Rupert of Hentzau

of a lover’s greeting had never been wisdom to his mind, and he had been sorely impatient with “that fool Fritz’s” yearly pilgrimage. The letter of farewell had been an added fol

chenheim came to tell the king some news that the king must not hear. His task sounded simple, 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 very pleased to learn of the count’s approaching visit, since he desired to talk with him on the subject of a certain breed of dogs, which th

be back by nightfa

o talk to him, and I’ve

-lodge, sire, and ride back to

n he looked up at Sapt with a sick man’s quick

r, sire,” was all Sapt’s ple

“I want to know how he ge

carrying a telegram for Sapt. The col

d dined and was about to go to

Sapt, who did not know but th

om Rischenheim. Perhaps he can get here sooner. I s

nt a long while adjusting them and thinking what he should do if the message wer

t last, and relief, mingled with

l. Rischenheim can be here at eight t

me at nine, and I’ll have a ride after the boar wh

” said Sapt, biti

trick I don’t know with those dogs,” he remarked, as he went out. And “Damn the

d to get away from Zenda, would not go till he had seen Rischenheim. Still there are many ways of preventing a meeting. Some are by fraud; these it is n

will be furious if anything happens to Risc

of carrying out his own purpose in seeking an audience. Nothing save assassination suggested itself to the constable; a quarrel and a duel offered n

ge as you face the old castle; it was the room which Duke Michael had occupied, and almost opposite to the spot where the great pipe had connected the window of the king’s dungeon with the waters of the moat. The bridge was down now, for peaceful days had come to Zenda; the pipe was gone, and the dungeon’

or a fish on the rise. But Sapt had thrown no stone, and the fish in the moat were few and not rising then. The light was behind Sapt, and threw his figure into bold relief. The royal apartments looked out the other way; there were no lights in the windows this side the bridge, althou

a voice, low

th hands on the sill, bent further out,

idden in the triangle of deep shade formed by the meeting of the drawbridge and the old castle wall. Sapt watched him go, almost stupefied by the sudden

e arms of young Bernenstein, the officer of the guard, who was going his rounds. Sapt knew and trusted him, for he had been with us all through the siege of Zenda, when Mi

for he cried out in a low v

right about here. Go round to the front

s well he might. Sapt

e that leads to the royal apartments. Stand

s,

you hear, don’

was constable, and on Sapt’s shoulders lay the res

ug, and he drew his sword and stood by the door;

ave foothold down to the ledge running six or eight inches above the water. He also was now in the triangle of deep darkness, yet he knew that a man was there,

ou?” he

wasn’t sure I’d roused you, and I didn’t dare shout, so I followed it myself. Lay hold of me a minute while I g

re?” whispered Sapt, catching Rud

vice. When does

row at

earlier than I thou

to see him. It’s impossi

head and tucked it into his trousers. “Give me the jacket and

grinned Sapt. “You’ll b

lost m

you’ve lost y

nd me both

own, anyhow,” gro

hen he asked quickly, “Has the ki

except t

he so set o

hat gives dogs

Hang you, I can

olut

hen. Has he go

es

n’t you take me a

ce are you he

t Risch

meet

got a copy of the

led his m

s of satisfaction. He need not have said it; he

ke me to?” asked

swered old Sapt. “I command here, and when

the k

long,” and the constable se

bout?” asked Rudol

he will keep his

e is still good

r Majesty,” grunted Sapt, as he

ssage was empty, save for Bernenstein, whose bro

aying his hand on the door o

hand twitched, but he did not look round.

now her face turned white as her dress. For her eyes had fallen on Rudolf Rassendyll. For a moment the four stood thus; then Rudolf passed Sapt, thrust Bernenstein’s brawny shoulders (the young man had not looked round) out of the way, and, falling on his knee before the queen, seized her hand and kissed it. Bernenstein could see now without looking round, and if astonishment could kill, he would have be

ad put her off with excuses. Quick to forbode evil, and conscious of the pledge to fortune that she had given in her letter, she had determined to know from him whether there were really cause for alarm, and had stolen, undetected, from

than a moment had passed before, with eager imperative gestures, he bec

The young man was half-dazed still, but he had sense to read the expression in the constable’s eyes and to lea

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 ton

derstan

” said the young man,

thing is wonderful: so

vinced, and shrugged hi

onstable, with a q

,” he answered, clicking his he

dded from time to time. “You’ll meet him at the gate,” said the constable, “

onel,” smiled y

is room — the king. You

tly, Co

view is ended, and

be the king the

e do him no

neces

cise

d he passed in. Bernenstein was left alone again in the passage, pondering over what he had heard and rehearsing the part that it now fell to him to play. As he thought he may well have raised his hea

came out. “Go to bed till

not s

be at eight if you

en coming o

nute, Li

ike to kiss

iting a quarter of an hour for!

d a minu

” answered t

eared on the threshold. She was very pale, and she had been crying, but her eyes were happy and her

ame,” said he, in

lemen,” said she, “my servants and dear friends, with you, and with Fritz who lies wounded i

lute, while Rudolf walked with her to the end of the passage. There for a moment she and he stood together; the others turned their eyes away and thus did not see her suddenly stoop and cover his hand with her kisses. He trie

Colonel Sapt dryly; and

for the king and the Count of Luzau–Rischenheim at nine o’clock precisely, in the morning-room that looked out over the avenue leading to the entrance to the new chateau. This done, he returned to the room where Rudolf was, carried a chair into the passage, bade Rudolf lock the door,

and knocked at the door;

ell?” as

answered Rud

you had m

ve that kept me awake,

w were half-drawn. The table was moved near to the wall, and the ar

is seated in his chair opposite to mine, you can put your barrel against h

said Sapt, with an approvin

tell him you’ve s

e belie

wn sake he’d better

e have to

it. The king wo

fond o

wants to know

be in your p

cour

s easy to see that the events of the night had disturbed

this fellow, we must

f sta

forgot. Of course we mu

been occupied with the queen. But his remarks — if he had

re in an hou

ought of action his eyes grew bright and his brow smooth again

imes, isn’t

the reign of go

row to me that I know what passed that morning only by report, and had not the honor of bearing a part in it. Still, her Majesty d