The Prisoner of Zenda

s-With a Word

ou're going to do anything, R

e. I have an income nearly sufficient for my wants (no one's income is ever quite sufficient, you know), I enjoy an enviable

y," she observed, "and

rue. Our family doesn

d as she herself is, her family is hardly of the same standing as the Rassendylls. Besides her attractions, she possessed a large fortune, and my broth

enerally worse than

my hair: I knew quit

obert's is bla

efore breakfast) came in. He glanced at his wife: her

atter, my dea

thing and having red hair,"

can't help his hai

neration," said my brother. "So does

t crop out," said

id I, and, rising, I bowed to t

uttered an exclama

that picture away

ar!" h

avens!"

be forgotten,

about," said Rober

it be forgot

my brother's wife, b

if anything) I ought to do. And, by way of closing the discussion-and also, I mus

e being an El

ventured to call myself an Elphberg. For eminent as, I must protest, the Rassendylls have been for many generations, yet participation in their blood of course does not, at first sight, justify the boast of a connection with

ought a duel (it was considered highly well bred of him to waive all question of his rank) with a nobleman, well known in the society of the day, not only for his own merits, but as the husband of a very beautiful wife. In that duel Prince Rudolf received a severe wound, and, recovering therefrom, was adroitly smuggled off by the Ruritanian ambassador, who had found him a pretty handful. The nobleman was not wounded in the duel; but the morning being raw and damp on the occasion of the meeting, he contracted a severe chill, and, failing to throw it off, he died some six months after the departure of Prince Rudolf, without having found leisure to adjust his relations with his wife-who, after another two months, bore an heir to the title and estates of the family of Burlesdon. This lady was the

a delicate subject, and certainly this heredity we hear so much about is the finest scandalmonger in

buttress by pointing to the uselessness of the life I had led. Well, be that as it may, I had picked up a good deal of pleasure and a good deal of knowledge. I had been to a German school and a German university, and spoke German as readily and perfectly as English; I was thoroughly at home in French; I had a smattering of Italian and enough Spanish to swear by. I was, I believe, a s

her!) speaks on a platform, and oftener still as if she were on one, "is that h

ear Rose," I answered, "o

moment she went on: "Now, here's Sir Jacob Borroda

d thanks!"

obert says he is sure that he'll take you as

n the eyes, all on account of an idle scamp like myself, for whom she has no natural responsibility, I am visited with compunction.

oreseen obstacle has arisen, and Sir Jacob inv

how good of y

s he go

t; but it's sure to

if it's no more than a beggarly Legation.

th, my brother, prompted by Rose, had accepted the family tradition which taught that a wide berth was to be given to that country. But the moment Ruritania had come into my head I was eaten up with a curiosity to see it. After all, red hair and long noses are not confined to the House of Elphberg, and the old story seemed a preposterously insufficient reason for debarring myself from acquaintance with a highly interesting and important kingdom, one which had played no small part in European history, and might do the like again under the sway of a young and vigorous ruler, such as the new King was rumoured to be. My determination was c

ly, "there may be an out

ou mean?"

re seems a gap that might be fi

ied, clapping her hands. "That woul

way, introduced himself in this manner several times over. Burlesdon on Ancient Theories and Mod

are right, Bob,

'll do it," said

; but if I find enou

r enough,"

esn't matter!" s

that summer would stain no paper and spoil not a single pen. And that shows how little we know what the future holds; for here I am, fulfilling my qualified pr

on, if I were to submit it to her critical ey