The Prisoner of Zenda

eeps His A

othes dripped water, and opposite me stood old Sapt, a sneering smile on his face and an empty bucket in h

o my feet

es too far, s

uarrelling. Nothing else would

began again, hot in spirit, thou

z, getting down from the table

ily. Sapt, the disrespectful old dog, kicked him sharply. He did not stir, nor was there

lf an hour on h

s what either of you

It was alarmingly languid and slo

at last bottle?" I

know,"

t get a

rs wouldn't take him to Strelsau today. I know the l

nation!" I cr

rs, as I began to see was

word that he's

ose so,

h as a daisy, had lit his pi

y," said he, "I'll lay a

eavens

the army-ay, and Black Michael at the head

l," said I, i

l laugh. "They know his illnesses

k," said Fritz helplessly. "I'll car

ised hi

. "Do you think th

," sa

o drugg

lack Michael," said F

ael. What think you, Fritz, has Michael no king ready? Has half Strelsau no other candidate? As God'

arry him th

y picture he make

s hands. The King breathed loudly and heav

erg and the son of his father, and may I rot i

en Sapt, knitting his bushy grey brows, to

in Fate. Fate sent you here. F

ack, murmurin

with an eager,

muttered. "I s

aid Sapt. "If you shave, I'll wager

ir

d mine-and Fritz's here. But, if you don't go, I swear to you Black Michae

never forgive

Who cares for h

es, as I stood in thought. Then I suppose a look came o

'll

urned my eyes on the prostrate

unt our horses-Fritz must stay there and guard the King's room-and ride here at a gallop. The King will be ready-Josef

in a second, an

id Fritz, with his fir

pe detecti

Black Michael down below before I go myself

eyed

k, and Josef with him. The latter carried a jug of hot water, soap and razor

itz smote o

! They'll know

ll ride to Hofbau and catch a train ther

the K

wine-cellar. I'm going

ey fin

hould they? Josef

ut

amped h

know the risk? If they do find him, he's no worse

he King in his hands. And as he did so, the old woman, Johann the keeper's mother, stood in the doorway. For

heard?" c

d Sapt grimly, and he bore

scraped me till my moustache and imperial were things of the past and my face was a

, we sha

s room, and I dressed myself in the uniform of a colonel of the Guard, finding tim

her and put a handkerchief in her mouth and bound her hands, and locked her up in

ughing, and even ol

ne they'll think it is because we smelt a rat. For you may swe

Old Sapt handed me the King's swor

shaved his bear

d he?"

heek when he was graciously pleased to give h

l safe

re," said Sapt, "but w

ed. In four minutes Sapt had arrayed himself in his uniform. Josef called that the horses were ready. W

r the King, began at once to instruct me most minutely in the history of my past life, of my family, of my tastes, pursuits, weaknesses, friends, companions, and servants. He told me

aid, "you're a Cat

," I a

thwith he fell to a rudimentary lesson in the

nd careless about such matters. But you must be as civil as butter to the Cardinal. We ho

he King had changed his plans. The train steamed up. We got into a first-class carriage, and Sapt, leaning back on

y've gone to loo

aid Fritz nervously, and this time i

st nine, looking out of the window, I sa

his hand, and, leaning forward, he laid his finger on my

e of stone!"

say Fritz here has caught the ague. Drain

d as he

rd forward for your Majesty's arrival, for there

King'll be hanged if he do

kled, and hel

d he. Then he paused, and looking at us, sai

d Fritz von

a lump that rose in my throat, settled my helmet firmly on my head, and (I'm not ashamed to sa

nd riding in hot haste to the quarters of the troops, to the Cathedral, to the residence of Duke Michael. Even as I swallowed the last drop of my cu

n his good city of Strelsau

ave th

uth wrinkled

pered. "Courage, lad!" and I