Prisoner of Zenda ................................................................................................................................................1

ANTHONY HOPE..................................................................................................................................1

RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda

A man who has lived in the world, marking how every act, although in itself perhaps light and insignificant,

may become the source of consequences that spread far and wide, and flow for years or centuries, could

scarcely feel secure in reckoning that with the death of the Duke of Strelsau and the restoration of King

Rudolf to liberty and his throne, there would end, for good and all, the troubles born of Black Michael's

daring conspiracy. The stakes had been high, the struggle keen; the edge of passion had been sharpened, and

the seeds of enmity sown. Yet Michael, having struck for the crown, had paid for the blow with his life:

should there not then be an end? Michael was dead, the Princess her cousin's wife, the story in safe keeping,

and Mr. Rassendyll's face seen no more in Ruritania. Should there not then be an end? So said I to my friend

the Constable of Zenda, as we talked by the bedside of Marshal Strakencz. The old man, already nearing the

death that soon after robbed us of his aid and counsel, bowed his head in assent: in the aged and ailing the

love of peace breeds hope of it. But Colonel Sapt tugged at his gray moustache, and twisted his black cigar in

his mouth, saying, "You're very sanguine, friend Fritz. But is Rupert of Hentzau dead? I had not heard it."

Well said, and like old Sapt! Yet the man is little without the opportunity, and Rupert by himself could hardly

have troubled our repose. Hampered by his own guilt, he dared not set his foot in the kingdom from which by

rare good luck he had escaped, but wandered to and fro over Europe, making a living by his wits, and, as

RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 1

some said, adding to his resources by gallantries for which he did not refuse substantial recompense. But he

kept himself constantly before our eyes, and never ceased to contrive how he might gain permission to return

and enjoy the estates to which his uncle's death had entitled him. The chief agent through whom he had the

effrontery to approach the king was his relative, the Count of LuzauRischenheim, a young man of high rank

and great wealth who was devoted to Rupert. The count fulfilled his mission well: acknowledging Rupert's

heavy offences, he put forward in his behalf the pleas of youth and of the predominant influence which Duke

Michael had exercised over his adherent, and promised, in words so significant as to betray Rupert's own

dictation, a future fidelity no less discreet than hearty. "Give me my price and I'll hold my tongue," seemed to

come in Rupert's offhand accents through his cousin's deferential lips. As may be supposed, however, the

king and those who advised him in the matter, knowing too well the manner of man the Count of Hentzau

was, were not inclined to give ear to his ambassador's prayer. We kept firm hold on Master Rupert's revenues,

and as good watch as we could on his movements; for we were most firmly determined that he should never

return to Ruritania. Perhaps we might have obtained his extradition and hanged him on the score of his

crimes; but in these days every rogue who deserves no better than to be strung up to the nearest tree must

have what they call a fair trial; and we feared that, if Rupert were handed over to our police and arraigned

before the courts at Strelsau, the secret which we guarded so sedulously would become the gossip of all the

city, ay, and of all Europe. So Rupert went unpunished except by banishment and the impounding of his

Yet Sapt was in the right about him. Helpless as he seemed, he did not for an instant abandon the contest. He

lived in the faith that his chance would come, and from day to day was ready for its coming. He schemed

against us as we schemed to protect ourselves from him; if we watched him, he kept his eye on us. His

ascendency over LuzauRischenheim grew markedly greater after a visit which his cousin paid to him in

Paris. From this time the young count began to supply him with resources. Thus armed, he gathered

instruments round him and organized a system of espionage that carried to his ears all our actions and the

whole position of affairs at court. He knew, far more accurately than anyone else outside the royal circle, the

measures taken for the government of the kingdom and the considerations that dictated the royal policy. More

than this, he possessed himself of every detail concerning the king's health, although the utmost reticence was

observed on this subject. Had his discoveries stopped there, they would have been vexatious and disquieting,

but perhaps of little serious harm. They went further. Set on the track by his acquaintance with what had

passed during Mr. Rassendyll's tenure of the throne, he penetrated the secret which had been kept

successfully from the king himself. In the knowledge of it he found the opportunity for which he had waited;

in its bold use he discerned his chance. I cannot say whether he were influenced more strongly by his desire

to reestablish his position in the kingdom or by the grudge he bore against Mr. Rassendyll. He loved power

and money; dearly he loved revenge also. No doubt both motives worked together, and he was rejoiced to

find that the weapon put into his hand had a double edge; with one he hoped to cut his own path clear; with

the other, to wound the man he hated through the woman whom that man loved. In fine, the Count of

Hentzau, shrewdly discerning the feeling that existed between the queen and Rudolf Rassendyll, set his spies

to work, and was rewarded by discovering the object of my yearly meetings with Mr. Rassendyll. At least he

conjectured the nature of my errand; this was enough for him. Head and hand were soon busy in turning the

The marriage which had set all Ruritania on fire with joy and formed in the people's eyes the visible triumph

over Black Michael and his fellowconspirators was now three years old. For three years the Princess Flavia

had been queen. I am come by now to the age when a man should look out on life with an eye undimmed by

the mists of passion. My lovemaking days are over; yet there is nothing for which I am more thankful to

Almighty God than the gift of my wife's love. In storm it has been my anchor, and in clear skies my star. But

we common folk are free to follow our hearts; am I an old fool for saying that he is a fool who follows

anything else? Our liberty is not for princes. We need wait for no future world to balance the luck of men;

even here there is an equipoise. From the highly placed a price is exacted for their state, their wealth, and

their honors, as heavy as these are great; to the poor, what is to us mean and of no sweetness may appear

RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda

RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 2

decked in the robes of pleasure and delight. Well, if it were not so, who could sleep at nights? The burden

laid on Queen Flavia I knew, and know, so well as a man can know it. I think it needs a woman to know it

fully; for even now my wife's eyes fill with tears when we speak of it. Yet she bore it, and if she failed in

anything, I wonder that it was in so little. For it was not only that she had never loved the king and had loved

another with all her heart. The king's health, shattered by the horror and rigors of his imprisonment in the

castle of Zenda, soon broke utterly. He lived, indeed; nay, he shot and hunted, and kept in his hand some

measure, at least, of government. But always from the day of his release he was a fretful invalid, different

utterly from the gay and jovial prince whom Michael's villains had caught in the shooting lodge. There was

worse than this. As time went on, the first impulse of gratitude and admiration that he had felt towards Mr.

Rassendyll died away. He came to brood more and more on what had passed while he was a prisoner; he was

possessed not only by a haunting dread of Rupert of Hentzau, at whose hands he had suffered so greatly, but

also by a morbid, half mad jealousy of Mr. Rassendyll. Rudolf had played the hero while he lay helpless.

Rudolf's were the exploits for which his own people cheered him in his own capital. Rudolf's were the laurels

that crowned his impatient brow. He had enough nobility to resent his borrowed credit, without the fortitude

to endure it manfully. And the hateful comparison struck him nearer home. Sapt would tell him bluntly that

Rudolf did this or that, set this precedent or that, laid down this or the other policy, and that the king could do

no better than follow in Rudolf's steps. Mr. Rassendyll's name seldom passed his wife's lips, but when she

spoke of him it was as one speaks of a great man who is dead, belittling all the living by the shadow of his

name. I do not believe that the king discerned that truth which his wife spent her days in hiding from him; yet

he was uneasy if Rudolf's name were mentioned by Sapt or myself, and from the queen's mouth he could not

bear it. I have seen him fall into fits of passion on the mere sound of it; for he lost control of himself on what

Moved by this disquieting jealousy, he sought continually to exact from the queen proofs of love and care

beyond what most husbands can boast of, or, in my humble judgment, make good their right to, always

asking of her what in his heart he feared was not hers to give. Much she did in pity and in duty; but in some

moments, being but human and herself a woman of high temper, she failed; then the slight rebuff or

involuntary coldness was magnified by a sick man's fancy into great offence or studied insult, and nothing

that she could do would atone for it. Thus they, who had never in truth come together, drifted yet further

apart; he was alone in his sickness and suspicion, she in her sorrows and her memories. There was no child to

bridge the gulf between them, and although she was his queen and his wife, she grew almost a stranger to

Thus, worse than widowed, she lived for three years; and once only in each year she sent three words to the

man she loved, and received from him three words in answer. Then her strength failed her. A pitiful scene

had occurred in which the king peevishly upbraided her in regard to some trivial matterthe occasion

escapes my memoryspeaking to her before others words that even alone she could not have listened to

with dignity. I was there, and Sapt; the colonel's small eyes had gleamed in anger. "I should like to shut his

mouth for him," I heard him mutter, for the king's waywardness had wellnigh worn out even his devotion.

The thing, of which I will say no more, happened a day or two before I was to set out to meet Mr. Rassendyll.

I was to seek him this time at Wintenberg, for I had been recognized the year before at Dresden; and

Wintenberg, being a smaller place and less in the way of chance visitors, was deemed safer. I remember well

how she was when she called me into her own room, a few hours after she had left the king. She stood by the

table; the box was on it, and I knew well that the red rose and the message were within. But there was more

"I must write to him," she said. "I can't bear it, I must write. My dear friend Fritz, you will carry it safely for

me, won't you? And he must write to me. And you'll bring that safely, won't you? Ah, Fritz, I know I'm

wrong, but I'm starved, starved, starved! And it's for the last time. For I know now that if I send anything, I

must send more. So after this time I won't send at all. But I must say goodby to him; I must have his

RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda

RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 3

The tears rolled down her cheeks, which today were flushed out of their paleness to a stormy red; her eyes

"And tell me how he looks. Look at him closely, Fritz. See if he is well and seems strong. Oh, and make him

merry and happy! Bring that smile to his lips, Fritz, and the merry twinkle to his eyes. When you speak of

me, see if heif he looks as if he still loved me." But then she broke off, crying, "But don't tell him I said

that. He'd be grieved if I doubted his love. I don't doubt it; I don't, indeed; but still tell me how he looks when

Taking it from her bosom, she kissed it before she gave it to me. Then she added a thousand cautions, how I

was to carry her letter, how I was to go and how return, and how I was to run no danger, because my wife

Helga loved me as well as she would have loved her husband had Heaven been kinder. "At least, almost as I

should, Fritz," she said, now between smiles and tears. She would not believe that any woman could love as

I left the queen and went to prepare for my journey. I used to take only one servant with me, and I had chosen

a different man each year. None of them had known that I met Mr. Rassendyll, but supposed that I was

engaged on the private business which I made my pretext for obtaining leave of absence from the king. This

time I had determined to take with me a Swiss youth who had entered my service only a few weeks before.

His name was Bauer; he seemed a stolid, somewhat stupid fellow, but as honest as the day and very obliging.

He had come to me well recommended, and I had not hesitated to engage him. I chose him for my companion

now, chiefly because he was a foreigner and therefore less likely to gossip with the other servants when we

returned. I do not pretend to much cleverness, but I confess that it vexes me to remember how that stout,

guilelesslooking youth made a fool of me. For Rupert knew that I had met Mr. Rassendyll the year before at

Dresden; Rupert was keeping a watchful eye on all that passed in Strelsau; Rupert had procured the fellow his

fine testimonials and sent him to me, in the hope that he would chance on something of advantage to his

employer. My resolve to take him to Wintenberg may have been hoped for, but could scarcely have been

counted on; it was the added luck that waits so often on the plans of a clever schemer.

Going to take leave of the king, I found him huddled over the fire. The day was not cold, but the damp chill

of his dungeon seemed to have penetrated to the very core of his bones. He was annoyed at my going, and

questioned me peevishly about the business that occasioned my journey. I parried his curiosity as I best

could, but did not succeed in appeasing his illhumor. Half ashamed of his recent outburst, halfanxious to

"Business! Yes, any business is a good enough excuse for leaving me! By Heaven, I wonder if a king was

ever served so badly as I am! Why did you trouble to get me out of Zenda? Nobody wants me, nobody cares

To reason with such a mood was impossible. I could only assure him that I would hasten my return by all

"Yes, pray do," said he. "I want somebody to look after me. Who knows what that villain Rupert may attempt

Thus, with a mixture of plaintiveness and malice, he scolded me. At last I stood silent, waiting till he should

be pleased to dismiss me. At any rate I was thankful that he entertained no suspicion as to my errand. Had I

spoken a word of Mr. Rassendyll he would not have let me go. He had fallen foul of me before on learning

RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda

RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 4

that I was in communication with Rudolf; so completely had jealousy destroyed gratitude in his breast. If he

had known what I carried, I do not think that he could have hated his preserver more. Very likely some such

On leaving the king's presence, I sought out the Constable of Zenda. He knew my errand; and, sitting down

beside him, I told him of the letter I carried, and arranged how to apprise him of my fortune surely and

quickly. He was not in a good humor that day: the king had ruffled him also, and Colonel Sapt had no great

"If we haven't cut one another's throats before then, we shall all be at Zenda by the time you arrive at

Wintenberg," he said. "The court moves there tomorrow, and I shall be there as long as the king is."

"And destroy yourself with it, if there's the only way," he went on with a surly smile. "Heaven knows why

she must send such a silly message at all; but since she must, she'd better have sent me with it."

I knew that Sapt was in the way of jeering at all sentiment, and I took no notice of the terms that he applied to

the queen's farewell. I contented myself with answering the last part of what he said.

"No, it's better you should be here," I urged. "For if I should lose the letterthough there's little chance of

"I could try," he grinned. "But on my life, to run the chance for a letter's sake! A letter's a poor thing to risk

"Off with you, then," grumbled the colonel. "Tell Rassendyll from me that he did well. But tell him to do

something more. Let 'em say goodby and have done with it. Good God, is he going to waste all his life

"Ay, it's done. Perhaps it's done," he answered. "At least he has given us back our good king."

To lay on the king the full blame for what he was would have been rank injustice. Sapt was not guilty of it,

but his disappointment was bitter that all our efforts had secured no better ruler for Ruritania. Sapt could

"Ay, I'm afraid the lad's work here is done," he said, as I shook him by the hand. Then a sudden light came in

A man need not, I hope, be deemed uxorious for liking a quiet dinner alone with his wife before he starts on a

long journey. Such, at least, was my fancy; and I was annoyed to find that Helga's cousin, Anton von

Strofzin, had invited himself to share our meal and our farewell. He conversed with his usual airy emptiness

on all the topics that were supplying Strelsau with gossip. There were rumors that the king was ill; that the

queen was angry at being carried off to Zenda; that the archbishop meant to preach against low dresses; that

the chancellor was to be dismissed; that his daughter was to be married; and so forth. I heard without

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 5

"They were betting at the club," said Anton, "that Rupert of Hentzau would be recalled. Have you heard

If I had known anything, it is needless to say that I should not have confided it to Anton. But the suggested

step was so utterly at variance with the king's intentions that I made no difficulty about contradicting the

report with an authoritative air. Anton heard me with a judicial wrinkle on his smooth brow.

"That's all very well," said he, "and I dare say you're bound to say so. All I know is that Rischenheim dropped

"And where's he gone?" cried Anton, exultantly. "Why has he suddenly left Strelsau? I tell you he's gone to

meet Rupert, and I'll bet you what you like he carries some proposal. Ah, you don't know everything, Fritz,

It was indeed true that I did not know everything. I made haste to admit as much. "I didn't even know that the

"You see?" exclaimed Anton. And he added, patronizingly, "You should keep your ears open, my boy; then

"No less, I trust," said I, "for he pays me nothing." Indeed, at this time I held no office save the honorary

position of chamberlain to Her Majesty. Any advice the king needed from me was asked and given

Anton went off, persuaded that he had scored a point against me. I could not see where. It was possible that

the Count of LuzauRischenheim had gone to meet his cousin, equally possible that no such business

claimed his care. At any rate, the matter was not for me. I had a more pressing affair in hand. Dismissing the

whole thing from my mind, I bade the butler tell Bauer to go forward with my luggage and to let my carriage

be at the door in good time. Helga had busied herself, since our guest's departure, in preparing small comforts

for my journey; now she came to me to say goodby. Although she tried to hide all signs of it, I detected an

uneasiness in her manner. She did not like these errands of mine, imagining dangers and risks of which I saw

no likelihood. I would not give in to her mood, and, as I kissed her, I bade her expect me back in a few days'

time. Not even to her did I speak of the new and more dangerous burden that I carried, although I was aware

"My love to King Rudolf, the real King Rudolf," said she. "Though you carry what will make him think little

"I have no desire he should think too much of it, sweet," said I. She caught me by the hands, and looked up in

"What a friend you are, aren't you, Fritz?" said she. "You worship Mr. Rassendyll. I know you think I should

worship him too, if he asked me. Well, I shouldn't. I am foolish enough to have my own idol." All my

modesty did not let me doubt who her idol might be. Suddenly she drew near to me and whispered in my ear.

I think that our own happiness brought to her a sudden keen sympathy with her mistress.

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 6

"Make him send her a loving message, Fritz," she whispered. "Something that will comfort her. Her idol can't

"Yes, he'll send something to comfort her," I answered. "And God keep you, my dear."

For he would surely send an answer to the letter that I carried, and that answer I was sworn to bring safely to

her. So I set out in good heart, bearing in the pocket of my coat the little box and the queen's goodby. And,

as Colonel Sapt said to me, both I would destroy, if need wereay, and myself with them. A man did not

The arrangements for my meeting with Mr. Rassendyll had been carefully made by correspondence before he

left England. He was to be at the Golden Lion Hotel at eleven o'clock on the night of the 15th of October. I

reckoned to arrive in the town between eight and nine on the same evening, to proceed to another hotel, and,

on pretence of taking a stroll, slip out and call on him at the appointed hour. I should then fulfil my

commission, take his answer, and enjoy the rare pleasure of a long talk with him. Early the next morning he

would have left Wintenberg, and I should be on my way back to Strelsau. I knew that he would not fail to

keep his appointment, and I was perfectly confident of being able to carry out the programme punctually; I

had, however, taken the precaution of obtaining a week's leave of absence, in case any unforeseen accident

should delay my return. Conscious of having done all I could to guard against misunderstanding or mishap, I

got into the train in a tolerably peaceful frame of mind. The box was in my inner pocket, the letter in a

portemonnaie. I could feel them both with my hand. I was not in uniform, but I took my revolver. Although I

had no reason to anticipate any difficulties, I did not forget that what I carried must be protected at all hazards

The weary night journey wore itself away. Bauer came to me in the morning, performed his small services,

repacked my handbag, procured me some coffee, and left me. It was then about eight o'clock; we had

arrived at a station of some importance and were not to stop again till midday. I saw Bauer enter the

secondclass compartment in which he was traveling, and settled down in my own coupe. I think it was at

this moment that the thought of Rischenheim came again into my head, and I found myself wondering why

he clung to the hopeless idea of compassing Rupert's return and what business had taken him from Strelsau.

But I made little of the matter, and, drowsy from a broken night's rest, soon fell into a doze. I was alone in the

carriage and could sleep without fear or danger. I was awakened by our noontide halt. Here I saw Bauer

again. After taking a basin of soup, I went to the telegraph bureau to send a message to my wife; the receipt

of it would not merely set her mind at case, but would also ensure word of my safe progress reaching the

queen. As I entered the bureau I met Bauer coming out of it. He seemed rather startled at our encounter, but

told me readily enough that he had been telegraphing for rooms at Wintenberg, a very needless precaution,

since there was no danger of the hotel being full. In fact I was annoyed, as I especially wished to avoid

calling attention to my arrival. However, the mischief was done, and to rebuke my servant might have

aggravated it by setting his wits at work to find out my motive for secrecy. So I said nothing, but passed by

him with a nod. When the whole circumstances came to light, I had reason to suppose that besides his

message to the innkeeper, Bauer sent one of a character and to a quarter unsuspected by me.

We stopped once again before reaching Wintenberg. I put my head out of the window to look about me, and

saw Bauer standing near the luggage van. He ran to me eagerly, asking whether I required anything. I told

him "nothing"; but instead of going away, he began to talk to me. Growing weary of him, I returned to my

seat and waited impatiently for the train to go on. There was a further delay of five minutes, and then we

"Thank goodness!" I exclaimed, leaning back comfortably in my seat and taking a cigar from my case.

RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda

RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 7

But in a moment the cigar rolled unheeded on to the floor, as I sprang eagerly to my feet and darted to the

window. For just as we were clearing the station, I saw being carried past the carriage, on the shoulders of a

porter, a bag which looked very much like mine. Bauer had been in charge of my bag, and it had been put in

the van under his directions. It seemed unlikely that it should be taken out now by any mistake. Yet the bag I

saw was very like the bag I owned. But I was not sure, and could have done nothing had I been sure. We

were not to stop again before Wintenberg, and, with my luggage or without it, I myself must be in the town

We arrived punctual to our appointed time. I sat in the carriage a moment or two, expecting Bauer to open the

door and relieve me of my small baggage. He did not come, so I got out. It seemed that I had few

fellowpassengers, and these were quickly disappearing on foot or in carriages and carts that waited outside

the station. I stood looking for my servant and my luggage. The evening was mild; I was encumbered with

my handbag and a heavy fur coat. There were no signs either of Bauer or of baggage. I stayed where I was

for five or six minutes. The guard of the train had disappeared, but presently I observed the stationmaster;

he seemed to be taking a last glance round the premises. Going up to him I asked whether he had seen my

servant; he could give me no news of him. I had no luggage ticket, for mine had been in Bauer's hands; but I

prevailed on him to allow me to look at the baggage which had arrived; my property was not among it. The

stationmaster was inclined, I think, to be a little skeptical as to the existence both of bag and of servant. His

only suggestion was that the man must have been left behind accidentally. I pointed out that in this case he

would not have had the bag with him, but that it would have come on in the train. The stationmaster

admitted the force of my argument; he shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands out; he was evidently at

Now, for the first time and with sudden force, a doubt of Bauer's fidelity thrust itself into my mind. I

remembered how little I knew of the fellow and how great my charge was. Three rapid movements of my

hand assured me that letter, box, and revolver were in their respective places. If Bauer had gone hunting in

the bag, he had drawn a blank. The stationmaster noticed nothing; he was stating at the dim gas lamp that

"He won't come tonight, now," interrupted the stationmaster, none too politely. "No other train arrives

"Tell him when he does come to follow me at once to the Wintenbergerhof. I'm going there immediately."

For time was short, and I did not wish to keep Mr. Rassendyll waiting. Besides, in my newborn

nervousness, I was anxious to accomplish my errand as soon as might be. What had become of Bauer? The

thought returned, and now with it another, that seemed to connect itself in some subtle way with my present

position: why and whither had the Count of LuzauRischenheim set out from Strelsau a day before I started

"If he comes I'll tell him," said the stationmaster, and as he spoke he looked round the yard.

There was not a cab to be seen! I knew that the station lay on the extreme outskirts of the town, for I had

passed through Wintenberg on my wedding journey, nearly three years before. The trouble involved in

"There are plenty generally, sir," he answered more civilly, with an apologetic air. "There would be tonight

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 8

Another accident! This expedition of mine seemed doomed to be the sport of chance.

"Just before your train arrived," he continued, "a local came in. As a rule, hardly anybody comes by it, but

tonight a number of menoh, twenty or fiveandtwenty, I should thinkgot out. I collected their tickets

myself, and they all came from the first station on the line. Well, that's not so strange, for there's a good

beergarden there. But, curiously enough, every one of them hired a separate cab and drove off, laughing and

shouting to one another as they went. That's how it happens that there were only one or two cabs left when

Taken alone, this occurrence was nothing; but I asked myself whether the conspiracy that had robbed me of

"All sorts of men, sir," answered the stationmaster, "but most of them were shabbylooking fellows. I

The vague feeling of uneasiness which had already attacked me grew stronger. Although I fought against it,

calling myself an old woman and a coward, I must confess to an impulse which almost made me beg the

stationmaster's company on my walk; but, besides being ashamed to exhibit a timidity apparently

groundless, I was reluctant to draw attention to myself in any way. I would not for the world have it supposed

"Well, there's no help for it," said I, and, buttoning my heavy coat about me, I took my handbag and stick in

one hand, and asked my way to the hotel. My misfortunes had broken down the stationmaster's indifference,

"Straight along the road, sir," said he, "between the poplars, for hard on half a mile; then the houses begin,

I thanked him curtly (for I had not quite forgiven him his earlier incivility), and started on my walk, weighed

down by my big coat and the handbag. When I left the lighted station yard I realized that the evening had

fallen very dark, and the shade of the tall lank trees intensified the gloom. I could hardly see my way, and

went timidly, with frequent stumbles over the uneven stones of the road. The lamps were dim, few, and

widely separated; so far as company was concerned, I might have been a thousand miles from an inhabited

house. In spite of myself, the thought of danger persistently assailed my mind. I began to review every

circumstance of my journey, twisting the trivial into some ominous shape, magnifying the significance of

everything which might justly seem suspicious, studying in the light of my new apprehensions every

expression of Bauer's face and every word that had fallen from his lips. I could not persuade myself into

security. I carried the queen's letter, andwell, I would have given much to have old Sapt or Rudolf

Now, when a man suspects danger, let him not spend his time in asking whether there be really danger or in

upbraiding himself for timidity, but let him face his cowardice, and act as though the danger were real. If I

had followed that rule and kept my eyes about me, scanning the sides of the road and the ground in front of

my feet, instead of losing myself in a maze of reflection, I might have had time to avoid the trap, or at least to

get my hand to my revolver and make a fight for it; or, indeed, in the last resort, to destroy what I carried

before harm came to it. But my mind was preoccupied, and the whole thing seemed to happen in a minute. At

the very moment that I had declared to myself the vanity of my fears and determined to be resolute in

banishing them, I heard voicesa low, strained whispering; I saw two or three figures in the shadow of the

poplars by the wayside. An instant later, a dart was made at me. While I could fly I would not fight; with a

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sudden forward plunge I eluded the men who rushed at me, and started at a run towards the lights of the town

and the shapes of the houses, now distant about a quarter of a mile. Perhaps I ran twenty yards, perhaps fifty;

I do not know. I heard the steps behind me, quick as my own. Then I fell headlong on the roadtripped up! I

understood. They had stretched a rope across my path; as I fell a man bounded up from either side, and I

found the rope slack under my body. There I lay on my face; a man knelt on me, others held either hand; my

face was pressed into the mud of the road, and I was like to have been stifled; my handbag had whizzed

I knew the voice; it was a confirmation of the fears which I had lately been at such pains to banish. It

justified. the forecast of Anton von Strofzin, and explained the wager of the Count of

They caught hold of me and began to turn me on my back. Here I saw a chance, and with a great heave of my

body I flung them from me. For a short instant I was free; my impetuous attack seemed to have startled the

enemy; I gathered myself up on my knees. But my advantage was not to last long. Another man, whom I had

not seen, sprang suddenly on me like a bullet from a catapult. His fierce onset overthrew me; I was stretched

on the ground again, on my back now, and my throat was clutched viciously in strong fingers. At the same

moment my arms were again seized and pinned. The face of the man on my chest bent down towards mine,

and through the darkness I discerned the features of Rupert of Hentzau. He was panting with the sudden

exertion and the intense force with which he held me, but he was smiling also; and when he saw by my eyes

that I knew him, he laughed softly in triumph. Then came Rischenheim's voice again.

"You fool, he'll have it about him," said Rupert, scornfully. "Hold him fast while I search."

On either side my hands were still pinned fast. Rupert's left hand did not leave my throat, but his free right

hand began to dart about me, feeling, probing, and rummaging. I lay quite helpless and in the bitterness of

great consternation. Rupert found my revolver, drew it out with a gibe, and handed it to Rischenheim, who

was now standing beside him. Then he felt the box, he drew it out, his eyes sparkled. He set his knee hard on

my chest, so that I could scarcely breathe; then he ventured to loose my throat, and tore the box open eagerly.

"Bring a light here," he cried. Another ruffian came with a darklantern, whose glow he turned on the box.

Rupert opened it, and when he saw what was inside, he laughed again, and stowed it away in his pocket.

"Quick, quick!" urged Rischenheim. "We've got what we wanted, and somebody may come at any moment."

A brief hope comforted me. The loss of the box was a calamity, but I would pardon fortune if only the letter

escaped capture. Rupert might have suspected that I carried some such token as the box, but he could not

know of the letter. Would he listen to Rischenheim? No. The Count of Hentzau did things thoroughly.

"We may as well overhaul him a bit more," said he, and resumed his search. My hope vanished, for now he

Another instant brought him to it. He snatched the pocketbook, and, motioning impatiently to the man to hold

the lantern nearer, he began to examine the contents. I remember well the look of his face as the fierce white

light threw it up against the darkness in its clear pallor and highbred comeliness, with its curling lips and

scornful eyes. He had the letter now, and a gleam of joy danced in his eyes as he tore it open. A hasty glance

showed him what his prize was; then, coolly and deliberately he settled himself to read, regarding neither

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Rischenheim's nervous hurry nor my desperate, angry glance that glared up at him. He read leisurely, as

though he had been in an armchair in his own house; the lips smiled and curled as he read the last words that

"Let me alone, man. I haven't read anything so amusing for a long while," answered Rupert. Then he burst

into a laugh, crying, "Look, look!" and pointing to the foot of the last page of the letter. I was mad with

anger; my fury gave me new strength. In his enjoyment of what he read Rupert had grown careless; his knee

pressed more lightly on me, and as he showed Rischenheim the passage in the letter that caused him so much

amusement he turned his head away for an instant. My chance had come. With a sudden movement I

displaced him, and with a desperate wrench I freed my right hand. Darting it out, I snatched at the letter.

Rupert, alarmed for his treasure, sprang back and off me. I also sprang up on my feet, hurling away the fellow

who had gripped my other hand. For a moment I stood facing Rupert; then I darted on him. He was too quick

for me; he dodged behind the man with the lantern and. hurled the fellow forward against me. The lantern fell

The only answer was a short, fierce laugh. I hurled away the man who had been thrust into my arms and

sprang forward. I saw Rupert of Hentzau; his hand was raised above his head and held a stout club. I do not

know what followed; there cameall in a confused blur of instant sequencean oath from Rupert, a rush

from me, a scuffle, as though some one sought to hold him back; then he was on me; I felt a great thud on my

forehead, and I felt nothing more. Again I was on my back, with a terrible pain in my head, and a dull,

dreamy consciousness of a knot of men standing over me, talking eagerly to one another.

I could not hear what they were saying; I had no great desire to hear. I fancied, somehow, that they were

talking about me; they looked at me and moved their hands towards me now and again. I heard Rupert's

laugh, and saw his club poised over me; then Rischenheim caught him by the wrist. I know now that

Rischenheim was reminding his cousin that he had promised not to kill me, that Rupert's oath did not weigh a

straw in the scales, but that he was held back only by a doubt whether I alive or my dead body would be more

inconvenient to dispose of. Yet then I did not understand, but lay there listless. And presently the talking

forms seemed to cease their talking; they grew blurred and dim, running into one another, and all mingling

together to form one great shapeless creature that seemed to murmur and gibber over me, some such monster

as a man sees in his dreams. I hated to see it, and closed my eyes; its murmurings and gibberings haunted my

ears for awhile, making me restless and unhappy; then they died away. Their going made me happy; I sighed

Yet I had one more vision, breaking suddenly across my unconsciousness. A bold, rich voice rang out, "By

"No, no," cried another. Then, "What's that?" There was a rush of feet, the cries of men who met in anger or

excitement, the crack of a shot and of another quickly following, oaths, and scuffling. Then came the sound

of feet flying. I could not make it out; I grew weary with the puzzle of it. Would they not be quiet? Quiet was

what I wanted. At last they grew quiet; I closed my eyes again. The pain was less now; they were quiet; I

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When a man looks back on the past, reviewing in his mind the chances Fortune has given and the calls she

has made, he always torments himself by thinking that he could have done other and better than in fact he

did. Even now I lie awake at night sometimes, making clever plans by which I could have thwarted Rupert's

schemes. In these musings I am very acute; Anton von Strofzin's idle talk furnishes me with many a clue, and

I draw inferences sure and swift as a detective in the story books. Bauer is my tool, I am not his. I lay

Rischenheim by the heels, send Rupert howling off with a ball in his arm, and carry my precious burden in

triumph to Mr. Rassendyll. By the time I have played the whole game I am indeed proud of myself. Yet in

truth in daylight truthI fear that, unless Heaven sent me a fresh set of brains, I should be caught in much

the same way again. Though not by that fellow Bauer, I swear! Well, there it was. They had made a fool of

me. I lay on the road with a bloody head, and Rupert of Hentzau had the queen's letter.

By Heaven's care, orsince a man may be overapt to arrogate to himself great share of such attentionby

good luck, I had not to trust for my life to the slender thread of an oath sworn by Rupert of Hentzau. The

visions of my dazed brain were transmutations of reality; the scuffle, the rush, the retreat were not all dream.

There is an honest fellow now living in Wintenberg comfortably and at his ease by reason that his wagon

chanced to come lumbering along with three or four stout lads in it at the moment when Rupert was

meditating a second and murderous blow. Seeing the group of us, the good carrier and his lads leapt down

and rushed on my assailants. One of the thieves, they said, was for fighting it outI could guess who that

wasand called on the rest to stand; but they, more prudent, laid hands on him, and, in spite of his oaths,

hustled him off along the road towards the station. Open country lay there and the promise of safety. My new

friends set off in pursuit; but a couple of revolver shots, heard by me, but not understood, awoke their

caution. Good Samaritans, but not men of war, they returned to where I lay senseless on the ground,

congratulating themselves and me that an enemy so well armed should run and not stand his ground. They

forced a drink of rough wine down my throat, and in a minute or two I opened my eyes. They were for

carrying me to a hospital; I would have none of it. As soon as things grew clear to me again and I knew

where I was, I did nothing but repeat in urgent tones, "The Golden Lion, The Golden Lion! Twenty crowns to

Perceiving that I knew my own business and where I wished to go, one picked up my handbag and the rest

hoisted me into their wagon and set out for the hotel where Rudolf Rassendyll was. The one thought my

broken head held was to get to him as soon as might be and tell him how I had been fool enough to let myself

He was there. He stood on the threshold of the inn, waiting for me, as it seemed, although it was not yet the

hour of my appointment. As they drew me up to the door, I saw his tall, straight figure and his red hair by the

light of the hall lamps. By Heaven, I felt as a lost child must on sight of his mother! I stretched out my hand

He started at the words, and sprang forward to me. Then he turned quickly to the carrier.

"This gentleman is my friend," he said. "Give him to me. I'll speak to you later." He waited while I was lifted

down from the wagon into the arms that he held ready for me, and himself carried me across the threshold. I

was quite clear in the head by now and understood all that passed. There were one or two people in the hall,

but Mr. Rassendyll took no heed of them. He bore me quickly upstairs and into his sittingroom. There he set

me down in an armchair, and stood opposite to me. He was smiling, but anxiety was awake in his eyes.

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Rudolf gave me a little brandy mixed in a great deal of water, and then I made shift to tell him. Though faint,

I was not confused, and I gave my story in brief, hurried, yet sufficient words. He made no sign till I

"A letter, too?" he exclaimed, in a strange mixture of increased apprehension and unlookedfor joy.

"Yes, a letter, too; she wrote a letter, and I carried that as well as the box. I've lost them both, Rudolf. God

help me, I've lost them both! Rupert has the letter too!" I think I must have been weak and unmanned from

the blow I had received, for my composure broke down here. Rudolf stepped up to me and wrung me by the

hand. I mastered myself again and looked in his face as he stood in thought, his hand caressing the strong

curve of his cleanshaven chin. Now that I was with him again it seemed as though I had never lost him; as

though we were still together in Strelsau or at Tarlenheim, planning how to hoodwink Black Michael, send

Rupert of Hentzau to his own place, and bring the king back to his throne. For Mr. Rassendyll, as he stood

before me now, was changed in nothing since our last meeting, nor indeed since he reigned in Strelsau, save

My battered head ached most consumedly. Mr. Rassendyll rang the bell twice, and a short, thickset man of

middle age appeared; he wore a suit of tweed, and had the air of smartness and respectability which marks

James went out. In a few minutes he was back, with water, basin, towels, and bandages. Bending over me, he

"Be ready when I ring," said Rudolf. And he added, turning to me, "Any easier, Fritz?"

"I see their game," said he. "One or other of them, Rupert or this Rischenheim, will try to get to the king with

"They mustn't," I cried, and I reeled back into my chair, with a feeling as if a redhot poker were being run

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"Much you can do to stop 'em, old fellow," smiled Rudolf, pausing to press my hand as he went by. "They

won't trust the post, you know. One will go. Now which?" He stood facing me with a thoughtful frown on his

I did not know, but I thought that Rischenheim would go. It was a great risk for Rupert to trust himself in the

kingdom, and he knew that the king would not easily be persuaded to receive him, however startling might be

the business he professed as his errand. On the other hand, nothing was known against Rischenheim, while

his rank would secure, and indeed entitle, him to an early audience. Therefore I concluded that Rischenheim

would go with the letter, or, if Rupert would not let that out of his possession, with the news of the letter.

"Or a copy," suggested Rassendyll. "Well, Rischenheim or Rupert will be on his way by tomorrow morning,

Again I tried to rise, for I was on fire to prevent the fatal consequences of my stupidity. Rudolf thrust me

back in my chair, saying, "No, no." Then he sat down at the table and took up the telegraph forms.

"This is what I've written: 'Document lost. Let nobody see him if possible. Wire who asks.' I don't like to

"Yes, I think he'll understand it." And I wrote it again in the cipher; it was as much as I could do to hold the

I do not recollect what I answered, for my faintness came upon me again, and I remember only that Rudolf

himself helped me into his own bed. I slept, but I do not think he so much as lay down on the sofa; chancing

to awake once or twice, I heard him pacing about. But towards morning I slept heavily, and I did not know

what he was doing then. At eight o'clock James entered and roused me. He said that a doctor was to be at the

hotel in half an hour, but that Mr. Rassendyll would like to see me for a few minutes if I felt equal to

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business. I begged James to summon his master at once. Whether I were equal or unequal, the business had to

Rudolf came, calm and serene. Danger and the need for exertion acted on him like a draught of good wine on

a seasoned drinker. He was not only himself, but more than himself: his excellences enhanced, the indolence

that marred him in quiet hours sloughed off. But today there was something more; I can only describe it as a

kind of radiance. I have seen it on the faces of young sparks when the lady they love comes through the

ballroom door, and I have seen it glow more softly in a girl's eyes when some fellow who seemed to me

nothing out of the ordinary asked her for a dance. That strange gleam was on Rudolf's face as he stood by my

"Fritz, old friend," said he, "there's an answer from Sapt. I'll lay the telegraph offices were stirred in Zenda as

well as James stirred them here in Wintenberg! And what do you think? Rischenheim asked for an audience

"You understand?" he went on. "He left on Monday. Today's Wednesday. The king has granted him an

"A copy, if I know Rupert of Hentzau. Yes, it was well laid. I like the men taking all the cabs! How much

I did not know that, though I had no more doubt than he that Rupert's hand was in the business.

"Well," he continued, "I am going to wire to Sapt to put Rischenheim off for twelve hours if he can; failing

"Sooner or laterthere's the world's difference between them!" cried Rudolf Rassendyll. He sat down on the

bed by me, and went on in quick, decisive words: "You can't move for a day or two. Send my message to

Sapt. Tell him to keep you informed of what happens. As soon as you can travel, go to Strelsau, and let Sapt

He looked at me for a moment, and his face was crossed by conflicting feelings. I saw resolve there,

obstinacy, and the scorn of danger; fun, too, and merriment; and, lastly, the same radiance I spoke of. He had

been smoking a cigarette; now he threw the end of it into the grate and rose from the bed where he had been

"Yes," said Rudolf. "I'm going again to Zenda, Fritz, old fellow. By heaven, I knew it would come, and now

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"I shall overtake Rischenheim or be hot on his heels. If he gets there first, Sapt will keep him waiting till I

come; and if I come, he shall never see the king. Yes, if I come in time" He broke into a sudden laugh.

"What!" he cried, "have I lost my likeness? Can't I still play the king? Yes, if I come in time, Rischenheim

shall have his audience of the king of Zenda, and the king will be very gracious to him, and the king will take

his copy of the letter from him! Oh, Rischenheim shall have an audience of King Rudolf in the castle of

He stood, looking to see how I received his plan; but amazed at the boldness of it, I could only lie back and

Rudolf's excitement left him as suddenly as it had come; he was again the cool, shrewd, nonchalant

"You see, there are two of them, Rupert and Rischenheim. Now you can't move for a day or two, that's

certain. But there must be two of us there in Ruritania. Rischenheim is to try first; but if he fails, Rupert will

risk everything and break through to the king's presence. Give him five minutes with the king, and the

mischief's done! Very well, then; Sapt must keep Rupert at bay while I tackle Rischenheim. As soon as you

"Better I than the queen's letter," said he. Then he laid his hand on my arm and said, quite quietly, "If the

I did not know what he meant; perhaps it was that he would carry off the queen sooner than leave her alone

after her letter was known; but there was another possible meaning that I, a loyal subject, dared not inquire

into. Yet I made no answer, for I was above all and first of all the queen's servant. Still I cannot believe that

"Come, Fritz," he cried, "don't look so glum. This is not so great an affair as the other, and we brought that

through safe." I suppose I still looked doubtful, for he added, with a sort of impatience, "Well, I'm going,

anyhow. Heavens, man, am I to sit here while that letter is carried to the king?"

I understood his feeling, and knew that he held life a light thing compared with the recovery of Queen

Flavia's letter. I ceased to urge him. When I assented to his wishes, every shadow vanished from his face, and

"I shall leave James with you," said Rudolf. "He'll be very useful, and you can rely on him absolutely. Any

message that you dare trust to no other conveyance, give to him; he'll carry it. He can shoot, too." He rose as

he spoke. "I'll look in before I start," he added, "and hear what the doctor says about you."

I lay there, thinking, as men sick and weary in body will, of the dangers and the desperate nature of the risk,

rather than of the hope which its boldness would have inspired in a healthy, active brain. I distrusted the rapid

inference that Rudolf had drawn from Sapt's telegram, telling myself that it was based on too slender a

foundation. Well, there I was wrong, and I am glad now to pay that tribute to his discernment. The first steps

of Rupert's scheme were laid as Rudolf had conjectured: Rischenheim had started, even while I lay there, for

Zenda, carrying on his person a copy of the queen's farewell letter and armed for his enterprise by his right of

audience with the king. So far we were right, then; for the rest we were in darkness, not knowing or being

able even to guess where Rupert would choose to await the result of the first cast, or what precautions he had

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taken against the failure of his envoy. But although in total obscurity as to his future plans, I traced his past

actions, and subsequent knowledge has shown that I was right. Bauer was the tool; a couple of florins apiece

had hired the fellows who, conceiving that they were playing a part in some practical joke, had taken all the

cabs at the station. Rupert had reckoned that I should linger looking for my servant and luggage, and thus

miss my last chance of a vehicle. If, however, I had obtained one, the attack would still have been made,

although, of course, under much greater difficulties. Finallyand of this at the time I knew nothinghad I

evaded them and got safe to port with my cargo, the plot would have been changed. Rupert's attention would

then have been diverted from me to Rudolf; counting on love overcoming prudence, he reckoned that Mr.

Rassendyll would not at once destroy what the queen sent, and had arranged to track his steps from

Wintenberg till an opportunity offered of robbing him of his treasure. The scheme, as I know it, was full of

audacious cunning, and required large resourcesthe former Rupert himself supplied; for the second he was

My meditations were interrupted by the arrival of the doctor. He hummed and ha'd over me, but to my

surprise asked me no questions as to the cause of my misfortune, and did not, as I had feared, suggest that his

efforts should be seconded by those of the police. On the contrary, he appeared, from an unobtrusive hint or

"You must not think of moving for a couple of days," he said; "but then, I think we can get you away without

I thanked him; he promised to look in again; I murmured something about his fee.

"Oh, thank you, that is all settled," he said. "Your friend Herr Schmidt has seen to it, and, my dear sir, most

He was hardly gone when 'my friend Herr Schmidt'alias Rudolf Rassendyllwas back. He laughed a little

"You see," he explained, "he thinks you've been very indiscreet. I was obliged, my dear Fritz, to take some

liberties with your character. However, it's odds against the matter coming to your wife's ears."

I laughed at myself, and forgave Rudolf his trick, though I think that he might have made my fictitious

inamorata something more than a baker's wife. It would have cost no more to make her a countess, and the

doctor would have looked with more respect on me. However, Rudolf had said that the baker broke my head

"Why, to that same little station where two good friends parted from me once before. Fritz, where's Rupert

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"The sixshooter. Well, yes, since you press me, a knife, too; but only if he uses one. You'll let Sapt know

"To Zenda, through the forest," he answered. "I shall reach the station about nine tomorrow night, Thursday.

Unless Rischenheim has got the audience sooner than was arranged, I shall be in time."

There was a moment's silence as we shook hands. Then that soft yet bright look came in his eyes again. He

looked down at me, and caught me regarding him with a smile that I know was not unkind.

"I never thought I should see her again," he said. "I think I shall now, Fritz. To have a turn with that boy and

Rudolf laughed, and I laughed too. He caught my hand again. I think that he was anxious to infect me with

his gayety and confidence. But I could not answer to the appeal of his eyes. There was a motive in him that

found no place in mea great longing, the prospect or hope of whose sudden fulfilment dwarfed danger and

banished despair. He saw that I detected its presence in him and perceived how it filled his mind.

"But the letter comes before all," said he. "I expected to die without seeing her; I will die without seeing her,

He pressed my hand again. As he turned away, James came with his noiseless, quick step into the room.

"Look after the count, James," said Rudolf. "Don't leave him till he sends you away."

"Here's luck," I cried, catching up the lemonade James had brought me, and taking a gulp of it.

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And he was gone to his work and his rewardto save the queen's letter and to see the queen's face. Thus he

On the evening of Thursday, the sixteenth of October, the Constable of Zenda was very much out of humor;

he has since confessed as much. To risk the peace of a palace for the sake of a lover's greeting had never been

wisdom to his mind, and he had been sorely impatient with "that fool Fritz's" yearly pilgrimage. The letter of

farewell had been an added folly, pregnant with chances of disaster. Now disaster, or the danger of it, had

come. The curt, mysterious telegram from Wintenberg, which told him so little, at least told him that. It

ordered himand he did not know even whose the order wasto delay Rischenheim's audience, or, if he

could not, to get the king away from Zenda: why he was to act thus was not disclosed to him. But he knew as

well as I that Rischenheim was completely in Rupert's hands, and he could not fail to guess that something

had gone wrong at Wintenberg, and that Rischenheim came to tell the king some news that the king must not

hear. His task sounded simple, but it was not easy; for he did not know where Rischenheim was, and so could

not prevent his coming; besides, the king had been very pleased to learn of the count's approaching visit,

since he desired to talk with him on the subject of a certain breed of dogs, which the count bred with great,

his Majesty with only indifferent success; therefore he had declared that nothing should interfere with his

reception of Rischenheim. In vain Sapt told him that a large boar had been seen in the forest, and that a fine

day's sport might be expected if he would hunt next day. "I shouldn't be back in time to see Rischenheim,"

"You could sleep at the huntinglodge, sire, and ride back to receive the count next morning."

"I'm anxious to see him as soon as may be." Then he looked up at Sapt with a sick man's quick suspicion.

"It's a pity to miss the boar, sire," was all Sapt's plea. The king made light of it.

"Curse the boar!" said he. "I want to know how he gets the dogs' coats so fine."

As the king spoke a servant entered, carrying a telegram for Sapt. The colonel took it and put it in his pocket.

"Read it," said the king. He had dined and was about to go to bed, it being nearly ten o'clock.

"It will keep, sire," answered Sapt, who did not know but that it might be from Wintenberg.

"Read it," insisted the king testily. "It may be from Rischenheim. Perhaps he can get here sooner. I should

Sapt could do nothing but read it. He had taken to spectacles lately, and he spent a long while adjusting them

and thinking what he should do if the message were not fit for the king's ear. "Be quick, man, be quick!"

Sapt had got the envelope open at last, and relief, mingled with perplexity, showed in his face.

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"Your Majesty guessed wonderfully well. Rischenheim can be here at eight tomorrow morning," he said,

"Capital!" cried the king. "He shall breakfast with me at nine, and I'll have a ride after the boar when we've

The king rose with a yawn, and bade the colonel goodnight. "He must have some trick I don't know with

those dogs," he remarked, as he went out. And "Damn the dogs!" cried Colonel Sapt the moment that the

But the colonel was not a man to accept defeat easily. The audience that he had been instructed to postpone

was advanced; the king, whom he had been told to get away from Zenda, would not go till he had seen

Rischenheim. Still there are many ways of preventing a meeting. Some are by fraud; these it is no injustice to

Sapt to say that he had tried; some are by force, and the colonel was being driven to the conclusion that one

"Though the king," he mused, with a grin, "will be furious if anything happens to Rischenheim before he's

Yet he fell to racking his brains to find a means by which the count might be rendered incapable of

performing the service so desired by the king and of carrying out his own purpose in seeking an audience.

Nothing save assassination suggested itself to the constable; a quarrel and a duel offered no security; and Sapt

was not Black Michael, and had no band of ruffians to join him in an apparently unprovoked kidnapping of a

"I can think of nothing," muttered Sapt, rising from his chair and moving across towards the window in

search of the fresh air that a man so often thinks will give him a fresh idea. He was in his own quarters, that

room of the new chateau which opens on to the moat immediately to the right of the drawbridge as you face

the old castle; it was the room which Duke Michael had occupied, and almost opposite to the spot where the

great pipe had connected the window of the king's dungeon with the waters of the moat. The bridge was

down now, for peaceful days had come to Zenda; the pipe was gone, and the dungeon's window, though still

barred, was uncovered. The night was clear and fine, and the still water gleamed fitfully as the moon,

halffull, escaped from or was hidden by passing clouds. Sapt stood staring out gloomily, beating his

knuckles on the stone sill. The fresh air was there, but the fresh idea tarried.

Suddenly the constable bent forward, craning his head out and down, far as he could stretch it, towards the

water. What he had seen, or seemed dimly to see, is a sight common enough on the surface of waterlarge

circular eddies, widening from a centre; a stone thrown in makes them, or a fish on the rise. But Sapt had

thrown no stone, and the fish in the moat were few and not rising then. The light was behind Sapt, and threw

his figure into bold relief. The royal apartments looked out the other way; there were no lights in the windows

this side the bridge, although beyond it the guards' lodgings and the servants' offices still showed a light here

and there. Sapt waited till the eddies ceased. Then he heard the faintest sound, as of a large body let very

gently into the water; a moment later, from the moat right below him, a man's head emerged.

The old colonel started, and, resting both hands on the sill, bent further out, till he seemed in danger of

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"Quickto the ledge on the other side. You know," said the voice, and the head turned; with quick, quiet

strokes the man crossed the moat till he was hidden in the triangle of deep shade formed by the meeting of the

drawbridge and the old castle wall. Sapt watched him go, almost stupefied by the sudden wonder of hearing

that voice come to him out of the stillness of the night. For the king was abed; and who spoke in that voice

Then, with a curse at himself for his delay, he turned and walked quickly across the room. Opening the door,

he found himself in the passage. But here he ran right into the arms of young Bernenstein, the officer of the

guard, who was going his rounds. Sapt knew and trusted him, for he had been with us all through the siege of

Zenda, when Michael kept the king a prisoner, and he bore marks given him by Rupert of Hentzau's ruffians.

He noticed Sapt's bearing, for he cried out in a low voice, "Anything wrong, sir?"

"Bernenstein, my boy, the castle's all right about here. Go round to the front, and, hang you, stay there," said

"No, stay here. See, stand by the door there that leads to the royal apartments. Stand there, and let nobody

Bernenstein's bewilderment grew greater; but Sapt was constable, and on Sapt's shoulders lay the

"Very well, sir," he said, with a submissive shrug, and he drew his sword and stood by the door; he could

Sapt ran on. Opening the gate that led to the bridge, he sped across. Then, stepping on one side and turning

his face to the wall, he descended the steps that gave foothold down to the ledge running six or eight inches

above the water. He also was now in the triangle of deep darkness, yet he knew that a man was there, who

stood straight and tall, rising above his own height. And he felt his hand caught in a sudden grip. Rudolf

"Yes," answered Rudolf; "I swam round from the other side and got here. Then I threw in a bit of mortar, but

I wasn't sure I'd roused you, and I didn't dare shout, so I followed it myself. Lay hold of me a minute while I

get on my breeches: I didn't want to get wet, so I carried my clothes in a bundle. Hold me tight, it's slippery."

"In God's name what brings you here?" whispered Sapt, catching Rudolf by the arm as he was directed.

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There was a moment's silence; Rudolf drew his shirt over his head and tucked it into his trousers. "Give me

"Now the boots, and I'm ready." Then he asked quickly, "Has the king seen or heard from Rischenheim?"

"I've always said as much," he remarked in tones of satisfaction. He need not have said it; he would have

"Any room with a door and a lock to it," answered old Sapt. "I command here, and when I say 'Stay

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"The king is in bed. Come along," and the constable set his toe on the lowest step.

"Pretty well for these days, your Majesty," grunted Sapt, as he reached the level of the bridge.

Having crossed, they entered the chateau. The passage was empty, save for Bernenstein, whose broad back

"In here," whispered Sapt, laying his hand on the door of the room whence he had come.

"All right," answered Rudolf. Bernenstein's hand twitched, but he did not look round. There was discipline in

But as Sapt was halfway through the door and Rudolf about to follow him, the other door, that which

Bernenstein guarded, was softly yet swiftly opened. Bernenstein's sword was in rest in an instant. A muttered

oath from Sapt and Rudolf's quick snatch at his breath greeted the interruption. Bernenstein did not look

round, but his sword fell to his side. In the doorway stood Queen Flavia, all in white; and now her face turned

white as her dress. For her eyes had fallen on Rudolf Rassendyll. For a moment the four stood thus; then

Rudolf passed Sapt, thrust Bernenstein's brawny shoulders (the young man had not looked round) out of the

way, and, falling on his knee before the queen, seized her hand and kissed it. Bernenstein could see now

without looking round, and if astonishment could kill, he would have been a dead man that instant. He fairly

reeled and leant against the wall, his mouth hanging open. For the king was in bed, and had a beard; yet there

was the king, fully dressed and clean shaven, and he was kissing the queen's hand, while she gazed down on

him in a struggle between amazement, fright, and joy. A soldier should be prepared for anything, but I cannot

Yet there was in truth nothing strange in the queen seeking to see old Sapt that night, nor in her guessing

where he would most probably be found. For she had asked him three times whether news had come from

Wintenberg and each time he had put her off with excuses. Quick to forbode evil, and conscious of the pledge

to fortune that she had given in her letter, she had determined to know from him whether there were really

cause for alarm, and had stolen, undetected, from her apartments to seek him. What filled her at once with

unbearable apprehension and incredulous joy was to find Rudolf present in actual flesh and blood, no longer

Lovers count neither time nor danger; but Sapt counted both, and no more than a moment had passed before,

with eager imperative gestures, he beckoned them to enter the room. The queen obeyed, and Rudolf followed

"Let nobody in, and don't say a word to anybody," whispered Sapt, as he entered, leaving Bernenstein

outside. The young man was halfdazed still, but he had sense to read the expression in the constable's eyes

and to learn from it that he must give his life sooner than let the door be opened. So with drawn sword he

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It was eleven o'clock when the queen came, and midnight had struck from the great clock of the castle before

the door opened again and Sapt came out. His sword was not drawn, but he had his revolver in his hand. He

shut the door silently after him and began at once to talk in low, earnest, quick tones to Bernenstein.

Bernenstein listened intently and without interrupting. Sapt's story ran on for eight or nine minutes. Then he

"I would die for the queen, sir," he answered, clicking his heels together as though on parade.

"Good," said Sapt. "Then listen," and he began again to talk. Bernenstein nodded from time to time. "You'll

meet him at the gate," said the constable, "and bring him straight here. He's not to go anywhere else, you

Sapt turned away with a little sigh. Bernenstein was an apt pupil, but the colonel was exhausted by so much

explanation. He knocked softly at the door of the room. The queen's voice bade him enter, and he passed in.

Bernenstein was left alone again in the passage, pondering over what he had heard and rehearsing the part

that it now fell to him to play. As he thought he may well have raised his head proudly. The service seemed

so great and the honor so high, that he almost wished he could die in the performing of his role. It would be a

At one o'clock Colonel Sapt came out. "Go to bed till six," said he to Bernenstein.

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"Well, if you think it worth waiting a quarter of an hour for!" said Sapt, with a slight smile.

Nevertheless it was a quarter of an hour before Rudolf Rassendyll opened the door and the queen appeared on

the threshold. She was very pale, and she had been crying, but her eyes were happy and her air firm. The

moment he saw her, young Bernenstein fell on his knee and raised her hand to his lips.

"I knew it, sir," she answered graciously. Then she looked round on the three of them. "Gentlemen," said she,

"my servants and dear friends, with you, and with Fritz who lies wounded in Wintenberg, rest my honor and

"The king shall not have it, madame," said Colonel Sapt. He took her hand in his and patted it with a clumsy

gentleness; smiling, she extended it again to young Bernenstein, in mark of her favor. They two then stood at

the salute, while Rudolf walked with her to the end of the passage. There for a moment she and he stood

together; the others turned their eyes away and thus did not see her suddenly stoop and cover his hand with

her kisses. He tried to draw it away, not thinking it fit that she should kiss his hand, but she seemed as though

she could not let it go. Yet at last, still with her eyes on his, she passed backwards through the door, and he

Rudolf passed into the room. Sapt went to the king's apartments, and asked the physician whether his Majesty

were sleeping well. Receiving reassuring news of the royal slumbers, he proceeded to the quarters of the

king's bodyservant, knocked up the sleepy wretch, and ordered breakfast for the king and the Count of

LuzauRischenheim at nine o'clock precisely, in the morningroom that looked out over the avenue leading

to the entrance to the new chateau. This done, he returned to the room where Rudolf was, carried a chair into

the passage, bade Rudolf lock the door, sat down, revolver in hand, and himself went to sleep. Young

Bernenstein was in bed just now, taken faint, and the constable himself was acting as his substitute; that was

to be the story, if a story were needed. Thus the hours from two to six passed that morning in the castle of

At six the constable awoke and knocked at the door; Rudolf Rassendyll opened it.

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Sapt, with a pitying shrug, looked round. The curtains of the window were halfdrawn. The table was moved

near to the wall, and the armchair by it was well in shadow, being quite close to the curtains.

"There's plenty of room for you behind," said Rudolf; "And when Rischenheim is seated in his chair opposite

to mine, you can put your barrel against his head by just stretching out your hand. And of course I can do the

"Yes, it looks well enough," said Sapt, with an approving nod. "What about the beard?"

Rudolf Rassendyll took a turn up and down the room. It was easy to see that the events of the night had

Sapt looked scornful; he knew that his companion's mind had been occupied with the queen. But his

"We're ready for him," answered Rudolf Rassendyll. With the thought of action his eyes grew bright and his

Thus they made ready for the Count of LuzauRischenheim, while my cursed wound held me a prisoner at

Wintenberg. It is still a sorrow to me that I know what passed that morning only by report, and had not the

honor of bearing a part in it. Still, her Majesty did not forget me, but remembered that I would have taken my

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Having come thus far in the story that I set out to tell, I have half a mind to lay down my pen, and leave

untold how from the moment that Mr. Rassendyll came again to Zenda a fury of chance seemed to catch us

all in a whirlwind, carrying us whither we would not, and ever driving us onwards to fresh enterprises,

breathing into us a recklessness that stood at no obstacle, and a devotion to the queen and to the man she

loved that swept away all other feeling. The ancients held there to be a fate which would have its fill, though

women wept and men died, and none could tell whose was the guilt nor who fell innocent. Thus did they

blindly wrong God's providence. Yet, save that we are taught to believe that all is ruled, we are as blind as

they, and are still left wondering why all that is true and generous and love's own fruit must turn so often to

woe and shame, exacting tears and blood. For myself I would leave the thing untold, lest a word of it should

seem to stain her whom I serve; it is by her own command I write, that all may one day, in time's fullness, be

truly known, and those condemn who are without sin, while they pity whose own hearts have fought the

equal fight. So much for her and him; for us less needs be said. It was not ours to weigh her actions; we

served her; him we had served. She was our queen; we bore Heaven a grudge that he was not our king. The

worst of what befell was not of our own planning, no, nor of our hoping. It came a thunderbolt from the hand

of Rupert, flung carelessly between a curse and a laugh;its coming entangled us more tightly in the net of

circumstances. Then there arose in us that strange and overpowering desire of which I must tell later, filling

us with a zeal to accomplish our purpose, and to force Mr. Rassendyll himself into the way we chose. Led by

this star, we pressed on through the darkness, until at length the deeper darkness fell that stayed our steps. We

also stand for judgment, even as she and he. So I will write; but I will write plainly and briefly, setting down

what I must, and no more, yet seeking to give truly the picture of that time, and to preserve as long as may be

the portrait of the man whose like I have not known. Yet the fear is always upon me that, failing to show him

as he was, I may fail also in gaining an understanding of how he wrought on us, one and all, till his cause

became in all things the right, and to seat him where he should be our highest duty and our nearest wish. For

he said little, and that straight to the purpose; no highflown words of his live in my memory. And he asked

nothing for himself. Yet his speech and his eyes went straight to men's hearts and women's, so that they held

their lives in an eager attendance on his bidding. Do I rave? Then Sapt was a raver too, for Sapt was foremost

admirably and smartly accoutred, took his stand outside the main entrance of the castle. He wore a confident

air that became almost a swagger as he strolled to and fro past the motionless sentries. He had not long to

wait. On the stroke of eight a gentleman, wellhorsed but entirely unattended, rode up the carriage drive.

Bernenstein, crying "Ah, it is the count!" ran to meet him. Rischenheim dismounted, holding out his hand to

"You're punctual, my dear Rischenheim, and it's lucky, for the king awaits you most impatiently."

"Up! He's been up these two hours. Indeed we've had the devil of a time of it. Treat him carefully, my dear

Count; he's in one of his troublesome humors. For examplebut I mustn't keep you waiting. Pray follow

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"Well, he woke at six; and when the barber came to trim his beard there wereimagine it, Count!no less

than seven gray hairs." The king fell into a passion. "Take it off!" he said. "Take it off. I won't have a gray

beard! Take it off!' Well what would you? A man is free to be shaved if he chooses, so much more a king. So

"His beard, my dear Count. Then, after thanking Heaven it was gone, and declaring he looked ten years

younger, he cried, "The Count of LuzauRischenheim breakfasts with me today: what is there for

breakfast?" And he had the chef out his of bed andBut, by heavens, I shall get into trouble if I stop here

chattering. He's waiting most eagerly for you. Come along." And Bernenstein, passing his arm through the

The Count of LuzauRischenheim was a young man; he was no more versed in affairs of this kind than

Bernenstein, and it cannot be said that he showed so much aptitude for them. He was decidedly pale this

morning; his manner was uneasy, and his hands trembled. He did not lack courage, but that rarer virtue,

coolness; and the importanceor perhaps the shameof his mission upset the balance of his nerves. Hardly

noting where he went, he allowed Bernenstein to lead him quickly and directly towards the room where

Rudolf Rassendyll was, not doubting that he was being conducted to the king's presence.

"Breakfast is ordered for nine," said Bernenstein, "but he wants to see you before. He has something

"I don't think you'll find anybody with him; no, nobody, I think," answered Bernenstein, with a grave and

"I am ordered to wait outside till his Majesty summons me," he said in a low voice, as though he feared that

the irritable king would hear him. "I'll open the door and announce you. Pray keep him in a good temper, for

all our sakes." And he flung the door open, saying, "Sire, the Count of LuzauRischenheim has the honor to

wait on your Majesty." With this he shut the door promptly, and stood against it. Nor did he move, save once,

The count advanced, bowing low, and striving to conceal a visible agitation. He saw the king in his

armchair; the king wore a suit of brown tweeds (none the better for being crushed into a bundle the night

before); his face was in deep shadow, but Rischenheim perceived that the beard was indeed gone. The king

held out his hand to Rischenheim, and motioned him to sit in a chair just opposite to him and within a foot of

Rischenheim looked up. Rudolf's voice had once been so like the king's that no man could tell the difference,

but in the last year or two the king's had grown weaker, and Rischenheim seemed to be struck by the vigor of

the tones in which he was addressed. As he looked up, there was a slight movement in the curtains by him; it

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died away when the count gave no further signs of suspicion, but Rudolf had noticed his surprise: the voice,

"Most delighted," pursued Mr. Rassendyll. "For I am pestered beyond endurance about those dogs. I can't get

the coats right, I've tried everything, but they won't come as I wish. Now, yours are magnificent."

"Positively you must tell me about the dogs. And before Sapt comes, for I want nobody to hear but myself."

"In about twenty minutes," said the king, with a glance at the clock on the mantelpiece.

At this Rischenheim became all on fire to get his errand done before Sapt appeared.

Rudolf threw himself back in his chair with a peevish air. "Well, if you must, you must. What is this great

Rischenheim looked round the room. There was nobody; the curtains were still; the king's left hand caressed

his beardless chin; the right was hidden from his visitor by the small table that stood between them.

"I can hold no communication, directly or indirectly, with the Count of Hentzau," said he.

"Pardon me, sire, pardon me. A document has come into the count's hands which is of vital importance to

"Sire, it is in the hopes of atoning for his offences that he has sent me here today. There is a conspiracy

"By those who are very near your Majesty's person and very high in your Majesty's love."

"Sire, I dare not. You would not believe me. But your Majesty will believe written evidence."

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"My cousin has the original, and will forward it at your Majesty's command. A copy of a letter of her

Now Rudolf played his part well. He did not feign indifference, but allowed his voice to tremble with

emotion as he stretched out his hand and said in a hoarse whisper, "Give it me, give it me."

Rischenheim's eyes sparkled. His shot had told: the king's attention was his; the coats of the dogs were

"My cousin," he continued, "conceives it his duty to lay the letter before your Majesty. He obtained it"

Rischenheim unbuttoned his coat, then his waistcoat. The head of a revolver showed in a belt round his waist.

He undid the flap of a pocket in the lining of his waistcoat, and he began to draw out a sheet of paper.

But Rudolf, great as his powers of selfcontrol were, was but human. When he saw the paper, he leant

forward, half rising from his chair. As a result, his face came beyond the shadow of the curtain, and the full

morning light beat on it. As Rischenheim took the paper out, he looked up. He saw the face that glared so

eagerly at him; his eyes met Rassendyll's: a sudden suspicion seized him, for the face, though the king's face

in every feature, bore a stern resolution and witnessed a vigor that were not the king's. In that instant the

truth, or a hint of it, flashed across his mind. He gave a halfarticulate cry; in one hand he crumpled up the

paper, the other flew to his revolver. But he was too late. Rudolf's left hand encircled his hand and the paper

in an iron grip; Rudolf's revolver was on his temple; and an arm was stretched out from behind the curtain,

holding another barrel full before his eyes, while a dry voice said, "You'd best take it quietly." Then Sapt

Rischenheim had no words to meet the sudden transformation of the interview. He seemed to be able to do

nothing but stare at Rudolf Rassendyll. Sapt wasted no time. He snatched the count's revolver and stowed it

"Now take the paper," said he to Rudolf, and his barrel held Rischenheim motionless while Rudolf wrenched

the precious document from his fingers. "Look if it's the right one. No, don't read it through; just look. Is it

right? That's good. Now put your revolver to his head again. I'm going to search him. Stand up, sir."

They compelled the count to stand up, and Sapt subjected him to a search that made the concealment of

another copy, or of any other document, impossible. Then they let him sit down again. His eyes seemed

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"Yet you've seen me before, I think," smiled Rudolf. "I seem to remember you as a boy in Strelsau when I

was there. Now tell us, sir, where did you leave this cousin of yours?" For the plan was to find out from

Rischenheim where Rupert was, and to set off in pursuit of Rupert as soon as they had disposed of

But even as Rudolf spoke there was a violent knock at the door. Rudolf sprang to open it. Sapt and his

"The king's servant has just gone by. He's looking for Colonel Sapt. The King has been walking in the drive,

and learnt from a sentry of Rischenheim's arrival. I told the man that you had taken the count for a stroll

round the castle, and I did not know where you were. He says that the king may come himself at any

"We must talk again later on," he said, in low quick tones. "Now you're going to breakfast with the king. I

shall be there, and Bernenstein. Remember, not a word of your errand, not a word of this gentleman! At a

word, a sign, a hint, a gesture, a motion, as God lives, I'll put a bullet through your head, and a thousand

kings sha'n't stop me. Rudolf, get behind the curtain. If there's an alarm you must jump through the window

Bernenstein looked in again. "Quick, quick! The man will be back," he whispered.

"Well," said an angry voice outside, "I wondered how long I was to be kept waiting."

Rudolf Rassendyll skipped behind the curtain. Sapt's revolver slipped into a handy pocket. Rischenheim

stood with arms dangling by his side and his waistcoat half unbuttoned. Young Bernenstein was bowing low

on the threshold, and protesting that the king's servant had but just gone, and that they were on the point of

"Ah, Count," said he, "I'm glad to see you. If they had told me you were here, you shouldn't have waited a

minute. You're very dark in here, Sapt. Why don't you draw back the curtains?" and the king moved towards

"Allow me, sire," cried Sapt, darting past him and laying a hand on the curtain.

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A malicious gleam of pleasure shot into Rischenheim's eyes. "In truth, sire," continued the constable, his

hand on the curtain, "we were so interested in what the count was saying about his dogs"

"Yes, yes. Well, then, we'll have them togetherbreakfast and the dogs. Come along, Count." The king

passed his arm through Rischenheim's, adding to Bernenstein, "Lead the way, Lieutenant; and you, Colonel,

They went out. Sapt stopped and locked the door behind him. "Why do you lock the door, Colonel?" asked

The Count of LuzauRischenheim did not make a very good breakfast. He sat opposite to the king. Colonel

Sapt placed himself at the back of the king's chair, and Rischenheim saw the muzzle of a revolver resting on

the top of the chair just behind his Majesty's right ear. Bernenstein stood in soldierly rigidity by the door;

Rischenheim began to disclose his secret. His statement was decidedly wanting in clearness. The king grew

"I don't understand," said he testily, and he pushed his chair back so quickly that Sapt skipped away, and hid

"Sire" cried Rischenheim, half rising. A cough from Lieutenant von Bernenstein interrupted him.

"Ah, I understand a little better now. Do you see, Sapt?" and he turned his head round towards the constable.

Sapt had just time to whisk the revolver away. The count lent forward towards the king. Lieutenant von

"Perfectly, sire," said Colonel Sapt. "I understand all the count wishes to convey to your Majesty."

"Well, I understand about half," said the king with a laugh. "But perhaps that'll be enough."

"I think quite enough, sire," answered Sapt with a smile. The important matter of the dogs being thus

disposed of, the king recollected that the count had asked for an audience on a matter of business.

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"Now, what did you wish to say to me?" he asked, with a weary air. The dogs had been more interesting.

Rischenheim looked at Sapt. The revolver was in its place; Bernenstein coughed again. Yet he saw a chance.

Now Sapt was resolved not to leave Rischenheim alone with the king, for, although the count, being robbed

of his evidence could do little harm concerning the letter, he would doubtless tell the king that Rudolf

Rassendyll was in the castle. He leant now over the king's shoulder, and said with a sneer:

"Messages from Rupert of Hentzau are too exalted matters for my poor ears, it seems."

"It is the old plea?" interrupted the king. "He wants to come back? Is that all, or is there anything else?"

A moment's silence followed the king's words. Sapt looked full at Rischenheim, and smiled as he slightly

raised his right hand and showed the revolver. Bernenstein coughed twice. Rischenheim sat twisting his

fingers. He understood that, cost what it might, they would not let him declare his errand to the king or betray

Mr. Rassendyll's presence. He cleared his throat and opened his mouth as if to speak, but still he remained

"Well, my lord, is it the old story or something new" asked the king impatiently.

"Then let me say that you have treated me very badly in obtaining an audience of me for any such purpose,"

said the king. "You knew my decision, and your cousin knows it." Thus speaking, the king rose; Sapt's

revolver slid into his pocket; but Lieutenant von Bernenstein drew his sword and stood at the salute; he also

"My dear Rischenheim," pursued the king more kindly, "I can allow for your natural affection. But, believe

me, in this case it misleads you. Do me the favor not to open this subject again to me."

Rischenheim, humiliated and angry, could do nothing but bow in acknowledgment of the king's rebuke.

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 33

"Colonel Sapt, see that the count is well entertained. My horse should be at the door by now. Farewell, Count.

Bernenstein shot a rapid glance at the constable. Sapt nodded reassuringly. Bernenstein sheathed his sword

and gave his arm to the king. They passed through the door, and Bernenstein closed it with a backward push

of his hand. But at this moment Rischenheim, goaded to fury and desperate at the trick played on

himseeing, moreover, that he had now only one man to deal withmade a sudden rush at the door. He

reached it, and his hand was on the doorknob. But Sapt was upon him, and Sapt's revolver was at his ear.

"What are they doing in there?" he asked, hearing the noise of the quick movements.

"I hear nothing more now." And there was nothing to hear, for the two now stood dead silent inside the door.

"You're determined I shall," said the king with a laugh, and he let the young officer lead him away.

Inside the room, Rischenheim stood with his back against the door. He was panting for breath, and his face

was flushed and working with excitement. Opposite to him stood Sapt, revolver in hand.

"Till you get to heaven, my lord," said the constable, "you'll never be nearer to it than you were in that

"Open it," he said brusquely to Rischenheim. With a muttered curse the count obeyed him. A servant stood

"Your pardon, my lord, but this has arrived for you," said the man respectfully.

"Eh? Oh, you can have no secrets from so good a friend as I am, my lord. Be quick and open it."

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"If you tear it up, or crumple it, I'll shoot you," said Sapt quietly. "You know you can trust my word. Now

The muzzle was within a foot of his head. He unfolded the telegram. Then he looked at Sapt. "Read," said the

"Just turn it so that I can see. Oh, I don't doubt you, but seeing is believing. Ah, thanks. It's as you say. You're

"And pray," said Rischenheim, endeavoring to assume an easy and sarcastic air, "what does your wisdom tell

"Whose, then?" asked Rischenheim, biting his nail, and looking furtively at the constable.

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 35

As he spoke, he fixed his eyes on the eyes of Rischenheim. He gave a short, sharp laugh, then put his revolver

THE doctor who attended me at Wintenberg was not only discreet, but also indulgent; perhaps he had the

sense to see that little benefit would come to a sick man from fretting in helplessness on his back, when he

was on fire to be afoot. I fear he thought the baker's rollingpin was in my mind, but at any rate I extorted a

consent from him, and was on my way home from Wintenberg not much more than twelve hours after Rudolf

Rassendyll left me. Thus I arrived at my own house in Strelsau on the same Friday morning that witnessed

the Count of LuzauRischenheim's twofold interview with the king at the Castle of Zenda. The moment I

had arrived, I sent James, whose assistance had been, and continued to be, in all respects most valuable, to

despatch a message to the constable, acquainting him with my whereabouts, and putting myself entirely at his

disposal. Sapt received this message while a council of war was being held, and the information it gave aided

not a little in the arrangements that the constable and Rudolf Rassendyll made. What these were I must now

Yet that council of war in Zenda was held under no common circumstances. Cowed as Rischenheim

appeared, they dared not let him out of their sight. Rudolf could not leave the room into which Sapt had

locked him; the king's absence was to be short, and before he came again Rudolf must be gone, Rischenheim

safely disposed of, and measures taken against the original letter reaching the hands for which the intercepted

copy had been destined. The room was a large one. In the corner farthest from the door sat Rischenheim,

disarmed, dispirited, to all seeming ready to throw up his dangerous game and acquiesce in any terms

presented to him. Just inside the door, guarding it, if need should be, with their lives, were the other three,

Bernenstein merry and triumphant, Sapt blunt and cool, Rudolf calm and clearheaded. The queen awaited

the result of their deliberations in her apartments, ready to act as they directed, but determined to see Rudolf

before he left the castle. They conversed together in low tones. Presently Sapt took paper and wrote. This first

message was to me, and it bade me come to Zenda that afternoon; another head and another pair of hands

were sadly needed. Then followed more deliberation; Rudolf took up the talking now, for his was the bold

"It's dangerous, but the best thing," said Rudolf, carefully sinking his voice yet lower, lest the prisoner should

catch the lightest word of what he said. "It involves my staying here till the evening. Is that possible?"

"No," said the constable, "you must look after our friend here. Come, Lieutenant, it's all in the queen's

"Besides," added Rudolf with a smile, "neither the colonel nor I would let you have a chance at Rupert. He's

The colonel nodded. Rudolf in his turn took paper, and here is the message that he wrote:

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 36

"Holf, 19, Konigstrasse, Strelsau.All well. He has what I had, but wishes to see what you have. He and I

will be at the huntinglodge at ten this evening. Bring it and meet us. The business is unsuspected.R."

Rudolf threw the paper across to Sapt; Bernenstein leant over the constable's shoulder and read it eagerly.

"It'll bring Rupert to Hentzau. Why not? He'll know that the king will wish to meet him unknown to the

queen, and also unknown to you, Sapt, since you were my friend: what place more likely for the king to

choose than his huntinglodge, where he is accustomed to go when he wishes to be alone? The message will

bring him, depend on it. Why, man, Rupert would come even if he suspected; and why should he suspect?"

"Ay, I think he'll know me," said Rudolf with a smile. "Meanwhile we send for Fritz to come here and look

"Good; then Fritz's two friends, the Count of LuzauRischenheim and Lieutenant von Bernenstein, will ride

over there today. The constable of Zenda will give the lieutenant twentyfour hours' leave of absence, and

the two gentlemen will pass the day and sleep at the chateau. They will pass the day side by side,

Bernenstein, not losing sight of one another for an instant, and they will pass the night in the same room. And

one of them will not close his eyes nor take his hand off the butt of his revolver."

"If he tries to escape or give any alarm, shoot him through the head, ride to the frontier, get to safe hiding,

"Yes," said Bernenstein simply. Sapt had chosen well, and the young officer made nothing of the peril and

A restless movement and a weary sigh from Rischenheim attracted their attention. He had strained his ears to

listen till his head ached, but the talkers had been careful, and he had heard nothing that threw light on their

deliberations. He had now given up his vain attempt, and sat in listless inattention, sunk in an apathy.

"I don't think he'll give you much trouble," whispered Sapt to Bernenstein, with a jerk of his thumb towards

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"Act as if he were likely to give you much," urged Rudolf, laying his hand on the lieutenant's arm.

"Yes, that's a wise man's advice," nodded the constable approvingly. "We were well governed, Lieutenant,

"Yes, wounded in my service," added Rudolf; for he remembered how the boyhe was little more

thenhad been fired upon in the park of Tarlenheim, being taken for Mr. Rassendyll himself.

Thus their plans were laid. If they could defeat Rupert, they would have Rischenheim at their mercy. If they

could keep Rischenheim out of the way while they used his name in their trick, they had a strong chance of

deluding and killing Rupert. Yes, of killing him; for that and nothing less was their purpose, as the constable

"We would have stood on no ceremony," he said. "The queen's honor was at stake, and the fellow himself an

Bernenstein rose and went out. He was gone about half an hour, being employed in despatching the telegrams

to Strelsau. Rudolf and Sapt used the interval to explain to Rischenheim what they proposed to do with him.

They asked no pledge, and he offered none. He heard what they said with a dulled uninterested air. When

asked if he would go without resistance, he laughed a bitter laugh. "How can I resist?" he asked. "I should

"Let me advise you, my lord," said Rudolf, looking down on him kindly enough, "if you come safe through

this affair, to add honor to your prudence, and chivalry to your honor. There is still time for you to become a

He turned away, followed by a glance of anger from the count and a grating chuckle from old Sapt.

A few moments later Bernenstein returned. His errand was done, and horses for himself and Rischenheim

were at the gate of the castle. After a few final words and clasp of the hand from Rudolf, the lieutenant

motioned to his prisoner to accompany him, and they two walked out together, being to all appearance

willing companions and in perfect friendliness with one another. The queen herself watched them go from the

windows of her apartment, and noticed that Bernenstein rode half a pace behind, and that his free hand rested

It was now well on in the morning, and the risk of Rudolf's sojourn in the castle grew greater with every

moment. Yet he was resolved to see the queen before he went. This interview presented no great difficulties,

since her Majesty was in the habit of coming to the constable's room to take his advice or to consult with him.

The hardest task was to contrive afterwards a free and unnoticed escape for Mr. Rassendyll. To meet this

necessity, the constable issued orders that the company of guards which garrisoned the castle should parade at

one o'clock in the park, and that the servants should all, after their dinner, be granted permission to watch the

manoeuvres. By this means he counted on drawing off any curious eyes and allowing Rudolf to reach the

forest unobserved. They appointed a rendezvous in a handy and sheltered spot; the one thing which they were

compelled to trust to fortune was Rudolf's success in evading chance encounters while he waited. Mr.

Rassendyll himself was confident of his ability to conceal his presence, or, if need were, so to hide his face

that no strange tale of the king being seen wandering, alone and beardless, should reach the ears of the castle

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 38

While Sapt was making his arrangements, Queen Flavia came to the room where Rudolf Rassendyll was. It

was then nearing twelve, and young Bernenstein had been gone half an hour. Sapt attended her to the door,

set a sentry at the end of the passage with orders that her Majesty should on no pretence be disturbed,

promised her very audibly to return as soon as he possibly could, and respectfully closed the door after she

had entered. The constable was well aware of the value in a secret business of doing openly all that can safely

All of what passed at that interview I do not know, but a part Queen Flavia herself told to me, or rather to

Helga, my wife; for although it was meant to reach my ear, yet to me, a man, she would not disclose it

directly. First she learnt from Mr. Rassendyll the plans that had been made, and, although she trembled at the

danger that he must run in meeting Rupert of Hentzau, she had such love of him and such a trust in his

powers that she seemed to doubt little of his success. But she began to reproach herself for having brought

him into this peril by writing her letter. At this he took from his pocket the copy that Rischenheim had

"Had I as many lives as there are words, my queen," he said softly, "for each word I would gladly give a life."

"Ah, Rudolf, but you've only one life, and that more mine than yours. Did you think we should ever meet

"But I knew," she said, her eyes shining brightly; "I knew always that we should meet once more. Not how,

"Will it last forever?" she asked, suddenly gripping his hand tightly. But a moment later she went on: "No,

no, I mustn't make you unhappy, Rudolf. I'm half glad I wrote the letter, and half glad they stole it. It's so

sweet to have you fighting for me, for me only this time, Rudolfnot for the king, for me!"

"You will win, yes. And then you'll go?" And, dropping his hand, she covered her face with hers.

"I mustn't kiss your face," said he, "but your hands I may kiss," and he kissed her hands as they were pressed

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 39

"No, I knew really, Rudolf, I knew really," and now her hands flew out towards him, imploring his pardon.

Then she began to speak quickly: "Rudolf, last night I had a dream about you, a strange dream. I seemed to

be in Strelsau, and all the people were talking about the king. It was you they meant; you were the king. At

last you were the king, and I was your queen. But I could see you only very dimly; you were somewhere, but

I could not make out where; just sometimes your face came. Then I tried to tell you that you were kingyes,

and Colonel Sapt and Fritz tried to tell you; the people, too, called out that you were king. What did it mean?

But your face, when I saw it, was unmoved, and very pale, and you seemed not to hear what we said, not

even what I said. It almost seemed as if you were dead, and yet king. Ah, you mustn't die, even to be king,"

"Sweetheart," said he gently, "in dreams desires and fears blend in strange visions, so I seemed to you to be

both a king and a dead man; but I'm not a king, and I am a very healthy fellow. Yet a thousand thanks to my

What more passed between them I do not know. I think that the queen told my wife more, but women will

sometimes keep women's secrets even from their husbands; though they love us, yet we are always in some

sort the common enemy, against whom they join hands. Well, I would not look too far into such secrets, for

to know must be, I suppose, to blame, and who is himself so blameless that in such a case he would be free

Yet much cannot have passed, for almost close on their talk about the dream came Colonel Sapt, saying that

the guards were in line, and all the women streamed out to watch them, while the men followed, lest the gay

uniforms should make them forgotten. Certainly a quiet fell over the old castle, that only the constable's curt

tones broke, as he bade Rudolf come by the back way to the stables and mount his horse.

"There's no time to lose," said Sapt, and his eye seemed to grudge the queen even one more word with the

But Rudolf was not to be hurried into leaving her in such a fashion. He clapped the constable on the shoulder,

laughing, and bidding him think of what he would for a moment; then he went again to the queen and would

have knelt before her, but that she would not suffer, and they stood with hands locked. Then suddenly she

drew him to her and kissed his forehead, saying: "God go with you, Rudolf my knight."

Thus she turned away, letting him go. He walked towards the door; but a sound arrested his steps, and he

waited in the middle of the room, his eyes on the door. Old Sapt flew to the threshold, his sword halfway

out of its sheath. There was a step coming down the passage, and the feet stopped outside the door.

They waited: a low knock sounded on the door. Still for a moment they waited. The knock was repeated

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The queen sat down, and Sapt piled a heap of papers before her, that it might seem as though he and she

transacted business. But his precautions were interrupted by a hoarse, eager, low cry from outside, "Quick! in

They knew the voice for Bernenstein's. The queen sprang up, Rudolf came out, Sapt turned the key. The

"He has got away?" cried Rudolf, guessing in a moment the misfortune that had brought Bernenstein back.

"Yes, he's got away. Just as we left the town and reached the open road towards Tarlenheim, he said, 'Are we

going to walk all the way? I was not loath to go quicker, and we broke into a trot. But Iah, what a pestilent

"Why, I was thinking of him and my task, and having a bullet ready for him, and"

"Yes; and the horse pecked and stumbled, and I fell forward on his neck. I put out my arm to recover myself,

"He saw, curse him. For a second he waited; then he smiled, and turned, and dug his spurs in and was off,

straight across country towards Strelsau. Well, I was off my horse in a moment, and I fired three times after

"I think so. He shifted the reins from one hand to the other and wrung his arm. I mounted and made after him,

but his horse was better than mine and he gained ground. We began to meet people, too, and I didn't dare to

fire again. So I left him and rode here to tell you. Never employ me again, Constable, so long as you live,"

and the young man's face was twisted with misery and shame, as, forgetting the queen's presence, he sank

Sapt took no notice of his selfreproaches. But Rudolf went and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Sir," said she, "it is not success but effort that should gain thanks," and she held out her hand.

Well, he was young; I do not laugh at the sob that escaped his lips as he turned his head.

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 41

"Mr. Rassendyll," said the queen, "you'll do my pleasure by employing this gentleman in my further service. I

am already deep in his debt, and would be deeper." There was a moment's silence.

"You must be here!" asked Rudolf of the constable. "Well, I'll go to Strelsau." His smile broke out. "That is,

The queen made no sound; but she came and laid her hand on his arm. He looked at her, smiling still.

"Yes, I'll go to Strelsau," said he, "and I'll find Rupert, ay, and Rischenheim too, if they're in the city."

"It's not that, boy," said old Sapt, half in kindness, half in impatience. "We want you here. Suppose Rupert

"But you'll be here, Constable," urged Bernenstein, "and Fritz von Tarlenheim will arrive in an hour."

"Ay, young man," said Sapt, nodding his head; "but when I fight Rupert of Hentzau, I like to have a man to

spare, and he grinned broadly, being no whit afraid of what Bernenstein might think of his courage. "Now go

"Yes, madam, if I may command the campaign," said Sapt. "I take it he should be equal to the task."

He could not know the feelings of the queen's heart. She dashed her hand across her eyes, and turned in mute

"I must go," he said softly. "We can't spare Bernenstein, and I mustn't stay here."

"Take me to the stables. Is the horse good? I daren't take the train. Ah, here's the lieutenant and the hat."

"The horse'll get you there tonight," said Sapt. "Come along. Bernenstein, stay with the queen."

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 42

At the threshold Rudolf paused, and, turning his head, glanced once at Queen Flavia, who stood still as a

statue, watching him go. Then he followed the constable, who brought him where the horse was. Sapt's

devices for securing freedom from observation had served well, and Rudolf mounted unmolested.

"Ride round by the moat to the road at the back; then through the forest to Hofbau; you know your way after

"To Fritz von Tarlenheim's, yes! From there I shall go straight to the address."

"Please God. But if he goes to the lodge? He will, unless Rischenheim stops him."

At a swift canter Rudolf darted round the drive that led from the stables, by the moat, to the old forest road

behind; five minutes brought him within the shelter of the trees, and he rode on confidently, meeting nobody,

save here and there a yokel, who, seeing a man ride hard with his head averted, took no more notice of him

than to wish that he himself could ride abroad instead of being bound to work. Thus Rudolf Rassendyll set

out again for the walls of Strelsau, through the forest of Zenda. And ahead of him, with an hour's start,

galloped the Count of LuzauRischenheim, again a man, and a man with resolution, resentment, and revenge

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I RECEIVED the telegram sent to me by the Constable of Zenda at my own house in Strelsau about one

o'clock. It is needless to say that I made immediate preparations to obey his summons. My wife indeed

protestedand I must admit with some show of reasonthat I was unfit to endure further fatigues, and that

my bed was the only proper place for me. I could not listen; and James, Mr. Rassendyll's servant, being

informed of the summons, was at my elbow with a card of the trains from Strelsau to Zenda, without waiting

for any order from me. I had talked to this man in the course of our journey, and discovered that he had been

in the service of Lord Topham, formerly British Ambassador to the Court of Ruritania. How far he was

acquainted with the 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 only a slow one; the result was that we could not arrive at the castle till past six o'clock. This hour was

not absolutely too late, but I was of course eager to be on the scene of action as early as possible.

"You'd better see if you can get a special, my lord," James suggested; "I'll run on to the station and arrange

I agreed. Since I was known to be often employed in the king's service, I could take a special train without

exciting remark. James set out, and about a quarter of an hour later I got into my carriage to drive to the

station. Just as the horses were about to start, however, the butler approached me.

"I beg your pardon, my lord," said he, "but Bauer didn't return with your lordship. Is he coming back?"

"No," said I. "Bauer was grossly impertinent on the journey, and I dismissed him."

"Wait till I come back," I ended by saying. "The bag may come, and I have no reason to doubt the fellow's

This, I thought, would be the end of my connection with Master Bauer. He had served Rupert's turn, and

would now disappear from the scene. Indeed it may be that Rupert would have liked to dispense with further

aid from him; but he had few whom he could trust, and was compelled to employ those few more than once.

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 it must be

remembered that I had at that time no reason for attaching any special significance to this locality), and were

waiting impatiently for a heavy dray to move out of our path, when my coachman, who had overheard the

butler's conversation with me, leant down from his box with an air of lively excitement.

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 44

I sprang up in the carriage; the man's back was towards me, and he was threading his way through the people

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

not sure of him, but the coachman banished my doubt by saying, "It's Bauerit's certainly Bauer, my lord."

I hardly stayed to form a resolution. If I could catch this fellow or even see where he went, a most important

clue as to Rupert's 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 of my former servant. I heard the coachman laugh: he thought, no

The numbers of the houses in the Konigstrasse begin, as anybody familiar with Strelsau will remember, at the

end adjoining the station. The street being a long one, intersecting almost the entire length of the old town, I

was, when I set out after Bauer, opposite number 300 or thereabouts, and distant nearly threequarters of a

mile from that important number nineteen, towards which Bauer was hurrying like a rabbit to its burrow. I

knew nothing and thought nothing of where he was going; to me nineteen was no more than eighteen or

twenty; my only desire was to overtake him. I had no clear idea of what I meant to do when I caught him, but

I had some hazy notion of intimidating him into giving up his secret by the threat of an accusation of theft. In

fact, he had stolen my bag. After him I went; and he knew that I was after him. I saw him turn his face over

his shoulder, and then bustle on faster. Neither of us, pursued or pursuer, dared quite to run; 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 twentythree; but the door was shut. I walked on a few paces, past twentytwo, past

twentyoneand up to nineteen. Nineteen was an old house, with a dirty, dilapidated front and an air almost

dissipated. It was a shop where provisions of the cheaper sort were on view in the window, things that one

has never eaten but has heard of people eating. The shopdoor stood open, but there was nothing to connect

Bauer with the house. Muttering an oath in my exasperation, I was about to pass on, when an old woman put

her head out of the door and looked round. I was full in front of her. I am sure that the old woman started

slightly, and I think that I did. For I knew her and she knew me. She was old Mother Holf, one of whose sons,

Johann, had betrayed to us the secret of the dungeon at Zenda, while the other had died by Mr. Rassendyll's

hand by the side of the great pipe that masked the king's window. Her presence might mean nothing, yet it

seemed at once to connect the house with the secret of the past and the crisis of the present.

"Such a poor little shop as mine would not be likely to secure your lordship's patronage," she answered, in a

I looked up at the windows. They were all closed and had their wooden lattices shut. The house was devoid

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 45

"You've a good house here, mother, though it wants a splash of paint," said I. "Do you live all alone in it with

your daughter?" For Max was dead and Johann abroad, and the old woman had, as far as I knew, no other

"Sometimes; sometimes not," said she. "I let lodgings to single men when I can."

"I wish a customer had come in, but there has been nobody," she replied in surprised tones.

I looked full in her eyes; she met mine with a blinking imperturbability. There is no face so inscrutable as a

clever old woman's when 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 pigs' trotters and suchlike dainties, helped me very little. If

At this moment I saw James approaching hurriedly. He was looking up the street, no doubt seeking my

"My lord," he said, "your train will be ready in five minutes; if it doesn't start then, the line must be closed for

I perceived a faint smile on the old woman's face. I was sure then that I was on the track of Bauer, and

probably of more than Bauer. But my first duty was 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 in Strelsau

aprick. I turned away reluctantly. I did not even know for certain that Bauer was within, and thus had no

"Yes, I'll recommend you," said I. "I'll recommend you to be careful whom you take for lodgers. There are

"I take the money beforehand," she retorted with a grin; and I was as sure that she was in the plot as of my

There was nothing to be done; James's face urged me towards the station. I turned away. But at this instant a

loud, merry laugh sounded from inside the house. I started, and this time violently. The 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 to appear as though I had noticed

nothing. I nodded to her carelessly, and bidding James follow me, set out for the station. But as we reached

He looked at me without surprise; he was as hard to stir to wonder as old Sapt himself.

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 46

"No, come with me," I answered. To tell the truth, I thought that to leave him alone in Strelsau to watch that

house was in all likelihood to sign his death warrant, and I shrank from imposing the duty on him. 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 thought it a fine

joke to see his master hunting a truant servant and a truant bag through the streets in broad daylight. Had he

I arrived at the town of Zenda at halfpast three, and was in the castle before four. I may pass over the most

kind and gracious words with which the queen received me. Every sight of her face and every sound of her

voice bound a man closer to her service, and now she made me feel that I was a poor fellow to have lost her

letter and yet to be alive. 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 openmouthed

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 information. I was also made acquainted with all that had been

done, even as I have already related it, from the first successful trick played on Rischenheim to the moment

of his unfortunate escape. But my face grew long and apprehensive when I heard that Rudolf Rassendyll had

gone alone to Strelsau to put his head in that lion's mouth in the Konigstrasse.

"There will be three of them thereRupert, Rischenheim, and my rascal Bauer," said I.

"As to Rupert, we don't know," Sapt reminded me. "He'll be there if Rischenheim arrives in time to tell him

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

wherever he is: Rudolf will be in Strelsau, you and I will ride to the lodge, and Bernenstein will be here with

"Ay, but a good one," said the constable, clapping Bernenstein on the shoulder. "We sha'n't be gone above

four hours, and those while the king is safe in his bed. Bernenstein has only to refuse access to him, and stand

I am, by nature, a cautious man, and prone to look. at the dark side of every prospect and the risks of every

enterprise; but I could not see what better dispositions were possible against the attack that threatened us. Yet

Now, after all our stir and runnings to and fro, came an hour or two of peace. We employed the time in

having a good meal, and it was past five 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 servant, and thus we had been able

to talk freely. The man's calm confidence in his master and his master's fortune also went far to comfort me.

"The king should be back soon," said Sapt at last, with a glance at his big, oldfashioned silver watch.

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

would come to the lodge!" And the colonel's face expressed a lively pleasure at the idea.

Six o'clock struck, and the king did not appear. A few moments later, a message came from the queen,

requesting our presence on the terrace in front of the chateau. The place commanded a view of the road by

which the king would ride back, and we found the queen walking restlessly up and down, considerably

disquieted by the lateness of his return. In such a position as ours, every unusual or unforeseen 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

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 47

might have met Rischenheimthough they had ridden in opposite directions; Rupert might have intercepted

himthough no means could have brought Rupert to the forest so early. Our fears defeated common sense,

and our conjectures outran possibility. Sapt was the first to recover from this foolish mood, and he rated us

soundly, not sparing even the queen herself. With a laugh we regained some of our equanimity, and felt rather

"Still it's strange that he doesn't come," murmured the queen, shading her eyes with her hand, and looking

along the road to where the dark masses of the forest trees bounded our view. It was already dusk, but not so

dark but that we could have seen the king's party as soon as it came into the open.

If the king's delay seemed strange at six, it was stranger at seven, and by eight most strange. We had long

since ceased to talk lightly; by now we had lapsed into silence. Sapt's scoldings had died away. The queen,

wrapped in her 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 apprehensions, but his gloomy silence in face of our surmises witnessed that he was

in his heart as disturbed as we were. For my part I had come to the end of my endurance, and I cried, "For

But at this instant my ear caught the sound of horses cantering on the road from the forest; at the same

moment Bernenstein cried, "Here they come!" The queen paused, and we gathered round her. The

horsehoofs came nearer. Now we made out the figures of three men: they were the king's huntsmen, and

they rode along merrily, singing a hunting chorus. The sound of it brought relief to us; so far at least there

"The king is probably tired, and is following more slowly, madam," suggested Bernenstein.

This explanation seemed very probable, and the lieutenant and I, as ready to be hopeful on slight grounds as

fearful on small provocation, joyfully accepted 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 the avenue. One of them, the

king's chief huntsman Simon, gorgeous in his uniform of green and gold, came swaggering along, and bowed

"I will, madam. The king has enjoyed fine sport; and, indeed, madam, if I may say so for myself, a better

"You may say, friend Simon," interrupted the constable, tapping him on the shoulder, "anything you like for

"Oh, ay, Constable," said Simon. "You're always so down on a man, aren't you? Well, then, madam, the king

"Is this the king's message, Simon?" asked the queen, smiling in genuine amusement, but impatiently.

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 48

"Then get to it, man, in Heaven's name," growled Sapt testily. For here were we four (the queen, too, one of

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

forest Simon took as much credit as though he, and not Almighty God, had made the animal. It is the way

Simon became a little confused under the combined influence of his own seductive memories and Sapt's

"As I was saying, madam," he resumed, "the boar led us a long way, but at last the hounds pulled him down,

"And the king, although indeed, madam, his majesty was so gracious as to say that no huntsman whom his

Simon shot an apprehensive apologetic glance at Colonel Sapt. The constable was frowning ferociously. In

spite of the serious matters in hand I could not forbear a smile, while young Bernenstein broke into an audible

"Yes, the king was very tired, Simon?" said the queen, at once encouraging him and bringing him back to the

"Yes, madam, the king was very tired; and as we chanced to kill near the huntinglodge"

I do not know whether Simon noticed any change in the manner of his audience. But the queen looked up

with parted lips, and I believe that we three all drew a step nearer him. Sapt did not interrupt this time.

"Yes, madam, the king was very tired, and as we chanced to kill near the huntinglodge, the king bade us

carry our quarry there, and come back to dress it tomorrow; so we obeyed, and here we arethat is, except

Herbert, my brother, who stayed with the king by his majesty's orders. Because, madam, Herbert is a handy

"Why, at the huntinglodge, Constable. The king stays there tonight, and will ride back tomorrow morning

We had come to it at last, and it was something to come to. Simon gazed from face to face. I saw him, and I

understood at once that our feelings must be speaking too plainly. So I took on myself to dismiss him, saying:

He bowed to the queen; she roused herself, and added her thanks to mine. Simon withdrew, looking still a

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"On my life," said he, "how things fall out! We say he will go to the huntinglodge, andhe goes!"

"Bernenstein," said he, "you stay here as we arranged. Nothing is altered. Horses for Fritz and myself in five

Bernenstein turned and shot like an arrow along the terrace towards the stables.

"Nothing is altered, madam," said Sapt, "except that we must be there before Count Rupert."

I looked at my watch. It was twenty minutes past nine. Simon's cursed chatter had lost a quarter of an hour. I

opened my lips to speak. A glance from Sapt's eyes told me that he discerned what I was about to say. I was

"Here are the horses," cried Sapt. He snatched her hand, brushed it with his grizzly moustache, andwell, I

am not sure I heard, and I can hardly believe what I think 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, and I

saw the tears standing in her eyes. I kissed her hand also; then we mounted, and we started, and we rode, as if

But I turned once to watch her standing on the terrace, with young Bernenstein's tall figure beside her.

"I think not, but, by God, we'll try," said Colonel Sapt. And I knew why he had not let me speak.

Suddenly there was a sound behind us of a horse at the gallop. Our heads flew round in the ready

apprehension of men on a perilous errand. The hoofs drew near, for the unknown rode with reckless haste.

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 50

A second more, and the horseman was beside us. Sapt swore an oath, half in amusement, half in vexation.

"No, sir. But Mr. Rassendyll told me not to leave you, unless you sent me away. So I made haste to follow

"The best in the stables, so far as I could see, sir. I was afraid of not overtaking you."

Looking back now, in the light of the information I have gathered, I am able to trace very clearly, and almost

hour by hour, the events of this day, and to understand how chance, laying hold of our cunning plan and

mocking our wiliness, twisted and turned our device to a predetermined but undreamtof issue, of which we

were most guiltless in thought or intent. Had the king not gone to the huntinglodge, our design would have

found the fulfilment we looked for; had Rischenheim succeeded in warning Rupert of Hentzau, we should

have stood where we were. Fate or fortune would have it otherwise. The king, being weary, went to the

lodge, and Rischenheim failed in warning his cousin. It was a narrow failure, for Rupert, as his laugh told me,

was in the house in the Konigstrasse when I set out from Strelsau, and Rischenheim arrived there at half past

four. He had taken the train at a roadside station, and thus easily outstripped Mr. Rassendyll, who, not daring

to show his face, was forced to ride all the way and enter the city under cover of night. But Rischenheim had

not dared to send a warning, for he knew that we were in possession of the address and did not know what

steps we might have taken to intercept messages. Therefore he was obliged to carry the news himself; when

he came his man was gone. Indeed Rupert must have left the house almost immediately after I was safe away

from the city. He was determined to be in good time for his appointment; his only enemies were not in

Strelsau; there was no warrant on which he could be apprehended; and, although his connection with Black

Michael was a matter of popular gossip, he felt himself safe from arrest by virtue of the secret that protected

him. Accordingly he walked out of the house, went to the station, took his ticket to Hofbau, and, traveling by

the four o'clock train, reached his destination about halfpast five. He must have passed the train in which

Rischenheim traveled; the first news the latter had of his departure was from a porter at the station, who,

having recognized the Count of Hentzau, ventured to congratulate Rischenheim on his cousin's return.

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 51

Rischenheim made no answer, but hurried in great agitation to the house in the Konigstrasse, where the old

woman Holf confirmed the tidings. Then he passed through a period of great irresolution. Loyalty to Rupert

urged that he should follow him and share the perils into which his cousin was hastening. But caution

whispered that he was not irrevocably committed, that nothing overt yet connected him with Rupert's

schemes, and that we who knew the truth should be well content to purchase his silence as to the trick we had

played by granting him immunity. His fears won the day, and, like the irresolute man he was, he determined

to wait in Strelsau till he heard the issue of the meeting at the lodge. If Rupert were disposed of there, he had

something to offer us in return for peace; if his cousin escaped, he would be in the Konigstrasse, prepared to

second the further plans of the desperate adventurer. In any event his skin was safe, and I presume to think

that this weighed a little with him; for excuse he had the wound which Bernenstein had given him, and which

rendered his right arm entirely useless; had he gone then, he would have been a most inefficient ally.

Of all this we, as we rode through the forest, knew nothing. We might guess, conjecture, hope, or fear; but

our certain knowledge stopped with Rischenheim's start for the capital and Rupert's presence there at three

o'clock. The pair might have met or might have missed. We had to act as though they had missed and Rupert

were gone to meet the king. But we were late. The consciousness of that pressed upon us, although we

evaded further mention of it; it made us spur and drive our horses as quickly, ay, and a little more quickly,

than safety allowed. Once James's horse stumbled in the darkness and its rider was thrown; more than once a

low bough hanging over the path nearly swept me, dead or stunned, from my seat. Sapt paid no attention to

these mishaps or threatened mishaps. He had taken the lead, and, sitting well down in his saddle, rode ahead,

turning neither to right nor left, never slackening his pace, sparing neither himself nor his beast. James and I

were side by side behind him. We rode in silence, finding nothing to say to one another. My mind was full of

a picturethe picture of Rupert with his easy smile handing to the king the queen's letter. For the hour of the

rendezvous was past. If that image had been translated into reality, what must we do? To kill Rupert would

satisfy revenge, but of what other avail would it be when the king had read the letter? I am ashamed to say

that I found myself girding at Mr. Rassendyll for happening on a plan which the course of events had turned

Suddenly Sapt, turning his head for the first time, pointed in front of him. The lodge was before us; we saw it

looming dimly a quarter of a mile off. Sapt reined in his horse, and we followed his example. All dismounted,

we tied our horses to trees and went forward at a quick, silent walk. Our idea was that Sapt should enter on

pretext of having been sent by the queen to attend to her husband's comfort and arrange for his return without

further fatigue next day. If Rupert had come and gone, the king's demeanor would probably betray the fact; if

he had not yet come, I and James, patrolling outside, would bar his passage. There was a third possibility; he

might be even now with the king. Our course in such a case we left unsettled; so far as I had any plan, it was

to kill Rupert and to convince the king that the letter was a forgerya desperate hope, so desperate that we

turned our eyes away from the possibility which would make it our only resource.

We were now very near the huntinglodge, being about forty yards from the front of it. All at once Sapt

James struck a light, and, the night being still, the flame burnt brightly: it showed us the mark of a horse's

hoof, apparently quite fresh, and leading away from the lodge. We rose and went on, following the tracks by

the aid of more matches till we reached a tree twenty yards from the door. Here the hoof marks ceased; but

beyond there was a double track of human feet in the soft black earth; a man had gone thence to the house

and returned from the house thither. On the right of the tree were more hoofmarks, leading up to it and then

ceasing. A man had ridden up from the right, dismounted, gone on foot to the house, returned to the tree,

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 52

"It may be somebody else," said I; but I do not think that we any of us doubted in our hearts that the tracks

were made by the coming of Hentzau. Then the king had the letter; the mischief was done. We were too late.

Yet we did not hesitate. Since disaster had come, it must be faced. Mr. Rassendyll's servant and I followed

the constable of Zenda up to the door, or within a few feet of it. Here Sapt, who was in uniform, loosened his

sword in its sheath; James and I looked to our revolvers. There were no lights visible in the lodge; the door

was shut; everything was still. Sapt knocked softly with his knuckles, but there was no answer from within.

He laid hold of the handle and turned it; the door opened, and the passage lay dark and apparently empty

"You stay here, as we arranged," whispered the colonel. "Give me the matches, and I'll go in."

James handed him the box of matches, and he crossed the threshold. For a yard or two we saw him plainly,

then his figure grew dim and indistinct. I heard nothing except my own hard breathing. But in a moment there

was another sounda muffled exclamation, and a noise of a man stumbling; a sword, too, clattered on the

stones of the passage. We looked at one another; the noise did not produce any answering stir in the house;

then came the sharp little explosion of a match struck on its box; next we heard Sapt raising himself, his

scabbard scraping along the stones; his footsteps came towards us, and in a second he appeared at the door.

I followed the constable for the distance of eight or ten feet along the passage.

"We can see enough with a match," he answered. "Here, this is what I fell over."

"Why, no," said Sapt, striking a light: "a dead dog, Fritz." An exclamation of wonder escaped me as I fell on

my knees. At the same instant Sapt muttered, "Ay, there's a lamp," and, stretching up his hand to a little oil

lamp that stood on a bracket, he lit it, took it down, and held it over the body. It served to give a fair, though

"It's Boris, the boarhound," said I, still in a whisper, although there was no sign of any listeners.

I knew the dog well; he was the king's favorite, and always accompanied him when he went hunting. He was

obedient to every word of the king's, but of a rather uncertain temper towards the rest of the world. However,

de mortuis nil nisi bonum; there he lay dead in the passage. Sapt put his hand on the beast's head. There was a

bullethole right through his forehead. I nodded, and in my turn pointed to the dog's right shoulder, which

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 53

I looked where his hand now was. In the dog's mouth was a piece of gray cloth, and on the piece of gray cloth

was a horn coatbutton. I took hold of the cloth and pulled. Boris held on even in death. Sapt drew his sword,

and, inserting the point of it between the dog's teeth, parted them enough for me to draw out the piece of

"You'd better put it in your pocket," said the constable. "Now come along"; and, holding the lamp in one

hand and his sword (which he did not resheathe) in the other, he stepped over the body of the boarhound,

We were now in front of the door of the room where Rudolf Rassendyll had supped with us on the day of his

first coming to Ruritania, and whence he had set out to be crowned in Strelsau. On the right of it was the

room where the king slept, and farther along in the same direction the kitchen and the cellars. The officer or

officers in attendance on the king used to sleep on the other side of the diningroom.

"We must explore, I suppose," said Sapt. In spite of his outward calmness, I caught in his voice the ring of

excitement rising and illrepressed. But at this moment we heard from the passage on our left (as we faced

the door) a low moan, and then a dragging sound, as if a man were crawling along the floor, painfully trailing

his limbs after him. Sapt held the lamp in that direction, and we saw Herbert the forester, palefaced and

wideeyed, raised from the ground on his two hands, while his legs stretched behind him and his stomach

"Why, man, you know us," said the constable, stepping up to him. "What's happened here?"

"I've got it, sir," he murmured; "I've got it, fair and straight. No more hunting for me, sir. I've got it here in the

"Tell us about it," commanded Sapt in a curt, crisp voice while I got the man into the easiest position that I

In slow, struggling tones he began his story, repeating here, omitting there, often confusing the order of his

narrative, oftener still arresting it while he waited for fresh strength. Yet we were not impatient, but heard

without a thought of time. I looked round once at a sound, and found that James, anxious about us, had stolen

along the passage and joined us. Sapt took no notice of him, nor of anything save the words that dropped in

irregular utterance from the stricken man's lips. Here is the story, a strange instance of the turning of a great

The king had eaten a little supper, and, having gone to his bedroom, had stretched himself on the bed and

fallen asleep without undressing. Herbert was clearing the diningtable and performing similar duties, when

suddenly (thus he told it) he found a man standing beside him. He did not know (he was new to the king's

service) who the unexpected visitor was, but he was of middle height, dark, handsome, and "looked a

gentleman all over." He was dressed in a shootingtunic, and a revolver was thrust through the belt of it. One

"Tell the king I am here. He expects me," said the stranger. Herbert, alarmed at the suddenness and silence of

the stranger's approach, and guiltily conscious of having left the door unbolted, drew back. He was unarmed,

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but, being a stout fellow, was prepared to defend his master as best he could. Rupertbeyond doubt it was

Rupertlaughed lightly, saying again, "Man, he expects me. Go and tell him," and sat himself on the table,

swinging his leg. Herbert, influenced by the visitor's air of command, began to retreat towards the bedroom,

"If the king asks more, tell him I have the packet and the letter," said Rupert. The man bowed and passed into

the bedroom. The king was asleep; when roused he seemed to know nothing of letter or packet, and to expect

no visitor. Herbert's ready fears revived; he whispered that the stranger carried a revolver. Whatever the

king's faults might beand God forbid that I should speak hardly of him whom fate used so hardlyhe was

no coward. He sprang from his bed; at the same moment the great boarhound uncoiled himself and came

from beneath, yawning and fawning. But in an instant the beast caught the scent of a stranger: his ears

pricked and he gave a low growl, as he looked up in his master's face. Then Rupert of Hentzau, weary

perhaps of waiting, perhaps only doubtful whether his message would be properly delivered, appeared in the

The king was unarmed, and Herbert in no better plight; their hunting weapons were in the adjoining room,

and Rupert seemed to bar the way. I have said that the king was no coward, yet I think, that the sight of

Rupert, bringing back the memory of his torments in the dungeon, half cowed him; for he shrank back crying,

"You!" The hound, in subtle understanding of his master's movement, growled angrily.

"You expected me, sire?" said Rupert with a bow; but he smiled. I know that the sight of the king's alarm

pleased him. To inspire terror was his delight, and it does not come to every man to strike fear into the heart

"No," muttered the king. Then, recovering his composure a little, he said angrily, "How dare you come here?"

"You didn't expect me?" cried Rupert, and in an instant the thought of a trap seemed to flash across his alert

mind. He drew the revolver halfway from his belt, probably in a scarcely conscious movement, born of the

desire to assure himself of its presence. With a cry of alarm Herbert flung himself before the king, who sank

back on the bed. Rupert, puzzled, vexed, yet halfamused (for he smiled still, the man said), took a step

Rupert paused; then, as though with a sudden thought, he held up the box that was in his left hand, saying:

'"Well, look at this sire, and we'll talk afterwards," and he stretched out his hand with the box in it.

Now the king stood on a razor's edge, for the king whispered to Herbert, "What is it? Go and take it."

But Herbert hesitated, fearing to leave the king, whom his body now protected as though with a shield.

Rupert's impatience overcame him: if there were a trap, every moment's delay doubled his danger. With a

scornful laugh he exclaimed, "Catch it, then, if you're afraid to come for it," and he flung the packet to

This insolence had a strange result. In an instant, with a fierce growl and a mighty bound, Boris was at the

stranger's throat. Rupert had not seen or had not heeded the dog. A startled oath rang out from him. He

snatched the revolver from his belt and fired at his assailant. This shot must have broken the beast's shoulder,

but it only half arrested his spring. His great weight was still hurled on Rupert's chest, and bore him back on

his knee. The packet that he had flung lay unheeded. The king, wild with alarm and furious with anger at his

favorite's fate, jumped up and ran past Rupert into the next room. Herbert followed; even as they went Rupert

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 55

flung the wounded, weakened beast from him and darted to the doorway. He found himself facing Herbert,

who held a boarspear, and the king, who had a doublebarreled huntinggun. He raised his left hand,

Herbert saidno doubt he still asked a hearingbut the king leveled his weapon. With a spring Rupert

gained the shelter of the door, the bullet sped by him, and buried itself in the wall of the room. Then Herbert

was at him with the boarspear. Explanations must wait now: it was life or death; without hesitation Rupert

fired at Herbert, bringing him to the ground with a mortal wound. The king's gun was at his shoulder again.

"You damned fool!" roared Rupert, "if you must have it, take it," and gun and revolver rang out at the same

moment. But Rupertnever did his nerve fail himhit, the king missed; Herbert saw the count stand for an

instant with his smoking barrel in his hand, looking at the king, who lay on the ground. Then Rupert walked

towards the door. I wish I had seen his face then! Did he frown or smile? Was triumph or chagrin uppermost?

He reached the door and passed through. That was the last Herbert saw of him; but the fourth actor in the

drama, the wordless player whose part had been so momentous, took the stage. Limping along, now whining

in sharp agony, now growling in fierce anger, with blood flowing but hair bristling, the hound Boris dragged

himself across the room, through the door, after Rupert of Hentzau. Herbert listened, raising his head from

the ground. There was a growl, an oath, the sound of the scuffle. Rupert must have turned in time to receive

the dog's spring. The beast, maimed and crippled by his shattered shoulder, did not reach his enemy's face,

but his teeth tore away the bit of cloth that we had found held in the vise of his jaws. Then came another shot,

a laugh, retreating steps, and a door slammed. With that last sound Herbert woke to the fact of the count's

escape; with weary efforts he dragged himself into the passage. The idea that he could go on if he got a drink

of brandy turned him in the direction of the cellar. But his strength failed, and he sank down where we found

him, not knowing whether the king were dead or still alive, and unable even to make his way back to the

I had listened to the story, bound as though by a spell. Halfway through, James's hand had crept to my arm

and rested there; when Herbert finished I heard the little man licking his lips, again and again slapping his

tongue against them. Then I looked at Sapt. He was as pale as a ghost, and the lines on his face seemed to

have grown deeper. He glanced up, and met my regard. Neither of us spoke; we exchanged thoughts with our

eyes. "This is our work," we said to one another. "It was our trap, these are our victims." I cannot even now

Facing round, we walked to the door of the diningroom. Here I turned suddenly faint, and clutched at the

constable. He held me up, and pushed the door wide open. The smell of powder was in the room; it seemed as

if the smoke hung about, curling in dim coils round the chandelier which gave a subdued light. James had the

lamp now, and followed us with it. But the king was not there. A sudden hope filled me. He had not been

killed then! I regained strength, and darted across towards the inside room. Here too the light was dim, and I

turned to beckon for the lamp. Sapt and James came together, and stood peering over my shoulder in the

The king lay prone on the floor, face downwards, near the bed. He had crawled there, seeking for some place

to rest, as we supposed. He did not move. We watched him for a moment; the silence seemed deeper than

silence could be. At last, moved by a common impulse, we stepped forward, but timidly, as though we

approached the throne of Death himself. I was the first to kneel by the king and raise his head. Blood had

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 56

I felt Sapt's hand on my shoulder. Looking up, I saw his other hand stretched out towards the ground. I turned

my eyes where he pointed. There, in the king's hand, stained with the king'sblood, was the box that I had

carried to Wintenberg and Rupert of Hentzau had brought to the lodge that night. It was not rest, but the box

that the dying king had sought in his last moment. I bent, and lifting his hand unclasped the fingers, still limp

The string was round it; the sealingwax was unbroken. The secret had outlived the king, and he had gone to

his death unknowing. All at onceI cannot tell whyI put my hand over my eyes; I found my eyelashes

THE moment with its shock and tumult of feeling brings one judgment, later reflection another. Among the

sins of Rupert of Hentzau I do not assign the first and greatest place 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 deed came to be done and the impulsion of circumstances that led to it, it seems to have

been in some sort thrust upon him by the same perverse fate that dogged our steps. He had meant the king no

harmindeed it may be argued that, from whatever motive, he had sought to serve himand save under the

sudden stress of selfdefense he had done him none. The king's unlookedfor ignorance of his errand,

Herbert's honest hasty zeal, the temper of Boris the hound, had forced on him an act unmeditated and utterly

against his interest. His whole guilt lay in preferring the king's death to his owna crime perhaps in most

men, but hardly deserving a place in Rupert'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 dead master by

executing swift justice on the man who had killed him. I cannot tell fully what the others felt, but in me at

least the dominant impulse was to waste not a moment in proclaiming the crime and raising the whole

country in pursuit of Rupert, so that every man in Ruritania should quit his work, his pleasure, or his bed, and

make it his concern to take the Count of Hentzau, alive or dead. I remember that I walked over to where Sapt

"Yes: when the news is known, every man in the kingdom will be on the lookout for him, and he can't

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 57

"Yes, to a certainty," I cried, hot in excitement and emotion. Sapt glanced across at Mr. Rassendyll's servant.

James had, with my help, raised the king's body on to the bed, and had aided 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 nodded his head to Colonel Sapt. They were well matched, that pair,

hard to move, hard to shake, not to be turned from the purpose in their minds and the matter that lay to their

I could have laughed even at that moment. He had left the box (whether from haste or heedlessness or malice,

we could not tell), but the letter was on him. Taken alive, he would use that powerful weapon to save his life

or satisfy his anger; if it were found on his body, 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 bodyguard and die in his defense rather than let

any other but ourselves come at him. No open means must be used, and no allies sought. All this rushed to

my mind at Sapt's words, and I saw what the constable and James had never forgotten. But what to do I could

An hour or more had passed since our discovery, and it was now close on midnight. Had all gone well we

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

from where he had killed the king; already Mr. Rassendyll would be seeking his enemy in Strelsau.

"But what are we to do aboutabout that, then?" I asked, pointing with my finger through the doorway

Sapt gave a last tug at his moustache, then crossed his hands on the hilt of the sword between his knees, and

"Why, no, Fritz," he answered thoughtfully. "It's not possible yet; it may become so. But if we can catch

Rupert in the 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 concealment. What? Is the fact that crimes are known never concealed, for fear of putting the

"You'll be able to make a story, sir," James put in, with a grave but reassuring air.

"Yes, James, I shall be able to make a story, or your master will make one for me. But, by God, story or no

story, the letter mustn't be found. Let them say we killed him ourselves if they like, but."

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 58

The oil in the lamp was almost exhausted, and the light burnt very dim. Now and again poor Herbert, for

whom our skill could do nothing, gave a slight moan. 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 nothing

against a point in the game. Except for his groansand they grew fainter and less frequenour voices alone

"The queen must know," said Sapt. "Let her stay at Zenda and give out that the king is at the lodge for a day

or two longer. Then you, Fritzfor you must ride to the castle at onceand 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 not in the city, you must catch Rischenheim, and force him to say

where he is; we know Rischenheim can be persuaded. If Rupert's there, I need give no advice either to you or

"James and I stay here. If any one comes whom we can keep out, the king is ill. If rumors get about, and great

"This morning, when you're gone, we shall make a temporary grave. I dare say two," and he jerked his thumb

"Or even," he added, with his grim smile, "threefor our friend Boris, too, must be out of sight."

"Not so deep but that we can take him out again, poor fellow. Well, Fritz, have you a better plan?"

I had no plan, and I was not in love with Sapt's plan. Yet it offered us four and twenty hours. For that time, at

least, it seemed as if the secret could be kept. Beyond that we could hardly hope for success; after that we

must produce the king; dead or alive, the king must be seen. Yet it might be that before the respite ran out

Rupert would be ours. In fine, what else could be chosen? 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 save her from that, no chance was too desperate, no scheme too perilous; yes, if, as Sapt said,

we ourselves were held to answer for the king's death, still we must go on. I, through whose negligence the

whole train of disaster had been laid, was the last man to hesitate. In all honesty, I held my life due and

So the plan was made. A grave was to be dug ready for the king; if need arose, his body should be laid in it,

and the place chosen was under the floor of the winecellar. When death came to poor Herbert, he could lie

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 59

in the yard behind the house; for Boris they meditated a restingplace under the tree where our horses were

tethered. 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

near his end, and, sitting by him, I did my best to soothe his passing. His fortitude was good to see, and I

believe that we all at last found new courage for our enterprise from seeing how this humble man met death.

At least even the constable ceased to show impatience, and let me stay till I could close the sufferer's eyes.

But thus time went, and it was nearly five in the morning before I bade them farewell and mounted my horse.

They took theirs and led them away to the stables behind the lodge; I waved my hand and galloped 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 confidence. My horse moved freely under

me and carried me easily along the grassy avenues. It was hard then to be utterly despondent, hard to doubt

The castle came in sight, and I hailed it with a glad cry that echoed among the trees. But a moment later I

gave an exclamation of surprise, and raised myself a little from the saddle while I gazed earnestly at the

summit of 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 Rudolf V. no more; but why did it not proclaim and honor the presence of Queen Flavia? I sat

down in my saddle and spurred my horse to the top of his speed. We had been buffeted by fate sorely, but

In a quarter of an hour more I was at the door. A servant ran out, and I dismounted leisurely and easily.

Pulling off my gloves, I dusted my boots with them, turned to the stableman and bade him look to the horse,

"As soon as the queen is dressed, find out if she can see me. I have a message from his Majesty."

The fellow looked a little puzzled, but at this moment Hermann, the king's majordomo, came to the door.

"No, the constable remains at the lodge with the king," said I carelessly, though I was very far from careless.

"I have a message for her Majesty, Hermann. Find out from some of the women when she will receive me."

"The queen's not here," said he. "Indeed we've had a lively time, my lord. At five o'clock she came out, ready

dressed, from her room, sent for Lieutenant von Bernenstein, and announced that she was about to set out

from the castle. As you know, the mail train passes here at six." Hermann took out his watch. "Yes, the queen

"Where for?" I asked, with a shrug for the woman's whim. "Why, for Strelsau. She gave no reasons for going,

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

with everybody to be roused and got out of bed, and a carriage to be made ready, and messages to go to the

"None, my lord. She left with me a letter to the constable, which she ordered me to give to his own hands as

soon as he arrived at the castle. She said it contained a message of importance, which the constable was to

convey to the king, and that it must be intrusted to nobody except Colonel Sapt himself. I wonder, my lord,

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 60

"Tut, man, I wasn't staring at the keep. Give me the letter." For I saw that the clue to this fresh puzzle must lie

under the cover of Sapt's letter. That letter I must myself carry to Sapt, and without loss of time.

"Give you the letter, my lord? But, pardon me, you're not the constable." He laughed a little.

"Why, no," said I, mustering a smile. "It's true that I'm not the constable, but I'm going to the constable. I had

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

to the lodge directly a fresh horse can be saddled for me. And the constable's at the lodge. Come, the letter!"

"Nonsense! If she had known I should come and not the constable, she would have told me to carry it to

"I don't know about that, my lord: her orders were plain, and she doesn't like being disobeyed."

The stableman had led the horse away, the footman had disappeared, Hermann and I were alone. "Give me

the letter," I said; and I know that my selfcontrol failed, and eagerness was plain in my voice. Plain it was,

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 by the throat with my other hand. Diving into his pocket, I got the letter. Then I suddenly loosed hold of

him, for his eyes were starting out of his head. I took out a couple of gold pieces and gave them to him.

"It's urgent, you fool," said I. "Hold your tongue about it." And without waiting to study his amazed red face,

I turned and ran 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 for the huntinglodge. Even now Hermann remembers the grip I gave

When I reached the end of this second journey, I came in for the obsequies of Boris. James was just patting

the ground under the tree with a mattock when I rode up; 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 snatched at his letter with an oath; James leveled the ground with careful accuracy; I do not

"Good Lord, she's gone after him!" said Sapt, as he read. Then he handed me the letter.

I will not set out what the queen wrote. The purport seemed to us, who did not share her feelings, pathetic

indeed and moving, but in 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; she did not know how we fared, nor how those in Strelsau; for

"I had had the same dream before. Now it came again. I saw him so plain. He seemed to me to be king, and to

be called king. But he did not answer nor move. He seemed dead; and I could not rest." So she wrote, ever

excusing herself, ever repeating how something drew her to Strelsau, telling her that she must go if she would

see "him whom you know," alive again. "And I must see himah, I must see him! If the king has had the

letter, I am ruined already. If he has 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 dangerI 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,

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 61

seeming, poor lady, half frantic with the visions that her own troubled brain and desolate heart had conjured

up to torment her. I did not know that she had before told Mr. Rassendyll himself of this strange dream;

though I lay small store by such matters, believing that we ourselves make our dreams, fashioning out of the

fears and hopes of today what seems to come by night in the guise of a mysterious revelation. Yet there are

some things that a man cannot understand, and I do not profess to measure with my mind the ways of God.

However, not why the queen went, but that she had gone, concerned us. We had returned to the house now,

and James, remembering that men must eat though kings die, was getting us some breakfast. In fact, I had

great need of food, being utterly worn out; and they, after their labors, were hardly less weary. As we ate, 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 the issue of last night

had shaped itself under the compelling hand of wayward fortune. The king lay in peace on his bed, his grave

was dug; Sapt and James held the secret with solemn faith and ready lives. To Strelsau I must go to tell the

At nine in the morning I started from the lodge. I was bound to ride to Hofbau and there wait for a train

which would carry me to the capital. From Hofbau I could send a message, but the message must announce

only my own coming, not the news I carried. To Sapt, thanks to the cipher, I could send word at any time, and

he bade me ask Mr. Rassendyll whether he should come to our aid, or stay where he was.

"A day must decide the whole thing," he said. "We can't conceal the king's death long. For God's sake, Fritz,

So, wasting no time in farewells, I set out. By ten o'clock I was at Hofbau, for I rode furiously. From there I

sent to Bernenstein at the palace word of my coming. But there I was delayed. There was no train for an hour.

"I'll ride," I cried to myself, only to remember the next moment that, if I rode, I should come to my journey's

end much later. There was nothing for it but to wait, and it may be imagined in what mood I waited. Every

minute seemed an 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 from the king, and that the delay imperiled great interests. Then he became

sympathetic; but what could he do? No special train was to be had at a roadside station: I must wait; and wait,

At last I was in the train; now indeed we moved, and I came nearer. An hour's run brought me in sight of the

city. Then, to my unutterable wrath, we were stopped, and waited motionless twenty minutes or half an hour.

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 we

stopped I sat there till a porter opened the door. In lazy leisureliness I bade him get me a cab, and followed

him across the station. He held the door for me, and, giving him his douceur, I set my foot on the step.

"Tell him to drive to the palace," said I, "and be quick. I'm late already, thanks to this cursed train."

"The old mare'll soon take you there, sir," said the driver. I jumped in. But at this moment I saw a man on the

platform beckoning with his hand and hastening towards 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

moment to my wife's cousin, Anton von Strofzin. He came up, holding out his hand,delicately gloved in

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 62

"Ah, my dear Fritz!" said he. "I am glad I hold no appointment at court. How dreadfully active you all are! I

"The queen changed her mind suddenly," said I, smiling. "Ladies do, as you know well, you who know all

My compliment, or insinuation, produced a pleased smile and a gallant twirling of his moustache.

"Well, I thought you'd be here soon," he said, "but I didn't know that the queen had come."

He opened his eyes a little in languid, elegant surprise. "Oh, I supposed you'd be on duty, or something, and

"Why, yes," said I, and I leaned forward. "At least I'm engaged now on the king's business."

"Precisely," said he. "So I thought you'd come, as soon as I heard that the king was here."

It may be that I ought to have preserved my composure. But I am not Sapt nor Rudolf Rassendyll.

But I heeded him no more. For a moment I could not speak, then I cried to the cabman:

We shot away, leaving Anton openmouthed in wonder. For me, I sank back on the cushions, fairly aghast.

Of course, the truth soon flashed through my mind, but it brought no comfort. Rudolf Rassendyll was in

Strelsau. He had been seen by somebody and taken for the king. But comfort? What comfort was there, now

In fact, the truth was worse than I conceived. Had I known it all, I might well have yielded to despair. For not

by the chance, uncertain sight of a passerby, not by mere rumor which might have been sturdily denied, not

by the evidence of one only or of two, was the king's presence in the 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 and perverse succession of events which forced them to employ a

resource so dangerous and face a peril so immense. Yet, great and perilous as they knew the risk to be even

when they dared it, in the light of what they did not know it was more fearful and more fatal still.

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 63

MR. RASSENDYLL reached Strelsau from Zenda without accident about nine o'clock in the evening of the

same day as that which witnessed the tragedy of the huntinglodge. He could have arrived sooner, but

prudence did not allow him to enter the populous suburbs of the town till the darkness guarded him from

notice. The gates of the city were no longer shut at sunset, as they had used to be in the days when Duke

Michael was governor, and Rudolf passed them without difficulty. Fortunately the night, fine where we were,

was wet and stormy at Strelsau; thus there were few people in the streets, and he was able to gain the door of

my house still unremarked. Here, of course, a danger presented itself. None of my servants were in the secret;

only my wife, in whom the queen herself had confided, knew Rudolf, and she did not expect to see him, since

she was ignorant of the recent course of events. Rudolf was quite alive to the peril, and regretted the absence

of his faithful attendant, who could have cleared the way for him. The pouring rain gave him an excuse for

twisting a scarf about his face and pulling his coatcollar up to his ears, while the gusts of wind made the

cramming of his hat low down over his eyes no more than a natural precaution against its loss. Thus masked

from curious eyes, he drew rein before my door, and, having dismounted, rang the bell. When the butler came

a strange hoarse voice, halfstifled by folds of scarf, asked for the countess, alleging for pretext a message

from myself. The man hesitated, as well he might, to leave the stranger alone with the door open and the

contents of the hall at his mercy. Murmuring an apology in case his visitor should prove to be a gentleman, he

shut the door and went in search of his mistress. His description of the untimely caller at once roused my

wife's quick wit; she had heard from me how Rudolf had ridden once from Strelsau to the huntinglodge with

muffled face; a very tall man with his face wrapped in a scarf and his hat over his eyes, who came with a

private message, suggested to her at least a possibility of Mr. Rassendyll's arrival. Helga will never admit that

she is clever, yet I find she discovers from me what she wants to know, and I suspect hides successfully the

small matters of which she in her wifely discretion deems I had best remain ignorant. Being able thus to

manage me, she was equal to coping with the butler. She laid aside her embroidery most composedly.

"Ah, yes," she said, "I know the gentleman. Surely you haven't left him out in the rain?" She was anxious lest

Rudolf's features should have been exposed too long to the light of the halllamps.

The butler stammered an apology, explaining his fears for our goods and the impossibility of distinguishing

social rank on a dark night. Helga cut him short with an impatient gesture, crying, "How stupid of you!" and

herself ran quickly down and opened the doora little way only, though. The first sight of Mr. Rassendyll

"It is you, then?" she cried. "And my foolish servant has left you in the rain! Pray come in. Oh, but your

horse!" She turned to the penitent butler, who had followed her downstairs. "Take the baron's horse round to

Reluctantly and ruefully the fat fellow stepped out into the storm. Rudolf drew back and let him pass, then he

entered quickly, to find himself alone with Helga in the hall. With a finger on her lips, she led him swiftly

into a small sittingroom on the ground floor, which I used as a sort of office or place of business. It looked

out on the street, and the rain could be heard driving against the broad panes of the window. Rudolf turned to

"He won't ask," said she with a shrug. "Do tell me what brings you here, and what has happened."

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 64

He told her very briefly all he knew. She hid bravely her alarm at hearing that I might perhaps meet Rupert at

"I haven't grown so fat that I can't get through there," said he. "So we'd better not trouble the butler. He'd talk,

As he spoke the butler turned the handle of the door. My wife flew across the room, opened the door, and,

while Rudolf turned his back, directed the man to bring some cold meat, or whatever could be ready with as

She took him to my dressingroom, where he got dry clothes; then she saw the supper laid, ordered a

bedroom to be prepared, told the butler that she had business with the baron and that he need not sit up if she

were later than eleven, dismissed him, and went to tell Rudolf that the coast was clear for his return to the

sittingroom. He came, expressing admiration for her courage and address; I take leave to think that she

deserved his compliments. He made a hasty supper; then they talked together, Rudolf smoking his cigar.

Eleven came and went. It was not yet time. My wife opened the door and looked out. The hall was dark, the

door locked and its key in the hands of the butler. She closed the door again and softly locked it. As the clock

struck twelve Rudolf rose and turned the lamp very low. Then he unfastened the shutters noiselessly, raised

"Shut them again when I'm gone," he whispered. "If I come back, I'll knock like this, and you'll open for me."

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 65

He nodded reassuringly, and crossing his leg over the windowsill, sat there for a moment listening. The storm

was as fierce as ever, and the street was deserted. He let himself down on to the pavement, his face again

wrapped up. She watched his tall figure stride quickly along till a turn of the road hid it. Then, having closed

the window and the shutters again, she sat down to keep her watch, praying for him, for me, and for her dear

mistress the queen. For she knew that perilous work was afoot that night, and did not know whom it might

From the moment that Mr. Rassendyll thus left my house at midnight on his search for Rupert of Hentzau,

every hour and almost every moment brought its incident in the swiftly moving drama which decided the

issues of our fortune. What we were doing has been told; by now Rupert himself was on his way back to the

city, and the queen was meditating, in her restless vigil, on the resolve that in a few hours was to bring her

also to Strelsau. Even in the dead of night both sides were active. For, plan cautiously and skillfully as he

might, Rudolf fought with an antagonist who lost no chances, and who had found an apt and useful tool in

that same Bauer, a rascal, and a cunning rascal, if ever one were bred in the world. From the beginning even

to the end our error lay in taking too little count of this fellow, and dear was the price we paid.

Both to my wife and to Rudolf himself the street had seemed empty of every living being when she watched

and he set out. Yet everything had been seen, from his first arrival to the moment when she closed the

window after him. At either end of my house there runs out a projection, formed by the bay windows of the

principal drawingroom and of the dining room respectively. These projecting walls form shadows, and in

the shade of one of themof which I do not know, nor is it of momenta man watched all that passed; had

he been anywhere else, Rudolf must have seen him. If we had not been too engrossed in playing our own

hands, it would doubtless have struck us as probable that Rupert would direct Rischenheim and Bauer to keep

an eye on my house during his absence; for it was there that any of us who found our way to the city would

naturally resort in the first instance. As a fact, he had not omitted this precaution. The night was so dark that

the spy, who had seen the king but once and never Mr. Rassendyll, did not recognize who the visitor was, but

he rightly conceived that he should serve his employer by tracking the steps of the tall man who made so

mysterious an arrival and so surreptitious a departure from the suspected house. Accordingly, as Rudolf

turned the corner and Helena closed the window, a short, thickset figure started cautiously out of the

projecting shadow, and followed in Rudolf's wake through the storm. The pair, tracker and tracked, met

nobody, save here and there a police constable keeping a most unwilling beat. Even such were few, and for

the most part more intent on sheltering in the lee of a friendly wall and thereby keeping a dry stitch or two on

them than on taking note of passersby. On the pair went. Now Rudolf turned into the Konigstrasse. As he

did so, Bauer, who must have been nearly a hundred yards behind (for he could not start till the shutters were

closed) quickened his pace and reduced the interval between them to about seventy yards. This he might well

have thought a safe distance on a night so wild, when the rush of wind and the pelt of the rain joined to hide

But Bauer reasoned as a townsman, and Rudolf Rassendyll had the quick ear of a man bred in the country and

trained to the woodland. All at once there was a jerk of his head; I know so well the motion which marked

awakened attention in him. He did not pause nor break his stride: to do either would have been to betray his

suspicions to his follower; but he crossed the road to the opposite side to that where No. 19 was situated, and

slackened his pace a little, so that there was a longer interval between his own footfalls. The steps behind him

grew slower, even as his did; their sound came no nearer: the follower would not overtake. Now, a man who

loiters on such a night, just because another head of him is fool enough to loiter, has a reason for his action

other than what can at first sight be detected. So thought Rudolf Rassendyll, and his brain was busied with

Then an idea seized him, and, forgetting the precautions that had hitherto served so well, he came to a sudden

stop on the pavement, engrossed in deep thought. Was the man who dogged his steps Rupert himself? It

would be like Rupert to track him, like Rupert to conceive such an attack, like Rupert to be ready either for a

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 66

fearless assault from the front or a shameless shot from behind, and indifferent utterly which chance offered,

so it threw him one of them. Mr. Rassendyll asked no better than to meet his enemy thus in the open. They

could fight a fair fight, and if he fell the lamp would be caught up and carried on by Sapt's hand or mine; if he

got the better of Rupert, the letter would be his; a moment would destroy it and give safety to the queen. I do

not suppose that he spent time in thinking how he should escape arrest at the hands of the police whom the

fracas would probably rouse; if he did, he may well have reckoned on declaring plainly who he was, of

laughing at their surprise over a chance likeness to the king, and of trusting to us to smuggle him beyond the

arm of the law. What mattered all that, so that there was a moment in which to destroy the letter? At any rate

he turned full round and began to walk straight towards Bauer, his hand resting on the revolver in the pocket

Bauer saw him coming, and must have known that he was suspected or detected. At once the cunning fellow

slouched his head between his shoulders, and set out along the street at a quick shuffle, whistling as he went.

Rudolf stood still now in the middle of the road, wondering who the man was: whether Rupert, purposely

disguising his gait, or a confederate, or, after all, some person innocent of our secret and indifferent to our

schemes. On came Bauer, softly, whistling and slushing his feet carelessly through the liquid mud. Now he

was nearly opposite where Mr. Rassendyll stood. Rudolf was wellnigh convinced that the man had been on

his track: he would make certainty surer. The bold game was always his choice and his delight; this trait he

shared with Rupert of Hentzau, and hence arose, I think, the strange secret inclination he had for his

unscrupulous opponent. Now he walked suddenly across to Bauer, and spoke to him in his natural voice, at

Bauer, startled though he was by the unexpected challenge, had his wits about him. Whether he identified

Rudolf at once, I do not know; I think that he must at least have suspected the truth.

"A lad that has no home to go to must needs be out both late and early, sir," said he, arresting his shuffling

I had described him very minutely to Mr. Rassendyll; if Bauer knew or guessed who his challenger was, Mr.

"No home to go to!" cried Rudolf in a pitying tone. "How's that? But anyhow, Heaven forbid that you or any

man should walk the streets a night like this. Come, I'll give you a bed. Come with me, and I'll find you good

Bauer shrank away. He did not see the meaning of this stroke, and his eye, traveling up the street, showed

that his thoughts had turned towards flight. Rudolf gave no time for putting any such notion into effect.

Maintaining his air of genial compassion, he passed his left arm through Bauer's right, saying:

"I'm a Christian man, and a bed you shall have this night, my lad, as sure as I'm alive. Come along with me.

The carrying of arms in Strelsau was forbidden. Bauer had no wish to get into trouble with the police, and,

moreover, he had intended nothing but a reconnaissance; he was therefore without any weapon, and he was a

child in Rudolf's grasp. He had no alternative but to obey the suasion of Mr. Rassendyll's arm, and they two

began to walk down the Konigstrasse. Bauer's whistle had died away, not to return; but from time to time

Rudolf hummed softly a cheerful tune, his fingers beating time on Bauer's captive arm. Presently they crossed

the road. Bauer's lagging steps indicated that he took no pleasure in the change of side, but he could not

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 67

"Ay, you shall go where I am going, my lad," said Rudolf encouragingly; and he laughed a little as he looked

Along they went; soon they came to the small numbers at the station end of the Konigstrasse. Rudolf began to

The moment he had spoken the smile broadened on his face. The shot had gone home. Bauer was a clever

scoundrel, but his nerves were not under perfect control, and his arm had quivered under Rudolf's.

"Ay, nineteen. That's where we're bound for, you and I. There I hope we shall findwhat we want."

Bauer seemed bewildered: no doubt he was at a loss how either to understand or to parry the bold attack.

"Ah, this looks like it," said Rudolf, in a tone of great satisfaction, as they came to old Mother Holf's little

shop. "Isn't that a one and a nine over the door, my lad? Ah, and Holf! Yes, that's the name. Pray ring the bell.

Rudolf's hands were indeed occupied; one held Bauer's arm, now no longer with a friendly pressure, but with

a grip of iron; in the other the captive saw the revolver that had till now lain hidden.

"You see?" asked Rudolf pleasantly. "You must ring for me, mustn't you? It would startle them if I roused

them with a shot." A motion of the barrel told Bauer the direction which the shot would take.

"Well, we must try. You knock, andListen, my lad. You must guess right. You understand?"

"Indeed, I don't know," smiled Rudolf. "But I hate waiting, and if the door is not open in two minutes, I shall

arouse the good folk with a shot. You see? You quite see, don't you?" Again the barrel's motion pointed and

Under this powerful persuasion Bauer yielded. He lifted his hand and knocked on the door with his knuckles,

first loudly, then very softly, the gentler stroke being repeated five times in rapid succession. Clearly he was

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 68

expected, for without any sound of approaching feet the chain was unfastened with a subdued rattle. Then

came the noise of the bolt being cautiously worked back into its socket. As it shot home a chink of the door

opened. At the same moment Rudolf's hand slipped from Bauer's arm. With a swift movement he caught the

fellow by the nape of the neck and flung him violently forward into the roadway, where, losing his footing,

he fell sprawling face downwards in the mud. Rudolf threw himself against the door: it yielded, he was

inside, and in an instant he had shut the door and driven the bolt home again, leaving Bauer in the gutter

outside. Then he turned, with his hand on the butt of his revolver. I know that he hoped to find Rupert of

Neither Rupert nor Rischenheim, nor even the old woman fronted him: a tall, handsome, dark girl faced him,

holding an oillamp in her hand. He did not know her, but I could have told him that she was old Mother

Holf's youngest child, Rosa, for I had often seen her as I rode through the town of Zenda with the king, before

the old lady moved her dwelling to Strelsau. Indeed the girl had seemed to haunt the king's footsteps, and he

had himself joked on her obvious efforts to attract his attention, and the languishing glances of her great black

eyes. But it is the lot of prominent personages to inspire these strange passions, and the king had spent as

little thought on her as on any of the romantic girls who found a naughty delight in halffanciful devotion to

himdevotion starting, in many cases, by an irony of which the king was happily unconscious, from the

brave figure that he made at his coronation and his picturesque daring in the affair of Black Michael. The

The half then, at least, of Rosa's attachment was justly due to the man who now stood opposite to her, looking

at her with surprise by the murky light of the strongsmelling oillamp. The lamp shook and almost fell from

her hand when she saw him; for the scarf had slid away, and his features were exposed to full view. Fright,

"The king!" she whispered in amazement. "No, but" And she searched his face wonderingly.

"Is it the beard you miss?" asked Rudolf, fingering his chin. "Mayn't kings shave when they please, as well as

other men?" Her face still expressed bewilderment, and still a lingering doubt. He bent towards her,

"I should know you anywhere," she whispered, with a glance of the great black eyes. "Anywhere, your

"No, no, my dear young lady, merely with a little information. Whose home is this?"

The girl appeared vexed at his cautious approaches. "Tell me what you want to know," she said simply.

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 69

"He's lying on the bed moaning and swearing, because his wounded arm gives him pain."

"I was seeking a friend of mine," said Rudolf. "I want to see him alone. It's not easy for a king to see people

She acknowledged his raillery with a coquettish laugh. It was not amiss for the king to see that she had her

"But," she cried, "he expected to find you at the hunting lodge. Ah, but now I recollect! The Count of

Rischenheim was greatly vexed to find, on his return, that his cousin was gone."

"Ah, he was gone! Now I see! Rischenheim brought a message from me to Count Rupert."

"Exactly, my dear young lady. Very vexatious it is, upon my word!" In this remark, at least, Rudolf spoke no

more and no other than he felt. "But when do you expect the Count of Hentzau?" he pursued.

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 70

"By being ready to open to me when I come at eleven and knock as Bauer knocked."

"Him least of all. You must tell nobody. My business is very private, and Rischenheim doesn't know it."

As he spoke he turned towards the door. Suddenly the girl bent, snatched at his hand and kissed it.

"Poor child!" said he gently. I believe he was loath to make profit, even in the queen's service, of her poor

"If Bauer comes, you have told me nothing. Mind, nothing! I threatened you, but you told me nothing."

"That can't be helped; at least they won't know when I shall arrive again. Goodnight."

Rudolf opened the door and slipped through, closing it hastily behind him. If Bauer got back to the house, his

visit must be known; but if he could intercept Bauer, the girl's silence was assured. He stood just outside,

THE night, so precious in its silence, solitude, and darkness, was waning fast; soon the first dim approaches

of day would be visible; soon the streets would become alive and people be about. Before then Rudolf

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Rassendyll, the man who bore a face that he dared not show in open day, must be under cover; else men

would say that the king was in Strelsau, and the news would flash in a few hours through the kingdom and

(so Rudolf feared) reach even those ears which we knew to be shut to all earthly sounds. But there was still

some time at Mr. Rassendyll's disposal, and he could not spend it better than in pursuing his fight with Bauer.

Taking a leaf out of the rascal's own book, he drew himself back into the shadow of the house walls and

prepared to wait. At the worst he could keep the fellow from communicating with Rischenheim for a little

longer, but his hope was that Bauer would steal back after a while and reconnoitre with a view to discovering

how matters stood, whether the unwelcome visitor had taken his departure and the way to Rischenheim were

open. Wrapping his scarf closely round his face, Rudolf waited, patiently enduring the tedium as he best

might, drenched by the rain, which fell steadily, and very imperfectly sheltered from the buffeting of the

wind. Minutes went by; there were no signs of Bauer nor of anybody else in the silent street. Yet Rudolf did

not venture to leave his post; Bauer would seize the opportunity to slip in; perhaps Bauer had seen him come

out, and was in his turn waiting till the coast should be clear; or, again, perhaps the useful spy had gone off to

intercept Rupert of Hentzau, and warn him of the danger in the Konigstrasse. Ignorant of the truth and

compelled to accept all these chances, Rudolf waited, still watching the distant beginnings of dawning day,

which must soon drive him to his hidingplace again. Meanwhile my poor wife waited also, a prey to every

Rudolf turned his head this way and that, seeking always the darker blot of shadow that would mean a human

being. For a while his search was vain, but presently he found what he looked foray, and even more. On

the same side of the street, to his left hand, from the direction of the station, not one, but three blurred shapes

moved up the street. They came stealthily, yet quickly; with caution, but without pause or hesitation. Rudolf,

scenting danger, flattened himself close against the wall and felt for his revolver. Very likely they were only

early workers or late revelers, but he was ready for something else; he had not yet sighted Bauer, and action

was to be looked for from the man. By infinitely gradual sidelong slitherings he moved a few paces from the

door of Mother Holf's house, and stood six feet perhaps, or eight, on the righthand side of it. The three came

on. He strained his eyes in the effort to discern their features. In that dim light certainty was impossible, but

the one in the middle might well be Bauer: the height, the walk, and the make were much what Bauer's were.

If it were Bauer, then Bauer had friends, and Bauer and his friends seemed to be stalking some game. Always

most carefully and gradually Rudolf edged yet farther from the little shop. At a distance of some five yards he

halted finally, drew out his revolver, covered the man whom he took to be Bauer, and thus waited his fortune

Now, it was plain that Bauerfor Bauer it waswould look for one of two things: what he hoped was to

find Rudolf still in the house, what he feared was to be told that Rudolf, having fulfilled the unknown

purpose of his visit, was gone whole and sound. If the latter tidings met him, these two good friends of his

whom he had enlisted for his reinforcement were to have five crowns each and go home in peace; if the

former, they were to do their work and make ten crowns. Years after, one of them told me the whole story

without shame or reserve. What their work was, the heavy bludgeons they carried and the long knife that one

But neither to Bauer nor to them did it occur that their quarry might be crouching near, hunting as well as

hunted. Not that the pair of ruffians who had been thus hired would have hesitated for that thought, as I

imagine. For it is strange, yet certain, that the zenith of courage and the acme of villainy can alike be bought

for the price of a lady's glove. Among such outcasts as those from whom Bauer drew his recruits the murder

of a man is held serious only when the police are by, and death at the hands of him they seek to kill is no

"Here's the house," whispered Bauer, stopping at the door. "Now, I'll knock, and you stand by to knock him

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 72

"He'll only fire it in heaven," growled a hoarse, guttural voice that ended in a chuckle.

A ruffian stood on either side of the door with uplifted bludgeon. Bauer raised his hand to knock.

Rudolf knew that Rischenheim was within, and he feared that Bauer, hearing that the stranger had gone,

would take the opportunity of telling the count of his visit. The count would, in his turn, warn Rupert of

Hentzau, and the work of catching the ringleader would all fall to be done again. At no time did Mr.

Rassendyll take count of odds against him, but in this instance he may well have thought himself, with his

revolver, a match for the three ruffians. At any rate, before Bauer had time to give the signal, he sprang out

suddenly from the wall and darted at the fellow. His onset was so sudden that the other two fell back a pace;

Rudolf caught Bauer fairly by the throat. I do not suppose that he meant to strangle him, but the anger, long

stored in his heart, found vent in the fierce grip of his fingers. It is certain that Bauer thought his time was

come, unless he struck a blow for himself. Instantly he raised his hand and thrust fiercely at Rudolf with his

long knife. Mr. Rassendyll would have been a dead man, had he not loosed his hold and sprung lightly away.

But Bauer sprang at him again, thrusting with the knife, and crying to his associates,

Thus exhorted, one jumped forward. The moment for hesitation had gone. In spite of the noise of wind and

pelting rain, the sound of a shot risked much; but not to fire was death. Rudolf fired full at Bauer: the fellow

saw his intention and tried to leap behind one of his companions; he was just too late, and fell with a groan to

Again the other ruffians shrank back, appalled by the sudden ruthless decision of the act. Mr. Rassendyll

laughed. A half smothered yet uncontrolled oath broke from one of them. "By God!" he whispered hoarsely,

gazing at Rudolf's face and letting his arm fall to his side. "My God!" he said then, and his mouth hung open.

"A bigger job than you fancied, is it?" he asked, pushing his scarf well away from his chin.

The man gaped at him; the other's eyes asked wondering questions, but neither did he attempt to resume the

attack. The first at last found voice, and he said, "Well, it'd be damned cheap at ten crowns, and that's the

His friendor confederate rather, for such men have no friendslooked on, still amazed.

"Take up that fellow by his head and his heels," ordered Rudolf. "Quickly! I suppose you don't want the

As he spoke Rudolf turned to knock at the door of No. 19. But even as he did so Bauer groaned. Dead

perhaps he ought to have been, but it seems to me that fate is always ready to take the cream and leave the

scum. His leap aside had served him well, after all: he had nearly escaped scot free. As it was, the bullet,

almost missing his head altogether, had just glanced on his temple as it passed; its impact had stunned, but

not killed. Friend Bauer was in unusual luck that night; I wouldn't have taken a hundred to one about his

chance of life. Rupert arrested his hand. It would not do to leave Bauer at the house, if Bauer were likely to

regain speech. He stood for a moment, considering what to do, but in an instant the thoughts that he tried to

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 73

"The patrol! the patrol!" hoarsely whispered the fellow who had not yet spoken. There was a sound of the

hoofs of horses. Down the street from the station end there appeared two mounted men. Without a second

moment's hesitation the two rascals dropped their friend Bauer with a thud on the ground; one ran at his full

speed across the street, the other bolted no less quickly up the Konigstrasse. Neither could afford to meet the

constables; and who could say what story this redhaired gentleman might tell, ay, or what powers he might

But, in truth, Rudolf gave no thought to either his story or his powers. If he were caught, the best he could

hope would be to lie in the lockup while Rupert played his game unmolested. The device that he had

employed against the amazed ruffians could be used against lawful authority only as a last and desperate

resort. While he could run, run he would. In an instant he also took to his heels, following the fellow who had

darted up the Konigstrasse. But before he had gone very far, coming to a narrow turning, he shot down it;

The patrol had seen the sudden dispersal of the group, and, struck with natural suspicion, quickened pace. A

few minutes brought them where Bauer was. They jumped from their horses and ran to him. He was

unconscious, and could, of course, give them no account of how he came to be in his present state. The fronts

of all the houses were dark, the doors shut; there was nothing to connect the man stretched on the ground with

either No. 19 or any other dwelling. Moreover, the constables were not sure that the sufferer was himself a

meritorious object, for his hand still held a long, ugly knife. They were perplexed: they were but two; there

was a wounded man to look after; there were three men to pursue, and the three had fled in three separate

directions. They looked up at No. 19; No. 19 remained dark, quiet, absolutely indifferent. The fugitives were

out of sight. Rudolf Rassendyll, hearing nothing, had started again on his way. But a minute later he heard a

shrill whistle. The patrol were summoning assistance; the man must be carried to the station, and a report

made; but other constables might be warned of what had happened, and despatched in pursuit of the culprits.

Rudolf heard more than one answering whistle; he broke into a run, looking for a turning on the left that

would take him back into the direction of my house, but he found none. The narrow street twisted and curved

in the bewildering way that characterizes the old parts of the town. Rudolf had spent some time once in

Strelsau; but a king learns little of back streets, and he was soon fairly puzzled as to his whereabouts. Day

was dawning, and he began to meet people here and there. He dared run no more, even had his breath lasted

him; winding the scarf about his face, and cramming his hat over his forehead again, he fell into an easy

walk, wondering whether he could venture to ask his way, relieved to find no signs that he was being

pursued, trying to persuade himself that Bauer, though not dead, was at least incapable of embarrassing

disclosures; above all, conscious of the danger of his telltale face, and of the necessity of finding some

At this moment he heard horses' hoofs behind him. He was now at the end of the street, where it opened on

the square in which the barracks stand. He knew his bearings now, and, had he not been interrupted, could

have been back to safe shelter in my house in twenty minutes. But, looking back, he saw the figure of a

mounted constable just coming into sight behind him. The man seemed to see Rudolf, for he broke into a

quick trot. Mr. Rassendyll's position was critical; this fact alone accounts for the dangerous step into which

he allowed himself to be forced. Here he was, a man unable to give account of himself, of remarkable

appearance, and carrying a revolver, of which one barrel was discharged. And there was Bauer, a wounded

man, shot by somebody with a revolver, a quarter of an hour before. Even to be questioned was dangerous; to

be detained meant ruin to the great business that engaged his energies. For all he knew, the patrol had actually

sighted him as he ran. His fears were not vain; for the constable raised his voice, crying, "Hi, siryou

Resistance was the one thing worse than to yield. Wit, and not force, must find escape this time. Rudolf

stopped, looking round again with a surprised air. Then he drew himself up with an assumption of dignity,

and waited for the constable. If that last card must be played, he would win the hand with it.

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 74

"Well, what do you want?" he asked coldly, when the man was a few yards from him; and, as he spoke, he

withdrew the scarf almost entirely from his features, keeping it only over his chin. "You call very

peremptorily," he continued, staring contemptuously. "What's your business with me?"

With a violent start, the sergeantfor such the star on his collar and the lace on his cuff proclaimed

himleant forward in the saddle to look at the man whom he had hailed. Rudolf said nothing and did not

move. The man's eyes studied his face intently. Then he sat bolt upright and saluted, his face dyed to a deep

"And why do you salute me now?" asked Rudolf in a mocking tone. "First you hunt me, then you salute me.

"II" the fellow stuttered. Then trying a fresh start, he stammered, "Your Majesty, I didn't knowI

"A zealous officer, sergeant, can make no greater mistake than to take for the king a gentleman who is not the

king. It might injure his prospects, since the king, not being here, mightn't wish to have it supposed that he

"In such a case," said he, "a discreet officer would not trouble the gentleman any more, and would be very

careful not to mention that he had made such a silly mistake. Indeed, if questioned, he would answer without

hesitation that he hadn't seen anybody even like the king, much less the king himself."

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 75

"Certainly. It is therefore impossiblephysically impossiblethat he should be here."

"Absolutely. And therefore impossible also that you should have seen him." With this Rudolf took a gold

piece from his pocket and handed it to the sergeant. The fellow took it with something like a wink.

"As for you, you've searched here and found nobody," concluded Mr. Rassendyll. "So hadn't you better at

"Without doubt, sir," said the sergeant, and with the most deferential salute, and another confidential smile,

he turned and rode back by the way he had come. No doubt he wished that he could meet a gentleman who

wasnot the kingevery morning of his life. It hardly need be said that all idea of connecting the

gentleman with the crime committed in the Konigstrasse had vanished from his mind. Thus Rudolf won

freedom from the man's interference, but at a dangerous costhow dangerous he did not know. It was indeed

He lost no time now in turning his steps towards his refuge. It was past five o'clock, day came quickly, and

the streets began to be peopled by men and women on their way to open stalls or to buy in the market. Rudolf

crossed the square at a rapid walk, for he was afraid of the soldiers who were gathering for early duty

opposite to the barracks. Fortunately he passed by them unobserved, and gained the comparative seclusion of

the street in which my house stands, without encountering any further difficulties. In truth, he was almost in

safety; but bad luck was now to have its turn. When Mr. Rassendyll was no more than fifty yards from my

door, a carriage suddenly drove up and stopped a few paces in front of him. The footman sprang down and

opened the door. Two ladies got out; they were dressed in evening costume, and were returning from a ball.

One was middleaged, the other young and rather pretty. They stood for a moment on the pavement, the

"My dear, you wouldn't like it for long," answered the elder. "It's very nice for a change, but"

She stopped abruptly. Her eye had fallen on Rudolf Rassendyll. He knew her: she was no less a person than

the wife of Helsing the chancellor; his was the house at which the carriage had stopped. The trick that had

served with the sergeant of police would not do now. She knew the king too well to believe that she could be

mistaken about him; she was too much of a busybody to be content to pretend that she was mistaken.

"Good gracious!" she whispered loudly, and, catching her daughter's arm, she murmured, "Heavens, my dear,

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 76

Flight was impossible. He walked by them. The ladies curtseyed, the servants bowed bareheaded. Rudolf

touched his hat and bowed slightly in return. He walked straight on towards my house; they were watching

him, and he knew it. Most heartily did he curse the untimely hours to which folks keep up their dancing, but

he thought that a visit to my house would afford as plausible an excuse for his presence as any other. So he

went on, surveyed by the wondering ladies, and by the servants who, smothering smiles, asked one another

what brought his Majesty abroad in such a plight (for Rudolf's clothes were soaked and his boots muddy), at

Rudolf reached my house. Knowing that he was watched he had abandoned all intention of giving the signal

agreed on between my wife and himself and of making his way in through the window. Such a sight would

indeed have given the excellent Baroness von Helsing matter for gossip! It was better to let every servant in

my house see his open entrance. But, alas, virtue itself sometimes leads to ruin. My dearest Helga, sleepless

and watchful in the interest of her mistress, was even now behind the shutter, listening with all her ears and

peering through the chinks. No sooner did Rudolf's footsteps become audible than she cautiously unfastened

the shutter, opened the window, put her pretty head out, and called softly: "All's safe! Come in!"

The mischief was done then, for the faces of Helsing's wife and daughter, ay, and the faces of Helsing's

servants, were intent on this most strange spectacle. Rudolf, turning his head over his shoulder, saw them; a

moment later poor Helga saw them also. Innocent and untrained in controlling her feelings, she gave a shrill

little cry of dismay, and hastily drew back. Rudolf looked round again. The ladies had retreated to the cover

of the porch, but he still saw their eager faces peering from between the pillars that supported it.

"I may as well go in now," said Rudolf, and in he sprang. There was a merry smile on his face as he ran

"Undoubtedly," said he. Then his sense of amusement conquered everything else, and he sat down in a chair,

"I'd give my life," said he, "to hear the story that the chancellor will be waked up to hear in a minute or two

But a moment's thought made him grave again. For whether he were the king or Rudolf Rassendyll, he knew

that my wife's name was in equal peril. Knowing this, he stood at nothing to serve her. He turned to her and

"You must rouse one of the servants at once. Send him round to the chancellor's and tell the chancellor to

come here directly. No, write a note. Say the king has come by appointment to see Fritz on some private

business, but that Fritz has not kept the appointment, and that the king must now see the chancellor at once.

"Don't you see," he said, "if I can impose on Helsing, I may stop those women's tongues? If nothing's done,

how long do you suppose it'll be before all Strelsau knows that Fritz von Tarlenheim's wife let the king in at

"No, my dear lady, but for Heaven's sake do what I ask of you. It's the only chance now."

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Thus it was that, hard on the marvelous tidings which, as I conjecture, the Baroness von Helsing poured into

her husband's drowsy ears, came an imperative summons that the chancellor should wait on the king at the

Truly we had tempted fate too far by bringing Rudolf Rassendyll again to Strelsau.

GREAT as was the risk and immense as were the difficulties created by the course which Mr. Rassendyll

adopted, I cannot doubt that he acted for the best in the light of the information which he possessed. His plan

was to disclose himself in the character of the king to Helsing, to bind him to secrecy, and make him impose

the same obligation on his wife, daughter, and servants. The chancellor was to be quieted with the excuse of

urgent business, and conciliated by a promise that he should know its nature in the course of a few hours;

meanwhile an appeal to his loyalty must suffice to insure obedience. If all went well in the day that had now

dawned, by the evening of it the letter would be destroyed, the queen's peril past, and Rudolf once more far

away from Strelsau. Then enough of the truthno moremust be disclosed. Helsing would be told the story

of Rudolf Rassendyll and persuaded to hold his tongue about the harumscarum Englishman (we are ready to

believe much of an Englishman) having been audacious enough again to play the king in Strelsau. The old

chancellor was a very good fellow, and I do not think that Rudolf did wrong in relying upon him. Where he

miscalculated was, of course, just where he was ignorant. The whole of what the queen's friends, ay, and the

queen herself, did in Strelsau, became useless and mischievous by reason of the king's death; their action

must have been utterly different, had they been aware of that catastrophe; but their wisdom must be judged

In the first place, the chancellor himself showed much good sense. Even before he obeyed the king's

summons he sent for the two servants and charged them, on pain of instant dismissal and worse things to

follow, to say nothing of what they had seen. His commands to his wife and daughter were more polite,

doubtless, but no less peremptory. He may well have supposed that the king's business was private as well as

important when it led his Majesty to be roaming the streets of Strelsau at a moment when he was supposed to

be at the Castle of Zenda, and to enter a friend's house by the window at such untimely hours. The mere facts

were eloquent of secrecy. Moreover, the king had shaved his beardthe ladies were sure of itand this,

again, though it might be merely an accidental coincidence, was also capable of signifying a very urgent

desire to be unknown. So the chancellor, having given his orders, and being himself aflame with the liveliest

curiosity, lost no time in obeying the king's commands, and arrived at my house before six o'clock.

When the visitor was announced Rudolf was upstairs, having a bath and some breakfast. Helga had learnt her

lesson well enough to entertain the visitor until Rudolf appeared. She was full of apologies for my absence,

protesting that she could in no way explain it; neither could she so much as conjecture what was the king's

business with her husband. She played the dutiful wife whose virtue was obedience, whose greatest sin would

"I know no more," she said, "than that Fritz wrote to me to expect the king and him at about five o'clock, and

to be ready to let them in by the window, as the king did not wish the servants to be aware of his presence."

The king came and greeted Helsing most graciously. The tragedy and comedy of these busy days were

strangely mingled; even now I can hardly help smiling when I picture Rudolf, with grave lips, but that distant

twinkle in his eye (I swear he enjoyed the sport), sitting down by the old chancellor in the darkest corner of

the room, covering him with flattery, hinting at most strange things, deploring a secret obstacle to immediate

confidence, promising that tomorrow, at latest, he would seek the advice of the wisest and most tried of his

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counselors, appealing to the chancellor's loyalty to trust him till then. Helsing, blinking through his

spectacles, followed with devout attention the long narrative that told nothing, and the urgent exhortation that

masked a trick. His accents were almost broken with emotion as he put himself absolutely at the king's

disposal, and declared that he could answer for the discretion of his family and household as completely as

"Then you're a very lucky man, my dear chancellor," said Rudolf, with a sigh which seemed to hint that the

king in his palace was not so fortunate. Helsing was immensely pleased. He was all agog to go and tell his

There was nothing that Rudolf more desired than to be relieved of the excellent old fellow's presence; but,

well aware of the supreme importance of keeping him in a good temper, he would not hear of his departure

"At any rate, the ladies won't talk till after breakfast, and since they got home only at five o'clock they won't

So he made Helsing sit down, and talked to him. Rudolf had not failed to notice that the Count of

LuzauRischenheim had been a little surprised at the sound of his voice; in this conversation he studiously

kept his tones low, affecting a certain weakness and huskiness such as he had detected in the king's

utterances, as he listened behind the curtain in Sapt's room at the castle. The part was played as completely

and triumphantly as in the old days when he ran the gauntlet of every eye in Strelsau. Yet if he had not taken

such pains to conciliate old Helsing, but had let him depart, he might not have found himself driven to a

They were conversing together alone. My wife had been prevailed on by Rudolf to lie down in her room for

an hour. Sorely needing rest, she had obeyed him, having first given strict orders that no member of the

household should enter the room where the two were except on an express summons. Fearing suspicion, she

and Rudolf had agreed that it was better to rely on these injunctions than to lock the door again as they had

But while these things passed at my house, the queen and Bernenstein were on their way to Strelsau. Perhaps,

had Sapt been at Zenda, his powerful influence might have availed to check the impulsive expedition;

Bernenstein had no such authority, and could only obey the queen's peremptory orders and pathetic prayers.

Ever since Rudolf Rassendyll left her, three years before, she had lived in stern selfrepression, never her

true self, never for a moment able to be or to do what every hour her heart urged on her. How are these things

done? I doubt if a man lives who could do them; but women live who do them. Now his sudden coming, and

the train of stirring events that accompanied it, his danger and hers, his words and her enjoyment of his

presence, had all worked together to shatter her selfcontrol; and the strange dream, heightening the emotion

which was its own cause, left her with no conscious desire save to be near Mr. Rassendyll, and scarcely with

a fear except for his safety. As they journeyed her talk was all of his peril, never of the disaster which

threatened herself, and which we were all striving with might and main to avert from her head. She traveled

alone with Bernenstein, getting rid of the lady who attended her by some careless pretext, and she urged on

him continually to bring her as speedily as might be to Mr. Rassendyll. I cannot find much blame for her.

Rudolf stood for all the joy in her life, and Rudolf had gone to fight with the Count of Hentzau. What wonder

that she saw him, as it were, dead? Yet still she would have it that, in his seeming death, all men hailed him

As they reached the city, she grew more composed, being persuaded by Bernenstein that nothing in her

bearing must rouse suspicion. Yet she was none the less resolved to seek Mr. Rassendyll at once. In truth, she

feared even then to find him dead, so strong was the hold of her dream on her; until she knew that he was

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alive she could not rest. Bernenstein, fearful that the strain would kill her, or rob her of reason, promised

everything; and declared, with a confidence which he did not feel, that beyond doubt Mr. Rassendyll was

"We're most likely, madam, to find him at Fritz von Tarlenheim's," answered the lieutenant. "He would wait

there till the time came to attack Rupert, or, if the thing is over, he will have returned there."

Bernenstein, however, persuaded her to go to the palace first and let it be known there that she was going to

pay a visit to my wife. She arrived at the palace at eight o'clock, took a cup of chocolate, and then ordered her

carriage. Bernenstein alone accompanied her when she set out for my house about nine. He was, by now,

In her entire preoccupation with Mr. Rassendyll, she gave little thought to what might have happened at the

hunting lodge; but Bernenstein drew gloomy auguries from the failure of Sapt and myself to return at the

proper time. Either evil had befallen us, or the letter had reached the king before we arrived at the lodge; the

probabilities seemed to him to be confined to these alternatives. Yet when he spoke in this strain to the queen,

he could get from her nothing except, "If we can find Mr. Rassendyll, he will tell us what to do."

Thus, then, a little after nine in the morning the queen's carriage drove up to my door. The ladies of the

chancellor's family had enjoyed a very short night's rest, for their heads came bobbing out of window the

moment the wheels were heard; many people were about now, and the crown on the panels attracted the usual

small crowd of loiterers. Bernenstein sprang out and gave his hand to the queen. With a hasty slight bow to

the onlookers, she hastened up the two or three steps of the porch, and with her own hand rang the bell.

Inside, the carriage had just been observed. My wife's waitingmaid ran hastily to her mistress; Helga was

lying on her bed; she rose at once, and after a few moments of necessary preparations (or such preparations as

seem to ladies necessary, however great the need of haste may be) hurried downstairs to receive her

Majestyand to warn her Majesty. She was too late. The door was already open. The butler and the footman

both had run to it, and thrown it open for the queen. As Helga reached the foot of the stairs, her Majesty was

just entering the room where Rudolf was, the servants attending her, and Bernenstein standing behind, his

Rudolf and the chancellor had been continuing their conversation. To avoid the observations of passersby

(for the interior of the room is easy to see from the street), the blind had been drawn down, and the room was

in deep shadow. They had heard the wheels, but neither of them dreamt that the visitor could be the queen. It

was an utter surprise to them when, without their orders, the door was suddenly flung open. The chancellor,

slow of movement, and not, if I may say it, overquick of brain, sat in his corner for half a minute or more

before he rose to his feet. On the other hand, Rudolf Rassendyll was the best part of the way across the room

in an instant. Helga was at the door now, and she thrust her head round young Bernenstein's broad shoulders.

Thus she saw what happened. The queen, forgetting the servants, and not observing Helsingseeming

indeed to stay for nothing, and to think of nothing, but to have her thoughts and heart filled with the sight of

the man she loved and the knowledge of his safetymet him as he ran towards her, and, before Helga, or

Bernenstein, or Rudolf himself, could stay her or conceive what she was about to do, caught both his hands in

"Rudolf, you're safe! Thank God, oh, thank God!" and she carried his hands to her lips and kissed them

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 80

A moment of absolute silence followed, dictated in the servants by decorum, in the chancellor by

consideration, in Helga and Bernenstein by utter consternation. Rudolf himself also was silent, but whether

from bewilderment or an emotion answering to hers, I know not. Either it might well be. The stillness struck

her. She looked up in his eyes; she looked round the room and saw Helsing, now bowing profoundly from the

corner; she turned her head with a sudden frightened jerk, and glanced at my motionless deferential servants.

Then it came upon her what she had done. She gave a quick gasp for breath, and her face, always pale, went

white as marble. Her features set in a strange stiffness, and suddenly she reeled where she stood, and fell

forward. Only Rudolf's hand bore her up. Thus for a moment, too short to reckon, they stood. Then he, a

smile of great love and pity coming on his lips, drew her to him, and passing his arm about her waist, thus

supported her. Then, smiling still, he looked down on her, and said in a low tone, yet distinct enough for all to

My wife gripped Bernenstein's arm, and he turned to find her palefaced too, with quivering lips and shining

eyes. But the eyes had a message, and an urgent one, for him. He read it; he knew that it bade him second

what Rudolf Rassendyll had done. He came forward and approached Rudolf; then he fell on one knee, and

For a moment the thing was done, ruin averted, and safety secured. Everything had been at stake; that there

was such a man as Rudolf Rassendyll might have been disclosed; that he had once filled the king's throne was

a high secret which they were prepared to trust to Helsing under stress of necessity; but there remained

something which must be hidden at all costs, and which the queen's passionate exclamation had threatened to

expose. There was a Rudolf Rassendyll, and he had been king; but, more than all this, the queen loved him

and he the queen. That could be told to none, not even to Helsing; for Helsing, though he would not gossip to

the town, would yet hold himself bound to carry the matter to the king. So Rudolf chose to take any future

difficulties rather than that present and certain disaster. Sooner than entail it on her he loved, he claimed for

himself the place of her husband and the name of king. And she, clutching at the only chance that her act left,

was content to have it so. It may be that for an instant her weary, tortured brain found sweet rest in the dim

dream that so it was, for she let her head lie there on his breast and her eyes closed, her face looking very

But every moment bore its peril and exacted its effort. Rudolf led the queen to a couch, and then briefly

charged the servants not to speak of his presence for a few hours. As they had no doubt perceived, said he,

from the queen's agitation, important business was on foot; it demanded his presence in Strelsau, but required

also that his presence should not be known. A short time would free them from the obligation which he now

asked of their loyalty. When they had withdrawn, bowing obedience, he turned to Helsing, pressed his hand

warmly, reiterated his request for silence, and said that he would summon the chancellor to his presence again

later in the day, either where he was or at the palace. Then he bade all withdraw and leave him alone for a

little with the queen. He was obeyed; but Helsing had hardly left the house when Rudolf called Bernenstein

back, and with him my wife. Helga hastened to the queen, who was still sorely agitated; Rudolf drew

Bernenstein aside, and exchanged with him all their news. Mr. Rassendyll was much disturbed at finding that

no tidings had come from Colonel Sapt and myself, but his apprehension was greatly increased on learning

the untoward accident by which the king himself had been at the lodge the night before. Indeed, he was

utterly in the dark; where the king was, where Rupert, where we were, he did not know. And he was here in

Strelsau, known as the king to half a dozen people or more, protected only by their promises, liable at any

moment to be exposed by the coming of the king himself, or even by a message from him.

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 81

Yet, in face of all perplexities, perhaps even the more because of the darkness in which he was enveloped,

Rudolf held firm to his purpose. There were two things that seemed plain. If Rupert had escaped the trap and

was still alive with the letter on him, Rupert must be found; here was the first task. That accomplished, there

remained for Rudolf himself nothing save to disappear as quietly and secretly as he had come, trusting that

his presence could be concealed from the man whose name he had usurped. Nay, if need were, the king must

be told that Rudolf Rassendyll had played a trick on the chancellor, and, having enjoyed his pleasure, was

gone again. Everything could, in the last resort, be told, save that which touched the queen's honor.

At this moment the message which I despatched from the station at Hofbau reached my house. There was a

knock at the door. Bernenstein opened it and took the telegram, which was addressed to my wife. I had

written all that I dared to trust to such a means of communication, and here it is:

"I am coming to Strelsau. The king will not leave the lodge today. The count came, but left before we

arrived. I do not know whether he has gone to Strelsau. He gave no news to the king."

They were all standing now round the queen, who sat on the couch. She seemed very faint and weary, but at

"And see this," Rudolf went on. "'The king will not leave the lodge today.' Thank God, then, we have

"We shall know in an hour, if he's in Strelsau," and Mr. Rassendyll looked as though it would please him well

to find Rupert in Strelsau. "Yes, I must seek him. I shall stand at nothing to find him. If I can only get to him

My message put them in heart again, although it left so much still unexplained. Rudolf turned to the queen.

"Courage, my queen," said he. "A few hours now will see an end of all our dangers."

"Then you'll be safe and at rest," said he, bending over her and speaking softly. "And I shall be proud in the

"I must go," Helga heard him whisper as he bent lower still, and she and Bernenstein moved away.

The tall handsome girl was taking down the shutters from the shop front at No. 19 in the Konigstrasse. She

went about her work languidly enough, but there was a tinge of dusky red on her cheeks and her eyes were

brightened by some suppressed excitement. Old Mother Holf, leaning against the counter, was grumbling

angrily because Bauer did not come. Now it was not likely that Bauer would come just yet, for he was still in

the infirmary attached to the policecells, where a couple of doctors were very busy setting him on his legs

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 82

again. The old woman knew nothing of this, but only that he had gone the night before to reconnoitre; where

"He never came back that I saw," answered the girl. "And I was on the watch with my lamp here in the shop

"He's twelve hours gone now, and never a message! Ay, and Count Rupert should be here soon, and he'll be

The girl made no answer; she had finished her task and stood in the doorway, looking out on the street. It was

past eight, and many people were about, still for the most part humble folk; the more comfortably placed

would not be moving for an hour or two yet. In the road the traffic consisted chiefly of country carts and

wagons, bringing in produce for the day's victualling of the great city. The girl watched the stream, but her

thoughts were occupied with the stately gentleman who had come to her by night and asked a service of her.

She had heard the revolver shot outside; as it sounded she had blown out her lamp, and there behind the door

in the dark had heard the swiftly retreating feet of the fugitives and, a little later, the arrival of the patrol.

Well, the patrol would not dare to touch the king; as for Bauer, let him be alive or dead: what cared she, who

was the king's servant, able to help the king against his enemies? If Bauer were the king's enemy, right glad

would she be to hear that the rogue was dead. How finely the king had caught him by the neck and thrown

him out! She laughed to think how little her mother knew the company she had kept that night.

The row of country carts moved slowly by. One or two stopped before the shop, and the carters offered

vegetables for sale. The old woman would have nothing to say to them, but waved them on irritably. Three

had thus stopped and again proceeded, and an impatient grumble broke from the old lady as a fourth, a

The carter got down from his seat without heeding her, and walked round to the back.

A yawn was heard, and the long sigh a man gives as he stretches himself in the mingled luxury and pain of an

"Ah, it's the count!" said the old lady to her daughter in satisfied tones. "What will he say, though, about that

Rupert of Hentzau put his head out from under the wagontilt, looked up and down the street, gave the carter

a couple of crowns, leapt down, and ran lightly across the pavement into the little shop. The wagon moved

"A lucky thing I met him," said Rupert cheerily. "The wagon hid me very well; and handsome as my face is, I

can't let Strelsau enjoy too much of it just now. Well, mother, what cheer? And you, my pretty, how goes it

with you?" He carelessly brushed the girl's cheek with the glove that he had drawn off. "Faith, though, I beg

your pardon." he added a moment later, "the glove's not clean enough for that," and he looked at his buff

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 83

"It's all as when you left, Count Rupert," said Mother Holf, "except that that rascal Bauer went out last

The old woman shook her head. The girl turned away to hide a smile. "Anybody else" meant the king, so she

suspected. Well, they should hear nothing from her. The king himself had charged her to be silent.

"Ah!" cried Rupert in sudden excitement. "As I guessed! The devil! If only I could do everything myself, and

The girl followed Rupert up the narrow crazy staircase of the tall old house. They passed three floors, all

uninhabited; a last steep flight that brought them right under the deep arched roof. Rupert opened a door that

stood at the top of the stairs, and, followed still by Rosa with her mysterious happy smile, entered a long

narrow room. The ceiling, high in the centre, sloped rapidly down on either side, so that at door and window

it was little more than six feet above the floor. There was an oak table and a few chairs; a couple of iron

bedsteads stood by the wall near the window. One was empty; the Count of LuzauRischenheim lay on the

other, fully dressed, his right arm supported in a sling of black silk. Rupert paused on the threshold, smiling

at his cousin; the girl passed on to a high press or cupboard, and, opening it, took out plates, glasses, and the

"It appears so," said Rupert airily; and, advancing into the room, he threw himself into a chair, tossing his hat

"It appears that I escaped, although some fool's stupidity nearly made an end of me." Rischenheim flushed.

"I'll tell you about that directly," he said, glancing at the girl who had put some cold meat and a bottle of wine

on the table, and was now completing the preparations for Rupert's meal in a very leisurely fashion.

"Had I nothing to do but to look at pretty faceswhich, by Heaven, I wish heartily were the caseI would

"What a rare and blessed disposition!" said he, holding the door for her and bowing again.

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RUPERT OF HENTZAU FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda 84

"I know what I know," she cried to him triumphantly from the landing. "Maybe you'd give something to

"It's very likely, for, by Heaven, girls know wonderful things!" smiled Rupert; but he shut the door and came

quickly back to the table, now frowning again. "Come, tell me, how did they make a fool of you, or why did

While Rischenheim related how he had been trapped and tricked at the Castle of Zenda, Rupert of Hentzau

made a very good breakfast. He offered no interruption and no comments, but when Rudolf Rassendyll came

into the story he looked up for an instant with a quick jerk of his head and a sudden light in his eyes. The end

"Ah, well, the snare was cleverly set," he said. "I don't wonder you fell into it."

"I? Why, having your message which was not your message, I obeyed your directions which were not your

"Very possibly, but the jaws didn't bite." Rupert crossed his legs and lit a cigarette.

"I? I found the king's forester, and the king's boarhound, andwell, I found the king himself, too."

"As I tell you, his forester and his boarhound. No other man or beast, on my honor."

"Alas, no, my dear cousin. I threw the box at him, but I don't think he had time to open it. We didn't get to

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Rupert rose to his feet, and, coming just opposite to where Rischenheim sat, balanced himself on his heels,

and looked down at his cousin, blowing the ash from his cigarette and smiling pleasantly.

"Yes. The boarhound tried to bite me, cousin. And the forester would have stabbed me. Andwell, the

"Well, they none of them did what they wanted. That's what happened, dear cousin."

Rischenheim was staring at him now with wideopened eyes. Rupert smiled down on him composedly.

"Because, you see," he added, "Heaven helped me. So that, my dear cousin, the dog will bite no more, and the

A silence followed. Then Rischenheim, leaning forward, said in a low whisper, as though afraid to hear his

For a moment Rischenheim, still leaning forward, gazed at his cousin. Then he sank slowly back into his

"The king was a fool," said Rupert. "Come, I'll tell you a little more about it." He drew a chair up and seated

While he talked Rischenheim seemed hardly to listen. The story gained in effect from the contrast of Rupert's

airy telling; his companion's pale face and twitching hands tickled his fancy to more shameless jesting. But

when he had finished, he gave a pull to his small smartlycurled moustache and said with a sudden gravity:

Rischenheim was appalled at the issue. His cousin's influence had been strong enough to lead him into the

affair of the letter; he was aghast to think how Rupert's reckless daredeviltry had led on from stage to stage

till the death of a king seemed but an incident in his schemes. He sprang suddenly to his feet, crying:

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"Well, I told you because it was interesting, and I came back here because I had no money to go elsewhere."

"Ah, my dear cousin, you despond too soon. The good king has unhappily gone from us, but we still have our

"Your neck feeling?" Rupert delicately imitated the putting of a noose about a man's throat.

"I had no hand in this thing," he said, "and I'll have no more to do with it. I was not there. What did I know of

"Rupert," cried he, "let me go, let me alone. If you want money, I'll give it to you. For God's sake take it, and

"I'm ashamed to beg, my dear cousin, but in fact I want a little money until I can contrive to realize my

He drew from his inner pocket the queen's letter. "Now if the king hadn't been a fool!" he murmured

Then he walked across to the window and looked out; he could not himself be seen from the street, and

nobody was visible at the windows opposite. Men and women passed to and fro on their daily labors or

pleasures; there was no unusual stir in the city. Looking over the roofs, Rupert could see the royal standard

floating in the wind over the palace and the barracks. He took out his watch; Rischenheim imitated his action;

Rischenheim obeyed, and Rupert let him look for a minute or two before speaking again.

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"Well, no more do I. And that's very odd. For don't you think that Sapt or some other of her Majesty's friends

"Then they would have found the king. There's a telegraph wire at Hofbau, only a few miles away. And it's

ten o'clock. My cousin, why isn't Strelsau mourning for our lamented king? Why aren't the flags at

"I wonder," said he meditatively, "if that old player Sapt has got a king up his sleeve again! If that were

so" He stopped and seemed to fall into deep thought. Rischenheim did not interrupt him, but stood looking

now at him, now out of the window. Still there was no stir in the streets, and still the standards floated at the

"Where's Bauer?" asked Rupert suddenly. "Where the plague can Bauer be? He was my eyes. Here we are,

Rupert began to pace up and down the room, smoking another cigarette at a great pace. Rischenheim sat

down by the table, resting his head on his hand. He was wearied out by strain and excitement, his wounded

arm pained him greatly, and he was full of horror and remorse at the event which happened unknown to him

"You repent of your misdeeds?" he asked. "Well, then, you shall be allowed to repent. Nay, you shall go and

tell the king that you repent. Rischenheim, I must know what they are doing. You must go and ask an

Rupert sat down by his cousin and instructed him in his task. This was no other than to discover whether

there were a king in Strelsau, or whether the only king lay dead in the hunting lodge. If there were no attempt

being made to conceal the king's death, Rupert's plan was to seek safety in flight. He did not abandon his

designs: from the secure vantage of foreign soil he would hold the queen's letter over her head, and by the

threat of publishing it insure at once immunity for himself and almost any further terms which he chose to

exact from her. If, on the other hand, the Count of LuzauRischenheim found a king in Strelsau, if the royal

standards continued to wave at the summit of their flag staffs, and Strelsau knew nothing of the dead man in

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the lodge, then Rupert had laid his hand on another secret; for he knew who the king in Strelsau must be.

Starting from this point, his audacious mind darted forward to new and bolder schemes. He could offer again

to Rudolf Rassendyll what he had offered once before, three years agoa partnership in crime and the

profits of crimeor if this advance were refused, then he declared that he would himself descend openly into

the streets of Strelsau and proclaim the death of the king from the steps of the cathedral.

"Who can tell," he cried, springing up, enraptured and merry with the inspiration of his plan, "who can tell

whether Sapt or I came first to the lodge? Who found the king alive, Sapt or I? Who left him dead, Sapt or I?

Who had most interest in killing himI, who only sought to make him aware of what touched his honor, or

Sapt, who was and is hand and glove with the man that now robs him of his name and usurps his place while

He stopped, looking down on his companion. Rischenheim's fingers still twitched nervously and his cheeks

were pale. But now his face was alight with interest and eagerness. Again the fascination of Rupert's audacity

and the infection of his courage caught on his kinsman's weaker nature, and inspired him to a temporary

"Most gallant gentleman! At the worst they'll only keep you a prisoner. Well, if you're not back in a couple of

hours, I shall draw my conclusions. I shall know that there's a king in Strelsau."

"Why, first in the palace, and secondly at Fritz von Tarlenheim's. I expect you'll find him at Fritz's, though."

"Me, or directions from me. By the way, bring money too. There's never any harm in having a full pocket. I

Rischenheim let that curious speculation alone, although he remembered the whimsical air with which Rupert

delivered it. He was now on fire to be gone, his illbalanced brain leaping from the depths of despondency to

the certainty of brilliant success, and not heeding the gulf of danger that it surpassed in buoyant fancy.

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With every mocking encouragement and every careless taunt Rischenheim's resolve to prove himself a man

grew stronger. He snatched up a revolver that lay on the mantelpiece and put it in his pocket.

"Don't fire, if you can help it," advised Rupert. Rischenheim's answer was to make for the door at a great

speed. Rupert watched him go, and then returned to the window. The last his cousin saw was his figure

standing straight and lithe against the light, while he looked out on the city. Still there was no stir in the

Rischenheim plunged down the stairs: his feet were too slow for his eagerness. At the bottom he found the

"Why, yes; I have business. Pray stand on one side, this passage is so cursedly narrow."

"You see he's not with me. He'll wait." Rischenheim broke off and asked angrily: "What business is it of

She moved aside now, making him no answer. He rushed past; she looked after him with a smile of triumph.

Then she fell again to her sweeping. The king had bidden her be ready at eleven. It was halfpast ten. Soon

ON leaving No. 19, Rischenheim walked swiftly some little way up the Konigstrasse and then hailed a cab.

He had hardly raised his hand when he heard his name called, and, looking round, saw Anton von Strofzin's

smart phaeton pulling up beside him. Anton was driving, and on the other seat was a large nosegay of choice

"Well, where are you? To a lady's, I presume, from your bouquet there," answered Rischenheim as lightly as

"The little bunch of flowers," simpered young Anton, "is a cousinly offering to Helga von Tarlenheim, and

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Although Rischenheim had intended to go first to the palace, Anton's offer seemed to give him a good excuse

"I was going to the palace to find out where the king is. I want to see him, if he'll give me a minute or two,"

"I'll drive you there afterwards. Jump up. That your cab? Here you are, cabman," and flinging the cabman a

Anton's horses, of which he was not a little proud, made short work of the distance to my home. The phaeton

rattled up to the door and both young men got out. The moment of their arrival found the chancellor just

leaving to return to his own home. Helsing knew them both, and stopped to rally Anton on the matter of his

bouquet. Anton was famous for his bouquets, which he distributed widely among the ladies of Strelsau.

"I hoped it was for my daughter," said the chancellor slyly. "For I love flowers, and my wife has ceased to

provide me with them; moreover, I've ceased to provide her with them, so, but for my daughter, we should

Anton answered his chaff, promising a bouquet for the young lady the next day, but declaring that he could

not disappoint his cousin. He was interrupted by Rischenheim, who, looking round on the group of

bystanders, now grown numerous, exclaimed: "What's going on here, my dear chancellor? What are all these

"The queen's with the countess," answered Helsing. "The people are waiting to see her come out."

"Ah, I have business also, and very important business. But it's with the king."

"I won't keep you a moment, Rischenheim," called Anton, as, bouquet in hand, he knocked at the door.

"I'm on my way to the palace to find out where he is. If I can't see him, I must write at once. My business is

The chancellor was becoming very embarrassed; Anton had disappeared into the house; Rischenheim

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"I perceive that your arm is hurt," observed the chancellor, seeking a diversion.

"Between ourselves, that has something to do with my business. Well, I must go to the palace.

Orstaywould her Majesty condescend to help me? I think I'll risk a request. She can but refuse," and so

"Oh, my friend, I wouldn't do that," cried Helsing, darting after him. "The queen iswell, very much

Rischenheim took no notice of him, but knocked loudly. The door was opened, and he told the butler to carry

his name to the queen and beg a moment's speech with her. Helsing stood in perplexity on the step. The

crowd was delighted with the coming of these great folk and showed no sign of dispersing. Anton von

Strofzin did not reappear. Rischenheim edged himself inside the doorway and stood on the threshold of the

hall. There he heard voices proceeding from the sittingroom on the left. He recognized the queen's, my

wife's, and Anton's. Then came the butler's, saying, "I will inform the count of your Majesty's wishes."

The door of the room opened; the butler appeared, and immediately behind him Anton von Strofzin and

Bernenstein. Bernenstein had the young fellow by the arm, and hurried him through the hall. They passed the

The chancellor rubbed his hands in nervous perturbation. The butler stepped up and delivered his message:

the queen regretted her inability to receive the count. Rischenheim nodded, and, standing so that the door

Now Bernenstein was most anxious to get the pair of them away and the door shut, but he dared show no

"Do you want another interview with the king already?" he asked with a smile. "The last was so pleasant,

Rischenheim took no notice of the taunt, but observed sarcastically: "There's a strange difficulty in finding

our good king. The chancellor here doesn't know where he is, or at least he won't answer my questions."

"Possibly the king has his reasons for not wishing to be disturbed," suggested Bernenstein.

"Meanwhile, my dear count, I shall take it as a personal favor if you'll move out of the doorway."

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"Hallo, Bernenstein, what's the matter?" cried Anton, seeing that their tones and glances had grown angry.

The crowd also had noticed the raised voices and hostile manner of the disputants, and began to gather round

Suddenly a voice came from inside the hall: it was distinct and loud, yet not without a touch of huskiness.

The sound of it hushed the rising quarrel and silenced the crowd into expectant stillness. Bernenstein looked

The crowd heard his boyish exclamation and raised a cheer. Helsing turned, as though to rebuke them. Had

not the king himself desired secrecy? Yes, but he who spoke as the king chose any risk sooner than let

"Is that the Count of LuzauRischenheim?" called Rudolf from within. "If so, let him enter and then shut the

There was something in his tone that alarmed Rischenheim. He started back on the step. But Bernenstein

Rischenheim looked round, as though he meditated flight. The next moment Bernenstein was thrust aside.

For one short instant a tall figure appeared in the doorway; the crowd had but a glimpse, yet they cheered

again. Rischenheim's hand was clasped in a firm grip; he passed unwillingly but helplessly through the door.

Bernenstein followed; the door was shut. Anton faced round on Helsing, a scornful twist on his lips.

"There was a deuced lot of mystery about nothing," said he. "Why couldn't you say he was there?" And

without waiting for an answer from the outraged and bewildered chancellor he swung down the steps and

The people round were chatting noisily, delighted to have caught a glimpse of the king, speculating what

brought him and the queen to my house, and hoping that they would soon come out and get into the royal

Had they been able to see inside the door, their emotion would have been stirred to a keener pitch. Rudolf

himself caught Rischenheim by the arm, and without a moment's delay led him towards the back of the

house. They went along a passage and reached a small room that looked out on the garden. Rudolf had known

"Shut the door, Bernenstein," said Rudolf. Then he turned to Rischenheim. "My lord," he said, "I suppose you

"Precisely. And impostors can't afford to be exposed." Rischenheim's cheek turned rather pale. Rudolf faced

him, and Bernenstein guarded the door. He was absolutely at their mercy; and he knew their secret. Did they

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"Listen," said Rudolf. "For a few hours today I am king in Strelsau. In those few hours I have an account to

settle with your cousin: something that he has, I must have. I'm going now to seek him, and while I seek him

you will stay here with Bernenstein. Perhaps I shall fail, perhaps I shall succeed. Whether I succeed or fail, by

tonight I shall be far from Strelsau, and the king's place will be free for him again."

Rischenheim gave a slight start, and a look of triumph spread over his face. They did not know that the king

"I don't know," he continued, "why you are in this business, my lord. Your cousin's motives I know well. But

I wonder that they seemed to you great enough to justify the ruin of an unhappy lady who is your queen. Be

Rischenheim sullenly flung his revolver on the table. Bernenstein came forward and took it.

"Keep him here, Bernenstein. When I return I'll tell you what more to do. If I don't return, Fritz will be here

"We hold ourselves free," said Rudolf to Rischenheim, "to do what we please with you, my lord. But I have

no wish to cause your death, unless it be necessary. You will be wise to wait till your cousin's fate is decided

before you attempt any further steps against us." And with a slight bow he left the prisoner in Bernenstein's

charge, and went back to the room where the queen awaited him. Helga was with her. The queen sprang up to

"I mustn't lose a moment," he said. "All that crowd of people know now that the king is here. The news will

filter through the town in no time. We must send word to Sapt to keep it from the king's ears at all costs: I

The queen stood facing him. Her eyes seemed to devour his face; but she said only: "Yes, it must be so."

"You must return to the palace as soon as I am gone. I shall send out and ask the people to disperse, and then

She struggled for a moment with the contending feelings that filled her heart. Then she came to him and

"Don't go," she said in low trembling tones. "Don't go, Rudolf. He'll kill you. Never mind the letter. Don't go:

I had rather a thousand times that the king had it than that you should .... Oh, my dear, don't go!"

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Again she began to implore him, but he would not yield. Helga moved towards the door, but Rudolf stopped

Even as he spoke they heard the wheels of a carriage driven quickly to the door. By now I had met Anton von

Strofzin and heard from him that the king was at my house. As I dashed up the news was confirmed by the

"Ah, he's in a hurry," they said. "He's kept the king waiting. He'll get a wigging."

As may be supposed, I paid little heed to them. I sprang out and ran up the steps to the door. I saw my wife's

"Good God," I whispered, "do all these people know he's here, and take him for the king?"

It was worse than I dreamt: not two or three people, but all that crowd were victims of the mistake; all of

The queen and Rudolf were standing side by side. What I have told from Helga's description had just passed

I forgot the queen's presence and paid no sign of respect to her. I caught Rudolf by the arm and cried to him:

"Yes," he said. "Heavens, man, don't look so white! We shall manage it. I can be gone by tonight."

"You can keep it from the king," he urged. "I couldn't help it. I can settle with Rupert and disappear."

The three were standing round me, surprised at my great and terrible agitation. Looking back now, I wonder

"It won't take long to settle affairs with Rupert," said he. "And we must have the letter, or it will get to the

They said nothing. I looked round on their faces. I had a strange feeling of helplessness, and seemed to be

able to do nothing but throw the truth at them in blunt plainness. Let them make what they could of it, I could

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"The king will never see the letter," I repeated. "Rupert himself has insured that."

Then Rudolf seized me by the shoulder and fairly shook me; indeed I must have seemed like a man in a

"Why not, man; why not?" he asked in urgent low tones. Again I looked at them, but somehow this time my

eyes were attracted and held by the queen's face. I believe that she was the first to catch a hint of the tidings I

brought. Her lips were parted, and her gaze eagerly strained upon me. I rubbed my hand across my forehead,

There was a little scream from Helga; Rudolf neither spoke nor moved; the queen continued to gaze at me in

"Rupert killed him," said I. "The boarhound attacked Rupert; then Herbert and the king attacked him; and he

Now none spoke. The queen's eyes never left my face. "Yes, he's dead." said I; and I watched her eyes still.

For a long while (or long it seemed) they were on my face; at last, as though drawn by some irresistible force,

they turned away. I followed the new line they took. She looked at Rudolf Rassendyll, and he at her. Helga

had taken out her handkerchief, and, utterly upset by the horror and shock, was lying back in a low chair,

sobbing halfhysterically; I saw the swift look that passed from the queen to her lover, carrying in it grief,

remorse, and most unwilling joy. He did not speak to her, but put out his hand and took hers. She drew it

"Nobody knows yet," I said. "We were afraid you might be taken for him by somebody. But, my God,

Mr. Rassendyll's lips were set firm and tight. He frowned slightly, and his blue eyes wore a curious entranced

expression. He seemed to me to be forgetful of everything, even of us who were with him, in some one idea

that possessed him. The queen herself came nearer to him and lightly touched his arm with her hand. He

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"I'm going to kill Rupert of Hentzau," he said. "The rest we'll talk of afterwards."

He walked rapidly across the room and rang the bell. "Clear those people away," he ordered. "Tell them that I

want to be quiet. Then send a closed carriage round for me. Don't be more than ten minutes."

The servant received his peremptory orders with a low bow, and left us. The queen, who had been all this

time outwardly calm and composed, now fell into a great agitation, which even the consciousness of our

"Hush, my dearest lady," he whispered. Then he went on more loudly, "I won't quit Ruritania a second time

leaving Rupert of Hentzau alive. Fritz, send word to Sapt that the king is in Strelsauhe will

understandand that instructions from the king will follow by midday. When I have killed Rupert, I shall

"But I ought not," said he, his resolute eyes suddenly softening in a marvelous fashion.

Rudolf turned to me; there was a look of surprise on his face. "He won't kill me," he answered.

The queen, looking still in Rudolf's face, and forgetful now, as it seemed, of the dream that had so terrified

The queen stood for yet another moment where she was, still and almost rigid. Then suddenly she walked or

stumbled to where my wife sat, and, flinging herself on her knees, hid her face in Helga's lap; I heard her sobs

break out fast and tumultuously. Helga looked up at me, the tears streaming down her cheeks. I turned and

went out. Perhaps Helga could comfort her; I prayed that God in His pity might send her comfort, although

she for her sin's sake dared not ask it of Him. Poor soul! I hope there may be nothing worse scored to my

THE Constable of Zenda and James, Mr. Rassendyll's servant, sat at breakfast in the huntinglodge. They

were in the small room which was ordinarily used as the bedroom of the gentleman in attendance on the king:

they chose it now because it commanded a view of the approach. The door of the house was securely

fastened; they were prepared to refuse admission; in case refusal was impossible, the preparations for

concealing the king's body and that of his huntsman Herbert were complete. Inquirers would be told that the

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king had ridden out with his huntsman at daybreak, promising to return in the evening but not stating where

he was going; Sapt was under orders to await his return, and James was expecting instructions from his

master the Count of Tarlenheim. Thus armed against discovery, they looked for news from me which should

Meanwhile there was an interval of enforced idleness. Sapt, his meal finished, puffed away at his great pipe;

James, after much pressure, had consented to light a small black clay, and sat at his ease with his legs

stretched before him. His brows were knit, and a curious halfsmile played about his mouth.

"What may you be thinking about, friend James?" asked the constable between two puffs. He had taken a

"Why, yes, sir, so far as we know. Since, then, Mr. Rassendyll is alive and the king is dead, I was thinking

that it was a great pity, sir, that my master can't take his place and be king." James looked across at the

"I don't say that it isn't a pity, for Rudolf makes a good king. But you see it's impossible, isn't it?"

James nursed his knee between his hands, and his pipe, which he had replaced, stuck out of one corner of his

"When you say impossible, sir," he remarked deferentially, "I venture to differ from you."

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James kept silence for a few minutes. Then he observed, "It will be very awkward to explain how the king

"And it will be difficult to make it appear that the king was killed in Strelsau; yet if my master should chance

"Even if my master is not killed, it will be difficult for us to get the king killed at the right time, and by means

Sapt seemed to fall into the humor of the speculation. "That's all very true. But if Mr. Rassendyll is to be

king, it will be both awkward and difficult to dispose of the king's body and of this poor fellow Herbert," said

Again James paused for a little while before he remarked: "I am, of course, sir, only discussing the matter by

way of passing the time. It would probably be wrong to carry any such plan into effect."

"It might be, but let us discuss itto pass the time," said Sapt; and he leant forward, looking into the

"Well, then, sir, since it amuses you, let us say that the king came to the lodge last night, and was joined there

"Why, sir, by the Count of Tarlenheim's orders, to wait on Mr. Rassendyll, the king's friend. Now, the king,

"So we should have understood. But Mr. Rassendyll, Herbert, and ourselves remained here."

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"In fact, sir, we were all overcome with fatigueMr. Rassendyll like the restand full morning found us

still in our beds. There we should be to this moment, sir, had we not been suddenly aroused in a startling and

"You should write story books, James. Now what was this fearful manner in which we were aroused?"

James laid down his pipe, and, resting his hands on his knees, continued his story.

"This lodge, sir, this wooden lodgefor the lodge is all of wood, sir, without and within."

"This lodge is undoubtedly of wood, James, and, as you say, both inside and out."

"And since it is, sir, it would be mighty careless to leave a candle burning where the oil and firewood are

"Indeed, sir, I should pray that they had never awaked. For you and I, waking first, would find the lodge a

"Indeed, sir, we should do all that men could do; we should even risk death by suffocation."

"Alas, sir, in spite of all our efforts we should fail. The flames would envelop the lodge in one blaze; before

help could come, the lodge would be in ruins, and my unhappy master and poor Herbert would be consumed

"Beyond doubt, if the oil and the firewood and the candle were placed to the best advantage."

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"Do not misunderstand me, sir. They could be secretly married. I should say remarried."

"It's the same thing, sir, from a different point of view." For the first time James smiled a thoughtful smile.

Sapt in his turn laid down his pipe now, and was tugging at his moustache. There was a smile on his lips too,

and his eyes looked hard into James's. The little man met his glance composedly.

"It's an ingenious fancy, this of yours, James," the constable remarked. "What, though, if your master's killed

"Yes, that is, as we agreed at the first, difficult. Well, it's a pretty story, butyour master wouldn't approve

"It's a waste of time, sir, disapproving of what's done: he might think the story better than the truth, although

The instant he had spoken, James sprang to his feet and pointed out of the window.

A man on horseback was cantering towards the lodge. Exchanging one quick look, both hastened to the door,

and, advancing some twenty yards, waited under the tree on the spot where Boris lay buried.

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Sapt was still smiling in grim amusement when the messenger came up and, leaning from his home, handed

Sapt tore it open and read. It was the message that I sent in obedience to Mr. Rassendyll's orders. He would

not trust my cipher, but, indeed, none was necessary. Sapt would understand the message, although it said

simply, "The king is in Strelsau. Wait orders at the lodge. Business here in progress, but not finished. Will

Sapt handed it to James, who took it with a respectful little bow. James read it with attention, and returned it

"Yes," said Sapt. "Thanks, my man," he added to the messenger. "Here's a crown for you. If any other

"You sha'n't have to wait, sir," and, with a parting salute, the fellow turned his horse and trotted away.

"You see," remarked Sapt, "that your story is quite imaginary. For that fellow can see for himself that the

"He can't see that it won't be burnt down tonight. A fire, sir, is a thing that may happen any night."

"There's a fate about it," said the constable. "There's a strange fate about it. The man was born to it. We'd

have done it before if Michael had throttled the king in that cellar, as I thought he would. Yes, by heavens,

we'd have done it! Why, we wanted it! God forgive us, in our hearts both Fritz and I wanted it. But Rudolf

would have the king out. He would have him out, though he lost a throneand what he wanted moreby it.

But he would have him out. So he thwarted the fate. But it's not to be thwarted. Young Rupert may think this

new affair is his doing. No, it's the fate using him. The fate brought Rudolf here again, the fate will have him

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"Sense?" echoed Sapt with a chuckle. "I don't know about that. But the fate's there, depend on it!"

The two were back in their little room now, past the door that hid the bodies of the king and his huntsman.

James stood by the table, old Sapt roamed up and down, tugging his moustache, and now and again sawing

"I daren't do it," he muttered: "I daren't do it. It's a thing a man can't set his hand to of his own will. But the

"Then we'd best be ready, sir," suggested James quietly. Sapt turned on him quickly, almost fiercely.

Sapt came to him and caught hold of his shoulders. "Ready?" he asked in a gruff whisper.

Then and there they set about what they had to do. It seemed indeed as though some strange influence were

dominating Sapt; he went about the work like a man who is hardly awake. They placed the bodies each where

the living man would be by nightthe king in the guestroom, the huntsman in the sort of cupboard where

the honest fellow had been wont to lie. They dug up the buried dog, Sapt chuckling convulsively, James

grave as the mute whose grim doings he seemed to travesty: they carried the shotpierced, earthgrimed

thing in, and laid it in the king's room. Then they made their piles of wood, pouring the store of oil over them,

and setting bottles of spirit near, that the flames having cracked the bottles, might gain fresh fuel. To Sapt it

seemed now as if they played some foolish game that was to end with the playing, now as if they obeyed

some mysterious power which kept its great purpose hidden from its instruments. Mr. Rassendyll's servant

moved and arranged and ordered all as deftly as he folded his master's clothes or stropped his master's razor.

"Don't think me a mad fool, because I talk of the fate," he said, almost anxiously.

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The mockery, real or assumed, in which they had begun their work, had vanished now. If they were not

serious, they played at seriousness. If they entertained no intention such as their acts seemed to indicate, they

could no longer deny that they had cherished a hope. They shrank, or at least Sapt shrank, from setting such a

ball rolling; but they longed for the fate that would give it a kick, and they made smooth the incline down

which it, when thus impelled, was to run. When they had finished their task and sat down again opposite to

one another in the little front room, the whole scheme was ready, the preparations were made, all was in train;

they waited only for that impulse from chance or fate which was to turn the servant's story into reality and

action. And when the thing was done, Sapt's coolness, so rarely upset, yet so completely beaten by the force

of that wild idea, came back to him. He lit his pipe again and lay back in his chair, puffing freely, with a

"It's two o'clock, sir," said James. "Something should have happened before now in Strelsau."

Suddenly breaking on their ears came a loud knock at the door. Absorbed in their own thoughts, they had not

noticed two men riding up to the lodge. The visitors wore the green and gold of the king's huntsmen; the one

who had knocked was Simon, the chief huntsman, and brother of Herbert, who lay dead in the little room

"Rather dangerous!" muttered the Constable of Zenda as he hurried to the door, James following him.

"Beg pardon, Constable, but I want to see Herbert. Can I go in?" And he jumped down from his horse,

"The deuce he is! He said nothing of going to Strelsau. He rose early and rode off with Herbert, merely

"He went to Strelsau, sir. I am just from Zenda, and his Majesty is known to have been in town with the

"I'm much interested to hear it. But didn't the telegram say where Herbert was?"

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"Herbert's not a king, you see," he said. "Well, I'll come again tomorrow morning, for I must see him soon.

"Or what's left of him after such a twodays of work," suggested Simon jocularly.

"Why, yes, precisely," said Sapt, biting his moustache and darting one swift glance at James. "Or what's left

"And I'll bring a cart and carry the boar down to the castle at the same time, sir. At least, I suppose you

Sapt laughed; Simon was gratified at the tribute, and laughed even more heartily himself.

"We haven't even cooked it yet," said Sapt, "but I won't answer for it that we sha'n't have by tomorrow."

"All right, sir; I'll be here. By the way, there's another bit of news come on the wires. They say Count Rupert

"Rupert of Hentzau? Oh, pooh! Nonsense, my good Simon. He daren't show his face there for his life."

"The king," he said then, "is known to be in Strelsau; and now Count Rupert is known to be in Strelsau. How

"How is the king's body to come to the forest of Zenda?" asked James. "Or how is the king's body to go to the

"Stop your damned riddles!" roared Sapt. "Man, are you bent on driving me into it?"

"And this is to save the queen and yourself. For if we don't do it, the truth about my master must be known."

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There they sat, sometimes smoking, never speaking, while the tedious afternoon wore away, and the shadows

from the trees of the forest lengthened. They did not think of eating or drinking; they did not move, save

when James rose and lit a little fire of brushwood in the grate. It grew dusk and again James moved to light

Then there was the sound of a horse's hoofs. The two rushed to the door, beyond it, and far along the grassy

road that gave approach to the huntinglodge. They forgot to guard the secret and the door gaped open

behind them. Sapt ran as he had not run for many a day, and outstripped his companion. There was a message

The constable, without a word of greeting, snatched the envelope from the hand of the messenger and tore it

open. He read it hastily, muttering under his breath "Good God!, Then he turned suddenly round and began to

walk quickly back to James, who, seeing himself beaten in the race, had dropped to a walk. But the

messenger had his cares as well as the constable. If the constable's thoughts were on a crown, so were his. He

Sapt stopped, turned, and retraced his steps. He took a crown from his pocket. As he looked up in giving it,

"Ay," he said, "every man that deserves a crown shall have one, if I can give it him."

Then he turned again to James, who had now come up, and laid his hand on his shoulder.

James looked in his face for a moment. The constable's eyes met his; and the constable nodded.

So they turned to the lodge where the dead king and his huntsman lay. Verily the fate drove.

The project that had taken shape in the thoughts of Mr. Rassendyll's servant, and had inflamed Sapt's daring

mind as the dropping of a spark kindles dry shavings, had suggested itself vaguely to more than one of us in

Strelsau. We did not indeed coolly face and plan it, as the little servant had, nor seize on it at once with an

eagerness to be convinced of its necessity, like the Constable of Zenda; but it was there in my mind,

sometimes figuring as a dread, sometimes as a hope, now seeming the one thing to be avoided, again the only

resource against a more disastrous issue. I knew that it was in Bernenstein's thoughts no less than in my own;

for neither of us had been able to form any reasonable scheme by which the living king, whom half Strelsau

now knew to be in the city, could be spirited away, and the dead king set in his place. The change could take

place, as it seemed, only in one way and at one cost: the truth, or the better part of it, must be told, and every

tongue set wagging with gossip and guesses concerning Rudolf Rassendyll and his relations with the queen.

Who that knows what men and women are would not have shrunk from that alternative? To adopt it was to

expose the queen to all or nearly all the peril she had run by the loss of the letter. We indeed assumed,

influenced by Rudolf's unhesitating selfconfidence, that the letter would be won back, and the mouth of

Rupert of Hentzau shut; but enough would remain to furnish material for eager talk and for conjectures

unrestrained by respect or charity. Therefore, alive as we were to its difficulties and its unending risks, we yet

conceived of the thing as possible, had it in our hearts, and hinted it to one anothermy wife to me, I to

Bernenstein, and he to mein quick glances and half uttered sentences that declared its presence while

shunning the open confession of it. For the queen herself I cannot speak. Her thoughts, as I judged them, were

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bounded by the longing to see Mr. Rassendyll again, and dwelt on the visit that he promised as the horizon of

hope. To Rudolf we had dared to disclose nothing of the part our imaginations set him to play: if he were to

accept it, the acceptance would be of his own act, because the fate that old Sapt talked of drove him, and on

no persuasion of ours. As he had said, he left the rest, and had centered all his efforts on the immediate task

which fell to his hand to perform, the task that was to be accomplished at the dingy old house in the

Konigstrasse. We were indeed awake to the fact that even Rupert's death would not make the secret safe.

Rischenheim, although for the moment a prisoner and helpless, was alive and could not be mewed up for

ever; Bauer was we knew not where, free to act and free to talk. Yet in our hearts we feared none but Rupert,

and the doubt was not whether we could do the thing so much as whether we should. For in moments of

excitement and intense feeling a man makes light of obstacles which look large enough as he turns reflective

A message in the king's name had persuaded the best part of the idle crowd to disperse reluctantly. Rudolf

himself had entered one of my carriages and driven off. He started not towards the Konigstrasse, but in the

opposite direction: I supposed that he meant to approach his destination by a circuitous way, hoping to gain it

without attracting notice. The queen's carriage was still before my door, for it had been arranged that she was

to proceed to the palace and there await tidings. My wife and I were to accompany her; and I went to her

now, where she sat alone, and asked if it were her pleasure to start at once. I found her thoughtful but calm.

She listened to me; then, rising, she said, "Yes, I will go." But then she asked suddenly, "Where is the Count

I told her how Bernenstein kept guard over the count in the room at the back of the house. She seemed to

"I will see him. Go and bring him to me. You must be here while I talk to him, but nobody else."

I did not know what she intended, but I saw no reason to oppose her wishes, and I was glad to find for her

any means of employing this time of suspense. I obeyed her commands and brought Rischenheim to her. He

followed me slowly and reluctantly; his unstable mind had again jumped from rashness to despondency: he

was pale and uneasy, and, when he found himself in her presence, the bravado of his bearing, maintained

before Bernenstein, gave place to a shamefaced sullenness. He could not meet the grave eyes that she fixed

I withdrew to the farther end of the room; but it was small, and I heard all that passed. I had my revolver

ready to cover Rischenheim in case he should be moved to make a dash for liberty. But he was past that:

Rupert's presence was a tonic that nerved him to effort and to confidence, but the force of the last dose was

"My lord," she began gently, motioning him to sit, "I have desired to speak with you, because I do not wish a

gentleman of your rank to think too much evil of his queen. Heaven has willed that my secret should be to

you no secret, and therefore I may speak plainly. You may say my own shame should silence me; I speak to

Rischenheim looked up with a dull gaze, not understanding her mood. He had expected reproaches, and met

"And yet," she went on, "it is because of me that the king lies dead now; and a faithful humble fellow also,

caught in the net of my unhappy fortunes, has given his life for me, though he didn't know it. Even while we

speak, it may be that a gentleman, not too old yet to learn nobility, may be killed in my quarrel; while

another, whom I alone of all that know him may not praise, carries his life lightly in his hand for me. And to

you, my lord, I have done the wrong of dressing a harsh deed in some cloak of excuse, making you seem to

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Rischenheim's eyes fell to the ground, and he twisted his hands nervously in and out, the one about the other.

"I don't know," she went on, now almost dreamily, and as though she spoke more to herself than to him, or

had even forgotten his presence, "what end in Heaven's counsel my great unhappiness has served. Perhaps I,

who have place above most women, must also be tried above most; and in that trial I have failed. Yet, when I

weigh my misery and my temptation, to my human eyes it seems that I have not failed greatly. My heart is

not yet humbled, God's work not yet done. But the guilt of blood is on my souleven the face of my dear

love I can see now only through its scarlet mist; so that if what seemed my perfect joy were now granted me,

"You knew my sin," she said, "the sin so great in my heart; and you knew how little my acts yielded to it. Did

you think, my lord, that the sin had no punishment, that you took it in hand to add shame to my suffering?

Was Heaven so kind that men must temper its indulgence by their severity? Yet I know that because I was

wrong, you, being wrong, might seem to yourself not wrong, and in aiding your kinsman might plead that

you served the king's honor. Thus, my lord, I was the cause in you of a deed that your heart could not

welcome nor your honor praise. I thank God that you have come to no more hurt by it."

Rischenheim began to mutter in a low thick voice, his eyes still cast down: "Rupert persuaded me. He said

the king would be very grateful, andwould give me" His voice died away, and he sat silent again,

"I knowI know," she said. "But you wouldn't have listened to such persuasions if my fault hadn't blinded

She turned suddenly to me, who had been standing all the while aloof, and stretched out her hands towards

"She should be no wife of mine, if she didn't," I cried. "For I and all of mine ask no better than to die for your

"She knows, and yet she loves me," repeated the queen. I loved to see that she seemed to find comfort in

"Why, no," said I, and I smiled a grim smile. Well, Rudolf Rassendyll had never wooed my wife.

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"Lieutenant von Bernenstein will take care" I began. But I stopped. The slightest gesture of her hand

She waited. I waited also, although I had no great patience with him. Suddenly he fell on his knee, but he did

not venture to take her hand. Of her own accord she came and stretched it out to him, saying sadly: "Ah, that

"It was not I," I heard him mutter. "Rupert set me on, and I couldn't stand out against him."

"Will you go with me to the palace?" she asked, drawing her hand away, but smiling.

"The Count of LuzauRischenheim," I made bold to observe, "knows some things that most people do not

"The Count of LuzauRischenheim may be trusted to be silent," she said. "We ask him to do nothing against

"His word of honor, my lord." I knew that a rebuke to my presumption lay in her calling me "my lord," for,

"No, he's wrong," said the queen, smiling. "The count will keep his word, given to me."

Rischenheim looked at her and seemed about to address her, but then he turned to me, and said in a low tone:

"My lord," said she most graciously, and yet very sadly, "you lighten the burden on me no less by your help

than because I no longer feel your honor stained through me. Come, we will go to the palace." And she went

"Yes, do, Fritz," said the queen. But as I passed she stopped me for a moment, saying in a whisper, "Show

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Then I went out and found Bernenstein sitting on a bench in the hall. The lieutenant was a diligent and

watchful young man; he appeared to be examining his revolver with sedulous care.

"You can put that away," said I rather peevishlyI had not fancied shaking hands with Rischenheim. "He's

I told him briefly what had happened, and how the queen had won Rupert's instrument to be her servant.

"I suppose he'll stick to it," I ended; and I thought he would, though I was not eager for his help.

A light gleamed in Bernenstein's eyes, and I felt a tremble in the hand that he laid on my shoulder.

"Then there's only Bauer now," he whispered. "If Rischenheim's with us, only Bauer!"

I knew very well what he meant. With Rischenheim silent, Bauer was the only man, save Rupert himself,

who knew the truth, the only man who threatened that great scheme which more and more filled our thoughts

and grew upon us with an increasing force of attraction as every obstacle to it seemed to be cleared out of the

way. But I would not look at Bernenstein, fearing to acknowledge even with my eyes how my mind jumped

"Ah, yes, of course, the carriage," and he twisted me round till I was forced to look him in the face. Then he

"Oh, Rupert's dead bones by now," he chuckled, and with that he went out of the hall door and announced the

queen's approach to her servants. It must be said for young Bernenstein that he was a cheerful

fellowconspirator. His equanimity almost matched Rudolf's own; I could not rival it myself.

I drove to the palace with the queen and my wife, the other two following in a second carriage. I do not know

what they said to one another on the way, but Bernenstein was civil enough to his companion when I rejoined

them. With us my wife was the principal speaker: she filled up, from what Rudolf had told her, the gaps in

our knowledge of how he had spent his night in Strelsau, and by the time we arrived we were fully informed

in every detail. The queen said little. The impulse which had dictated her appeal to Rischenheim and carried

her through it seemed to have died away; she had become again subject to fears and apprehension. I saw her

Our way did not lie by the house, and we came to the palace without any news of our absent chief (so I call

himas such we all, from the queen herself, then regarded him). She did not speak of him again; but her

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eyes seemed to follow me about as though she were silently asking some service of me; what it was I could

not understand. Bernenstein had disappeared, and the repentant count with him: knowing they were together,

I was in no uneasiness; Bernenstein would see that his companion contrived no treachery. But I was puzzled

by the queen's tacit appeal. And I was myself on fire for news from the Konigstrasse. It was now two hours

since Rudolf Rassendyll had left us, and no word had come of him or from him. At last I could bear it no

longer. The queen was sitting with her hand in my wife's; I had been seated on the other side of the room, for

I thought that they might wish to talk to one another; yet I had not seen them exchange a word. I rose abruptly

"Have you need of my presence, madam, or have I your permission to be away for a time?" I asked.

"Where do you wish to go, Fritz?" the queen asked with a little start, as though I had come suddenly across

"God bless you, Fritz!" she cried. "I don't think I could have endured it longer. But I wouldn't ask you to go.

But go, my dear friend, go and bring me news of him. Oh, Fritz, I seem to dream that dream again!"

She came and kissed me. "Go, if you are wanted," she said. And she tried to smile at the queen, as though she

I had nothing to say; at the moment I might not have been able to say it if I had. There is something in the

helpless courage of women that makes me feel soft. We can work and fight; they sit and wait. Yet they do not

flinch. Now I know that if I had to sit and think about the thing I should turn cur.

Well, I went, leaving them there together. I put on plain clothes instead of my uniform, and dropped my

revolver into the pocket of my coat. Thus prepared, I slipped out and made my way on foot to the

It was now long past midday, but many folks were at their dinner and the streets were not full. Two or three

people recognized me, but I passed by almost unnoticed. There was no sign of stir or excitement, and the

flags still floated high in the wind. Sapt had kept his secret; the men of Strelsau thought still that their king

lived and was among them. I feared that Rudolf's coming would have been seen, and expected to find a

crowd of people near the house. But when I reached it there were no more than ten or a dozen idle fellows

lounging about. I began to stroll up and down with as careless an air as I could assume.

Soon, however, there was a change. The workmen and business folk, their meal finished, began to come out

of their houses and from the restaurants. The loafers before No. 19 spoke to many of them. Some said,

"Indeed?" shook their heads, smiled and passed on: they had no time to waste in staring at the king. But many

waited; lighting their cigars or cigarettes or pipes, they stood gossiping with one another, looking at their

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watches now and again, lest they should overstay their leisure. Thus the assembly grew to the number of a

couple of hundred. I ceased my walk, for the pavement was too crowded, and hung on the outskirts of the

throng. As I loitered there, a cigar in my mouth, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning round, I saw the

"You're here too, are you?" said I. "Well, nothing seems to be happening, does it?"

For No. 19 showed no sign of life. The shutters were up, the door closed; the little shop was not open for

Bernenstein shook his head with a smile. His companion took no heed of my remark; he was evidently in a

state of great agitation, and his eyes never left the door of the house. I was about to address him, when my

attention was abruptly and completely diverted by a glimpse of a head, caught across the shoulders of the

The fellow whom I saw wore a brown wideawake hat. The hat was pulled down low over his forehead, but

nevertheless beneath its rim there appeared a white bandage running round his head. I could not see the face,

but the bulletshaped skull was very familiar to me. I was sure from the first moment that the bandaged man

was Bauer. Saying nothing to Bernenstein, I began to steal round outside the crowd. As I went, I heard

somebody saying that it was all nonsense; the king was not there: what should the king do in such a house?

The answer was a reference to one of the first loungers; he replied that he did not know what the devil the

king did there, but that the king or his double had certainly gone in, and had as certainly not yet come out

again. I wished I could have made myself known to them and persuaded them to go away; but my presence

would have outweighed my declarations, and been taken as a sure sign that the king was in the house. So I

kept on the outskirts and worked my way unobtrusively towards the bandaged head. Evidently Bauer's hurt

had not been so serious as to prevent him leaving the infirmary to which the police had carried him: he was

come now to await, even as I was awaiting, the issue of Rudolf's visit to the house in the Konigstrasse.

He had not seen me, for he was looking at No. 19 as intently as Rischenheim. Apparently neither had caught

sight of the other, or Rischenheim would have shown some embarrassment, Bauer some excitement. I

wormed my way quickly towards my former servant. My mind was full of the idea of getting hold of him. I

could not forget Bernenstein's remark, "Only Bauer now!" If I could secure Bauer we were safe. Safe in

what? I did not answer to myself, but the old idea was working in me. Safe in our secret and safe in our

planin the plan on which we all, we here in the city, and those two at the huntinglodge, had set our

minds! Bauer's death, Bauer's capture, Bauer's silence, however procured, would clear the greatest hindrance

Bauer stared intently at the house; I crept cautiously up behind him. His hand was in his trousers' pocket;

where the curve of the elbow came there with a space between arm and body. I slipped in my left arm and

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Bauer moved his arm as though he meant to withdraw it from my grasp. He found himself tightly held.

I do not know what he would have answered, for at this instant there came a sound from behind the closed

door of the house. It was as if some one ran rapidly and eagerly towards the door. Then came an oath in a

shrill voice, a woman's voice, but harsh and rough. It was answered by an angry cry in a girl's intonation. Full

of eagerness, I drew my arm from Bauer's and sprang forward. I heard a chuckle from him and turned round,

to see his bandaged head retreating rapidly down the street. I had no time to look to him, for now I saw two

men, shoulder to shoulder, making their way through the crowd, regardless of any one in their way, and

paying no attention to abuse or remonstrances. They were the lieutenant and Rischenheim. Without a

moment's hesitation I set myself to push and battle a way through, thinking to join them in front. On they

went, and on I went. All gave place before us in surly reluctance or frightened willingness. We three were

together in the first rank of the crowd when the door of the house was flung open, and a girl ran out. Her hair

was disordered, her face pale, and her eyes full of alarm. There she stood on the doorstep, facing the crowd,

which in an instant grew as if by magic to three times its former size, and, little knowing what she did, she

There rises often before my mind the picture of young Rupert, standing where Rischenheim left him,

awaiting the return of his messenger and watching for some sign that should declare to Strelsau the death of

its king which his own hand had wrought. His image is one that memory holds clear and distinct, though time

may blur the shape of greater and better men, and the position in which he was that morning gives play

enough to the imagination. Save for Rischenheim, a broken reed, and Bauer, who was gone, none knew

where, he stood alone against a kingdom which he had robbed of its head, and a band of resolute men who

would know no rest and no security so long as he lived. For protection he had only a quick brain, his courage,

and his secret. Yet he could not flyhe was without resources till his cousin furnished themand at any

moment his opponents might find themselves able to declare the king's death and raise the city in hue and cry

after him. Such men do not repent; but it may be that he regretted the enterprise which had led him on so far

and forced on him a deed so momentous; yet to those who knew him it seems more likely that the smile

broadened on his firm full lips as he looked down on the unconscious city. Well, I daresay he would have

been too much for me, but I wish I had been the man to find him there. He would not have had it so; for I

believe that he asked no better than to cross swords again with Rudolf Rassendyll and set his fortunes on the

Down below, the old woman was cooking a stew for her dinner, now and then grumbling to herself that the

Count of LuzauRischenheim was so long away, and Bauer, the rascal, drunk in some pothouse. The

kitchen door stood open, and through it could be seen the girl Rosa, busily scrubbing the tiled floor; her color

was high and her eyes bright; from time to time she paused in her task, and, raising her head, seemed to

listen. The time at which the king needed her was past, but the king had not come. How little the old woman

knew for whom she listened! All her talk had been of Bauerwhy Bauer did not come and what could have

befallen him. It was grand to hold the king's secret for him, and she would hold it with her life; for he had

been kind and gracious to her, and he was her man of all the men in Strelsau. Bauer was a stumpy fellow; the

Count of Hentzau was handsome, handsome as the devil; but the king was her man. And the king had trusted

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There were wheels in the streetquickrolling wheels. They seemed to stop a few doors away, then to roll

on again past the house. The girl's head was raised; the old woman, engrossed in her stewing, took no heed.

The girl's straining ear caught a rapid step outside. Then it camethe knock, the sharp knock followed by

five light ones. The old woman heard now: dropping her spoon into the pot, she lifted the mess off the fire

and turned round, saying: "There's the rogue at last! Open the door for him, Rosa."

Before she spoke Rosa had darted down the passage. The door opened and shut again. The old woman

waddled to the threshold of the kitchen. The passage and the shop were dark behind the closed shutters, but

"Who's there?" cried Mother Holf sharply. "The shop's shut today: you can't come in."

"But I am in," came the answer, and Rudolf stepped towards her. The girl followed a pace behind, her hands

clasped and her eyes alight with excitement. "Don't you know me?" asked Rudolf, standing opposite the old

There, in the dim light of the lowroofed passage, Mother Holf was fairly puzzled. She knew the story of Mr.

Rassendyll; she knew that he was again in Ruritania, it was no surprise to her that he should be in Strelsau;

but she did not know that Rupert had killed the king, and she had not seen the king close at hand since his

illness and his beard impaired what had been a perfect likeness. In fine, she could not tell whether it were

"Who are you?" she asked, curt and blunt in her confusion. The girl broke in with an amused laugh.

"Why, mother, it's the king," whispered Rosa, laughing and blushing. "The king, mother."

"Ay, if the king's alive, I'm the king," said Rudolf. I suppose he wanted to find out how much the old woman

She made no answer, but stared up at his face. In her bewilderment she forgot to ask how he had learnt the

"I've come to see the Count of Hentzau," Rudolf continued. "Take me to him at once."

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"His ghost!" rang out in the girl's merry laugh. "Why, here's the king himself, mother. You don't look much

Mother Holf's face was livid now, and her eyes staring fixedly. Perhaps it shot into her brain that something

had happened to the king, and that this man had come because of itthis man who was indeed the image,

and might have been the spirit, of the king. She leant against the door post, her broad bosom heaving under

The girl had caught alarm from her mother's agitation. "He's upstairs in the attic at the top of the house, sir,"

she whispered in frightened tones, with a glance that fled from her mother's terrified face to Rudolf's set eyes

What she said was enough for him. He slipped by the old woman and began to mount the stairs.

The two watched him, Mother Holf as though fascinated, the girl alarmed but still triumphant: she had done

what the king bade her. Rudolf turned the corner of the first landing and disappeared from their sight. The old

woman, swearing and muttering, stumbled back into her kitchen, set her stew on the fire, and began to stir it,

her eyes set on the flames and careless of the pot. The girl watched her mother for a moment, wondering how

she could think of the stew, not guessing that she turned the spoon without a thought of what she did; then

she began to crawl, quickly but noiselessly, up the staircase in the track of Rudolf Rassendyll. She looked

back once: the old woman stirred with a monotonous circular movement of her fat arm. Rosa, bent

halfdouble, skimmed upstairs, till she came in sight of the king whom she was so proud to serve. He was on

the top landing now, outside the door of a large attic where Rupert of Hentzau was lodged. She saw him lay

his hand on the latch of the door; his other hand rested in the pocket of his coat. From the room no sound

came; Rupert may have heard the step outside and stood motionless to listen. Rudolf opened the door and

walked in. The girl darted breathlessly up the remaining steps, and, coming to the door, just as it swung back

on the latch, crouched down by it, listening to what passed within, catching glimpses of forms and

movements through the chinks of the crazy hinge and the crevices where the wood of the panel sprung and

Rupert of Hentzau had no thought of ghosts; the men he killed lay still where they fell, and slept where they

were buried. And he had no wonder at the sight of Rudolf Rassendyll. It told him no more than that

Rischenheim's errand had fallen out ill, at which he was not surprised, and that his old enemy was again in his

path, at which (as I verily believe) he was more glad than sorry. As Rudolf entered, he had been halfway

between window and table; he came forward to the table now, and stood leaning the points of two fingers on

"Ah, the playactor!" said he, with a gleam of his teeth and a toss of his curls, while his second hand, like Mr.

Mr. Rassendyll himself has confessed that in old days it went against the grain with him when Rupert called

him a playactor. He was a little older now, and his temper more difficult to stir.

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"Yes, the playactor," he answered, smiling. "With a shorter part this time, though."

"What part today? Isn't it the old one, the king with a pasteboard crown?" asked Rupert, sitting down on the

table. "Faith, we shall do handsomely in Ruritania: you have a pasteboard crown, and I (humble man though I

am) have given the other one a heavenly crown. What a brave show! But perhaps I tell you news?"

"I take no credit. It was more the dog's doing than mine," said Rupert carelessly. "However, there it is, and

At the repetition of this last word, to her so mysterious, the girl outside pressed her eyes more eagerly to the

chink and strained her ears to listen more sedulously. And what did the count mean by the "other one" and "a

"And thus," said Rupert, waving an arm towards the window, "the town is quiet and the flags fly?"

"A man likes to have some notice taken of what he has done," Rupert complained. "However, I can get them

"Forgive menot that way. Since the king has two lives, it is but in nature that he should have two deaths."

"I shall live at peace, my friend, on a certain source of income that I possess." He tapped his breastpocket

with a slight, defiant laugh. "In these days," said he, "even queens must be careful about their letters. We live

"I make my little protest. But what's your business, playactor? For I think you're rather tiresome."

Rudolf grew grave. He advanced towards the table, and spoke in low, serious tones.

"My lord, you're alone in this matter now. Rischenheim is a prisoner; your rogue Bauer I encountered last

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"You have what you know of in your hands. If you yield, on my honor I will save your life."

"So much, that I daren't fail to offer you life," answered Rudolf Rassendyll. "Come, sir, your plan has failed:

"The extreme limit of indulgence," answered Rudolf. Rupert burst into a laugh, half of defiance, yet touched

with the ring of true amusement. Then he lit a cigarette and sat puffing and smiling.

"I should wrong you by straining your kindness so far," said he; and in wanton insolence, seeking again to

show Mr. Rassendyll the mean esteem in which he held him, and the weariness his presence was, he raised

his arms and stretched them above his head, as a man does in the fatigue of tedium. "Heigho!" he yawned.

But he had overshot the mark this time. With a sudden swift bound Rudolf was upon him; his hands gripped

Rupert's wrists, and with his greater strength he bent back the count's pliant body till trunk and head lay flat

on the table. Neither man spoke; their eyes met; each heard the other's breathing and felt the vapor of it on his

face. The girl outside had seen the movement of Rudolf's figure, but her cranny did not serve her to show her

the two where they were now; she knelt on her knees in ignorant suspense. Slowly and with a patient force

Rudolf began to work his enemy's arms towards one another. Rupert had read his design in his eyes and

resisted with tense muscles. It seemed as though his arms must crack; but at last they moved. Inch by inch

they were driven closer; now the elbows almost touched; now the wrists joined in reluctant contact. The

sweat broke out on the count's brow, and stood in large drops on Rudolf's. Now the wrists were side by side,

and slowly the long sinewy fingers of Rudolf's right hand, that held one wrist already in their vise, began to

creep round the other. The grip seemed to have half numbed Rupert's arms, and his struggles grew fainter.

Round both wrists the sinewy fingers climbed and coiled; gradually and timidly the grasp of the other hand

was relaxed and withdrawn. Would the one hold both? With a great spasm of effort Rupert put it to the proof.

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The smile that bent Mr. Rassendyll's lips gave the answer. He could hold both, with one hand he could hold

both: not for long, no, but for an instant. And then, in the instant, his left hand, free at last, shot to the breast

of the count's coat. It was the same that he had worn at the huntinglodge, and was ragged and torn from the

But Mr. Rassendyll still smiled. Then he drew out a letter. A glance at it showed him the queen's seal. As he

glanced Rupert made another effort. The one hand, wearied out, gave way, and Mr. Rassendyll had no more

than time to spring away, holding his prize. The next moment he had his revolver in his handnone too

soon, for Rupert of Hentzau's barrel faced him, and they stood thus, opposite to one another, with no more

There is, indeed, much that may be said against Rupert of Hentzau, the truth about him wellnigh forbidding

that charity of judgment which we are taught to observe towards all men. But neither I nor any man who

knew him ever found in him a shrinking from danger or a fear of death. It was no feeling such as these, but

rather a cool calculation of chances, that now stayed his hand. Even if he were victorious in the duel, and both

did not die, yet the noise of the firearms would greatly decrease his chances of escape. Moreover, he was a

noted swordsman, and conceived that he was Mr. Rassendyll's superior in that exercise. The steel offered him

at once a better prospect for victory and more hope of a safe fight. So he did not pull his trigger, but,

"I'm not a street bully, and I don't excel in a roughandtumble. Will you fight now like a gentleman? There's

Mr. Rassendyll, in his turn, was keenly alive to the peril that still hung over the queen. To kill Rupert would

not save her if he himself also were shot and left dead, or so helpless that he could not destroy the letter; and

while Rupert's revolver was at his heart he could not tear it up nor reach the fire that burnt on the other side of

the room. Nor did he fear the result of a trial with steel, for he had kept himself in practice and improved his

"As you will," said he. "Provided we settle the matter here and now, the manner is the same to me."

A sudden flush swept over Rupert of Hentzau's face. There were moments when he saw, in the mirror of

another's face or words, the estimation in which honorable men held him; and I believe that he hated Mr.

Rassendyll most fiercely, not for thwarting his enterprise, but because he had more power than any other man

"Ay, but though you won't fire, you'll destroy the letter," he sneered. "I know your fine distinctions."

"Again I beg your pardon. You know very well that, although all Strelsau were at the door, I wouldn't touch

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With an angry muttered oath Rupert flung his revolver on the table. Rudolf came forward and laid his by it.

Then he took up both, and, crossing to the mantelpiece, laid them there; between there he placed the queen's

letter. A bright blaze burnt in the grate; it needed but the slightest motion of his hand to set the letter beyond

all danger. But he placed it carefully on the mantelpiece, and, with a slight smile on his face, turned to

Rupert, saying: "Now shall we resume the bout that Fritz von Tarlenheim interrupted in the forest of Zenda?"

All this while they had been speaking in subdued accents, resolution in one, anger in the other, keeping the

voice in an even, deliberate lowness. The girl outside caught only a word here and there; but now suddenly

the flash of steel gleamed on her eyes through the crevice of the hinge. She gave a sudden gasp, and, pressing

her face closer to the opening, listened and looked. For Rupert of Hentzau had taken the swords from their

case and put them on the table. With a slight bow Rudolf took one, and the two assumed their positions.

Suddenly Rupert lowered his point. The frown vanished from his face, and he spoke in his usual bantering

"By the way," said he, "perhaps we're letting our feelings run away with us. Have you more of a mind now to

be King of Ruritania? If so, I'm ready to be the most faithful of your subjects."

"Provided, of course, that I'm one of the most favored and the richest. Come, come, the fool is dead now; he

lived like a fool and he died like a fool. The place is empty. A dead man has no rights and suffers no wrongs.

Damn it, that's good law, isn't it? Take his place and his wife. You can pay my price then. Or are you still so

virtuous? Faith, how little some men learn from the world they live in! If I had your chance!"

"And then I'll proclaim that woman for what she is in all Strelsau." A smile came on his lips as he watched

"Ay, for no better thanThere, man, I'm ready for you." For Rudolf's blade had touched his in warning.

The steel jangled. The girl's pale face was at the crevice of the hinge. She heard the blades cross again and

again. Then one would run up the other with a sharp, grating slither. At times she caught a glimpse of a figure

in quick forward lunge or rapid wary withdrawal. Her brain was almost paralyzed.

Ignorant of the mind and heart of young Rupert, she could not conceive that he tried to kill the king. Yet the

words she had caught sounded like the words of men quarreling, and she could not persuade herself that the

gentlemen fenced only for pastime. They were not speaking now; but she heard their hard breathing and the

movement of their unresting feet on the bare boards of the floor. Then a cry rang out, clear and merry with

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She knew the voice for Rupert of Hentzau's, and it was the king who answered calmly, "Nearly isn't quite."

Again she listened. They seemed to have paused for a moment, for there was no sound, save of the hard

breathing and deepdrawn pants of men who rest an instant in the midst of intense exertion. Then came again

the clash and the slitherings; and one of them crossed into her view. She knew the tall figure and she saw the

red hair: it was the king. Backward step by step he seemed to be driven, coming nearer and nearer to the door.

At last there was no more than a foot between him and her; only the crazy panel prevented her putting out her

hand to touch him. Again the voice of Rupert rang out in rich exultation, "I have you now! Say your prayers,

"Say your prayers!" Then they fought. It was earnest, not play. And it was the kingher kingher dear

king, who was in great peril of his life. For an instant she knelt, still watching. Then with a low cry of terror

she turned and ran headlong down the steep stairs. Her mind could not tell what to do, but her heart cried out

that she must do something for her king. Reaching the ground floor, she ran with wideopen eyes into the

kitchen. The stew was on the hob, the old woman still held the spoon, but she had ceased to stir and fallen

"He's killing the king! He's killing the king!" cried Rosa, seizing her mother by the arm. "Mother, what shall

"Yes, yes. He's upstairs in the count's room. They're fighting, he and the Count of Hentzau. Mother, Count

For an instant Rosa stood looking down on her in helplessdespair. Then a light flashed into her eyes.

The old woman seemed to spring to sudden life. She jumped up and caught her daughter by the shoulder.

"No, no," she whispered in quick accents. "Youyou don't know. Let them alone, you fool! It's not our

But Rosa was young and strong; her heart was fired with terror for the king's danger.

"I must go," she cried; and she flung her mother's grasp off from her so that the old woman was thrown back

into her chair, and the spoon fell from her hand and clattered on the tiles. But Rosa turned and fled down the

passage and through the shop. The bolts delayed her trembling fingers for an instant. Then she flung the door

wide. A new amazement filled her eyes at the sight of the eager crowd before the house. Then her eyes fell on

me where I stood between the lieutenant and Rischenheim, and she uttered her wild cry, "Help! The king!"

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With one bound I was by her side and in the house, while Bernenstein cried, "Quicker!" from behind.

THE things that men call presages, presentiments, and so forth, are, to my mind, for the most part idle

nothings: sometimes it is only that probable events cast before them a natural shadow which superstitious

fancy twists into a Heaven sent warning; oftener the same desire that gives conception works fulfilment, and

the dreamer sees in the result of his own act and will a mysterious accomplishment independent of his effort.

Yet when I observe thus calmly and with good sense on the matter to the Constable of Zenda, he shakes his

head and answers, "But Rudolf Rassendyll knew from the first that he would come again to Strelsau and

engage young Rupert point to point. Else why did he practise with the foils so as to be a better swordsman the

second time than he was the first? Mayn't God do anything that Fritz von Tarlenheim can't understand? a

Well, be it inspiration, or be it delusionand the difference stands often on a hair's breadthI am glad that

Rudolf had it. For if a man once grows rusty, it is everything short of impossible to put the fine polish on his

skill again. Mr. Rassendyll had strength, will, coolness, and, of course, courage. None would have availed

had not his eye been in perfect familiarity with its work, and his hand obeyed it as readily as the bolt slips in a

welloiled groove. As the thing stood, the lithe agility and unmatched dash of young Rupert but just missed

being too much for him. He was in deadly peril when the girl Rosa ran down to bring him aid. His practised

skill was able to maintain his defence. He sought to do no more, but endured Rupert's fiery attack and wily

feints in an almost motionless stillness. Almost, I say; for the slight turns of wrist that seem nothing are

There was an instantRudolf saw it in his eyes and dwelt on it when he lightly painted the scene for

mewhen there dawned on Rupert of Hentzau the knowledge that he could not break down his enemy's

guard. Surprise, chagrin, amusement, or something like it, seemed blended in his look. He could not make out

how he was caught and checked in every effort, meeting, it seemed, a barrier of iron impregnable in rest. His

quick brain grasped the lesson in an instant. If his skill were not the greater, the victory would not be his, for

his endurance was the less. He was younger, and his frame was not so closely knit; pleasure had taken its

tithe from him; perhaps a good cause goes for something. Even while he almost pressed Rudolf against the

panel of the door, he seemed to know that his measure of success was full. But what the hand could not

compass the head might contrive. In quickly conceived strategy he began to give pause in his attack, nay, he

retreated a step or two. No scruples hampered his devices, no code of honor limited the means he would

employ. Backing before his opponent, he seemed to Rudolf to be fainthearted; he was baffled, but seemed

despairing; he was weary, but played a more complete fatigue. Rudolf advanced, pressing and attacking, only

to meet a defence as perfect as his own. They were in the middle of the room now, close by the table. Rupert,

as though he had eyes in the back of his head, skirted round, avoiding it by a narrow inch. His breathing was

quick and distressed, gasp tumbling over gasp, but still his eye was alert and his hand unerring. He had but a

few moments' more effort left in him: it was enough if he could reach his goal and perpetrate the trick on

which his mind, fertile in every base device, was set. For it was towards the mantelpiece that his retreat,

seeming forced, in truth so deliberate, led him. There was the letter, there lay the revolvers. The time to think

of risks was gone by; the time to boggle over what honor allowed or forbade had never come to Rupert of

Hentzau. If he could not win by force and skill, he would win by guile and by treachery, to the test that he

had himself invited. The revolvers lay on the mantelpiece: he meant to possess himself of one, if he could

The device that he adopted was nicely chosen. It was too late to call a rest or ask breathing space: Mr.

Rassendyll was not blind to the advantage he had won, and chivalry would have turned to folly had it allowed

such indulgence. Rupert was hard by the mantelpiece now. The sweat was pouring from his face, and his

breast seemed like to burst in the effort after breath; yet he had enough strength for his purpose. He must have

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slackened his hold on his weapon, for when Rudolf's blade next struck it, it flew from his hand, twirled out of

a nerveless grasp, and slid along the floor. Rupert stood disarmed, and Rudolf motionless.

"You young fool, don't you know me yet?" and Rudolf, lowering his blade, rested its point on the floor, while

with his left hand he indicated Rupert's weapon. Yet something warned him: it may be there came a look in

Rupert's eyes, perhaps of scorn for his enemy's simplicity, perhaps of pure triumph in the graceless knavery.

"You swear you won't touch me while I pick it up?" asked Rupert, shrinking back a little, and thereby getting

"You won't kill me unarmed?" cried Rupert, in alarmed scandalized expostulation.

The speech went unfinished, unless a sudden cry were its ending. And, as he cried, Rudolf Rassendyll,

dropping his sword on the ground, sprang forward. For Rupert's hand had shot out behind him and was on the

butt of one of the revolvers. The whole trick flashed on Rudolf, and he sprang, flinging his long arms round

In all likelihood the two neither heard nor heeded, though it seemed to me that the creaks and groans of the

old stairs were loud enough to wake the dead. For now Rosa had given the alarm, Bernenstein and Ior I

and Bernenstein (for I was first, and, therefore, may put myself first)had rushed up. Hard behind us came

Rischenheim, and hot on his heels a score of fellows, pushing and shouldering and trampling. We in front had

a fair start, and gained the stairs unimpeded; Rischenheim was caught up in the ruck and gulfed in the stormy,

tossing group that struggled for first footing on the steps. Yet, soon they were after us, and we heard them

reach the first landing as we sped up to the last. There was a confused din through all the house, and it

seemed now to echo muffled and vague through the walls from the street without. I was conscious of it,

although I paid no heed to anything but reaching the room where the kingwhere Rudolfwas. Now I was

there, Bernenstein hanging to my heels. The door did not hold us a second. I was in, he after me. He slammed

the door and set his back against it, just as the rush of feet flooded the highest flight of stairs. And at the

The lieutenant and I stood still, he against the door, I a pace farther into the room. The sight we saw was

enough to arrest us with its strange interest. The smoke of the shot was curling about, but neither man seemed

wounded. The revolver was in Rupert's hand, and its muzzle smoked. But Rupert was jammed against the

wall, just by the side of the mantelpiece. With one hand Rudolf had pinned his left arm to the wainscoting

higher than his head, with the other he held his right wrist. I drew slowly nearer: if Rudolf were unarmed, I

could fairly enforce a truce and put them on an equality; yet, though Rudolf was unarmed, I did nothing. The

sight of his face stopped me. He was very pale and his lips were set, but it was his eyes that caught my gaze,

for they were glad and merciless. I had never seen him look thus before. I turned from him to young

Hentzau's face. Rupert's teeth were biting his under lip, the sweat dropped, and the veins swelled large and

blue on his forehead; his eyes were set on Rudolf Rassendyll. Fascinated, I drew nearer. Then I saw what

passed. Inch by inch Rupert's arm curved, the elbow bent, the hand that had pointed almost straight from him

and at Mr. Rassendyll pointed now away from both towards the window. But its motion did not stop; it

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followed the line of a circle: now it was on Rupert's arm; still it moved, and quicker now, for the power of

resistance grew less. Rupert was beaten; he felt it and knew it, and I read the knowledge in his eyes. I stepped

up to Rudolf Rassendyll. He heard or felt me, and turned his eyes for an instant. I do not know what my face

said, but he shook his head and turned back to Rupert. The revolver, held still in the man's own hand, was at

I looked again at Rupert. Now his face was easier; there was a slight smile on his lips; he flung back his

comely head and rested thus against the wainscoting; his eyes asked a question of Rudolf Rassendyll. I turned

my gaze to where the answer was to come, for Rudolf made none in words. By the swiftest of movements he

shifted his grasp from Rupert's wrist and pounced on his hand. Now his forefinger rested on Rupert's and

Rupert's was on the trigger. I am no softheart, but I laid a hand on his shoulder. He took no heed; I dared do

no more. Rupert glanced at me. I caught his look, but what could I say to him? Again my eyes were riveted

on Rudolf's finger. Now it was crooked round Rupert's, seeming like a man who strangles another.

I will not say more. He smiled to the last; his proud head, which had never bent for shame, did not bend for

fear. There was a sudden tightening in the pressure of that crooked forefinger, a flash, a noise. He was held

up against the wall for an instant by Rudolf's hand; when that was removed he sank, a heap that looked all

But hot on the sound of the discharge came a shout and an oath from Bernenstein. He was hurled away from

the door, and through it burst Rischenheim and the whole score after him. They were jostling one another and

crying out to know what passed and where the king was. High over all the voices, coming from the back of

the throng, I heard the cry of the girl Rosa. But as soon as they were in the room, the same spell that had

fastened Bernenstein and me to inactivity imposed its numbing power on them also. Only Rischenheim gave

a sudden sob and ran forward to where his cousin lay. The rest stood staring. For a moment Rudolf eyed

them. Then, without a word, he turned his back. He put out the right hand with which he had just killed

Rupert of Hentzau, and took the letter from the mantelpiece. He glanced at the envelope, then he opened the

letter. The handwriting banished any last doubt he had; he tore the letter across, and again in four pieces, and

yet again in smaller fragments. Then he sprinkled the morsels of paper into the blaze of the fire. I believe that

every eye in the room followed them and watched till they curled and crinkled into black, wafery ashes. Thus,

When he had thus set the seal on his task he turned round to us again. He paid no heed to Rischenheim, who

was crouching down by the body of Rupert; but he looked at Bernenstein and me, and then at the people

behind us. He waited a moment before he spoke; then his utterance was not only calm but also very slow, so

"Gentlemen," said he, "a full account of this matter will be rendered by myself in due time. For the present it

must suffice to say that this gentleman who lies here dead sought an interview with me on private business. I

came here to find him, desiring, as he professed, to desire, privacy. And here he tried to kill me. The result of

"A full account shall be given," said Rudolf. "Now let all leave me, except the Count of Tarlenheim and

Most unwillingly, with gaping mouths and wonderstruck eyes, the throng filed out of the door. Rischenheim

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Seeing the rough bedsteads by the wall of the attic, I touched Rischenheim on the shoulder and pointed to one

of them. Together we lifted Rupert of Hentzau. The revolver was still in his hand, but Bernenstein disengaged

it from his grasp. Then Rischenheim and I laid him down, disposing his body decently and spreading over it

his riding cloak, still spotted with the mud gathered on his midnight expedition to the huntinglodge. His face

looked much as before the shot was fired; in death, as in life, he was the handsomest fellow in all Ruritania. I

wager that many tender hearts ached and many bright eyes were dimmed for him when the news of his guilt

and death went forth. There are ladies still in Strelsau who wear his trinkets in an ashamed devotion that

cannot forget. Well, even I, who had every good cause to hate and scorn him, set the hair smooth on his brow;

while Rischenheim was sobbing like a child, and young Bernenstein rested his head on his arm as he leant on

the mantelpiece, and would not look at the dead. Rudolf alone seemed not to heed him or think of him. His

eyes had lost their unnatural look of joy, and were now calm and tranquil. He took his own revolver from the

mantelpiece and put it in his pocket, laying Rupert's neatly where his had been. Then he turned to me and

"Come, let us go to the queen and tell her that the letter is beyond reach of hurt."

Moved by some impulse, I walked to the window and put my head out. I was seen from below, and a great

shout greeted me. The crowd before the doors grew every moment; the people flocking from all quarters

would soon multiply it a hundred fold; for such news as had been carried from the attic by twenty wondering

tongues spreads like a forestfire. It would be through Strelsau in a few minutes, through the kingdom in an

hour, through Europe in but little longer. Rupert was dead and the letter was safe, but what were we to tell

that great concourse concerning their king? A queer feeling of helpless perplexity came over me and found

vent in a foolish laugh. Bernenstein was by my side; he also looked out, and turned again with an eager face.

Mr. Rassendyll made no answer, but, coming to me, took my arm. We went out, leaving Rischenheim by the

body. I did not think of him; Bernenstein probably thought that he would keep his pledge given to the queen,

for he followed us immediately and without demur. There was nobody outside the door. The house was very

quiet, and the tumult from the street reached us only in a muffled roar. But when we came to the foot of the

stairs we found the two women. Mother Holf stood on the threshold of the kitchen, looking amazed and

terrified. Rosa was clinging to her; but as soon as Rudolf came in sight, the girl sprang forward and flung

herself on her knees before him, pouring out incoherent thanks to Heaven for his safety. He bent down and

spoke to her in a whisper; she looked up with a flush of pride on her face. He seemed to hesitate a moment;

he glanced at his hands, but he wore no ring save that which the queen had given him long ago. Then he

disengaged his chain and took his gold watch from his pocket. Turning it over, he showed me the monogram,

"Rudolfus Rex," he whispered with a whimsical smile, and pressed the watch into the girl's hand, saying:

She laughed and sobbed as she caught it with one hand, while with the other she held his.

I took her by the arm and induced her to rise. Rudolf, released, passed on to where the old woman stood. He

"I don't know," he said, "how far you are a party to the plot that was hatched in your house. For the present I

am content not to know, for it is no pleasure to me to detect disloyalty or to punish an old woman. But take

care! The first word you speak, the first act you do against me, the king, will bring its certain and swift

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punishment. If you trouble me, I won't spare you. In spite of traitors I am still king in Strelsau."

"Yes," he repeated, "I am king in Strelsau. Keep your hands out of mischief and your tongue quiet."

She made no answer. He passed on. I was following, but as I went by her the old woman clutched my arm.

"Are you mad?" I asked, lifting my brows. "Don't you know the king when he speaks to you? And you'd best

She let me go and fell back a step. Young Bernenstein smiled at her; he at least found more pleasure than

anxiety in our position. Thus, then, we left them: the old woman terrified, amazed, doubtful; the girl with

ruddy cheeks and shining eyes, clasping in her two hands the keepsake that the king himself had given her.

Bernenstein had more presence of mind than I. He ran forward, got in front of both of us, and flung the door

open. Then, bowing very low, he stood aside to let Rudolf pass. The street was full from end to end now, and

a mighty shout of welcome rose from thousands of throats. Hats and handkerchiefs were waved in mad

exultation and triumphant loyalty. The tidings of the king's escape had flashed through the city, and all were

there to do him honor. They had seized some gentleman's landau and taken out the horses. The carriage stood

now before the doors of the house. Rudolf had waited a moment on the threshold, lifting his hat once or

twice; his face was perfectly calm, and I saw no trembling in his hands. In an instant a dozen arms took gentle

hold of him and impelled him forward. He mounted into the carriage; Bernenstein and I followed, with bare

heads, and sat on the back seat, facing him. The people were round as thick as bees, and it seemed as though

we could not move without crushing somebody. Yet presently the wheels turned, and they began to drag us

away at a slow walk. Rudolf kept raising his hat, bowing now to right, now to left. But once, as he turned, his

eyes met ours. In spite of what was behind and what was in front, we all three smiled.

"I wish they'd go a little quicker," said Rudolf in a whisper, as he conquered his smile and turned again to

But what did they know of any need for haste? They did not know what stood on the turn of the next few

hours, nor the momentous question that pressed for instant decision. So far from hurrying, they lengthened

our ride by many pauses; they kept us before the cathedral, while some ran and got the joy bells set ringing;

we were stopped to receive improvised bouquets from the hands of pretty girls and impetuous handshakings

from enthusiastic loyalists. Through it all Rudolf kept his composure, and seemed to play his part with native

At last we came in sight of the palace. Here also there was a great stir. Many officers and soldiers were about.

I saw the chancellor's carriage standing near the portico, and a dozen other handsome equipages were waiting

till they could approach. Our human horses drew us slowly up to the entrance. Helsing was on the steps, and

ran down to the carriage, greeting the king with passionate fervor. The shouts of the crowd grew louder still.

But suddenly a stillness fell on them; it lasted but an instant, and was the prelude to a deafening roar. I was

looking at Rudolf and saw his head turn suddenly and his eyes grow bright. I looked where his eyes had gone.

There, on the top step of the broad marble flight, stood the queen, pale as the marble itself, stretching out her

hands towards Rudolf. The people had seen her: she it was whom this last rapturous cheer greeted. My wife

stood close behind her, and farther back others of her ladies. Bernenstein and I sprang out. With a last salute

to the people Rudolf followed us. He walked up to the highest step but one, and there fell on one knee and

kissed the queen's hand. I was by him, and when he looked up in her face I heard him say:

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She raised him with her hand. Her lips moved, but it seemed as though she could find no words to speak. She

put her arm through his, and thus they stood for an instant, fronting all Strelsau. Again the cheers rang out,

and young Bernenstein sprang forward, waving his helmet and crying like a man possessed, "God save the

king!" I was carried away by his enthusiasm and followed his lead. All the people took up the cry with

boundless fervor, and thus we all, high and low in Strelsau, that afternoon hailed Mr. Rassendyll for our king.

There had been no such zeal since Henry the Lion came back from his wars, a hundred and fifty years ago.

"And yet," observed old Helsing at my elbow, "agitators say that there is no enthusiasm for the house of

Young Bernenstein interrupted his cheering with a short laugh, but fell to his task again in a moment. I had

recovered my senses by now, and stood panting, looking down on the crowd. It was growing dusk and the

faces became blurred into a white sea. Yet suddenly I seemed to discern one glaring up at me from the middle

of the crowdthe pale face of a man with a bandage about his head. I caught Bernenstein's arm and

whispered, "Bauer," pointing with my finger where the face was. But, even as I pointed, it was gone; though

it seemed impossible for a man to move in that press, yet it was gone. It had come like a cynic's warning

across the scene of mock triumph, and went swiftly as it had come, leaving behind it a reminder of our peril. I

felt suddenly sick at heart, and almost cried out to the people to have done with their silly shouting.

At last we got away. The plea of fatigue met all visitors who made their way to the door and sought to offer

their congratulations; it could not disperse the crowd that hung persistently and contentedly about, ringing us

in the palace with a living fence. We still heard their jests and cheers when we were alone in the small saloon

that opens on the gardens. My wife and I had come here at Rudolf's request; Bernenstein had assumed the

duty of guarding the door. Evening was now falling fast, and it grew dark. The garden was quiet; the distant

noise of the crowd threw its stillness into greater relief. Rudolf told us there the story of his struggle with

Rupert of Hentzau in the attic of the old house, dwelling on it as lightly as he could. The queen stood by his

chairshe would not let him rise; when he finished by telling how he had burnt her letter, she stooped

suddenly and kissed him off the brow. Then she looked straight across at Helga, almost defiantly; but Helga

Rudolf Rassendyll sat with his head resting on his hand. He looked up once at the two women; then he caught

my eye, and beckoned me to come to him. I approached him, but for several moments he did not speak.

Again he motioned to me, and, resting my hand on the arm of his chair, I bent my head close down to his. He

glanced again at the queen, seeming afraid that she would hear what he wished to say.

"Fritz," he whispered at last, "as soon as it's fairly dark I must get away. Bernenstein will come with me. You

I did not understand what plan he had in his head, or what scheme he could contrive. But at the moment my

Low as my voice was, she heard it. She turned to us with a sudden, startled movement, still holding Helga's

hand. Her eyes searched our faces, and she knew in an instant of what we had been speaking. A little longer

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still she stood, gazing at us. Then she suddenly sprang forward and threw herself on her knees before Rudolf,

her hands uplifted and resting on his shoulders. She forgot our presence, and everything in the world, save her

He raised his hand and gently stroked the gleaming hair. But he did not look at her. He gazed out at the

garden, which grew dark and dreary in the gathering gloom. His lips were tight set and his face pale and

I watched him for a moment, then I drew my wife away, and we sat down at a table some way off. From

outside still came the cheers and tumult of the joyful, excited crowd. Within there was no sound but the

queen's stifled sobbing. Rudolf caressed her shining hair and gazed into the night with sad, set eyes. She

RUPERT of Hentzau was dead! That was the thought which, among all our perplexities, came back to me,

carrying with it a wonderful relief. To those who have not learnt in fighting against him the height of his

audacity and the reach of his designs, it may well seem incredible that his death should breed comfort at a

moment when the future was still so dark and uncertain. Yet to me it was so great a thing that I could hardly

bring myself to the conviction that we had done with him. True, he was dead; but could he not strike a blow

Such were the halfsuperstitious thoughts that forced their way into my mind as I stood looking out on the

crowd which obstinately encircled the front of the palace. I was alone; Rudolf was with the queen, my wife

was resting, Bernenstein had sat down to a meal for which I could find no appetite. By an effort I freed

myself from my fancies and tried to concentrate my brain on the facts of our position. We were ringed round

with difficulties. To solve them was beyond my power; but I knew where my wish and longing lay. I had no

desire to find means by which Rudolf Rassendyll should escape unknown from Strelsau; the king, although

dead, be again in death the king, and the queen be left desolate on her mournful and solitary throne. It might

be that a brain more astute than mine could bring all this to pass. My imagination would have none of it, but

dwelt lovingly on the reign of him who was now king in Strelsau, declaring that to give the kingdom such a

ruler would be a splendid fraud, and prove a stroke so bold as to defy detection. Against it stood only the

suspicions of Mother Holffear or money would close her lipsand the knowledge of Bauer; Bauer's

mouth also could be shut, ay, and should be before we were many days older. My reverie led me far; I saw

the future years unroll before me in the fair record of a great king's sovereignty. It seemed to me that by the

violence and bloodshed we had passed through, fate, for once penitent, was but righting the mistake made

For a long while I stood thus, musing and dreaming; I was roused by the sound of the door opening and

closing; turning, I saw the queen. She was alone, and came towards me with timid steps. She looked out for a

moment on the square and the people, but drew back suddenly in apparent fear lest they should see her. Then

she sat down and turned her face towards mine. I read in her eyes something of the conflict of emotions

which possessed her; she seemed at once to deprecate my disapproval and to ask my sympathy; she prayed

me to be gentle to her fault and kind to her happiness; selfreproach shadowed her joy, but the golden gleam

of it strayed through. I looked eagerly at her; this would not have been her bearing had she come from a last

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farewell; for the radiance was there, however much dimmed by sorrow and by fearfulness.

"Fritz," she began softly, "I am wickedso wicked. Won't God punish me for my gladness?"

I fear I paid little heed to her trouble, though I can understand it well enough now.

Her eyes again sought mine, and she said in a whisper: "Some day, not now. Oh, not now. Now would be too

much. But some day, Fritz, if God will not deal too hardly with me, II shall be his, Fritz."

I was intent on my vision, not on hers. I wanted him king; she did not care what he was, so that he was hers,

"Yes, now. But notnot for ever. It will be longoh, so longbut I can bear it, if I know that at last!" She

"You were right," she said: "I did persuade him. He wanted to go away again as he went before. Ought I to

have let him? Yes, yes! But I couldn't. Fritz, hadn't I done enough? You don't know what I've endured. And I

must endure more still. For he will go now, and the time will be very long. But, at last, we shall be together.

"He will not come back; I shall go to him. I shall give up the throne and go to him, some day, when I can be

I was aghast at this shattering of my vision, yet I could not be hard to her. I said nothing, but took her hand

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We fell again into silence; her eyes grew more calm, and seemed to look forward in patient hope to the time

when her happiness should come to her. I felt like a man suddenly robbed of the exaltation of wine and sunk

She did not answer me. A moment later the door again opened. Rudolf came in, followed by Bernenstein.

Both wore riding boots and cloaks. I saw on Bernenstein's face just such a look of disappointment as I knew

must be on mine. Rudolf seemed calm and even happy. He walked straight up to the queen.

"The horses will be ready in a few minutes," he said gently. Then, turning to me, he asked, "You know what

"Not I, sire!" he repeated, in a halfmerry, halfsad mockery. Then he came between Bernenstein and me and

passed his arms through ours. "You two villains!" he said. "You two unscrupulous villains! Here you are, as

rough as bears, because I won't be a thief! Why have I killed young Rupert and left you rogues alive?"

I felt the friendly pressure of his hand on my arm. I could not answer him. With every word from his lips and

every moment of his presence my sorrow grew keener that he would not stay. Bernenstein looked across at

Well, I found nothing to say, but I took my arm out of his and clasped his hand. He gripped mine hard.

"That's old Fritz!" he said; and he caught hold of Bernenstein's hand, which the lieutenant yielded with some

reluctance. "Now for the plan," said he. "Bernenstein and I set out at once for the lodgeyes, publicly, as

publicly as we can. I shall ride right through the people there, showing myself to as many as will look at me,

and letting it be known to everybody where I'm going. We shall get there quite early tomorrow, before it's

light. There we shall find what you know. We shall find Sapt, too, and he'll put the finishing touches to our

There was a sudden fresh shouting from the large crowd that still lingered outside the palace. I ran to the

window, and saw a commotion in the midst of them. I flung the sash up. Then I heard a wellknown, loud,

"It's Sapt himself!" I said. "He's riding like mad through the crowd, and your servant's just behind him."

The queen looked up in startled alarm, and, rising to her feet, came and passed her arm through Rudolf's.

Thus we all stood, listening to the people goodnaturedly cheering Sapt, whom they had recognized, and

The minutes seemed very long as we waited in utter perplexity, almost in consternation. The same thought

was in the mind of all of us, silently imparted by one to another in the glances we exchanged. What could

have brought them from their guard of the great secret, save its discovery? They would never have left their

post while the fulfilment of their trust was possible. By some mishap, some unforeseen chance, the king's

body must have been discovered. Then the king's death was known, and the news of it might any moment

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At last the door was flung open, and a servant announced the Constable of Zenda. Sapt was covered with dust

and mud, and James, who entered close on his heels, was in no better plight. Evidently they had ridden hard

and furiously; indeed they were still panting. Sapt, with a most perfunctory bow to the queen, came straight

"Hum! Well, it's only Bauer" said the constable, seeming tolerably well pleased. Then his eyes fell on Rudolf

and Bernenstein. He stretched out his hand and pointed to their ridingboots. "Whither away so late at

"First together to the lodge, to find you, then I alone to the frontier," said Mr. Rassendyll.

"One thing at a time. The frontier will wait. What does your Majesty want with me at the lodge?"

We gave a short and hurried account. He listened with few signs of approval or disapproval, but I thought I

saw a gleam in his eyes when I described how all the city had hailed Rudolf as its

king and the queen received him as her husband before the eyes of all. Again the hope and vision, shattered

by Rudolf's calm resolution, inspired me. Sapt said little, but he had the air of a man with some news in

reserve. He seemed to be comparing what we told him with something already known to him but unknown to

us. The little servant stood all the while in respectful stillness by the door; but I could see by a glance at his

At the end of the story, Rudolf turned to Sapt. "And your secretis it safe?" he asked.

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"Why, the same thing that was about to bring you to the lodge: the need of a meeting between yourself and

Unquestionably there was a secret, a new secret, hidden behind the curt words and brusque manner. I could

restrain myself no longer, and sprang forward, saying: "What is it? Tell us, Constable!"

"I should like to hear your plan first," he said to Rudolf. "How do you mean to account for your presence

alive in the city today, when the king has lain dead in the shootingbox since last night?"

We drew close together as Rudolf began his answer. Sapt alone lay back in his chair. The queen also had

resumed her seat; she seemed to pay little heed to what we said. I think that she was still engrossed with the

struggle and tumult in her own soul. The sin of which she accused herself, and the joy to which her whole

being sprang in a greeting which would not be abashed, were at strife between themselves, but joined hands

"Come, Sapt, be reasonable," smiled Mr. Rassendyll. "Early tomorrow, weyou and I"

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Even at this moment I could not help smiling at the old fellow's surly wit and Rudolf's amused tolerance of it.

"That's very pretty. But doctors have awkward views as to when a man can have shot himself."

"My good Constable, doctors have palms as well as ideas. If you fill the one you supply the other."

"I think," said Sapt, "that both the plans are good. Suppose we choose the latter, what then?"

"Why, then, by tomorrow at midday the news flashes through Ruritaniayes, and through Europethat

"Absolutely. And in the afternoon of tomorrow, you and Bernenstein will set out for Strelsau, bringing with

you the body of the king." And Rudolf, after a pause, whispered, "You must shave his face. And if the

doctors want to talk about how long he's been dead, why, they have, as I say, palms."

Sapt sat silent for a while, apparently considering the scheme. It was risky enough in all conscience, but

success had made Rudolf bold, and he had learnt how slow suspicion is if a deception be bold enough. It is

"Well, what do you say?" asked Mr. Rassendyll. I observed that he said nothing to Sapt of what the queen

Sapt wrinkled his forehead. I saw him glance at James, and the slightest, briefest smile showed on James's

"It's dangerous, of course," pursued Rudolf. "But I believe that when they see the king's body"

Rudolf looked at him with some surprise. Then speaking in a low voice, lest the queen should hear and be

distressed, he went on: "You must prepare it, you know. Bring it here in a shell; only a few officials need see

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"The plan's a pretty one, but it breaks down at one point," said he in a strange voice, even harsher than his

was wont to be. I was on fire with excitement, for I would have staked my life now that he had some strange

Even Mr. Rassendyll's composure gave way. He sprang forward, catching Sapt by the arm.

Sapt cast another glance at James, and then began in an even, mechanical voice, as though he were reading a

"That poor fellow Herbert carelessly left a candle burning where the oil and the wood were kept," he said.

"This afternoon, about six, James and I lay down for a nap after our meal. At about seven James came to my

side and roused me. My room was full of smoke. The lodge was ablaze. I darted out of bed: the fire had made

too much headway; we could not hope to quench it; we had but one thought!" He suddenly paused, and

"But one thought, to save our companion. We rushed to the door of the room where he was. I opened the door

and tried to enter. It was certain death. James tried, but fell back. Again I rushed in. James pulled me back: it

was but another death. We had to save ourselves. We gained the open air. The lodge was a sheet of flame. We

could do nothing but stand watching, till the swiftly burning wood blackened to ashes and the flames died

down. As we watched we knew that all in the cottage must be dead. What could we do? At last James started

off in the hope of getting help. He found a party of charcoalburners, and they came with him. The flames

were burnt down now; and we and they approached the charred ruins. Everything was in ashes. But"he

lowered his voice"we found what seemed to be the body of Boris the hound; in another room was a

charred corpse, whose huntinghorn, melted to a molten mass, told us that it had been Herbert the forester.

And there was another corpse, almost shapeless, utterly unrecognizable. We saw it; the charcoalburners saw

it. Then more peasants came round, drawn by the sight of the flames. None could tell who it was; only I and

Sapt finished his lesson or his story. A sob burst from the queen, and she hid her face in her hands.

Bernenstein and I, amazed at this strange tale, scarcely understanding whether it were jest or earnest, stood

staring stupidly at Sapt. Then I, overcome by the strange thing, turned halffoolish by the bizarre mingling of

comedy and impressiveness in Sapt's rendering of it, plucked him by the sleeve, and asked, with something

He turned his small, keen eyes on me in persistent gravity and unflinching effrontery.

"A Mr. Rassendyll, a friend of the king's, who with his servant James was awaiting his Majesty's return from

Strelsau. His servant here is ready to start for England, to tell Mr. Rassendyll's relatives the news."

The queen had begun to listen before now; her eyes were fixed on Sapt, and she had stretched out one arm to

him, as if imploring him to read her his riddle. But a few words had in truth declared his device plainly

enough in all its simplicity. Rudolf Rassendyll was dead, his body burnt to a cinder, and the king was alive,

whole, and on his throne in Strelsau. Thus had Sapt caught from James, the servant, the infection of his

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madness, and had fulfilled in action the strange imagination which the little man had unfolded to him in order

"This is all a lie, Sapt," said he, and his lips curled in contemptuous amusement.

"It's no lie that the lodge is burnt, and the bodies in it, and that half a hundred of the peasants know it, and

that no man could tell the body for the king's. As for the rest, it is a lie. But I think the truth in it is enough to

The two men stood facing one another with defiant eyes. Rudolf had caught the meaning of the great and

audacious trick which Sapt and his companion had played. It was impossible now to bring the king's body to

Strelsau; it seemed no less impossible to declare that the man burnt in the lodge was the king. Thus Sapt had

forced Rudolf's hand; he had been inspired by the same vision as we, and endowed with more unshrinking

boldness. But when I saw how Rudolf looked at him, I did not know but that they would go from the queen's

"You're all bent on having me a rascal," he said coldly. "Fritz and Bernenstein here urge me; you, Sapt, try to

"I suggested it, sir," said James, not defiantly or with disrespect, but as if in simple dutiful obedience to his

"As I thoughtall of you! Well, I won't be forced. I see now that there's no way out of this affair, save one.

"Of the queen's letter I need say nothing and will say nothing," he pursued. "But I will tell them that I'm not

the king, but Rudolf Rassendyll, and that I played the king only in order to serve the queen and punish Rupert

of Hentzau. That will serve, and it will cut this net of Sapt's from about my limbs."

He spoke firmly and coldly; so that when I looked at him I was amazed to see how his lips twitched and that

his forehead was moist with sweat. Then I understood what a sudden, swift, and fearful struggle he had

suffered, and how the great temptation had wrung and tortured him before he, victorious, had set the thing

behind him. I went to him and clasped his hand: this action of mine seemed to soften him.

Sapt did not respond to his gentler mood. He had been pacing angrily up and down the room. Now he stopped

"I make a rogue of you?" he exclaimed. "And what do you make of our queen, whom we all serve? What

does this truth that you'll tell make of her? Haven't I heard how she greeted you before all Strelsau as her

husband and her love? Will they believe that she didn't know her husband? Ay, you may show yourself, you

may say they didn't know you. Will they believe she didn't? Was the king's ring on your finger? Where is it?

And how comes Mr. Rassendyll to be at Fritz von Tarlenheim's for hours with the queen, when the king is at

his hunting lodge? A king has died already, and two men besides, to save a word against her. And

youyou'll be the man to set every tongue in Strelsau talking, and every finger pointing in suspicion at her?

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Rudolf made no answer. When Sapt had first uttered the queen's name, he had drawn near and let his hand

fall over the back of her chair. She put hers up to meet it, and so they remained. But I saw that Rudolf's face

"And we, your friends?" pursued Sapt. "For we've stood by you as we've stood by the queen, by God we

haveFritz, and young Bernenstein here, and I. If this truth's told, who'll believe that we were loyal to the

king, that we didn't know, that we weren't accomplices in the tricking of the kingmaybe, in his murder?

Ah, Rudolf Rassendyll, God preserve me from a conscience that won't let me be true to the woman I love, or

I had never seen the old fellow so moved; he carried me with him, as he carried Bernenstein. I know now that

we were too ready to be convinced; rather that, borne along by our passionate desire, we needed no

convincing at all. His excited appeal seemed to us an argument. At least the danger to the queen, on which he

Then a sudden change came over him. He caught Rudolf's hand and spoke to him again in a low, broken

"Lad," he said, "don't say no. Here's the finest lady alive sick for her lover, and the finest country in the world

sick for its true king, and the best friendsay, by Heaven, the best friendsman ever had, sick to call you

master. I know nothing about your conscience; but this I know: the king's dead, and the place is empty; and I

don't see what Almighty God sent you here for unless it was to fill it. Come, ladfor our love and her honor!

While he was alive I'd have killed you sooner than let you take it. He's dead. Nowfor our love and her

I do not know what thoughts passed in Mr. Rassendyll's mind. His face was set and rigid. He made no sign

when Sapt finished, but stood as he was, motionless, for a long while. Then he slowly bent his head and

looked down into the queen's eyes. For a while she sat looking back into his. Then, carried away by the wild

hope of immediate joy, and by her love for him and her pride in the place he was offered, she sprang up and

WE were half mad that night, Sapt and Bernenstein and I. The thing seemed to have got into our blood and to

have become part of ourselves. For us it was inevitablenay, it was done. Sapt busied himself in preparing

the account of the fire at the huntinglodge; it was to be communicated to the journals, and it told with much

circumstantiality how Rudolf Rassendyll had come to visit the king, with James his servant, and, the king

being summoned unexpectedly to the capital, had been awaiting his Majesty's return when he met his fate.

There was a short history of Rudolf, a glancing reference to his family, a dignified expression of condolence

with his relatives, to whom the king was sending messages of deepest regret by the hands of Mr. Rassendyll's

servant. At another table young Bernenstein was drawing up, under the constable's direction, a narrative of

Rupert of Hentzau's attempt on the king's life and the king's courage in defending himself. The count, eager

to return (so it ran), had persuaded the king to meet him by declaring that he held a statedocument of great

importance and of a most secret nature; the king, with his habitual fearlessness, had gone alone, but only to

refuse with scorn Count Rupert's terms. Enraged at this unfavorable reception, the audacious criminal had

made a sudden attack on the king, with what issue all knew. He had met his own death, while the king,

perceiving from a glance at the document that it compromised wellknown persons, had, with the nobility

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which marked him, destroyed it unread before the eyes of those who were rushing in to his rescue. I supplied

suggestions and improvements; and, engrossed in contriving how to blind curious eyes, we forgot the real and

permanent difficulties of the thing we had resolved upon. For us they did not exist; Sapt met every objection

by declaring that the thing had been done once and could be done again. Bernenstein and I were not behind

We would guard the secret with brain and hand and life, even as we had guarded and kept the secret of the

queen's letter, which would now go with Rupert of Hentzau to his grave. Bauer we could catch and silence:

nay, who would listen to such a tale from such a man? Rischenheim was ours; the old woman would keep her

doubts between her teeth for her own sake. To his own land and his own people Rudolf must be dead while

the King of Ruritania would stand before all Europe recognized, unquestioned, unassailed. True, he must

marry the queen again; Sapt was ready with the means, and would hear nothing of the difficulty and risk in

finding a hand to perform the necessary ceremony. If we quailed in our courage: we had but to look at the

alternative, and find recompense the perils of what we meant to undertake by a consideration the desperate

risk involved in abandoning it. Persuaded the substitution of Rudolf for the king was the only thing would

serve our turn, we asked no longer whether it possible, but sought only the means to make it safe and safe.

But Rudolf himself had not spoken. Sapt's appeal and the queen's imploring cry had shaken but not overcome

him; he had wavered, but he was not won. Yet there was no talk of impossibility or peril in his mouth, any

more than in ours: those were not what gave him pause. The score on which he hesitated was whether the

thing should be done, not whether it could; our appeals were not to brace a failing courage, but cajole a sturdy

sense of honor which found the imposture distasteful so soon as it seemed to serve a personal end. To serve

the king he had played the king in old days, but he did not love to play the king when the profit of it was to be

his own. Hence he was unmoved till his care for the fair fame of the queen and the love of his friends joined

Then he faltered; but he had not fallen. Yet Colonel Sapt did all as though he had given his assent, and

watched the last hours in which his flight from Strelsau was possible go quickly by with more than

equanimity. Why hurry Rudolf's resolve? Every moment shut him closer in the trap of an inevitable choice.

With every hour that he was called the king, it became more impossible for him to bear any other name all his

days. Therefore Sapt let Mr. Rassendyll doubt and struggle, while he himself wrote his story and laid his

longheaded plans. And now and then James, the little servant, came in and went out, sedate and smug, but

with a quiet satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. He had made a story for a pastime, and it was being translated

Before now the queen had left us, persuaded to lie down and try to rest till the matter should be settled.

Stilled by Rudolf's gentle rebuke, she had urged him no more in words, but there was an entreaty in her eyes

stronger than any spoken prayer, and a piteousness in the lingering of her hand in his harder to resist than ten

thousand sad petitions. At last he had led her from the room and commended her to Helga's care. Then,

returning to us, he stood silent a little while. We also were silent, Sapt sitting and looking up at him with his

"Well, lad?" he said at last, briefly putting the great question. Rudolf walked to the window and seemed to

lose himself for a moment in the contemplation of the quiet night. There were no more than a few stragglers

"I should like to walk up and down outside and think it over," he said, turning to us; and, as Bernenstein

"Yes, do," said old Sapt, with a glance at the clock, whose hands were now hard on two o'clock. "Take your

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"I'm not your dupe, old Sapt," said he, shaking his head. "Trust me, if I decide to get away, I'll get away, be it

So he left us, and then came that long time of scheming and planning, and most persistent eyeshutting, in

which occupations an hour wore its life away. Rudolf had not passed out of the porch, and we supposed that

he had betaken himself to the gardens, there to fight his battle. Old Sapt, having done his work, suddenly

"That moon there," he said, pointing his square, thick forefinger at the window, "is a mighty untrustworthy

"I've known her send a lover's to sleep," laughed young Bernenstein, rising from his table, stretching himself,

"Ay, she's apt to take a man out of what he is," pursued old Sapt. "Set a quiet man near her, and he dreams of

battle; an ambitious fellow, after ten minutes of her, will ask nothing better than to muse all his life away. I

"What will she do to Rudolf Rassendyll?" I asked, falling in with the old fellow's whimsical mood.

"He may see God's," said Sapt; and he shook himself as though an unwelcome thought had found its way to

A pause fell on us, born of the colonel's last remark. We looked one another in the face. At last Sapt brought

"She may make a man soft as a sponge," reflected Sapt, starting again, "or hard as a bar of steel. I should feel

safer if the night were dark. I've looked at her often from my tent and from bare ground, and I know her. She

got me a decoration, and once she came near to making me turn tail. Have nothing to do with her, young

"I'll keep my eyes for beauties nearer at hand," said Bernenstein, whose volatile temper soon threw off a

"The Count of LuzauRischenheim begs to be allowed to speak with the king," said James.

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"We expect his Majesty every moment. Beg the count to enter," Sapt answered; and, when Rischenheim

came in, he went on, motioning the count to a chair: "We are talking, my lord, of the influence of the moon

"What are you going to do? What have you decided?" burst out Rischenheim impatiently.

"The king decides nothing, my lord. She decides," and the old fellow pointed again through the window

towards the moon. "At this moment she makes or unmakes a king; but I can't tell you which. What of your

"Sir," said Rischenheim with some dignity, "since he is dead, let him rest in peace. It is not for us to judge

"He may well wish it were. For, by Heaven, I believe I should let the rogue off," said Colonel Sapt, "and I

"God forgive him, I loved him," said Rischenheim. "Yes, and many have loved him. His servants loved him,

"I hope he's gone to hell with his loved master," grunted Sapt, but he had the grace to lower his voice and

"I am come," said Rischenheim, "to put my services in all respects at the queen's disposal."

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Rischenheim sat silent for a moment. His face was pale, and when he spoke his voice trembled. But his words

"I gave my honor to the queen, and even in that I will serve her if she commands me."

Bernenstein sprang forward and caught him by the hand. "That's what I like," said he, "and damn the moon,

colonel!" His sentence was hardly out of his mouth when the door opened, and to our astonishment the queen

entered. Helga was just behind her; her clasped hands and frightened eyes seemed to protest that their coming

was against her will. The queen was clad in a long white robe, and her hair hung on her shoulders, being but

loosely bound with a ribbon. Her air showed great agitation, and without any greeting or notice of the rest she

"The dream, Fritz," she said. "It has come again. Helga persuaded me to lie down, and I was very tired, so at

last I fell asleep. Then it came. I saw him, FritzI saw him as plainly as I see you. They all called him king,

as they did today; but they did not cheer. They were quiet, and looked at him with sad faces. I could not

hear what they said; they spoke in hushed voices. I heard nothing more than 'the king, the king,' and he

seemed to hear not even that. He lay still; he was lying on something, something covered with hanging stuff,

I couldn't see what it was; yes, quite still. His face was so pale, and he didn't hear them say 'the king.' Fritz,

She turned from me and her eyes flashed over the rest. "Where is he? Why aren't you with him?" she

demanded, with a sudden change of tone; "why aren't you round him? You should be between him and

danger, ready to give your lives for his. Indeed, gentlemen, you take your duty lightly."

It might be that there was little reason in her words. There appeared to be no danger threatening him, and

after all he was not our king, much as we desired to make him such. Yet we did not think of any such matter.

We were abashed before her reproof and took her indignation as deserved. We hung our heads, and Sapt's

"He has chosen to go walking, madam, and to go alone. He ordered usI say, he ordered us not to come.

Surely we are right to obey him?" The sarcastic inflection of his voice conveyed his opinion of the queen's

"Obey him? Yes. You couldn't go with him if he forbade you. But you should follow him; you should keep

This much she spoke in proud tones and with a disdainful manner, but then came a sudden return to her

"I'll find him for you if he's above ground, madam," I cried, for her appeal touched me to the heart.

"He's no farther off than the gardens," grumbled old Sapt, still resentful of the queen's reproof and scornful of

the woman's agitation. He was also out of temper with Rudolf himself, because the moon took so long in

"The gardens!" she cried. "Then let us look for him. Oh, you've let him walk in the gardens alone?"

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She did not hear him, for she had swept out of the room. Helga went with her, and we all followed, Sapt

behind the rest of us, still very surly. I heard him grumbling away as we ran downstairs, and, having passed

along the great corridor, came to the small saloon that opened on the gardens. There were no servants about,

but we encountered a nightwatchman, and Bernenstein snatched the lantern from the astonished man's hand.

Save for the dim light thus furnished, the room was dark. But outside the windows the moon streamed

brightly down on the broad gravel walk, on the formal flowerbeds, and the great trees in the gardens. The

queen made straight for the window. I followed her, and, having flung the window open, stood by her. The

air was sweet, and the breeze struck with grateful coolness on my face. I saw that Sapt had come near and

stood on the other side of the queen. My wife and the others were behind, looking out where our shoulders

There, in the bright moonlight, on the far side of the broad terrace, close by the line of tall trees that fringed

its edge, we saw Rudolf Rassendyll pacing slowly up and down, with his hands behind his back and his eyes

fixed on the arbiter of his fate, on her who was to make him a king or send him a fugitive from Strelsau.

The queen did not answer. Sapt said no more, and of the rest of us none spoke. We stood watching him as he

struggled with his great issue; a greater surely has seldom fallen to the lot of any man born in a private

station. Yet I could read little of it on the face that the rays of white light displayed so clearly, although they

turned his healthy tints to a dull gray, and gave unnatural sharpness to his features against the deep

I heard the queen's quick breathing, but there was scarcely another sound. I saw her clutch her gown and pull

it away a little from her throat; save for that none in the group moved. The lantern's light was too dim to force

notice from Mr. Rassendyll. Unconscious of our presence, he wrestled with fate that night in the gardens.

Suddenly the faintest exclamation came from Sapt. He put his hand back and beckoned to Bernenstein. The

young man handed his lantern to the constable, who set it close to the side of the windowframe. The queen,

absolutely engrossed in her lover, saw nothing, but I perceived what had caught Sapt's attention. There were

scores on the paint and indentations in the wood, just at the edge of the panel and near the lock. I glanced at

Sapt, who nodded his head. It looked very much as though somebody had tried to force the door that night,

employing a knife which had dented the woodwork and scratched the paint. The least thing was enough to

alarm us, standing where we stood, and the constable's face was full of suspicion. Who had sought an

entrance? It could be no trained and practised housebreaker; he would have had better tools.

But now our attention was again diverted. Rudolf stopped short. He still looked for a moment at the sky, then

his glance dropped to the ground at his feet. A second later he jerked his headit was bare, and I saw the

dark red hair stir with the movementlike a man who has settled something which caused him a puzzle. In

an instant we knew, by the quick intuition of contagious emotion, that the question had found its answer. He

was by now king or a fugitive. The Lady of the Skies had given her decision. The thrill ran through us; I felt

the queen draw herself together at my side; I felt the muscles of Rischenheim's arm which rested against my

shoulder grow rigid and taut. Sapt's face was full of eagerness, and he gnawed his moustache silently. We

gathered closer to one another. At last we could bear the suspense no longer. With one look at the queen and

another at me, Sapt stepped on to the gravel. He would go and learn the answer; thus the unendurable strain

that had stretched us like tortured men on a rack would be relieved. The queen did not answer his glance, nor

even seem to see that he had moved. Her eyes were still all for Mr. Rassendyll, her thoughts buried in his; for

her happiness was in his hands and lay poised on the issue of that decision whose momentousness held him

for a moment motionless on the path. Often I seem to see him as he stood there, tall, straight, and stately, the

king a man's fancy paints when he reads of great monarchs who flourished long ago in the springtime of the

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Sapt's step crunched on the gravel. Rudolf heard it and turned his head. He saw Sapt, and he saw me also

behind Sapt. He smiled composedly and brightly, but he did not move from where he was. He held out both

hands towards the constable and caught him in their double grasp, still smiling down in his face. I was no

nearer to reading his decision, though I saw that he had reached a resolution that was immovable and gave

peace to his soul. If he meant to go on he would go on now, on to the end, without a backward look or a falter

of his foot; if he had chosen the other way, he would depart without a murmur or a hesitation. The queen's

quick breathing had ceased, she seemed like a statue; but Rischenheim moved impatiently, as though he

"Well?" he cried. "Which is it to bebackward or forward?" Rudolf pressed his hands and looked into his

eyes. The answer asked but a word from him. The queen caught my arm; her rigid limbs seemed to give way,

and she would have fallen if I had not supported her. At the same instant a man sprang out of the dark line of

tall trees, directly behind Mr. Rassendyll. Bernenstein uttered a loud startled cry and rushed forward, pushing

the queen herself violently out of his path. His hand flew to his side, and he ripped the heavy cavalry sword

that belonged to his uniform of the Cuirassiers of the Guard from its sheath. I saw it flash in the moonlight,

but its flash was quenched in a brighter short blaze. A shot rang out through the quiet gardens. Mr.

Rassendyll did not loose his hold of Sapt's hands, but he sank slowly on to his knees. Sapt seemed paralyzed.

Again Bernenstein cried out. It was a name this time. "Bauer! By God, Bauer!" he cried.

In an instant he was across the path and by the trees. The assassin fired again, but now he missed. We saw the

great sword flash high above Bernenstein's head and heard it whistle through the air. It crashed on the crown

of Bauer's head, and he fell like a log to the ground with his skull split. The queen's hold on me relaxed; she

sank into Rischenheim's arms. I ran forward and knelt by Mr. Rassendyll. He still held Sapt's hands, and by

their help buoyed himself up. But when he saw me he let go of them and sank back against me, his head

resting on my chest. He moved his lips, but seemed unable to speak. He was shot through the back. Bauer had

There was a sudden stir from inside the palace. Shutters were flung back and windows thrown open. The

group we made stood cleancut, plainly visible in the moonlight. A moment later there was a rush of eager

feet, and we were surrounded by officers and servants. Bernenstein stood by me now, leaning on his sword;

Sapt had not uttered a word; his face was distorted with horror and bitterness. Rudolf's eyes were closed and

He, Sapt and I lifted Rudolf and bore him across the gravel terrace and into the little saloon. We passed the

queen. She was leaning on Rischenheim's arm, and held my wife's hand. We laid Rudolf down on a couch.

Outside I heard Bernenstein say, "Pick up that fellow and carry him somewhere out of sight." Then he also

came in, followed by a crowd. He sent them all to the door, and we were left alone, waiting for the surgeon.

The queen came up, Rischenheim still supporting her. "Rudolf! Rudolf!" she whispered, very softly.

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He opened his eyes, and his lips bent in a smile. She flung herself on her knees and kissed his hand

Rudolf's eyes had been on the queen. As I spoke he looked up at me, smiled again, and shook his head. I

When the surgeon came Sapt and I assisted him in his examination. The queen had been led away, and we

were alone. The examination was very short. Then we carried Rudolf to a bed; the nearest chanced to be in

Bernenstein's room; there we laid him, and there all that could be done for him was done. All this time we

had asked no questions of the surgeon, and he had given no information. We knew too well to ask: we had all

seen men die before now, and the look on the face was familiar to us. Two or three more doctors, the most

eminent in Strelsau, came now, having been hastily summoned. It was their right to be called; but, for all the

good they were, they might have been left to sleep the night out in their beds. They drew together in a little

group at the end of the room and talked for a few minutes in low tones. James lifted his master's head and

gave him a drink of water. Rudolf swallowed it with difficulty. Then I saw him feebly press James's hand, for

the little man's face was full of sorrow. As his master smiled the servant mustered a smile in answer. I crossed

I went straight back to Rudolf Rassendyll. His eyes greeted me and questioned me. He was a man, and I

played no silly tricks with him. I bent down and said: "An hour, they think, Rudolf."

He made one restless movement, whether of pain or protest I do not know. Then he spoke, very low, slowly,

I went back to them and asked if anything more could be done. The answer was nothing; but I could not

prevail further than to get all save one sent into an adjoining room; he who remained seated himself at a table

some way off. Rudolf's eyes had closed again; old Sapt, who had not once spoken since the shot was fired,

Sapt went while I stayed by him. Bernenstein came to him, bent down, and kissed his hand. The young

fellow, who had borne himself with such reckless courage and dash throughout the affair, was quite

unmanned now, and the tears were rolling down his face. I could have been much in the same plight, but I

He noticed the style of my address; a faint amused gleam shot into his languid eyes.

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She came, dryeyed, calm, and queenly. We all drew back, and she knelt down by his bed, holding his hand

in her two hands. Presently the hand stirred; she let it go; then, knowing well what he wanted, she raised it

herself and placed it on her head, while she bowed her face to the bed. His hand wandered for the last time

over the gleaming hair that he had loved so well. She rose, passed her arm about his shoulders, and kissed his

lips. Her face rested close to his, and he seemed to speak to her, but we could not have heard the words even

The doctor came and felt his pulse, retreating afterwards with closeshut lips. We drew a little nearer, for we

knew that he would not be long with us now. Suddenly strength seemed to come upon him. He raised himself

"God has decided," he said. "I've tried to do the right thing through it all. Sapt, and Bernenstein, and you, old

We shook his hand as he bade us. Then he took the queen's hand. Again she knew his mind, and moved it to

his lips. "In life and in death, my sweet queen," he murmured. And thus he fell asleep.

THERE IS little need, and I have little heart, to dwell on what followed the death of Mr. Rassendyll. The

plans we had laid to secure his tenure of the throne, in case he had accepted it, served well in the event of his

death. Bauer's lips were for ever sealed; the old woman was too scared and appalled to hint even to her

gossips of the suspicions she entertained. Rischenheim was loyal to the pledge he had given to the queen. The

ashes of the huntinglodge held their secret fast, and none suspected when the charred body which was called

Rudolf Rassendyll's was laid to quiet rest in the graveyard of the town of Zenda, hard by the tomb of Herbert

the forester. For we had from the first rejected any idea of bringing the king's body to Strelsau and setting it

in the place of Mr. Rassendyll's. The difficulties of such an undertaking were almost insuperable; in our

hearts we did not desire to conquer them. As a king Rudolf Rassendyll had died, as a king let him lie. As a

king he lay in his palace at Strelsau, while the news of his murder at the hands of a confederate of Rupert of

Hentzau went forth to startle and appall the world. At a mighty price our task had been made easy; many

might have doubted the living, none questioned the dead; suspicions which might have gathered round a

throne died away at the gate of a vault. The king was dead. Who would ask if it were in truth the king who

lay in state in the great hall of the palace, or whether the humble grave at Zenda held the bones of the last

male Elphberg? In the silence of the grave all murmurs and questionings were hushed.

Throughout the day people had been passing and repassing through the great hall. There, on a stately bier

surmounted by a crown and the drooping folds of the royal banner, lay Rudolf Rassendyll. The highest officer

guarded him; in the cathedral the archbishop said a mass for his soul. He had lain there three days; the

evening of the third had come, and early on the morrow he was to be buried. There is a little gallery in the

hall, that looks down on the spot where the bier stood; here was I on this evening, and with me Queen Flavia.

We were alone together, and together we saw beneath us the calm face of the dead man. He was clad in the

white uniform in which he had been crowned; the ribbon of the Red Rose was across his breast. His hand

held a true red rose, fresh and fragrant; Flavia herself had set it there, that even in death he might not miss the

chosen token of her love. I had not spoken to her, nor she to me, since. we came there. We watched the pomp

round him, and the circles of people that came to bring a wreath for him or to look upon his face. I saw a girl

come and kneel long at the bier's foot. She rose and went away sobbing, leaving a little circlet of flowers. It

was Rosa Holf. I saw women come and go weeping, and men bite their lips as they passed by. Rischenheim

came, palefaced and troubled; and while all came and went, there, immovable, with drawn sword, in

military stiffness, old Sapt stood at the head of the bier, his eyes set steadily in front of him, and his body

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"It is the dream, Fritz," she said. "Hark! They speak of the king; they speak in low voices and with grief, but

they call him king. It's what I saw in the dream. But he does not hear nor heed. No, he can't hear nor heed

"He didn't tell me," she answered, "and I didn't think of it while he spoke to me."

Well, I take it that when a man comes to die, love is more to him than a kingdom: it may be, if we could see

"Of nothing but his great love for me, Fritz," she said again. "And my love brought him to his death."

"No," she whispered; and she leant over the parapet of the gallery, stretching out her arms to him. But he lay

still and quiet, not hearing and not heeding what she murmured, "My king! my king!" It was even as it had

That night James, the servant, took leave of his dead master and of us. He carried to England by word of

mouthfor we dared write nothing downthe truth concerning the King of Ruritania and Mr. Rassendyll. It

was to be told to the Earl of Burlesdon, Rudolf's brother, under a pledge of secrecy; and to this day the earl is

the only man besides ourselves who knows the story. His errand done, James returned in order to enter the

queen's service, in which he still is; and he told us that when Lord Burlesdon had heard the story he sat silent

"He did well. Some day I will visit his grave. Tell her Majesty that there is still a Rassendyll, if she has need

The offer was such as should come from a man of Rudolf's name, yet I trust that the queen needs no further

service than such as it is our humble duty and dear delight to render her. It is our part to strive to lighten the

burden that she bears, and by our love to assuage her undying grief. For she reigns now in Ruritania alone,

the last of all the Elphbergs; and her only joy is to talk of Mr. Rassendyll with those few who knew him, her

In great pomp we laid him to his rest in the vault of the kings of Ruritania in the Cathedral of Strelsau. There

he lies among the princes of the House of Elphberg. I think that if there be indeed any consciousness among

the dead, or any knowledge of what passes in the world they have left, they should be proud to call him

brother. There rises in memory of him a stately monument, and people point it out to one another as the

memorial of King Rudolf. I go often to the spot, and recall in thought all that passed when he came the first

time to Zenda, and again on his second coming. For I mourn him as a man mourns a trusted leader and a

loved comrade, and I should have asked no better than to be allowed to serve him all my days. Yet I serve the

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Times change for all of us. The roaring flood of youth goes by, and the stream of life sinks to a quiet flow.

Sapt is an old man now; soon my sons will be grown up, men enough themselves to serve Queen Flavia. Yet

the memory of Rudolf Rassendyll is fresh to me as on the day he died, and the vision of the death of Rupert

of Hentzau dances often before my eyes. It may be that some day the whole story shall be told, and men shall

judge of it for themselves. To me it seems now as though all had ended well. I must not be misunderstood:

my heart is still sore for the loss of him. But we saved the queen's fair fame, and to Rudolf himself the fatal

stroke came as a relief from a choice too difficult: on the one side lay what impaired his own honor, on the

other what threatened hers. As I think on this my anger at his death is less, though my grief cannot be. To this

day I know not how he chose; no, and I don't know how he should have chosen. Yet he had chosen, for his

Come, I have thought so much of him that I will go now and stand before his monument, taking with me my

lastborn son, a little lad of ten. He is not too young to desire to serve the queen, and not too young to learn

to love and reverence him who sleeps there in the vault and was in his life the noblest gentleman I have

I will take the boy with me and tell him what I may of brave King Rudolf, how he fought and how he loved,

and how he held the queen's honor and his own above all things in this world. The boy is not too young to

learn such lessons from the life of Mr. Rassendyll. And while we stand there I will turn again into his native

tonguefor, alas, the young rogue loves his toy soldiers better than his Latin!the inscription that the

queen wrote with her own hand, directing that it should be inscribed in that stately tongue over the tomb in

"To Rudolf, who reigned lately in this city, and reigns for ever in her heart.QUEEN FLAVIA."

I told him the meaning, and he spelt the big words over in his childish voice; at first he stumbled, but the

second time he had it right, and recited with a little touch of awe in his fresh young tones:

I felt his hand tremble in mine, and he looked up in my face. "God save the Queen, father," said he.

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