Rupert of Hentzau

o a sick man from fretting in helplessness on his back, when he was on fire to be afoot. I fear he thought the baker’s rolling-pin was in my mind, b

ance had been, and continued to be, in all respects most valuable, to despatch a message to the constable, acquainting him with my whereabouts, and putting myself entirely at his disposal. Sapt received this message while a cou

was a large one. In the corner farthest from the door sat Rischenheim, disarmed, dispirited, to all seeming ready to throw 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 and cool, Rudolf calm and clear-headed. The queen awaited the result of their deliberations in her apartments, ready to

ng Bernenstein, his eyes

voice yet lower, lest the prisoner should catch the lightest word of what

e and hide in the forest t

u,” corrected Be

ok after our friend here. Come, Lieute

r the colonel nor I would let you have a chan

his turn took paper, and her

ishes to see what you have. He and I will be at the hunting-lodge at te

pt; Bernenstein leant over the cons

ng me,” grinned old Sapt

pt, since you were my friend: what place more likely for the king to choose than his hunting-lodge, where he is accustomed to go when he

her, he and Rischenh

sent the address in it,”

e comes?” aske

Rischenheim found, and

w you,” object

with a smile. “Meanwhile we send for Fr

ischen

ieutenant. Sapt, is a

las has put it at

nt twenty-four hours’ leave of absence, and the two gentlemen will pass the day and sleep at the chateau. They will pass the day side by side, Bernenstein, not losing si

ir,” said you

him through the head, ride to the frontier, ge

l, and the young officer made nothing of the peril

listen till his head ached, but the talkers had been careful, and he had heard nothing that threw light on

le,” whispered Sapt to Bernenstein, with

you much,” urged Rudolf, laying

e constable approvingly. “We were well gover

loyal subject?” ask

how the boy — he was little more then — had been fired upon in

Rischenheim out of the way while they used his name in their trick, they had a strong chance of deluding and killing R

he said. “The queen’s honor was at sta

l to explain to Rischenheim what they proposed to do with him. They asked no pledge, and he offered none. He heard what they said with a dulled unintere

id Colonel Sapt. “My lor

h, “if you come safe through this affair, to add honor to your prudence, an

ance of anger from the count and

Rudolf, the lieutenant motioned to his prisoner to accompany him, and they two walked out together, being to all appearance willing companions and in perfect friendliness with one anoth

r Mr. Rassendyll. To meet this necessity, the constable issued orders that the company of guards which garrisoned the castle should parade at one o’clock in the park, and that the servants should all, after their dinner, be granted permission to watch the manoeuvres. By this means he counted on drawing off any curious eyes and allowing Rudolf to reach the forest unobserved. They appointed a rendezv

ended her to the door, set a sentry at the end of the passage with orders that her Majesty should on no pretence be disturbed, promised her very audibly to return as soon as he possibly

from Mr. Rassendyll the plans that had been made, and, although she trembled at the danger that he must run in meeting Rupert of Hentzau, she had such love of him and such a trust in his powers that she seemed to doubt little of his succ

ds, my queen,” he said softly, “for e

, and that more mine than yours. Did

; and now they were stan

knew always that we should meet once more. Not how, no

ss you!”

ved throug

wing what that phrase me

No, no, I mustn’t make you unhappy, Rudolf. I’m half glad I wrote the letter, and half glad they stole i

rest lady. Don’t be a

’ll go?” And, dropping his hand,

your hands I may kiss,” and he kissed her

he murmured through h

ith a little laugh of

e is — no

said he, lau

you were the king. At last you were the king, and I was 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 I tried to tell you that you were king — yes, and Colonel Sapt and Fritz tried to tell you; the people, t

so I seemed to you to be both a king and a dead man; but I’m not a king, and I am a

ould it mean?”

dream always of you, excep

t?” she said, st

ir husbands; though they love us, yet we are always in some sort the common enemy, against whom they join hands. Well, I would not look too far in

l the women streamed out to watch them, while the men followed, lest the gay uniforms should make them forgotten. Certainly a quiet fell o

nd his eye seemed to grudge the queen e

m think of what he would for a moment; then he went again to the queen and would have knelt before her, but that she would not suffer,

e waited in the middle of the room, his eyes on the door. Old Sapt flew to the threshold, his sword hal

king?” whis

know,”

came in unhesitating ce

the door. Still for a moment they wa

Sapt. “Behind the cur

seem as though he and she transacted business. But his precautions were interr

sprang up, Rudolf came out, Sapt turned the key.

” aske

uessing in a moment the misfortune

ds Tarlenheim, he said, ‘Are we going to walk all the way? I was not loath to

ind that

and my task, and having a

your horse?” guessed S

forward on his neck. I put out my arm to recover m

he

nd dug his spurs in and was off, straight across country towards Strelsau

?” asked

gained ground. We began to meet people, too, and I didn’t dare to fire again. So I left him and rode here to tell you. Never employ me again, Constable,

f-reproaches. But Rudolf went

ent,” he said. “

ed towards him; Bernens

ss but effort that should gain th

augh at the sob that escaped h

omething else

loying this gentleman in my further service. I am already deep

one?” asked Colonel Sapt.

mused Mr. Rassendyll.

ds that

provide f

olf looked a

e. “Well, I’ll go to Strelsau.” His smile broke

came and laid her hand on his arm

“and I’ll find Rupert, ay, and Risc

ou,” cried Bern

e constable shook his head

indness, half in impatience. “We want you here

ut the event was by

rged Bernenstein, “and Fritz von T

ve a man to spare,” and he grinned broadly, being no whit afraid of what Bernenstein might thin

e quee

dolf alone, then —

campaign,” said Sapt. “I take it

heart. She dashed her hand across her eyes, an

. “We can’t spare Bernenste

e. Rudolf walke

e good? I daren’t take the train. Ah

ight,” said Sapt. “Come along. B

as a statue, watching him go. Then he followed the constable, who brought him where the horse was.

t fit very well

tter, eh?” sugge

he asked, “Well, w

the forest to Hofbau; you know your way after that. You mustn’

, yes! From there I shall

nd — R

es

nd of him

to the lodge? He will, unl

e — but I think Risch

comes

die before he suffers

ap

A

ind t

the man

od-

good

, save here and there a yokel, who, seeing a man ride hard with his head averted, took no more notice of him than to wish that he himself could ride abroad instead of being bound to work. Thus Rudolf Rassendyll set out

who could tell the iss