Rupert of Hentzau

ce to his killing of the king. It was, indeed, the act of a reckless man who stood at nothing and held nothing sacred; but when I consider Herbert's story, and trace how the

upert's catalogue. All this I can admit now, but on that night, with the dead body lying there before us, with the story piteously told by Herbert's faltering voice fresh in our ears, it was hard to allow any such extenuation. Our hearts cried out for vengeance, although we ourselves served the king no more. Nay, it may well be that we hoped to stifle some reproach of our own consciences by a louder clamor against another's sin, or longed to offer some belated empty atonement to our de

. If you'll go to Zenda,

looking up at me and

man in the kingdom will be on the lo

e taken?" asked

ided the wounded forester to reach a couch. He stood now near the constable, in his usual unobtrusive readiness. He did not speak, but I saw a look of understanding in his eyes as he n

ly be taken or ki

's do it!

letter on him,"

forg

he has the letter

y, its evidence would speak loud and clear to all the world. Again he was protected by his crime: while he had the letter, he must be kept inviolate from all attack except at our own hands. We desired his death, but we must be his body-guard and die in his defense rath

ought by this time to have been far on our road back to the castle; by this time Rupert must be miles

at, then?" I asked, pointing with my fi

rossed his hands on the hilt of the sword bet

ng at my face. "Until we

impossible

he next day, or even in the next two days, it's not impossible. Only let me have the letter, and I'll account for the

ory, sir," James put in, wit

ake one for me. But, by God, story or no story, the letter mustn't

s hand and

ubt I'm with

ment, Fritz,"

w can we

Sapt and I sat, while Jam

an. I am ashamed to remember how little we thought of him, but great schemes make the actors in them careless of humanity; the life of a man goes for not

- and Bernenstein must get to Strelsau as quick as you can, and find Rudolf Rassendyll. You three ought to be able to track young Rupert down and get the letter from him. If he's no

d y

can keep out, the king is ill. If rumors get ab

the b

make a temporary grave. I dare say two," a

m smile, "three - for our friend

bury t

him out again, poor fellow. Well

For now a greater peril threatened 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's hands. That could never be. But it would be a worse thing if it were found on Rupert, and all the kingdom, nay, all Europe, know that it was written in the hand of her who was now, in her own right, Queen of Ruritania. To s

ethered. There was nothing to keep me, and I rose; but as I rose, I heard the forester's voice call plaintively for me. The unlucky fellow knew me well, and now cried to me to sit by him. I think Sapt wanted me to leave him, but I could not refuse his last request, even though it consumed some precious minutes. He was very n

alloped off on my return 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; my nerves were strung to effort and to con

the keep. The flag staff was naked; the royal standard that had flapped in the wind last night was gone. But by immemorial custom the flag flew on the keep when the king or the queen was at the castle. It would fly for Rudo

ed leisurely and easily. Pulling off my gloves, I dusted my boots with them, turn

, find out if she can see me. I

, but at this moment Hermann, the

able with you, m

ly, though I was very far from careless. "I have a message for her Maje

from her room, sent for Lieutenant von Bernenstein, and announced that she was about to set out from the castle. As yo

ook with her only one lady, Lieutenant von Bernenstein being in attendance. It was a bustle, if you like, with ev

ve no r

d at the castle. She said it contained a message of importance, which the constable was to convey to the king, and that it mus

that the clue to this fresh puzzle must lie under the cover of Sapt's le

But, pardon me, you're not the

d the king's orders to rejoin him as soon as I had seen the queen, and since her Majesty isn't here, I shall retu

my lord. Her Majesty's

come and not the constable, she wou

d: her orders were plain, and sh

and Hermann took alarm. He started back, clapping his hand to the breast of his laced coat. The gesture betrayed where the letter was; I was past prudence; I sprang on him and wrenched his hand away, catching him

n towards the stable. In five minutes I was on a fresh horse, in six I was clear of the castle, heading back fast as I could go

Sapt was standing by, smoking his pipe. The boots of both were stained and sticky with mud. I flung myself from my saddle and blurted out my news. The constable sn

him!" said Sapt, as he read.

n 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

s not, tell him what you will or what you can contrive. I must go. It came a second time, and all so plain. I saw him; I tell you I saw him. Ah, I must see him again. I swear that I will only see him once. He's in danger - I know he's in danger; or what does the dream mean? Bernenstein will go with me, and I shall 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 that her own trou

te, we talked; and it was plain to us that I also must go to Strelsau. There, in the city, the drama must be played out. There was Rudolf, there Rischenheim, there in all likelihood Rupert of Hentzau, there now the queen. And of these Rupert alone, or perhaps Rischenheim also, knew that the king was dead, and how

apital. From Hofbau I could send a message, but the message must announce only my own coming, not the news I carried. To Sapt, thanks t

conceal the king's death long. For God's sake, Fritz,

au, for I rode furiously. From there I sent to Bernenstein at the palace

n hour, and I know not to this day how the hour wore itself away. I ate, I drank, I smoked, I walked, sat, and stood. The stationmaster knew me, and thought I had gone mad, till I told him that I carried most important despatches fro

. At last we started again; had we not, I should have jumped out and run, for to sit longer would have driven me mad. Now we entered the station. With a great effort I calmed myself. I lolled back in my seat; when w

said I, "and be quick. I'm late alr

me. The cabman also saw him and waited. I dared not tell him to drive on, for I feared to betray any undue haste, and it would have looked strange not to spare a mom

ppointment at court. How dreadfully active you all a

said I, smiling. "Ladies do, as you k

roduced a pleased smile and a ga

soon," he said, "but I didn't

hen why did yo

rprise. "Oh, I supposed you'd be on duty, or somet

en? No, not

n the

ed forward. "At least I'm enga

ought you'd come, as soon as I

preserved my composure. But I a

I gasped, clutchi

didn't know? Yes

r a moment I could not speak

. And drive li

, I sank back on the cushions, fairly aghast. The king lay

l was in Strelsau. He had been seen by somebody and taken for the king. But comfort? What comf

he city known. That day, by the witness of a crowd of people, by his own claim and his own voice, ay, and by the assent of the 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 must now relate the strange