he went again to the queen and wouldhave knelt before her, but that she would not suffer, and they stoodwith hands locked. Then suddenly she drew him to her and kissed hisforehead, saying: "God go with you, Rudolf my knight. "

Thus she turned away, letting him go. He walked towards the door; but asound arrested his steps, and he waited in the middle of the room, hiseyes on the door. Old Sapt flew to the threshold, his sword half-way outof its sheath. There was a step coming down the passage, and the feetstopped outside the door. 

"Is it the king?" whispered Rudolf. 

"I don't know, " said Sapt. 

"No, it's not the king, " came in unhesitating certainty from QueenFlavia. 

They waited: a low knock sounded on the door. Still for a moment theywaited. The knock was repeated urgently. 

"We must open, " said Sapt. "Behind the curtain with you, Rudolf. "

The queen sat down, and Sapt piled a heap of papers before her, that itmight seem as though he and she transacted business. But his precautionswere interrupted by a hoarse, eager, low cry from outside, "Quick! inGod's name, quick!"

They knew the voice for Bernenstein's. The queen sprang up, Rudolf cameout, Sapt turned the key. The lieutenant entered, hurried, breathless, pale. 

"Well?" asked Sapt. 

"He has got away?" cried Rudolf, guessing in a moment the misfortunethat had brought Bernenstein back. 

"Yes, he's got away. Just as we left the town and reached the open roadtowards Tarlenheim, he said, 'Are we going to walk all the way? I wasnot loath to go quicker, and we broke into a trot. But I--ah, what apestilent fool I am!"

"Never mind that--go on. "

"Why, I was thinking of him and my task, and having a bullet ready forhim, and--"

"Of everything except your horse?" guessed Sapt, with a grim smile. 

"Yes; and the horse pecked and stumbled, and I fell forward on his neck. I put out my arm to recover myself, and--I jerked my revolver on to theground. "

"And he saw?"

"He saw, curse him. For a second he waited; then he smiled, and turned, and dug his spurs in and was off, straight across country towardsStrelsau. Well, I was off my horse in a moment, and I fired three timesafter him. "

"You hit?" asked Rudolf. 

"I think so. He shifted the reins from one hand to the other and wrunghis arm. I mounted and made after him, but his horse was better thanmine and he gained ground. We began to meet people, too, and I didn'tdare to fire again. So I left him and rode here to tell you. Neveremploy me again, Constable, so long as you live, " and the young man'sface was twisted with misery and shame, as, forgetting the queen'spresence, he sank despondently into a chair. 

Sapt took no notice of his self-reproaches. But Rudolf went and laid ahand on his shoulder. 

"It was an accident, " he said. "No blame to you. "

The queen rose and walked towards him; Bernenstein sprang to his feet. 

"Sir, " said she, "it is not success but effort that should gain thanks, "and she held out her hand. 

Well, he was young; I do not laugh at the sob that escaped his lips ashe turned his head. 

"Let me try something else!" he implored. 

"Mr. Rassendyll, " said the queen, "you'll do my pleasure by employingthis gentleman in my further service. I am already deep in his debt, andwould be deeper. " There was a moment's silence. 

"Well, but what's to be done?" asked Colonel Sapt. "He's gone toStrelsau. "

"He'll stop Rupert, " mused Mr. Rassendyll. "He may or he mayn't. "

"It's odds that he will. "

"We must provide for both. "

Sapt and Rudolf looked at one another. 

"You must be here!" asked Rudolf of the constable. "Well, I'll go toStrelsau. " His smile broke out. "That is, if Bernenstein'll lend me ahat. "

The queen made no sound; but she came and laid her hand on his arm. Helooked at her, smiling still. 

"Yes, I'll go to Strelsau, " said he, "and I'll find Rupert, ay, andRischenheim too, if they're in the city. "

"Take me with you, " cried Bernenstein eagerly. 

Rudolf glanced at Sapt. The constable shook his head. Bernenstein's facefell. 

"It's not that, boy, " said old Sapt, half in kindness, half inimpatience. "We want you here. Suppose Rupert comes here withRischenheim!"

The idea was new, but the event was by no means unlikely. 

"But you'll be here, Constable, " urged Bernenstein, "and Fritz vonTarlenheim will arrive in an hour. "

"Ay, young man, " said Sapt, nodding his head; "but when I fight Rupertof Hentzau, I like to have a man to spare, " and he grinned broadly, beingno whit afraid of what Bernenstein might think of his courage. "Now goand get him a hat, " he added, and the lieutenant ran off on the errand. 

But the queen cried:

"Are you sending Rudolf alone, then--alone against two?"

"Yes, madam, if I may command the campaign, " said Sapt. "I take it heshould be equal to the task. "

He could not know the feelings of the queen's heart. She dashed her handacross her eyes, and turned in mute entreaty to Rudolf Rassendyll. 

"I must go, " he said softly. "We can't spare Bernenstein, and I mustn'tstay here. "

She said no more. Rudolf walked across to Sapt. 

"Take me to the stables. Is the horse good? I daren't take the train. Ah, here's the lieutenant and the hat. "

"The horse'll get you there to-night, " said Sapt. "Come along. Bernenstein, stay with the queen. "

At the threshold Rudolf paused, and, turning his head, glanced onceat Queen Flavia, who stood still as a statue, watching him go. Thenhe followed the constable, who brought him where the horse was. Sapt'sdevices for securing freedom from observation had served well, andRudolf mounted unmolested. 

"The hat doesn't fit very well, " said Rudolf. 

"Like a crown better, eh?" suggested the colonel. 

Rudolf laughed as he asked, "Well, what are my orders?"

"Ride round by the moat to the road at the back; then through the forestto Hofbau; you know your way after that. You mustn't reach Strelsau tillit's dark. Then, if you want a shelter--"

"To Fritz von Tarlenheim's, yes! From there I shall go straight to theaddress. "

"Ay. And--Rudolf!"

"Yes?"

"Make an end of him this time. "

"Please God. But if he goes to the lodge? He will, unless Rischenheimstops him. "

"I'll be there in case--but I think Rischenheim will stop him. "

"If he comes here?"

"Young Bernenstein will die before he suffers him to reach the king. "

"Sapt!"

"Ay?"

"Be kind to her. "

"Bless the man, yes!"

"Good-by. "

"And good luck. "

At a swift canter Rudolf darted round the drive that led from thestables, by the moat, to the old forest road behind; five minutesbrought him within the shelter of the trees, and he rode on confidently, meeting nobody, save here and there a yokel, who, seeing a man ride hardwith his head averted, took no more notice of him than to wish that hehimself could ride abroad instead of being bound to work. Thus RudolfRassendyll set out again for the walls of Strelsau, through the forestof Zenda. And ahead of him, with an hour's start, galloped the Count ofLuzau-Rischenheim, again a man, and a man with resolution, resentment, and revenge in his heart. 

The game was afoot now; who could tell the issue of it?

CHAPTER VII. THE MESSAGE OF SIMON THE HUNTSMAN

I RECEIVED the telegram sent to me by the Constable of Zenda at my ownhouse in Strelsau about one o'clock. It is needless to say that Imade immediate preparations to obey his summons. My wife indeedprotested--and I must admit with some show of reason--that I was unfitto endure further fatigues, and that my bed was the only proper placefor me. I could not listen; and James, Mr. Rassendyll's servant, beinginformed of the summons, was at my elbow with a card of the trains fromStrelsau to Zenda, without waiting for any order from me. I had talkedto this man in the course of our journey, and discovered that he hadbeen in the service of Lord Topham, formerly British Ambassador to theCourt of Ruritania. How far he was acquainted with the secrets of hispresent master, I did not know, but his familiarity with the cityand the country made him of great use to me. We discovered, to ourannoyance, that no train left till four o'clock, and then only a slowone; the result was that we could not arrive at the castle till pastsix o'clock. This hour was not absolutely too late, but I was of courseeager to be on the scene of action as early as possible. 

"You'd better see if you can get a special, my lord, " James suggested;"I'll run on to the station and arrange about it. "

I agreed. Since I was known to be often employed in the king's service, I could take a special train without exciting remark. James set out, andabout a quarter of an hour later I got into my carriage to drive to thestation. Just as the horses were about to start, however, the butlerapproached me. 

"I beg your pardon, my lord, " said he, "but Bauer didn't return withyour lordship. Is he coming back?"

"No, " said I. "Bauer was grossly impertinent on the journey, and Idismissed him. "

"Those foreign men are never to be trusted, my lord. And your lordship'sbag?"

"What, hasn't it come?" I cried. "I told him to send it. "

"It's not arrived, my lord. "

"Can the rogue have stolen it?" I exclaimed indignantly. 

"If your lordship wishes it, I will mention the matter to the police. "

I appeared to consider this proposal. 

"Wait till I come back, " I ended by saying. "The bag may come, and Ihave no reason to doubt the fellow's honesty. "

This, I thought, would be the end of my connection with Master Bauer. Hehad served Rupert's turn, and would now disappear from the scene. Indeedit may be that Rupert would have liked to dispense with further aid fromhim; but he had few whom he could trust, and was compelled to employthose few more than once. At any rate he had not done with Bauer, and Ivery soon received proof of the fact. My house is a couple of miles fromthe station, and we have to pass through a considerable part of the oldtown, where the streets are narrow and tortuous and progress necessarilyslow. We had just entered the Konigstrasse (and it must be rememberedthat I had at that time no reason for attaching any special significanceto this locality), and were waiting impatiently for a heavy dray tomove out of our path, when my coachman, who had overheard the butler'sconversation with me, leant down from his box with an air of livelyexcitement. 

"My lord, " he cried, "there's Bauer--there, passing the butcher's shop!"

I sprang up in the carriage; the man's back was towards me, and he wasthreading his way through the people with a quick, stealthy tread. Ibelieve he must have seen me, and was slinking away as fast as he could. I was not sure of him, but the coachman banished my doubt by saying, "It's Bauer--it's certainly Bauer, my lord. "

I hardly stayed to form a resolution. If I could catch this fellow oreven see where he went, a most important clue as to Rupert's doingsand whereabouts might be put into my hand. I leapt out of the carriage, bidding the man wait, and at once started in pursuit of my formerservant. I heard the coachman laugh: he thought, no doubt, that anxietyfor the missing bag inspired such eager haste. 

The numbers of the houses in the Konigstrasse begin, as anybody familiarwith Strelsau will remember, at the end adjoining the station. Thestreet being a long one, intersecting almost the entire length of theold town, I was, when I set out after Bauer, opposite number 300 orthereabouts, and distant nearly three-quarters of a mile from thatimportant number nineteen, towards which Bauer was hurrying like arabbit to its burrow. I knew nothing and thought nothing of where hewas going; to me nineteen was no more than eighteen or twenty; my onlydesire was to overtake him. I had no clear idea of what I meant to dowhen I caught him, but I had some hazy notion of intimidating him intogiving up his secret by the threat of an accusation of theft. In fact, he had stolen my bag. After him I went; and he knew that I was afterhim. I saw him turn his face over his shoulder, and then bustle onfaster. Neither of us, pursued or pursuer, dared quite to run; as itwas, our eager strides and our carelessness of collisions created morethan enough attention. But I had one advantage. Most folk in Strelsauknew me, and many got out of my way who were by no means inclined to paya like civility to Bauer. Thus I began to gain on him, in spite of hishaste; I had started fifty yards behind, but as we neared the end of thestreet and saw the station ahead of us, not more than twenty separatedme from him. Then an annoying thing happened. I ran full into a stoutold gentleman; Bauer had run into him before, and he was standing, aspeople will, staring in resentful astonishment at his first assailant'sretreating figure. The second collision immensely increased hisvexation; for me it had yet worse consequences; for when I disentangledmyself, Bauer was gone! There was not a sign of him; I looked up: thenumber of the house above me was twenty-three; but the door was shut. I walked on a few paces, past twenty-two, past twenty-one--and up tonineteen. Nineteen was an old house, with a dirty, dilapidated front andan air almost dissipated. It was a shop where provisions of the cheapersort were on view in the window, things that one has never eaten but hasheard of people eating. The shop-door stood open, but there was nothingto connect Bauer with the house. Muttering an oath in my exasperation, Iwas about to pass on, when an old woman put her head out of the door andlooked round. I was full in front of her. I am sure that the old womanstarted slightly, and I think that I did. For I knew her and she knewme. She was old Mother Holf, one of whose sons, Johann, had betrayed tous the secret of the dungeon at Zenda, while the other had died by Mr. Rassendyll's hand by the side of the great pipe that masked the king'swindow. Her presence might mean nothing, yet it seemed at once toconnect the house with the secret of the past and the crisis of thepresent. 

She recovered herself in a moment, and curtseyed to me. 

"Ah, Mother Holf, " said I, "how long is it since you set up shop inStrelsau?"

"About six months, my lord, " she answered, with a composed air and armsakimbo. 

"I have not come across you before, " said I, looking keenly at her. 

"Such a poor little shop as mine would not be likely to secure yourlordship's patronage, " she answered, in a humility that seemed only halfgenuine. 

I looked up at the windows. They were all closed and had their woodenlattices shut. The house was devoid of any signs of life. 

"You've a good house here, mother, though it wants a splash of paint, "said I. "Do you live all alone in it with your daughter?" For Max wasdead and Johann abroad, and the old woman had, as far as I knew, noother children. 

"Sometimes; sometimes not, " said she. "I let lodgings to single men whenI can. "

"Full now?"

"Not a soul, worse luck, my lord. " Then I shot an arrow at a venture. 

"The man who came in just now, then, was he only a customer?"

"I wish a customer had come in, but there has been nobody, " she repliedin surprised tones. 

I looked full in her eyes; she met mine with a blinkingimperturbability. There is no face so inscrutable as a clever oldwoman's when she is on her guard. And her fat body barred the entrance;I could not so much as see inside, while the window, choked full withpigs' trotters and such-like dainties, helped me very little. If the foxwere there, he had got to earth and I could not dig him out. 

At this moment I saw James approaching hurriedly. He was looking upthe street, no doubt seeking my carriage and chafing at its delay. Aninstant later he saw me. 

"My lord, " he said, "your train will be ready in five minutes; if itdoesn't start then, the line must be closed for another half-hour. "

I perceived a faint smile on the old woman's face. I was sure then thatI was on the track of Bauer, and probably of more than Bauer. But myfirst duty was to obey orders and get to Zenda. Besides, I could notforce my way in, there in open daylight, without a scandal thatwould have set all the long ears in Strelsau aprick. I turned awayreluctantly. I did not even know for certain that Bauer was within, andthus had no information of value to carry with me. 

"If your lordship would kindly recommend me--" said the old hag. 

"Yes, I'll recommend you, " said I. "I'll recommend you to be carefulwhom you take for lodgers. There are queer fish about, mother. "

"I take the money beforehand, " she retorted with a grin; and I was assure that she was in the plot as of my own existence. 

There was nothing to be done; James's face urged me towards the station. I turned away. But at this instant a loud, merry laugh sounded frominside the house. I started, and this time violently. The old woman'sbrow contracted in a frown, and her lips twitched for a moment; thenher face regained its composure; but I knew the laugh, and she musthave guessed that I knew it. Instantly I tried to appear as though I hadnoticed nothing. I nodded to her carelessly, and bidding James followme, set out for the station. But as we reached the platform, I laid myhand on his shoulder, saying:

"The Count of Hentzau is in that house, James. "

He looked at me without surprise; he was as hard to stir to wonder asold Sapt himself. 

"Indeed, sir. Shall I stay and watch?"

"No, come with me, " I answered. To tell the truth, I thought that toleave him alone in Strelsau to watch that house was in all likelihoodto sign his death warrant, and I shrank from imposing the duty on him. Rudolf might send him if he would; I dared not. So we got into ourtrain, and I suppose that my coachman, when he had looked long enoughfor me, went home. I forgot to ask him afterwards. Very likely hethought it a fine joke to see his master hunting a truant servant anda truant bag through the streets in broad daylight. Had he known thetruth, he would have been as interested, though, maybe, less amused. 

I arrived at the town of Zenda at half-past three, and was in the castlebefore four. I may pass over the most kind and gracious words with whichthe queen received me. Every sight of her face and every sound of hervoice bound a man closer to her service, and now she made me feel thatI was a poor fellow to have lost her letter and yet to be alive. But shewould hear nothing of such talk, choosing rather to praise the little Ihad done than to blame the great thing in which I had failed. Dismissedfrom her presence, I flew open-mouthed to Sapt. I found him in his roomwith Bernenstein, and had the satisfaction of learning that my news ofRupert's whereabouts was confirmed by his information. I was also madeacquainted with all that had been done, even as I have already relatedit, from the first successful trick played on Rischenheim to the momentof his unfortunate escape. But my face grew long and apprehensive when Iheard that Rudolf Rassendyll had gone alone to Strelsau to put his headin that lion's mouth in the Konigstrasse. 

"There will be three of them there--Rupert, Rischenheim, and my rascalBauer, " said I. 

"As to Rupert, we don't know, " Sapt reminded me. "He'll be there ifRischenheim arrives in time to tell him the truth. But we have also tobe ready for him here, and at the hunting lodge. Well, we're ready forhim wherever he is: Rudolf will be in Strelsau, you and I will ride tothe lodge, and Bernenstein will be here with the queen. "

"Only one here?" I asked. 

"Ay, but a good one, " said the constable, clapping Bernenstein on theshoulder. "We sha'n't be gone above four hours, and those while the kingis safe in his bed. Bernenstein has only to refuse access to him, andstand to that with his life till we come back. You're equal to that, eh, Lieutenant?"

I am, by nature, a cautious man, and prone to look at the dark side ofevery prospect and the risks of every enterprise; but I could notsee what better dispositions were possible against the attack thatthreatened us. Yet I was sorely uneasy concerning Mr. Rassendyll. 

Now, after all our stir and runnings to and fro, came an hour or two ofpeace. We employed the time in having a good meal, and it was past fivewhen, our repast finished, we sat back in our chairs enjoying cigars. James had waited on us, quietly usurping the office of the constable'sown servant, and thus we had been able to talk freely. The man's calmconfidence in his master and his master's fortune also went far tocomfort me. 

"The king should be back soon, " said Sapt at last, with a glance at hisbig, old-fashioned silver watch. "Thank God, he'll be too tired to situp long. We shall be free by nine o'clock, Fritz. I wish young Rupertwould come to the lodge!" And the colonel's face expressed a livelypleasure at the idea. 

Six o'clock struck, and the king did not appear. A few moments later, amessage came from the queen, requesting our presence on the terrace infront of the chateau. The place commanded a view of the road by whichthe king would ride back, and we found the queen walking restlessly upand down, considerably disquieted by the lateness of his return. In sucha position as ours, every unusual or unforeseen incident magnifies itspossible meaning, and invests itself with a sinister importance whichwould at ordinary times seem absurd. We three shared the queen'sfeelings, and forgetting the many chances of the chase, any one of whichwould amply account for the king's delay, fell to speculating on remotepossibilities of disaster. He might have met Rischenheim--thoughthey had ridden in opposite directions; Rupert might have interceptedhim--though no means could have brought Rupert to the forest so early. Our fears defeated common sense, and our conjectures outran possibility. Sapt was the first to recover from this foolish mood, and he rated ussoundly, not sparing even the queen herself. With a laugh we regainedsome of our equanimity, and felt rather ashamed of our weakness. 

"Still it's strange that he doesn't come, " murmured the queen, shadingher eyes with her hand, and looking along the road to where the darkmasses of the forest trees bounded our view. It was already dusk, butnot so dark but that we could have seen the king's party as soon as itcame into the open. 

If the king's delay seemed strange at six, it was stranger at seven, andby eight most strange. We had long since ceased to talk lightly; by nowwe had lapsed into silence. Sapt's scoldings had died away. The queen, wrapped in her furs (for it was very cold), sat sometimes on a seat, butoftener paced restlessly to and fro. Evening had fallen. We did not knowwhat to do, nor even whether we ought to do anything. Sapt would not ownto sharing our worst apprehensions, but his gloomy silence in face ofour surmises witnessed that he was in his heart as disturbed as we were. For my part I had come to the end of my endurance, and I cried, "ForGod's sake, let's act! Shall I go and seek him?"

"A needle in a bundle of hay, " said Sapt with a shrug. 

But at this instant my ear caught the sound of horses cantering on theroad from the forest; at the same moment Bernenstein cried, "Here theycome!" The queen paused, and we gathered round her. The horse-hoofs camenearer. Now we made out the figures of three men: they were the king'shuntsmen, and they rode along merrily, singing a hunting chorus. Thesound of it brought relief to us; so far at least there was no disaster. But why was not the king with them?

"The king is probably tired, and is following more slowly, madam, "suggested Bernenstein. 

This explanation seemed very probable, and the lieutenant and I, asready to be hopeful on slight grounds as fearful on small provocation, joyfully accepted it. Sapt, less easily turned to either mood, said, "Ay, but let us hear, " and raising his voice, called to the huntsmen, who had now arrived in the avenue. One of them, the king's chiefhuntsman Simon, gorgeous in his uniform of green and gold, cameswaggering along, and bowed low to the queen. 

"Well, Simon, where is the king?" she asked, trying to smile. 

"The king, madam, has sent a message by me to your majesty. "

"Pray, deliver it to me, Simon. "

"I will, madam. The king has enjoyed fine sport; and, indeed, madam, ifI may say so for myself, a better run. --"

"You may say, friend Simon, " interrupted the constable, tapping himon the shoulder, "anything you like for yourself, but, as a matter ofetiquette, the king's message should come first. "

"Oh, ay, Constable, " said Simon. "You're always so down on a man, aren'tyou? Well, then, madam, the king has enjoyed fine sport. For we starteda boar at eleven, and--"

"Is this the king's message, Simon?" asked the queen, smiling in genuineamusement, but impatiently. 

"Why, no, madam, not precisely his majesty's message. "

"Then get to it, man, in Heaven's name, " growled Sapt testily. For herewere we four (the queen, too, one of us!) on tenterhooks, while the foolboasted about the sport that he had shown the king. For every boar inthe forest Simon took as much credit as though he, and not Almighty God, had made the animal. It is the way with such fellows. 

Simon became a little confused under the combined influence of his ownseductive memories and Sapt's brusque exhortations. 

"As I was saying, madam, " he resumed, "the boar led us a long way, butat last the hounds pulled him down, and his majesty himself gave thecoup de grace. Well, then it was very late. "

"It's no earlier now, " grumbled the constable. 

"And the king, although indeed, madam, his majesty was so gracious asto say that no huntsman whom his majesty had ever had, had given hismajesty--"

"God help us!" groaned the constable. 

Simon shot an apprehensive apologetic glance at Colonel Sapt. Theconstable was frowning ferociously. In spite of the serious matters inhand I could not forbear a smile, while young Bernenstein broke into anaudible laugh, which he tried to smother with his hand. 

"Yes, the king was very tired, Simon?" said the queen, at onceencouraging him and bringing him back to the point with a woman's skill. 

"Yes, madam, the king was very tired; and as we chanced to kill near thehunting-lodge--"

I do not know whether Simon noticed any change in the manner of hisaudience. But the queen looked up with parted lips, and I believe thatwe three all drew a step nearer him. Sapt did not interrupt this time. 

"Yes, madam, the king was very tired, and as we chanced to kill near thehunting-lodge, the king bade us carry our quarry there, and come backto dress it to-morrow; so we obeyed, and here we are--that is, exceptHerbert, my brother, who stayed with the king by his majesty's orders. Because, madam, Herbert is a handy fellow, and my good mother taught himto cook a steak and--"

"Stayed where with the king?" roared Sapt. 

"Why, at the hunting-lodge, Constable. The king stays there to-night, and will ride back tomorrow morning with Herbert. That, madam, is theking's message. "

We had come to it at last, and it was something to come to. Simon gazedfrom face to face. I saw him, and I understood at once that our feelingsmust be speaking too plainly. So I took on myself to dismiss him, saying:

"Thanks, Simon, thanks: we understand. "

He bowed to the queen; she roused herself, and added her thanks to mine. Simon withdrew, looking still a little puzzled. 

After we were left alone, there was a moment's silence. Then I said:

"Suppose Rupert--"

The Constable of Zenda broke in with a short laugh. 

"On my life, " said he, "how things fall out! We say he will go to thehunting-lodge, and--he goes!"

"If Rupert goes--if Rischenheim doesn't stop him!" I urged again. 

The queen rose from her seat and stretched out her hands towards us. 

"Gentlemen, my letter!" said she. 

Sapt wasted no time. 

"Bernenstein, " said he, "you stay here as we arranged. Nothing isaltered. Horses for Fritz and myself in five minutes. "

Bernenstein turned and shot like an arrow along the terrace towards thestables. 

"Nothing is altered, madam, " said Sapt, "except that we must be therebefore Count Rupert. "

I looked at my watch. It was twenty minutes past nine. Simon's cursedchatter had lost a quarter of an hour. I opened my lips to speak. Aglance from Sapt's eyes told me that he discerned what I was about tosay. I was silent. 

"You'll be in time?" asked the queen, with clasped hands and frightenedeyes. 

"Assuredly, madam, " returned Sapt with a bow. 

"You won't let him reach the king?"

"Why, no, madam, " said Sapt with a smile. 

"From my heart, gentlemen, " she said in a trembling voice, "from myheart--"

"Here are the horses, " cried Sapt. He snatched her hand, brushed itwith his grizzly moustache, and--well, I am not sure I heard, and I canhardly believe what I think I heard. But I will set it down for what itis worth. I think he said, "Bless your sweet face, we'll do it. " At anyrate she drew back with a little cry of surprise, and I saw the tearsstanding in her eyes. I kissed her hand also; then we mounted, andwe started, and we rode, as if the devil were behind us, for thehunting-lodge. 

But I turned once to watch her standing on the terrace, with youngBernenstein's tall figure beside her. 

"Can we be in time?" said I. It was what I had meant to say before. 

"I think not, but, by God, we'll try, " said Colonel Sapt. And I knew whyhe had not let me speak. 

Suddenly there was a sound behind us of a horse at the gallop. Our headsflew round in the ready apprehension of men on a perilous errand. Thehoofs drew near, for the unknown rode with reckless haste. 

"We had best see what it is, " said the constable, pulling up. 

A second more, and the horseman was beside us. Sapt swore an oath, halfin amusement, half in vexation. 

"Why, is it you, James?" I cried. 

"Yes, sir, " answered Rudolf Rassendyll's servant. 

"What the devil do you want?" asked Sapt. 

"I came to attend on the Count von Tarlenheim, sir. "

"I did not give you any orders, James. "

"No, sir. But Mr. Rassendyll told me not to leave you, unless you sentme away. So I made haste to follow you. "

Then Sapt cried: "Deuce take it, what horse is that?"

"The best in the stables, so far as I could see, sir. I was afraid ofnot overtaking you. "

Sapt tugged his moustaches, scowled, but finally laughed. 

"Much obliged for your compliment, " said he. "The horse is mine. "

"Indeed, sir?" said James with respectful interest. 

For a moment we were all silent. Then Sapt laughed again. 

"Forward!" said he, and the three of us dashed into the forest. 

CHAPTER VIII. THE TEMPER OF BORIS THE HOUND

Looking back now, in the light of the information I have gathered, I amable to trace very clearly, and almost hour by hour, the events of thisday, and to understand how chance, laying hold of our cunning plan andmocking our wiliness, twisted and turned our device to a predeterminedbut undreamt-of issue, of which we were most guiltless in thought orintent. Had the king not gone to the hunting-lodge, our design wouldhave found the fulfilment we looked for; had Rischenheim succeeded inwarning Rupert of Hentzau, we should have stood where we were. Fateor fortune would have it otherwise. The king, being weary, went to thelodge, and Rischenheim failed in warning his cousin. It was a narrowfailure, for Rupert, as his laugh told me, was in the house in theKonigstrasse when I set out from Strelsau, and Rischenheim arrived thereat half past four. He had taken the train at a roadside station, andthus easily outstripped Mr. Rassendyll, who, not daring to show hisface, was forced to ride all the way and enter the city under cover ofnight. But Rischenheim had not dared to send a warning, for he knewthat we were in possession of the address and did not know what stepswe might have taken to intercept messages. Therefore he was obliged tocarry the news himself; when he came his man was gone. Indeed Rupertmust have left the house almost immediately after I was safe away fromthe city. He was determined to be in good time for his appointment;his only enemies were not in Strelsau; there was no warrant on which hecould be apprehended; and, although his connection with Black Michaelwas a matter of popular gossip, he felt himself safe from arrest byvirtue of the secret that protected him. Accordingly he walked outof the house, went to the station, took his ticket to Hofbau, and, traveling by the four o'clock train, reached his destination abouthalf-past five. He must have passed the train in which Rischenheimtraveled; the first news the latter had of his departure was from aporter at the station, who, having recognized the Count of Hentzau, ventured to congratulate Rischenheim on his cousin's return. Rischenheimmade no answer, but hurried in great agitation to the house in theKonigstrasse, where the old woman Holf confirmed the tidings. Then hepassed through a period of great irresolution. Loyalty to Rupert urgedthat he should follow him and share the perils into which his cousin washastening. But caution whispered that he was not irrevocably committed, that nothing overt yet connected him with Rupert's schemes, and that wewho knew the truth should be well content to purchase his silence as tothe trick we had played by granting him immunity. His fears won the day, and, like the irresolute man he was, he determined to wait in Strelsautill he heard the issue of the meeting at the lodge. If Rupert weredisposed of there, he had something to offer us in return for peace; ifhis cousin escaped, he would be in the Konigstrasse, prepared to secondthe further plans of the desperate adventurer. In any event his skin wassafe, and I presume to think that this weighed a little with him; forexcuse he had the wound which Bernenstein had given him, and whichrendered his right arm entirely useless; had he gone then, he would havebeen a most inefficient ally. 

Of all this we, as we rode through the forest, knew nothing. We mightguess, conjecture, hope, or fear; but our certain knowledge stopped withRischenheim's start for the capital and Rupert's presence there at threeo'clock. The pair might have met or might have missed. We had to actas though they had missed and Rupert were gone to meet the king. But wewere late. The consciousness of that pressed upon us, although we evadedfurther mention of it; it made us spur and drive our horses as quickly, ay, and a little more quickly, than safety allowed. Once James's horsestumbled in the darkness and its rider was thrown; more than once a lowbough hanging over the path nearly swept me, dead or stunned, from myseat. Sapt paid no attention to these mishaps or threatened mishaps. Hehad taken the lead, and, sitting well down in his saddle, rode ahead, turning neither to right nor left, never slackening his pace, sparingneither himself nor his beast. James and I were side by side behind him. We rode in silence, finding nothing to say to one another. My mind wasfull of a picture--the picture of Rupert with his easy smile handing tothe king the queen's letter. For the hour of the rendezvous was past. If that image had been translated into reality, what must we do? To killRupert would satisfy revenge, but of what other avail would it be whenthe king had read the letter? I am ashamed to say that I found myselfgirding at Mr. Rassendyll for happening on a plan which the courseof events had turned into a trap for ourselves and not for Rupert ofHentzau. 

Suddenly Sapt, turning his head for the first time, pointed in frontof him. The lodge was before us; we saw it looming dimly a quarter ofa mile off. Sapt reined in his horse, and we followed his example. Alldismounted, we tied our horses to trees and went forward at a quick, silent walk. Our idea was that Sapt should enter on pretext of havingbeen sent by the queen to attend to her husband's comfort and arrangefor his return without further fatigue next day. If Rupert had come andgone, the king's demeanor would probably betray the fact; if he had notyet come, I and James, patrolling outside, would bar his passage. Therewas a third possibility; he might be even now with the king. Our coursein such a case we left unsettled; so far as I had any plan, it was tokill Rupert and to convince the king that the letter was a forgery--adesperate hope, so desperate that we turned our eyes away from thepossibility which would make it our only resource. 

We were now very near the hunting-lodge, being about forty yards fromthe front of it. All at once Sapt threw himself on his stomach on theground. 

"Give me a match, " he whispered. 

James struck a light, and, the night being still, the flame burntbrightly: it showed us the mark of a horse's hoof, apparently quitefresh, and leading away from the lodge. We rose and went on, followingthe tracks by the aid of more matches till we reached a tree twentyyards from the door. Here the hoof marks ceased; but beyond there wasa double track of human feet in the soft black earth; a man had gonethence to the house and returned from the house thither. On the right ofthe tree were more hoof-marks, leading up to it and then ceasing. A manhad ridden up from the right, dismounted, gone on foot to the house, returned to the tree, remounted, and ridden away along the track bywhich we had approached. 

"It may be somebody else, " said I; but I do not think that we any ofus doubted in our hearts that the tracks were made by the coming ofHentzau. Then the king had the letter; the mischief was done. We weretoo late. 

Yet we did not hesitate. Since disaster had come, it must be faced. Mr. Rassendyll's servant and I followed the constable of Zenda up tothe door, or within a few feet of it. Here Sapt, who was in uniform, loosened his sword in its sheath; James and I looked to our revolvers. There were no lights visible in the lodge; the door was shut; everythingwas still. Sapt knocked softly with his knuckles, but there was noanswer from within. He laid hold of the handle and turned it; the dooropened, and the passage lay dark and apparently empty before us. 

"You stay here, as we arranged, " whispered the colonel. "Give me thematches, and I'll go in. "

James handed him the box of matches, and he crossed the threshold. For ayard or two we saw him plainly, then his figure grew dim and indistinct. I heard nothing except my own hard breathing. But in a moment there wasanother sound--a muffled exclamation, and a noise of a man stumbling;a sword, too, clattered on the stones of the passage. We looked at oneanother; the noise did not produce any answering stir in the house; thencame the sharp little explosion of a match struck on its box; next weheard Sapt raising himself, his scabbard scraping along the stones; hisfootsteps came towards us, and in a second he appeared at the door. 

"What was it?" I whispered. 

"I fell, " said Sapt. 

"Over what?"

"Come and see. James, stay here. "

I followed the constable for the distance of eight or ten feet along thepassage. 

"Isn't there a lamp anywhere?" I asked. 

"We can see enough with a match, " he answered. "Here, this is what Ifell over. "

Even before the match was struck I saw a dark body lying across thepassage. 

"A dead man?" I guessed instantly. 

"Why, no, " said Sapt, striking a light: "a dead dog, Fritz. " Anexclamation of wonder escaped me as I fell on my knees. At the sameinstant Sapt muttered, "Ay, there's a lamp, " and, stretching up his handto a little oil lamp that stood on a bracket, he lit it, took it down, and held it over the body. It served to give a fair, though unsteady, light, and enabled us to see what lay in the passage. 

"It's Boris, the boar-hound, " said I, still in a whisper, although therewas no sign of any listeners. 

I knew the dog well; he was the king's favorite, and always accompaniedhim when he went hunting. He was obedient to every word of the king's, but of a rather uncertain temper towards the rest of the world. However, de mortuis nil nisi bonum; there he lay dead in the passage. Sapt puthis hand on the beast's head. There was a bullet-hole right through hisforehead. I nodded, and in my turn pointed to the dog's right shoulder, which was shattered by another ball. 

"And see here, " said the constable. "Have a pull at this. "

I looked where his hand now was. In the dog's mouth was a piece of graycloth, and on the piece of gray cloth was a horn coat-button. I tookhold of the cloth and pulled. Boris held on even in death. Sapt drew hissword, and, inserting the point of it between the dog's teeth, partedthem enough for me to draw out the piece of cloth. 

"You'd better put it in your pocket, " said the constable. "Now comealong;" and, holding the lamp in one hand and his sword (which he didnot resheathe) in the other, he stepped over the body of the boar-hound, and I followed him. 

We were now in front of the door of the room where Rudolf Rassendyll hadsupped with us on the day of his first coming to Ruritania, and whencehe had set out to be crowned in Strelsau. On the right of it was theroom where the king slept, and farther along in the same direction thekitchen and the cellars. The officer or officers in attendance on theking used to sleep on the other side of the dining-room. 

"We must explore, I suppose, " said Sapt. In spite of his outwardcalmness, I caught in his voice the ring of excitement rising andill-repressed. But at this moment we heard from the passage on our left(as we faced the door) a low moan, and then a dragging sound, as if aman were crawling along the floor, painfully trailing his limbs afterhim. Sapt held the lamp in that direction, and we saw Herbert theforester, pale-faced and wide-eyed, raised from the ground on his twohands, while his legs stretched behind him and his stomach rested on theflags. 

"Who is it?" he said in a faint voice. 

"Why, man, you know us, " said the constable, stepping up to him. "What'shappened here?"

The poor fellow was very faint, and, I think, wandered a little in hisbrain. 

"I've got it, sir, " he murmured; "I've got it, fair and straight. Nomore hunting for me, sir. I've got it here in the stomach. Oh, my God!"He let his head fall with a thud on the floor. 

I ran and raised him. Kneeling on one knee, I propped his head againstmy leg. 

"Tell us about it, " commanded Sapt in a curt, crisp voice while I gotthe man into the easiest position that I could contrive. 

In slow, struggling tones he began his story, repeating here, omittingthere, often confusing the order of his narrative, oftener stillarresting it while he waited for fresh strength. Yet we were notimpatient, but heard without a thought of time. I looked round once ata sound, and found that James, anxious about us, had stolen along thepassage and joined us. Sapt took no notice of him, nor of anything savethe words that dropped in irregular utterance from the stricken man'slips. Here is the story, a strange instance of the turning of a greatevent on a small cause. 

The king had eaten a little supper, and, having gone to his bedroom, had stretched himself on the bed and fallen asleep without undressing. Herbert was clearing the dining-table and performing similar duties, when suddenly (thus he told it) he found a man standing beside him. He did not know (he was new to the king's service) who the unexpectedvisitor was, but he was of middle height, dark, handsome, and "looked agentleman all over. " He was dressed in a shooting-tunic, and a revolverwas thrust through the belt of it. One hand rested on the belt, whilethe other held a small square box. 

"Tell the king I am here. He expects me, " said the stranger. Herbert, alarmed at the suddenness and silence of the stranger's approach, andguiltily conscious of having left the door unbolted, drew back. He wasunarmed, but, being a stout fellow, was prepared to defend his masteras best he could. Rupert--beyond doubt it was Rupert--laughed lightly, saying again, "Man, he expects me. Go and tell him, " and sat himself onthe table, swinging his leg. Herbert, influenced by the visitor's air ofcommand, began to retreat towards the bedroom, keeping his face towardsRupert. 

"If the king asks more, tell him I have the packet and the letter, " saidRupert. The man bowed and passed into the bedroom. The king was asleep;when roused he seemed to know nothing of letter or packet, and toexpect no visitor. Herbert's ready fears revived; he whispered that thestranger carried a revolver. Whatever the king's faults might be--andGod forbid that I should speak hardly of him whom fate used sohardly--he was no coward. He sprang from his bed; at the same momentthe great boar-hound uncoiled himself and came from beneath, yawning andfawning. But in an instant the beast caught the scent of a stranger: hisears pricked and he gave a low growl, as he looked up in his master'sface. Then Rupert of Hentzau, weary perhaps of waiting, perhaps onlydoubtful whether his message would be properly delivered, appeared inthe doorway. 

The king was unarmed, and Herbert in no better plight; their huntingweapons were in the adjoining room, and Rupert seemed to bar the way. I have said that the king was no coward, yet I think, that the sight ofRupert, bringing back the memory of his torments in the dungeon, halfcowed him; for he shrank back crying, "You!" The hound, in subtleunderstanding of his master's movement, growled angrily. 

"You expected me, sire?" said Rupert with a bow; but he smiled. I knowthat the sight of the king's alarm pleased him. To inspire terror washis delight, and it does not come to every man to strike fear into theheart of a king and an Elphberg. It had come more than once to Rupert ofHentzau. 

"No, " muttered the king. Then, recovering his composure a little, hesaid angrily, "How dare you come here?"

"You didn't expect me?" cried Rupert, and in an instant the thought of atrap seemed to flash across his alert mind. He drew the revolver halfwayfrom his belt, probably in a scarcely conscious movement, born of thedesire to assure himself of its presence. With a cry of alarm Herbertflung himself before the king, who sank back on the bed. Rupert, puzzled, vexed, yet half-amused (for he smiled still, the man said), took a step forward, crying out something about Rischenheim--what, Herbert could not tell us. 

"Keep back, " exclaimed the king. "Keep back. "

Rupert paused; then, as though with a sudden thought, he held up the boxthat was in his left hand, saying:

'"Well, look at this sire, and we'll talk afterwards, " and he stretchedout his hand with the box in it. 

Now the king stood on a razor's edge, for the king whispered to Herbert, "What is it? Go and take it. "

But Herbert hesitated, fearing to leave the king, whom his body nowprotected as though with a shield. Rupert's impatience overcame him:if there were a trap, every moment's delay doubled his danger. With ascornful laugh he exclaimed, "Catch it, then, if you're afraid to comefor it, " and he flung the packet to Herbert or the king, or which ofthem might chance to catch it. 

This insolence had a strange result. In an instant, with a fierce growland a mighty bound, Boris was at the stranger's throat. Rupert had notseen or had not heeded the dog. A startled oath rang out from him. Hesnatched the revolver from his belt and fired at his assailant. Thisshot must have broken the beast's shoulder, but it only half arrestedhis spring. His great weight was still hurled on Rupert's chest, andbore him back on his knee. The packet that he had flung lay unheeded. The king, wild with alarm and furious with anger at his favorite's fate, jumped up and ran past Rupert into the next room. Herbert followed;even as they went Rupert flung the wounded, weakened beast from himand darted to the doorway. He found himself facing Herbert, who helda boar-spear, and the king, who had a double-barreled hunting-gun. He raised his left hand, Herbert said--no doubt he still asked ahearing--but the king leveled his weapon. With a spring Rupert gainedthe shelter of the door, the bullet sped by him, and buried itselfin the wall of the room. Then Herbert was at him with the boar-spear. Explanations must wait now: it was life or death; without hesitationRupert fired at Herbert, bringing him to the ground with a mortal wound. The king's gun was at his shoulder again. 

"You damned fool!" roared Rupert, "if you must have it, take it, " andgun and revolver rang out at the same moment. But Rupert--never did hisnerve fail him--hit, the king missed; Herbert saw the count stand foran instant with his smoking barrel in his hand, looking at the king, who lay on the ground. Then Rupert walked towards the door. I wish Ihad seen his face then! Did he frown or smile? Was triumph or chagrinuppermost? Remorse? Not he!

He reached the door and passed through. That was the last Herbert saw ofhim; but the fourth actor in the drama, the wordless player whose parthad been so momentous, took the stage. Limping along, now whining insharp agony, now growling in fierce anger, with blood flowing but hairbristling, the hound Boris dragged himself across the room, through thedoor, after Rupert of Hentzau. Herbert listened, raising his head fromthe ground. There was a growl, an oath, the sound of the scuffle. Rupertmust have turned in time to receive the dog's spring. The beast, maimedand crippled by his shattered shoulder, did not reach his enemy's face, but his teeth tore away the bit of cloth that we had found held in thevise of his jaws. Then came another shot, a laugh, retreating steps, and a door slammed. With that last sound Herbert woke to the fact of thecount's escape; with weary efforts he dragged himself into the passage. The idea that he could go on if he got a drink of brandy turned him inthe direction of the cellar. But his strength failed, and he sank downwhere we found him, not knowing whether the king were dead or stillalive, and unable even to make his way back to the room where his masterlay stretched on the ground. 

I had listened to the story, bound as though by a spell. Halfwaythrough, James's hand had crept to my arm and rested there; when Herbertfinished I heard the little man licking his lips, again and againslapping his tongue against them. Then I looked at Sapt. He was as paleas a ghost, and the lines on his face seemed to have grown deeper. He glanced up, and met my regard. Neither of us spoke; we exchangedthoughts with our eyes. "This is our work, " we said to one another. "Itwas our trap, these are our victims. " I cannot even now think of thathour, for by our act the king lay dead. 

But was he dead? I seized Sapt by the arm. His glance questioned me. 

"The king, " I whispered hoarsely. 

"Yes, the king, " he returned. 

Facing round, we walked to the door of the dining-room. Here I turnedsuddenly faint, and clutched at the constable. He held me up, and pushedthe door wide open. The smell of powder was in the room; it seemed asif the smoke hung about, curling in dim coils round the chandelier whichgave a subdued light. James had the lamp now, and followed us with it. But the king was not there. A sudden hope filled me. He had not beenkilled then! I regained strength, and darted across towards the insideroom. Here too the light was dim, and I turned to beckon for the lamp. Sapt and James came together, and stood peering over my shoulder in thedoorway. 

The king lay prone on the floor, face downwards, near the bed. He hadcrawled there, seeking for some place to rest, as we supposed. He didnot move. We watched him for a moment; the silence seemed deeperthan silence could be. At last, moved by a common impulse, we steppedforward, but timidly, as though we approached the throne of Deathhimself. I was the first to kneel by the king and raise his head. Bloodhad flowed from his lips, but it had ceased to flow now. He was dead. 

I felt Sapt's hand on my shoulder. Looking up, I saw his other handstretched out towards the ground. I turned my eyes where he pointed. There, in the king's hand, stained with the king'sblood, was the boxthat I had carried to Wintenberg and Rupert of Hentzau had brought tothe lodge that night. It was not rest, but the box that the dying kinghad sought in his last moment. I bent, and lifting his hand unclaspedthe fingers, still limp and warm. 

Sapt bent down with sudden eagerness. "Is it open?" he whispered. 

The string was round it; the sealing-wax was unbroken. The secrethad outlived the king, and he had gone to his death unknowing. Allat once--I cannot tell why--I put my hand over my eyes; I found myeyelashes were wet. 

"Is it open?" asked Sapt again, for in the dim light he could not see. 

"No, " I answered. 

"Thank God!" said he. And, for Sapt's, the voice was soft. 

CHAPTER IX. THE KING IN THE HUNTING LODGE

THE moment with its shock and tumult of feeling brings one judgment, later reflection another. Among the sins of Rupert of Hentzau I do notassign the first and greatest place to his killing of the king. It was, indeed, the act of a reckless man who stood at nothing and held nothingsacred; but when I consider Herbert's story, and trace how the deed cameto be done and the impulsion of circumstances that led to it, it seemsto have been in some sort thrust upon him by the same perverse fate thatdogged our steps. He had meant the king no harm--indeed it may be arguedthat, from whatever motive, he had sought to serve him--and save underthe sudden stress of self-defense he had done him none. The king'sunlooked-for ignorance of his errand, Herbert's honest hasty zeal, thetemper of Boris the hound, had forced on him an act unmeditated andutterly against his interest. His whole guilt lay in preferring theking's death to his own--a crime perhaps in most men, but hardlydeserving a place in Rupert's catalogue. All this I can admit now, buton that night, with the dead body lying there before us, with the storypiteously told by Herbert's faltering voice fresh in our ears, it washard to allow any such extenuation. Our hearts cried out for vengeance, although we ourselves served the king no more. Nay, it may well be thatwe hoped to stifle some reproach of our own consciences by a louderclamor against another's sin, or longed to offer some belated emptyatonement to our dead master by executing swift justice on the man whohad killed him. I cannot tell fully what the others felt, but in me atleast the dominant impulse was to waste not a moment in proclaiming thecrime and raising the whole country in pursuit of Rupert, so that everyman in Ruritania should quit his work, his pleasure, or his bed, andmake it his concern to take the Count of Hentzau, alive or dead. Iremember that I walked over to where Sapt was sitting, and caught him bythe arm, saying:

"We must raise the alarm. If you'll go to Zenda, I'll start forStrelsau. "

"The alarm?" said he, looking up at me and tugging his moustache. 

"Yes: when the news is known, every man in the kingdom will be on thelookout for him, and he can't escape. "

"So that he'd be taken?" asked the constable. 

"Yes, to a certainty, " I cried, hot in excitement and emotion. Saptglanced across at Mr. Rassendyll's servant. James had, with my help, raised the king's body on to the bed, and had aided the woundedforester to reach a couch. He stood now near the constable, in hisusual unobtrusive readiness. He did not speak, but I saw a look ofunderstanding in his eyes as he nodded his head to Colonel Sapt. Theywere well matched, that pair, hard to move, hard to shake, not to beturned from the purpose in their minds and the matter that lay to theirhands. 

"Yes, he'd probably be taken or killed, " said Sapt. 

"Then let's do it!" I cried. 

"With the queen's letter on him, " said Colonel Sapt. 

I had forgotten. 

"We have the box, he has the letter still, " said Sapt. 

I could have laughed even at that moment. He had left the box (whetherfrom haste or heedlessness or malice, we could not tell), but the letterwas on him. Taken alive, he would use that powerful weapon to save hislife or satisfy his anger; if it were found on his body, its evidencewould speak loud and clear to all the world. Again he was protected byhis crime: while he had the letter, he must be kept inviolate from allattack except at our own hands. We desired his death, but we must behis body-guard and die in his defense rather than let any other butourselves come at him. No open means must be used, and no allies sought. All this rushed to my mind at Sapt's words, and I saw what the constableand James had never forgotten. But what to do I could not see. For theKing of Ruritania lay dead. 

An hour or more had passed since our discovery, and it was now close onmidnight. Had all gone well we ought by this time to have been far onour road back to the castle; by this time Rupert must be miles away fromwhere he had killed the king; already Mr. Rassendyll would be seekinghis enemy in Strelsau. 

"But what are we to do about--about that, then?" I asked, pointing withmy finger through the doorway towards the bed. 

Sapt gave a last tug at his moustache, then crossed his hands on thehilt of the sword between his knees, and leant forward in his chair. 

"Nothing, he said, " looking at my face. "Until we have the letter, nothing. "

"But it's impossible!" I cried. 

"Why, no, Fritz, " he answered thoughtfully. "It's not possible yet; itmay become so. But if we can catch Rupert in the next day, or even inthe next two days, it's not impossible. Only let me have the letter, and I'll account for the concealment. What? Is the fact that crimes areknown never concealed, for fear of putting the criminal on his guard?"

"You'll be able to make a story, sir, " James put in, with a grave butreassuring air. 

"Yes, James, I shall be able to make a story, or your master will makeone for me. But, by God, story or no story, the letter mustn't be found. Let them say we killed him ourselves if they like, but--"

I seized his hand and gripped it. 

"You don't doubt I'm with you?" I asked. 

"Not for a moment, Fritz, " he answered. 

"Then how can we do it?"

We drew nearer together; Sapt and I sat, while James leant over Sapt'schair. 

The oil in the lamp was almost exhausted, and the light burnt very dim. Now and again poor Herbert, for whom our skill could do nothing, gave aslight moan. I am ashamed to remember how little we thought of him, butgreat schemes make the actors in them careless of humanity; the lifeof a man goes for nothing against a point in the game. Except for hisgroans--and they grew fainter and less frequent--our voices alone brokethe silence of the little lodge. 

"The queen must know, " said Sapt. "Let her stay at Zenda and giveout that the king is at the lodge for a day or two longer. Then you, Fritz--for you must ride to the castle at once--and Bernenstein must getto Strelsau as quick as you can, and find Rudolf Rassendyll. You threeought to be able to track young Rupert down and get the letter from him. If he's not in the city, you must catch Rischenheim, and force himto say where he is; we know Rischenheim can be persuaded. If Rupert'sthere, I need give no advice either to you or to Rudolf. "

"And you?"

"James and I stay here. If any one comes whom we can keep out, the kingis ill. If rumors get about, and great folk come, why, they must enter. "

"But the body?"

"This morning, when you're gone, we shall make a temporary grave. I daresay two, " and he jerked his thumb towards poor Herbert. 

"Or even, " he added, with his grim smile, "three--for our friend Boris, too, must be out of sight. "

"You'll bury the king?"

"Not so deep but that we can take him out again, poor fellow. Well, Fritz, have you a better plan?"

I had no plan, and I was not in love with Sapt's plan. Yet it offeredus four and twenty hours. For that time, at least, it seemed as if thesecret could be kept. Beyond that we could hardly hope for success;after that we must produce the king; dead or alive, the king must beseen. Yet it might be that before the respite ran out Rupert wouldbe ours. In fine, what else could be chosen? For now a greater perilthreatened than that against which we had at the first sought to guard. Then the worst we feared was that the letter should come to the king'shands. That could never be. But it would be a worse thing if it werefound on Rupert, and all the kingdom, nay, all Europe, know that itwas written in the hand of her who was now, in her own right, Queen ofRuritania. To save her from that, no chance was too desperate, no schemetoo perilous; yes, if, as Sapt said, we ourselves were held to answerfor the king's death, still we must go on. I, through whose negligencethe whole train of disaster had been laid, was the last man to hesitate. In all honesty, I held my life due and forfeit, should it be demanded ofme--my life and, before the world, my honor. 

So the plan was made. A grave was to be dug ready for the king; if needarose, his body should be laid in it, and the place chosen was under thefloor of the wine-cellar. When death came to poor Herbert, he could liein the yard behind the house; for Boris they meditated a resting-placeunder the tree where our horses were tethered. There was nothing tokeep me, and I rose; but as I rose, I heard the forester's voice callplaintively for me. The unlucky fellow knew me well, and now cried tome to sit by him. I think Sapt wanted me to leave him, but I could notrefuse his last request, even though it consumed some precious minutes. He was very near his end, and, sitting by him, I did my best to soothehis passing. His fortitude was good to see, and I believe that we allat last found new courage for our enterprise from seeing how this humbleman met death. At least even the constable ceased to show impatience, and let me stay till I could close the sufferer's eyes. 

But thus time went, and it was nearly five in the morning before I badethem farewell and mounted my horse. They took theirs and led them awayto the stables behind the lodge; I waved my hand and galloped off on myreturn to the castle. Day was dawning, and the air was fresh and pure. The new light brought new hope; fears seemed to vanish before it; mynerves were strung to effort and to confidence. My horse moved freelyunder me and carried me easily along the grassy avenues. It was hardthen to be utterly despondent, hard to doubt skill of brain, strength ofhand, or fortune's favor. 

The castle came in sight, and I hailed it with a glad cry that echoedamong the trees. But a moment later I gave an exclamation of surprise, and raised myself a little from the saddle while I gazed earnestly atthe summit of the keep. The flag staff was naked; the royal standardthat had flapped in the wind last night was gone. But by immemorialcustom the flag flew on the keep when the king or the queen was at thecastle. It would fly for Rudolf V. No more; but why did it not proclaimand honor the presence of Queen Flavia? I sat down in my saddle andspurred my horse to the top of his speed. We had been buffeted by fatesorely, but now I feared yet another blow. 

In a quarter of an hour more I was at the door. A servant ran out, andI dismounted leisurely and easily. Pulling off my gloves, I dusted myboots with them, turned to the stableman and bade him look to the horse, and then said to the footman:

"As soon as the queen is dressed, find out if she can see me. I have amessage from his Majesty. "

The fellow looked a little puzzled, but at this moment Hermann, theking's major-domo, came to the door. 

"Isn't the constable with you, my lord?" he asked. 

"No, the constable remains at the lodge with the king, " said Icarelessly, though I was very far from careless. "I have a message forher Majesty, Hermann. Find out from some of the women when she willreceive me. "

"The queen's not here, " said he. "Indeed we've had a lively time, mylord. At five o'clock she came out, ready dressed, from her room, sentfor Lieutenant von Bernenstein, and announced that she was about to setout from the castle. As you know, the mail train passes here at six. "Hermann took out his watch. "Yes, the queen must just have left thestation. "

"Where for?" I asked, with a shrug for the woman's whim. "Why, forStrelsau. She gave no reasons for going, and took with her only onelady, Lieutenant von Bernenstein being in attendance. It was a bustle, if you like, with everybody to be roused and got out of bed, and acarriage to be made ready, and messages to go to the station, and--"

"She gave no reasons?"

"None, my lord. She left with me a letter to the constable, which sheordered me to give to his own hands as soon as he arrived at the castle. She said it contained a message of importance, which the constable wasto convey to the king, and that it must be intrusted to nobody exceptColonel Sapt himself. I wonder, my lord, that you didn't notice that theflag was hauled down. "

"Tut, man, I wasn't staring at the keep. Give me the letter. " For I sawthat the clue to this fresh puzzle must lie under the cover of Sapt'sletter. That letter I must myself carry to Sapt, and without loss oftime. 

"Give you the letter, my lord? But, pardon me, you're not theconstable. " He laughed a little. 

"Why, no, " said I, mustering a smile. "It's true that I'm not theconstable, but I'm going to the constable. I had the king's orders torejoin him as soon as I had seen the queen, and since her Majesty isn'there, I shall return to the lodge directly a fresh horse can be saddledfor me. And the constable's at the lodge. Come, the letter!"

"I can't give it you, my lord. Her Majesty's orders were positive. "

"Nonsense! If she had known I should come and not the constable, shewould have told me to carry it to him. "

"I don't know about that, my lord: her orders were plain, and shedoesn't like being disobeyed. "

The stableman had led the horse away, the footman had disappeared, Hermann and I were alone. "Give me the letter, " I said; and I know thatmy self-control failed, and eagerness was plain in my voice. Plain itwas, and Hermann took alarm. He started back, clapping his hand to thebreast of his laced coat. The gesture betrayed where the letter was; Iwas past prudence; I sprang on him and wrenched his hand away, catchinghim by the throat with my other hand. Diving into his pocket, I got theletter. Then I suddenly loosed hold of him, for his eyes were startingout of his head. I took out a couple of gold pieces and gave them tohim. 

"It's urgent, you fool, " said I. "Hold your tongue about it. " Andwithout waiting to study his amazed red face, I turned and ran towardsthe stable. In five minutes I was on a fresh horse, in six I was clearof the castle, heading back fast as I could go for the hunting-lodge. Even now Hermann remembers the grip I gave him--though doubtless he haslong spent the pieces of gold. 

When I reached the end of this second journey, I came in for theobsequies of Boris. James was just patting the ground under the treewith a mattock when I rode up; Sapt was standing by, smoking his pipe. The boots of both were stained and sticky with mud. I flung myself frommy saddle and blurted out my news. The constable snatched at his letterwith an oath; James leveled the ground with careful accuracy; I donot remember doing anything except wiping my forehead and feeling veryhungry. 

"Good Lord, she's gone after him!" said Sapt, as he read. Then he handedme the letter. 

I will not set out what the queen wrote. The purport seemed to us, whodid not share her feelings, pathetic indeed and moving, but in the end(to speak plainly) folly. She had tried to endure her sojourn at Zenda, she said; but it drove her mad. She could not rest; she did not know howwe fared, nor how those in Strelsau; for hours she had lain awake; thenat last falling asleep, she had dreamt. 

"I had had the same dream before. Now it came again. I saw him so plain. He seemed to me to be king, and to be called king. But he did not answernor move. He seemed dead; and I could not rest. " So she wrote, everexcusing herself, ever repeating how something drew her to Strelsau, telling her that she must go if she would see "him whom you know, " aliveagain. "And I must see him--ah, I must see him! If the king has had theletter, I am ruined already. If he has not, tell him what you will orwhat you can contrive. I must go. It came a second time, and all soplain. I saw him; I tell you I saw him. Ah, I must see him again. Iswear that I will only see him once. He's in danger--I know he's indanger; or what does the dream mean? Bernenstein will go with me, and Ishall see him. Do, do forgive me: I can't stay, the dream was so plain. "Thus she ended, seeming, poor lady, half frantic with the visions thather own troubled brain and desolate heart had conjured up to tormenther. I did not know that she had before told Mr. Rassendyll himself ofthis strange dream; though I lay small store by such matters, believingthat we ourselves make our dreams, fashioning out of the fears andhopes of to-day what seems to come by night in the guise of a mysteriousrevelation. Yet there are some things that a man cannot understand, andI do not profess to measure with my mind the ways of God. 

However, not why the queen went, but that she had gone, concerned us. Wehad returned to the house now, and James, remembering that men must eatthough kings die, was getting us some breakfast. In fact, I had greatneed of food, being utterly worn out; and they, after their labors, werehardly less weary. As we ate, we talked; and it was plain to us that Ialso must go to Strelsau. There, in the city, the drama must be playedout. There was Rudolf, there Rischenheim, there in all likelihood Rupertof Hentzau, there now the queen. And of these Rupert alone, or perhapsRischenheim also, knew that the king was dead, and how the issue of lastnight had shaped itself under the compelling hand of wayward fortune. The king lay in peace on his bed, his grave was dug; Sapt and James heldthe secret with solemn faith and ready lives. To Strelsau I must goto tell the queen that she was widowed, and to aim the stroke at youngRupert's heart. 

At nine in the morning I started from the lodge. I was bound to ride toHofbau and there wait for a train which would carry me to the capital. From Hofbau I could send a message, but the message must announce onlymy own coming, not the news I carried. To Sapt, thanks to the cipher, Icould send word at any time, and he bade me ask Mr. Rassendyll whetherhe should come to our aid, or stay where he was. 

"A day must decide the whole thing, " he said. "We can't conceal theking's death long. For God's sake, Fritz, make an end of that youngvillain, and get the letter. "

So, wasting no time in farewells, I set out. By ten o'clock I was atHofbau, for I rode furiously. From there I sent to Bernenstein at thepalace word of my coming. But there I was delayed. There was no trainfor an hour. 

"I'll ride, " I cried to myself, only to remember the next moment that, if I rode, I should come to my journey's end much later. There wasnothing for it but to wait, and it may be imagined in what mood Iwaited. Every minute seemed an hour, and I know not to this day howthe hour wore itself away. I ate, I drank, I smoked, I walked, sat, andstood. The stationmaster knew me, and thought I had gone mad, till Itold him that I carried most important despatches from the king, andthat the delay imperiled great interests. Then he became sympathetic;but what could he do? No special train was to be had at a roadsidestation: I must wait; and wait, somehow, and without blowing my brainsout, I did. 

At last I was in the train; now indeed we moved, and I came nearer. An hour's run brought me in sight of the city. Then, to my unutterablewrath, we were stopped, and waited motionless twenty minutes or half anhour. At last we started again; had we not, I should have jumped outand run, for to sit longer would have driven me mad. Now we entered thestation. With a great effort I calmed myself. I lolled back in my seat;when we stopped I sat there till a porter opened the door. In lazyleisureliness I bade him get me a cab, and followed him across thestation. He held the door for me, and, giving him his douceur, I set myfoot on the step. 

"Tell him to drive to the palace, " said I, "and be quick. I'm latealready, thanks to this cursed train. "

"The old mare'll soon take you there, sir, " said the driver. I jumpedin. But at this moment I saw a man on the platform beckoning with hishand and hastening towards me. The cabman also saw him and waited. Idared not tell him to drive on, for I feared to betray any undue haste, and it would have looked strange not to spare a moment to my wife'scousin, Anton von Strofzin. He came up, holding out his hand delicatelygloved in pearl-gray kid, for young Anton was a leader of the Strelsaudandies. 

"Ah, my dear Fritz!" said he. "I am glad I hold no appointment at court. How dreadfully active you all are! I thought you were settled at Zendafor a month?"

"The queen changed her mind suddenly, " said I, smiling. "Ladies do, asyou know well, you who know all about them. "

My compliment, or insinuation, produced a pleased smile and a gallanttwirling of his moustache. 

"Well, I thought you'd be here soon, " he said, "but I didn't know thatthe queen had come. "

"You didn't? Then why did you look for me?"

He opened his eyes a little in languid, elegant surprise. "Oh, Isupposed you'd be on duty, or something, and have to come. Aren't you inattendance?"

"On the queen? No, not just now. "

"But on the king?"

"Why, yes, " said I, and I leaned forward. "At least I'm engaged now onthe king's business. "

"Precisely, " said he. "So I thought you'd come, as soon as I heard thatthe king was here. "

It may be that I ought to have preserved my composure. But I am not Saptnor Rudolf Rassendyll. 

"The king here?" I gasped, clutching him by the arm. 

"Of course. You didn't know? Yes, he's in town. "

But I heeded him no more. For a moment I could not speak, then I criedto the cabman:

"To the palace. And drive like the devil!"

We shot away, leaving Anton open-mouthed in wonder. For me, I sank backon the cushions, fairly aghast. The king lay dead in the hunting-lodge, but the king was in his capital!

Of course, the truth soon flashed through my mind, but it brought nocomfort. Rudolf Rassendyll was in Strelsau. He had been seen by somebodyand taken for the king. But comfort? What comfort was there, now thatthe king was dead and could never come to the rescue of his counterfeit?

In fact, the truth was worse than I conceived. Had I known it all, Imight well have yielded to despair. For not by the chance, uncertainsight of a passer-by, not by mere rumor which might have been sturdilydenied, not by the evidence of one only or of two, was the king'spresence in the city known. That day, by the witness of a crowd ofpeople, by his own claim and his own voice, ay, and by the assent ofthe queen herself, Mr. Rassendyll was taken to be the king in Strelsau, while neither he nor Queen Flavia knew that the king was dead. I mustnow relate the strange and perverse succession of events which forcedthem to employ a resource so dangerous and face a peril so immense. Yet, great and perilous as they knew the risk to be even when they daredit, in the light of what they did not know it was more fearful and morefatal still. 

CHAPTER X. THE KING IN STRELSAU

MR. RASSENDYLL reached Strelsau from Zenda without accident about nineo'clock in the evening of the same day as that which witnessed thetragedy of the hunting-lodge. He could have arrived sooner, but prudencedid not allow him to enter the populous suburbs of the town till thedarkness guarded him from notice. The gates of the city were no longershut at sunset, as they had used to be in the days when Duke Michaelwas governor, and Rudolf passed them without difficulty. Fortunately thenight, fine where we were, was wet and stormy at Strelsau; thus therewere few people in the streets, and he was able to gain the door of myhouse still unremarked. Here, of course, a danger presented itself. None of my servants were in the secret; only my wife, in whom the queenherself had confided, knew Rudolf, and she did not expect to see him, since she was ignorant of the recent course of events. Rudolf was quitealive to the peril, and regretted the absence of his faithful attendant, who could have cleared the way for him. The pouring rain gave him anexcuse for twisting a scarf about his face and pulling his coat-collarup to his ears, while the gusts of wind made the cramming of his hat lowdown over his eyes no more than a natural precaution against its loss. Thus masked from curious eyes, he drew rein before my door, and, havingdismounted, rang the bell. When the butler came a strange hoarse voice, half-stifled by folds of scarf, asked for the countess, alleging forpretext a message from myself. The man hesitated, as well he might, toleave the stranger alone with the door open and the contents of the hallat his mercy. Murmuring an apology in case his visitor should prove tobe a gentleman, he shut the door and went in search of his mistress. Hisdescription of the untimely caller at once roused my wife's quick wit;she had heard from me how Rudolf had ridden once from Strelsau to thehunting-lodge with muffled face; a very tall man with his face wrappedin a scarf and his hat over his eyes, who came with a private message, suggested to her at least a possibility of Mr. Rassendyll's arrival. Helga will never admit that she is clever, yet I find she discovers fromme what she wants to know, and I suspect hides successfully the smallmatters of which she in her wifely discretion deems I had best remainignorant. Being able thus to manage me, she was equal to coping with thebutler. She laid aside her embroidery most composedly. 

"Ah, yes, " she said, "I know the gentleman. Surely you haven't left himout in the rain?" She was anxious lest Rudolf's features should havebeen exposed too long to the light of the hall-lamps. 

The butler stammered an apology, explaining his fears for our goods andthe impossibility of distinguishing social rank on a dark night. Helgacut him short with an impatient gesture, crying, "How stupid of you!"and herself ran quickly down and opened the door--a little way only, though. The first sight of Mr. Rassendyll confirmed her suspicions; in amoment, she said, she knew his eyes. 

"It is you, then?" she cried. "And my foolish servant has left you inthe rain! Pray come in. Oh, but your horse!" She turned to the penitentbutler, who had followed her downstairs. "Take the baron's horse roundto the stables, " she said. 

"I will send some one at once, my lady. "

"No, no, take it yourself--take it at once. I'll look after the baron. "

Reluctantly and ruefully the fat fellow stepped out into the storm. Rudolf drew back and let him pass, then he entered quickly, to findhimself alone with Helga in the hall. With a finger on her lips, she ledhim swiftly into a small sitting-room on the ground floor, which I usedas a sort of office or place of business. It looked out on the street, and the rain could be heard driving against the broad panes of thewindow. Rudolf turned to her with a smile, and, bowing, kissed her hand. 

"The baron what, my dear countess?" he inquired. 

"He won't ask, " said she with a shrug. "Do tell me what brings you here, and what has happened. "

He told her very briefly all he knew. She hid bravely her alarm athearing that I might perhaps meet Rupert at the lodge, and at oncelistened to what Rudolf wanted of her. 

"Can I get out of the house, and, if need be, back again unnoticed?" heasked. 

"The door is locked at night, and only Fritz and the butler have keys. "

Mr. Rassendyll's eye traveled to the window of the room. 

"I haven't grown so fat that I can't get through there, " said he. "Sowe'd better not trouble the butler. He'd talk, you know. "

"I will sit here all night and keep everybody from the room. "

"I may come back pursued if I bungle my work and an alarm is raised. "

"Your work?" she asked, shrinking back a little. 

"Yes, " said he. "Don't ask what it is, Countess. It is in the queen'sservice. "

"For the queen I will do anything and everything, as Fritz would. "

He took her hand and pressed it in a friendly, encouraging way. 

"Then I may issue my orders?" he asked, smiling. 

"They shall be obeyed. "

"Then a dry cloak, a little supper, and this room to myself, except foryou. "

As he spoke the butler turned the handle of the door. My wife flewacross the room, opened the door, and, while Rudolf turned his back, directed the man to bring some cold meat, or whatever could be readywith as little delay as possible. 

"Now come with me, " she said to Rudolf, directly the servant was gone. 

She took him to my dressing-room, where he got dry clothes; then she sawthe supper laid, ordered a bedroom to be prepared, told the butler thatshe had business with the baron and that he need not sit up if she werelater than eleven, dismissed him, and went to tell Rudolf that thecoast was clear for his return to the sitting-room. He came, expressingadmiration for her courage and address; I take leave to think thatshe deserved his compliments. He made a hasty supper; then they talkedtogether, Rudolf smoking his cigar. Eleven came and went. It was notyet time. My wife opened the door and looked out. The hall was dark, thedoor locked and its key in the hands of the butler. She closed the dooragain and softly locked it. As the clock struck twelve Rudolf rose andturned the lamp very low. Then he unfastened the shutters noiselessly, raised the window and looked out. 

"Shut them again when I'm gone, " he whispered. "If I come back, I'llknock like this, and you'll open for me. "

"For heaven's sake, be careful, " she murmured, catching at his hand. 

He nodded reassuringly, and crossing his leg over the windowsill, satthere for a moment listening. The storm was as fierce as ever, and thestreet was deserted. He let himself down on to the pavement, his faceagain wrapped up. She watched his tall figure stride quickly alongtill a turn of the road hid it. Then, having closed the window and theshutters again, she sat down to keep her watch, praying for him, for me, and for her dear mistress the queen. For she knew that perilous workwas afoot that night, and did not know whom it might threaten or whomdestroy. 

From the moment that Mr. Rassendyll thus left my house at midnight onhis search for Rupert of Hentzau, every hour and almost every momentbrought its incident in the swiftly moving drama which decided theissues of our fortune. What we were doing has been told; by now Ruperthimself was on his way back to the city, and the queen was meditating, in her restless vigil, on the resolve that in a few hours was to bringher also to Strelsau. Even in the dead of night both sides were active. For, plan cautiously and skillfully as he might, Rudolf fought with anantagonist who lost no chances, and who had found an apt and useful toolin that same Bauer, a rascal, and a cunning rascal, if ever one werebred in the world. From the beginning even to the end our error lay intaking too little count of this fellow, and dear was the price we paid. 

Both to my wife and to Rudolf himself the street had seemed empty ofevery living being when she watched and he set out. Yet everything hadbeen seen, from his first arrival to the moment when she closed thewindow after him. At either end of my house there runs out a projection, formed by the bay windows of the principal drawing-room and of thedining room respectively. These projecting walls form shadows, and inthe shade of one of them--of which I do not know, nor is it of moment--aman watched all that passed; had he been anywhere else, Rudolf must haveseen him. If we had not been too engrossed in playing our own hands, it would doubtless have struck us as probable that Rupert would directRischenheim and Bauer to keep an eye on my house during his absence;for it was there that any of us who found our way to the city wouldnaturally resort in the first instance. As a fact, he had not omittedthis precaution. The night was so dark that the spy, who had seenthe king but once and never Mr. Rassendyll, did not recognize who thevisitor was, but he rightly conceived that he should serve his employerby tracking the steps of the tall man who made so mysterious an arrivaland so surreptitious a departure from the suspected house. Accordingly, as Rudolf turned the corner and Helena closed the window, a short, thickset figure started cautiously out of the projecting shadow, andfollowed in Rudolf's wake through the storm. The pair, tracker andtracked, met nobody, save here and there a police constable keepinga most unwilling beat. Even such were few, and for the most part moreintent on sheltering in the lee of a friendly wall and thereby keeping adry stitch or two on them than on taking note of passers-by. On the pairwent. Now Rudolf turned into the Konigstrasse. As he did so, Bauer, whomust have been nearly a hundred yards behind (for he could not starttill the shutters were closed) quickened his pace and reduced theinterval between them to about seventy yards. This he might well havethought a safe distance on a night so wild, when the rush of wind andthe pelt of the rain joined to hide the sound of footsteps. 

But Bauer reasoned as a townsman, and Rudolf Rassendyll had the quickear of a man bred in the country and trained to the woodland. All atonce there was a jerk of his head; I know so well the motion whichmarked awakened attention in him. He did not pause nor break his stride:to do either would have been to betray his suspicions to his follower;but he crossed the road to the opposite side to that where No. 19 wassituated, and slackened his pace a little, so that there was a longerinterval between his own footfalls. The steps behind him grew slower, even as his did; their sound came no nearer: the follower would notovertake. Now, a man who loiters on such a night, just because anotherhead of him is fool enough to loiter, has a reason for his action otherthan what can at first sight be detected. So thought Rudolf Rassendyll, and his brain was busied with finding it out. 

Then an idea seized him, and, forgetting the precautions that hadhitherto served so well, he came to a sudden stop on the pavement, engrossed in deep thought. Was the man who dogged his steps Ruperthimself? It would be like Rupert to track him, like Rupert to conceivesuch an attack, like Rupert to be ready either for a fearless assaultfrom the front or a shameless shot from behind, and indifferent utterlywhich chance offered, so it threw him one of them. Mr. Rassendyll askedno better than to meet his enemy thus in the open. They could fight afair fight, and if he fell the lamp would be caught up and carried on bySapt's hand or mine; if he got the better of Rupert, the letter wouldbe his; a moment would destroy it and give safety to the queen. I do notsuppose that he spent time in thinking how he should escape arrest atthe hands of the police whom the fracas would probably rouse; if he did, he may well have reckoned on declaring plainly who he was, of laughingat their surprise over a chance likeness to the king, and of trusting tous to smuggle him beyond the arm of the law. What mattered all that, sothat there was a moment in which to destroy the letter? At any rate heturned full round and began to walk straight towards Bauer, his handresting on the revolver in the pocket of his coat. 

Bauer saw him coming, and must have known that he was suspected ordetected. At once the cunning fellow slouched his head between hisshoulders, and set out along the street at a quick shuffle, whistling ashe went. Rudolf stood still now in the middle of the road, wonderingwho the man was: whether Rupert, purposely disguising his gait, ora confederate, or, after all, some person innocent of our secretand indifferent to our schemes. On came Bauer, softly, whistling andslushing his feet carelessly through the liquid mud. Now he was nearlyopposite where Mr. Rassendyll stood. Rudolf was well-nigh convinced thatthe man had been on his track: he would make certainty surer. The boldgame was always his choice and his delight; this trait he sharedwith Rupert of Hentzau, and hence arose, I think, the strange secretinclination he had for his unscrupulous opponent. Now he walked suddenlyacross to Bauer, and spoke to him in his natural voice, at the same timeremoving the scarf partly, but not altogether, from his face. 

"You're out late, my friend, for a night like this. "

Bauer, startled though he was by the unexpected challenge, had his witsabout him. Whether he identified Rudolf at once, I do not know; I thinkthat he must at least have suspected the truth. 

"A lad that has no home to go to must needs be out both late and early, sir, " said he, arresting his shuffling steps, and looking up with thathonest stolid air which had made a fool of me. 

I had described him very minutely to Mr. Rassendyll; if Bauer knew orguessed who his challenger was, Mr. Rassendyll was as well equipped forthe encounter. 

"No home to go to!" cried Rudolf in a pitying tone. "How's that? Butanyhow, Heaven forbid that you or any man should walk the streets anight like this. Come, I'll give you a bed. Come with me, and I'll findyou good shelter, my boy. "

Bauer shrank away. He did not see the meaning of this stroke, andhis eye, traveling up the street, showed that his thoughts had turnedtowards flight. Rudolf gave no time for putting any such notion intoeffect. Maintaining his air of genial compassion, he passed his left armthrough Bauer's right, saying:

"I'm a Christian man, and a bed you shall have this night, my lad, assure as I'm alive. Come along with me. The devil, it's not weather forstanding still!"

The carrying of arms in Strelsau was forbidden. Bauer had no wish to getinto trouble with the police, and, moreover, he had intended nothingbut a reconnaissance; he was therefore without any weapon, and he was achild in Rudolf's grasp. He had no alternative but to obey thesuasion of Mr. Rassendyll's arm, and they two began to walk down theKonigstrasse. Bauer's whistle had died away, not to return; but fromtime to time Rudolf hummed softly a cheerful tune, his fingers beatingtime on Bauer's captive arm. Presently they crossed the road. Bauer'slagging steps indicated that he took no pleasure in the change of side, but he could not resist. 

"Ay, you shall go where I am going, my lad, " said Rudolf encouragingly;and he laughed a little as he looked down at the fellow's face. 

Along they went; soon they came to the small numbers at the station endof the Konigstrasse. Rudolf began to peer up at the shop fronts. 

"It's cursed dark, " said he. "Pray, lad, can you make out which isnineteen?"

The moment he had spoken the smile broadened on his face. The shot hadgone home. Bauer was a clever scoundrel, but his nerves were not underperfect control, and his arm had quivered under Rudolf's. 

"Nineteen, sir?" he stammered. 

"Ay, nineteen. That's where we're bound for, you and I. There I hope weshall find--what we want. "

Bauer seemed bewildered: no doubt he was at a loss how either tounderstand or to parry the bold attack. 

"Ah, this looks like it, " said Rudolf, in a tone of great satisfaction, as they came to old Mother Holf's little shop. "Isn't that a one anda nine over the door, my lad? Ah, and Holf! Yes, that's the name. Prayring the bell. My hands are occupied. "

Rudolf's hands were indeed occupied; one held Bauer's arm, now no longerwith a friendly pressure, but with a grip of iron; in the other thecaptive saw the revolver that had till now lain hidden. 

"You see?" asked Rudolf pleasantly. "You must ring for me, mustn't you?It would startle them if I roused them with a shot. " A motion of thebarrel told Bauer the direction which the shot would take. 

"There's no bell, " said Bauer sullenly. 

"Ah, then you knock?"

"I suppose so. "

"In any particular way, my friend?"

"I don't know, " growled Bauer. 

"Nor I. Can't you guess?"

"No, I know nothing of it. "

"Well, we must try. You knock, and--Listen, my lad. You must guessright. You understand?"

"How can I guess?" asked Bauer, in an attempt at bluster. 

"Indeed, I don't know, " smiled Rudolf. "But I hate waiting, and if thedoor is not open in two minutes, I shall arouse the good folk with ashot. You see? You quite see, don't you?" Again the barrel's motionpointed and explained Mr. Rassendyll's meaning. 

Under this powerful persuasion Bauer yielded. He lifted his hand andknocked on the door with his knuckles, first loudly, then very softly, the gentler stroke being repeated five times in rapid succession. Clearly he was expected, for without any sound of approaching feet thechain was unfastened with a subdued rattle. Then came the noise of thebolt being cautiously worked back into its socket. As it shot home achink of the door opened. At the same moment Rudolf's hand slipped fromBauer's arm. With a swift movement he caught the fellow by the nape ofthe neck and flung him violently forward into the roadway, where, losinghis footing, he fell sprawling face downwards in the mud. Rudolf threwhimself against the door: it yielded, he was inside, and in an instanthe had shut the door and driven the bolt home again, leaving Bauer inthe gutter outside. Then he turned, with his hand on the butt of hisrevolver. I know that he hoped to find Rupert of Hentzau's face within afoot of his. 

Neither Rupert nor Rischenheim, nor even the old woman fronted him: atall, handsome, dark girl faced him, holding an oil-lamp in her hand. He did not know her, but I could have told him that she was old MotherHolf's youngest child, Rosa, for I had often seen her as I rode throughthe town of Zenda with the king, before the old lady moved her dwellingto Strelsau. Indeed the girl had seemed to haunt the king's foot-steps, and he had himself joked on her obvious efforts to attract hisattention, and the languishing glances of her great black eyes. But itis the lot of prominent personages to inspire these strange passions, and the king had spent as little thought on her as on any of theromantic girls who found a naughty delight in half-fanciful devotion tohim--devotion starting, in many cases, by an irony of which the kingwas happily unconscious, from the brave figure that he made at hiscoronation and his picturesque daring in the affair of Black Michael. The worshipers never came near enough to perceive the alteration intheir idol. 

The half then, at least, of Rosa's attachment was justly due to the manwho now stood opposite to her, looking at her with surprise by the murkylight of the strong-smelling oil-lamp. The lamp shook and almost fellfrom her hand when she saw him; for the scarf had slid away, and hisfeatures were exposed to full view. Fright, delight, and excitement viedwith one another in her eyes. 

"The king!" she whispered in amazement. "No, but--" And she searched hisface wonderingly. 

"Is it the beard you miss?" asked Rudolf, fingering his chin. "Mayn'tkings shave when they please, as well as other men?" Her face stillexpressed bewilderment, and still a lingering doubt. He bent towardsher, whispering:

"Perhaps I wasn't over-anxious to be known at once. "

She flushed with pleasure at the confidence he seemed to put in her. 

"I should know you anywhere, " she whispered, with a glance of the greatblack eyes. "Anywhere, your Majesty. "

"Then you'll help me, perhaps?"

"With my life. "

"No, no, my dear young lady, merely with a little information. Whosehome is this?"

"My mother's. "

"Ah! She takes lodgers?"

The girl appeared vexed at his cautious approaches. "Tell me what youwant to know, " she said simply. 

"Then who's here?"

"My lord the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim. "

"And what's he doing?"

"He's lying on the bed moaning and swearing, because his wounded armgives him pain. "

"And is nobody else here?"

She looked round warily, and sank her voice to a whisper as sheanswered:

"No, not now--nobody else. "

"I was seeking a friend of mine, " said Rudolf. "I want to see him alone. It's not easy for a king to see people alone. "

"You mean--?"

"Well, you know whom I mean. "

"Yes. No, he's gone; but he's gone to find you. "

"To find me! Plague take it! How do you know that, my pretty lady?"

"Bauer told me. "

"Ah, Bauer! And who's Bauer?"

"The man who knocked. Why did you shut him out?"

"To be alone with you, to be sure. So Bauer tells you his master'ssecrets?"

She acknowledged his raillery with a coquettish laugh. It was not amissfor the king to see that she had her admirers. 

"Well, and where has this foolish count gone to meet me?" asked Rudolflightly. 

"You haven't seen him?"

"No; I came straight from the Castle of Zenda. "

"But, " she cried, "he expected to find you at the hunting lodge. Ah, butnow I recollect! The Count of Rischenheim was greatly vexed to find, onhis return, that his cousin was gone. "

"Ah, he was gone! Now I see! Rischenheim brought a message from me toCount Rupert. "

"And they missed one another, your Majesty?"

"Exactly, my dear young lady. Very vexatious it is, upon my word!" Inthis remark, at least, Rudolf spoke no more and no other than he felt. "But when do you expect the Count of Hentzau?" he pursued. 

"Early in the morning, your Majesty--at seven or eight. "

Rudolf came nearer to her, and took a couple of gold coins from hispocket. 

"I don't want money, your Majesty, " she murmured. 

"Oh, make a hole in them and hang them round your neck. "

"Ah, yes: yes, give them to me, " she cried, holding out her handeagerly. 

"You'll earn them?" he asked, playfully holding them out of her reach. 

"How?"

"By being ready to open to me when I come at eleven and knock as Bauerknocked. "

"Yes, I'll be there. "

"And by telling nobody that I've been here to-night. Will you promise methat?"

"Not my mother?"

"No. "

"Nor the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim?"

"Him least of all. You must tell nobody. My business is very private, and Rischenheim doesn't know it. "

"I'll do all you tell me. But--but Bauer knows. "

"True, " said Rudolf. "Bauer knows. Well, we'll see about Bauer. "

As he spoke he turned towards the door. Suddenly the girl bent, snatchedat his hand and kissed it. 

"I would die for you, " she murmured. 

"Poor child!" said he gently. I believe he was loath to make profit, even in the queen's service, of her poor foolish love. He laid his handon the door, but paused a moment to say:

"If Bauer comes, you have told me nothing. Mind, nothing! I threatenedyou, but you told me nothing. "

"He'll tell them you have been here. "

"That can't be helped; at least they won't know when I shall arriveagain. Good-night. "

Rudolf opened the door and slipped through, closing it hastily behindhim. If Bauer got back to the house, his visit must be known; but ifhe could intercept Bauer, the girl's silence was assured. He stood justoutside, listening intently and searching the darkness with eager eyes. 

CHAPTER XI. WHAT THE CHANCELLOR'S WIFE SAW

THE night, so precious in its silence, solitude, and darkness, waswaning fast; soon the first dim approaches of day would be visible; soonthe streets would become alive and people be about. Before then RudolfRassendyll, the man who bore a face that he dared not show in open day, must be under cover; else men would say that the king was in Strelsau, and the news would flash in a few hours through the kingdom and (soRudolf feared) reach even those ears which we knew to be shut to allearthly sounds. But there was still some time at Mr. Rassendyll'sdisposal, and he could not spend it better than in pursuing his fightwith Bauer. Taking a leaf out of the rascal's own book, he drew himselfback into the shadow of the house walls and prepared to wait. At theworst he could keep the fellow from communicating with Rischenheim fora little longer, but his hope was that Bauer would steal back aftera while and reconnoitre with a view to discovering how matters stood, whether the unwelcome visitor had taken his departure and the way toRischenheim were open. Wrapping his scarf closely round his face, Rudolfwaited, patiently enduring the tedium as he best might, drenched bythe rain, which fell steadily, and very imperfectly sheltered from thebuffeting of the wind. Minutes went by; there were no signs of Bauernor of anybody else in the silent street. Yet Rudolf did not venture toleave his post; Bauer would seize the opportunity to slip in; perhapsBauer had seen him come out, and was in his turn waiting till the coastshould be clear; or, again, perhaps the useful spy had gone offto intercept Rupert of Hentzau, and warn him of the danger in theKonigstrasse. Ignorant of the truth and compelled to accept all thesechances, Rudolf waited, still watching the distant beginnings of dawningday, which must soon drive him to his hiding-place again. Meanwhile mypoor wife waited also, a prey to every fear that a woman's sensitivemind can imagine and feed upon. 

Rudolf turned his head this way and that, seeking always the darkerblot of shadow that would mean a human being. For a while his search wasvain, but presently he found what he looked for--ay, and even more. Onthe same side of the street, to his left hand, from the direction ofthe station, not one, but three blurred shapes moved up the street. They came stealthily, yet quickly; with caution, but without pause orhesitation. Rudolf, scenting danger, flattened himself close against thewall and felt for his revolver. Very likely they were only early workersor late revelers, but he was ready for something else; he had notyet sighted Bauer, and action was to be looked for from the man. Byinfinitely gradual sidelong slitherings he moved a few paces from thedoor of Mother Holf's house, and stood six feet perhaps, or eight, onthe right-hand side of it. The three came on. He strained his eyes inthe effort to discern their features. In that dim light certainty wasimpossible, but the one in the middle might well be Bauer: the height, the walk, and the make were much what Bauer's were. If it were Bauer, then Bauer had friends, and Bauer and his friends seemed to be stalkingsome game. Always most carefully and gradually Rudolf edged yet fartherfrom the little shop. At a distance of some five yards he haltedfinally, drew out his revolver, covered the man whom he took to beBauer, and thus waited his fortune and his chance. 

Now, it was plain that Bauer--for Bauer it was--would look for one oftwo things: what he hoped was to find Rudolf still in the house, what hefeared was to be told that Rudolf, having fulfilled the unknown purposeof his visit, was gone whole and sound. If the latter tidings met him, these two good friends of his whom he had enlisted for his reinforcementwere to have five crowns each and go home in peace; if the former, theywere to do their work and make ten crowns. Years after, one of them toldme the whole story without shame or reserve. What their work was, theheavy bludgeons they carried and the long knife that one of them hadlent to Bauer showed pretty clearly. 

But neither to Bauer nor to them did it occur that their quarry might becrouching near, hunting as well as hunted. Not that the pair of ruffianswho had been thus hired would have hesitated for that thought, as Iimagine. For it is strange, yet certain, that the zenith of courageand the acme of villainy can alike be bought for the price of a lady'sglove. Among such outcasts as those from whom Bauer drew his recruitsthe murder of a man is held serious only when the police are by, anddeath at the hands of him they seek to kill is no more than an every-dayrisk of their employment. 

"Here's the house, " whispered Bauer, stopping at the door. "Now, I'llknock, and you stand by to knock him on the head if he runs out. He'sgot a six-shooter, so lose no time. "

"He'll only fire it in heaven, " growled a hoarse, guttural voice thatended in a chuckle. 

"But if he's gone?" objected the other auxiliary. 

"Then I know where he's gone, " answered Bauer. "Are you ready?"

A ruffian stood on either side of the door with uplifted bludgeon. Bauerraised his hand to knock. 

Rudolf knew that Rischenheim was within, and he feared that Bauer, hearing that the stranger had gone, would take the opportunity oftelling the count of his visit. The count would, in his turn, warnRupert of Hentzau, and the work of catching the ringleader would allfall to be done again. At no time did Mr. Rassendyll take count of oddsagainst him, but in this instance he may well have thought himself, withhis revolver, a match for the three ruffians. At any rate, before Bauerhad time to give the signal, he sprang out suddenly from the wall anddarted at the fellow. His onset was so sudden that the other two fellback a pace; Rudolf caught Bauer fairly by the throat. I do not supposethat he meant to strangle him, but the anger, long stored in his heart, found vent in the fierce grip of his fingers. It is certain thatBauer thought his time was come, unless he struck a blow for himself. Instantly he raised his hand and thrust fiercely at Rudolf with his longknife. Mr. Rassendyll would have been a dead man, had he not loosed hishold and sprung lightly away. But Bauer sprang at him again, thrustingwith the knife, and crying to his associates, "Club him, you fools, club him!"

Thus exhorted, one jumped forward. The moment for hesitation had gone. In spite of the noise of wind and pelting rain, the sound of a shotrisked much; but not to fire was death. Rudolf fired full at Bauer: thefellow saw his intention and tried to leap behind one of his companions;he was just too late, and fell with a groan to the ground. 

Again the other ruffians shrank back, appalled by the sudden ruthlessdecision of the act. Mr. Rassendyll laughed. A half smothered yetuncontrolled oath broke from one of them. "By God!" he whisperedhoarsely, gazing at Rudolf's face and letting his arm fall to his side. "My God!" he said then, and his mouth hung open. Again Rudolf laughed athis terrified stare. 

"A bigger job than you fancied, is it?" he asked, pushing his scarf wellaway from his chin. 

The man gaped at him; the other's eyes asked wondering questions, butneither did he attempt to resume the attack. The first at last foundvoice, and he said, "Well, it'd be damned cheap at ten crowns, andthat's the living truth. "

His friend--or confederate rather, for such men have no friends--lookedon, still amazed. 

"Take up that fellow by his head and his heels, " ordered Rudolf. "Quickly! I suppose you don't want the police to find us here with him, do you? Well, no more do I. Lift him up. "

As he spoke Rudolf turned to knock at the door of No. 19. But even as hedid so Bauer groaned. Dead perhaps he ought to have been, but it seemsto me that fate is always ready to take the cream and leave the scum. His leap aside had served him well, after all: he had nearly escapedscot free. As it was, the bullet, almost missing his head altogether, had just glanced on his temple as it passed; its impact had stunned, butnot killed. Friend Bauer was in unusual luck that night; I wouldn't havetaken a hundred to one about his chance of life. Rupert arrested hishand. It would not do to leave Bauer at the house, if Bauer were likelyto regain speech. He stood for a moment, considering what to do, but inan instant the thoughts that he tried to gather were scattered again. 

"The patrol! the patrol!" hoarsely whispered the fellow who had not yetspoken. There was a sound of the hoofs of horses. Down the streetfrom the station end there appeared two mounted men. Without a secondmoment's hesitation the two rascals dropped their friend Bauer with athud on the ground; one ran at his full speed across the street, theother bolted no less quickly up the Konigstrasse. Neither could affordto meet the constables; and who could say what story this red-hairedgentleman might tell, ay, or what powers he might command?

But, in truth, Rudolf gave no thought to either his story or his powers. If he were caught, the best he could hope would be to lie in the lockupwhile Rupert played his game unmolested. The device that he had employedagainst the amazed ruffians could be used against lawful authority onlyas a last and desperate resort. While he could run, run he would. In aninstant he also took to his heels, following the fellow who had dartedup the Konigstrasse. But before he had gone very far, coming to a narrowturning, he shot down it; then he paused for a moment to listen. 

The patrol had seen the sudden dispersal of the group, and, struck withnatural suspicion, quickened pace. A few minutes brought them whereBauer was. They jumped from their horses and ran to him. He wasunconscious, and could, of course, give them no account of how he cameto be in his present state. The fronts of all the houses were dark, thedoors shut; there was nothing to connect the man stretched on the groundwith either No. 19 or any other dwelling. Moreover, the constables werenot sure that the sufferer was himself a meritorious object, for hishand still held a long, ugly knife. They were perplexed: they were buttwo; there was a wounded man to look after; there were three men topursue, and the three had fled in three separate directions. They lookedup at No. 19; No. 19 remained dark, quiet, absolutely indifferent. Thefugitives were out of sight. Rudolf Rassendyll, hearing nothing, hadstarted again on his way. But a minute later he heard a shrill whistle. The patrol were summoning assistance; the man must be carried to thestation, and a report made; but other constables might be warned of whathad happened, and despatched in pursuit of the culprits. Rudolf heardmore than one answering whistle; he broke into a run, looking for aturning on the left that would take him back into the direction of myhouse, but he found none. The narrow street twisted and curved in thebewildering way that characterizes the old parts of the town. Rudolfhad spent some time once in Strelsau; but a king learns little of backstreets, and he was soon fairly puzzled as to his whereabouts. Day wasdawning, and he began to meet people here and there. He dared run nomore, even had his breath lasted him; winding the scarf about his face, and cramming his hat over his forehead again, he fell into an easy walk, wondering whether he could venture to ask his way, relieved to find nosigns that he was being pursued, trying to persuade himself that Bauer, though not dead, was at least incapable of embarrassing disclosures;above all, conscious of the danger of his tell-tale face, and of thenecessity of finding some shelter before the city was all stirring andawake. 

At this moment he heard horses' hoofs behind him. He was now at theend of the street, where it opened on the square in which the barracksstand. He knew his bearings now, and, had he not been interrupted, could have been back to safe shelter in my house in twenty minutes. But, looking back, he saw the figure of a mounted constable just coming intosight behind him. The man seemed to see Rudolf, for he broke into aquick trot. Mr. Rassendyll's position was critical; this fact aloneaccounts for the dangerous step into which he allowed himself tobe forced. Here he was, a man unable to give account of himself, ofremarkable appearance, and carrying a revolver, of which one barrel wasdischarged. And there was Bauer, a wounded man, shot by somebody witha revolver, a quarter of an hour before. Even to be questioned wasdangerous; to be detained meant ruin to the great business that engagedhis energies. For all he knew, the patrol had actually sighted him ashe ran. His fears were not vain; for the constable raised his voice, crying, "Hi, sir--you there--stop a minute!"

Resistance was the one thing worse than to yield. Wit, and not force, must find escape this time. Rudolf stopped, looking round again with asurprised air. Then he drew himself up with an assumption of dignity, and waited for the constable. If that last card must be played, he wouldwin the hand with it. 

"Well, what do you want?" he asked coldly, when the man was a few yardsfrom him; and, as he spoke, he withdrew the scarf almost entirelyfrom his features, keeping it only over his chin. "You call veryperemptorily, " he continued, staring contemptuously. "What's yourbusiness with me?"

With a violent start, the sergeant--for such the star on his collar andthe lace on his cuff proclaimed him--leant forward in the saddle to lookat the man whom he had hailed. Rudolf said nothing and did not move. The man's eyes studied his face intently. Then he sat bolt upright andsaluted, his face dyed to a deep red in his sudden confusion. 

"And why do you salute me now?" asked Rudolf in a mocking tone. "Firstyou hunt me, then you salute me. By Heaven, I don't know why you putyourself out at all about me!"

"I--I--" the fellow stuttered. Then trying a fresh start, he stammered, "Your Majesty, I didn't know--I didn't suppose--"

Rudolf stepped towards him with a quick, decisive tread. 

"And why do you call me 'Your Majesty'?" he asked, still mockingly. 

"It--it--isn't it your Majesty?"

Rudolf was close by him now, his hand on the horse's neck. 

He looked up into the sergeant's face with steady eyes, saying:

"You make a mistake, my friend. I am not the king. "

"You are not--?" stuttered the bewildered fellow. 

"By no means. And, sergeant--?"

"Your Majesty?"

"Sir, you mean. "

"Yes, sir. "

"A zealous officer, sergeant, can make no greater mistake than totake for the king a gentleman who is not the king. It might injure hisprospects, since the king, not being here, mightn't wish to have itsupposed that he was here. Do you follow me, sergeant?"

The man said nothing, but stared hard. After a moment Rudolf continued:

"In such a case, " said he, "a discreet officer would not trouble thegentleman any more, and would be very careful not to mention that hehad made such a silly mistake. Indeed, if questioned, he would answerwithout hesitation that he hadn't seen anybody even like the king, muchless the king himself. "

A doubtful, puzzled little smile spread under the sergeant's moustache. 

"You see, the king is not even in Strelsau, " said Rudolf. 

"Not in Strelsau, sir?"

"Why, no, he's at Zenda. "

"Ah! At Zenda, sir?"

"Certainly. It is therefore impossible--physically impossible--that heshould be here. "

The fellow was convinced that he understood now. 

"It's certainly impossible, sir, " said he, smiling more broadly. 

"Absolutely. And therefore impossible also that you should have seenhim. " With this Rudolf took a gold piece from his pocket and handed itto the sergeant. The fellow took it with something like a wink. 

"As for you, you've searched here and found nobody, " concluded Mr. Rassendyll. "So hadn't you better at once search somewhere else?

"Without doubt, sir, " said the sergeant, and with the most deferentialsalute, and another confidential smile, he turned and rode back by theway he had come. No doubt he wished that he could meet a gentleman whowas--not the king--every morning of his life. It hardly need be saidthat all idea of connecting the gentleman with the crime committed inthe Konigstrasse had vanished from his mind. Thus Rudolf won freedomfrom the man's interference, but at a dangerous cost--how dangerous hedid not know. It was indeed most impossible that the king could be inStrelsau. 

He lost no time now in turning his steps towards his refuge. It was pastfive o'clock, day came quickly, and the streets began to be peopledby men and women on their way to open stalls or to buy in the market. Rudolf crossed the square at a rapid walk, for he was afraid of thesoldiers who were gathering for early duty opposite to the barracks. Fortunately he passed by them unobserved, and gained the comparativeseclusion of the street in which my house stands, without encounteringany further difficulties. In truth, he was almost in safety; but badluck was now to have its turn. When Mr. Rassendyll was no more thanfifty yards from my door, a carriage suddenly drove up and stopped a fewpaces in front of him. The footman sprang down and opened the door. Twoladies got out; they were dressed in evening costume, and were returningfrom a ball. One was middle-aged, the other young and rather pretty. They stood for a moment on the pavement, the younger saying:

"Isn't it pleasant, mother? I wish I could always be up at fiveo'clock. "

"My dear, you wouldn't like it for long, " answered the elder. "It's verynice for a change, but--"

She stopped abruptly. Her eye had fallen on Rudolf Rassendyll. He knewher: she was no less a person than the wife of Helsing the chancellor;his was the house at which the carriage had stopped. The trick that hadserved with the sergeant of police would not do now. She knew the kingtoo well to believe that she could be mistaken about him; she was toomuch of a busybody to be content to pretend that she was mistaken. 

"Good gracious!" she whispered loudly, and, catching her daughter's arm, she murmured, "Heavens, my dear, it's the king!"

Rudolf was caught. Not only the ladies, but their servants were lookingat him. 

Flight was impossible. He walked by them. The ladies curtseyed, theservants bowed bare-headed. Rudolf touched his hat and bowed slightly inreturn. He walked straight on towards my house; they were watching him, and he knew it. Most heartily did he curse the untimely hours to whichfolks keep up their dancing, but he thought that a visit to my housewould afford as plausible an excuse for his presence as any other. Sohe went on, surveyed by the wondering ladies, and by the servants who, smothering smiles, asked one another what brought his Majesty abroad insuch a plight (for Rudolf's clothes were soaked and his boots muddy), atsuch an hour--and that in Strelsau, when all the world thought he was atZenda. 

Rudolf reached my house. Knowing that he was watched he had abandonedall intention of giving the signal agreed on between my wife and himselfand of making his way in through the window. Such a sight would indeedhave given the excellent Baroness von Helsing matter for gossip! Itwas better to let every servant in my house see his open entrance. But, alas, virtue itself sometimes leads to ruin. My dearest Helga, sleeplessand watchful in the interest of her mistress, was even now behind theshutter, listening with all her ears and peering through the chinks. No sooner did Rudolf's footsteps become audible than she cautiouslyunfastened the shutter, opened the window, put her pretty head out, andcalled softly: "All's safe! Come in!"

The mischief was done then, for the faces of Helsing's wife anddaughter, ay, and the faces of Helsing's servants, were intent on thismost strange spectacle. Rudolf, turning his head over his shoulder, sawthem; a moment later poor Helga saw them also. Innocent and untrainedin controlling her feelings, she gave a shrill little cry of dismay, andhastily drew back. Rudolf looked round again. The ladies had retreatedto the cover of the porch, but he still saw their eager faces peeringfrom between the pillars that supported it. 

"I may as well go in now, " said Rudolf, and in he sprang. There wasa merry smile on his face as he ran forward to meet Helga, who leantagainst the table, pale and agitated. 

"They saw you?" she gasped. 

"Undoubtedly, " said he. Then his sense of amusement conquered everythingelse, and he sat down in a chair, laughing. 

"I'd give my life, " said he, "to hear the story that the chancellor willbe waked up to hear in a minute or two from now!"

But a moment's thought made him grave again. For whether he were theking or Rudolf Rassendyll, he knew that my wife's name was in equalperil. Knowing this, he stood at nothing to serve her. He turned to herand spoke quickly. 

"You must rouse one of the servants at once. Send him round to thechancellor's and tell the chancellor to come here directly. No, write anote. Say the king has come by appointment to see Fritz on some privatebusiness, but that Fritz has not kept the appointment, and that the kingmust now see the chancellor at once. Say there's not a moment to lose. "

She was looking at him with wondering eyes. 

"Don't you see, " he said, "if I can impose on Helsing, I may stop thosewomen's tongues? If nothing's done, how long do you suppose it'll bebefore all Strelsau knows that Fritz von Tarlenheim's wife let the kingin at the window at five o'clock in the morning?"

"I don't understand, " murmured poor Helga in bewilderment. 

"No, my dear lady, but for Heaven's sake do what I ask of you. It's theonly chance now. "

"I'll do it, " she said, and sat down to write. 

Thus it was that, hard on the marvelous tidings which, as I conjecture, the Baroness von Helsing poured into her husband's drowsy ears, came animperative summons that the chancellor should wait on the king at thehouse of Fritz von Tarlenheim. 

Truly we had tempted fate too far by bringing Rudolf Rassendyll again toStrelsau. 

CHAPTER XII. BEFORE THEM ALL!

GREAT as was the risk and immense as were the difficulties created bythe course which Mr. Rassendyll adopted, I cannot doubt that he actedfor the best in the light of the information which he possessed. Hisplan was to disclose himself in the character of the king to Helsing, to bind him to secrecy, and make him impose the same obligation on hiswife, daughter, and servants. The chancellor was to be quieted with theexcuse of urgent business, and conciliated by a promise that he shouldknow its nature in the course of a few hours; meanwhile an appeal to hisloyalty must suffice to insure obedience. If all went well in the daythat had now dawned, by the evening of it the letter would be destroyed, the queen's peril past, and Rudolf once more far away from Strelsau. Then enough of the truth--no more--must be disclosed. Helsing would betold the story of Rudolf Rassendyll and persuaded to hold his tongueabout the harum-scarum Englishman (we are ready to believe much ofan Englishman) having been audacious enough again to play the king inStrelsau. The old chancellor was a very good fellow, and I do not thinkthat Rudolf did wrong in relying upon him. Where he miscalculated was, of course, just where he was ignorant. The whole of what the queen'sfriends, ay, and the queen herself, did in Strelsau, became useless andmischievous by reason of the king's death; their action must have beenutterly different, had they been aware of that catastrophe; but theirwisdom must be judged only according to their knowledge. 

In the first place, the chancellor himself showed much good sense. Evenbefore he obeyed the king's summons he sent for the two servants andcharged them, on pain of instant dismissal and worse things to follow, to say nothing of what they had seen. His commands to his wife anddaughter were more polite, doubtless, but no less peremptory. He maywell have supposed that the king's business was private as well asimportant when it led his Majesty to be roaming the streets of Strelsauat a moment when he was supposed to be at the Castle of Zenda, and toenter a friend's house by the window at such untimely hours. The merefacts were eloquent of secrecy. Moreover, the king had shaved hisbeard--the ladies were sure of it--and this, again, though it might bemerely an accidental coincidence, was also capable of signifying a veryurgent desire to be unknown. So the chancellor, having given his orders, and being himself aflame with the liveliest curiosity, lost no time inobeying the king's commands, and arrived at my house before six o'clock. 

When the visitor was announced Rudolf was upstairs, having a bath andsome breakfast. Helga had learnt her lesson well enough to entertain thevisitor until Rudolf appeared. She was full of apologies for my absence, protesting that she could in no way explain it; neither could she somuch as conjecture what was the king's business with her husband. Sheplayed the dutiful wife whose virtue was obedience, whose greatest sinwould be an indiscreet prying into what it was not her part to know. 

"I know no more, " she said, "than that Fritz wrote to me to expect theking and him at about five o'clock, and to be ready to let them in bythe window, as the king did not wish the servants to be aware of hispresence. "

The king came and greeted Helsing most graciously. The tragedy andcomedy of these busy days were strangely mingled; even now I can hardlyhelp smiling when I picture Rudolf, with grave lips, but that distanttwinkle in his eye (I swear he enjoyed the sport), sitting down by theold chancellor in the darkest corner of the room, covering him withflattery, hinting at most strange things, deploring a secret obstacle toimmediate confidence, promising that to-morrow, at latest, he would seekthe advice of the wisest and most tried of his counselors, appealingto the chancellor's loyalty to trust him till then. Helsing, blinkingthrough his spectacles, followed with devout attention the longnarrative that told nothing, and the urgent exhortation that masked atrick. His accents were almost broken with emotion as he put himselfabsolutely at the king's disposal, and declared that he could answer forthe discretion of his family and household as completely as for his own. 

"Then you're a very lucky man, my dear chancellor, " said Rudolf, witha sigh which seemed to hint that the king in his palace was not sofortunate. Helsing was immensely pleased. He was all agog to go and tellhis wife how entirely the king trusted to her honor and silence. 

There was nothing that Rudolf more desired than to be relieved ofthe excellent old fellow's presence; but, well aware of the supremeimportance of keeping him in a good temper, he would not hear of hisdeparture for a few minutes. 

"At any rate, the ladies won't talk till after breakfast, and since theygot home only at five o'clock they won't breakfast yet awhile, " said he. 

So he made Helsing sit down, and talked to him. Rudolf had not failed tonotice that the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim had been a little surprisedat the sound of his voice; in this conversation he studiously kept histones low, affecting a certain weakness and huskiness such as he haddetected in the king's utterances, as he listened behind the curtainin Sapt's room at the castle. The part was played as completely andtriumphantly as in the old days when he ran the gauntlet of every eye inStrelsau. Yet if he had not taken such pains to conciliate old Helsing, but had let him depart, he might not have found himself driven to agreater and even more hazardous deception. 

They were conversing together alone. My wife had been prevailed on byRudolf to lie down in her room for an hour. Sorely needing rest, shehad obeyed him, having first given strict orders that no member of thehousehold should enter the room where the two were except on an expresssummons. Fearing suspicion, she and Rudolf had agreed that it was betterto rely on these injunctions than to lock the door again as they had thenight before. 

But while these things passed at my house, the queen and Bernensteinwere on their way to Strelsau. Perhaps, had Sapt been at Zenda, hispowerful influence might have availed to check the impulsive expedition;Bernenstein had no such authority, and could only obey the queen'speremptory orders and pathetic prayers. Ever since Rudolf Rassendyllleft her, three years before, she had lived in stern self-repression, never her true self, never for a moment able to be or to do what everyhour her heart urged on her. How are these things done? I doubt if aman lives who could do them; but women live who do them. Now his suddencoming, and the train of stirring events that accompanied it, his dangerand hers, his words and her enjoyment of his presence, had all workedtogether to shatter her self-control; and the strange dream, heighteningthe emotion which was its own cause, left her with no conscious desiresave to be near Mr. Rassendyll, and scarcely with a fear except for hissafety. As they journeyed her talk was all of his peril, never of thedisaster which threatened herself, and which we were all strivingwith might and main to avert from her head. She traveled alone withBernenstein, getting rid of the lady who attended her by some carelesspretext, and she urged on him continually to bring her as speedily asmight be to Mr. Rassendyll. I cannot find much blame for her. Rudolfstood for all the joy in her life, and Rudolf had gone to fight with theCount of Hentzau. What wonder that she saw him, as it were, dead? Yetstill she would have it that, in his seeming death, all men hailed himfor their king. Well, it was her love that crowned him. 

As they reached the city, she grew more composed, being persuaded byBernenstein that nothing in her bearing must rouse suspicion. Yet shewas none the less resolved to seek Mr. Rassendyll at once. In truth, shefeared even then to find him dead, so strong was the hold of herdream on her; until she knew that he was alive she could not rest. Bernenstein, fearful that the strain would kill her, or rob her ofreason, promised everything; and declared, with a confidence which hedid not feel, that beyond doubt Mr. Rassendyll was alive and well. 

"But where--where?" she cried eagerly, with clasped hands. 

"We're most likely, madam, to find him at Fritz von Tarlenheim's, "answered the lieutenant. "He would wait there till the time came toattack Rupert, or, if the thing is over, he will have returned there. "

"Then let us drive there at once, " she urged. 

Bernenstein, however, persuaded her to go to the palace first and let itbe known there that she was going to pay a visit to my wife. She arrivedat the palace at eight o'clock, took a cup of chocolate, and thenordered her carriage. Bernenstein alone accompanied her when she set outfor my house about nine. He was, by now, hardly less agitated than thequeen herself. 

In her entire preoccupation with Mr. Rassendyll, she gave little thoughtto what might have happened at the hunting lodge; but Bernenstein drewgloomy auguries from the failure of Sapt and myself to return at theproper time. Either evil had befallen us, or the letter had reached theking before we arrived at the lodge; the probabilities seemed to him tobe confined to these alternatives. Yet when he spoke in this strain tothe queen, he could get from her nothing except, "If we can find Mr. Rassendyll, he will tell us what to do. "

Thus, then, a little after nine in the morning the queen's carriagedrove up to my door. The ladies of the chancellor's family had enjoyed avery short night's rest, for their heads came bobbing out of window themoment the wheels were heard; many people were about now, and the crownon the panels attracted the usual small crowd of loiterers. Bernensteinsprang out and gave his hand to the queen. With a hasty slight bow tothe onlookers, she hastened up the two or three steps of the porch, and with her own hand rang the bell. Inside, the carriage had just beenobserved. My wife's waiting-maid ran hastily to her mistress; Helga waslying on her bed; she rose at once, and after a few moments of necessarypreparations (or such preparations as seem to ladies necessary, howevergreat the need of haste may be) hurried downstairs to receive herMajesty--and to warn her Majesty. She was too late. The door was alreadyopen. The butler and the footman both had run to it, and thrown it openfor the queen. As Helga reached the foot of the stairs, her Majesty wasjust entering the room where Rudolf was, the servants attending her, andBernenstein standing behind, his helmet in his hand. 

Rudolf and the chancellor had been continuing their conversation. Toavoid the observations of passers-by (for the interior of the room iseasy to see from the street), the blind had been drawn down, and theroom was in deep shadow. They had heard the wheels, but neither of themdreamt that the visitor could be the queen. It was an utter surprise tothem when, without their orders, the door was suddenly flung open. Thechancellor, slow of movement, and not, if I may say it, over-quick ofbrain, sat in his corner for half a minute or more before he rose to hisfeet. On the other hand, Rudolf Rassendyll was the best part of the wayacross the room in an instant. Helga was at the door now, and she thrusther head round young Bernenstein's broad shoulders. Thus she sawwhat happened. The queen, forgetting the servants, and not observingHelsing--seeming indeed to stay for nothing, and to think of nothing, but to have her thoughts and heart filled with the sight of the man sheloved and the knowledge of his safety--met him as he ran towards her, and, before Helga, or Bernenstein, or Rudolf himself, could stay her orconceive what she was about to do, caught both his hands in hers with anintense grasp, crying:

"Rudolf, you're safe! Thank God, oh, thank God!" and she carried hishands to her lips and kissed them passionately. 

A moment of absolute silence followed, dictated in the servants bydecorum, in the chancellor by consideration, in Helga and Bernensteinby utter consternation. Rudolf himself also was silent, but whetherfrom bewilderment or an emotion answering to hers, I know not. Either itmight well be. The stillness struck her. She looked up in his eyes; shelooked round the room and saw Helsing, now bowing profoundly from thecorner; she turned her head with a sudden frightened jerk, and glancedat my motionless deferential servants. Then it came upon her what shehad done. She gave a quick gasp for breath, and her face, always pale, went white as marble. Her features set in a strange stiffness, andsuddenly she reeled where she stood, and fell forward. Only Rudolf'shand bore her up. Thus for a moment, too short to reckon, they stood. Then he, a smile of great love and pity coming on his lips, drew herto him, and passing his arm about her waist, thus supported her. Then, smiling still, he looked down on her, and said in a low tone, yetdistinct enough for all to hear:

"All is well, dearest. "

My wife gripped Bernenstein's arm, and he turned to find her pale-facedtoo, with quivering lips and shining eyes. But the eyes had a message, and an urgent one, for him. He read it; he knew that it bade him secondwhat Rudolf Rassendyll had done. He came forward and approached Rudolf;then he fell on one knee, and kissed Rudolf's left hand that wasextended to him. 

"I'm very glad to see you, Lieutenant von Bernenstein, " said RudolfRassendyll. 

For a moment the thing was done, ruin averted, and safety secured. Everything had been at stake; that there was such a man as RudolfRassendyll might have been disclosed; that he had once filled the king'sthrone was a high secret which they were prepared to trust to Helsingunder stress of necessity; but there remained something which must behidden at all costs, and which the queen's passionate exclamation hadthreatened to expose. There was a Rudolf Rassendyll, and he had beenking; but, more than all this, the queen loved him and he the queen. That could be told to none, not even to Helsing; for Helsing, though hewould not gossip to the town, would yet hold himself bound to carrythe matter to the king. So Rudolf chose to take any future difficultiesrather than that present and certain disaster. Sooner than entail it onher he loved, he claimed for himself the place of her husband and thename of king. And she, clutching at the only chance that her act left, was content to have it so. It may be that for an instant her weary, tortured brain found sweet rest in the dim dream that so it was, forshe let her head lie there on his breast and her eyes closed, her facelooking very peaceful, and a soft little sigh escaping in pleasure fromher lips. 

But every moment bore its peril and exacted its effort. Rudolf led thequeen to a couch, and then briefly charged the servants not to speak ofhis presence for a few hours. As they had no doubt perceived, said he, from the queen's agitation, important business was on foot; it demandedhis presence in Strelsau, but required also that his presence should notbe known. A short time would free them from the obligation which he nowasked of their loyalty. When they had withdrawn, bowing obedience, heturned to Helsing, pressed his hand warmly, reiterated his request forsilence, and said that he would summon the chancellor to his presenceagain later in the day, either where he was or at the palace. Then hebade all withdraw and leave him alone for a little with the queen. Hewas obeyed; but Helsing had hardly left the house when Rudolf calledBernenstein back, and with him my wife. Helga hastened to the queen, whowas still sorely agitated; Rudolf drew Bernenstein aside, and exchangedwith him all their news. Mr. Rassendyll was much disturbed at findingthat no tidings had come from Colonel Sapt and myself, but hisapprehension was greatly increased on learning the untoward accident bywhich the king himself had been at the lodge the night before. Indeed, he was utterly in the dark; where the king was, where Rupert, where wewere, he did not know. And he was here in Strelsau, known as the king tohalf a dozen people or more, protected only by their promises, liable atany moment to be exposed by the coming of the king himself, or even by amessage from him. 

Yet, in face of all perplexities, perhaps even the more because of thedarkness in which he was enveloped, Rudolf held firm to his purpose. There were two things that seemed plain. If Rupert had escaped the trapand was still alive with the letter on him, Rupert must be found; herewas the first task. That accomplished, there remained for Rudolf himselfnothing save to disappear as quietly and secretly as he had come, trusting that his presence could be concealed from the man whose namehe had usurped. Nay, if need were, the king must be told that RudolfRassendyll had played a trick on the chancellor, and, having enjoyed hispleasure, was gone again. Everything could, in the last resort, be told, save that which touched the queen's honor. 

At this moment the message which I despatched from the station at Hofbaureached my house. There was a knock at the door. Bernenstein opened itand took the telegram, which was addressed to my wife. I had written allthat I dared to trust to such a means of communication, and here it is:

"I am coming to Strelsau. The king will not leave the lodge to-day. Thecount came, but left before we arrived. I do not know whether he hasgone to Strelsau. He gave no news to the king. "

"Then they didn't get him!" cried Bernenstein in deep disappointment. 

"No, but he gave no news to the king, " said Rudolf triumphantly. 

They were all standing now round the queen, who sat on the couch. Sheseemed very faint and weary, but at peace. It was enough for her thatRudolf fought and planned for her. 

"And see this, " Rudolf went on. "'The king will not leave the lodgeto-day. ' Thank God, then, we have to-day!"

"Yes, but where's Rupert?"

"We shall know in an hour, if he's in Strelsau, " and Mr. Rassendylllooked as though it would please him well to find Rupert in Strelsau. "Yes, I must seek him. I shall stand at nothing to find him. If I canonly get to him as the king, then I'll be the king. We have to-day!"

My message put them in heart again, although it left so much stillunexplained. Rudolf turned to the queen. 

"Courage, my queen, " said he. "A few hours now will see an end of allour dangers. "

"And then?" she asked. 

"Then you'll be safe and at rest, " said he, bending over her andspeaking softly. "And I shall be proud in the knowledge of having savedyou. "

"And you?"

"I must go, " Helga heard him whisper as he bent lower still, and she andBernenstein moved away. 

CHAPTER XIII. A KING UP HIS SLEEVE

The tall handsome girl was taking down the shutters from the shop frontat No. 19 in the Konigstrasse. She went about her work languidly enough, but there was a tinge of dusky red on her cheeks and her eyes werebrightened by some suppressed excitement. Old Mother Holf, leaningagainst the counter, was grumbling angrily because Bauer did not come. Now it was not likely that Bauer would come just yet, for he was stillin the infirmary attached to the police-cells, where a couple of doctorswere very busy setting him on his legs again. The old woman knew nothingof this, but only that he had gone the night before to reconnoitre;where he was to play the spy she did not know, on whom perhaps sheguessed. 

"You're sure he never came back?" she asked her daughter. 

"He never came back that I saw, " answered the girl. "And I was on thewatch with my lamp here in the shop till it grew light. "

"He's twelve hours gone now, and never a message! Ay, and Count Rupertshould be here soon, and he'll be in a fine taking if Bauer's not back. "

The girl made no answer; she had finished her task and stood in thedoorway, looking out on the street. It was past eight, and many peoplewere about, still for the most part humble folk; the more comfortablyplaced would not be moving for an hour or two yet. In the road thetraffic consisted chiefly of country carts and wagons, bringing inproduce for the day's victualling of the great city. The girl watchedthe stream, but her thoughts were occupied with the stately gentlemanwho had come to her by night and asked a service of her. She had heardthe revolver shot outside; as it sounded she had blown out her lamp, andthere behind the door in the dark had heard the swiftly retreating feetof the fugitives and, a little later, the arrival of the patrol. Well, the patrol would not dare to touch the king; as for Bauer, let him bealive or dead: what cared she, who was the king's servant, able to helpthe king against his enemies? If Bauer were the king's enemy, right gladwould she be to hear that the rogue was dead. How finely the king hadcaught him by the neck and thrown him out! She laughed to think howlittle her mother knew the company she had kept that night. 

The row of country carts moved slowly by. One or two stopped before theshop, and the carters offered vegetables for sale. The old woman wouldhave nothing to say to them, but waved them on irritably. Three had thusstopped and again proceeded, and an impatient grumble broke from the oldlady as a fourth, a covered wagon, drew up before the door. 

"We don't want anything: go on, go on with you!" she cried shrilly. 

The carter got down from his seat without heeding her, and walked roundto the back. 

"Here you are, sir, " he cried. "Nineteen, Konigstrasse. "

A yawn was heard, and the long sigh a man gives as he stretches himselfin the mingled luxury and pain of an awakening after sound refreshingsleep. 

"All right; I'll get down, " came in answer from inside. 

"Ah, it's the count!" said the old lady to her daughter in satisfiedtones. "What will he say, though, about that rogue Bauer?"

Rupert of Hentzau put his head out from under the wagon-tilt, looked upand down the street, gave the carter a couple of crowns, leapt down, andran lightly across the pavement into the little shop. The wagon movedon. 

"A lucky thing I met him, " said Rupert cheerily. "The wagon hid me verywell; and handsome as my face is, I can't let Strelsau enjoy too much ofit just now. Well, mother, what cheer? And you, my pretty, how goes itwith you?" He carelessly brushed the girl's cheek with the glove thathe had drawn off. "Faith, though, I beg your pardon. " he added a momentlater, "the glove's not clean enough for that, " and he looked at hisbuff glove, which was stained with patches of dull rusty brown. 

"It's all as when you left, Count Rupert, " said Mother Holf, "exceptthat that rascal Bauer went out last night--"

"That's right enough. But hasn't he returned?"

"No, not yet. "

"Hum. No signs of--anybody else?" His look defined the vague question. 

The old woman shook her head. The girl turned away to hide a smile. "Anybody else" meant the king, so she suspected. Well, they should hearnothing from her. The king himself had charged her to be silent. 

"But Rischenheim has come, I suppose?" pursued Rupert. 

"Oh, yes; he came, my lord, soon after you went. He wears his arm in asling. "

"Ah!" cried Rupert in sudden excitement. "As I guessed! The devil! Ifonly I could do everything myself, and not have to trust to fools andbunglers! Where's the count?"

"Why, in the attic. You know the way. "

"True. But I want some breakfast, mother. "

"Rosa shall serve you at once, my lord. "

The girl followed Rupert up the narrow crazy staircase of the tall oldhouse. They passed three floors, all uninhabited; a last steep flightthat brought them right under the deep arched roof. Rupert opened a doorthat stood at the top of the stairs, and, followed still by Rosa withher mysterious happy smile, entered a long narrow room. The ceiling, high in the centre, sloped rapidly down on either side, so that at doorand window it was little more than six feet above the floor. There wasan oak table and a few chairs; a couple of iron bedsteads stood by thewall near the window. One was empty; the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim layon the other, fully dressed, his right arm supported in a sling of blacksilk. Rupert paused on the threshold, smiling at his cousin; the girlpassed on to a high press or cupboard, and, opening it, took out plates, glasses, and the other furniture of the table. Rischenheim sprang up andran across the room. 

"What news?" he cried eagerly. "You escaped them, Rupert?"

"It appears so, " said Rupert airily; and, advancing into the room, hethrew himself into a chair, tossing his hat on to the table. 

"It appears that I escaped, although some fool's stupidity nearly madean end of me. " Rischenheim flushed. 

"I'll tell you about that directly, " he said, glancing at the girl whohad put some cold meat and a bottle of wine on the table, and wasnow completing the preparations for Rupert's meal in a very leisurelyfashion. 

"Had I nothing to do but to look at pretty faces--which, by Heaven, I wish heartily were the case--I would beg you to stay, " said Rupert, rising and making her a profound bow. 

"I've no wish to hear what doesn't concern me, " she retorted scornfully. 

"What a rare and blessed disposition!" said he, holding the door for herand bowing again. 

"I know what I know, " she cried to him triumphantly from the landing. "Maybe you'd give something to know it too, Count Rupert!"

"It's very likely, for, by Heaven, girls know wonderful things!" smiledRupert; but he shut the door and came quickly back to the table, nowfrowning again. "Come, tell me, how did they make a fool of you, or whydid you make a fool of me, cousin?"

While Rischenheim related how he had been trapped and tricked at theCastle of Zenda, Rupert of Hentzau made a very good breakfast. Heoffered no interruption and no comments, but when Rudolf Rassendyll cameinto the story he looked up for an instant with a quick jerk of his headand a sudden light in his eyes. The end of Rischenheim's narrative foundhim tolerant and smiling again. 

"Ah, well, the snare was cleverly set, " he said. "I don't wonder youfell into it. "

"And now you? What happened to you?" asked Rischenheim eagerly. 

"I? Why, having your message which was not your message, I obeyed yourdirections which were not your directions. "

"You went to the lodge?"

"Certainly. "

"And you found Sapt there?--Anybody else?"

"Why, not Sapt at all. "

"Not Sapt? But surely they laid a trap for you?"

"Very possibly, but the jaws didn't bite. " Rupert crossed his legs andlit a cigarette. 

"But what did you find?"

"I? I found the king's forester, and the king's boar-hound, and--well, Ifound the king himself, too. "

"The king at the lodge?"

"You weren't so wrong as you thought, were you?"

"But surely Sapt, or Bernenstein, or some one was with him?"

"As I tell you, his forester and his boar-hound. No other man or beast, on my honor. "

"Then you gave him the letter?" cried Rischenheim, trembling withexcitement. 

"Alas, no, my dear cousin. I threw the box at him, but I don't think hehad time to open it. We didn't get to that stage of the conversation atwhich I had intended to produce the letter. "

"But why not--why not?"

Rupert rose to his feet, and, coming just opposite to where Rischenheimsat, balanced himself on his heels, and looked down at his cousin, blowing the ash from his cigarette and smiling pleasantly. 

"Have you noticed, " he asked, "that my coat's torn?"

"I see it is. "

"Yes. The boar-hound tried to bite me, cousin. And the forester wouldhave stabbed me. And--well, the king wanted to shoot me. "

"Yes, yes! For God's sake, what happened?"

"Well, they none of them did what they wanted. That's what happened, dear cousin. "

Rischenheim was staring at him now with wide-opened eyes. Rupert smileddown on him composedly. 

"Because, you see, " he added, "Heaven helped me. So that, my dearcousin, the dog will bite no more, and the forester will stab no more. Surely the country is well rid of them?"

A silence followed. Then Rischenheim, leaning forward, said in a lowwhisper, as though afraid to hear his own question:

"And the king?"

"The king? Well, the king will shoot no more. "

For a moment Rischenheim, still leaning forward, gazed at his cousin. Then he sank slowly back into his chair. 

"My God!" he murmured: "my God!"

"The king was a fool, " said Rupert. "Come, I'll tell you a little moreabout it. " He drew a chair up and seated himself in it. 

While he talked Rischenheim seemed hardly to listen. The story gained ineffect from the contrast of Rupert's airy telling; his companion's paleface and twitching hands tickled his fancy to more shameless jesting. But when he had finished, he gave a pull to his small smartly-curledmoustache and said with a sudden gravity:

"After all, though, it's a serious matter. "

Rischenheim was appalled at the issue. His cousin's influence had beenstrong enough to lead him into the affair of the letter; he was aghastto think how Rupert's reckless dare-deviltry had led on from stage tostage till the death of a king seemed but an incident in his schemes. Hesprang suddenly to his feet, crying:

"But we must fly--we must fly!"

"No, we needn't fly. Perhaps we'd better go, but we needn't fly. "

"But when it becomes known?" He broke off and then cried:

"Why did you tell me? Why did you come back here?"

"Well, I told you because it was interesting, and I came back herebecause I had no money to go elsewhere. "

"I would have sent money. "

"I find that I get more when I ask in person. Besides, is everythingfinished?"

"I'll have no more to do with it. "

"Ah, my dear cousin, you despond too soon. The good king has unhappilygone from us, but we still have our dear queen. We have also, by thekindness of Heaven, our dear queen's letter. "

"I'll have no more to do with it. "

"Your neck feeling--?" Rupert delicately imitated the putting of a nooseabout a man's throat. 

Rischenheim rose suddenly and flung the window open wide. 

"I'm suffocated, " he muttered with a sullen frown, avoiding Rupert'seyes. 

"Where's Rudolf Rassendyll?" asked Rupert. "Have you heard of him?"

"No, I don't know where he is. "

"We must find that out, I think. "

Rischenheim turned abruptly on him. 

"I had no hand in this thing, " he said, "and I'll have no more to dowith it. I was not there. What did I know of the king being there? I'mnot guilty of it: on my soul, I know nothing of it. "

"That's all very true, " nodded Rupert. 

"Rupert, " cried he, "let me go, let me alone. If you want money, I'llgive it to you. For God's sake take it, and get out of Strelsau!"

"I'm ashamed to beg, my dear cousin, but in fact I want a little moneyuntil I can contrive to realize my valuable property. Is it safe, Iwonder? Ah, yes, here it is. "

He drew from his inner pocket the queen's letter. "Now if the kinghadn't been a fool!" he murmured regretfully, as he regarded it. 

Then he walked across to the window and looked out; he could not himselfbe seen from the street, and nobody was visible at the windows opposite. Men and women passed to and fro on their daily labors or pleasures;there was no unusual stir in the city. Looking over the roofs, Rupertcould see the royal standard floating in the wind over the palace andthe barracks. He took out his watch; Rischenheim imitated his action; itwas ten minutes to ten. 

"Rischenheim, " he called, "come here a moment. Here--look out. "

Rischenheim obeyed, and Rupert let him look for a minute or two beforespeaking again. 

"Do you see anything remarkable?" he asked then. 

"No, nothing, " answered Rischenheim, still curt and sullen in hisfright. 

"Well, no more do I. And that's very odd. For don't you think that Saptor some other of her Majesty's friends must have gone to the lodge lastnight?"

"They meant to, I swear, " said Rischenheim with sudden attention. 

"Then they would have found the king. There's a telegraph wire atHofbau, only a few miles away. And it's ten o'clock. My cousin, whyisn't Strelsau mourning for our lamented king? Why aren't the flags athalf-mast? I don't understand it. "

"No, " murmured Rischenheim, his eyes now fixed on his cousin's face. 

Rupert broke into a smile and tapped his teeth with his fingers. 

"I wonder, " said he meditatively, "if that old player Sapt has got aking up his sleeve again! If that were so--" He stopped and seemed tofall into deep thought. Rischenheim did not interrupt him, but stoodlooking now at him, now out of the window. Still there was no stir inthe streets, and still the standards floated at the summit of the flagstaffs. The king's death was not yet known in Strelsau. 

"Where's Bauer?" asked Rupert suddenly. "Where the plague can Bauer be?He was my eyes. Here we are, cooped up, and I don't know what's goingon. "

"I don't know where he is. Something must have happened to him. "

"Of course, my wise cousin. But what?"

Rupert began to pace up and down the room, smoking another cigarette ata great pace. Rischenheim sat down by the table, resting his head onhis hand. He was wearied out by strain and excitement, his wounded armpained him greatly, and he was full of horror and remorse at the eventwhich happened unknown to him the night before. 

"I wish I was quit of it, " he moaned at last. Rupert stopped before him. 

"You repent of your misdeeds?" he asked. "Well, then, you shall beallowed to repent. Nay, you shall go and tell the king that you repent. Rischenheim, I must know what they are doing. You must go and ask anaudience of the king. "

"But the king is--"

"We shall know that better when you've asked for your audience. Seehere. "

Rupert sat down by his cousin and instructed him in his task. This wasno other than to discover whether there were a king in Strelsau, orwhether the only king lay dead in the hunting lodge. If there were noattempt being made to conceal the king's death, Rupert's plan was toseek safety in flight. He did not abandon his designs: from the securevantage of foreign soil he would hold the queen's letter over her head, and by the threat of publishing it insure at once immunity for himselfand almost any further terms which he chose to exact from her. If, onthe other hand, the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim found a king in Strelsau, if the royal standards continued to wave at the summit of their flagstaffs, and Strelsau knew nothing of the dead man in the lodge, thenRupert had laid his hand on another secret; for he knew who the king inStrelsau must be. Starting from this point, his audacious mind dartedforward to new and bolder schemes. He could offer again to RudolfRassendyll what he had offered once before, three years ago--apartnership in crime and the profits of crime--or if this advance wererefused, then he declared that he would himself descend openly into thestreets of Strelsau and proclaim the death of the king from the steps ofthe cathedral. 

"Who can tell, " he cried, springing up, enraptured and merry with theinspiration of his plan, "who can tell whether Sapt or I came first tothe lodge? Who found the king alive, Sapt or I? Who left him dead, Saptor I? Who had most interest in killing him--I, who only sought to makehim aware of what touched his honor, or Sapt, who was and is hand andglove with the man that now robs him of his name and usurps his placewhile his body is still warm? Ah, they haven't done with Rupert ofHentzau yet!"

He stopped, looking down on his companion. Rischenheim's fingers stilltwitched nervously and his cheeks were pale. But now his face was alightwith interest and eagerness. Again the fascination of Rupert's audacityand the infection of his courage caught on his kinsman's weaker nature, and inspired him to a temporary emulation of the will that dominatedhim. 

"You see, " pursued Rupert, "it's not likely that they'll do you anyharm. "

"I'll risk anything. "

"Most gallant gentleman! At the worst they'll only keep you a prisoner. Well, if you're not back in a couple of hours, I shall draw myconclusions. I shall know that there's a king in Strelsau. "

"But where shall I look for the king?"

"Why, first in the palace, and secondly at Fritz von Tarlenheim's. Iexpect you'll find him at Fritz's, though. "

"Shall I go there first, then?"

"No. That would be seeming to know too much. "

"You'll wait here?"

"Certainly, cousin--unless I see cause to move, you know. "

"And I shall find you on my return?"

"Me, or directions from me. By the way, bring money too. There's neverany harm in having a full pocket. I wonder what the devil does without abreeches-pocket?"

Rischenheim let that curious speculation alone, although he rememberedthe whimsical air with which Rupert delivered it. He was now on fire tobe gone, his ill-balanced brain leaping from the depths of despondencyto the certainty of brilliant success, and not heeding the gulf ofdanger that it surpassed in buoyant fancy. 

"We shall have them in a corner, Rupert, " he cried. 

"Ay, perhaps. But wild beasts in a corner bite hard. "

"I wish my arm were well!"

"You'll be safer with it wounded, " said Rupert with a smile. 

"By God, Rupert, I can defend myself. "

"True, true; but it's your brain I want now, cousin. "

"You shall see that I have something in me. "

"If it please God, dear cousin. "

With every mocking encouragement and every careless taunt Rischenheim'sresolve to prove himself a man grew stronger. He snatched up a revolverthat lay on the mantelpiece and put it in his pocket. 

"Don't fire, if you can help it, " advised Rupert. Rischenheim's answerwas to make for the door at a great speed. Rupert watched him go, andthen returned to the window. The last his cousin saw was his figurestanding straight and lithe against the light, while he looked outon the city. Still there was no stir in the streets, still the royalstandard floated at the top of the flag staffs. 

Rischenheim plunged down the stairs: his feet were too slow for hiseagerness. At the bottom he found the girl Rosa sweeping the passagewith great apparent diligence. 

"You're going out, my lord?" she asked. 

"Why, yes; I have business. Pray stand on one side, this passage is socursedly narrow. "

Rosa showed no haste in moving. 

"And the Count Rupert, is he going out also?" she asked. 

"You see he's not with me. He'll wait. " Rischenheim broke off and askedangrily: "What business is it of yours, girl? Get out of the way!"

She moved aside now, making him no answer. He rushed past; she lookedafter him with a smile of triumph. Then she fell again to her sweeping. The king had bidden her be ready at eleven. It was half-past ten. Soonthe king would have need of her. 

CHAPTER XIV. THE NEWS COMES TO STRELSAU

ON leaving No. 19, Rischenheim walked swiftly some little way up theKonigstrasse and then hailed a cab. He had hardly raised his hand whenhe heard his name called, and, looking round, saw Anton von Strofzin'ssmart phaeton pulling up beside him. Anton was driving, and on the otherseat was a large nosegay of choice flowers. 

"Where are you off to?" cried Anton, leaning forward with a gay smile. 

"Well, where are you? To a lady's, I presume, from your bouquet there, "answered Rischenheim as lightly as he could. 

"The little bunch of flowers, " simpered young Anton, "is a cousinlyoffering to Helga von Tarlenheim, and I'm going to present it. Can Igive you a lift anywhere?"'

Although Rischenheim had intended to go first to the palace, Anton'soffer seemed to give him a good excuse for drawing the more likelycovert first. 

"I was going to the palace to find out where the king is. I want to seehim, if he'll give me a minute or two, " he remarked. 

"I'll drive you there afterwards. Jump up. That your cab? Here you are, cabman, " and flinging the cabman a crown, he displaced the bouquet andmade room for Rischenheim beside him. 

Anton's horses, of which he was not a little proud, made short work ofthe distance to my home. The phaeton rattled up to the door and bothyoung men got out. The moment of their arrival found the chancellor justleaving to return to his own home. Helsing knew them both, and stoppedto rally Anton on the matter of his bouquet. Anton was famous for hisbouquets, which he distributed widely among the ladies of Strelsau. 

"I hoped it was for my daughter, " said the chancellor slyly. "For I loveflowers, and my wife has ceased to provide me with them; moreover, I'veceased to provide her with them, so, but for my daughter, we should havenone. "

Anton answered his chaff, promising a bouquet for the young lady thenext day, but declaring that he could not disappoint his cousin. Hewas interrupted by Rischenheim, who, looking round on the group ofbystanders, now grown numerous, exclaimed: "What's going on here, mydear chancellor? What are all these people hanging about here for? Ah, that's a royal carriage!"

"The queen's with the countess, " answered Helsing. "The people arewaiting to see her come out. "

"She's always worth seeing, " Anton pronounced, sticking his glass in hiseye. 

"And you've been to visit her?" pursued Rischenheim. 

"Why, yes. I--I went to pay my respects, my dear Rischenheim. "

"An early visit!"

"It was more or less on business. "

"Ah, I have business also, and very important business. But it's withthe king. "

"I won't keep you a moment, Rischenheim, " called Anton, as, bouquet inhand, he knocked at the door. 

"With the king?" said Helsing. "Ah, yes, but the king--"

"I'm on my way to the palace to find out where he is. If I can't seehim, I must write at once. My business is very urgent. "

"Indeed, my dear count, indeed! Dear me! Urgent, you say?"

"But perhaps you can help me. Is he at Zenda?"

The chancellor was becoming very embarrassed; Anton had disappeared intothe house; Rischenheim buttonholed him resolutely. 

"At Zenda? Well, now, I don't--Excuse me, but what's your business?"

"Excuse me, my dear chancellor; it's a secret. "

"I have the king's confidence. "

"Then you'll be indifferent to not enjoying mine, " smiled Rischenheim. 

"I perceive that your arm is hurt, " observed the chancellor, seeking adiversion. 

"Between ourselves, that has something to do with my business. Well, Imust go to the palace. Or--stay--would her Majesty condescend to helpme? I think I'll risk a request. She can but refuse, " and so sayingRischenheim approached the door. 

"Oh, my friend, I wouldn't do that, " cried Helsing, darting after him. "The queen is--well, very much engaged. She won't like to be troubled. "

Rischenheim took no notice of him, but knocked loudly. The door wasopened, and he told the butler to carry his name to the queen and beg amoment's speech with her. Helsing stood in perplexity on the step. Thecrowd was delighted with the coming of these great folk and showed nosign of dispersing. Anton von Strofzin did not reappear. Rischenheimedged himself inside the doorway and stood on the threshold of the hall. There he heard voices proceeding from the sitting-room on the left. Herecognized the queen's, my wife's, and Anton's. Then came the butler's, saying, "I will inform the count of your Majesty's wishes. "

The door of the room opened; the butler appeared, and immediately behindhim Anton von Strofzin and Bernenstein. Bernenstein had the young fellowby the arm, and hurried him through the hall. They passed the butler, who made way for them, and came to where Rischenheim stood. 

"We meet again, " said Rischenheim with a bow. 

The chancellor rubbed his hands in nervous perturbation. The butlerstepped up and delivered his message: the queen regretted her inabilityto receive the count. Rischenheim nodded, and, standing so that the doorcould not be shut, asked Bernenstein whether he knew where the king was. 

Now Bernenstein was most anxious to get the pair of them away and thedoor shut, but he dared show no eagerness. 

"Do you want another interview with the king already?" he asked with asmile. "The last was so pleasant, then?"

Rischenheim took no notice of the taunt, but observed sarcastically:"There's a strange difficulty in finding our good king. The chancellorhere doesn't know where he is, or at least he won't answer myquestions. "

"Possibly the king has his reasons for not wishing to be disturbed, "suggested Bernenstein. 

"It's very possible, " retorted Rischenheim significantly. 

"Meanwhile, my dear count, I shall take it as a personal favor if you'llmove out of the doorway. "

"Do I incommode you by standing here?" answered the count. 

"Infinitely, my lord, " answered Bernenstein stiffly. 

"Hallo, Bernenstein, what's the matter?" cried Anton, seeing that theirtones and glances had grown angry. The crowd also had noticed the raisedvoices and hostile manner of the disputants, and began to gather roundin a more compact group. 

Suddenly a voice came from inside the hall: it was distinct and loud, yet not without a touch of huskiness. The sound of it hushed the risingquarrel and silenced the crowd into expectant stillness. Bernensteinlooked aghast, Rischenheim nervous yet triumphant, Anton amused andgratified. 

"The king!" he cried, and burst into a laugh. "You've drawn him, Rischenheim!"

The crowd heard his boyish exclamation and raised a cheer. Helsingturned, as though to rebuke them. Had not the king himself desiredsecrecy? Yes, but he who spoke as the king chose any risk sooner thanlet Rischenheim go back and warn Rupert of his presence. 

"Is that the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim?" called Rudolf from within. "Ifso, let him enter and then shut the door. "

There was something in his tone that alarmed Rischenheim. He startedback on the step. But Bernenstein caught him by the arm. 

"Since you wish to come in, come in, " he said with a grim smile. 

Rischenheim looked round, as though he meditated flight. The nextmoment Bernenstein was thrust aside. For one short instant a tall figureappeared in the doorway; the crowd had but a glimpse, yet they cheeredagain. Rischenheim's hand was clasped in a firm grip; he passedunwillingly but helplessly through the door. Bernenstein followed; thedoor was shut. Anton faced round on Helsing, a scornful twist on hislips. 

"There was a deuced lot of mystery about nothing, " said he. "Whycouldn't you say he was there?" And without waiting for an answer fromthe outraged and bewildered chancellor he swung down the steps andclimbed into his phaeton. 

The people round were chatting noisily, delighted to have caught aglimpse of the king, speculating what brought him and the queen to myhouse, and hoping that they would soon come out and get into the royalcarriage that still stood waiting. 

Had they been able to see inside the door, their emotion would have beenstirred to a keener pitch. Rudolf himself caught Rischenheim by the arm, and without a moment's delay led him towards the back of the house. Theywent along a passage and reached a small room that looked out on thegarden. Rudolf had known my house in old days, and did not forget itsresources. 

"Shut the door, Bernenstein, " said Rudolf. Then he turned toRischenheim. "My lord, " he said, "I suppose you came to find outsomething. Do you know it now?"

Rischenheim plucked up courage to answer him. 

"Yes, I know now that I have to deal with an impostor, " said hedefiantly. 

"Precisely. And impostors can't afford to be exposed. " Rischenheim'scheek turned rather pale. Rudolf faced him, and Bernenstein guarded thedoor. He was absolutely at their mercy; and he knew their secret. Didthey know his--the news that Rupert of Hentzau had brought?

"Listen, " said Rudolf. "For a few hours to-day I am king in Strelsau. Inthose few hours I have an account to settle with your cousin: somethingthat he has, I must have. I'm going now to seek him, and while I seekhim you will stay here with Bernenstein. Perhaps I shall fail, perhapsI shall succeed. Whether I succeed or fail, by to-night I shall be farfrom Strelsau, and the king's place will be free for him again. "

Rischenheim gave a slight start, and a look of triumph spread over hisface. They did not know that the king was dead. 

Rudolf came nearer to him, fixing his eyes steadily on his prisoner'sface. 

"I don't know, " he continued, "why you are in this business, my lord. Your cousin's motives I know well. But I wonder that they seemed to yougreat enough to justify the ruin of an unhappy lady who is your queen. Be assured that I will die sooner than let that letter reach the king'shand. "

Rischenheim made him no answer. 

"Are you armed?" asked Rudolf. 

Rischenheim sullenly flung his revolver on the table. Bernenstein cameforward and took it. 

"Keep him here, Bernenstein. When I return I'll tell you what more todo. If I don't return, Fritz will be here soon, and you and he must makeyour own plans. "

"He sha'n't give me the slip a second time, " said Bernenstein. 

"We hold ourselves free, " said Rudolf to Rischenheim, "to do what weplease with you, my lord. But I have no wish to cause your death, unlessit be necessary. You will be wise to wait till your cousin's fate isdecided before you attempt any further steps against us. " And with aslight bow he left the prisoner in Bernenstein's charge, and went backto the room where the queen awaited him. Helga was with her. The queensprang up to meet him. 

"I mustn't lose a moment, " he said. "All that crowd of people know nowthat the king is here. The news will filter through the town in no time. We must send word to Sapt to keep it from the king's ears at all costs:I must go and do my work, and then disappear. "

The queen stood facing him. Her eyes seemed to devour his face; but shesaid only: "Yes, it must be so. "

"You must return to the palace as soon as I am gone. I shall send outand ask the people to disperse, and then I must be off. "

"To seek Rupert of Hentzau?"

"Yes. "

She struggled for a moment with the contending feelings that filled herheart. Then she came to him and seized hold of his hand. 

"Don't go, " she said in low trembling tones. "Don't go, Rudolf. He'llkill you. Never mind the letter. Don't go: I had rather a thousand timesthat the king had it than that you should. . . . Oh, my dear, don't go!"

"I must go, " he said softly. 

Again she began to implore him, but he would not yield. Helga movedtowards the door, but Rudolf stopped her. 

"No, " he said; "you must stay with her; you must go to the palace withher. "

Even as he spoke they heard the wheels of a carriage driven quickly tothe door. By now I had met Anton von Strofzin and heard from him thatthe king was at my house. As I dashed up the news was confirmed by thecomments and jokes of the crowd. 

"Ah, he's in a hurry, " they said. "He's kept the king waiting. He'll geta wigging. "

As may be supposed, I paid little heed to them. I sprang out and ran upthe steps to the door. I saw my wife's face at the window: she herselfran to the door and opened it for me. 

"Good God, " I whispered, "do all these people know he's here, and takehim for the king?"

"Yes, " she said. "We couldn't help it. He showed himself at the door. "

It was worse than I dreamt: not two or three people, but all that crowdwere victims of the mistake; all of them had heard that the king was inStrelsau--ay, and had seen him. 

"Where is he? Where is he?" I asked, and followed her hastily to theroom. 

The queen and Rudolf were standing side by side. What I have told fromHelga's description had just passed between them. Rudolf ran to meet me. 

"Is all well?" he asked eagerly. 

I forgot the queen's presence and paid no sign of respect to her. Icaught Rudolf by the arm and cried to him: "Do they take you for theking?"

"Yes, " he said. "Heavens, man, don't look so white! We shall manage it. I can be gone by to-night. "

"Gone? How will that help, since they believe you to be the king?"

"You can keep it from the king, " he urged. "I couldn't help it. I cansettle with Rupert and disappear. "

The three were standing round me, surprised at my great and terribleagitation. Looking back now, I wonder that I could speak to them at all. 

Rudolf tried again to reassure me. He little knew the cause of what hesaw. 

"It won't take long to settle affairs with Rupert, " said he. "And wemust have the letter, or it will get to the king after all. "

"The king will never see the letter, " I blurted out, as I sank back in achair. 

They said nothing. I looked round on their faces. I had a strangefeeling of helplessness, and seemed to be able to do nothing but throwthe truth at them in blunt plainness. Let them make what they could ofit, I could make nothing. 

"The king will never see the letter, " I repeated. "Rupert himself hasinsured that. "

"What do you mean? You've not met Rupert? You've not got the letter?"

"No, no; but the king can never read it. "

Then Rudolf seized me by the shoulder and fairly shook me; indeed I musthave seemed like a man in a dream or a torpor. 

"Why not, man; why not?" he asked in urgent low tones. Again I lookedat them, but somehow this time my eyes were attracted and held by thequeen's face. I believe that she was the first to catch a hint of thetidings I brought. Her lips were parted, and her gaze eagerly strainedupon me. I rubbed my hand across my forehead, and, looking up stupidlyat her, I said:

"He never can see the letter. He's dead. "

There was a little scream from Helga; Rudolf neither spoke nor moved;the queen continued to gaze at me in motionless wonder and horror. 

"Rupert killed him, " said I. "The boar-hound attacked Rupert; thenHerbert and the king attacked him; and he killed them all. Yes, the kingis dead. He's dead. "

Now none spoke. The queen's eyes never left my face. "Yes, he's dead. "said I; and I watched her eyes still. For a long while (or longit seemed) they were on my face; at last, as though drawn by someirresistible force, they turned away. I followed the new line they took. She looked at Rudolf Rassendyll, and he at her. Helga had taken out herhandkerchief, and, utterly upset by the horror and shock, was lying backin a low chair, sobbing half-hysterically; I saw the swift look thatpassed from the queen to her lover, carrying in it grief, remorse, andmost unwilling joy. He did not speak to her, but put out his hand andtook hers. She drew it away almost sharply, and covered her face withboth hands. 

Rudolf turned to me. "When was it?"

"Last night. "

"And the. . . . He's at the lodge?"

"Yes, with Sapt and James. "

I was recovering my senses and my coolness. 

"Nobody knows yet, " I said. "We were afraid you might be taken for himby somebody. But, my God, Rudolf, what's to be done now?"

Mr. Rassendyll's lips were set firm and tight. He frowned slightly, andhis blue eyes wore a curious entranced expression. He seemed to me to beforgetful of everything, even of us who were with him, in some one ideathat possessed him. The queen herself came nearer to him and lightlytouched his arm with her hand. He started as though surprised, then fellagain into his reverie. 

"What's to be done, Rudolf?" I asked again. 

"I'm going to kill Rupert of Hentzau, " he said. "The rest we'll talk ofafterwards. "

He walked rapidly across the room and rang the bell. "Clear those peopleaway, " he ordered. "Tell them that I want to be quiet. Then send aclosed carriage round for me. Don't be more than ten minutes. "

The servant received his peremptory orders with a low bow, and left us. The queen, who had been all this time outwardly calm and composed, now fell into a great agitation, which even the consciousness of ourpresence could not enable her to hide. 

"Rudolf, must you go? Since--since this has happened--"

"Hush, my dearest lady, " he whispered. Then he went on more loudly, "I won't quit Ruritania a second time leaving Rupert of Hentzaualive. Fritz, send word to Sapt that the king is in Strelsau--he willunderstand--and that instructions from the king will follow by midday. When I have killed Rupert, I shall visit the lodge on my way to thefrontier. "

He turned to go, but the queen, following, detained him for a minute. 

"You'll come and see me before you go?" she pleaded. 

"But I ought not, " said he, his resolute eyes suddenly softening in amarvelous fashion. 

"You will?"

"Yes, my queen. "

Then I sprang up, for a sudden dread laid hold on me. 

"Heavens, man, " I cried, "what if he kills you--there in theKonigstrasse?"

Rudolf turned to me; there was a look of surprise on his face. "He won'tkill me, " he answered. 

The queen, looking still in Rudolf's face, and forgetful now, as itseemed, of the dream that had so terrified her, took no notice of what Isaid, but urged again: "You'll come, Rudolf?"

"Yes, once, my queen, " and with a last kiss of her hand he was gone. 

The queen stood for yet another moment where she was, still and almostrigid. Then suddenly she walked or stumbled to where my wife sat, and, flinging herself on her knees, hid her face in Helga's lap; I heard hersobs break out fast and tumultuously. Helga looked up at me, the tearsstreaming down her cheeks. I turned and went out. Perhaps Helga couldcomfort her; I prayed that God in His pity might send her comfort, although she for her sin's sake dared not ask it of Him. Poor soul! Ihope there may be nothing worse scored to my account. 

CHAPTER XV. A PASTIME FOR COLONEL SAPT

THE Constable of Zenda and James, Mr. Rassendyll's servant, sat atbreakfast in the hunting-lodge. They were in the small room which wasordinarily used as the bedroom of the gentleman in attendance on theking: they chose it now because it commanded a view of the approach. Thedoor of the house was securely fastened; they were prepared to refuseadmission; in case refusal was impossible, the preparations forconcealing the king's body and that of his huntsman Herbert werecomplete. Inquirers would be told that the king had ridden out with hishuntsman at daybreak, promising to return in the evening but not statingwhere he was going; Sapt was under orders to await his return, and Jameswas expecting instructions from his master the Count of Tarlenheim. Thus armed against discovery, they looked for news from me which shoulddetermine their future action. 

Meanwhile there was an interval of enforced idleness. Sapt, his mealfinished, puffed away at his great pipe; James, after much pressure, hadconsented to light a small black clay, and sat at his ease with hislegs stretched before him. His brows were knit, and a curious half-smileplayed about his mouth. 

"What may you be thinking about, friend James?" asked the constablebetween two puffs. He had taken a fancy to the alert, ready littlefellow. 

James smoked for a moment, and then took his pipe from his mouth. 

"I was thinking, sir, that since the king is dead--"

He paused. 

"The king is no doubt dead, poor fellow, " said Sapt, nodding. 

"That since he's certainly dead, and since my master, Mr. Rassendyll, isalive--"

"So far as we know, James, " Sapt reminded him. 

"Why, yes, sir, so far as we know. Since, then, Mr. Rassendyll is aliveand the king is dead, I was thinking that it was a great pity, sir, thatmy master can't take his place and be king. " James looked across at theconstable with an air of a man who offers a respectful suggestion. 

"A remarkable thought, James, " observed the constable with a grin. 

"You don't agree with me, sir?" asked James deprecatingly. 

"I don't say that it isn't a pity, for Rudolf makes a good king. But yousee it's impossible, isn't it?"

James nursed his knee between his hands, and his pipe, which he hadreplaced, stuck out of one corner of his mouth. 

"When you say impossible, sir, " he remarked deferentially, "I venture todiffer from you. "

"You do? Come, we're at leisure. Let's hear how it would be possible. "

"My master is in Strelsau, sir, " began James. 

"Well, most likely. "

"I'm sure of it, sir. If he's been there, he will be taken for theking. "

"That has happened before, and no doubt may happen again, unless--"

"Why, of course, sir, unless the king's body should be discovered. "

"That's what I was about to say, James. "

James kept silence for a few minutes. Then he observed, "It will be veryawkward to explain how the king was killed. "

"The story will need good telling, " admitted Sapt. 

"And it will be difficult to make it appear that the king was killed inStrelsau; yet if my master should chance to be killed in Strelsau--"

"Heaven forbid, James! On all grounds, Heaven forbid!"

"Even if my master is not killed, it will be difficult for us to get theking killed at the right time, and by means that will seem plausible. "

Sapt seemed to fall into the humor of the speculation. "That's all verytrue. But if Mr. Rassendyll is to be king, it will be both awkwardand difficult to dispose of the king's body and of this poor fellowHerbert, " said he, sucking at his pipe. 

Again James paused for a little while before he remarked: "I am, ofcourse, sir, only discussing the matter by way of passing the time. Itwould probably be wrong to carry any such plan into effect. "

"It might be, but let us discuss it--to pass the time, " said Sapt; andhe leant forward, looking into the servant's quiet, shrewd face. 

"Well, then, sir, since it amuses you, let us say that the king cameto the lodge last night, and was joined there by his friend Mr. Rassendyll. "

"And did I come too?"

"You, sir, came also, in attendance on the king. "

"Well, and you, James? You came. How came you?"

"Why, sir, by the Count of Tarlenheim's orders, to wait on Mr. Rassendyll, the king's friend. Now, the king, sir. . . This is my story, you know, sir, only my story. "

"Your story interests me. Go on with it. "

"The king went out very early this morning, sir. "

"That would be on private business?"

"So we should have understood. But Mr. Rassendyll, Herbert, andourselves remained here. "

"Had the Count of Hentzau been?"

"Not to our knowledge, sir. But we were all tired and slept verysoundly. "

"Now did we?" said the constable, with a grim smile. 

"In fact, sir, we were all overcome with fatigue--Mr. Rassendyll likethe rest--and full morning found us still in our beds. There we shouldbe to this moment, sir, had we not been suddenly aroused in a startlingand fearful manner. "

"You should write story books, James. Now what was this fearful mannerin which we were aroused?"

James laid down his pipe, and, resting his hands on his knees, continuedhis story. 

"This lodge, sir, this wooden lodge--for the lodge is all of wood, sir, without and within. "

"This lodge is undoubtedly of wood, James, and, as you say, both insideand out. "

"And since it is, sir, it would be mighty careless to leave a candleburning where the oil and firewood are stored. "

"Most criminal!"

"But hard words don't hurt dead men; and you see, sir, poor Herbert isdead. "

"It is true. He wouldn't feel aggrieved. "

"But we, sir, you and I, awaking--"

"Aren't the others to awake, James?"

"Indeed, sir, I should pray that they had never awaked. For you and I, waking first, would find the lodge a mass of flames. We should have torun for our lives. "

"What! Should we make no effort to rouse the others?"

"Indeed, sir, we should do all that men could do; we should even riskdeath by suffocation. "

"But we should fail, in spite of our heroism, should we?"

"Alas, sir, in spite of all our efforts we should fail. The flames wouldenvelop the lodge in one blaze; before help could come, the lodge wouldbe in ruins, and my unhappy master and poor Herbert would be consumed toashes. "

"Hum!"

"They would, at least, sir, be entirely unrecognizable. "

"You think so?"

"Beyond doubt, if the oil and the firewood and the candle were placed tothe best advantage. "

"Ah, yes. And there would be an end of Rudolf Rassendyll?"

"Sir, I should myself carry the tidings to his family. "

"Whereas the King of Ruritania--"

"Would enjoy a long and prosperous reign, God willing, sir. "

"And the Queen of Ruritania, James?"

"Do not misunderstand me, sir. They could be secretly married. I shouldsay re-married. "

"Yes, certainly, re-married. "

"By a trustworthy priest. "

"You mean by an untrustworthy priest?"

"It's the same thing, sir, from a different point of view. " For thefirst time James smiled a thoughtful smile. 

Sapt in his turn laid down his pipe now, and was tugging at hismoustache. There was a smile on his lips too, and his eyes looked hardinto James's. The little man met his glance composedly. 

"It's an ingenious fancy, this of yours, James, " the constable remarked. "What, though, if your master's killed too? That's quite possible. CountRupert's a man to be reckoned with. "

"If my master is killed, sir, he must be buried, " answered James. 

"In Strelsau?" came in quick question from Sapt. 

"He won't mind where, sir. "

"True, he won't mind, and we needn't mind for him. "

"Why, no, sir. But to carry a body secretly from here to Strelsau--"

"Yes, that is, as we agreed at the first, difficult. Well, it's a prettystory, but--your master wouldn't approve of it. Supposing he were notkilled, I mean. "

"It's a waste of time, sir, disapproving of what's done: he might thinkthe story better than the truth, although it's not a good story. "

The two men's eyes met again in a long glance. 

"Where do you come from?" asked Sapt, suddenly. 

"London, sir, originally. "

"They make good stories there?"

"Yes, sir, and act them sometimes. "

The instant he had spoken, James sprang to his feet and pointed out ofthe window. 

A man on horseback was cantering towards the lodge. Exchanging onequick look, both hastened to the door, and, advancing some twenty yards, waited under the tree on the spot where Boris lay buried. 

"By the way, " said Sapt, "you forgot the dog. " And he pointed to theground. 

"The affectionate beast will be in his master's room and die there, sir. "

"Eh, but he must rise again first!"

"Certainly, sir. That won't be a long matter. "

Sapt was still smiling in grim amusement when the messenger came up and, leaning from his home, handed him a telegram. 

"Special and urgent, sir, " said he. 

Sapt tore it open and read. It was the message that I sent in obedienceto Mr. Rassendyll's orders. He would not trust my cipher, but, indeed, none was necessary. Sapt would understand the message, although it saidsimply, "The king is in Strelsau. Wait orders at the lodge. Businesshere in progress, but not finished. Will wire again. "

Sapt handed it to James, who took it with a respectful little bow. Jamesread it with attention, and returned it with another bow. 

"I'll attend to what it says, sir, " he remarked. 

"Yes, " said Sapt. "Thanks, my man, " he added to the messenger. "Here'sa crown for you. If any other message comes for me and you bring it ingood time, you shall have another. "

"You shall have it quick as a horse can bring it from the station, sir. "

"The king's business won't bear delay, you know, " nodded Sapt. 

"You sha'n't have to wait, sir, " and, with a parting salute, the fellowturned his horse and trotted away. 

"You see, " remarked Sapt, "that your story is quite imaginary. Forthat fellow can see for himself that the lodge was not burnt down lastnight. "

"That's true; but, excuse me, sir--"

"Pray go on, James. I've told you that I'm interested. "

"He can't see that it won't be burnt down to-night. A fire, sir, is athing that may happen any night. "

Then old Sapt suddenly burst into a roar, half-speech, half laughter. 

"By God, what a thing!" he roared; and James smiled complacently. 

"There's a fate about it, " said the constable. "There's a strange fateabout it. The man was born to it. We'd have done it before if Michaelhad throttled the king in that cellar, as I thought he would. Yes, byheavens, we'd have done it! Why, we wanted it! God forgive us, in ourhearts both Fritz and I wanted it. But Rudolf would have the king out. He would have him out, though he lost a throne--and what he wantedmore--by it. But he would have him out. So he thwarted the fate. Butit's not to be thwarted. Young Rupert may think this new affair is hisdoing. No, it's the fate using him. The fate brought Rudolf here again, the fate will have him king. Well, you stare at me. Do you think I'mmad, Mr. Valet?"

"I think, sir, that you talk very good sense, if I may say so, " answeredJames. 

"Sense?" echoed Sapt with a chuckle. "I don't know about that. But thefate's there, depend on it!"

The two were back in their little room now, past the door that hid thebodies of the king and his huntsman. James stood by the table, old Saptroamed up and down, tugging his moustache, and now and again sawing theair with his sturdy hairy hand. 

"I daren't do it, " he muttered: "I daren't do it. It's a thing a mancan't set his hand to of his own will. But the fate'll do it--thefate'll do it. The fate'll force it on us. "

"Then we'd best be ready, sir, " suggested James quietly. Sapt turned onhim quickly, almost fiercely. 

"They used to call me a cool hand, " said he. "By Jove, what are you?"

"There's no harm in being ready, sir, " said James, the servant. 

Sapt came to him and caught hold of his shoulders. "Ready?" he asked ina gruff whisper. 

"The oil, the firewood, the light, " said James. 

"Where, man, where? Do you mean, by the bodies?"

"Not where the bodies are now. Each must be in the proper place. "

"We must move them then?"

"Why, yes. And the dog too. "

Sapt almost glared at him; then he burst into a laugh. 

"So be it, " he said. "You take command. Yes, we'll be ready. The fatedrives. "

Then and there they set about what they had to do. It seemed indeed asthough some strange influence were dominating Sapt; he went about thework like a man who is hardly awake. They placed the bodies each wherethe living man would be by night--the king in the guest-room, thehuntsman in the sort of cupboard where the honest fellow had been wontto lie. They dug up the buried dog, Sapt chuckling convulsively, Jamesgrave as the mute whose grim doings he seemed to travesty: they carriedthe shot-pierced, earth-grimed thing in, and laid it in the king's room. Then they made their piles of wood, pouring the store of oil over them, and setting bottles of spirit near, that the flames having cracked thebottles, might gain fresh fuel. To Sapt it seemed now as if they playedsome foolish game that was to end with the playing, now as if theyobeyed some mysterious power which kept its great purpose hidden fromits instruments. Mr. Rassendyll's servant moved and arranged and orderedall as deftly as he folded his master's clothes or stropped his master'srazor. Old Sapt stopped him once as he went by. 

"Don't think me a mad fool, because I talk of the fate, " he said, almostanxiously. 

"Not I, sir, " answered James, "I know nothing of that. But I like to beready. "

"It would be a thing!" muttered Sapt. 

The mockery, real or assumed, in which they had begun their work, hadvanished now. If they were not serious, they played at seriousness. Ifthey entertained no intention such as their acts seemed to indicate, they could no longer deny that they had cherished a hope. They shrank, or at least Sapt shrank, from setting such a ball rolling; but theylonged for the fate that would give it a kick, and they made smooth theincline down which it, when thus impelled, was to run. When they hadfinished their task and sat down again opposite to one another in thelittle front room, the whole scheme was ready, the preparations weremade, all was in train; they waited only for that impulse from chance orfate which was to turn the servant's story into reality and action. And when the thing was done, Sapt's coolness, so rarely upset, yet socompletely beaten by the force of that wild idea, came back to him. Helit his pipe again and lay back in his chair, puffing freely, with ameditative look on his face. 

"It's two o'clock, sir, " said James. "Something should have happenedbefore now in Strelsau. "

"Ah, but what?" asked the constable. 

Suddenly breaking on their ears came a loud knock at the door. Absorbedin their own thoughts, they had not noticed two men riding up to thelodge. The visitors wore the green and gold of the king's huntsmen;the one who had knocked was Simon, the chief huntsman, and brother ofHerbert, who lay dead in the little room inside. 

"Rather dangerous!" muttered the Constable of Zenda as he hurried to thedoor, James following him. 

Simon was astonished when Sapt opened the door. 

"Beg pardon, Constable, but I want to see Herbert. Can I go in?" And hejumped down from his horse, throwing the reins to his companion. 

"What's the good of your going in?" asked Sapt. "Herbert's not here. "

"Not here? Then where is he?"

"Why, he went with the king this morning. "

"Oh, he went with the king, sir? Then he's in Strelsau, I suppose?"

"If you know that, Simon, you're wiser than I am. "

"But the king is in Strelsau, sir. "

"The deuce he is! He said nothing of going to Strelsau. He rose earlyand rode off with Herbert, merely saying they would be back to-night. "

"He went to Strelsau, sir. I am just from Zenda, and his Majesty isknown to have been in town with the queen. They were both at CountFritz's. "

"I'm much interested to hear it. But didn't the telegram say whereHerbert was?"

Simon laughed. 

"Herbert's not a king, you see, " he said. "Well, I'll come againto-morrow morning, for I must see him soon. He'll be back by then, sir?"

"Yes, Simon, your brother will be here to-morrow morning. "

"Or what's left of him after such a two-days of work, " suggested Simonjocularly. 

"Why, yes, precisely, " said Sapt, biting his moustache and darting oneswift glance at James. "Or what's left of him, as you say. "

"And I'll bring a cart and carry the boar down to the castle at the sametime, sir. At least, I suppose you haven't eaten it all?"

Sapt laughed; Simon was gratified at the tribute, and laughed even moreheartily himself. 

"We haven't even cooked it yet, " said Sapt, "but I won't answer for itthat we sha'n't have by to-morrow. "

"All right, sir; I'll be here. By the way, there's another bit of newscome on the wires. They say Count Rupert of Hentzau has been seen in thecity. "

"Rupert of Hentzau? Oh, pooh! Nonsense, my good Simon. He daren't showhis face there for his life. "

"Ah, but it may be no nonsense. Perhaps that's what took the king toStrelsau. "

"It's enough to take him if it's true, " admitted Sapt. 

"Well, good day, sir. "

"Good day, Simon. "

The two huntsmen rode off. James watched them for a little while. 

"The king, " he said then, "is known to be in Strelsau; and now CountRupert is known to be in Strelsau. How is Count Rupert to have killedthe king here in the forest of Zenda, sir?"

Sapt looked at him almost apprehensively. 

"How is the king's body to come to the forest of Zenda?" asked James. "Or how is the king's body to go to the city of Strelsau?"

"Stop your damned riddles!" roared Sapt. "Man, are you bent on drivingme into it?"

The servant came near to him, and laid a hand on his shoulder. 

"You went into as great a thing once before, sir, " said he. 

"It was to save the king. "

"And this is to save the queen and yourself. For if we don't do it, thetruth about my master must be known. "

Sapt made him no answer. They sat down again in silence. 

There they sat, sometimes smoking, never speaking, while the tediousafternoon wore away, and the shadows from the trees of the forestlengthened. They did not think of eating or drinking; they did not move, save when James rose and lit a little fire of brushwood in the grate. It grew dusk and again James moved to light the lamp. It was hard on sixo'clock, and still no news came from Strelsau. 

Then there was the sound of a horse's hoofs. The two rushed to thedoor, beyond it, and far along the grassy road that gave approach to thehunting-lodge. They forgot to guard the secret and the door gaped openbehind them. Sapt ran as he had not run for many a day, and outstrippedhis companion. There was a message from Strelsau!

The constable, without a word of greeting, snatched the envelopefrom the hand of the messenger and tore it open. He read it hastily, muttering under his breath "Good God!" Then he turned suddenly round andbegan to walk quickly back to James, who, seeing himself beaten in therace, had dropped to a walk. But the messenger had his cares as well asthe constable. If the constable's thoughts were on a crown, so were his. He called out in indignant protest:

"I have never drawn rein since Hofbau, sir. Am I not to have my crown?"

Sapt stopped, turned, and retraced his steps. He took a crown from hispocket. As he looked up in giving it, there was a queer smile on hisbroad, weather-beaten face. 

"Ay, " he said, "every man that deserves a crown shall have one, if I cangive it him. "

Then he turned again to James, who had now come up, and laid his hand onhis shoulder. 

"Come along, my king-maker, " said he. 

James looked in his face for a moment. The constable's eyes met his; andthe constable nodded. 

So they turned to the lodge where the dead king and his huntsman lay. Verily the fate drove. 

CHAPTER XVI. A CROWD IN THE KONIGSTRASSE

The project that had taken shape in the thoughts of Mr. Rassendyll'sservant, and had inflamed Sapt's daring mind as the dropping of a sparkkindles dry shavings, had suggested itself vaguely to more than one ofus in Strelsau. We did not indeed coolly face and plan it, as the littleservant had, nor seize on it at once with an eagerness to be convincedof its necessity, like the Constable of Zenda; but it was there in mymind, sometimes figuring as a dread, sometimes as a hope, now seemingthe one thing to be avoided, again the only resource against a moredisastrous issue. I knew that it was in Bernenstein's thoughts no lessthan in my own; for neither of us had been able to form any reasonablescheme by which the living king, whom half Strelsau now knew to be inthe city, could be spirited away, and the dead king set in his place. The change could take place, as it seemed, only in one way and at onecost: the truth, or the better part of it, must be told, and everytongue set wagging with gossip and guesses concerning Rudolf Rassendylland his relations with the queen. Who that knows what men and women arewould not have shrunk from that alternative? To adopt it was to exposethe queen to all or nearly all the peril she had run by the loss ofthe letter. We indeed assumed, influenced by Rudolf's unhesitatingself-confidence, that the letter would be won back, and the mouth ofRupert of Hentzau shut; but enough would remain to furnish materialfor eager talk and for conjectures unrestrained by respect or charity. Therefore, alive as we were to its difficulties and its unending risks, we yet conceived of the thing as possible, had it in our hearts, andhinted it to one another--my wife to me, I to Bernenstein, and heto me--in quick glances and half uttered sentences that declared itspresence while shunning the open confession of it. For the queen herselfI cannot speak. Her thoughts, as I judged them, were bounded by thelonging to see Mr. Rassendyll again, and dwelt on the visit that hepromised as the horizon of hope. To Rudolf we had dared to disclosenothing of the part our imaginations set him to play: if he were toaccept it, the acceptance would be of his own act, because the fate thatold Sapt talked of drove him, and on no persuasion of ours. As hehad said, he left the rest, and had centered all his efforts on theimmediate task which fell to his hand to perform, the task that wasto be accomplished at the dingy old house in the Konigstrasse. We wereindeed awake to the fact that even Rupert's death would not makethe secret safe. Rischenheim, although for the moment a prisoner andhelpless, was alive and could not be mewed up for ever; Bauer was weknew not where, free to act and free to talk. Yet in our hearts wefeared none but Rupert, and the doubt was not whether we could do thething so much as whether we should. For in moments of excitement andintense feeling a man makes light of obstacles which look large enoughas he turns reflective eyes on them in the quiet of after-days. 

A message in the king's name had persuaded the best part of the idlecrowd to disperse reluctantly. Rudolf himself had entered one of mycarriages and driven off. He started not towards the Konigstrasse, butin the opposite direction: I supposed that he meant to approach hisdestination by a circuitous way, hoping to gain it without attractingnotice. The queen's carriage was still before my door, for it had beenarranged that she was to proceed to the palace and there await tidings. My wife and I were to accompany her; and I went to her now, where shesat alone, and asked if it were her pleasure to start at once. I foundher thoughtful but calm. She listened to me; then, rising, she said, "Yes, I will go. " But then she asked suddenly, "Where is the Count ofLuzau-Rischenheim?"

I told her how Bernenstein kept guard over the count in the room at theback of the house. She seemed to consider for a moment, then she said:

"I will see him. Go and bring him to me. You must be here while I talkto him, but nobody else. "

I did not know what she intended, but I saw no reason to oppose herwishes, and I was glad to find for her any means of employing this timeof suspense. I obeyed her commands and brought Rischenheim to her. Hefollowed me slowly and reluctantly; his unstable mind had again jumpedfrom rashness to despondency: he was pale and uneasy, and, when he foundhimself in her presence, the bravado of his bearing, maintained beforeBernenstein, gave place to a shamefaced sullenness. He could not meetthe grave eyes that she fixed on him. 

I withdrew to the farther end of the room; but it was small, and I heardall that passed. I had my revolver ready to cover Rischenheim in casehe should be moved to make a dash for liberty. But he was pastthat: Rupert's presence was a tonic that nerved him to effort and toconfidence, but the force of the last dose was gone and the man was sunkagain to his natural irresolution. 

"My lord, " she began gently, motioning him to sit, "I have desired tospeak with you, because I do not wish a gentleman of your rank to thinktoo much evil of his queen. Heaven has willed that my secret should beto you no secret, and therefore I may speak plainly. You may say my ownshame should silence me; I speak to lessen my shame in your eyes, if Ican. "

Rischenheim looked up with a dull gaze, not understanding her mood. Hehad expected reproaches, and met low-voiced apology. 

"And yet, " she went on, "it is because of me that the king lies deadnow; and a faithful humble fellow also, caught in the net of my unhappyfortunes, has given his life for me, though he didn't know it. Evenwhile we speak, it may be that a gentleman, not too old yet to learnnobility, may be killed in my quarrel; while another, whom I alone ofall that know him may not praise, carries his life lightly in his handfor me. And to you, my lord, I have done the wrong of dressing a harshdeed in some cloak of excuse, making you seem to serve the king inworking my punishment. "

Rischenheim's eyes fell to the ground, and he twisted his handsnervously in and out, the one about the other. I took my hand from myrevolver: he would not move now. 

"I don't know, " she went on, now almost dreamily, and as though shespoke more to herself than to him, or had even forgotten his presence, "what end in Heaven's counsel my great unhappiness has served. PerhapsI, who have place above most women, must also be tried above most;and in that trial I have failed. Yet, when I weigh my misery and mytemptation, to my human eyes it seems that I have not failed greatly. My heart is not yet humbled, God's work not yet done. But the guilt ofblood is on my soul--even the face of my dear love I can see now onlythrough its scarlet mist; so that if what seemed my perfect joy were nowgranted me, it would come spoilt and stained and blotched. "

She paused, fixing her eyes on him again; but he neither spoke normoved. 

"You knew my sin, " she said, "the sin so great in my heart; and you knewhow little my acts yielded to it. Did you think, my lord, that thesin had no punishment, that you took it in hand to add shame to mysuffering? Was Heaven so kind that men must temper its indulgence bytheir severity? Yet I know that because I was wrong, you, being wrong, might seem to yourself not wrong, and in aiding your kinsman might pleadthat you served the king's honor. Thus, my lord, I was the cause in youof a deed that your heart could not welcome nor your honor praise. Ithank God that you have come to no more hurt by it. "

Rischenheim began to mutter in a low thick voice, his eyes still castdown: "Rupert persuaded me. He said the king would be very grateful, and--would give me--" His voice died away, and he sat silent again, twisting his hands. 

"I know--I know, " she said. "But you wouldn't have listened to suchpersuasions if my fault hadn't blinded your eyes. "

She turned suddenly to me, who had been standing all the while aloof, and stretched out her hands towards me, her eyes filled with tears. 

"Yet, " said she, "your wife knows, and still loves me, Fritz. "

"She should be no wife of mine, if she didn't, " I cried. "For I and allof mine ask no better than to die for your Majesty. "

"She knows, and yet she loves me, " repeated the queen. I loved to seethat she seemed to find comfort in Helga's love. It is women to whomwomen turn, and women whom women fear. 

"But Helga writes no letters, " said the queen. 

"Why, no, " said I, and I smiled a grim smile. Well, Rudolf Rassendyllhad never wooed my wife. 

She rose, saying: "Come, let us go to the palace. "

As she rose, Rischenheim made a quick impulsive step towards her. 

"Well, my lord, " said she, turning towards him, "will you also go withme?"

"Lieutenant von Bernenstein will take care--" I began. But I stopped. The slightest gesture of her hand silenced me. 

"Will you go with me?" she asked Rischenheim again. 

"Madam, " he stammered, "Madam--"

She waited. I waited also, although I had no great patience with him. Suddenly he fell on his knee, but he did not venture to take her hand. Of her own accord she came and stretched it out to him, saying sadly:"Ah, that by forgiving I could win forgiveness!"

Rischenheim caught at her hand and kissed it. 

"It was not I, " I heard him mutter. "Rupert set me on, and I couldn'tstand out against him. "

"Will you go with me to the palace?" she asked, drawing her hand away, but smiling. 

"The Count of Luzau-Rischenheim, " I made bold to observe, "knows somethings that most people do not know, madam. " She turned on me withdignity, almost with displeasure. 

"The Count of Luzau-Rischenheim may be trusted to be silent, " she said. "We ask him to do nothing against his cousin. We ask only his silence. "

"Ay, " said I, braving her anger, "but what security shall we have?"

"His word of honor, my lord. " I knew that a rebuke to my presumption layin her calling me "my lord, " for, save on formal occasions, she alwaysused to call me Fritz. 

"His word of honor!" I grumbled. "In truth, madam--"

"He's right, " said Rischenheim; "he's right. "

"No, he's wrong, " said the queen, smiling. "The count will keep hisword, given to me. "

Rischenheim looked at her and seemed about to address her, but then heturned to me, and said in a low tone:

"By Heaven, I will, Tarlenheim. I'll serve her in everything--"

"My lord, " said she most graciously, and yet very sadly, "you lightenthe burden on me no less by your help than because I no longer feel yourhonor stained through me. Come, we will go to the palace. " And she wentto him, saying, "We will go together. "

There was nothing for it but to trust him. I knew that I could not turnher. 

"Then I'll see if the carriage is ready, " said I. 

"Yes, do, Fritz, " said the queen. But as I passed she stopped me for amoment, saying in a whisper, "Show that you trust him. "

I went and held out my hand to him. He took and pressed it. 

"On my honor, " he said. 

Then I went out and found Bernenstein sitting on a bench in the hall. The lieutenant was a diligent and watchful young man; he appeared to beexamining his revolver with sedulous care. 

"You can put that away, " said I rather peevishly--I had not fanciedshaking hands with Rischenheim. "He's not a prisoner any longer. He'sone of us now. "

"The deuce he is!" cried Bernenstein, springing to his feet. 

I told him briefly what had happened, and how the queen had won Rupert'sinstrument to be her servant. 

"I suppose he'll stick to it, " I ended; and I thought he would, though Iwas not eager for his help. 

A light gleamed in Bernenstein's eyes, and I felt a tremble in the handthat he laid on my shoulder. 

"Then there's only Bauer now, " he whispered. "If Rischenheim's with us, only Bauer!"

I knew very well what he meant. With Rischenheim silent, Bauer was theonly man, save Rupert himself, who knew the truth, the only man whothreatened that great scheme which more and more filled our thoughts andgrew upon us with an increasing force of attraction as every obstacleto it seemed to be cleared out of the way. But I would not look atBernenstein, fearing to acknowledge even with my eyes how my mind jumpedwith his. He was bolder, or less scrupulous--which you will. 

"Yes, if we can shut Bauer's mouth. " he went on. 

"The queen's waiting for the carriage, " I interrupted snappishly. 

"Ah, yes, of course, the carriage, " and he twisted me round till Iwas forced to look him in the face. Then he smiled, and even laughed alittle. 

"Only Bauer now!" said he. 

"And Rupert, " I remarked sourly. 

"Oh, Rupert's dead bones by now, " he chuckled, and with that he went outof the hall door and announced the queen's approach to her servants. It must be said for young Bernenstein that he was a cheerfulfellow-conspirator. His equanimity almost matched Rudolf's own; I couldnot rival it myself. 

I drove to the palace with the queen and my wife, the other twofollowing in a second carriage. I do not know what they said to oneanother on the way, but Bernenstein was civil enough to his companionwhen I rejoined them. With us my wife was the principal speaker: shefilled up, from what Rudolf had told her, the gaps in our knowledge ofhow he had spent his night in Strelsau, and by the time we arrived wewere fully informed in every detail. The queen said little. The impulsewhich had dictated her appeal to Rischenheim and carried her throughit seemed to have died away; she had become again subject to fears andapprehension. I saw her uneasiness when she suddenly put out her handand touched mine, whispering:

"He must be at the house by now. "

Our way did not lie by the house, and we came to the palace without anynews of our absent chief (so I call him--as such we all, from the queenherself, then regarded him). She did not speak of him again; but hereyes seemed to follow me about as though she were silently asking someservice of me; what it was I could not understand. Bernenstein haddisappeared, and the repentant count with him: knowing they weretogether, I was in no uneasiness; Bernenstein would see that hiscompanion contrived no treachery. But I was puzzled by the queen's tacitappeal. And I was myself on fire for news from the Konigstrasse. It wasnow two hours since Rudolf Rassendyll had left us, and no word had comeof him or from him. At last I could bear it no longer. The queen wassitting with her hand in my wife's; I had been seated on the other sideof the room, for I thought that they might wish to talk to one another;yet I had not seen them exchange a word. I rose abruptly and crossed theroom to where they were. 

"Have you need of my presence, madam, or have I your permission to beaway for a time?" I asked. 

"Where do you wish to go, Fritz?" the queen asked with a little start, as though I had come suddenly across her thoughts. 

"To the Konigstrasse, " said I. 

To my surprise she rose and caught my hand. 

"God bless you, Fritz!" she cried. "I don't think I could have enduredit longer. But I wouldn't ask you to go. But go, my dear friend, go andbring me news of him. Oh, Fritz, I seem to dream that dream again!"

My wife looked up at me with a brave smile and a trembling lip. 

"Shall you go into the house, Fritz?" she asked. 

"Not unless I see need, sweetheart, " said I. 

She came and kissed me. "Go, if you are wanted, " she said. And she triedto smile at the queen, as though she risked me willingly. 

"I could have been such a wife, Fritz, " whispered the queen. "Yes, Icould. "

I had nothing to say; at the moment I might not have been able to say itif I had. There is something in the helpless courage of women that makesme feel soft. We can work and fight; they sit and wait. Yet they donot flinch. Now I know that if I had to sit and think about the thing Ishould turn cur. 

Well, I went, leaving them there together. I put on plain clothesinstead of my uniform, and dropped my revolver into the pocket ofmy coat. Thus prepared, I slipped out and made my way on foot to theKonigstrasse. 

It was now long past midday, but many folks were at their dinner and thestreets were not full. Two or three people recognized me, but I passedby almost unnoticed. There was no sign of stir or excitement, and theflags still floated high in the wind. Sapt had kept his secret; the menof Strelsau thought still that their king lived and was among them. Ifeared that Rudolf's coming would have been seen, and expected to find acrowd of people near the house. But when I reached it there were no morethan ten or a dozen idle fellows lounging about. I began to stroll upand down with as careless an air as I could assume. 

Soon, however, there was a change. The workmen and business folk, their meal finished, began to come out of their houses and from therestaurants. The loafers before No. 19 spoke to many of them. Some said, "Indeed?" shook their heads, smiled and passed on: they had no time towaste in staring at the king. But many waited; lighting their cigars orcigarettes or pipes, they stood gossiping with one another, looking attheir watches now and again, lest they should overstay their leisure. Thus the assembly grew to the number of a couple of hundred. I ceased mywalk, for the pavement was too crowded, and hung on the outskirts of thethrong. As I loitered there, a cigar in my mouth, I felt a hand on myshoulder. Turning round, I saw the lieutenant. He was in uniform. By hisside was Rischenheim. 

"You're here too, are you?" said I. "Well, nothing seems to behappening, does it?"

For No. 19 showed no sign of life. The shutters were up, the doorclosed; the little shop was not open for business that day. 

Bernenstein shook his head with a smile. His companion took no heed ofmy remark; he was evidently in a state of great agitation, and his eyesnever left the door of the house. I was about to address him, when myattention was abruptly and completely diverted by a glimpse of a head, caught across the shoulders of the bystanders. 

The fellow whom I saw wore a brown wide-awake hat. The hat was pulleddown low over his forehead, but nevertheless beneath its rim thereappeared a white bandage running round his head. I could not see theface, but the bullet-shaped skull was very familiar to me. I was surefrom the first moment that the bandaged man was Bauer. Saying nothingto Bernenstein, I began to steal round outside the crowd. As I went, Iheard somebody saying that it was all nonsense; the king was not there:what should the king do in such a house? The answer was a referenceto one of the first loungers; he replied that he did not know what thedevil the king did there, but that the king or his double had certainlygone in, and had as certainly not yet come out again. I wished I couldhave made myself known to them and persuaded them to go away; but mypresence would have outweighed my declarations, and been taken as asure sign that the king was in the house. So I kept on the outskirts andworked my way unobtrusively towards the bandaged head. Evidently Bauer'shurt had not been so serious as to prevent him leaving the infirmary towhich the police had carried him: he was come now to await, even asI was awaiting, the issue of Rudolf's visit to the house in theKonigstrasse. 

He had not seen me, for he was looking at No. 19 as intently asRischenheim. Apparently neither had caught sight of the other, orRischenheim would have shown some embarrassment, Bauer some excitement. I wormed my way quickly towards my former servant. My mind was fullof the idea of getting hold of him. I could not forget Bernenstein'sremark, "Only Bauer now!" If I could secure Bauer we were safe. Safe inwhat? I did not answer to myself, but the old idea was working in me. Safe in our secret and safe in our plan--in the plan on which we all, wehere in the city, and those two at the hunting-lodge, had set our minds!Bauer's death, Bauer's capture, Bauer's silence, however procured, wouldclear the greatest hindrance from its way. 

Bauer stared intently at the house; I crept cautiously up behind him. His hand was in his trousers' pocket; where the curve of the elbow camethere with a space between arm and body. I slipped in my left arm andhooked it firmly inside his. He turned round and saw me. 

"Thus we meet again, Bauer, " said I. 

He was for a moment flabbergasted, and stared stupidly at me. 

"Are you also hoping to see the king?" I asked. 

He began to recover himself. A slow, cunning smile spread over his face. 

"The king?" he asked. 

"Well, he's in Strelsau, isn't he? Who gave you the wound on your head?"

Bauer moved his arm as though he meant to withdraw it from my grasp. Hefound himself tightly held. 

"Where's that bag of mine?" I asked. 

I do not know what he would have answered, for at this instant therecame a sound from behind the closed door of the house. It was as if someone ran rapidly and eagerly towards the door. Then came an oath in ashrill voice, a woman's voice, but harsh and rough. It was answered byan angry cry in a girl's intonation. Full of eagerness, I drew my armfrom Bauer's and sprang forward. I heard a chuckle from him and turnedround, to see his bandaged head retreating rapidly down the street. Ihad no time to look to him, for now I saw two men, shoulder to shoulder, making their way through the crowd, regardless of any one in theirway, and paying no attention to abuse or remonstrances. They were thelieutenant and Rischenheim. Without a moment's hesitation I set myselfto push and battle a way through, thinking to join them in front. Onthey went, and on I went. All gave place before us in surly reluctanceor frightened willingness. We three were together in the first rank ofthe crowd when the door of the house was flung open, and a girl ranout. Her hair was disordered, her face pale, and her eyes full of alarm. There she stood on the doorstep, facing the crowd, which in an instantgrew as if by magic to three times its former size, and, little knowingwhat she did, she cried in the eager accents of sheer terror:

"Help, help! The king! The king!"

CHAPTER XVII. YOUNG RUPERT AND THE PLAY-ACTOR

There rises often before my mind the picture of young Rupert, standingwhere Rischenheim left him, awaiting the return of his messenger andwatching for some sign that should declare to Strelsau the death of itsking which his own hand had wrought. His image is one that memory holdsclear and distinct, though time may blur the shape of greater and bettermen, and the position in which he was that morning gives play enough tothe imagination. Save for Rischenheim, a broken reed, and Bauer, whowas gone, none knew where, he stood alone against a kingdom which he hadrobbed of its head, and a band of resolute men who would know no restand no security so long as he lived. For protection he had only a quickbrain, his courage, and his secret. Yet he could not fly--he waswithout resources till his cousin furnished them--and at any moment hisopponents might find themselves able to declare the king's death andraise the city in hue and cry after him. Such men do not repent; but itmay be that he regretted the enterprise which had led him on so far andforced on him a deed so momentous; yet to those who knew him it seemsmore likely that the smile broadened on his firm full lips as he lookeddown on the unconscious city. Well, I daresay he would have been toomuch for me, but I wish I had been the man to find him there. He wouldnot have had it so; for I believe that he asked no better than to crossswords again with Rudolf Rassendyll and set his fortunes on the issue. 

Down below, the old woman was cooking a stew for her dinner, now andthen grumbling to herself that the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim was solong away, and Bauer, the rascal, drunk in some pot-house. The kitchendoor stood open, and through it could be seen the girl Rosa, busilyscrubbing the tiled floor; her color was high and her eyes bright; fromtime to time she paused in her task, and, raising her head, seemed tolisten. The time at which the king needed her was past, but the king hadnot come. How little the old woman knew for whom she listened! Allher talk had been of Bauer--why Bauer did not come and what could havebefallen him. It was grand to hold the king's secret for him, and shewould hold it with her life; for he had been kind and gracious toher, and he was her man of all the men in Strelsau. Bauer was a stumpyfellow; the Count of Hentzau was handsome, handsome as the devil; butthe king was her man. And the king had trusted her; she would die beforehurt should come to him. 

There were wheels in the street--quick-rolling wheels. They seemed tostop a few doors away, then to roll on again past the house. The girl'shead was raised; the old woman, engrossed in her stewing, took no heed. The girl's straining ear caught a rapid step outside. Then it came--theknock, the sharp knock followed by five light ones. The old woman heardnow: dropping her spoon into the pot, she lifted the mess off the fireand turned round, saying: "There's the rogue at last! Open the door forhim, Rosa. "

Before she spoke Rosa had darted down the passage. The door opened andshut again. The old woman waddled to the threshold of the kitchen. The passage and the shop were dark behind the closed shutters, but thefigure by the girl's side was taller than Bauer's. 

"Who's there?" cried Mother Holf sharply. "The shop's shut to-day: youcan't come in. "

"But I am in, " came the answer, and Rudolf stepped towards her. Thegirl followed a pace behind, her hands clasped and her eyes alight withexcitement. "Don't you know me?" asked Rudolf, standing opposite the oldwoman and smiling down on her. 

There, in the dim light of the low-roofed passage, Mother Holf wasfairly puzzled. She knew the story of Mr. Rassendyll; she knew that hewas again in Ruritania, it was no surprise to her that he should be inStrelsau; but she did not know that Rupert had killed the king, andshe had not seen the king close at hand since his illness and his beardimpaired what had been a perfect likeness. In fine, she could not tellwhether it were indeed the king who spoke to her or his counterfeit. 

"Who are you?" she asked, curt and blunt in her confusion. The girlbroke in with an amused laugh. 

"Why, it's the--" She paused. Perhaps the king's identity was a secret. 

Rudolf nodded to her. "Tell her who I am, " said he. 

"Why, mother, it's the king, " whispered Rosa, laughing and blushing. "The king, mother. "

"Ay, if the king's alive, I'm the king, " said Rudolf. I suppose hewanted to find out how much the old woman knew. 

She made no answer, but stared up at his face. In her bewilderment sheforgot to ask how he had learnt the signal that gained him admission. 

"I've come to see the Count of Hentzau, " Rudolf continued. "Take me tohim at once. "

The old woman was across his path in a moment, all defiant, arms akimbo. 

"Nobody can see the count. He's not here, " she blurted out. 

"What, can't the king see him? Not even the king?"

"King!" she cried, peering at him. "Are you the king?"

Rosa burst out laughing. 

"Mother, you must have seen the king a hundred times, " she laughed. 

"The king, or his ghost--what does it matter?" said Rudolf lightly. 

The old woman drew back with an appearance of sudden alarm. 

"His ghost? Is he?"

"His ghost!" rang out in the girl's merry laugh. "Why, here's the kinghimself, mother. You don't look much like a ghost, sir. "

Mother Holf's face was livid now, and her eyes staring fixedly. Perhapsit shot into her brain that something had happened to the king, and thatthis man had come because of it--this man who was indeed the image, and might have been the spirit, of the king. She leant against thedoor post, her broad bosom heaving under her scanty stuff gown. Yetstill--was it not the king?

"God help us!" she muttered in fear and bewilderment. 

"He helps us, never fear, " said Rudolf Rassendyll. "Where is CountRupert?"

The girl had caught alarm from her mother's agitation. "He's upstairsin the attic at the top of the house, sir, " she whispered in frightenedtones, with a glance that fled from her mother's terrified face toRudolf's set eyes and steady smile. 

What she said was enough for him. He slipped by the old woman and beganto mount the stairs. 

The two watched him, Mother Holf as though fascinated, the girl alarmedbut still triumphant: she had done what the king bade her. Rudolf turnedthe corner of the first landing and disappeared from their sight. Theold woman, swearing and muttering, stumbled back into her kitchen, sether stew on the fire, and began to stir it, her eyes set on the flamesand careless of the pot. The girl watched her mother for a moment, wondering how she could think of the stew, not guessing that she turnedthe spoon without a thought of what she did; then she began to crawl, quickly but noiselessly, up the staircase in the track of RudolfRassendyll. She looked back once: the old woman stirred with amonotonous circular movement of her fat arm. Rosa, bent half-double, skimmed upstairs, till she came in sight of the king whom she was soproud to serve. He was on the top landing now, outside the door of alarge attic where Rupert of Hentzau was lodged. She saw him lay his handon the latch of the door; his other hand rested in the pocket of hiscoat. From the room no sound came; Rupert may have heard the stepoutside and stood motionless to listen. Rudolf opened the door andwalked in. The girl darted breathlessly up the remaining steps, and, coming to the door, just as it swung back on the latch, crouched downby it, listening to what passed within, catching glimpses of forms andmovements through the chinks of the crazy hinge and the crevices wherethe wood of the panel sprung and left a narrow eye hole for her absorbedgazing. 

Rupert of Hentzau had no thought of ghosts; the men he killed lay stillwhere they fell, and slept where they were buried. And he had nowonder at the sight of Rudolf Rassendyll. It told him no more than thatRischenheim's errand had fallen out ill, at which he was not surprised, and that his old enemy was again in his path, at which (as I verilybelieve) he was more glad than sorry. As Rudolf entered, he had beenhalf-way between window and table; he came forward to the table now, andstood leaning the points of two fingers on the unpolished dirty-whitedeal. 

"Ah, the play-actor!" said he, with a gleam of his teeth and a toss ofhis curls, while his second hand, like Mr. Rassendyll's, rested in thepocket of his coat. 

Mr. Rassendyll himself has confessed that in old days it went againstthe grain with him when Rupert called him a play-actor. He was a littleolder now, and his temper more difficult to stir. 

"Yes, the play-actor, " he answered, smiling. "With a shorter part thistime, though. "

"What part to-day? Isn't it the old one, the king with a pasteboardcrown?" asked Rupert, sitting down on the table. "Faith, we shall dohandsomely in Ruritania: you have a pasteboard crown, and I (humble manthough I am) have given the other one a heavenly crown. What a braveshow! But perhaps I tell you news?"

"No, I know what you've done. "

"I take no credit. It was more the dog's doing than mine, " said Rupertcarelessly. "However, there it is, and dead he is, and there's an end ofit. What's your business, play-actor?"

At the repetition of this last word, to her so mysterious, the girloutside pressed her eyes more eagerly to the chink and strained her earsto listen more sedulously. And what did the count mean by the "otherone" and "a heavenly crown"?

"Why not call me king?" asked Rudolf. 

"They call you that in Strelsau?"

"Those that know I'm here. "

"And they are--?"

"Some few score. "

"And thus, " said Rupert, waving an arm towards the window, "the town isquiet and the flags fly?"

"You've been waiting to see them lowered?"

"A man likes to have some notice taken of what he has done, " Rupertcomplained. "However, I can get them lowered when I will. "

"By telling your news? Would that be good for yourself?"

"Forgive me--not that way. Since the king has two lives, it is but innature that he should have two deaths. "

"And when he has undergone the second?"

"I shall live at peace, my friend, on a certain source of income that Ipossess. " He tapped his breast-pocket with a slight, defiant laugh. "Inthese days, " said he, "even queens must be careful about their letters. We live in moral times. "

"You don't share the responsibility for it, " said Rudolf, smiling. 

"I make my little protest. But what's your business, play-actor? For Ithink you're rather tiresome. "

Rudolf grew grave. He advanced towards the table, and spoke in low, serious tones. 

"My lord, you're alone in this matter now. Rischenheim is a prisoner;your rogue Bauer I encountered last night and broke his head. "

"Ah, you did?"

"You have what you know of in your hands. If you yield, on my honor Iwill save your life. "

"You don't desire my blood, then, most forgiving play-actor?"

"So much, that I daren't fail to offer you life, " answered RudolfRassendyll. "Come, sir, your plan has failed: give up the letter. "

Rupert looked at him thoughtfully. 

"You'll see me safe off if I give it you?" he asked. 

"I'll prevent your death. Yes, and I'll see you safe. "

"Where to?"

"To a fortress, where a trustworthy gentleman will guard you. "

"For how long, my dear friend?"

"I hope for many years, my dear Count. "

"In fact, I suppose, as long as--?"

"Heaven leaves you to the world, Count. It's impossible to set youfree. "

"That's the offer, then?"

"The extreme limit of indulgence, " answered Rudolf. Rupert burst intoa laugh, half of defiance, yet touched with the ring of true amusement. Then he lit a cigarette and sat puffing and smiling. 

"I should wrong you by straining your kindness so far, " said he; and inwanton insolence, seeking again to show Mr. Rassendyll the mean esteemin which he held him, and the weariness his presence was, he raised hisarms and stretched them above his head, as a man does in the fatigue oftedium. "Heigho!" he yawned. 

But he had overshot the mark this time. With a sudden swift bound Rudolfwas upon him; his hands gripped Rupert's wrists, and with his greaterstrength he bent back the count's pliant body till trunk and head layflat on the table. Neither man spoke; their eyes met; each heard theother's breathing and felt the vapor of it on his face. The girl outsidehad seen the movement of Rudolf's figure, but her cranny did not serveher to show her the two where they were now; she knelt on her knees inignorant suspense. Slowly and with a patient force Rudolf began to workhis enemy's arms towards one another. Rupert had read his design in hiseyes and resisted with tense muscles. It seemed as though his arms mustcrack; but at last they moved. Inch by inch they were driven closer; nowthe elbows almost touched; now the wrists joined in reluctant contact. The sweat broke out on the count's brow, and stood in large drops onRudolf's. Now the wrists were side by side, and slowly the long sinewyfingers of Rudolf's right hand, that held one wrist already in theirvise, began to creep round the other. The grip seemed to have halfnumbed Rupert's arms, and his struggles grew fainter. Round both wriststhe sinewy fingers climbed and coiled; gradually and timidly the graspof the other hand was relaxed and withdrawn. Would the one hold both?With a great spasm of effort Rupert put it to the proof. 

The smile that bent Mr. Rassendyll's lips gave the answer. He could holdboth, with one hand he could hold both: not for long, no, but for aninstant. And then, in the instant, his left hand, free at last, shot tothe breast of the count's coat. It was the same that he had worn atthe hunting-lodge, and was ragged and torn from the boar-hound's teeth. Rudolf tore it further open, and his hand dashed in. 

"God's curse on you!" snarled Rupert of Hentzau. 

But Mr. Rassendyll still smiled. Then he drew out a letter. A glanceat it showed him the queen's seal. As he glanced Rupert made anothereffort. The one hand, wearied out, gave way, and Mr. Rassendyll had nomore than time to spring away, holding his prize. The next moment he hadhis revolver in his hand--none too soon, for Rupert of Hentzau's barrelfaced him, and they stood thus, opposite to one another, with no morethan three or four feet between the mouths of their weapons. 

There is, indeed, much that may be said against Rupert of Hentzau, thetruth about him well-nigh forbidding that charity of judgment which weare taught to observe towards all men. But neither I nor any man whoknew him ever found in him a shrinking from danger or a fear of death. It was no feeling such as these, but rather a cool calculation ofchances, that now stayed his hand. Even if he were victorious in theduel, and both did not die, yet the noise of the firearms would greatlydecrease his chances of escape. Moreover, he was a noted swordsman, andconceived that he was Mr. Rassendyll's superior in that exercise. Thesteel offered him at once a better prospect for victory and more hope ofa safe fight. So he did not pull his trigger, but, maintaining his aimthe while, said:

"I'm not a street bully, and I don't excel in a rough-and-tumble. Willyou fight now like a gentleman? There's a pair of blades in the caseyonder. "

Mr. Rassendyll, in his turn, was keenly alive to the peril that stillhung over the queen. To kill Rupert would not save her if he himselfalso were shot and left dead, or so helpless that he could not destroythe letter; and while Rupert's revolver was at his heart he could nottear it up nor reach the fire that burnt on the other side of theroom. Nor did he fear the result of a trial with steel, for he had kepthimself in practice and improved his skill since the days when he camefirst to Strelsau. 

"As you will, " said he. "Provided we settle the matter here and now, themanner is the same to me. "

"Put your revolver on the table, then, and I'll lay mine by the side ofit. "

"I beg your pardon, " smiled Rudolf, "but you must lay yours down first. "

"I'm to trust you, it seems, but you won't trust me!"

"Precisely. You know you can trust me; you know that I can't trust you. "

A sudden flush swept over Rupert of Hentzau's face. There were momentswhen he saw, in the mirror of another's face or words, the estimation inwhich honorable men held him; and I believe that he hated Mr. Rassendyllmost fiercely, not for thwarting his enterprise, but because he had morepower than any other man to show him that picture. His brows knit in afrown, and his lips shut tight. 

"Ay, but though you won't fire, you'll destroy the letter, " he sneered. "I know your fine distinctions. "

"Again I beg your pardon. You know very well that, although all Strelsauwere at the door, I wouldn't touch the letter. "

With an angry muttered oath Rupert flung his revolver on the table. Rudolf came forward and laid his by it. Then he took up both, and, crossing to the mantelpiece, laid them there; between there he placedthe queen's letter. A bright blaze burnt in the grate; it needed but theslightest motion of his hand to set the letter beyond all danger. But heplaced it carefully on the mantelpiece, and, with a slight smile on hisface, turned to Rupert, saying: "Now shall we resume the bout that Fritzvon Tarlenheim interrupted in the forest of Zenda?"

All this while they had been speaking in subdued accents, resolutionin one, anger in the other, keeping the voice in an even, deliberatelowness. The girl outside caught only a word here and there; but nowsuddenly the flash of steel gleamed on her eyes through the crevice ofthe hinge. She gave a sudden gasp, and, pressing her face closer to theopening, listened and looked. For Rupert of Hentzau had taken the swordsfrom their case and put them on the table. With a slight bow Rudolf tookone, and the two assumed their positions. Suddenly Rupert lowered hispoint. The frown vanished from his face, and he spoke in his usualbantering tone. 

"By the way, " said he, "perhaps we're letting our feelings run awaywith us. Have you more of a mind now to be King of Ruritania? If so, I'mready to be the most faithful of your subjects. "

"You honor me, Count. "

"Provided, of course, that I'm one of the most favored and the richest. Come, come, the fool is dead now; he lived like a fool and he died likea fool. The place is empty. A dead man has no rights and suffers nowrongs. Damn it, that's good law, isn't it? Take his place and his wife. You can pay my price then. Or are you still so virtuous? Faith, howlittle some men learn from the world they live in! If I had yourchance!"

"Come, Count, you'd be the last man to trust Rupert of Hentzau. "

"If I made it worth his while?"

"But he's a man who would take the pay and betray his associate. "

Again Rupert flushed. When he next spoke his voice was hard, cold, andlow. 

"By God, Rudolf Rassendyll, " said he, "I'll kill you here and now. "

"I ask no better than that you should try. "

"And then I'll proclaim that woman for what she is in all Strelsau. " Asmile came on his lips as he watched Rudolf's face. 

"Guard yourself, my lord, " said Mr. Rassendyll. 

"Ay, for no better than--There, man, I'm ready for you. " For Rudolf'sblade had touched his in warning. 

The steel jangled. The girl's pale face was at the crevice of the hinge. She heard the blades cross again and again. Then one would run up theother with a sharp, grating slither. At times she caught a glimpse ofa figure in quick forward lunge or rapid wary withdrawal. Her brain wasalmost paralyzed. 

Ignorant of the mind and heart of young Rupert, she could not conceivethat he tried to kill the king. Yet the words she had caught soundedlike the words of men quarreling, and she could not persuade herselfthat the gentlemen fenced only for pastime. They were not speaking now;but she heard their hard breathing and the movement of their unrestingfeet on the bare boards of the floor. Then a cry rang out, clear andmerry with the fierce hope of triumph: "Nearly! nearly!"

She knew the voice for Rupert of Hentzau's, and it was the king whoanswered calmly, "Nearly isn't quite. "

Again she listened. They seemed to have paused for a moment, for therewas no sound, save of the hard breathing and deep-drawn pants of men whorest an instant in the midst of intense exertion. Then came again theclash and the slitherings; and one of them crossed into her view. Sheknew the tall figure and she saw the red hair: it was the king. Backwardstep by step he seemed to be driven, coming nearer and nearer to thedoor. At last there was no more than a foot between him and her; onlythe crazy panel prevented her putting out her hand to touch him. Againthe voice of Rupert rang out in rich exultation, "I have you now! Sayyour prayers, King Rudolf!"

"Say your prayers!" Then they fought. It was earnest, not play. And itwas the king--her king--her dear king, who was in great peril of hislife. For an instant she knelt, still watching. Then with a low cry ofterror she turned and ran headlong down the steep stairs. Her mind couldnot tell what to do, but her heart cried out that she must do somethingfor her king. Reaching the ground floor, she ran with wide-open eyesinto the kitchen. The stew was on the hob, the old woman still held thespoon, but she had ceased to stir and fallen into a chair. 

"He's killing the king! He's killing the king!" cried Rosa, seizing hermother by the arm. "Mother, what shall we do? He's killing the king!"

The old woman looked up with dull eyes and a stupid, cunning smile. 

"Let them alone, " she said. "There's no king here. "

"Yes, yes. He's upstairs in the count's room. They're fighting, he andthe Count of Hentzau. Mother, Count Rupert will kill--"

"Let them alone. He the king? He's no king, " muttered the old womanagain. 

For an instant Rosa stood looking down on her in helpless despair. Thena light flashed into her eyes. 

"I must call for help, " she cried. 

The old woman seemed to spring to sudden life. She jumped up and caughther daughter by the shoulder. 

"No, no, " she whispered in quick accents. "You--you don't know. Let themalone, you fool! It's not our business. Let them alone. "

"Let me go, mother, let me go! Mother, I must help the king!"

"I'll not let you go, " said Mother Holf. 

But Rosa was young and strong; her heart was fired with terror for theking's danger. 

"I must go, " she cried; and she flung her mother's grasp off from herso that the old woman was thrown back into her chair, and the spoon fellfrom her hand and clattered on the tiles. But Rosa turned and fleddown the passage and through the shop. The bolts delayed her tremblingfingers for an instant. Then she flung the door wide. A new amazementfilled her eyes at the sight of the eager crowd before the house. Then her eyes fell on me where I stood between the lieutenant andRischenheim, and she uttered her wild cry, "Help! The king!"

With one bound I was by her side and in the house, while Bernensteincried, "Quicker!" from behind. 

CHAPTER XVIII. THE TRIUMPH OF THE KING

THE things that men call presages, presentiments, and so forth, are, to my mind, for the most part idle nothings: sometimes it is only thatprobable events cast before them a natural shadow which superstitiousfancy twists into a Heaven sent warning; oftener the same desire thatgives conception works fulfilment, and the dreamer sees in the resultof his own act and will a mysterious accomplishment independent of hiseffort. Yet when I observe thus calmly and with good sense on the matterto the Constable of Zenda, he shakes his head and answers, "But RudolfRassendyll knew from the first that he would come again to Strelsau andengage young Rupert point to point. Else why did he practise with thefoils so as to be a better swordsman the second time than he wasthe first? Mayn't God do anything that Fritz von Tarlenheim can'tunderstand? a pretty notion, on my life!" And he goes off grumbling. 

Well, be it inspiration, or be it delusion--and the difference standsoften on a hair's breadth--I am glad that Rudolf had it. For if a manonce grows rusty, it is everything short of impossible to put the finepolish on his skill again. Mr. Rassendyll had strength, will, coolness, and, of course, courage. None would have availed had not his eye been inperfect familiarity with its work, and his hand obeyed it as readilyas the bolt slips in a well-oiled groove. As the thing stood, the litheagility and unmatched dash of young Rupert but just missed being toomuch for him. He was in deadly peril when the girl Rosa ran down tobring him aid. His practised skill was able to maintain his defence. Hesought to do no more, but endured Rupert's fiery attack and wily feintsin an almost motionless stillness. Almost, I say; for the slight turnsof wrist that seem nothing are everything, and served here to keep hisskin whole and his life in him. 

There was an instant--Rudolf saw it in his eyes and dwelt on it when helightly painted the scene for me--when there dawned on Rupert of Hentzauthe knowledge that he could not break down his enemy's guard. Surprise, chagrin, amusement, or something like it, seemed blended in his look. He could not make out how he was caught and checked in every effort, meeting, it seemed, a barrier of iron impregnable in rest. His quickbrain grasped the lesson in an instant. If his skill were not thegreater, the victory would not be his, for his endurance was the less. He was younger, and his frame was not so closely knit; pleasure hadtaken its tithe from him; perhaps a good cause goes for something. Evenwhile he almost pressed Rudolf against the panel of the door, he seemedto know that his measure of success was full. But what the hand couldnot compass the head might contrive. In quickly conceived strategy hebegan to give pause in his attack, nay, he retreated a step or two. Noscruples hampered his devices, no code of honor limited the means hewould employ. Backing before his opponent, he seemed to Rudolf to befaint-hearted; he was baffled, but seemed despairing; he was weary, butplayed a more complete fatigue. Rudolf advanced, pressing and attacking, only to meet a defence as perfect as his own. They were in the middle ofthe room now, close by the table. Rupert, as though he had eyes inthe back of his head, skirted round, avoiding it by a narrow inch. Hisbreathing was quick and distressed, gasp tumbling over gasp, but stillhis eye was alert and his hand unerring. He had but a few moments'more effort left in him: it was enough if he could reach his goal andperpetrate the trick on which his mind, fertile in every base device, was set. For it was towards the mantelpiece that his retreat, seemingforced, in truth so deliberate, led him. There was the letter, therelay the revolvers. The time to think of risks was gone by; the time toboggle over what honor allowed or forbade had never come to Rupert ofHentzau. If he could not win by force and skill, he would win by guileand by treachery, to the test that he had himself invited. The revolverslay on the mantelpiece: he meant to possess himself of one, if he couldgain an instant in which to snatch it. 

The device that he adopted was nicely chosen. It was too late to calla rest or ask breathing space: Mr. Rassendyll was not blind to theadvantage he had won, and chivalry would have turned to folly had itallowed such indulgence. Rupert was hard by the mantelpiece now. Thesweat was pouring from his face, and his breast seemed like to burst inthe effort after breath; yet he had enough strength for his purpose. Hemust have slackened his hold on his weapon, for when Rudolf's blade nextstruck it, it flew from his hand, twirled out of a nerveless grasp, andslid along the floor. Rupert stood disarmed, and Rudolf motionless. 

"Pick it up, " said Mr. Rassendyll, never thinking there had been atrick. 

"Ay, and you'll truss me while I do it. "

"You young fool, don't you know me yet?" and Rudolf, lowering his blade, rested its point on the floor, while with his left hand he indicatedRupert's weapon. Yet something warned him: it may be there came a lookin Rupert's eyes, perhaps of scorn for his enemy's simplicity, perhapsof pure triumph in the graceless knavery. Rudolf stood waiting. 

"You swear you won't touch me while I pick it up?" asked Rupert, shrinking back a little, and thereby getting an inch or two nearer themantelpiece. 

"You have my promise: pick it up. I won't wait any longer. "

"You won't kill me unarmed?" cried Rupert, in alarmed scandalizedexpostulation. 

"No; but--"

The speech went unfinished, unless a sudden cry were its ending. And, as he cried, Rudolf Rassendyll, dropping his sword on the ground, sprangforward. For Rupert's hand had shot out behind him and was on the buttof one of the revolvers. The whole trick flashed on Rudolf, and hesprang, flinging his long arms round Rupert. But Rupert had the revolverin his hand. 

In all likelihood the two neither heard nor heeded, though it seemed tome that the creaks and groans of the old stairs were loud enough to wakethe dead. For now Rosa had given the alarm, Bernenstein and I--or I andBernenstein (for I was first, and, therefore, may put myself first)--hadrushed up. Hard behind us came Rischenheim, and hot on his heels a scoreof fellows, pushing and shouldering and trampling. We in front had afair start, and gained the stairs unimpeded; Rischenheim was caught upin the ruck and gulfed in the stormy, tossing group that struggled forfirst footing on the steps. Yet, soon they were after us, and we heardthem reach the first landing as we sped up to the last. There was aconfused din through all the house, and it seemed now to echo muffledand vague through the walls from the street without. I was conscious ofit, although I paid no heed to anything but reaching the room wherethe king--where Rudolf--was. Now I was there, Bernenstein hanging tomy heels. The door did not hold us a second. I was in, he after me. Heslammed the door and set his back against it, just as the rush of feetflooded the highest flight of stairs. And at the moment a revolver shotrang clear and loud. 

The lieutenant and I stood still, he against the door, I a pace fartherinto the room. The sight we saw was enough to arrest us with its strangeinterest. The smoke of the shot was curling about, but neither manseemed wounded. The revolver was in Rupert's hand, and its muzzlesmoked. But Rupert was jammed against the wall, just by the side ofthe mantelpiece. With one hand Rudolf had pinned his left arm to thewainscoting higher than his head, with the other he held his rightwrist. I drew slowly nearer: if Rudolf were unarmed, I could fairlyenforce a truce and put them on an equality; yet, though Rudolf wasunarmed, I did nothing. The sight of his face stopped me. He was verypale and his lips were set, but it was his eyes that caught my gaze, forthey were glad and merciless. I had never seen him look thus before. Iturned from him to young Hentzau's face. Rupert's teeth were biting hisunder lip, the sweat dropped, and the veins swelled large and blue onhis forehead; his eyes were set on Rudolf Rassendyll. Fascinated, I drewnearer. Then I saw what passed. Inch by inch Rupert's arm curved, theelbow bent, the hand that had pointed almost straight from him and atMr. Rassendyll pointed now away from both towards the window. But itsmotion did not stop; it followed the line of a circle: now it wason Rupert's arm; still it moved, and quicker now, for the power ofresistance grew less. Rupert was beaten; he felt it and knew it, and Iread the knowledge in his eyes. I stepped up to Rudolf Rassendyll. Heheard or felt me, and turned his eyes for an instant. I do not knowwhat my face said, but he shook his head and turned back to Rupert. Therevolver, held still in the man's own hand, was at his heart. The motionceased, the point was reached. 

I looked again at Rupert. Now his face was easier; there was a slightsmile on his lips; he flung back his comely head and rested thus againstthe wainscoting; his eyes asked a question of Rudolf Rassendyll. Iturned my gaze to where the answer was to come, for Rudolf made none inwords. By the swiftest of movements he shifted his grasp from Rupert'swrist and pounced on his hand. Now his forefinger rested on Rupert's andRupert's was on the trigger. I am no soft-heart, but I laid a hand onhis shoulder. He took no heed; I dared do no more. Rupert glanced atme. I caught his look, but what could I say to him? Again my eyes wereriveted on Rudolf's finger. Now it was crooked round Rupert's, seeminglike a man who strangles another. 

I will not say more. He smiled to the last; his proud head, whichhad never bent for shame, did not bend for fear. There was a suddentightening in the pressure of that crooked forefinger, a flash, a noise. He was held up against the wall for an instant by Rudolf's hand; whenthat was removed he sank, a heap that looked all head and knees. 

But hot on the sound of the discharge came a shout and an oath fromBernenstein. He was hurled away from the door, and through it burstRischenheim and the whole score after him. They were jostling oneanother and crying out to know what passed and where the king was. Highover all the voices, coming from the back of the throng, I heard the cryof the girl Rosa. But as soon as they were in the room, the same spellthat had fastened Bernenstein and me to inactivity imposed its numbingpower on them also. Only Rischenheim gave a sudden sob and ran forwardto where his cousin lay. The rest stood staring. For a moment Rudolfeyed them. Then, without a word, he turned his back. He put out theright hand with which he had just killed Rupert of Hentzau, and took theletter from the mantelpiece. He glanced at the envelope, then he openedthe letter. The handwriting banished any last doubt he had; he torethe letter across, and again in four pieces, and yet again in smallerfragments. Then he sprinkled the morsels of paper into the blaze of thefire. I believe that every eye in the room followed them and watchedtill they curled and crinkled into black, wafery ashes. Thus, at lastthe queen's letter was safe. 

When he had thus set the seal on his task he turned round to us again. He paid no heed to Rischenheim, who was crouching down by the body ofRupert; but he looked at Bernenstein and me, and then at the peoplebehind us. He waited a moment before he spoke; then his utterance wasnot only calm but also very slow, so that he seemed to be choosing hiswords carefully. 

"Gentlemen, " said he, "a full account of this matter will be renderedby myself in due time. For the present it must suffice to say that thisgentleman who lies here dead sought an interview with me on privatebusiness. I came here to find him, desiring, as he professed, to desire, privacy. And here he tried to kill me. The result of his attempt yousee. "

I bowed low, Bernenstein did the like, and all the rest followed ourexample. 

"A full account shall be given, " said Rudolf. "Now let all leave me, except the Count of Tarlenheim and Lieutenant von Bernenstein. "

Most unwillingly, with gaping mouths and wonder-struck eyes, the throngfiled out of the door. Rischenheim rose to his feet. 

"You stay, if you like, " said Rudolf, and the count knelt again by hiskinsman. 

Seeing the rough bedsteads by the wall of the attic, I touchedRischenheim on the shoulder and pointed to one of them. Together welifted Rupert of Hentzau. The revolver was still in his hand, butBernenstein disengaged it from his grasp. Then Rischenheim and I laidhim down, disposing his body decently and spreading over it his ridingcloak, still spotted with the mud gathered on his midnight expedition tothe hunting-lodge. His face looked much as before the shot was fired;in death, as in life, he was the handsomest fellow in all Ruritania. Iwager that many tender hearts ached and many bright eyes were dimmed forhim when the news of his guilt and death went forth. There are ladiesstill in Strelsau who wear his trinkets in an ashamed devotion thatcannot forget. Well, even I, who had every good cause to hate and scornhim, set the hair smooth on his brow; while Rischenheim was sobbing likea child, and young Bernenstein rested his head on his arm as he leant onthe mantelpiece, and would not look at the dead. Rudolf alone seemed notto heed him or think of him. His eyes had lost their unnatural look ofjoy, and were now calm and tranquil. He took his own revolver from themantelpiece and put it in his pocket, laying Rupert's neatly where hishad been. Then he turned to me and said:

"Come, let us go to the queen and tell her that the letter is beyondreach of hurt. "

Moved by some impulse, I walked to the window and put my head out. Iwas seen from below, and a great shout greeted me. The crowd before thedoors grew every moment; the people flocking from all quarters wouldsoon multiply it a hundred fold; for such news as had been carried fromthe attic by twenty wondering tongues spreads like a forest-fire. Itwould be through Strelsau in a few minutes, through the kingdom inan hour, through Europe in but little longer. Rupert was dead andthe letter was safe, but what were we to tell that great concourseconcerning their king? A queer feeling of helpless perplexity came overme and found vent in a foolish laugh. Bernenstein was by my side; healso looked out, and turned again with an eager face. 

"You'll have a royal progress to your palace, " said he to RudolfRassendyll. 

Mr. Rassendyll made no answer, but, coming to me, took my arm. Wewent out, leaving Rischenheim by the body. I did not think of him;Bernenstein probably thought that he would keep his pledge given tothe queen, for he followed us immediately and without demur. There wasnobody outside the door. The house was very quiet, and the tumult fromthe street reached us only in a muffled roar. But when we came to thefoot of the stairs we found the two women. Mother Holf stood on thethreshold of the kitchen, looking amazed and terrified. Rosa wasclinging to her; but as soon as Rudolf came in sight, the girlsprang forward and flung herself on her knees before him, pouring outincoherent thanks to Heaven for his safety. He bent down and spoke toher in a whisper; she looked up with a flush of pride on her face. Heseemed to hesitate a moment; he glanced at his hands, but he woreno ring save that which the queen had given him long ago. Then hedisengaged his chain and took his gold watch from his pocket. Turning itover, he showed me the monogram, R. R. 

"Rudolfus Rex, " he whispered with a whimsical smile, and pressed thewatch into the girl's hand, saying: "Keep this to remind you of me. "

She laughed and sobbed as she caught it with one hand, while with theother she held his. 

"You must let go, " he said gently. "I have much to do. "

I took her by the arm and induced her to rise. Rudolf, released, passedon to where the old woman stood. He spoke to her in a stern, distinctvoice. 

"I don't know, " he said, "how far you are a party to the plot that washatched in your house. For the present I am content not to know, for itis no pleasure to me to detect disloyalty or to punish an old woman. Buttake care! The first word you speak, the first act you do against me, the king, will bring its certain and swift punishment. If you troubleme, I won't spare you. In spite of traitors I am still king inStrelsau. "

He paused, looking hard in her face. Her lip quivered and her eyes fell. 

"Yes, " he repeated, "I am king in Strelsau. Keep your hands out ofmischief and your tongue quiet. "

She made no answer. He passed on. I was following, but as I went byher the old woman clutched my arm. "In God's name, who is he?" shewhispered. 

"Are you mad?" I asked, lifting my brows. "Don't you know the king whenhe speaks to you? And you'd best remember what he said. He has servantswho'll do his orders. "

She let me go and fell back a step. Young Bernenstein smiled at her; heat least found more pleasure than anxiety in our position. Thus, then, we left them: the old woman terrified, amazed, doubtful; the girl withruddy cheeks and shining eyes, clasping in her two hands the keepsakethat the king himself had given her. 

Bernenstein had more presence of mind than I. He ran forward, got infront of both of us, and flung the door open. Then, bowing very low, hestood aside to let Rudolf pass. The street was full from end to end now, and a mighty shout of welcome rose from thousands of throats. Hats andhandkerchiefs were waved in mad exultation and triumphant loyalty. Thetidings of the king's escape had flashed through the city, and all werethere to do him honor. They had seized some gentleman's landau and takenout the horses. The carriage stood now before the doors of the house. Rudolf had waited a moment on the threshold, lifting his hat once ortwice; his face was perfectly calm, and I saw no trembling in his hands. In an instant a dozen arms took gentle hold of him and impelled himforward. He mounted into the carriage; Bernenstein and I followed, withbare heads, and sat on the back seat, facing him. The people were roundas thick as bees, and it seemed as though we could not move withoutcrushing somebody. Yet presently the wheels turned, and they began todrag us away at a slow walk. Rudolf kept raising his hat, bowing now toright, now to left. But once, as he turned, his eyes met ours. In spiteof what was behind and what was in front, we all three smiled. 

"I wish they'd go a little quicker, " said Rudolf in a whisper, as heconquered his smile and turned again to acknowledge the loyal greetingsof his subjects. 

But what did they know of any need for haste? They did not know whatstood on the turn of the next few hours, nor the momentous question thatpressed for instant decision. So far from hurrying, they lengthened ourride by many pauses; they kept us before the cathedral, while some ranand got the joy bells set ringing; we were stopped to receive improvisedbouquets from the hands of pretty girls and impetuous hand-shakings fromenthusiastic loyalists. Through it all Rudolf kept his composure, andseemed to play his part with native kingliness. I heard Bernensteinwhisper, "By God, we must stick to it!"

At last we came in sight of the palace. Here also there was a greatstir. Many officers and soldiers were about. I saw the chancellor'scarriage standing near the portico, and a dozen other handsome equipageswere waiting till they could approach. Our human horses drew us slowlyup to the entrance. Helsing was on the steps, and ran down to thecarriage, greeting the king with passionate fervor. The shouts of thecrowd grew louder still. 

But suddenly a stillness fell on them; it lasted but an instant, andwas the prelude to a deafening roar. I was looking at Rudolf and saw hishead turn suddenly and his eyes grow bright. I looked where his eyeshad gone. There, on the top step of the broad marble flight, stoodthe queen, pale as the marble itself, stretching out her hands towardsRudolf. The people had seen her: she it was whom this last rapturouscheer greeted. My wife stood close behind her, and farther back othersof her ladies. Bernenstein and I sprang out. With a last salute to thepeople Rudolf followed us. He walked up to the highest step but one, andthere fell on one knee and kissed the queen's hand. I was by him, andwhen he looked up in her face I heard him say:

"All's well. He's dead, and the letter burnt. "

She raised him with her hand. Her lips moved, but it seemed as thoughshe could find no words to speak. She put her arm through his, and thusthey stood for an instant, fronting all Strelsau. Again the cheers rangout, and young Bernenstein sprang forward, waving his helmet and cryinglike a man possessed, "God save the king!" I was carried away by hisenthusiasm and followed his lead. All the people took up the cry withboundless fervor, and thus we all, high and low in Strelsau, thatafternoon hailed Mr. Rassendyll for our king. There had been no suchzeal since Henry the Lion came back from his wars, a hundred and fiftyyears ago. 

"And yet, " observed old Helsing at my elbow, "agitators say that thereis no enthusiasm for the house of Elphberg!" He took a pinch of snuff inscornful satisfaction. 

Young Bernenstein interrupted his cheering with a short laugh, but fellto his task again in a moment. I had recovered my senses by now, andstood panting, looking down on the crowd. It was growing dusk and thefaces became blurred into a white sea. Yet suddenly I seemed to discernone glaring up at me from the middle of the crowd--the pale face ofa man with a bandage about his head. I caught Bernenstein's arm andwhispered, "Bauer, " pointing with my finger where the face was. But, even as I pointed, it was gone; though it seemed impossible for a man tomove in that press, yet it was gone. It had come like a cynic's warningacross the scene of mock triumph, and went swiftly as it had come, leaving behind it a reminder of our peril. I felt suddenly sick atheart, and almost cried out to the people to have done with their sillyshouting. 

At last we got away. The plea of fatigue met all visitors who made theirway to the door and sought to offer their congratulations; it could notdisperse the crowd that hung persistently and contentedly about, ringingus in the palace with a living fence. We still heard their jests andcheers when we were alone in the small saloon that opens on the gardens. My wife and I had come here at Rudolf's request; Bernenstein had assumedthe duty of guarding the door. Evening was now falling fast, and it grewdark. The garden was quiet; the distant noise of the crowd threw itsstillness into greater relief. Rudolf told us there the story of hisstruggle with Rupert of Hentzau in the attic of the old house, dwellingon it as lightly as he could. The queen stood by his chair--she wouldnot let him rise; when he finished by telling how he had burnt herletter, she stooped suddenly and kissed him off the brow. Then shelooked straight across at Helga, almost defiantly; but Helga ran to herand caught her in her arms. 

Rudolf Rassendyll sat with his head resting on his hand. He looked uponce at the two women; then he caught my eye, and beckoned me to come tohim. I approached him, but for several moments he did not speak. Againhe motioned to me, and, resting my hand on the arm of his chair, I bentmy head close down to his. He glanced again at the queen, seeming afraidthat she would hear what he wished to say. 

"Fritz, " he whispered at last, "as soon as it's fairly dark I must getaway. Bernenstein will come with me. You must stay here. "

"Where can you go?"

"To the lodge. I must meet Sapt and arrange matters with him. "

I did not understand what plan he had in his head, or what scheme hecould contrive. But at the moment my mind was not directed to suchmatters; it was set on the sight before my eyes. 

"And the queen?" I whispered in answer to him. 

Low as my voice was, she heard it. She turned to us with a sudden, startled movement, still holding Helga's hand. Her eyes searched ourfaces, and she knew in an instant of what we had been speaking. A littlelonger still she stood, gazing at us. Then she suddenly sprang forwardand threw herself on her knees before Rudolf, her hands uplifted andresting on his shoulders. She forgot our presence, and everything in theworld, save her great dread of losing him again. 

"Not again, Rudolf, my darling! Not again! Rudolf, I can't bear itagain. "

Then she dropped her head on his knees and sobbed. 

He raised his hand and gently stroked the gleaming hair. But he did notlook at her. He gazed out at the garden, which grew dark and drearyin the gathering gloom. His lips were tight set and his face pale anddrawn. 

I watched him for a moment, then I drew my wife away, and we sat down ata table some way off. From outside still came the cheers and tumult ofthe joyful, excited crowd. Within there was no sound but the queen'sstifled sobbing. Rudolf caressed her shining hair and gazed into thenight with sad, set eyes. She raised her head and looked into his face. 

"You'll break my heart, " she said. 

CHAPTER XIX. FOR OUR LOVE AND HER HONOR

RUPERT of Hentzau was dead! That was the thought which, among all ourperplexities, came back to me, carrying with it a wonderful relief. To those who have not learnt in fighting against him the height of hisaudacity and the reach of his designs, it may well seem incredible thathis death should breed comfort at a moment when the future was stillso dark and uncertain. Yet to me it was so great a thing that I couldhardly bring myself to the conviction that we had done with him. True, he was dead; but could he not strike a blow at us even from beyond thegulf?

Such were the half-superstitious thoughts that forced their way into mymind as I stood looking out on the crowd which obstinately encircled thefront of the palace. I was alone; Rudolf was with the queen, my wife wasresting, Bernenstein had sat down to a meal for which I could findno appetite. By an effort I freed myself from my fancies and tried toconcentrate my brain on the facts of our position. We were ringed roundwith difficulties. To solve them was beyond my power; but I knew wheremy wish and longing lay. I had no desire to find means by which RudolfRassendyll should escape unknown from Strelsau; the king, althoughdead, be again in death the king, and the queen be left desolate on hermournful and solitary throne. It might be that a brain more astute thanmine could bring all this to pass. My imagination would have none ofit, but dwelt lovingly on the reign of him who was now king in Strelsau, declaring that to give the kingdom such a ruler would be a splendidfraud, and prove a stroke so bold as to defy detection. Against itstood only the suspicions of Mother Holf--fear or money would close herlips--and the knowledge of Bauer; Bauer's mouth also could be shut, ay, and should be before we were many days older. My reverie led me far;I saw the future years unroll before me in the fair record of a greatking's sovereignty. It seemed to me that by the violence and bloodshedwe had passed through, fate, for once penitent, was but righting themistake made when Rudolf was not born a king. 

For a long while I stood thus, musing and dreaming; I was roused by thesound of the door opening and closing; turning, I saw the queen. She wasalone, and came towards me with timid steps. She looked out for a momenton the square and the people, but drew back suddenly in apparent fearlest they should see her. Then she sat down and turned her face towardsmine. I read in her eyes something of the conflict of emotions whichpossessed her; she seemed at once to deprecate my disapproval and toask my sympathy; she prayed me to be gentle to her fault and kind to herhappiness; self-reproach shadowed her joy, but the golden gleam of itstrayed through. I looked eagerly at her; this would not have been herbearing had she come from a last farewell; for the radiance was there, however much dimmed by sorrow and by fearfulness. 

"Fritz, " she began softly, "I am wicked--so wicked. Won't God punish mefor my gladness?"

I fear I paid little heed to her trouble, though I can understand itwell enough now. 

"Gladness?" I cried in a low voice. "Then you've persuaded him?"

She smiled at me for an instant. 

"I mean, you've agreed?" I stammered. 

Her eyes again sought mine, and she said in a whisper: "Some day, notnow. Oh, not now. Now would be too much. But some day, Fritz, if Godwill not deal too hardly with me, I--I shall be his, Fritz. "

I was intent on my vision, not on hers. I wanted him king; she did notcare what he was, so that he was hers, so that he should not leave her. 

"He'll take the throne, " I cried triumphantly. 

"No, no, no. Not the throne. He's going away. "

"Going away!" I could not keep the dismay out of my voice. 

"Yes, now. But not--not for ever. It will be long--oh, so long--but Ican bear it, if I know that at last!" She stopped, still looking up atme with eyes that implored pardon and sympathy. 

"I don't understand, " said I, bluntly, and, I fear, gruffly, also. 

"You were right, " she said: "I did persuade him. He wanted to go awayagain as he went before. Ought I to have let him? Yes, yes! But Icouldn't. Fritz, hadn't I done enough? You don't know what I've endured. And I must endure more still. For he will go now, and the time will bevery long. But, at last, we shall be together. There is pity in God; weshall be together at last. "

"If he goes now, how can he come back?"

"He will not come back; I shall go to him. I shall give up the throneand go to him, some day, when I can be spared from here, when I've donemy--my work. "

I was aghast at this shattering of my vision, yet I could not be hard toher. I said nothing, but took her hand and pressed it. 

"You wanted him to be king?" she whispered. 

"With all my heart, madam, " said I. 

"He wouldn't, Fritz. No, and I shouldn't dare to do that, either. "

I fell back on the practical difficulties. "But how can he go?" I asked. 

"I don't know. But he knows; he has a plan. "

We fell again into silence; her eyes grew more calm, and seemed to lookforward in patient hope to the time when her happiness should come toher. I felt like a man suddenly robbed of the exaltation of wine andsunk to dull apathy. "I don't see how he can go, " I said sullenly. 

She did not answer me. A moment later the door again opened. Rudolf camein, followed by Bernenstein. Both wore riding boots and cloaks. I saw onBernenstein's face just such a look of disappointment as I knew must beon mine. Rudolf seemed calm and even happy. He walked straight up to thequeen. 

"The horses will be ready in a few minutes, " he said gently. Then, turning to me, he asked, "You know what we're going to do, Fritz?"

"Not I, sire, " I answered, sulkily. 

"Not I, sire!" he repeated, in a half-merry, half-sad mockery. Then hecame between Bernenstein and me and passed his arms through ours. "Youtwo villains!" he said. "You two unscrupulous villains! Here you are, as rough as bears, because I won't be a thief! Why have I killed youngRupert and left you rogues alive?"

I felt the friendly pressure of his hand on my arm. I could not answerhim. With every word from his lips and every moment of his presence mysorrow grew keener that he would not stay. Bernenstein looked across atme and shrugged his shoulders despairingly. Rudolf gave a little laugh. 

"You won't forgive me for not being as great a rogue, won't you?" heasked. 

Well, I found nothing to say, but I took my arm out of his and claspedhis hand. He gripped mine hard. 

"That's old Fritz!" he said; and he caught hold of Bernenstein's hand, which the lieutenant yielded with some reluctance. "Now for theplan, " said he. "Bernenstein and I set out at once for the lodge--yes, publicly, as publicly as we can. I shall ride right through the peoplethere, showing myself to as many as will look at me, and letting itbe known to everybody where I'm going. We shall get there quite earlyto-morrow, before it's light. There we shall find what you know. Weshall find Sapt, too, and he'll put the finishing touches to our planfor us. Hullo, what's that?"

There was a sudden fresh shouting from the large crowd that stilllingered outside the palace. I ran to the window, and saw a commotion inthe midst of them. I flung the sash up. Then I heard a well-known, loud, strident voice: "Make way, you rascals, make way. "

I turned round again, full of excitement. 

"It's Sapt himself!" I said. "He's riding like mad through the crowd, and your servant's just behind him. "

"My God, what's happened? Why have they left the lodge?" criedBernenstein. 

The queen looked up in startled alarm, and, rising to her feet, cameand passed her arm through Rudolf's. Thus we all stood, listening tothe people good-naturedly cheering Sapt, whom they had recognized, andbantering James, whom they took for a servant of the constable's. 

The minutes seemed very long as we waited in utter perplexity, almost inconsternation. The same thought was in the mind of all of us, silentlyimparted by one to another in the glances we exchanged. What could havebrought them from their guard of the great secret, save its discovery?They would never have left their post while the fulfilment of theirtrust was possible. By some mishap, some unforeseen chance, the king'sbody must have been discovered. Then the king's death was known, and thenews of it might any moment astonish and bewilder the city. 

At last the door was flung open, and a servant announced the Constableof Zenda. Sapt was covered with dust and mud, and James, who enteredclose on his heels, was in no better plight. Evidently they had riddenhard and furiously; indeed they were still panting. Sapt, with a mostperfunctory bow to the queen, came straight to where Rudolf stood. 

"Is he dead?" he asked, without preface. 

"Yes, Rupert is dead, " answered Mr. Rassendyll: "I killed him. "

"And the letter?"

"I burnt it. "

"And Rischenheim?"

The queen struck in. 

"The Count of Luzau-Rischenheim will say and do nothing against me, " shesaid. 

Sapt lifted his brows a little. "Well, and Bauer?" he asked. 

"Bauer's at large, " I answered. 

"Hum! Well, it's only Bauer, " said the constable, seeming tolerably wellpleased. Then his eyes fell on Rudolf and Bernenstein. He stretched outhis hand and pointed to their riding-boots. "Whither away so late atnight?" he asked. 

"First together to the lodge, to find you, then I alone to thefrontier, " said Mr. Rassendyll. 

"One thing at a time. The frontier will wait. What does your Majestywant with me at the lodge?"

"I want so to contrive that I shall be no longer your Majesty, " saidRudolf. 

Sapt flung himself into a chair and took off his gloves. 

"Come, tell me what has happened to-day in Strelsau, " he said. 

We gave a short and hurried account. He listened with few signs ofapproval or disapproval, but I thought I saw a gleam in his eyes when Idescribed how all the city had hailed Rudolf as its king and the queenreceived him as her husband before the eyes of all. Again the hope andvision, shattered by Rudolf's calm resolution, inspired me. Sapt saidlittle, but he had the air of a man with some news in reserve. He seemedto be comparing what we told him with something already known to himbut unknown to us. The little servant stood all the while in respectfulstillness by the door; but I could see by a glance at his alert facethat he followed the whole scene with keen attention. 

At the end of the story, Rudolf turned to Sapt. "And your secret--is itsafe?" he asked. 

"Ay, it's safe enough!"

"Nobody has seen what you had to hide?"

"No; and nobody knows that the king is dead, " answered Sapt. 

"Then what brings you here?"

"Why, the same thing that was about to bring you to the lodge: the needof a meeting between yourself and me, sire. "

"But the lodge--is it left unguarded?"

"The lodge is safe enough, " said Colonel Sapt. 

Unquestionably there was a secret, a new secret, hidden behind the curtwords and brusque manner. I could restrain myself no longer, and sprangforward, saying: "What is it? Tell us, Constable!"

He looked at me, then glanced at Mr. Rassendyll. 

"I should like to hear your plan first, " he said to Rudolf. "How do youmean to account for your presence alive in the city to-day, when theking has lain dead in the shooting-box since last night?"

We drew close together as Rudolf began his answer. Sapt alone lay backin his chair. The queen also had resumed her seat; she seemed to paylittle heed to what we said. I think that she was still engrossed withthe struggle and tumult in her own soul. The sin of which she accusedherself, and the joy to which her whole being sprang in a greeting whichwould not be abashed, were at strife between themselves, but joinedhands to exclude from her mind any other thought. 

"In an hour I must be gone from here, " began Rudolf. 

"If you wish that, it's easy, " observed Colonel Sapt. 

"Come, Sapt, be reasonable, " smiled Mr. Rassendyll. "Early to-morrow, we--you and I--"

"Oh, I also?" asked the colonel. 

"Yes; you, Bernenstein, and I will be at the lodge. "

"That's not impossible, though I have had nearly enough riding. "

Rudolf fixed his eyes firmly on Sapt's. 

"You see, " he said, "the king reaches his hunting-lodge early in themorning. "

"I follow you, sire. "

"And what happens there, Sapt? Does he shoot himself accidentally?"

"Well, that happens sometimes. "

"Or does an assassin kill him?"

"Eh, but you've made the best assassin unavailable. "

Even at this moment I could not help smiling at the old fellow's surlywit and Rudolf's amused tolerance of it. 

"Or does his faithful attendant, Herbert, shoot him?"

"What, make poor Herbert a murderer!"

"Oh, no! By accident--and then, in remorse, kill himself. "

"That's very pretty. But doctors have awkward views as to when a man canhave shot himself. "

"My good Constable, doctors have palms as well as ideas. If you fill theone you supply the other. "

"I think, " said Sapt, "that both the plans are good. Suppose we choosethe latter, what then?"

"Why, then, by to-morrow at midday the news flashes throughRuritania--yes, and through Europe--that the king, miraculouslypreserved to-day--"

"Praise be to God!" interjected Colonel Sapt; and young Bernensteinlaughed. 

"Has met a tragic end. "

"It will occasion great grief, " said Sapt. 

"Meanwhile, I am safe over the frontier. "

"Oh, you are quite safe?"

"Absolutely. And in the afternoon of to-morrow, you and Bernensteinwill set out for Strelsau, bringing with you the body of the king. " AndRudolf, after a pause, whispered, "You must shave his face. And if thedoctors want to talk about how long he's been dead, why, they have, as Isay, palms. "

Sapt sat silent for a while, apparently considering the scheme. It wasrisky enough in all conscience, but success had made Rudolf bold, andhe had learnt how slow suspicion is if a deception be bold enough. It isonly likely frauds that are detected. 

"Well, what do you say?" asked Mr. Rassendyll. I observed that hesaid nothing to Sapt of what the queen and he had determined to doafterwards. 

Sapt wrinkled his forehead. I saw him glance at James, and theslightest, briefest smile showed on James's face. 

"It's dangerous, of course, " pursued Rudolf. "But I believe that whenthey see the king's body--"

"That's the point, " interrupted Sapt. "They can't see the king's body. "

Rudolf looked at him with some surprise. Then speaking in a low voice, lest the queen should hear and be distressed, he went on: "You mustprepare it, you know. Bring it here in a shell; only a few officialsneed see the face. "

Sapt rose to his feet and stood facing Mr. Rassendyll. 

"The plan's a pretty one, but it breaks down at one point, " said he in astrange voice, even harsher than his was wont to be. I was on fire withexcitement, for I would have staked my life now that he had some strangetidings for us. "There is no body, " said he. 

Even Mr. Rassendyll's composure gave way. He sprang forward, catchingSapt by the arm. 

"No body? What do you mean?" he exclaimed. 

Sapt cast another glance at James, and then began in an even, mechanicalvoice, as though he were reading a lesson he had learnt, or playing apart that habit made familiar:

"That poor fellow Herbert carelessly left a candle burning where the oiland the wood were kept, " he said. "This afternoon, about six, James andI lay down for a nap after our meal. At about seven James came to myside and roused me. My room was full of smoke. The lodge was ablaze. Idarted out of bed: the fire had made too much headway; we could not hopeto quench it; we had but one thought!" He suddenly paused, and looked atJames. 

"But one thought, to save our companion, " said James gravely. 

"But one thought, to save our companion. We rushed to the door of theroom where he was. I opened the door and tried to enter. It was certaindeath. James tried, but fell back. Again I rushed in. James pulled meback: it was but another death. We had to save ourselves. We gained theopen air. The lodge was a sheet of flame. We could do nothing but standwatching, till the swiftly burning wood blackened to ashes and theflames died down. As we watched we knew that all in the cottage must bedead. What could we do? At last James started off in the hope of gettinghelp. He found a party of charcoal-burners, and they came with him. The flames were burnt down now; and we and they approached the charredruins. Everything was in ashes. But"--he lowered his voice--"we foundwhat seemed to be the body of Boris the hound; in another room was acharred corpse, whose hunting-horn, melted to a molten mass, told usthat it had been Herbert the forester. And there was anothercorpse, almost shapeless, utterly unrecognizable. We saw it; thecharcoal-burners saw it. Then more peasants came round, drawn by thesight of the flames. None could tell who it was; only I and James knew. And we mounted our horses and have ridden here to tell the king. "

Sapt finished his lesson or his story. A sob burst from the queen, andshe hid her face in her hands. Bernenstein and I, amazed at this strangetale, scarcely understanding whether it were jest or earnest, stoodstaring stupidly at Sapt. Then I, overcome by the strange thing, turnedhalf-foolish by the bizarre mingling of comedy and impressiveness inSapt's rendering of it, plucked him by the sleeve, and asked, withsomething between a laugh and a gasp:

"Who had that other corpse been, Constable?"

He turned his small, keen eyes on me in persistent gravity andunflinching effrontery. 

"A Mr. Rassendyll, a friend of the king's, who with his servant Jameswas awaiting his Majesty's return from Strelsau. His servant here isready to start for England, to tell Mr. Rassendyll's relatives thenews. "

The queen had begun to listen before now; her eyes were fixed on Sapt, and she had stretched out one arm to him, as if imploring him to readher his riddle. But a few words had in truth declared his device plainlyenough in all its simplicity. Rudolf Rassendyll was dead, his bodyburnt to a cinder, and the king was alive, whole, and on his throne inStrelsau. Thus had Sapt caught from James, the servant, the infection ofhis madness, and had fulfilled in action the strange imagination whichthe little man had unfolded to him in order to pass their idle hours atthe lodge. 

Suddenly Mr. Rassendyll spoke in clear, short tones. 

"This is all a lie, Sapt, " said he, and his lips curled in contemptuousamusement. 

"It's no lie that the lodge is burnt, and the bodies in it, and thathalf a hundred of the peasants know it, and that no man could tell thebody for the king's. As for the rest, it is a lie. But I think the truthin it is enough to serve. "

The two men stood facing one another with defiant eyes. Rudolf hadcaught the meaning of the great and audacious trick which Sapt and hiscompanion had played. It was impossible now to bring the king's body toStrelsau; it seemed no less impossible to declare that the man burnt inthe lodge was the king. Thus Sapt had forced Rudolf's hand; he had beeninspired by the same vision as we, and endowed with more unshrinkingboldness. But when I saw how Rudolf looked at him, I did not know butthat they would go from the queen's presence set on a deadly quarrel. Mr. Rassendyll, however, mastered his temper. 

"You're all bent on having me a rascal, " he said coldly. "Fritz andBernenstein here urge me; you, Sapt, try to force me. James, there, isin the plot, for all I know. "

"I suggested it, sir, " said James, not defiantly or with disrespect, butas if in simple dutiful obedience to his master's implied question. 

"As I thought--all of you! Well, I won't be forced. I see now thatthere's no way out of this affair, save one. That one I'll follow. "

We none of us spoke, but waited till he should be pleased to continue. 

"Of the queen's letter I need say nothing and will say nothing, "he pursued. "But I will tell them that I'm not the king, but RudolfRassendyll, and that I played the king only in order to serve the queenand punish Rupert of Hentzau. That will serve, and it will cut this netof Sapt's from about my limbs. "

He spoke firmly and coldly; so that when I looked at him I was amazedto see how his lips twitched and that his forehead was moist with sweat. Then I understood what a sudden, swift, and fearful struggle he hadsuffered, and how the great temptation had wrung and tortured him beforehe, victorious, had set the thing behind him. I went to him and claspedhis hand: this action of mine seemed to soften him. 

"Sapt, Sapt, " he said, "you almost made a rogue of me. "

Sapt did not respond to his gentler mood. He had been pacing angrily upand down the room. Now he stopped abruptly before Rudolf, and pointedwith his finger at the queen. 

"I make a rogue of you?" he exclaimed. "And what do you make of ourqueen, whom we all serve? What does this truth that you'll tell makeof her? Haven't I heard how she greeted you before all Strelsau asher husband and her love? Will they believe that she didn't know herhusband? Ay, you may show yourself, you may say they didn't know you. Will they believe she didn't? Was the king's ring on your finger? Whereis it? And how comes Mr. Rassendyll to be at Fritz von Tarlenheim's forhours with the queen, when the king is at his hunting lodge? A kinghas died already, and two men besides, to save a word against her. Andyou--you'll be the man to set every tongue in Strelsau talking, andevery finger pointing in suspicion at her?"

Rudolf made no answer. When Sapt had first uttered the queen's name, hehad drawn near and let his hand fall over the back of her chair. She puthers up to meet it, and so they remained. But I saw that Rudolf's facehad gone very pale. 

"And we, your friends?" pursued Sapt. "For we've stood by you as we'vestood by the queen, by God we have--Fritz, and young Bernenstein here, and I. If this truth's told, who'll believe that we were loyal to theking, that we didn't know, that we weren't accomplices in the trickingof the king--maybe, in his murder? Ah, Rudolf Rassendyll, God preserveme from a conscience that won't let me be true to the woman I love, orto the friends who love me!"

I had never seen the old fellow so moved; he carried me with him, as hecarried Bernenstein. I know now that we were too ready to be convinced;rather that, borne along by our passionate desire, we needed noconvincing at all. His excited appeal seemed to us an argument. At leastthe danger to the queen, on which he dwelt, was real and true and great. 

Then a sudden change came over him. He caught Rudolf's hand and spoke tohim again in a low, broken voice, an unwonted softness transforming hisharsh tones. 

"Lad, " he said, "don't say no. Here's the finest lady alive sick for herlover, and the finest country in the world sick for its true king, andthe best friends--ay, by Heaven, the best friends--man ever had, sick tocall you master. I know nothing about your conscience; but this I know:the king's dead, and the place is empty; and I don't see what AlmightyGod sent you here for unless it was to fill it. Come, lad--for our loveand her honor! While he was alive I'd have killed you sooner than letyou take it. He's dead. Now--for our love and her honor, lad!"

I do not know what thoughts passed in Mr. Rassendyll's mind. His facewas set and rigid. He made no sign when Sapt finished, but stood ashe was, motionless, for a long while. Then he slowly bent his head andlooked down into the queen's eyes. For a while she sat looking back intohis. Then, carried away by the wild hope of immediate joy, and by herlove for him and her pride in the place he was offered, she sprang upand threw herself at his feet, crying:

"Yes, yes! For my sake, Rudolf--for my sake!"

"Are you, too, against me, my queen?" he murmured caressing her ruddyhair. 

CHAPTER XX. THE DECISION OF HEAVEN

WE were half mad that night, Sapt and Bernenstein and I. The thingseemed to have got into our blood and to have become part of ourselves. For us it was inevitable--nay, it was done. Sapt busied himself inpreparing the account of the fire at the hunting-lodge; it was to becommunicated to the journals, and it told with much circumstantialityhow Rudolf Rassendyll had come to visit the king, with James hisservant, and, the king being summoned unexpectedly to the capital, hadbeen awaiting his Majesty's return when he met his fate. There was ashort history of Rudolf, a glancing reference to his family, a dignifiedexpression of condolence with his relatives, to whom the king wassending messages of deepest regret by the hands of Mr. Rassendyll'sservant. At another table young Bernenstein was drawing up, under theconstable's direction, a narrative of Rupert of Hentzau's attempt onthe king's life and the king's courage in defending himself. The count, eager to return (so it ran), had persuaded the king to meet him bydeclaring that he held a state-document of great importance and of amost secret nature; the king, with his habitual fearlessness, had gonealone, but only to refuse with scorn Count Rupert's terms. Enraged atthis unfavorable reception, the audacious criminal had made a suddenattack on the king, with what issue all knew. He had met his owndeath, while the king, perceiving from a glance at the document that itcompromised well-known persons, had, with the nobility which marked him, destroyed it unread before the eyes of those who were rushing in tohis rescue. I supplied suggestions and improvements; and, engrossed incontriving how to blind curious eyes, we forgot the real and permanentdifficulties of the thing we had resolved upon. For us they did notexist; Sapt met every objection by declaring that the thing had beendone once and could be done again. Bernenstein and I were not behind himin confidence. 

We would guard the secret with brain and hand and life, even as we hadguarded and kept the secret of the queen's letter, which would now gowith Rupert of Hentzau to his grave. Bauer we could catch and silence:nay, who would listen to such a tale from such a man? Rischenheim wasours; the old woman would keep her doubts between her teeth for her ownsake. To his own land and his own people Rudolf must be dead whilethe King of Ruritania would stand before all Europe recognized, unquestioned, unassailed. True, he must marry the queen again; Sapt wasready with the means, and would hear nothing of the difficulty and riskin finding a hand to perform the necessary ceremony. If we quailed inour courage: we had but to look at the alternative, and find recompensethe perils of what we meant to undertake by a consideration thedesperate risk involved in abandoning it. Persuaded the substitution ofRudolf for the king was the only thing would serve our turn, we askedno longer whether it possible, but sought only the means to make it safeand safe. 

But Rudolf himself had not spoken. Sapt's appeal and the queen'simploring cry had shaken but not overcome him; he had wavered, but hewas not won. Yet there was no talk of impossibility or peril in hismouth, any more than in ours: those were not what gave him pause. Thescore on which he hesitated was whether the thing should be done, notwhether it could; our appeals were not to brace a failing courage, butcajole a sturdy sense of honor which found the imposture distastefulso soon as it seemed to serve a personal end. To serve the king he hadplayed the king in old days, but he did not love to play the king whenthe profit of it was to be his own. Hence he was unmoved till his carefor the fair fame of the queen and the love of his friends joined tobuffet his resolution. 

Then he faltered; but he had not fallen. Yet Colonel Sapt did all asthough he had given his assent, and watched the last hours in whichhis flight from Strelsau was possible go quickly by with more thanequanimity. Why hurry Rudolf's resolve? Every moment shut him closer inthe trap of an inevitable choice. With every hour that he was called theking, it became more impossible for him to bear any other name all hisdays. Therefore Sapt let Mr. Rassendyll doubt and struggle, while hehimself wrote his story and laid his long-headed plans. And now and thenJames, the little servant, came in and went out, sedate and smug, butwith a quiet satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. He had made a story fora pastime, and it was being translated into history. He at least wouldbear his part in it unflinchingly. 

Before now the queen had left us, persuaded to lie down and try to resttill the matter should be settled. Stilled by Rudolf's gentle rebuke, she had urged him no more in words, but there was an entreaty in hereyes stronger than any spoken prayer, and a piteousness in the lingeringof her hand in his harder to resist than ten thousand sad petitions. At last he had led her from the room and commended her to Helga's care. Then, returning to us, he stood silent a little while. We also weresilent, Sapt sitting and looking up at him with his brows knit and histeeth restlessly chewing the moustache on his lip. 

"Well, lad?" he said at last, briefly putting the great question. Rudolfwalked to the window and seemed to lose himself for a moment inthe contemplation of the quiet night. There were no more than a fewstragglers in the street now; the moon shone white and clear on theempty square. 

"I should like to walk up and down outside and think it over, " he said, turning to us; and, as Bernenstein sprang up to accompany him, he added, "No. Alone. "

"Yes, do, " said old Sapt, with a glance at the clock, whose hands werenow hard on two o'clock. "Take your time, lad, take your time. "

Rudolf looked at him and broke into a smile. 

"I'm not your dupe, old Sapt, " said he, shaking his head. "Trust me, ifI decide to get away, I'll get away, be it what o'clock it will. "

"Yes, confound you!" grinned Colonel Sapt. 

So he left us, and then came that long time of scheming and planning, and most persistent eye-shutting, in which occupations an hour wore itslife away. Rudolf had not passed out of the porch, and we supposed thathe had betaken himself to the gardens, there to fight his battle. OldSapt, having done his work, suddenly turned talkative. 

"That moon there, " he said, pointing his square, thick forefinger at thewindow, "is a mighty untrustworthy lady. I've known her wake a villain'sconscience before now. "

"I've known her send a lover's to sleep, " laughed young Bernenstein, rising from his table, stretching himself, and lighting a cigar. 

"Ay, she's apt to take a man out of what he is, " pursued old Sapt. "Seta quiet man near her, and he dreams of battle; an ambitious fellow, after ten minutes of her, will ask nothing better than to muse all hislife away. I don't trust her, Fritz; I wish the night were dark. "

"What will she do to Rudolf Rassendyll?" I asked, falling in with theold fellow's whimsical mood. 

"He will see the queen's face in hers, " cried Bernenstein. 

"He may see God's, " said Sapt; and he shook himself as though anunwelcome thought had found its way to his mind and lips. 

A pause fell on us, born of the colonel's last remark. We looked oneanother in the face. At last Sapt brought his hand down on the tablewith a bang. 

"I'll not go back, " he said sullenly, almost fiercely. 

"Nor I, " said Bernenstein, drawing himself up. "Nor you, Tarlenheim?"

"No, I also go on, " I answered. Then again there was a moment's silence. 

"She may make a man soft as a sponge, " reflected Sapt, starting again, "or hard as a bar of steel. I should feel safer if the night were dark. I've looked at her often from my tent and from bare ground, and I knowher. She got me a decoration, and once she came near to making me turntail. Have nothing to do with her, young Bernenstein. "

"I'll keep my eyes for beauties nearer at hand, " said Bernenstein, whosevolatile temper soon threw off a serious mood. 

"There's a chance for you, now Rupert of Hentzau's gone, " said Saptgrimly. 

As he spoke there was a knock at the door. When it opened James entered. 

"The Count of Luzau-Rischenheim begs to be allowed to speak with theking, " said James. 

"We expect his Majesty every moment. Beg the count to enter, " Saptanswered; and, when Rischenheim came in, he went on, motioning the countto a chair: "We are talking, my lord, of the influence of the moon onthe careers of men. "

"What are you going to do? What have you decided?" burst out Rischenheimimpatiently. 

"We decide nothing, " answered Sapt. 

"Then what has Mr. --what has the king decided?"

"The king decides nothing, my lord. She decides, " and the old fellowpointed again through the window towards the moon. "At this momentshe makes or unmakes a king; but I can't tell you which. What of yourcousin?"

"You know that my cousin's dead. "

"Yes, I know that. What of him, though?"

"Sir, " said Rischenheim with some dignity, "since he is dead, let himrest in peace. It is not for us to judge him. "

"He may well wish it were. For, by Heaven, I believe I should let therogue off, " said Colonel Sapt, "and I don't think his Judge will. "

"God forgive him, I loved him, " said Rischenheim. "Yes, and many haveloved him. His servants loved him, sir. "

"Friend Bauer, for example?"

"Yes, Bauer loved him. Where is Bauer?"

"I hope he's gone to hell with his loved master, " grunted Sapt, but hehad the grace to lower his voice and shield his mouth with his hand, sothat Rischenheim did not hear. 

"We don't know where he is, " I answered. 

"I am come, " said Rischenheim, "to put my services in all respects atthe queen's disposal. "

"And at the king's?" asked Sapt. 

"At the king's? But the king is dead. "

"Therefore 'Long live the king!'" struck in young Bernenstein. 

"If there should be a king--" began Sapt. 

"You'll do that?" interrupted Rischenheim in breathless agitation. 

"She is deciding, " said Colonel Sapt, and again he pointed to the moon. 

"But she's a plaguey long time about it, " remarked Lieutenant vonBernenstein. 

Rischenheim sat silent for a moment. His face was pale, and when hespoke his voice trembled. But his words were resolute enough. 

"I gave my honor to the queen, and even in that I will serve her if shecommands me. "

Bernenstein sprang forward and caught him by the hand. "That's what Ilike, " said he, "and damn the moon, colonel!" His sentence was hardlyout of his mouth when the door opened, and to our astonishment the queenentered. Helga was just behind her; her clasped hands and frightenedeyes seemed to protest that their coming was against her will. The queenwas clad in a long white robe, and her hair hung on her shoulders, beingbut loosely bound with a ribbon. Her air showed great agitation, andwithout any greeting or notice of the rest she walked quickly across theroom to me. 

"The dream, Fritz, " she said. "It has come again. Helga persuaded me tolie down, and I was very tired, so at last I fell asleep. Then it came. I saw him, Fritz--I saw him as plainly as I see you. They all called himking, as they did to-day; but they did not cheer. They were quiet, andlooked at him with sad faces. I could not hear what they said; theyspoke in hushed voices. I heard nothing more than 'the king, the king, 'and he seemed to hear not even that. He lay still; he was lying onsomething, something covered with hanging stuff, I couldn't see what itwas; yes, quite still. His face was so pale, and he didn't hear themsay 'the king. ' Fritz, Fritz, he looked as if he were dead! Where is he?Where have you let him go?"

She turned from me and her eyes flashed over the rest. "Where is he? Whyaren't you with him?" she demanded, with a sudden change of tone; "whyaren't you round him? You should be between him and danger, ready togive your lives for his. Indeed, gentlemen, you take your duty lightly. "

It might be that there was little reason in her words. There appeared tobe no danger threatening him, and after all he was not our king, much aswe desired to make him such. Yet we did not think of any such matter. Wewere abashed before her reproof and took her indignation as deserved. We hung our heads, and Sapt's shame betrayed itself in the doggedsullenness of his answer. 

"He has chosen to go walking, madam, and to go alone. He ordered us--Isay, he ordered us not to come. Surely we are right to obey him?" Thesarcastic inflection of his voice conveyed his opinion of the queen'sextravagance. 

"Obey him? Yes. You couldn't go with him if he forbade you. But youshould follow him; you should keep him in sight. "

This much she spoke in proud tones and with a disdainful manner, butthen came a sudden return to her former bearing. She held out her handstowards me, wailing:

"Fritz, where is he? Is he safe? Find him for me, Fritz; find him. "

"I'll find him for you if he's above ground, madam, " I cried, for herappeal touched me to the heart. 

"He's no farther off than the gardens, " grumbled old Sapt, stillresentful of the queen's reproof and scornful of the woman's agitation. He was also out of temper with Rudolf himself, because the moon took solong in deciding whether she would make or unmake a king. 

"The gardens!" she cried. "Then let us look for him. Oh, you've let himwalk in the gardens alone?"

"What should harm the fellow?" muttered Sapt. 

She did not hear him, for she had swept out of the room. Helga went withher, and we all followed, Sapt behind the rest of us, still very surly. I heard him grumbling away as we ran downstairs, and, having passedalong the great corridor, came to the small saloon that opened onthe gardens. There were no servants about, but we encountered anight-watchman, and Bernenstein snatched the lantern from the astonishedman's hand. 

Save for the dim light thus furnished, the room was dark. But outsidethe windows the moon streamed brightly down on the broad gravel walk, on the formal flower-beds, and the great trees in the gardens. The queenmade straight for the window. I followed her, and, having flung thewindow open, stood by her. The air was sweet, and the breeze struck withgrateful coolness on my face. I saw that Sapt had come near and stood onthe other side of the queen. My wife and the others were behind, lookingout where our shoulders left space. 

There, in the bright moonlight, on the far side of the broad terrace, close by the line of tall trees that fringed its edge, we saw RudolfRassendyll pacing slowly up and down, with his hands behind his back andhis eyes fixed on the arbiter of his fate, on her who was to make him aking or send him a fugitive from Strelsau. 

"There he is, madam, " said Sapt. "Safe enough!"

The queen did not answer. Sapt said no more, and of the rest of us nonespoke. We stood watching him as he struggled with his great issue; agreater surely has seldom fallen to the lot of any man born in a privatestation. Yet I could read little of it on the face that the rays ofwhite light displayed so clearly, although they turned his healthy tintsto a dull gray, and gave unnatural sharpness to his features against thedeep background of black foliage. 

I heard the queen's quick breathing, but there was scarcely anothersound. I saw her clutch her gown and pull it away a little from herthroat; save for that none in the group moved. The lantern's lightwas too dim to force notice from Mr. Rassendyll. Unconscious of ourpresence, he wrestled with fate that night in the gardens. 

Suddenly the faintest exclamation came from Sapt. He put his hand backand beckoned to Bernenstein. The young man handed his lantern to theconstable, who set it close to the side of the window-frame. The queen, absolutely engrossed in her lover, saw nothing, but I perceived what hadcaught Sapt's attention. There were scores on the paint and indentationsin the wood, just at the edge of the panel and near the lock. I glancedat Sapt, who nodded his head. It looked very much as though somebody hadtried to force the door that night, employing a knife which had dentedthe woodwork and scratched the paint. The least thing was enough toalarm us, standing where we stood, and the constable's face was fullof suspicion. Who had sought an entrance? It could be no trained andpractised housebreaker; he would have had better tools. 

But now our attention was again diverted. Rudolf stopped short. He stilllooked for a moment at the sky, then his glance dropped to the ground athis feet. A second later he jerked his head--it was bare, and I sawthe dark red hair stir with the movement--like a man who has settledsomething which caused him a puzzle. In an instant we knew, by the quickintuition of contagious emotion, that the question had found its answer. He was by now king or a fugitive. The Lady of the Skies had given herdecision. The thrill ran through us; I felt the queen draw herselftogether at my side; I felt the muscles of Rischenheim's arm whichrested against my shoulder grow rigid and taut. Sapt's face was full ofeagerness, and he gnawed his moustache silently. We gathered closer toone another. At last we could bear the suspense no longer. With one lookat the queen and another at me, Sapt stepped on to the gravel. He wouldgo and learn the answer; thus the unendurable strain that had stretchedus like tortured men on a rack would be relieved. The queen did notanswer his glance, nor even seem to see that he had moved. Her eyeswere still all for Mr. Rassendyll, her thoughts buried in his; for herhappiness was in his hands and lay poised on the issue of that decisionwhose momentousness held him for a moment motionless on the path. OftenI seem to see him as he stood there, tall, straight, and stately, theking a man's fancy paints when he reads of great monarchs who flourishedlong ago in the springtime of the world. 

Sapt's step crunched on the gravel. Rudolf heard it and turned his head. He saw Sapt, and he saw me also behind Sapt. He smiled composedly andbrightly, but he did not move from where he was. He held out bothhands towards the constable and caught him in their double grasp, stillsmiling down in his face. I was no nearer to reading his decision, though I saw that he had reached a resolution that was immovable andgave peace to his soul. If he meant to go on he would go on now, onto the end, without a backward look or a falter of his foot; if he hadchosen the other way, he would depart without a murmur or a hesitation. The queen's quick breathing had ceased, she seemed like a statue; butRischenheim moved impatiently, as though he could no longer endure thewaiting. 

Sapt's voice came harsh and grating. 

"Well?" he cried. "Which is it to be--backward or forward?" Rudolfpressed his hands and looked into his eyes. The answer asked but a wordfrom him. The queen caught my arm; her rigid limbs seemed to giveway, and she would have fallen if I had not supported her. At the sameinstant a man sprang out of the dark line of tall trees, directly behindMr. Rassendyll. Bernenstein uttered a loud startled cry and rushedforward, pushing the queen herself violently out of his path. His handflew to his side, and he ripped the heavy cavalry sword that belongedto his uniform of the Cuirassiers of the Guard from its sheath. I saw itflash in the moonlight, but its flash was quenched in a brighter shortblaze. A shot rang out through the quiet gardens. Mr. Rassendyll did notloose his hold of Sapt's hands, but he sank slowly on to his knees. Saptseemed paralyzed. 

Again Bernenstein cried out. It was a name this time. "Bauer! By God, Bauer!" he cried. 

In an instant he was across the path and by the trees. The assassinfired again, but now he missed. We saw the great sword flash high aboveBernenstein's head and heard it whistle through the air. It crashed onthe crown of Bauer's head, and he fell like a log to the ground with hisskull split. The queen's hold on me relaxed; she sank into Rischenheim'sarms. I ran forward and knelt by Mr. Rassendyll. He still held Sapt'shands, and by their help buoyed himself up. But when he saw me he let goof them and sank back against me, his head resting on my chest. He movedhis lips, but seemed unable to speak. He was shot through the back. Bauer had avenged the master whom he loved, and was gone to meet him. 

There was a sudden stir from inside the palace. Shutters were flungback and windows thrown open. The group we made stood clean-cut, plainlyvisible in the moonlight. A moment later there was a rush of eager feet, and we were surrounded by officers and servants. Bernenstein stood byme now, leaning on his sword; Sapt had not uttered a word; his face wasdistorted with horror and bitterness. Rudolf's eyes were closed and hishead lay back against me. 

"A man has shot the king, " said I, in bald, stupid explanation. 

All at once I found James, Mr. Rassendyll's servant, by me. 

"I have sent for doctors, my lord, " he said. "Come, let us carry himin. "

He, Sapt and I lifted Rudolf and bore him across the gravel terraceand into the little saloon. We passed the queen. She was leaning onRischenheim's arm, and held my wife's hand. We laid Rudolf down on acouch. Outside I heard Bernenstein say, "Pick up that fellow and carryhim somewhere out of sight. " Then he also came in, followed by a crowd. He sent them all to the door, and we were left alone, waiting for thesurgeon. The queen came up, Rischenheim still supporting her. "Rudolf!Rudolf!" she whispered, very softly. 

He opened his eyes, and his lips bent in a smile. She flung herself onher knees and kissed his hand passionately. "The surgeon will be heredirectly, " said I. 

Rudolf's eyes had been on the queen. As I spoke he looked up at me, smiled again, and shook his head. I turned away. 

When the surgeon came Sapt and I assisted him in his examination. Thequeen had been led away, and we were alone. The examination was veryshort. Then we carried Rudolf to a bed; the nearest chanced to be inBernenstein's room; there we laid him, and there all that could bedone for him was done. All this time we had asked no questions of thesurgeon, and he had given no information. We knew too well to ask: wehad all seen men die before now, and the look on the face was familiarto us. Two or three more doctors, the most eminent in Strelsau, camenow, having been hastily summoned. It was their right to be called; but, for all the good they were, they might have been left to sleep the nightout in their beds. They drew together in a little group at the end ofthe room and talked for a few minutes in low tones. James lifted hismaster's head and gave him a drink of water. Rudolf swallowed it withdifficulty. Then I saw him feebly press James's hand, for the littleman's face was full of sorrow. As his master smiled the servant mustereda smile in answer. I crossed over to the doctors. "Well, gentlemen?" Iasked. 

They looked at one another, then the greatest of them said gravely:

"The king may live an hour, Count Fritz. Should you not send for apriest?"

I went straight back to Rudolf Rassendyll. His eyes greeted me andquestioned me. He was a man, and I played no silly tricks with him. Ibent down and said: "An hour, they think, Rudolf. "

He made one restless movement, whether of pain or protest I do not know. Then he spoke, very low, slowly, and with difficulty. 

"Then they can go, " he said; and when I spoke of a priest he shook hishead. 

I went back to them and asked if anything more could be done. The answerwas nothing; but I could not prevail further than to get all save onesent into an adjoining room; he who remained seated himself at a tablesome way off. Rudolf's eyes had closed again; old Sapt, who had not oncespoken since the shot was fired, raised a haggard face to mine. 

"We'd better fetch her to him, " he said hoarsely. I nodded my head. 

Sapt went while I stayed by him. Bernenstein came to him, bent down, and kissed his hand. The young fellow, who had borne himself with suchreckless courage and dash throughout the affair, was quite unmanned now, and the tears were rolling down his face. I could have been much inthe same plight, but I would not before Mr. Rassendyll. He smiled atBernenstein. Then he said to me:

"Is she coming, Fritz?"

"Yes, she's coming, sire, " I answered. 

He noticed the style of my address; a faint amused gleam shot into hislanguid eyes. 

"Well, for an hour, then, " he murmured, and lay back on his pillows. 

She came, dry-eyed, calm, and queenly. We all drew back, and she kneltdown by his bed, holding his hand in her two hands. Presently the handstirred; she let it go; then, knowing well what he wanted, she raised itherself and placed it on her head, while she bowed her face to the bed. His hand wandered for the last time over the gleaming hair that he hadloved so well. She rose, passed her arm about his shoulders, and kissedhis lips. Her face rested close to his, and he seemed to speak to her, but we could not have heard the words even if we would. So they remainedfor a long while. 

The doctor came and felt his pulse, retreating afterwards withclose-shut lips. We drew a little nearer, for we knew that he wouldnot be long with us now. Suddenly strength seemed to come upon him. Heraised himself in his bed, and spoke in distinct tones. 

"God has decided, " he said. "I've tried to do the right thing through itall. Sapt, and Bernenstein, and you, old Fritz, shake my hand. No, don'tkiss it. We've done with pretence now. "

We shook his hand as he bade us. Then he took the queen's hand. Againshe knew his mind, and moved it to his lips. "In life and in death, mysweet queen, " he murmured. And thus he fell asleep. 

CHAPTER XXI. THE COMING OF THE DREAM

THERE IS little need, and I have little heart, to dwell on what followedthe death of Mr. Rassendyll. The plans we had laid to secure his tenureof the throne, in case he had accepted it, served well in the eventof his death. Bauer's lips were for ever sealed; the old woman was tooscared and appalled to hint even to her gossips of the suspicions sheentertained. Rischenheim was loyal to the pledge he had given to thequeen. The ashes of the hunting-lodge held their secret fast, and nonesuspected when the charred body which was called Rudolf Rassendyll's waslaid to quiet rest in the graveyard of the town of Zenda, hard by thetomb of Herbert the forester. For we had from the first rejected anyidea of bringing the king's body to Strelsau and setting it in the placeof Mr. Rassendyll's. The difficulties of such an undertaking were almostinsuperable; in our hearts we did not desire to conquer them. As a kingRudolf Rassendyll had died, as a king let him lie. As a king he lay inhis palace at Strelsau, while the news of his murder at the hands of aconfederate of Rupert of Hentzau went forth to startle and appall theworld. At a mighty price our task had been made easy; many might havedoubted the living, none questioned the dead; suspicions which mighthave gathered round a throne died away at the gate of a vault. The kingwas dead. Who would ask if it were in truth the king who lay in state inthe great hall of the palace, or whether the humble grave at Zenda heldthe bones of the last male Elphberg? In the silence of the grave allmurmurs and questionings were hushed. 

Throughout the day people had been passing and repassing through thegreat hall. There, on a stately bier surmounted by a crown and thedrooping folds of the royal banner, lay Rudolf Rassendyll. The highestofficer guarded him; in the cathedral the archbishop said a mass for hissoul. He had lain there three days; the evening of the third had come, and early on the morrow he was to be buried. There is a little galleryin the hall, that looks down on the spot where the bier stood; here wasI on this evening, and with me Queen Flavia. We were alone together, andtogether we saw beneath us the calm face of the dead man. He was cladin the white uniform in which he had been crowned; the ribbon of theRed Rose was across his breast. His hand held a true red rose, fresh andfragrant; Flavia herself had set it there, that even in death he mightnot miss the chosen token of her love. I had not spoken to her, norshe to me, since we came there. We watched the pomp round him, and thecircles of people that came to bring a wreath for him or to look uponhis face. I saw a girl come and kneel long at the bier's foot. She roseand went away sobbing, leaving a little circlet of flowers. It was RosaHolf. I saw women come and go weeping, and men bite their lips as theypassed by. Rischenheim came, pale-faced and troubled; and while all cameand went, there, immovable, with drawn sword, in military stiffness, oldSapt stood at the head of the bier, his eyes set steadily in front ofhim, and his body never stirring from hour to hour through the long day. 

A distant faint hum of voices reached us. The queen laid her hand on myarm. 

"It is the dream, Fritz, " she said. "Hark! They speak of the king; theyspeak in low voices and with grief, but they call him king. It's what Isaw in the dream. But he does not hear nor heed. No, he can't hear norheed even when I call him my king. "

A sudden impulse came on me, and I turned to her, asking:

"What had he decided, madam? Would he have been king?" She started alittle. 

"He didn't tell me, " she answered, "and I didn't think of it while hespoke to me. "

"Of what then did he speak, madam?"

"Only of his love--of nothing but his love, Fritz, " she answered. 

Well, I take it that when a man comes to die, love is more to him thana kingdom: it may be, if we could see truly, that it is more to him evenwhile he lives. 

"Of nothing but his great love for me, Fritz, " she said again. "And mylove brought him to his death. "

"He wouldn't have had it otherwise, " said I. 

"No, " she whispered; and she leant over the parapet of the gallery, stretching out her arms to him. But he lay still and quiet, not hearingand not heeding what she murmured, "My king! my king!" It was even as ithad been in the dream. 

That night James, the servant, took leave of his dead master and ofus. He carried to England by word of mouth--for we dared write nothingdown--the truth concerning the King of Ruritania and Mr. Rassendyll. It was to be told to the Earl of Burlesdon, Rudolf's brother, undera pledge of secrecy; and to this day the earl is the only man besidesourselves who knows the story. His errand done, James returned in orderto enter the queen's service, in which he still is; and he told us thatwhen Lord Burlesdon had heard the story he sat silent for a great while, and then said:

"He did well. Some day I will visit his grave. Tell her Majesty thatthere is still a Rassendyll, if she has need of one. "

The offer was such as should come from a man of Rudolf's name, yet Itrust that the queen needs no further service than such as it is ourhumble duty and dear delight to render her. It is our part to striveto lighten the burden that she bears, and by our love to assuage herundying grief. For she reigns now in Ruritania alone, the last of allthe Elphbergs; and her only joy is to talk of Mr. Rassendyll with thosefew who knew him, her only hope that she may some day be with him again. 

In great pomp we laid him to his rest in the vault of the kings ofRuritania in the Cathedral of Strelsau. There he lies among theprinces of the House of Elphberg. I think that if there be indeed anyconsciousness among the dead, or any knowledge of what passes in theworld they have left, they should be proud to call him brother. Thererises in memory of him a stately monument, and people point it out toone another as the memorial of King Rudolf. I go often to the spot, andrecall in thought all that passed when he came the first time to Zenda, and again on his second coming. For I mourn him as a man mourns atrusted leader and a loved comrade, and I should have asked no betterthan to be allowed to serve him all my days. Yet I serve the queen, andin that I do most truly serve her lover. 

Times change for all of us. The roaring flood of youth goes by, and thestream of life sinks to a quiet flow. Sapt is an old man now; soon mysons will be grown up, men enough themselves to serve Queen Flavia. Yetthe memory of Rudolf Rassendyll is fresh to me as on the day he died, and the vision of the death of Rupert of Hentzau dances often beforemy eyes. It may be that some day the whole story shall be told, and menshall judge of it for themselves. To me it seems now as though all hadended well. I must not be misunderstood: my heart is still sore for theloss of him. But we saved the queen's fair fame, and to Rudolf himselfthe fatal stroke came as a relief from a choice too difficult: on theone side lay what impaired his own honor, on the other what threatenedhers. As I think on this my anger at his death is less, though my griefcannot be. To this day I know not how he chose; no, and I don't knowhow he should have chosen. Yet he had chosen, for his face was calm andclear. 

Come, I have thought so much of him that I will go now and stand beforehis monument, taking with me my last-born son, a little lad of ten. He is not too young to desire to serve the queen, and not too young tolearn to love and reverence him who sleeps there in the vault and was inhis life the noblest gentleman I have known. 

I will take the boy with me and tell him what I may of brave KingRudolf, how he fought and how he loved, and how he held the queen'shonor and his own above all things in this world. The boy is not tooyoung to learn such lessons from the life of Mr. Rassendyll. And whilewe stand there I will turn again into his native tongue--for, alas, the young rogue loves his toy soldiers better than his Latin!--theinscription that the queen wrote with her own hand, directing that itshould be inscribed in that stately tongue over the tomb in which herlife lies buried. 

"To Rudolf, who reigned lately in this city, and reigns for ever in herheart. --QUEEN FLAVIA. "

I told him the meaning, and he spelt the big words over in his childishvoice; at first he stumbled, but the second time he had it right, andrecited with a little touch of awe in his fresh young tones:

RUDOLFO

Qui in hac civitate nuper regnavit In corde ipsius in aeternum regnat

FLAVIA REGINA. 

I felt his hand tremble in mine, and he looked up in my face. "God savethe Queen, father, " said he.