The Prisoner of Zenda

hance for

an account of the movements of any persons whom the police had received instructions to watch. Since I had been in Strelsau, Sapt had been in the habit of reading the report and

of interest this afternoon,

ked, "any mention o

is head wi

tination is believed to be the Castle of Zenda, but the party travelled by road and not by train. MM De Gautet, Bersonin, and Detchard followed an hour later, the

ed, very well pleased to find tha

whose movements have been watched according to instruction

habit of he

no steps about his marriage. From enquiries among the entourage of the Princess Flavia, her Royal Highness is believed to be deeply offended by the remissness of his Majesty. The common people are coupling her name with th

news to m

e all made!" laughed Fri

and said, in a sha

love to her ton

see her alone," said I. "Hang it, Sapt,

ust. The Countess Helga told me that the princess had become most attached to the King. Since the coronation, her fee

ttle of fish

ou've made pretty speeches to a gir

better my distress. He laid his han

old-blooded old Sapt, "that you'd

heav

: and I shall send a 'sem

l you!" said I. "I utterly refuse to tak

mall keen eyes. A slow cunni

stn't press you too hard. Soothe her down a

'll do tomorrow. Here, Fritz, c

less I thought about the thing, the more likely was I to do it. He must have seen the unhappiness he might bring on the princess; but that went for nothing with him. Can I say, confidently, that he was wrong? If the King were restored, the princess must turn to him, either knowing or not knowing t

ng met my stammered sentences-I rose in my place before all the brilliant crowd, and taking the Red Rose that I wore, flung the ribbon with its jewelled badge round her neck. In a tumult of applause I sat down: I saw Sapt smiling over his wine, and Fritz frowning. The res

enly, involuntarily, she gave me one brief glance-a glance of question, hurriedly turned aside; a blush that the question had ever come spread over her cheek, and she caught her breath. Ah, if you had seen her! I forgot the King in Zenda. I forgot the King in St

from her, cr

or is it only b

ered tones-"true that I love you

them as one of love's sweet extravaganc

I could show you how I love you! How

ow

ely. I-I neve

-Rudolf Rassendyll-who had won h

love me befo

my face, smiling,

Crown. I felt it first

ore?" I as

aughe

be pleased to hear me say

'Yes' b

went on in an instant: "Be careful, Rudol

? If Michael w

orse is

y effort, I took my hands off her and stood a yard or two away

" I began, "if I were on

finish, her h

he prison of Strelsau, you

"God forgive me!" and, holding

re not t

't deserve to be doubted. Ah, Rudolf! does a woman who

id her fa

en with my arm about her, summoned up what honour and con

range dry voice that seem

appeared at the window. A little cry burst from Flavia, as she sprang back from me. My half-fini

ence the Cardinal has waited this quarter of an ho

ngry warning. How long he had been a listener I knew

p his Eminence w

nothing, but no man could have missed her meaning, who had ever seen a woman in the exultation of love. A sour, yet sad

ood times and bad, God s

ng at me and drawing himsel

comes the King-Go

at my hand and kis

Good Go

ne resolve. Flavia, myself-ay, and the real King in Zenda, were pieces in his game; and pawns have no business with passions. Not even at the walls of the Palace did he stop; for when at last I handed Flavia down the broad marble steps and into her carriage, there was a great crowd awaiting us, and we were welcomed with deafening cheers. What could I do? Had I spoken then, they wou

was with me. I sat like a man dazed, staring into the fire; he puffed at his pipe; Fritz was gone to bed, having almost refused to

the rose, but, with a quick mov

id, "not yours-nor

blow for the King

on him

me striking a blow

ded hi

d," he said. "Yes, lad; bu

left me an

lay a little tr

terly a villain-if you would not have your King rot in Zenda, whi

follo

ickly! You saw tonig

d," s

do. Well, leave me here a week-and there's ano

ng heavily. "But if you did that, you

could raise all Strelsau on you in an hour, and choke

he said-"thanks to

ss, and send Michael and

nying it, l

us go to Zenda and crush this Michael and bring the King back to hi

princess?

ands, and crushed the rose b

, and his voice sounded husky

ll. But I have eaten of the King's bread, and I a

him by the hand. And the