Rupert of Hentzau

ons. My wife indeed protested - and I must admit with some show of reason - that I was unfit to endure further fatigues, and that my bed was the only proper place for me. I could no

secrets of his present master, I did not know, but his familiarity with the city and the country made him of great use to me. We discovered, to our annoyance, that no train left till four o'clock, and then

al, my lord," James suggested; "I'll run

without exciting remark. James set out, and about a quarter of an hour later I got into my carriage

he, "but Bauer didn't return with

ossly impertinent on the jo

er to be trusted, my lord.

me?" I cried. "I to

arrived,

e stolen it?" I ex

s it, I will mention th

o consider t

ying. "The bag may come, and I have no

At any rate he had not done with Bauer, and I very soon received proof of the fact. My house is a couple of miles from the station, and we have to pass through a considerable part of the old town, where the streets are narrow and tortuous and progress necessarily slow. We had just entered the Konigstrasse (and

ere's Bauer - there, pas

ith a quick, stealthy tread. I believe he must have seen me, and was slinking away as fast as he could. I was

doings and whereabouts might be put into my hand. I leapt out of the carriage, bidding the man wait, and at once started in pursuit

as it was, our eager strides and our carelessness of collisions created more than enough attention. But I had one advantage. Most folk in Strelsau knew me, and many got out of my way who were by no means inclined to pay a like civility to Bauer. Thus I began to gain on him, in spite of his haste; I had started fifty yards behind, but as we neared the end of the street and saw the station ahead of us, not more than twenty separated me from him. Then an annoying thing happened. I ran full into a stout old gentleman; Bauer had run into him before, and he was standing, as people will, staring in resentful astonishment at his first assailant's retreating figure. The second collision immensely increased his vexation; for me it had yet worse consequences; for when I disentangled myself, Bauer was gone! There was not a sign of him; I looked up: the number of the house above me was twenty-three; but the door was shut. I walked on a few paces, past twenty-two

elf in a moment, a

"how long is it since you

," she answered, with a co

s you before," said I,

ely to secure your lordship's patronage," she ans

closed and had their wooden lattices shut.

d I. "Do you live all alone in it with your daughter?" For Max was dead an

" said she. "I let lodging

ll

, my lord." Then I shot

just now, then, was

, but there has been nobody,"

en 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 with

as looking up the street, no doubt seeking my carriage

in five minutes; if it doesn't start then, t

s to obey orders and get to Zenda. Besides, I could not force my way in, there in open daylight, without a scandal that would have set all the long ears i

ld kindly recommend m

ommend you to be careful whom you take for l

ed with a grin; and I was as sure that sh

e old woman's brow contracted in a frown, and her lips twitched for a moment; then her face regained its composure; but I knew the laugh, and she must have guessed that I knew it. Instantly I tried

entzau is in th

ise; he was as hard to stir t

. Shall I st

im. Rudolf might send him if he would; I dared not. So we got into our train, and I suppose that my coachman, when he had looked long enough for me, went home. I forgot to ask him afterwards. Very likely he

e. But she would hear nothing of such talk, choosing rather to praise the little I had done than to blame the great thing in which I had failed. Dismissed from her presence, I flew open-mouthed to Sapt. I found him in his room with Bernenstein, and had the satisfaction of learning that my news of Rupert's whereabouts was confirmed by his informati

there - Rupert, Rischenheim,

truth. But we have also to be ready for him here, and at the hunting lodge. Well, we're ready for him wherever h

e here?"

above four hours, and those while the king is safe in his bed. Bernenstein has only to refuse acce

the risks of every enterprise; but I could not see what better dispositions were possibl

when, our repast finished, we sat back in our chairs enjoying cigars. James had waited on us, quietly usurping the office of the constable's own

tch. "Thank God, he'll be too tired to sit up long. We shall be free by nine o'clock, Fritz. I wish

oreseen incident magnifies its possible meaning, and invests itself with a sinister importance which would at ordinary times seem absurd. We three shared the queen's feelings, and forgetting the many chances of the chase, any one of which would amply account for the king's delay, fell to speculating on remote possibilities of disaster. He might have met Rischenheim - though they had ridden in o

ooking along the road to where the dark masses of the forest trees bounded our view. It was already

furs (for it was very cold), sat sometimes on a seat, but oftener paced restlessly to and fro. Evening had fallen. We did not know what to do, nor even whether we ought to do anything. Sapt would not own to sharing our worst appreh

dle of hay," said

ueen paused, and we gathered round her. The horse-hoofs came nearer. Now we made out the figures of three men: they were the king's huntsmen, and they rod

and is following more slowly,

cepted 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

is the king?" she as

s sent a message by

iver it to

fine sport; and, indeed, madam, if I

g him on the shoulder, "anything you like for yourself, but, a

on a man, aren't you? Well, then, madam, the king has en

n?" asked the queen, smiling in g

ot precisely his m

on tenterhooks, while the fool boasted about the sport that he had shown the king. For every boar in the forest

combined influence of his own seductive

way, but at last the hounds pulled him down, and his majesty

r now," grumble

y was so gracious as to say that no huntsman whom

!" groaned t

ferociously. In spite of the serious matters in hand I could not forbear a smile, while

he queen, at once encouraging him and bringin

y tired; and as we chanced to

udience. But the queen looked up with parted lips, and I believe that

e, and come back to dress it tomorrow; so we obeyed, and here we are - that is, except Herbert, my brother, who stayed with th

with the king?

s there to-night, and will ride back tomorrow mornin

from face to face. I saw him, and I understood at once that our feelings

n, thanks: we

f, and added her thanks to mine. Simon w

ne, there was a moment

se Rup

Zenda broke in wi

s fall out! We say he will go to

ischenheim doesn't sto

r seat and stretched o

my letter!

asted

s we arranged. Nothing is altered. Horse

t like an arrow along the

aid Sapt, "except that we must

er had lost a quarter of an hour. I opened my lips to speak. A glance from

d the queen, with clasped

am," returned S

let him rea

am," said Sap

," she said in a tremblin

k I heard. But I will set it down for what it is worth. I think he said, "Bless your sweet face, we'll do it." At any rate she drew back with a little cry of surprise,

nding on the terrace, with young B

aid I. It was what I h

try," said Colonel Sapt. And I

heads flew round in the ready apprehension of men on a perilous err

t it is," said the c

s beside us. Sapt swore an oath, h

you, James

ered Rudolf Rass

il do you wan

on the Count von

ve you any or

not to leave you, unless you sent me

"Deuce take it, w

ar as I could see, sir. I was

staches, scowled, b

r compliment," said h

id James with res

e all silent. Then

nd the three of us da