THE PRISONER OF ZENDA

by Anthony Hope

CONTENTS

 1 The Rassendylls--With a Word on the Elphbergs 2 Concerning the Colour of Men's Hair 3 A Merry Evening with a Distant Relative 4 The King Keeps his Appointment 5 The Adventures of an Understudy 6 The Secret of a Cellar 7 His Majesty Sleeps in Strelsau 8 A Fair Cousin and a Dark Brother 9 A New Use for a Tea-Table 10 A Great Chance for a Villain 11 Hunting a Very Big Boar 12 I Receive a Visitor and Bait a Hook 13 An Improvement on Jacob's Ladder 14 A Night Outside the Castle 15 I Talk with a Tempter 16 A Desperate Plan 17 Young Rupert's Midnight Diversions 18 The Forcing of the Trap 19 Face to Face in the Forest 20 The Prisoner and the King 21 If Love Were All! 22 Present, Past--and Future?

CHAPTER 1

The Rassendylls--With a Word on the Elphbergs

"I wonder when in the world you're going to do anything, Rudolf?" saidmy brother's wife. 

"My dear Rose, " I answered, laying down my egg-spoon, "why in the worldshould I do anything? My position is a comfortable one. I have anincome nearly sufficient for my wants (no one's income is ever quitesufficient, you know), I enjoy an enviable social position: I ambrother to Lord Burlesdon, and brother-in-law to that charming lady, hiscountess. Behold, it is enough!"

"You are nine-and-twenty, " she observed, "and you've done nothing but--"

"Knock about? It is true. Our family doesn't need to do things. "

This remark of mine rather annoyed Rose, for everybody knows (andtherefore there can be no harm in referring to the fact) that, prettyand accomplished as she herself is, her family is hardly of the samestanding as the Rassendylls. Besides her attractions, she possessed alarge fortune, and my brother Robert was wise enough not to mind abouther ancestry. Ancestry is, in fact, a matter concerning which the nextobservation of Rose's has some truth. 

"Good families are generally worse than any others, " she said. 

Upon this I stroked my hair: I knew quite well what she meant. 

"I'm so glad Robert's is black!" she cried. 

At this moment Robert (who rises at seven and works before breakfast)came in. He glanced at his wife: her cheek was slightly flushed; hepatted it caressingly. 

"What's the matter, my dear?" he asked. 

"She objects to my doing nothing and having red hair, " said I, in aninjured tone. 

"Oh! of course he can't help his hair, " admitted Rose. 

"It generally crops out once in a generation, " said my brother. "So doesthe nose. Rudolf has got them both. "

"I wish they didn't crop out, " said Rose, still flushed. 

"I rather like them myself, " said I, and, rising, I bowed to theportrait of Countess Amelia. 

My brother's wife uttered an exclamation of impatience. 

"I wish you'd take that picture away, Robert, " said she. 

"My dear!" he cried. 

"Good heavens!" I added. 

"Then it might be forgotten, " she continued. 

"Hardly--with Rudolf about, " said Robert, shaking his head. 

"Why should it be forgotten?" I asked. 

"Rudolf!" exclaimed my brother's wife, blushing very prettily. 

I laughed, and went on with my egg. At least I had shelved the questionof what (if anything) I ought to do. And, by way of closing thediscussion--and also, I must admit, of exasperating my strict littlesister-in-law a trifle more--I observed:

"I rather like being an Elphberg myself. "

When I read a story, I skip the explanations; yet the moment I begin towrite one, I find that I must have an explanation. For it is manifestthat I must explain why my sister-in-law was vexed with my nose andhair, and why I ventured to call myself an Elphberg. For eminent as, I must protest, the Rassendylls have been for many generations, yetparticipation in their blood of course does not, at first sight, justifythe boast of a connection with the grander stock of the Elphbergs ora claim to be one of that Royal House. For what relationship is therebetween Ruritania and Burlesdon, between the Palace at Strelsau or theCastle of Zenda and Number 305 Park Lane, W. ?

Well then--and I must premise that I am going, perforce, to rake up thevery scandal which my dear Lady Burlesdon wishes forgotten--in the year1733, George II. Sitting then on the throne, peace reigning forthe moment, and the King and the Prince of Wales being not yet atloggerheads, there came on a visit to the English Court a certainprince, who was afterwards known to history as Rudolf the Third ofRuritania. The prince was a tall, handsome young fellow, marked (maybemarred, it is not for me to say) by a somewhat unusually long, sharp andstraight nose, and a mass of dark-red hair--in fact, the nose and thehair which have stamped the Elphbergs time out of mind. He stayed somemonths in England, where he was most courteously received; yet, inthe end, he left rather under a cloud. For he fought a duel (it wasconsidered highly well bred of him to waive all question of his rank)with a nobleman, well known in the society of the day, not only for hisown merits, but as the husband of a very beautiful wife. In that duelPrince Rudolf received a severe wound, and, recovering therefrom, wasadroitly smuggled off by the Ruritanian ambassador, who had found hima pretty handful. The nobleman was not wounded in the duel; but themorning being raw and damp on the occasion of the meeting, he contracteda severe chill, and, failing to throw it off, he died some six monthsafter the departure of Prince Rudolf, without having found leisure toadjust his relations with his wife--who, after another two months, borean heir to the title and estates of the family of Burlesdon. This ladywas the Countess Amelia, whose picture my sister-in-law wished to removefrom the drawing-room in Park Lane; and her husband was James, fifthEarl of Burlesdon and twenty-second Baron Rassendyll, both in thepeerage of England, and a Knight of the Garter. As for Rudolf, he wentback to Ruritania, married a wife, and ascended the throne, whereon hisprogeny in the direct line have sat from then till this very hour--withone short interval. And, finally, if you walk through the picturegalleries at Burlesdon, among the fifty portraits or so of the lastcentury and a half, you will find five or six, including that of thesixth earl, distinguished by long, sharp, straight noses and a quantityof dark-red hair; these five or six have also blue eyes, whereas amongthe Rassendylls dark eyes are the commoner. 

That is the explanation, and I am glad to have finished it: theblemishes on honourable lineage are a delicate subject, and certainlythis heredity we hear so much about is the finest scandalmonger in theworld; it laughs at discretion, and writes strange entries between thelines of the "Peerages". 

It will be observed that my sister-in-law, with a want of logic thatmust have been peculiar to herself (since we are no longer allowed tolay it to the charge of her sex), treated my complexion almost as anoffence for which I was responsible, hastening to assume from thatexternal sign inward qualities of which I protest my entire innocence;and this unjust inference she sought to buttress by pointing to theuselessness of the life I had led. Well, be that as it may, I had pickedup a good deal of pleasure and a good deal of knowledge. I had been toa German school and a German university, and spoke German as readilyand perfectly as English; I was thoroughly at home in French; I had asmattering of Italian and enough Spanish to swear by. I was, I believe, a strong, though hardly fine swordsman and a good shot. I could rideanything that had a back to sit on; and my head was as cool a one as youcould find, for all its flaming cover. If you say that I ought to havespent my time in useful labour, I am out of Court and have nothingto say, save that my parents had no business to leave me two thousandpounds a year and a roving disposition. 

"The difference between you and Robert, " said my sister-in-law, whooften (bless her!) speaks on a platform, and oftener still as if shewere on one, "is that he recognizes the duties of his position, and yousee the opportunities of yours. "

"To a man of spirit, my dear Rose, " I answered, "opportunities areduties. "

"Nonsense!" said she, tossing her head; and after a moment she went on:"Now, here's Sir Jacob Borrodaile offering you exactly what you might beequal to. "

"A thousand thanks!" I murmured. 

"He's to have an Embassy in six months, and Robert says he is sure thathe'll take you as an attache. Do take it, Rudolf--to please me. "

Now, when my sister-in-law puts the matter in that way, wrinkling herpretty brows, twisting her little hands, and growing wistful in theeyes, all on account of an idle scamp like myself, for whom she hasno natural responsibility, I am visited with compunction. Moreover, Ithought it possible that I could pass the time in the position suggestedwith some tolerable amusement. Therefore I said:

"My dear sister, if in six months' time no unforeseen obstacle hasarisen, and Sir Jacob invites me, hang me if I don't go with Sir Jacob!"

"Oh, Rudolf, how good of you! I am glad!"

"Where's he going to?"

"He doesn't know yet; but it's sure to be a good Embassy. "

"Madame, " said I, "for your sake I'll go, if it's no more than abeggarly Legation. When I do a thing, I don't do it by halves. "

My promise, then, was given; but six months are six months, and seem aneternity, and, inasmuch as they stretched between me and my prospectiveindustry (I suppose attaches are industrious; but I know not, for Inever became attache to Sir Jacob or anybody else), I cast about forsome desirable mode of spending them. And it occurred to me suddenlythat I would visit Ruritania. It may seem strange that I had nevervisited that country yet; but my father (in spite of a sneaking fondnessfor the Elphbergs, which led him to give me, his second son, the famousElphberg name of Rudolf) had always been averse from my going, and, since his death, my brother, prompted by Rose, had accepted the familytradition which taught that a wide berth was to be given to thatcountry. But the moment Ruritania had come into my head I was eaten upwith a curiosity to see it. After all, red hair and long noses arenot confined to the House of Elphberg, and the old story seemeda preposterously insufficient reason for debarring myself fromacquaintance with a highly interesting and important kingdom, one whichhad played no small part in European history, and might do the likeagain under the sway of a young and vigorous ruler, such as the newKing was rumoured to be. My determination was clinched by reading in TheTimes that Rudolf the Fifth was to be crowned at Strelsau in the courseof the next three weeks, and that great magnificence was to markthe occasion. At once I made up my mind to be present, and began mypreparations. But, inasmuch as it has never been my practice to furnishmy relatives with an itinerary of my journeys and in this case Ianticipated opposition to my wishes, I gave out that I was going for aramble in the Tyrol--an old haunt of mine--and propitiated Rose's wrathby declaring that I intended to study the political and social problemsof the interesting community which dwells in that neighbourhood. 

"Perhaps, " I hinted darkly, "there may be an outcome of the expedition. "

"What do you mean?" she asked. 

"Well, " said I carelessly, "there seems a gap that might be filled by anexhaustive work on--"

"Oh! will you write a book?" she cried, clapping her hands. "That wouldbe splendid, wouldn't it, Robert?"

"It's the best of introductions to political life nowadays, " observed mybrother, who has, by the way, introduced himself in this manner severaltimes over. Burlesdon on Ancient Theories and Modern Facts and TheUltimate Outcome, by a Political Student, are both works of recognizedeminence. 

"I believe you are right, Bob, my boy, " said I. 

"Now promise you'll do it, " said Rose earnestly. 

"No, I won't promise; but if I find enough material, I will. "

"That's fair enough, " said Robert. 

"Oh, material doesn't matter!" she said, pouting. 

But this time she could get no more than a qualified promise out of me. To tell the truth, I would have wagered a handsome sum that the storyof my expedition that summer would stain no paper and spoil not a singlepen. And that shows how little we know what the future holds; for here Iam, fulfilling my qualified promise, and writing, as I never thoughtto write, a book--though it will hardly serve as an introduction topolitical life, and has not a jot to do with the Tyrol. 

Neither would it, I fear, please Lady Burlesdon, if I were to submit itto her critical eye--a step which I have no intention of taking. 

CHAPTER 2

Concerning the Colour of Men's Hair

It was a maxim of my Uncle William's that no man should pass throughParis without spending four-and-twenty hours there. My uncle spoke outof a ripe experience of the world, and I honoured his advice by puttingup for a day and a night at "The Continental" on my way to--the Tyrol. I called on George Featherly at the Embassy, and we had a bit of dinnertogether at Durand's, and afterwards dropped in to the Opera; andafter that we had a little supper, and after that we called on BertramBertrand, a versifier of some repute and Paris correspondent to TheCritic. He had a very comfortable suite of rooms, and we found somepleasant fellows smoking and talking. It struck me, however, thatBertram himself was absent and in low spirits, and when everybody exceptourselves had gone, I rallied him on his moping preoccupation. Hefenced with me for a while, but at last, flinging himself on a sofa, heexclaimed:

"Very well; have it your own way. I am in love--infernally in love!"

"Oh, you'll write the better poetry, " said I, by way of consolation. 

He ruffled his hair with his hand and smoked furiously. GeorgeFeatherly, standing with his back to the mantelpiece, smiled unkindly. 

"If it's the old affair, " said he, "you may as well throw it up, Bert. She's leaving Paris tomorrow. "

"I know that, " snapped Bertram. 

"Not that it would make any difference if she stayed, " pursued therelentless George. "She flies higher than the paper trade, my boy!"

"Hang her!" said Bertram. 

"It would make it more interesting for me, " I ventured to observe, "if Iknew who you were talking about. "

"Antoinette Mauban, " said George. 

"De Mauban, " growled Bertram. 

"Oho!" said I, passing by the question of the `de'. "You don't mean tosay, Bert--?"

"Can't you let me alone?"

"Where's she going to?" I asked, for the lady was something of acelebrity. 

George jingled his money, smiled cruelly at poor Bertram, and answeredpleasantly:

"Nobody knows. By the way, Bert, I met a great man at her house theother night--at least, about a month ago. Did you ever meet him--theDuke of Strelsau?"

"Yes, I did, " growled Bertram. 

"An extremely accomplished man, I thought him. "

It was not hard to see that George's references to the duke wereintended to aggravate poor Bertram's sufferings, so that I drew theinference that the duke had distinguished Madame de Mauban by hisattentions. She was a widow, rich, handsome, and, according to repute, ambitious. It was quite possible that she, as George put it, was flyingas high as a personage who was everything he could be, short of enjoyingstrictly royal rank: for the duke was the son of the late King ofRuritania by a second and morganatic marriage, and half-brother to thenew King. He had been his father's favourite, and it had occasionedsome unfavourable comment when he had been created a duke, with a titlederived from no less a city than the capital itself. His mother had beenof good, but not exalted, birth. 

"He's not in Paris now, is he?" I asked. 

"Oh no! He's gone back to be present at the King's coronation; aceremony which, I should say, he'll not enjoy much. But, Bert, old man, don't despair! He won't marry the fair Antoinette--at least, not unlessanother plan comes to nothing. Still perhaps she--" He paused and added, with a laugh: "Royal attentions are hard to resist--you know that, don'tyou, Rudolf?"

"Confound you!" said I; and rising, I left the hapless Bertram inGeorge's hands and went home to bed. 

The next day George Featherly went with me to the station, where I tooka ticket for Dresden. 

"Going to see the pictures?" asked George, with a grin. 

George is an inveterate gossip, and had I told him that I was off toRuritania, the news would have been in London in three days and in ParkLane in a week. I was, therefore, about to return an evasive answer, when he saved my conscience by leaving me suddenly and darting acrossthe platform. Following him with my eyes, I saw him lift his hat andaccost a graceful, fashionably dressed woman who had just appeared fromthe booking-office. She was, perhaps, a year or two over thirty, tall, dark, and of rather full figure. As George talked, I saw her glance atme, and my vanity was hurt by the thought that, muffled in a fur coatand a neck-wrapper (for it was a chilly April day) and wearing a softtravelling hat pulled down to my ears, I must be looking very far frommy best. A moment later, George rejoined me. 

"You've got a charming travelling companion, " he said. "That's poor BertBertrand's goddess, Antoinette de Mauban, and, like you, she's going toDresden--also, no doubt, to see the pictures. It's very queer, though, that she doesn't at present desire the honour of your acquaintance. "

"I didn't ask to be introduced, " I observed, a little annoyed. 

"Well, I offered to bring you to her; but she said, 'Another time. 'Never mind, old fellow, perhaps there'll be a smash, and you'll have achance of rescuing her and cutting out the Duke of Strelsau!"

No smash, however, happened, either to me or to Madame de Mauban. I canspeak for her as confidently as for myself; for when, after a night'srest in Dresden, I continued my journey, she got into the same train. Understanding that she wished to be let alone, I avoided her carefully, but I saw that she went the same way as I did to the very end of myjourney, and I took opportunities of having a good look at her, when Icould do so unobserved. 

As soon as we reached the Ruritanian frontier (where the old officer whopresided over the Custom House favoured me with such a stare that I feltsurer than before of my Elphberg physiognomy), I bought the papers, andfound in them news which affected my movements. For some reason, whichwas not clearly explained, and seemed to be something of a mystery, thedate of the coronation had been suddenly advanced, and the ceremony wasto take place on the next day but one. The whole country seemed in astir about it, and it was evident that Strelsau was thronged. Rooms wereall let and hotels overflowing; there would be very little chance of myobtaining a lodging, and I should certainly have to pay an exorbitantcharge for it. I made up my mind to stop at Zenda, a small town fiftymiles short of the capital, and about ten from the frontier. My trainreached there in the evening; I would spend the next day, Tuesday, in awander over the hills, which were said to be very fine, and in takinga glance at the famous Castle, and go over by train to Strelsau on theWednesday morning, returning at night to sleep at Zenda. 

Accordingly at Zenda I got out, and as the train passed where I stood onthe platform, I saw my friend Madame de Mauban in her place; clearly shewas going through to Strelsau, having, with more providence than I couldboast, secured apartments there. I smiled to think how surprisedGeorge Featherly would have been to know that she and I had been fellowtravellers for so long. 

I was very kindly received at the hotel--it was really no more than aninn--kept by a fat old lady and her two daughters. They were good, quiet people, and seemed very little interested in the great doings atStrelsau. The old lady's hero was the duke, for he was now, under thelate King's will, master of the Zenda estates and of the Castle, whichrose grandly on its steep hill at the end of the valley a mile or sofrom the inn. The old lady, indeed, did not hesitate to express regretthat the duke was not on the throne, instead of his brother. 

"We know Duke Michael, " said she. "He has always lived among us; everyRuritanian knows Duke Michael. But the King is almost a stranger; he hasbeen so much abroad, not one in ten knows him even by sight. "

"And now, " chimed in one of the young women, "they say he has shaved offhis beard, so that no one at all knows him. "

"Shaved his beard!" exclaimed her mother. "Who says so?"

"Johann, the duke's keeper. He has seen the King. "

"Ah, yes. The King, sir, is now at the duke's hunting-lodge in theforest here; from here he goes to Strelsau to be crowned on Wednesdaymorning. "

I was interested to hear this, and made up my mind to walk next day inthe direction of the lodge, on the chance of coming across the King. Theold lady ran on garrulously:

"Ah, and I wish he would stay at his hunting--that and wine (and onething more) are all he loves, they say--and suffer our duke to becrowned on Wednesday. That I wish, and I don't care who knows it. "

"Hush, mother!" urged the daughters. 

"Oh, there's many to think as I do!" cried the old woman stubbornly. 

I threw myself back in my deep armchair, and laughed at her zeal. 

"For my part, " said the younger and prettier of the two daughters, afair, buxom, smiling wench, "I hate Black Michael! A red Elphberg forme, mother! The King, they say, is as red as a fox or as--"

And she laughed mischievously as she cast a glance at me, and tossed herhead at her sister's reproving face. 

"Many a man has cursed their red hair before now, " muttered the oldlady--and I remembered James, fifth Earl of Burlesdon. 

"But never a woman!" cried the girl. 

"Ay, and women, when it was too late, " was the stern answer, reducingthe girl to silence and blushes. 

"How comes the King here?" I asked, to break an embarrassed silence. "Itis the duke's land here, you say. "

"The duke invited him, sir, to rest here till Wednesday. The duke is atStrelsau, preparing the King's reception. "

"Then they're friends?"

"None better, " said the old lady. 

But my rosy damsel tossed her head again; she was not to be repressedfor long, and she broke out again:

"Ay, they love one another as men do who want the same place and thesame wife!"

The old woman glowered; but the last words pricked my curiosity, and Iinterposed before she could begin scolding:

"What, the same wife, too! How's that, young lady?"

"All the world knows that Black Michael--well then, mother, theduke--would give his soul to marry his cousin, the Princess Flavia, andthat she is to be the queen. "

"Upon my word, " said I, "I begin to be sorry for your duke. But if a manwill be a younger son, why he must take what the elder leaves, and beas thankful to God as he can;" and, thinking of myself, I shrugged myshoulders and laughed. And then I thought also of Antoinette de Maubanand her journey to Strelsau. 

"It's little dealing Black Michael has with--" began the girl, bravingher mother's anger; but as she spoke a heavy step sounded on the floor, and a gruff voice asked in a threatening tone:

"Who talks of 'Black Michael' in his Highness's own burgh?"

The girl gave a little shriek, half of fright--half, I think, ofamusement. 

"You'll not tell of me, Johann?" she said. 

"See where your chatter leads, " said the old lady. 

The man who had spoken came forward. 

"We have company, Johann, " said my hostess, and the fellow plucked offhis cap. A moment later he saw me, and, to my amazement, he started backa step, as though he had seen something wonderful. 

"What ails you, Johann?" asked the elder girl. "This is a gentleman onhis travels, come to see the coronation. "

The man had recovered himself, but he was staring at me with an intense, searching, almost fierce glance. 

"Good evening to you, " said I. 

"Good evening, sir, " he muttered, still scrutinizing me, and the merrygirl began to laugh as she called--

"See, Johann, it is the colour you love! He started to see your hair, sir. It's not the colour we see most of here in Zenda. "

"I crave your pardon, sir, " stammered the fellow, with puzzled eyes. "Iexpected to see no one. "

"Give him a glass to drink my health in; and I'll bid you good night, and thanks to you, ladies, for your courtesy and pleasant conversation. "

So speaking, I rose to my feet, and with a slight bow turned to thedoor. The young girl ran to light me on the way, and the man fell backto let me pass, his eyes still fixed on me. The moment I was by, hestarted a step forward, asking:

"Pray, sir, do you know our King?"

"I never saw him, " said I. "I hope to do so on Wednesday. "

He said no more, but I felt his eyes following me till the door closedbehind me. My saucy conductor, looking over her shoulder at me as shepreceded me upstairs, said:

"There's no pleasing Master Johann for one of your colour, sir. "

"He prefers yours, maybe?" I suggested. 

"I meant, sir, in a man, " she answered, with a coquettish glance. 

"What, " asked I, taking hold of the other side of the candlestick, "doescolour matter in a man?"

"Nay, but I love yours--it's the Elphberg red. "

"Colour in a man, " said I, "is a matter of no more moment thanthat!'--and I gave her something of no value. 

"God send the kitchen door be shut!" said she. 

"Amen!" said I, and left her. 

In fact, however, as I now know, colour is sometimes of considerablemoment to a man. 

CHAPTER 3

A Merry Evening with a Distant Relative

I was not so unreasonable as to be prejudiced against the duke's keeperbecause he disliked my complexion; and if I had been, his most civiland obliging conduct (as it seemed to me to be) next morning would havedisarmed me. Hearing that I was bound for Strelsau, he came to seeme while I was breakfasting, and told me that a sister of his who hadmarried a well-to-do tradesman and lived in the capital, had invitedhim to occupy a room in her house. He had gladly accepted, but now foundthat his duties would not permit of his absence. He begged thereforethat, if such humble (though, as he added, clean and comfortable)lodgings would satisfy me, I would take his place. He pledged hissister's acquiescence, and urged the inconvenience and crowding to whichI should be subject in my journeys to and from Strelsau the next day. I accepted his offer without a moment's hesitation, and he went off totelegraph to his sister, while I packed up and prepared to take the nexttrain. But I still hankered after the forest and the hunting-lodge, andwhen my little maid told me that I could, by walking ten miles or sothrough the forest, hit the railway at a roadside station, I decided tosend my luggage direct to the address which Johann had given, take mywalk, and follow to Strelsau myself. Johann had gone off and was notaware of the change in my plans; but, as its only effect was to delaymy arrival at his sister's for a few hours, there was no reason fortroubling to inform him of it. Doubtless the good lady would waste noanxiety on my account. 

I took an early luncheon, and, having bidden my kind entertainersfarewell, promising to return to them on my way home, I set out to climbthe hill that led to the Castle, and thence to the forest of Zenda. Half an hour's leisurely walking brought me to the Castle. It had beena fortress in old days, and the ancient keep was still in goodpreservation and very imposing. Behind it stood another portion of theoriginal castle, and behind that again, and separated from it by a deepand broad moat, which ran all round the old buildings, was a handsomemodern chateau, erected by the last king, and now forming the countryresidence of the Duke of Strelsau. The old and the new portions wereconnected by a drawbridge, and this indirect mode of access formed theonly passage between the old building and the outer world; but leadingto the modern chateau there was a broad and handsome avenue. It was anideal residence: when "Black Michael" desired company, he could dwell inhis chateau; if a fit of misanthropy seized him, he had merely to crossthe bridge and draw it up after him (it ran on rollers), and nothingshort of a regiment and a train of artillery could fetch him out. I wenton my way, glad that poor Black Michael, though he could not have thethrone or the princess, had, at least, as fine a residence as any princein Europe. 

Soon I entered the forest, and walked on for an hour or more in its coolsombre shade. The great trees enlaced with one another over my head, andthe sunshine stole through in patches as bright as diamonds, andhardly bigger. I was enchanted with the place, and, finding a felledtree-trunk, propped my back against it, and stretching my legs out gavemyself up to undisturbed contemplation of the solemn beauty of the woodsand to the comfort of a good cigar. And when the cigar was finished andI had (I suppose) inhaled as much beauty as I could, I went off intothe most delightful sleep, regardless of my train to Strelsau and ofthe fast-waning afternoon. To remember a train in such a spot wouldhave been rank sacrilege. Instead of that, I fell to dreaming that Iwas married to the Princess Flavia and dwelt in the Castle of Zenda, andbeguiled whole days with my love in the glades of the forest--which madea very pleasant dream. In fact, I was just impressing a fervent kiss onthe charming lips of the princess, when I heard (and the voice seemed atfirst a part of the dream) someone exclaim, in rough strident tones. 

"Why, the devil's in it! Shave him, and he'd be the King!"

The idea seemed whimsical enough for a dream: by the sacrifice of myheavy moustache and carefully pointed imperial, I was to be transformedinto a monarch! I was about to kiss the princess again, when I arrived(very reluctantly) at the conclusion that I was awake. 

I opened my eyes, and found two men regarding me with much curiosity. Both wore shooting costumes and carried guns. One was rather shortand very stoutly built, with a big bullet-shaped head, a bristly greymoustache, and small pale-blue eyes, a trifle bloodshot. The other was aslender young fellow, of middle height, dark in complexion, and bearinghimself with grace and distinction. I set the one down as an oldsoldier: the other for a gentleman accustomed to move in good society, but not unused to military life either. It turned out afterwards that myguess was a good one. 

The elder man approached me, beckoning the younger to follow. He did so, courteously raising his hat. I rose slowly to my feet. 

"He's the height, too!" I heard the elder murmur, as he surveyed my sixfeet two inches of stature. Then, with a cavalier touch of the cap, headdressed me:

"May I ask your name?"

"As you have taken the first step in the acquaintance, gentlemen, " saidI, with a smile, "suppose you give me a lead in the matter of names. "

The young man stepped forward with a pleasant smile. 

"This, " said he, "is Colonel Sapt, and I am called Fritz von Tarlenheim:we are both in the service of the King of Ruritania. "

I bowed and, baring my head, answered:

"I am Rudolf Rassendyll. I am a traveller from England; and once for ayear or two I held a commission from her Majesty the Queen. "

"Then we are all brethren of the sword, " answered Tarlenheim, holdingout his hand, which I took readily. 

"Rassendyll, Rassendyll!" muttered Colonel Sapt; then a gleam ofintelligence flitted across his face. 

"By Heaven!" he cried, "you're of the Burlesdons?"

"My brother is now Lord Burlesdon, " said I. 

"Thy head betrayeth thee, " he chuckled, pointing to my uncovered poll. "Why, Fritz, you know the story?"

The young man glanced apologetically at me. He felt a delicacy whichmy sister-in-law would have admired. To put him at his ease, I remarkedwith a smile:

"Ah! the story is known here as well as among us, it seems. "

"Known!" cried Sapt. "If you stay here, the deuce a man in all Ruritaniawill doubt of it--or a woman either. "

I began to feel uncomfortable. Had I realized what a very plainlywritten pedigree I carried about with me, I should have thought longbefore I visited Ruritania. However, I was in for it now. 

At this moment a ringing voice sounded from the wood behind us:

"Fritz, Fritz! where are you, man?"

Tarlenheim started, and said hastily:

"It's the King!"

Old Sapt chuckled again. 

Then a young man jumped out from behind the trunk of a tree and stoodbeside us. As I looked at him, I uttered an astonished cry; and he, seeing me, drew back in sudden wonder. Saving the hair on my face anda manner of conscious dignity which his position gave him, saving alsothat he lacked perhaps half an inch--nay, less than that, but stillsomething--of my height, the King of Ruritania might have been RudolfRassendyll, and I, Rudolf, the King. 

For an instant we stood motionless, looking at one another. Then I baredmy head again and bowed respectfully. The King found his voice, andasked in bewilderment:

"Colonel--Fritz--who is this gentleman?"

I was about to answer, when Colonel Sapt stepped between the King andme, and began to talk to his Majesty in a low growl. The King toweredover Sapt, and, as he listened, his eyes now and again sought mine. I looked at him long and carefully. The likeness was certainlyastonishing, though I saw the points of difference also. The King's facewas slightly more fleshy than mine, the oval of its contour the leasttrifle more pronounced, and, as I fancied, his mouth lacking somethingof the firmness (or obstinacy) which was to be gathered frommy close-shutting lips. But, for all that, and above all minordistinctions, the likeness rose striking, salient, wonderful. 

Sapt ceased speaking, and the King still frowned. Then, gradually, thecorners of his mouth began to twitch, his nose came down (as minedoes when I laugh), his eyes twinkled, and, behold! he burst into themerriest fit of irrepressible laughter, which rang through the woods andproclaimed him a jovial soul. 

"Well met, cousin!" he cried, stepping up to me, clapping me on theback, and laughing still. "You must forgive me if I was taken aback. Aman doesn't expect to see double at this time of day, eh, Fritz?"

"I must pray pardon, sire, for my presumption, " said I. "I trust it willnot forfeit your Majesty's favour. "

"By Heaven! you'll always enjoy the King's countenance, " he laughed, "whether I like it or not; and, sir, I shall very gladly add to it whatservices I can. Where are you travelling to?"

"To Strelsau, sire--to the coronation. "

The King looked at his friends: he still smiled, though his expressionhinted some uneasiness. But the humorous side of the matter caught himagain. 

"Fritz, Fritz!" he cried, "a thousand crowns for a sight of brotherMichael's face when he sees a pair of us!" and the merry laugh rang outagain. 

"Seriously, " observed Fritz von Tarlenheim, "I question Mr. Rassendyll'swisdom in visiting Strelsau just now. "

The King lit a cigarette. 

"Well, Sapt?" said he, questioningly. 

"He mustn't go, " growled the old fellow. 

"Come, colonel, you mean that I should be in Mr. Rassendyll's debt, if--"

"Oh, ay! wrap it up in the right way, " said Sapt, hauling a great pipeout of his pocket. 

"Enough, sire, " said I. "I'll leave Ruritania today. "

"No, by thunder, you shan't--and that's sans phrase, as Sapt likes it. For you shall dine with me tonight, happen what will afterwards. Come, man, you don't meet a new relation every day!"

"We dine sparingly tonight, " said Fritz von Tarlenheim. 

"Not we--with our new cousin for a guest!" cried the King; and, as Fritzshrugged his shoulders, he added: "Oh! I'll remember our early start, Fritz. "

"So will I--tomorrow morning, " said old Sapt, pulling at his pipe. 

"O wise old Sapt!" cried the King. "Come, Mr. Rassendyll--by the way, what name did they give you?"

"Your Majesty's, " I answered, bowing. 

"Well, that shows they weren't ashamed of us, " he laughed. "Come, then, cousin Rudolf; I've got no house of my own here, but my dear brotherMichael lends us a place of his, and we'll make shift to entertain youthere;" and he put his arm through mine and, signing to the others toaccompany us, walked me off, westerly, through the forest. 

We walked for more than half an hour, and the King smoked cigarettesand chattered incessantly. He was full of interest in my family, laughedheartily when I told him of the portraits with Elphberg hair in ourgalleries, and yet more heartily when he heard that my expedition toRuritania was a secret one. 

"You have to visit your disreputable cousin on the sly, have you?" saidhe. 

Suddenly emerging from the wood, we came on a small and rudehunting-lodge. It was a one-storey building, a sort of bungalow, builtentirely of wood. As we approached it, a little man in a plain liverycame out to meet us. The only other person I saw about the place wasa fat elderly woman, whom I afterwards discovered to be the mother ofJohann, the duke's keeper. 

"Well, is dinner ready, Josef?" asked the King. 

The little servant informed us that it was, and we soon sat down to aplentiful meal. The fare was plain enough: the King ate heartily, Fritzvon Tarlenheim delicately, old Sapt voraciously. I played a goodknife and fork, as my custom is; the King noticed my performance withapproval. 

"We're all good trenchermen, we Elphbergs, " said he. "But what?--we'reeating dry! Wine, Josef! wine, man! Are we beasts, to eat withoutdrinking? Are we cattle, Josef?"

At this reproof Josef hastened to load the table with bottles. 

"Remember tomorrow!" said Fritz. 

"Ay--tomorrow!" said old Sapt. 

The King drained a bumper to his "Cousin Rudolf, " as he was gracious--ormerry--enough to call me; and I drank its fellow to the "Elphberg Red, "whereat he laughed loudly. 

Now, be the meat what it might, the wine we drank was beyond all priceor praise, and we did it justice. Fritz ventured once to stay the King'shand. 

"What?" cried the King. "Remember you start before I do, MasterFritz--you must be more sparing by two hours than I. "

Fritz saw that I did not understand. 

"The colonel and I, " he explained, "leave here at six: we ride down toZenda and return with the guard of honour to fetch the King at eight, and then we all ride together to the station. "

"Hang that same guard!" growled Sapt. 

"Oh! it's very civil of my brother to ask the honour for his regiment, "said the King. "Come, cousin, you need not start early. Another bottle, man!"

I had another bottle--or, rather, a part of one, for the larger halftravelled quickly down his Majesty's throat. Fritz gave up his attemptsat persuasion: from persuading, he fell to being persuaded, and soon wewere all of us as full of wine as we had any right to be. The King begantalking of what he would do in the future, old Sapt of what he haddone in the past, Fritz of some beautiful girl or other, and I of thewonderful merits of the Elphberg dynasty. We all talked at once, andfollowed to the letter Sapt's exhortation to let the morrow take care ofitself. 

At last the King set down his glass and leant back in his chair. 

"I have drunk enough, " said he. 

"Far be it from me to contradict the King, " said I. 

Indeed, his remark was most absolutely true--so far as it went. 

While I yet spoke, Josef came and set before the King a marvellous oldwicker-covered flagon. It had lain so long in some darkened cellar thatit seemed to blink in the candlelight. 

"His Highness the Duke of Strelsau bade me set this wine before theKing, when the King was weary of all other wines, and pray the King todrink, for the love that he bears his brother. "

"Well done, Black Michael!" said the King. "Out with the cork, Josef. Hang him! Did he think I'd flinch from his bottle?"

The bottle was opened, and Josef filled the King's glass. The Kingtasted it. Then, with a solemnity born of the hour and his owncondition, he looked round on us:

"Gentlemen, my friends--Rudolf, my cousin ('tis a scandalous story, Rudolf, on my honour!), everything is yours to the half of Ruritania. But ask me not for a single drop of this divine bottle, which I willdrink to the health of that--that sly knave, my brother, Black Michael. "

And the King seized the bottle and turned it over his mouth, and drainedit and flung it from him, and laid his head on his arms on the table. 

And we drank pleasant dreams to his Majesty--and that is all I rememberof the evening. Perhaps it is enough. 

CHAPTER 4

The King Keeps His Appointment

Whether I had slept a minute or a year I knew not. I awoke with a startand a shiver; my face, hair and clothes dripped water, and opposite mestood old Sapt, a sneering smile on his face and an empty bucket in hishand. On the table by him sat Fritz von Tarlenheim, pale as a ghost andblack as a crow under the eyes. 

I leapt to my feet in anger. 

"Your joke goes too far, sir!" I cried. 

"Tut, man, we've no time for quarrelling. Nothing else would rouse you. It's five o'clock. "

"I'll thank you, Colonel Sapt--" I began again, hot in spirit, though Iwas uncommonly cold in body. 

"Rassendyll, " interrupted Fritz, getting down from the table and takingmy arm, "look here. "

The King lay full length on the floor. His face was red as his hair, and he breathed heavily. Sapt, the disrespectful old dog, kicked himsharply. He did not stir, nor was there any break in his breathing. Isaw that his face and head were wet with water, as were mine. 

"We've spent half an hour on him, " said Fritz. 

"He drank three times what either of you did, " growled Sapt. 

I knelt down and felt his pulse. It was alarmingly languid and slow. Wethree looked at one another. 

"Was it drugged--that last bottle?" I asked in a whisper. 

"I don't know, " said Sapt. 

"We must get a doctor. "

"There's none within ten miles, and a thousand doctors wouldn't takehim to Strelsau today. I know the look of it. He'll not move for six orseven hours yet. "

"But the coronation!" I cried in horror. 

Fritz shrugged his shoulders, as I began to see was his habit on mostoccasions. 

"We must send word that he's ill, " he said. 

"I suppose so, " said I. 

Old Sapt, who seemed as fresh as a daisy, had lit his pipe and waspuffing hard at it. 

"If he's not crowned today, " said he, "I'll lay a crown he's nevercrowned. "

"But heavens, why?"

"The whole nation's there to meet him; half the army--ay, and BlackMichael at the head. Shall we send word that the King's drunk?"

"That he's ill, " said I, in correction. 

"Ill!" echoed Sapt, with a scornful laugh. "They know his illnesses toowell. He's been 'ill' before!"

"Well, we must chance what they think, " said Fritz helplessly. "I'llcarry the news and make the best of it. "

Sapt raised his hand. 

"Tell me, " said he. "Do you think the King was drugged?"

"I do, " said I. 

"And who drugged him?"

"That damned hound, Black Michael, " said Fritz between his teeth. 

"Ay, " said Sapt, "that he might not come to be crowned. Rassendyll heredoesn't know our pretty Michael. What think you, Fritz, has Michael noking ready? Has half Strelsau no other candidate? As God's alive, manthe throne's lost if the King show himself not in Strelsau today. I knowBlack Michael. "

"We could carry him there, " said I. 

"And a very pretty picture he makes, " sneered Sapt. 

Fritz von Tarlenheim buried his face in his hands. The King breathedloudly and heavily. Sapt stirred him again with his foot. 

"The drunken dog!" he said; "but he's an Elphberg and the son of hisfather, and may I rot in hell before Black Michael sits in his place!"

For a moment or two we were all silent; then Sapt, knitting his bushygrey brows, took his pipe from his mouth and said to me:

"As a man grows old he believes in Fate. Fate sent you here. Fate sendsyou now to Strelsau. "

I staggered back, murmuring "Good God!"

Fritz looked up with an eager, bewildered gaze. 

"Impossible!" I muttered. "I should be known. "

"It's a risk--against a certainty, " said Sapt. "If you shave, I'll wageryou'll not be known. Are you afraid?"

"Sir!"

"Come, lad, there, there; but it's your life, you know, if you'reknown--and mine--and Fritz's here. But, if you don't go, I swear to youBlack Michael will sit tonight on the throne, and the King lie in prisonor his grave. "

"The King would never forgive it, " I stammered. 

"Are we women? Who cares for his forgiveness?"

The clock ticked fifty times, and sixty and seventy times, as I stood inthought. Then I suppose a look came over my face, for old Sapt caught meby the hand, crying:

"You'll go?"

"Yes, I'll go, " said I, and I turned my eyes on the prostrate figure ofthe King on the floor. 

"Tonight, " Sapt went on in a hasty whisper, "we are to lodge in thePalace. The moment they leave us you and I will mount our horses--Fritzmust stay there and guard the King's room--and ride here at a gallop. The King will be ready--Josef will tell him--and he must ride back withme to Strelsau, and you ride as if the devil were behind you to thefrontier. "

I took it all in in a second, and nodded my head. 

"There's a chance, " said Fritz, with his first sign of hopefulness. 

"If I escape detection, " said I. 

"If we're detected, " said Sapt. "I'll send Black Michael down belowbefore I go myself, so help me heaven! Sit in that chair, man. "

I obeyed him. 

He darted from the room, calling "Josef! Josef!" In three minutes he wasback, and Josef with him. The latter carried a jug of hot water, soapand razors. He was trembling as Sapt told him how the land lay, and badehim shave me. 

Suddenly Fritz smote on his thigh:

"But the guard! They'll know! they'll know!"

"Pooh! We shan't wait for the guard. We'll ride to Hofbau and catch atrain there. When they come, the bird'll be flown. "

"But the King?"

"The King will be in the wine-cellar. I'm going to carry him there now. "

"If they find him?"

"They won't. How should they? Josef will put them off. "

"But--"

Sapt stamped his foot. 

"We're not playing, " he roared. "My God! don't I know the risk? Ifthey do find him, he's no worse off than if he isn't crowned today inStrelsau. "

So speaking, he flung the door open and, stooping, put forth a strengthI did not dream he had, and lifted the King in his hands. And as he didso, the old woman, Johann the keeper's mother, stood in the doorway. For a moment she stood, then she turned on her heel, without a sign ofsurprise, and clattered down the passage. 

"Has she heard?" cried Fritz. 

"I'll shut her mouth!" said Sapt grimly, and he bore off the King in hisarms. 

For me, I sat down in an armchair, and as I sat there, half-dazed, Josefclipped and scraped me till my moustache and imperial were things of thepast and my face was as bare as the King's. And when Fritz saw me thushe drew a long breath and exclaimed:--

"By Jove, we shall do it!"

It was six o'clock now, and we had no time to lose. Sapt hurried me intothe King's room, and I dressed myself in the uniform of a colonel of theGuard, finding time as I slipped on the King's boots to ask Sapt what hehad done with the old woman. 

"She swore she'd heard nothing, " said he; "but to make sure I tied herlegs together and put a handkerchief in her mouth and bound her hands, and locked her up in the coal-cellar, next door to the King. Josef willlook after them both later on. "

Then I burst out laughing, and even old Sapt grimly smiled. 

"I fancy, " said he, "that when Josef tells them the King is gone they'llthink it is because we smelt a rat. For you may swear Black Michaeldoesn't expect to see him in Strelsau today. "

I put the King's helmet on my head. Old Sapt handed me the King's sword, looking at me long and carefully. 

"Thank God, he shaved his beard!" he exclaimed. 

"Why did he?" I asked. 

"Because Princess Flavia said he grazed her cheek when he was graciouslypleased to give her a cousinly kiss. Come though, we must ride. "

"Is all safe here?"

"Nothing's safe anywhere, " said Sapt, "but we can make it no safer. "

Fritz now rejoined us in the uniform of a captain in the same regimentas that to which my dress belonged. In four minutes Sapt had arrayedhimself in his uniform. Josef called that the horses were ready. Wejumped on their backs and started at a rapid trot. The game had begun. What would the issue of it be?

The cool morning air cleared my head, and I was able to take in allSapt said to me. He was wonderful. Fritz hardly spoke, riding like a manasleep, but Sapt, without another word for the King, began at once toinstruct me most minutely in the history of my past life, of my family, of my tastes, pursuits, weaknesses, friends, companions, and servants. He told me the etiquette of the Ruritanian Court, promising to beconstantly at my elbow to point out everybody whom I ought to know, andgive me hints with what degree of favour to greet them. 

"By the way, " he said, "you're a Catholic, I suppose?"

"Not I, " I answered. 

"Lord, he's a heretic!" groaned Sapt, and forthwith he fell to arudimentary lesson in the practices and observances of the Romish faith. 

"Luckily, " said he, "you won't be expected to know much, for the King'snotoriously lax and careless about such matters. But you must be ascivil as butter to the Cardinal. We hope to win him over, because he andMichael have a standing quarrel about their precedence. "

We were by now at the station. Fritz had recovered nerve enough toexplain to the astonished station master that the King had changed hisplans. The train steamed up. We got into a first-class carriage, andSapt, leaning back on the cushions, went on with his lesson. I looked atmy watch--the King's watch it was, of course. It was just eight. 

"I wonder if they've gone to look for us, " I said. 

"I hope they won't find the King, " said Fritz nervously, and this timeit was Sapt who shrugged his shoulders. 

The train travelled well, and at half-past nine, looking out of thewindow, I saw the towers and spires of a great city. 

"Your capital, my liege, " grinned old Sapt, with a wave of his hand, and, leaning forward, he laid his finger on my pulse. "A little tooquick, " said he, in his grumbling tone. 

"I'm not made of stone!" I exclaimed. 

"You'll do, " said he, with a nod. "We must say Fritz here has caught theague. Drain your flask, Fritz, for heaven's sake, boy!"

Fritz did as he was bid. 

"We're an hour early, " said Sapt. "We'll send word forward for yourMajesty's arrival, for there'll be no one here to meet us yet. Andmeanwhile--"

"Meanwhile, " said I, "the King'll be hanged if he doesn't have somebreakfast. "

Old Sapt chuckled, and held out his hand. 

"You're an Elphberg, every inch of you, " said he. Then he paused, andlooking at us, said quietly, "God send we may be alive tonight!"

"Amen!" said Fritz von Tarlenheim. 

The train stopped. Fritz and Sapt leapt out, uncovered, and held thedoor for me. I choked down a lump that rose in my throat, settled myhelmet firmly on my head, and (I'm not ashamed to say it) breathed ashort prayer to God. Then I stepped on the platform of the station atStrelsau. 

A moment later, all was bustle and confusion: men hurrying up, hatsin hand, and hurrying off again; men conducting me to the buffet; menmounting and riding in hot haste to the quarters of the troops, to theCathedral, to the residence of Duke Michael. Even as I swallowed thelast drop of my cup of coffee, the bells throughout all the city brokeout into a joyful peal, and the sound of a military band and of mencheering smote upon my ear. 

King Rudolf the Fifth was in his good city of Strelsau! And they shoutedoutside--

"God save the King!"

Old Sapt's mouth wrinkled into a smile. 

"God save 'em both!" he whispered. "Courage, lad!" and I felt his handpress my knee. 

CHAPTER 5

The Adventures of an Understudy

With Fritz von Tarlenheim and Colonel Sapt close behind me, I steppedout of the buffet on to the platform. The last thing I did was to feelif my revolver were handy and my sword loose in the scabbard. A gaygroup of officers and high dignitaries stood awaiting me, at their heada tall old man, covered with medals, and of military bearing. He worethe yellow and red ribbon of the Red Rose of Ruritania--which, by theway, decorated my unworthy breast also. 

"Marshal Strakencz, " whispered Sapt, and I knew that I was in thepresence of the most famous veteran of the Ruritanian army. 

Just behind the Marshal stood a short spare man, in flowing robes ofblack and crimson. 

"The Chancellor of the Kingdom, " whispered Sapt. 

The Marshal greeted me in a few loyal words, and proceeded to deliveran apology from the Duke of Strelsau. The duke, it seemed, had beenafflicted with a sudden indisposition which made it impossible for himto come to the station, but he craved leave to await his Majesty at theCathedral. I expressed my concern, accepted the Marshal's excuses verysuavely, and received the compliments of a large number of distinguishedpersonages. No one betrayed the least suspicion, and I felt my nervereturning and the agitated beating of my heart subsiding. But Fritzwas still pale, and his hand shook like a leaf as he extended it to theMarshal. 

Presently we formed procession and took our way to the door of thestation. Here I mounted my horse, the Marshal holding my stirrup. Thecivil dignitaries went off to their carriages, and I started to ridethrough the streets with the Marshal on my right and Sapt (who, as mychief aide-de-camp, was entitled to the place) on my left. The city ofStrelsau is partly old and partly new. Spacious modern boulevards andresidential quarters surround and embrace the narrow, tortuous, andpicturesque streets of the original town. In the outer circles the upperclasses live; in the inner the shops are situated; and, behind theirprosperous fronts, lie hidden populous but wretched lanes and alleys, filled with a poverty-stricken, turbulent, and (in large measure)criminal class. These social and local divisions corresponded, as I knewfrom Sapt's information, to another division more important to me. TheNew Town was for the King; but to the Old Town Michael of Strelsau was ahope, a hero, and a darling. 

The scene was very brilliant as we passed along the Grand Boulevard andon to the great square where the Royal Palace stood. Here I was inthe midst of my devoted adherents. Every house was hung with red andbedecked with flags and mottoes. The streets were lined with raisedseats on each side, and I passed along, bowing this way and that, undera shower of cheers, blessings, and waving handkerchiefs. The balconieswere full of gaily dressed ladies, who clapped their hands and curtsiedand threw their brightest glances at me. A torrent of red roses fell onme; one bloom lodged in my horse's mane, and I took it and stuck it inmy coat. The Marshal smiled grimly. I had stolen some glances at hisface, but he was too impassive to show me whether his sympathies werewith me or not. 

"The red rose for the Elphbergs, Marshal, " said I gaily, and he nodded. 

I have written "gaily, " and a strange word it must seem. But the truthis, that I was drunk with excitement. At that moment I believed--Ialmost believed--that I was in very truth the King; and, with a look oflaughing triumph, I raised my eyes to the beauty-laden balconies again. . . And then I started. For, looking down on me, with her handsomeface and proud smile, was the lady who had been my fellowtraveller--Antoinette de Mauban; and I saw her also start, and her lipsmoved, and she leant forward and gazed at me. And I, collecting myself, met her eyes full and square, while again I felt my revolver. Supposeshe had cried aloud, "That's not the King!"

Well, we went by; and then the Marshal, turning round in his saddle, waved his hand, and the Cuirassiers closed round us, so that the crowdcould not come near me. We were leaving my quarter and entering DukeMichael's, and this action of the Marshal's showed me more clearly thanwords what the state of feeling in the town must be. But if Fate made mea King, the least I could do was to play the part handsomely. 

"Why this change in our order, Marshal?" said I. 

The Marshal bit his white moustache. 

"It is more prudent, sire, " he murmured. 

I drew rein. 

"Let those in front ride on, " said I, "till they are fifty yards ahead. But do you, Marshal, and Colonel Sapt and my friends, wait here tillI have ridden fifty yards. And see that no one is nearer to me. I willhave my people see that their King trusts them. "

Sapt laid his hand on my arm. I shook him off. The Marshal hesitated. 

"Am I not understood?" said I; and, biting his moustache again, he gavethe orders. I saw old Sapt smiling into his beard, but he shook hishead at me. If I had been killed in open day in the streets of Strelsau, Sapt's position would have been a difficult one. 

Perhaps I ought to say that I was dressed all in white, except my boots. I wore a silver helmet with gilt ornaments, and the broad ribbon of theRose looked well across my chest. I should be paying a poor complimentto the King if I did not set modesty aside and admit that I made a veryfine figure. So the people thought; for when I, riding alone, enteredthe dingy, sparsely decorated, sombre streets of the Old Town, therewas first a murmur, then a cheer, and a woman, from a window above acookshop, cried the old local saying:

"If he's red, he's right!" whereat I laughed and took off my helmet thatshe might see that I was of the right colour and they cheered me againat that. 

It was more interesting riding thus alone, for I heard the comments ofthe crowd. 

"He looks paler than his wont, " said one. 

"You'd look pale if you lived as he does, " was the highly disrespectfulretort. 

"He's a bigger man than I thought, " said another. 

"So he had a good jaw under that beard after all, " commented a third. 

"The pictures of him aren't handsome enough, " declared a pretty girl, taking great care that I should hear. No doubt it was mere flattery. 

But, in spite of these signs of approval and interest, the mass ofthe people received me in silence and with sullen looks, and my dearbrother's portrait ornamented most of the windows--which was an ironicalsort of greeting to the King. I was quite glad that he had been sparedthe unpleasant sight. He was a man of quick temper, and perhaps he wouldnot have taken it so placidly as I did. 

At last we were at the Cathedral. Its great grey front, embellishedwith hundreds of statues and boasting a pair of the finest oak doors inEurope, rose for the first time before me, and the sudden sense of myaudacity almost overcame me. Everything was in a mist as I dismounted. Isaw the Marshal and Sapt dimly, and dimly the throng of gorgeously robedpriests who awaited me. And my eyes were still dim as I walked up thegreat nave, with the pealing of the organ in my ears. I saw nothing ofthe brilliant throng that filled it, I hardly distinguished the statelyfigure of the Cardinal as he rose from the archiepiscopal throne togreet me. Two faces only stood out side by side clearly before myeyes--the face of a girl, pale and lovely, surmounted by a crown of theglorious Elphberg hair (for in a woman it is glorious), and the faceof a man, whose full-blooded red cheeks, black hair, and dark deep eyestold me that at last I was in presence of my brother, Black Michael. Andwhen he saw me his red cheeks went pale all in a moment, and his helmetfell with a clatter on the floor. Till that moment I believe that he hadnot realized that the King was in very truth come to Strelsau. 

Of what followed next I remember nothing. I knelt before the altar andthe Cardinal anointed my head. Then I rose to my feet, and stretched outmy hand and took from him the crown of Ruritania and set it on my head, and I swore the old oath of the King; and (if it were a sin, may it beforgiven me) I received the Holy Sacrament there before them all. Thenthe great organ pealed out again, the Marshal bade the heralds proclaimme, and Rudolf the Fifth was crowned King; of which imposing ceremony anexcellent picture hangs now in my dining-room. The portrait of the Kingis very good. 

Then the lady with the pale face and the glorious hair, her train heldby two pages, stepped from her place and came to where I stood. And aherald cried:

"Her Royal Highness the Princess Flavia!"

She curtsied low, and put her hand under mine and raised my hand andkissed it. And for an instant I thought what I had best do. Then Idrew her to me and kissed her twice on the cheek, and she blushed red, and--then his Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop slipped in front of BlackMichael, and kissed my hand and presented me with a letter from thePope--the first and last which I have received from that exaltedquarter!

And then came the Duke of Strelsau. His step trembled, I swear, andhe looked to the right and to the left, as a man looks who thinks onflight; and his face was patched with red and white, and his hand shookso that it jumped under mine, and I felt his lips dry and parched. AndI glanced at Sapt, who was smiling again into his beard, and, resolutelydoing my duty in that station of life to which I had been marvellouslycalled, I took my dear Michael by both hands and kissed him on thecheek. I think we were both glad when that was over!

But neither in the face of the princess nor in that of any other did Isee the least doubt or questioning. Yet, had I and the King stood sideby side, she could have told us in an instant, or, at least, on a littleconsideration. But neither she nor anyone else dreamed or imagined thatI could be other than the King. So the likeness served, and for an hourI stood there, feeling as weary and blase as though I had been a kingall my life; and everybody kissed my hand, and the ambassadors paid metheir respects, among them old Lord Topham, at whose house in GrosvenorSquare I had danced a score of times. Thank heaven, the old man was asblind as a bat, and did not claim my acquaintance. 

Then back we went through the streets to the Palace, and I heard themcheering Black Michael; but he, Fritz told me, sat biting his nails likea man in a reverie, and even his own friends said that he should havemade a braver show. I was in a carriage now, side by side with thePrincess Flavia, and a rough fellow cried out:

"And when's the wedding?" and as he spoke another struck him in theface, crying "Long live Duke Michael!" and the princess coloured--it wasan admirable tint--and looked straight in front of her. 

Now I felt in a difficulty, because I had forgotten to ask Sapt thestate of my affections, or how far matters had gone between the princessand myself. Frankly, had I been the King, the further they had gone thebetter should I have been pleased. For I am not a slow-blooded man, andI had not kissed Princess Flavia's cheek for nothing. These thoughtspassed through my head, but, not being sure of my ground, I saidnothing; and in a moment or two the princess, recovering her equanimity, turned to me. 

"Do you know, Rudolf, " said she, "you look somehow different today?"

The fact was not surprising, but the remark was disquieting. 

"You look, " she went on, "more sober, more sedate; you're almostcareworn, and I declare you're thinner. Surely it's not possible thatyou've begun to take anything seriously?"

The princess seemed to hold of the King much the same opinion that LadyBurlesdon held of me. 

I braced myself up to the conversation. 

"Would that please you?" I asked softly. 

"Oh, you know my views, " said she, turning her eyes away. 

"Whatever pleases you I try to do, " I said; and, as I saw her smile andblush, I thought that I was playing the King's hand very well for him. So I continued and what I said was perfectly true:

"I assure you, my dear cousin, that nothing in my life has affected memore than the reception I've been greeted with today. "

She smiled brightly, but in an instant grew grave again, and whispered:

"Did you notice Michael?"

"Yes, " said I, adding, "he wasn't enjoying himself. "

"Do be careful!" she went on. "You don't--indeed you don't--keep enoughwatch on him. You know--"

"I know, " said I, "that he wants what I've got. "

"Yes. Hush!"

Then--and I can't justify it, for I committed the King far beyond what Ihad a right to do--I suppose she carried me off my feet--I went on:

"And perhaps also something which I haven't got yet, but hope to winsome day. "

This was my answer. Had I been the King, I should have thought itencouraging:

"Haven't you enough responsibilities on you for one day, cousin?"

Bang, bang! Blare, blare! We were at the Palace. Guns were firingand trumpets blowing. Rows of lackeys stood waiting, and, handing theprincess up the broad marble staircase, I took formal possession, asa crowned King, of the House of my ancestors, and sat down at my owntable, with my cousin on my right hand, on her other side Black Michael, and on my left his Eminence the Cardinal. Behind my chair stood Sapt;and at the end of the table, I saw Fritz von Tarlenheim drain to thebottom his glass of champagne rather sooner than he decently should. 

I wondered what the King of Ruritania was doing. 

CHAPTER 6

The Secret of a Cellar

We were in the King's dressing-room--Fritz von Tarlenheim, Sapt, and I. I flung myself exhausted into an armchair. Sapt lit his pipe. He utteredno congratulations on the marvellous success of our wild risk, but hiswhole bearing was eloquent of satisfaction. The triumph, aided perhapsby good wine, had made a new man of Fritz. 

"What a day for you to remember!" he cried. "Gad, I'd like to be Kingfor twelve hours myself! But, Rassendyll, you mustn't throw your hearttoo much into the part. I don't wonder Black Michael looked blacker thanever--you and the princess had so much to say to one another. "

"How beautiful she is!" I exclaimed. 

"Never mind the woman, " growled Sapt. "Are you ready to start?"

"Yes, " said I, with a sigh. 

It was five o'clock, and at twelve I should be no more than RudolfRassendyll. I remarked on it in a joking tone. 

"You'll be lucky, " observed Sapt grimly, "if you're not the late RudolfRassendyll. By Heaven! I feel my head wobbling on my shoulders everyminute you're in the city. Do you know, friend, that Michael has hadnews from Zenda? He went into a room alone to read it--and he came outlooking like a man dazed. "

"I'm ready, " said I, this news making me none the more eager to linger. 

Sapt sat down. 

"I must write us an order to leave the city. Michael's Governor, youknow, and we must be prepared for hindrances. You must sign the order. "

"My dear colonel, I've not been bred a forger!"

Out of his pocket Sapt produced a piece of paper. 

"There's the King's signature, " he said, "and here, " he went on, afteranother search in his pocket, "is some tracing paper. If you can'tmanage a 'Rudolf' in ten minutes, why--I can. "

"Your education has been more comprehensive than mine, " said I. "Youwrite it. "

And a very tolerable forgery did this versatile hero produce. 

"Now, Fritz, " said he, "the King goes to bed. He is upset. No one is tosee him till nine o'clock tomorrow. You understand--no one?"

"I understand, " answered Fritz. 

"Michael may come, and claim immediate audience. You'll answer that onlyprinces of the blood are entitled to it. "

"That'll annoy Michael, " laughed Fritz. 

"You quite understand?" asked Sapt again. "If the door of this room isopened while we're away, you're not to be alive to tell us about it. "

"I need no schooling, colonel, " said Fritz, a trifle haughtily. 

"Here, wrap yourself in this big cloak, " Sapt continued to me, "andput on this flat cap. My orderly rides with me to the hunting-lodgetonight. "

"There's an obstacle, " I observed. "The horse doesn't live that cancarry me forty miles. "

"Oh, yes, he does--two of him: one here--one at the lodge. Now, are youready?"

"I'm ready, " said I. 

Fritz held out his hand. 

"In case, " said he; and we shook hands heartily. 

"Damn your sentiment!" growled Sapt. "Come along. "

He went, not to the door, but to a panel in the wall. 

"In the old King's time, " said he, "I knew this way well. "

I followed him, and we walked, as I should estimate, near two hundredyards along a narrow passage. Then we came to a stout oak door. Saptunlocked it. We passed through, and found ourselves in a quiet streetthat ran along the back of the Palace gardens. A man was waiting for uswith two horses. One was a magnificent bay, up to any weight; the othera sturdy brown. Sapt signed to me to mount the bay. Without a wordto the man, we mounted and rode away. The town was full of noise andmerriment, but we took secluded ways. My cloak was wrapped over halfmy face; the capacious flat cap hid every lock of my tell-tale hair. BySapt's directions, I crouched on my saddle, and rode with such a roundback as I hope never to exhibit on a horse again. Down a long narrowlane we went, meeting some wanderers and some roisterers; and, as werode, we heard the Cathedral bells still clanging out their welcome tothe King. It was half-past six, and still light. At last we came to thecity wall and to a gate. 

"Have your weapon ready, " whispered Sapt. "We must stop his mouth, if hetalks. "

I put my hand on my revolver. Sapt hailed the doorkeeper. The starsfought for us! A little girl of fourteen tripped out. 

"Please, sir, father's gone to see the King. "

"He'd better have stayed here, " said Sapt to me, grinning. 

"But he said I wasn't to open the gate, sir. "

"Did he, my dear?" said Sapt, dismounting. "Then give me the key. "

The key was in the child's hand. Sapt gave her a crown. 

"Here's an order from the King. Show it to your father. Orderly, openthe gate!"

I leapt down. Between us we rolled back the great gate, led our horsesout, and closed it again. 

"I shall be sorry for the doorkeeper if Michael finds out that he wasn'tthere. Now then, lad, for a canter. We mustn't go too fast while we'renear the town. "

Once, however, outside the city, we ran little danger, for everybodyelse was inside, merry-making; and as the evening fell we quickened ourpace, my splendid horse bounding along under me as though I had been afeather. It was a fine night, and presently the moon appeared. We talkedlittle on the way, and chiefly about the progress we were making. 

"I wonder what the duke's despatches told him, " said I, once. 

"Ay, I wonder!" responded Sapt. 

We stopped for a draught of wine and to bait our horses, losing half anhour thus. I dared not go into the inn, and stayed with the horsesin the stable. Then we went ahead again, and had covered somefive-and-twenty miles, when Sapt abruptly stopped. 

"Hark!" he cried. 

I listened. Away, far behind us, in the still of the evening--it wasjust half-past nine--we heard the beat of horses' hoofs. The windblowing strong behind us, carried the sound. I glanced at Sapt. 

"Come on!" he cried, and spurred his horse into a gallop. When we nextpaused to listen, the hoof-beats were not audible, and we relaxed ourpace. Then we heard them again. Sapt jumped down and laid his ear to theground. 

"There are two, " he said. "They're only a mile behind. Thank God theroad curves in and out, and the wind's our way. "

We galloped on. We seemed to be holding our own. We had entered theoutskirts of the forest of Zenda, and the trees, closing in behind us asthe track zigged and zagged, prevented us seeing our pursuers, and themfrom seeing us. 

Another half-hour brought us to a divide of the road. Sapt drew rein. 

"To the right is our road, " he said. "To the left, to the Castle. Eachabout eight miles. Get down. "

"But they'll be on us!" I cried. 

"Get down!" he repeated brusquely; and I obeyed. The wood was dense upto the very edge of the road. We led our horses into the covert, boundhandkerchiefs over their eyes, and stood beside them. 

"You want to see who they are?" I whispered. 

"Ay, and where they're going, " he answered. 

I saw that his revolver was in his hand. 

Nearer and nearer came the hoofs. The moon shone out now clear and full, so that the road was white with it. The ground was hard, and we had leftno traces. 

"Here they come!" whispered Sapt. 

"It's the duke!"

"I thought so, " he answered. 

It was the duke; and with him a burly fellow whom I knew well, and whohad cause to know me afterwards--Max Holf, brother to Johann the keeper, and body-servant to his Highness. They were up to us: the duke reinedup. I saw Sapt's finger curl lovingly towards the trigger. I believehe would have given ten years of his life for a shot; and he could havepicked off Black Michael as easily as I could a barn-door fowl in afarmyard. I laid my hand on his arm. He nodded reassuringly: he wasalways ready to sacrifice inclination to duty. 

"Which way?" asked Black Michael. 

"To the Castle, your Highness, " urged his companion. "There we shalllearn the truth. "

For an instant the duke hesitated. 

"I thought I heard hoofs, " said he. 

"I think not, your Highness. "

"Why shouldn't we go to the lodge?"

"I fear a trap. If all is well, why go to the lodge? If not, it's asnare to trap us. "

Suddenly the duke's horse neighed. In an instant we folded our cloaksclose round our horses' heads, and, holding them thus, covered the dukeand his attendant with our revolvers. If they had found us, they hadbeen dead men, or our prisoners. 

Michael waited a moment longer. Then he cried:

"To Zenda, then!" and setting spurs to his horse, galloped on. 

Sapt raised his weapon after him, and there was such an expressionof wistful regret on his face that I had much ado not to burst outlaughing. 

For ten minutes we stayed where we were. 

"You see, " said Sapt, "they've sent him news that all is well. "

"What does that mean?" I asked. 

"God knows, " said Sapt, frowning heavily. "But it's brought him fromStrelsau in a rare puzzle. "

Then we mounted, and rode as fast as our weary horses could lay theirfeet to the ground. For those last eight miles we spoke no more. Ourminds were full of apprehension. "All is well. " What did it mean? Wasall well with the King?

At last the lodge came in sight. Spurring our horses to a last gallop, we rode up to the gate. All was still and quiet. Not a soul came to meetus. We dismounted in haste. Suddenly Sapt caught me by the arm. 

"Look there!" he said, pointing to the ground. 

I looked down. At my feet lay five or six silk handkerchiefs, torn andslashed and rent. I turned to him questioningly. 

"They're what I tied the old woman up with, " said he. "Fasten thehorses, and come along. "

The handle of the door turned without resistance. We passed into theroom which had been the scene of last night's bout. It was still strewnwith the remnants of our meal and with empty bottles. 

"Come on, " cried Sapt, whose marvellous composure had at last almostgiven way. 

We rushed down the passage towards the cellars. The door of thecoal-cellar stood wide open. 

"They found the old woman, " said I. 

"You might have known that from the handkerchiefs, " he said. 

Then we came opposite the door of the wine-cellar. It was shut. Itlooked in all respects as it had looked when we left it that morning. 

"Come, it's all right, " said I. 

A loud oath from Sapt rang out. His face turned pale, and he pointedagain at the floor. From under the door a red stain had spread over thefloor of the passage and dried there. Sapt sank against the oppositewall. I tried the door. It was locked. 

"Where's Josef?" muttered Sapt. 

"Where's the King?" I responded. 

Sapt took out a flask and put it to his lips. I ran back to thedining-room, and seized a heavy poker from the fireplace. In my terrorand excitement I rained blows on the lock of the door, and I fired acartridge into it. It gave way, and the door swung open. 

"Give me a light, " said I; but Sapt still leant against the wall. 

He was, of course, more moved than I, for he loved his master. Afraidfor himself he was not--no man ever saw him that; but to think whatmight lie in that dark cellar was enough to turn any man's face pale. I went myself, and took a silver candlestick from the dining-table andstruck a light, and, as I returned, I felt the hot wax drip on my nakedhand as the candle swayed to and fro; so that I cannot afford to despiseColonel Sapt for his agitation. 

I came to the door of the cellar. The red stain turning more and more toa dull brown, stretched inside. I walked two yards into the cellar, andheld the candle high above my head. I saw the full bins of wine; I sawspiders crawling on the walls; I saw, too, a couple of empty bottleslying on the floor; and then, away in the corner, I saw the body of aman, lying flat on his back, with his arms stretched wide, and a crimsongash across his throat. I walked to him and knelt down beside him, andcommended to God the soul of a faithful man. For it was the body ofJosef, the little servant, slain in guarding the King. 

I felt a hand on my shoulders, and, turning, saw Sapt, eyes glaring andterror-struck, beside me. 

"The King? My God! the King?" he whispered hoarsely. 

I threw the candle's gleam over every inch of the cellar. 

"The King is not here, " said I. 

CHAPTER 7

His Majesty Sleeps in Strelsau

I put my arm round Sapt's waist and supported him out of the cellar, drawing the battered door close after me. For ten minutes or more we satsilent in the dining-room. Then old Sapt rubbed his knuckles into hiseyes, gave one great gasp, and was himself again. As the clock on themantelpiece struck one he stamped his foot on the floor, saying:

"They've got the King!"

"Yes, " said I, "'all's well!' as Black Michael's despatch said. Whata moment it must have been for him when the royal salutes fired atStrelsau this morning! I wonder when he got the message?"

"It must have been sent in the morning, " said Sapt. "They must have sentit before news of your arrival at Strelsau reached Zenda--I suppose itcame from Zenda. "

"And he's carried it about all day!" I exclaimed. "Upon my honour, I'mnot the only man who's had a trying day! What did he think, Sapt?"

"What does that matter? What does he think, lad, now?"

I rose to my feet. 

"We must get back, " I said, "and rouse every soldier in Strelsau. Weought to be in pursuit of Michael before midday. "

Old Sapt pulled out his pipe and carefully lit it from the candle whichguttered on the table. 

"The King may be murdered while we sit here!" I urged. 

Sapt smoked on for a moment in silence. 

"That cursed old woman!" he broke out. "She must have attracted theirattention somehow. I see the game. They came up to kidnap the King, and--as I say--somehow they found him. If you hadn't gone to Strelsau, you and I and Fritz had been in heaven by now!"

"And the King?"

"Who knows where the King is now?" he asked. 

"Come, let's be off!" said I; but he sat still. And suddenly he burstinto one of his grating chuckles:

"By Jove, we've shaken up Black Michael!"

"Come, come!" I repeated impatiently. 

"And we'll shake him up a bit more, " he added, a cunning smilebroadening on his wrinkled, weather-beaten face, and his teeth workingon an end of his grizzled moustache. "Ay, lad, we'll go back toStrelsau. The King shall be in his capital again tomorrow. "

"The King?"

"The crowned King!"

"You're mad!" I cried. 

"If we go back and tell the trick we played, what would you give for ourlives?"

"Just what they're worth, " said I. 

"And for the King's throne? Do you think that the nobles and the peoplewill enjoy being fooled as you've fooled them? Do you think they'll lovea King who was too drunk to be crowned, and sent a servant to personatehim?"

"He was drugged--and I'm no servant. "

"Mine will be Black Michael's version. "

He rose, came to me, and laid his hand on my shoulder. 

"Lad, " he said, "if you play the man, you may save the King yet. Go backand keep his throne warm for him. "

"But the duke knows--the villains he has employed know--"

"Ay, but they can't speak!" roared Sapt in grim triumph. 

"We've got 'em! How can they denounce you without denouncing themselves?This is not the King, because we kidnapped the King and murdered hisservant. Can they say that?"

The position flashed on me. Whether Michael knew me or not, he could notspeak. Unless he produced the King, what could he do? And if he producedthe King, where was he? For a moment I was carried away headlong; but inan instant the difficulties came strong upon me. 

"I must be found out, " I urged. 

"Perhaps; but every hour's something. Above all, we must have a King inStrelsau, or the city will be Michael's in four-and-twenty hours, andwhat would the King's life be worth then--or his throne? Lad, you mustdo it!"

"Suppose they kill the King?"

"They'll kill him, if you don't. "

"Sapt, suppose they have killed the King?"

"Then, by heaven, you're as good an Elphberg as Black Michael, and youshall reign in Ruritania! But I don't believe they have; nor will theykill him if you're on the throne. Will they kill him, to put you in?"

It was a wild plan--wilder even and more hopeless than the trick wehad already carried through; but as I listened to Sapt I saw the strongpoints in our game. And then I was a young man and I loved action, and Iwas offered such a hand in such a game as perhaps never man played yet. 

"I shall be found out, " I said. 

"Perhaps, " said Sapt. "Come! to Strelsau! We shall be caught like ratsin a trap if we stay here. "

"Sapt, " I cried, "I'll try it!"

"Well played!" said he. "I hope they've left us the horses. I'll go andsee. "

"We must bury that poor fellow, " said I. 

"No time, " said Sapt. 

"I'll do it. "

"Hang you!" he grinned. "I make you a King, and--Well, do it. Go andfetch him, while I look to the horses. He can't lie very deep, but Idoubt if he'll care about that. Poor little Josef! He was an honest bitof a man. "

He went out, and I went to the cellar. I raised poor Josef in my armsand bore him into the passage and thence towards the door of the house. Just inside I laid him down, remembering that I must find spades for ourtask. At this instant Sapt came up. 

"The horses are all right; there's the own brother to the one thatbrought you here. But you may save yourself that job. "

"I'll not go before he's buried. "

"Yes, you will. "

"Not I, Colonel Sapt; not for all Ruritania. "

"You fool!" said he. "Come here. "

He drew me to the door. The moon was sinking, but about three hundredyards away, coming along the road from Zenda, I made out a party of men. There were seven or eight of them; four were on horseback and the restwere walking, and I saw that they carried long implements, which Iguessed to be spades and mattocks, on their shoulders. 

"They'll save you the trouble, " said Sapt. "Come along. "

He was right. The approaching party must, beyond doubt, be DukeMichael's men, come to remove the traces of their evil work. I hesitatedno longer, but an irresistible desire seized me. 

Pointing to the corpse of poor little Josef, I said to Sapt:

"Colonel, we ought to strike a blow for him!"

"You'd like to give him some company, eh! But it's too risky work, yourMajesty. "

"I must have a slap at 'em, " said I. 

Sapt wavered. 

"Well, " said he, "it's not business, you know; but you've been goodboy--and if we come to grief, why, hang me, it'll save us lot ofthinking! I'll show you how to touch them. "

He cautiously closed the open chink of the door. 

Then we retreated through the house and made our way to the backentrance. Here our horses were standing. A carriage-drive swept allround the lodge. 

"Revolver ready?" asked Sapt. 

"No; steel for me, " said I. 

"Gad, you're thirsty tonight, " chuckled Sapt. "So be it. "

We mounted, drawing our swords, and waited silently for a minute or two. Then we heard the tramp of men on the drive the other side of the house. They came to a stand, and one cried:

"Now then, fetch him out!"

"Now!" whispered Sapt. 

Driving the spurs into our horses, we rushed at a gallop round thehouse, and in a moment we were among the ruffians. Sapt told meafterwards that he killed a man, and I believe him; but I saw no more ofhim. With a cut, I split the head of a fellow on a brown horse, and hefell to the ground. Then I found myself opposite a big man, and I washalf conscious of another to my right. It was too warm to stay, and witha simultaneous action I drove my spurs into my horse again and my swordfull into the big man's breast. His bullet whizzed past my ear--I couldalmost swear it touched it. I wrenched at the sword, but it would notcome, and I dropped it and galloped after Sapt, whom I now saw abouttwenty yards ahead. I waved my hand in farewell, and dropped it a secondlater with a yell, for a bullet had grazed my finger and I felt theblood. Old Sapt turned round in the saddle. Someone fired again, butthey had no rifles, and we were out of range. Sapt fell to laughing. 

"That's one to me and two to you, with decent luck, " said he. "LittleJosef will have company. "

"Ay, they'll be a _partie carree_, " said I. My blood was up, and Irejoiced to have killed them. 

"Well, a pleasant night's work to the rest!" said he. "I wonder if theynoticed you?"

"The big fellow did; as I stuck him I heard him cry, 'The King!'"

"Good! good! Oh, we'll give Black Michael some work before we've done!"

Pausing an instant, we made a bandage for my wounded finger, which wasbleeding freely and ached severely, the bone being much bruised. Then werode on, asking of our good horses all that was in them. The excitementof the fight and of our great resolve died away, and we rode in gloomysilence. Day broke clear and cold. We found a farmer just up, and madehim give us sustenance for ourselves and our horses. I, feigning atoothache, muffled my face closely. Then ahead again, till Strelsau laybefore us. It was eight o'clock or nearing nine, and the gates were allopen, as they always were save when the duke's caprice or intrigues shutthem. We rode in by the same way as we had come out the evening before, all four of us--the men and the horses--wearied and jaded. The streetswere even quieter than when we had gone: everyone was sleeping off lastnight's revelry, and we met hardly a soul till we reached the littlegate of the Palace. There Sapt's old groom was waiting for us. 

"Is all well, sir?" he asked. 

"All's well, " said Sapt, and the man, coming to me, took my hand tokiss. 

"The King's hurt!" he cried. 

"It's nothing, " said I, as I dismounted; "I caught my finger in thedoor. "

"Remember--silence!" said Sapt. "Ah! but, my good Freyler, I do not needto tell you that!"

The old fellow shrugged his shoulders. 

"All young men like to ride abroad now and again, why not the King?"said he; and Sapt's laugh left his opinion of my motives undisturbed. 

"You should always trust a man, " observed Sapt, fitting the key in thelock, "just as far as you must. "

We went in and reached the dressing-room. Flinging open the door, we sawFritz von Tarlenheim stretched, fully dressed, on the sofa. He seemed tohave been sleeping, but our entry woke him. He leapt to his feet, gaveone glance at me, and with a joyful cry, threw himself on his kneesbefore me. 

"Thank God, sire! thank God, you're safe!" he cried, stretching his handup to catch hold of mine. 

I confess that I was moved. This King, whatever his faults, made peoplelove him. For a moment I could not bear to speak or break the poorfellow's illusion. But tough old Sapt had no such feeling. He slappedhis hand on his thigh delightedly. 

"Bravo, lad!" cried he. "We shall do!"

Fritz looked up in bewilderment. I held out my hand. 

"You're wounded, sire!" he exclaimed. 

"It's only a scratch, " said I, "but--" I paused. 

He rose to his feet with a bewildered air. Holding my hand, he lookedme up and down, and down and up. Then suddenly he dropped my hand andreeled back. 

"Where's the King? Where's the King?" he cried. 

"Hush, you fool!" hissed Sapt. "Not so loud! Here's the King!"

A knock sounded on the door. Sapt seized me by the hand. 

"Here, quick, to the bedroom! Off with your cap and boots. Get into bed. Cover everything up. "

I did as I was bid. A moment later Sapt looked in, nodded, grinned, andintroduced an extremely smart and deferential young gentleman, who cameup to my bedside, bowing again and again, and informed me that he wasof the household of the Princess Flavia, and that her Royal Highnesshad sent him especially to enquire how the King's health was after thefatigues which his Majesty had undergone yesterday. 

"My best thanks, sir, to my cousin, " said I; "and tell her RoyalHighness that I was never better in my life. "

"The King, " added old Sapt (who, I began to find, loved a good lie forits own sake), "has slept without a break all night. "

The young gentleman (he reminded me of "Osric" in Hamlet) bowed himselfout again. The farce was over, and Fritz von Tarlenheim's pale facerecalled us to reality--though, in faith, the farce had to be realityfor us now. 

"Is the King dead?" he whispered. 

"Please God, no, " said I. "But he's in the hands of Black Michael!"

CHAPTER 8

A Fair Cousin and a Dark Brother

A real king's life is perhaps a hard one; but a pretended king's is, I warrant, much harder. On the next day, Sapt instructed me in myduties--what I ought to do and what I ought to know--for three hours;then I snatched breakfast, with Sapt still opposite me, telling me thatthe King always took white wine in the morning and was known to detestall highly seasoned dishes. Then came the Chancellor, for another threehours; and to him I had to explain that the hurt to my finger (we turnedthat bullet to happy account) prevented me from writing--whence arosegreat to-do, hunting of precedents and so forth, ending in my "makingmy mark, " and the Chancellor attesting it with a superfluity of solemnoaths. Then the French ambassador was introduced, to present hiscredentials; here my ignorance was of no importance, as the King wouldhave been equally raw to the business (we worked through the whole _corpsdiplomatique_ in the next few days, a demise of the Crown necessitatingall this bother). 

Then, at last, I was left alone. I called my new servant (we had chosen, to succeed poor Josef, a young man who had never known the King), had abrandy-and-soda brought to me, and observed to Sapt that I trusted thatI might now have a rest. Fritz von Tarlenheim was standing by. 

"By heaven!" he cried, "we waste time. Aren't we going to throw BlackMichael by the heels?"

"Gently, my son, gently, " said Sapt, knitting his brows. "It would bea pleasure, but it might cost us dear. Would Michael fall and leave theKing alive?"

"And, " I suggested, "while the King is here in Strelsau, on his throne, what grievance has he against his dear brother Michael?"

"Are we to do nothing, then?"

"We're to do nothing stupid, " growled Sapt. 

"In fact, Fritz, " said I, "I am reminded of a situation in one of ourEnglish plays--The Critic--have you heard of it? Or, if you like, of twomen, each covering the other with a revolver. For I can't expose Michaelwithout exposing myself--"

"And the King, " put in Sapt. 

"And, hang me if Michael won't expose himself, if he tries to exposeme!"

"It's very pretty, " said old Sapt. 

"If I'm found out, " I pursued, "I will make a clean breast of it, andfight it out with the duke; but at present I'm waiting for a move fromhim. "

"He'll kill the King, " said Fritz. 

"Not he, " said Sapt. 

"Half of the Six are in Strelsau, " said Fritz. 

"Only half? You're sure?" asked Sapt eagerly. 

"Yes--only half. "

"Then the King's alive, for the other three are guarding him!" criedSapt. 

"Yes--you're right!" exclaimed Fritz, his face brightening. "If theKing were dead and buried, they'd all be here with Michael. You knowMichael's back, colonel?"

"I know, curse him!"

"Gentlemen, gentlemen, " said I, "who are the Six?"

"I think you'll make their acquaintance soon, " said Sapt. "They are sixgentlemen whom Michael maintains in his household: they belong to himbody and soul. There are three Ruritanians; then there's a Frenchman, aBelgian, and one of your countrymen. "

"They'd all cut a throat if Michael told them, " said Fritz. 

"Perhaps they'll cut mine, " I suggested. 

"Nothing more likely, " agreed Sapt. "Who are here, Fritz?"

"De Gautet, Bersonin, and Detchard. "

"The foreigners! It's as plain as a pikestaff. He's brought them, andleft the Ruritanians with the King; that's because he wants to committhe Ruritanians as deep as he can. "

"They were none of them among our friends at the lodge, then?" I asked. 

"I wish they had been, " said Sapt wistfully. "They had been, not six, but four, by now. "

I had already developed one attribute of royalty--a feeling that I neednot reveal all my mind or my secret designs even to my intimate friends. I had fully resolved on my course of action. I meant to make myselfas popular as I could, and at the same time to show no disfavour toMichael. By these means I hoped to allay the hostility of his adherents, and make it appear, if an open conflict came about, that he wasungrateful and not oppressed. 

Yet an open conflict was not what I hoped for. 

The King's interest demanded secrecy; and while secrecy lasted, I hada fine game to play in Strelsau, Michael should not grow stronger fordelay!

I ordered my horse, and, attended by Fritz von Tarlenheim, rode in thegrand new avenue of the Royal Park, returning all the salutes which Ireceived with punctilious politeness. Then I rode through a few of thestreets, stopped and bought flowers of a pretty girl, paying her witha piece of gold; and then, having attracted the desired amount ofattention (for I had a trail of half a thousand people after me), I rodeto the residence of the Princess Flavia, and asked if she wouldreceive me. This step created much interest, and was met with shouts ofapproval. The princess was very popular, and the Chancellor himself hadnot scrupled to hint to me that the more I pressed my suit, and the morerapidly I brought it to a prosperous conclusion, the stronger should Ibe in the affection of my subjects. The Chancellor, of course, did notunderstand the difficulties which lay in the way of following his loyaland excellent advice. However, I thought I could do no harm by calling;and in this view Fritz supported me with a cordiality that surprised me, until he confessed that he also had his motives for liking a visit tothe princess's house, which motive was no other than a great desire tosee the princess's lady-in-waiting and bosom friend, the Countess Helgavon Strofzin. 

Etiquette seconded Fritz's hopes. While I was ushered into theprincess's room, he remained with the countess in the ante-chamber: inspite of the people and servants who were hanging about, I doubt notthat they managed a tete-a-tete; but I had no leisure to think of them, for I was playing the most delicate move in all my difficult game. I hadto keep the princess devoted to me--and yet indifferent to me: I had toshow affection for her--and not feel it. I had to make love for another, and that to a girl who--princess or no princess--was the most beautifulI had ever seen. Well, I braced myself to the task, made no easier bythe charming embarrassment with which I was received. How I succeeded incarrying out my programme will appear hereafter. 

"You are gaining golden laurels, " she said. "You are like the prince inShakespeare who was transformed by becoming king. But I'm forgetting youare King, sire. "

"I ask you to speak nothing but what your heart tells you--and to callme nothing but my name. "

She looked at me for a moment. 

"Then I'm glad and proud, Rudolf, " said she. "Why, as I told you, yourvery face is changed. "

I acknowledged the compliment, but I disliked the topic; so I said:

"My brother is back, I hear. He made an excursion, didn't he?"

"Yes, he is here, " she said, frowning a little. 

"He can't stay long from Strelsau, it seems, " I observed, smiling. "Well, we are all glad to see him. The nearer he is, the better. "

The princess glanced at me with a gleam of amusement in her eyes. 

"Why, cousin? Is it that you can--?"

"See better what he's doing? Perhaps, " said I. "And why are you glad?"

"I didn't say I was glad, " she answered. 

"Some people say so for you. "

"There are many insolent people, " she said, with delightful haughtiness. 

"Possibly you mean that I am one?"

"Your Majesty could not be, " she said, curtseying in feigned deference, but adding, mischievously, after a pause: "Unless, that is--"

"Well, unless what?"

"Unless you tell me that I mind a snap of my fingers where the Duke ofStrelsau is. "

Really, I wished that I had been the King. 

"You don't care where cousin Michael--"

"Ah, cousin Michael! I call him the Duke of Strelsau. "

"You call him Michael when you meet him?"

"Yes--by the orders of your father. "

"I see. And now by mine?"

"If those are your orders. "

"Oh, decidedly! We must all be pleasant to our dear Michael. "

"You order me to receive his friends, too, I suppose?"

"The Six?"

"You call them that, too?"

"To be in the fashion, I do. But I order you to receive no one unlessyou like. "

"Except yourself?"

"I pray for myself. I could not order. "

As I spoke, there came a cheer from the street. The princess ran to thewindow. 

"It is he!" she cried. "It is--the Duke of Strelsau!"

I smiled, but said nothing. She returned to her seat. For a few momentswe sat in silence. The noise outside subsided, but I heard the tread offeet in the ante-room. I began to talk on general subjects. This went onfor some minutes. I wondered what had become of Michael, but it didnot seem to be for me to interfere. All at once, to my great surprise, Flavia, clasping her hands asked in an agitated voice:

"Are you wise to make him angry?"

"What? Who? How am I making him angry?"

"Why, by keeping him waiting. "

"My dear cousin, I don't want to keep him--"

"Well, then, is he to come in?"

"Of course, if you wish it. "

She looked at me curiously. 

"How funny you are, " she said. "Of course no one could be announcedwhile I was with you. "

Here was a charming attribute of royalty!

"An excellent etiquette!" I cried. "But I had clean forgotten it; and ifI were alone with someone else, couldn't you be announced?"

"You know as well as I do. I could be, because I am of the Blood;" andshe still looked puzzled. 

"I never could remember all these silly rules, " said I, rather feebly, as I inwardly cursed Fritz for not posting me up. "But I'll repair myfault. "

I jumped up, flung open the door, and advanced into the ante-room. Michael was sitting at a table, a heavy frown on his face. Everyoneelse was standing, save that impudent young dog Fritz, who was loungingeasily in an armchair, and flirting with the Countess Helga. He leapt upas I entered, with a deferential alacrity that lent point to his formernonchalance. I had no difficulty in understanding that the duke mightnot like young Fritz. 

I held out my hand, Michael took it, and I embraced him. Then I drew himwith me into the inner room. 

"Brother, " I said, "if I had known you were here, you should not havewaited a moment before I asked the princess to permit me to bring you toher. "

He thanked me, but coldly. The man had many qualities, but he could nothide his feelings. A mere stranger could have seen that he hated me, andhated worse to see me with Princess Flavia; yet I am persuaded that hetried to conceal both feelings, and, further, that he tried to persuademe that he believed I was verily the King. I did not know, of course;but, unless the King were an impostor, at once cleverer and moreaudacious than I (and I began to think something of myself in thatrole), Michael could not believe that. And, if he didn't, how he musthave loathed paying me deference, and hearing my "Michael" and my"Flavia!"

"Your hand is hurt, sire, " he observed, with concern. 

"Yes, I was playing a game with a mongrel dog" (I meant to stir him), "and you know, brother, such have uncertain tempers. "

He smiled sourly, and his dark eyes rested on me for a moment. 

"But is there no danger from the bite?" cried Flavia anxiously. 

"None from this, " said I. "If I gave him a chance to bite deeper, itwould be different, cousin. "

"But surely he has been destroyed?" said she. 

"Not yet. We're waiting to see if his bite is harmful. "

"And if it is?" asked Michael, with his sour smile. 

"He'll be knocked on the head, brother, " said I. 

"You won't play with him any more?" urged Flavia. 

"Perhaps I shall. "

"He might bite again. "

"Doubtless he'll try, " said I, smiling. 

Then, fearing Michael would say something which I must appear toresent (for, though I might show him my hate, I must seem to be full offavour), I began to compliment him on the magnificent condition of hisregiment, and of their loyal greeting to me on the day of my coronation. Thence I passed to a rapturous description of the hunting-lodge whichhe had lent me. But he rose suddenly to his feet. His temper was failinghim, and, with an excuse, he said farewell. However, as he reached thedoor he stopped, saying:

"Three friends of mine are very anxious to have the honour of beingpresented to you, sire. They are here in the ante-chamber. "

I joined him directly, passing my arm through his. The look on hisface was honey to me. We entered the ante-chamber in fraternal fashion. Michael beckoned, and three men came forward. 

"These gentlemen, " said Michael, with a stately courtesy which, todo him justice, he could assume with perfect grace and ease, "are theloyalest and most devoted of your Majesty's servants, and are my veryfaithful and attached friends. "

"On the last ground as much as the first, " said I, "I am very pleased tosee them. "

They came one by one and kissed my hand--De Gautet, a tall lean fellow, with hair standing straight up and waxed moustache; Bersonin, theBelgian, a portly man of middle height with a bald head (though he wasnot far past thirty); and last, the Englishman, Detchard, a narrow-facedfellow, with close-cut fair hair and a bronzed complexion. He was afinely made man, broad in the shoulder and slender in the hips. A goodfighter, but a crooked customer, I put him down for. I spoke to him inEnglish, with a slight foreign accent, and I swear the fellow smiled, though he hid the smile in an instant. 

"So Mr. Detchard is in the secret, " thought I. 

Having got rid of my dear brother and his friends, I returned to make myadieu to my cousin. She was standing at the door. I bade her farewell, taking her hand in mine. 

"Rudolf, " she said, very low, "be careful, won't you?"

"Of what?"

"You know--I can't say. But think what your life is to--"

"Well to--?"

"To Ruritania. "

Was I right to play the part, or wrong to play the part? I know not:evil lay both ways, and I dared not tell her the truth. 

"Only to Ruritania?" I asked softly. 

A sudden flush spread over her incomparable face. 

"To your friends, too, " she said. 

"Friends?"

"And to your cousin, " she whispered, "and loving servant. "

I could not speak. I kissed her hand, and went out cursing myself. 

Outside I found Master Fritz, quite reckless of the footmen, playing atcat's-cradle with the Countess Helga. 

"Hang it!" said he, "we can't always be plotting. Love claims hisshare. "

"I'm inclined to think he does, " said I; and Fritz, who had been by myside, dropped respectfully behind. 

CHAPTER 9

A New Use for a Tea-table

If I were to detail the ordinary events of my daily life at this time, they might prove instructive to people who are not familiar with theinside of palaces; if I revealed some of the secrets I learnt, theymight prove of interest to the statesmen of Europe. I intend to doneither of these things. I should be between the Scylla of dullness andthe Charybdis of indiscretion, and I feel that I had far better confinemyself strictly to the underground drama which was being played beneaththe surface of Ruritanian politics. I need only say that the secret ofmy imposture defied detection. I made mistakes. I had bad minutes: itneeded all the tact and graciousness whereof I was master to smooth oversome apparent lapses of memory and unmindfulness of old acquaintances ofwhich I was guilty. But I escaped, and I attribute my escape, as I havesaid before, most of all, to the very audacity of the enterprise. It ismy belief that, given the necessary physical likeness, it was far easierto pretend to be King of Ruritania than it would have been to personatemy next-door neighbour. One day Sapt came into my room. He threw me aletter, saying:

"That's for you--a woman's hand, I think. But I've some news for youfirst. "

"What's that?"

"The King's at the Castle of Zenda, " said he. 

"How do you know?"

"Because the other half of Michael's Six are there. I had enquiriesmade, and they're all there--Lauengram, Krafstein, and young RupertHentzau: three rogues, too, on my honour, as fine as live in Ruritania. "

"Well?"

"Well, Fritz wants you to march to the Castle with horse, foot, andartillery. "

"And drag the moat?'I asked. 

"That would be about it, " grinned Sapt, "and we shouldn't find theKing's body then. "

"You think it's certain he's there?"

"Very probable. Besides the fact of those three being there, thedrawbridge is kept up, and no one goes in without an order from youngHentzau or Black Michael himself. We must tie Fritz up. "

"I'll go to Zenda, " said I. 

"You're mad. "

"Some day. "

"Oh, perhaps. You'll very likely stay there though, if you do. "

"That may be, my friend, " said I carelessly. 

"His Majesty looks sulky, " observed Sapt. "How's the love affair?"

"Damn you, hold your tongue!" I said. 

He looked at me for a moment, then he lit his pipe. It was quite truethat I was in a bad temper, and I went on perversely:

"Wherever I go, I'm dodged by half a dozen fellows. "

"I know you are; I send 'em, " he replied composedly. 

"What for?"

"Well, " said Sapt, puffing away, "it wouldn't be exactly inconvenientfor Black Michael if you disappeared. With you gone, the old game thatwe stopped would be played--or he'd have a shot at it. "

"I can take care of myself. "

"De Gautet, Bersonin, and Detchard are in Strelsau; and any one ofthem, lad, would cut your throat as readily--as readily as I would BlackMichael's, and a deal more treacherously. What's the letter?"

I opened it and read it aloud:

"If the King desires to know what it deeply concerns the King to know, let him do as this letter bids him. At the end of the New Avenue therestands a house in large grounds. The house has a portico, with a statueof a nymph on it. A wall encloses the garden; there is a gate in thewall at the back. At twelve o'clock tonight, if the King enters aloneby that gate, turns to the right, and walks twenty yards, he will finda summerhouse, approached by a flight of six steps. If he mounts andenters, he will find someone who will tell him what touches most dearlyhis life and his throne. This is written by a faithful friend. He mustbe alone. If he neglects the invitation his life will be in danger. Lethim show this to no one, or he will ruin a woman who loves him: BlackMichael does not pardon. "

"No, " observed Sapt, as I ended, "but he can dictate a very prettyletter. "

I had arrived at the same conclusion, and was about to throw the letteraway, when I saw there was more writing on the other side. 

"Hallo! there's some more. "

"If you hesitate, " the writer continued, "consult Colonel Sapt--"

"Eh, " exclaimed that gentleman, genuinely astonished. "Does she take mefor a greater fool than you?"

I waved to him to be silent. 

"Ask him what woman would do most to prevent the duke from marrying hiscousin, and therefore most to prevent him becoming king? And ask if hername begins with--A?"

I sprang to my feet. Sapt laid down his pipe. 

"Antoinette de Mauban, by heaven!" I cried. 

"How do you know?" asked Sapt. 

I told him what I knew of the lady, and how I knew it. He nodded. 

"It's so far true that she's had a great row with Michael, " said he, thoughtfully. 

"If she would, she could be useful, " I said. 

"I believe, though, that Michael wrote that letter. "

"So do I, but I mean to know for certain. I shall go, Sapt. "

"No, I shall go, " said he. 

"You may go as far as the gate. "

"I shall go to the summer-house. "

"I'm hanged if you shall!"

I rose and leant my back against the mantelpiece. 

"Sapt, I believe in that woman, and I shall go. "

"I don't believe in any woman, " said Sapt, "and you shan't go. "

"I either go to the summer-house or back to England, " said I. 

Sapt began to know exactly how far he could lead or drive, and when hemust follow. 

"We're playing against time, " I added. "Every day we leave the Kingwhere he is there is fresh risk. Every day I masquerade like this, thereis fresh risk. Sapt, we must play high; we must force the game. "

"So be it, " he said, with a sigh. 

To cut the story short, at half-past eleven that night Sapt and Imounted our horses. Fritz was again left on guard, our destination notbeing revealed to him. It was a very dark night. I wore no sword, but Icarried a revolver, a long knife, and a bull's-eye lantern. We arrivedoutside the gate. I dismounted. Sapt held out his hand. 

"I shall wait here, " he said. "If I hear a shot, I'll--"

"Stay where you are; it's the King's only chance. You mustn't come togrief too. "

"You're right, lad. Good luck!"

I pressed the little gate. It yielded, and I found myself in a wild sortof shrubbery. There was a grass-grown path and, turning to the right asI had been bidden, I followed it cautiously. My lantern was closed, therevolver was in my hand. I heard not a sound. Presently a large darkobject loomed out of the gloom ahead of me. It was the summer-house. Reaching the steps, I mounted them and found myself confronted by aweak, rickety wooden door, which hung upon the latch. I pushed it openand walked in. A woman flew to me and seized my hand. 

"Shut the door, " she whispered. 

I obeyed and turned the light of my lantern on her. She was in eveningdress, arrayed very sumptuously, and her dark striking beauty wasmarvellously displayed in the glare of the bull's-eye. The summer-housewas a bare little room, furnished only with a couple of chairs and asmall iron table, such as one sees in a tea garden or an open-air cafe. 

"Don't talk, " she said. "We've no time. Listen! I know you, Mr. Rassendyll. I wrote that letter at the duke's orders. "

"So I thought, " said I. 

"In twenty minutes three men will be here to kill you. "

"Three--the three?"

"Yes. You must be gone by then. If not, tonight you'll be killed--"

"Or they will. "

"Listen, listen! When you're killed, your body will be taken to a lowquarter of the town. It will be found there. Michael will at oncearrest all your friends--Colonel Sapt and Captain von Tarlenheimfirst--proclaim a state of siege in Strelsau, and send a messenger toZenda. The other three will murder the King in the Castle, and the dukewill proclaim either himself or the princess--himself, if he is strongenough. Anyhow, he'll marry her, and become king in fact, and soon inname. Do you see?"

"It's a pretty plot. But why, madame, do you--?"

"Say I'm a Christian--or say I'm jealous. My God! shall I see him marryher? Now go; but remember--this is what I have to tell you--that never, by night or by day, are you safe. Three men follow you as a guard. Is itnot so? Well, three follow them; Michael's three are never two hundredyards from you. Your life is not worth a moment if ever they find youalone. Now go. Stay, the gate will be guarded by now. Go down softly, gopast the summer-house, on for a hundred yards, and you'll find a ladderagainst the wall. Get over it, and fly for your life. "

"And you?" I asked. 

"I have my game to play too. If he finds out what I have done, we shallnot meet again. If not, I may yet--But never mind. Go at once. "

"But what will you tell him?"

"That you never came--that you saw through the trick. "

I took her hand and kissed it. 

"Madame, " said I, "you have served the King well tonight. Where is he inthe Castle?"

She sank her voice to a fearful whisper. I listened eagerly. 

"Across the drawbridge you come to a heavy door; behind that lies--Hark!What's that?"

There were steps outside. 

"They're coming! They're too soon! Heavens! they're too soon!" and sheturned pale as death. 

"They seem to me, " said I, "to be in the nick of time. "

"Close your lantern. See, there's a chink in the door. Can you seethem?"

I put my eye to the chink. On the lowest step I saw three dim figures. Icocked my revolver. Antoinette hastily laid her hand on mine. 

"You may kill one, " said she. "But what then?"

A voice came from outside--a voice that spoke perfect English. 

"Mr. Rassendyll, " it said. 

I made no answer. 

"We want to talk to you. Will you promise not to shoot till we've done?"

"Have I the pleasure of addressing Mr. Detchard?" I said. 

"Never mind names. "

"Then let mine alone. "

"All right, sire. I've an offer for you. "

I still had my eye to the chink. The three had mounted two steps more;three revolvers pointed full at the door. 

"Will you let us in? We pledge our honour to observe the truce. "

"Don't trust them, " whispered Antoinette. 

"We can speak through the door, " said I. 

"But you might open it and fire, " objected Detchard; "and though weshould finish you, you might finish one of us. Will you give your honournot to fire while we talk?"

"Don't trust them, " whispered Antoinette again. 

A sudden idea struck me. I considered it for a moment. It seemedfeasible. 

"I give my honour not to fire before you do, " said I; "but I won't letyou in. Stand outside and talk. "

"That's sensible, " he said. 

The three mounted the last step, and stood just outside the door. Ilaid my ear to the chink. I could hear no words, but Detchard's head wasclose to that of the taller of his companions (De Gautet, I guessed). 

"H'm! Private communications, " thought I. Then I said aloud:

"Well, gentlemen, what's the offer?"

"A safe-conduct to the frontier, and fifty thousand pounds English. "

"No, no, " whispered Antoinette in the lowest of whispers. "They aretreacherous. "

"That seems handsome, " said I, reconnoitring through the chink. Theywere all close together, just outside the door now. 

I had probed the hearts of the ruffians, and I did not need Antoinette'swarning. They meant to "rush" me as soon as I was engaged in talk. 

"Give me a minute to consider, " said I; and I thought I heard a laughoutside. 

I turned to Antoinette. 

"Stand up close to the wall, out of the line of fire from the door, " Iwhispered. 

"What are you going to do?" she asked in fright. 

"You'll see, " said I. 

I took up the little iron table. It was not very heavy for a man of mystrength, and I held it by the legs. The top, protruding in front ofme, made a complete screen for my head and body. I fastened my closedlantern to my belt and put my revolver in a handy pocket. Suddenly I sawthe door move ever so slightly--perhaps it was the wind, perhaps it wasa hand trying it outside. 

I drew back as far as I could from the door, holding the table in theposition that I have described. Then I called out:

"Gentlemen, I accept your offer, relying on your honour. If you willopen the door--"

"Open it yourself, " said Detchard. 

"It opens outwards, " said I. "Stand back a little, gentlemen, or I shallhit you when I open it. "

I went and fumbled with the latch. Then I stole back to my place ontiptoe. 

"I can't open it!" I cried. "The latch has caught. "

"Tut! I'll open it!" cried Detchard. "Nonsense, Bersonin, why not? Areyou afraid of one man?"

I smiled to myself. An instant later the door was flung back. The gleamof a lantern showed me the three close together outside, theirrevolvers levelled. With a shout, I charged at my utmost pace across thesummer-house and through the doorway. Three shots rang out and batteredinto my shield. Another moment, and I leapt out and the table caughtthem full and square, and in a tumbling, swearing, struggling mass, theyand I and that brave table, rolled down the steps of the summerhouse tothe ground below. Antoinette de Mauban shrieked, but I rose to my feet, laughing aloud. 

De Gautet and Bersonin lay like men stunned. Detchard was under thetable, but, as I rose, he pushed it from him and fired again. I raisedmy revolver and took a snap shot; I heard him curse, and then I ran likea hare, laughing as I went, past the summer-house and along by the wall. I heard steps behind me, and turning round I fired again for luck. Thesteps ceased. 

"Please God, " said I, "she told me the truth about the ladder!" for thewall was high and topped with iron spikes. 

Yes, there it was. I was up and over in a minute. Doubling back, I sawthe horses; then I heard a shot. It was Sapt. He had heard us, and wasbattling and raging with the locked gate, hammering it and firing intothe keyhole like a man possessed. He had quite forgotten that he wasnot to take part in the fight. Whereat I laughed again, and said, as Iclapped him on the shoulder:

"Come home to bed, old chap. I've got the finest tea-table story thatever you heard!"

He started and cried: "You're safe!" and wrung my hand. But a momentlater he added:

"And what the devil are you laughing at?"

"Four gentlemen round a tea-table, " said I, laughing still, for it hadbeen uncommonly ludicrous to see the formidable three altogether routedand scattered with no more deadly weapon than an ordinary tea-table. 

Moreover, you will observe that I had honourably kept my word, and notfired till they did. 

CHAPTER 10

A Great Chance for a Villain

It was the custom that the Prefect of Police should send every afternoona report to me on the condition of the capital and the feeling of thepeople: the document included also an account of the movements of anypersons whom the police had received instructions to watch. Since I hadbeen in Strelsau, Sapt had been in the habit of reading the report andtelling me any items of interest which it might contain. On the dayafter my adventure in the summer-house, he came in as I was playing ahand of _ecarte_ with Fritz von Tarlenheim. 

"The report is rather full of interest this afternoon, " he observed, sitting down. 

"Do you find, " I asked, "any mention of a certain fracas?"

He shook his head with a smile. 

"I find this first, " he said: "'His Highness the Duke of Strelsau leftthe city (so far as it appears, suddenly), accompanied by several of hishousehold. His destination is believed to be the Castle of Zenda, butthe party travelled by road and not by train. MM De Gautet, Bersonin, and Detchard followed an hour later, the last-named carrying his arm ina sling. The cause of his wound is not known, but it is suspected thathe has fought a duel, probably incidental to a love affair. '"

"That is remotely true, " I observed, very well pleased to find that Ihad left my mark on the fellow. 

"Then we come to this, " pursued Sapt: "'Madame de Mauban, whosemovements have been watched according to instructions, left by train atmidday. She took a ticket for Dresden--'"

"It's an old habit of hers, " said I. 

"'The Dresden train stops at Zenda. ' An acute fellow, this. And finallylisten to this: 'The state of feeling in the city is not satisfactory. The King is much criticized' (you know, he's told to be quite frank)'for taking no steps about his marriage. From enquiries among theentourage of the Princess Flavia, her Royal Highness is believed to bedeeply offended by the remissness of his Majesty. The common people arecoupling her name with that of the Duke of Strelsau, and the duke gainsmuch popularity from the suggestion. ' I have caused the announcement thatthe King gives a ball tonight in honour of the princess to be widelydiffused, and the effect is good. "

"That is news to me, " said I. 

"Oh, the preparations are all made!" laughed Fritz. "I've seen to that. "

Sapt turned to me and said, in a sharp, decisive voice:

"You must make love to her tonight, you know. "

"I think it is very likely I shall, if I see her alone, " said I. "Hangit, Sapt, you don't suppose I find it difficult?"

Fritz whistled a bar or two; then he said: "You'll find it only tooeasy. Look here, I hate telling you this, but I must. The Countess Helgatold me that the princess had become most attached to the King. Sincethe coronation, her feelings have undergone a marked development. It'squite true that she is deeply wounded by the King's apparent neglect. "

"Here's a kettle of fish!" I groaned. 

"Tut, tut!" said Sapt. "I suppose you've made pretty speeches to a girlbefore now? That's all she wants. "

Fritz, himself a lover, understood better my distress. He laid his handon my shoulder, but said nothing. 

"I think, though, " pursued that cold-blooded old Sapt, "that you'dbetter make your offer tonight. "

"Good heavens!"

"Or, any rate, go near it: and I shall send a 'semi-official' to thepapers. "

"I'll do nothing of the sort--no more will you!" said I. "I utterlyrefuse to take part in making a fool of the princess. "

Sapt looked at me with his small keen eyes. A slow cunning smile passedover his face. 

"All right, lad, all right, " said he. "We mustn't press you too hard. Soothe her down a bit, if you can, you know. Now for Michael!"

"Oh, damn Michael!" said I. "He'll do tomorrow. Here, Fritz, come for astroll in the garden. "

Sapt at once yielded. His rough manner covered a wonderful tact--andas I came to recognize more and more, a remarkable knowledge of humannature. Why did he urge me so little about the princess? Because heknew that her beauty and my ardour would carry me further than all hisarguments--and that the less I thought about the thing, the more likelywas I to do it. He must have seen the unhappiness he might bring on theprincess; but that went for nothing with him. Can I say, confidently, that he was wrong? If the King were restored, the princess must turn tohim, either knowing or not knowing the change. And if the King were notrestored to us? It was a subject that we had never yet spoken of. But Ihad an idea that, in such a case, Sapt meant to seat me on the throne ofRuritania for the term of my life. He would have set Satan himself theresooner than that pupil of his, Black Michael. 

The ball was a sumptuous affair. I opened it by dancing a quadrillewith Flavia: then I waltzed with her. Curious eyes and eager whispersattended us. We went in to supper; and, half way through, I, half mad bythen, for her glance had answered mine, and her quick breathing met mystammered sentences--I rose in my place before all the brilliant crowd, and taking the Red Rose that I wore, flung the ribbon with its jewelledbadge round her neck. In a tumult of applause I sat down: I saw Saptsmiling over his wine, and Fritz frowning. The rest of the meal passedin silence; neither Flavia nor I could speak. Fritz touched me on theshoulder, and I rose, gave her my arm, and walked down the hall into alittle room, where coffee was served to us. The gentlemen and ladies inattendance withdrew, and we were alone. 

The little room had French windows opening on the gardens. The night wasfine, cool, and fragrant. Flavia sat down, and I stood opposite her. Iwas struggling with myself: if she had not looked at me, I believe thateven then I should have won my fight. But suddenly, involuntarily, shegave me one brief glance--a glance of question, hurriedly turned aside;a blush that the question had ever come spread over her cheek, and shecaught her breath. Ah, if you had seen her! I forgot the King in Zenda. I forgot the King in Strelsau. She was a princess--and I an impostor. Do you think I remembered that? I threw myself on my knee and seizedher hands in mine. I said nothing. Why should I? The soft sounds of thenight set my wooing to a wordless melody, as I pressed my kisses on herlips. 

She pushed me from her, crying suddenly:

"Ah! is it true? or is it only because you must?"

"It's true!" I said, in low smothered tones--"true that I love you morethan life--or truth--or honour!"

She set no meaning to my words, treating them as one of love's sweetextravagances. She came close to me, and whispered:

"Oh, if you were not the King! Then I could show you how I love you! Howis it that I love you now, Rudolf?"

"Now?"

"Yes--just lately. I--I never did before. "

Pure triumph filled me. It was I--Rudolf Rassendyll--who had won her! Icaught her round the waist. 

"You didn't love me before?" I asked. 

She looked up into my face, smiling, as she whispered:

"It must have been your Crown. I felt it first on the Coronation Day. "

"Never before?" I asked eagerly. 

She laughed low. 

"You speak as if you would be pleased to hear me say 'Yes' to that, " shesaid. 

"Would 'Yes' be true?"

"Yes, " I just heard her breathe, and she went on in an instant: "Becareful, Rudolf; be careful, dear. He will be mad now. "

"What, Michael? If Michael were the worst--"

"What worse is there?"

There was yet a chance for me. Controlling myself with a mighty effort, I took my hands off her and stood a yard or two away. I remember now thenote of the wind in the elm trees outside. 

"If I were not the King, " I began, "if I were only a privategentleman--"

Before I could finish, her hand was in mine. 

"If you were a convict in the prison of Strelsau, you would be my King, "she said. 

And under my breath I groaned, "God forgive me!" and, holding her handin mine, I said again:

"If I were not the King--"

"Hush, hush!" she whispered. "I don't deserve it--I don't deserve to bedoubted. Ah, Rudolf! does a woman who marries without love look on theman as I look on you?"

And she hid her face from me. 

For more than a minute we stood there together; and I, even with my armabout her, summoned up what honour and conscience her beauty and thetoils that I was in had left me. 

"Flavia, " I said, in a strange dry voice that seemed not my own, "I amnot--"

As I spoke--as she raised her eyes to me--there was a heavy step on thegravel outside, and a man appeared at the window. A little cry burstfrom Flavia, as she sprang back from me. My half-finished sentence diedon my lips. Sapt stood there, bowing low, but with a stern frown on hisface. 

"A thousand pardons, sire, " said he, "but his Eminence the Cardinal haswaited this quarter of an hour to offer his respectful adieu to yourMajesty. "

I met his eye full and square; and I read in it an angry warning. Howlong he had been a listener I knew not, but he had come in upon us inthe nick of time. 

"We must not keep his Eminence waiting, " said I. 

But Flavia, in whose love there lay no shame, with radiant eyes andblushing face, held out her hand to Sapt. She said nothing, but noman could have missed her meaning, who had ever seen a woman in theexultation of love. A sour, yet sad, smile passed over the old soldier'sface, and there was tenderness in his voice, as bending to kiss herhand, he said:

"In joy and sorrow, in good times and bad, God save your RoyalHighness!"

He paused and added, glancing at me and drawing himself up to militaryerectness:

"But, before all comes the King--God save the King!"

And Flavia caught at my hand and kissed it, murmuring:

"Amen! Good God, Amen!"

We went into the ballroom again. Forced to receive adieus, I wasseparated from Flavia: everyone, when they left me, went to her. Saptwas out and in of the throng, and where he had been, glances, smiles, and whispers were rife. I doubted not that, true to his relentlesspurpose, he was spreading the news that he had learnt. To upholdthe Crown and beat Black Michael--that was his one resolve. Flavia, myself--ay, and the real King in Zenda, were pieces in his game; andpawns have no business with passions. Not even at the walls of thePalace did he stop; for when at last I handed Flavia down the broadmarble steps and into her carriage, there was a great crowd awaitingus, and we were welcomed with deafening cheers. What could I do? Had Ispoken then, they would have refused to believe that I was not the King;they might have believed that the King had run mad. By Sapt's devicesand my own ungoverned passion I had been forced on, and the way back hadclosed behind me; and the passion still drove me in the same directionas the devices seduced me. I faced all Strelsau that night as the Kingand the accepted suitor of the Princess Flavia. 

At last, at three in the morning, when the cold light of dawning daybegan to steal in, I was in my dressing-room, and Sapt alone was withme. I sat like a man dazed, staring into the fire; he puffed at hispipe; Fritz was gone to bed, having almost refused to speak to me. Onthe table by me lay a rose; it had been in Flavia's dress, and, as weparted, she had kissed it and given it to me. 

Sapt advanced his hand towards the rose, but, with a quick movement, Ishut mine down upon it. 

"That's mine, " I said, "not yours--nor the King's either. "

"We struck a good blow for the King tonight, " said he. 

I turned on him fiercely. 

"What's to prevent me striking a blow for myself?" I said. 

He nodded his head. 

"I know what's in your mind, " he said. "Yes, lad; but you're bound inhonour. "

"Have you left me any honour?"

"Oh, come, to play a little trick on a girl--"

"You can spare me that. Colonel Sapt, if you would not have me utterly avillain--if you would not have your King rot in Zenda, while Michael andI play for the great stake outside--You follow me?"

"Ay, I follow you. "

"We must act, and quickly! You saw tonight--you heard--tonight--"

"I did, " said he. 

"Your cursed acuteness told you what I should do. Well, leave me here aweek--and there's another problem for you. Do you find the answer?"

"Yes, I find it, " he answered, frowning heavily. "But if you did that, you'd have to fight me first--and kill me. "

"Well, and if I had--or a score of men? I tell you, I could raise allStrelsau on you in an hour, and choke you with your lies--yes, your madlies--in your mouth. "

"It's gospel truth, " he said--"thanks to my advice you could. "

"I could marry the princess, and send Michael and his brother togetherto--"

"I'm not denying it, lad, " said he. 

"Then, in God's name, " I cried, stretching out my hands to him, "let usgo to Zenda and crush this Michael and bring the King back to his ownagain. " The old fellow stood and looked at me for full a minute. 

"And the princess?" he said. 

I bowed my head to meet my hands, and crushed the rose between myfingers and my lips. 

I felt his hand on my shoulder, and his voice sounded husky as hewhispered low in my ear:

"Before God, you're the finest Elphberg of them all. But I have eatenof the King's bread, and I am the King's servant. Come, we will go toZenda!"

And I looked up and caught him by the hand. And the eyes of both of uswere wet. 

CHAPTER 11

Hunting a Very Big Boar

The terrible temptation which was assailing me will now be understood. I could so force Michael's hand that he must kill the King. I was in aposition to bid him defiance and tighten my grasp on the crown--not forits own sake, but because the King of Ruritania was to wed the PrincessFlavia. What of Sapt and Fritz? Ah! but a man cannot be held to writedown in cold blood the wild and black thoughts that storm his brain whenan uncontrolled passion has battered a breach for them. Yet, unlesshe sets up as a saint, he need not hate himself for them. He is betteremployed, as it humbly seems to me, in giving thanks that power toresist was vouchsafed to him, than in fretting over wicked impulseswhich come unsought and extort an unwilling hospitality from theweakness of our nature. 

It was a fine bright morning when I walked, unattended, to theprincess's house, carrying a nosegay in my hand. Policy made excusesfor love, and every attention that I paid her, while it riveted my ownchains, bound closer to me the people of the great city, who worshippedher. I found Fritz's inamorata, the Countess Helga, gathering blooms inthe garden for her mistress's wear, and prevailed on her to take mine intheir place. The girl was rosy with happiness, for Fritz, in his turn, had not wasted his evening, and no dark shadow hung over his wooing, save the hatred which the Duke of Strelsau was known to bear him. 

"And that, " she said, with a mischievous smile, "your Majesty has madeof no moment. Yes, I will take the flowers; shall I tell you, sire, whatis the first thing the princess does with them?"

We were talking on a broad terrace that ran along the back of the house, and a window above our heads stood open. 

"Madame!" cried the countess merrily, and Flavia herself looked out. Ibared my head and bowed. She wore a white gown, and her hair was looselygathered in a knot. She kissed her hand to me, crying:

"Bring the King up, Helga; I'll give him some coffee. "

The countess, with a gay glance, led the way, and took me into Flavia'smorning-room. And, left alone, we greeted one another as lovers arewont. Then the princess laid two letters before me. One was from BlackMichael--a most courteous request that she would honour him by spendinga day at his Castle of Zenda, as had been her custom once a year in thesummer, when the place and its gardens were in the height of their greatbeauty. I threw the letter down in disgust, and Flavia laughed at me. Then, growing grave again, she pointed to the other sheet. 

"I don't know who that comes from, " she said. "Read it. "

I knew in a moment. There was no signature at all this time, but thehandwriting was the same as that which had told me of the snare in thesummer-house: it was Antoinette de Mauban's. 

"I have no cause to love you, " it ran, "but God forbid that you shouldfall into the power of the duke. Accept no invitations of his. Gonowhere without a large guard--a regiment is not too much to make yousafe. Show this, if you can, to him who reigns in Strelsau. "

"Why doesn't it say 'the King'?" asked Flavia, leaning over my shoulder, so that the ripple of her hair played on my cheek. "Is it a hoax?"

"As you value life, and more than life, my queen, " I said, "obey it tothe very letter. A regiment shall camp round your house today. See thatyou do not go out unless well guarded. "

"An order, sire?" she asked, a little rebellious. 

"Yes, an order, madame--if you love me. "

"Ah!" she cried; and I could not but kiss her. 

"You know who sent it?" she asked. 

"I guess, " said I. "It is from a good friend--and I fear, an unhappywoman. You must be ill, Flavia, and unable to go to Zenda. Make yourexcuses as cold and formal as you like. "

"So you feel strong enough to anger Michael?" she said, with a proudsmile. 

"I'm strong enough for anything, while you are safe, " said I. 

Soon I tore myself away from her, and then, without consulting Sapt, Itook my way to the house of Marshal Strakencz. I had seen somethingof the old general, and I liked and trusted him. Sapt was lessenthusiastic, but I had learnt by now that Sapt was best pleased whenhe could do everything, and jealousy played some part in his views. Asthings were now, I had more work than Sapt and Fritz could manage, forthey must come with me to Zenda, and I wanted a man to guard what Iloved most in all the world, and suffer me to set about my task ofreleasing the King with a quiet mind. 

The Marshal received me with most loyal kindness. To some extent, I tookhim into my confidence. I charged him with the care of the princess, looking him full and significantly in the face as I bade him let no onefrom her cousin the duke approach her, unless he himself were there anda dozen of his men with him. 

"You may be right, sire, " said he, shaking his grey head sadly. "I haveknown better men than the duke do worse things than that for love. "

I could quite appreciate the remark, but I said:

"There's something beside love, Marshal. Love's for the heart; is therenothing my brother might like for his head?"

"I pray that you wrong him, sire. "

"Marshal, I'm leaving Strelsau for a few days. Every evening I willsend a courier to you. If for three days none comes, you will publish anorder which I will give you, depriving Duke Michael of the governorshipof Strelsau and appointing you in his place. You will declare a state ofsiege. Then you will send word to Michael that you demand an audience ofthe King--You follow me?"

"Ay, sire. "

"--In twenty-four hours. If he does not produce the King" (I laid myhand on his knee), "then the King is dead, and you will proclaim thenext heir. You know who that is?"

"The Princess Flavia. "

"And swear to me, on your faith and honour and by the fear of the livingGod, that you will stand by her to the death, and kill that reptile, andseat her where I sit now. "

"On my faith and honour, and by the fear of God, I swear it! And mayAlmighty God preserve your Majesty, for I think that you go on an errandof danger. "

"I hope that no life more precious than mine may be demanded, " said I, rising. Then I held out my hand to him. 

"Marshal, " I said, "in days to come, it may be--I know not--that youwill hear strange things of the man who speaks to you now. Let him bewhat he may, and who he may, what say you of the manner in which he hasborne himself as King in Strelsau?"

The old man, holding my hand, spoke to me, man to man. 

"I have known many of the Elphbergs, " said he, "and I have seen you. And, happen what may, you have borne yourself as a wise King and a braveman; ay, and you have proved as courteous a gentleman and as gallant alover as any that have been of the House. "

"Be that my epitaph, " said I, "when the time comes that another sits onthe throne of Ruritania. "

"God send a far day, and may I not see it!" said he. 

I was much moved, and the Marshal's worn face twitched. I sat down andwrote my order. 

"I can hardly yet write, " said I; "my finger is stiff still. "

It was, in fact, the first time that I had ventured to write more thana signature; and in spite of the pains I had taken to learn the King'shand, I was not yet perfect in it. 

"Indeed, sire, " he said, "it differs a little from your ordinaryhandwriting. It is unfortunate, for it may lead to a suspicion offorgery. "

"Marshal, " said I, with a laugh, "what use are the guns of Strelsau, ifthey can't assuage a little suspicion?"

He smiled grimly, and took the paper. 

"Colonel Sapt and Fritz von Tarlenheim go with me, " I continued. 

"You go to seek the duke?" he asked in a low tone. 

"Yes, the duke, and someone else of whom I have need, and who is atZenda, " I replied. 

"I wish I could go with you, " he cried, tugging at his white moustache. "I'd like to strike a blow for you and your crown. "

"I leave you what is more than my life and more than my crown, " said I, "because you are the man I trust more than all other in Ruritania. "

"I will deliver her to you safe and sound, " said he, "and, failing that, I will make her queen. "

We parted, and I returned to the Palace and told Sapt and Fritz whatI had done. Sapt had a few faults to find and a few grumbles toutter. This was merely what I expected, for Sapt liked to be consultedbeforehand, not informed afterwards; but on the whole he approved of myplans, and his spirits rose high as the hour of action drew nearer andnearer. Fritz, too, was ready; though he, poor fellow, risked more thanSapt did, for he was a lover, and his happiness hung in the scale. Yethow I envied him! For the triumphant issue which would crown him withhappiness and unite him to his mistress, the success for which we werebound to hope and strive and struggle, meant to me sorrow more certainand greater than if I were doomed to fail. He understood something ofthis, for when we were alone (save for old Sapt, who was smoking at theother end of the room) he passed his arm through mine, saying:

"It's hard for you. Don't think I don't trust you; I know you havenothing but true thoughts in your heart. "

But I turned away from him, thankful that he could not see what my heartheld, but only be witness to the deeds that my hands were to do. 

Yet even he did not understand, for he had not dared to lift his eyes tothe Princess Flavia, as I had lifted mine. 

Our plans were now all made, even as we proceeded to carry them out, andas they will hereafter appear. The next morning we were to start on thehunting excursion. I had made all arrangements for being absent, andnow there was only one thing left to do--the hardest, the mostheart-breaking. As evening fell, I drove through the busy streets toFlavia's residence. I was recognized as I went and heartily cheered. Iplayed my part, and made shift to look the happy lover. In spite of mydepression, I was almost amused at the coolness and delicate hauteurwith which my sweet lover received me. She had heard that the King wasleaving Strelsau on a hunting expedition. 

"I regret that we cannot amuse your Majesty here in Strelsau, " she said, tapping her foot lightly on the floor. "I would have offered you moreentertainment, but I was foolish enough to think--"

"Well, what?" I asked, leaning over her. 

"That just for a day or two after--after last night--you might be happywithout much gaiety;" and she turned pettishly from me, as she added, "Ihope the boars will be more engrossing. "

"I'm going after a very big boar, " said I; and, because I could not helpit, I began to play with her hair, but she moved her head away. 

"Are you offended with me?" I asked, in feigned surprise, for I couldnot resist tormenting her a little. I had never seen her angry, andevery fresh aspect of her was a delight to me. 

"What right have I to be offended? True, you said last night that everyhour away from me was wasted. But a very big boar! that's a differentthing. "

"Perhaps the boar will hunt me, " I suggested. "Perhaps, Flavia, he'llcatch me. "

She made no answer. 

"You are not touched even by that danger?"

Still she said nothing; and I, stealing round, found her eyes full oftears. 

"You weep for my danger?"

Then she spoke very low:

"This is like what you used to be; but not like the King--the King I--Ihave come to love!"

With a sudden great groan, I caught her to my heart. 

"My darling!" I cried, forgetting everything but her, "did you dreamthat I left you to go hunting?"

"What then, Rudolf? Ah! you're not going--?"

"Well, it is hunting. I go to seek Michael in his lair. "

She had turned very pale. 

"So, you see, sweet, I was not so poor a lover as you thought me. Ishall not be long gone. "

"You will write to me, Rudolf?"

I was weak, but I could not say a word to stir suspicion in her. 

"I'll send you all my heart every day, " said I. 

"And you'll run no danger?"

"None that I need not. "

"And when will you be back? Ah, how long will it be!"

"When shall I be back?" I repeated. 

"Yes, yes! Don't be long, dear, don't be long. I shan't sleep whileyou're away. "

"I don't know when I shall be back, " said I. 

"Soon, Rudolf, soon?"

"God knows, my darling. But, if never--"

"Hush, hush!" and she pressed her lips to mine. 

"If never, " I whispered, "you must take my place; you'll be the only oneof the House then. You must reign, and not weep for me. "

For a moment she drew herself up like a very queen. 

"Yes, I will!" she said. "I will reign. I will do my part though all mylife will be empty and my heart dead; yet I'll do it!"

She paused, and sinking against me again, wailed softly. 

"Come soon! come soon!"

Carried away, I cried loudly:

"As God lives, I--yes, I myself--will see you once more before I die!"

"What do you mean?" she exclaimed, with wondering eyes; but I had noanswer for her, and she gazed at me with her wondering eyes. 

I dared not ask her to forget, she would have found it an insult. Icould not tell her then who and what I was. She was weeping, and I hadbut to dry her tears. 

"Shall a man not come back to the loveliest lady in all the wide world?"said I. "A thousand Michaels should not keep me from you!"

She clung to me, a little comforted. 

"You won't let Michael hurt you?"

"No, sweetheart. "

"Or keep you from me?"

"No, sweetheart. "

"Nor anyone else?"

And again I answered:

"No, sweetheart. "

Yet there was one--not Michael--who, if he lived, must keep me fromher; and for whose life I was going forth to stake my own. And hisfigure--the lithe, buoyant figure I had met in the woods of Zenda--thedull, inert mass I had left in the cellar of the hunting-lodge--seemedto rise, double-shaped, before me, and to come between us, thrustingitself in even where she lay, pale, exhausted, fainting, in my arms, andyet looking up at me with those eyes that bore such love as I have neverseen, and haunt me now, and will till the ground closes over me--and(who knows?) perhaps beyond. 

CHAPTER 12

I Receive a Visitor and Bait a Hook

About five miles from Zenda--on the opposite side from that on whichthe Castle is situated, there lies a large tract of wood. It is risingground, and in the centre of the demesne, on the top of the hill, standsa fine modern chateau, the property of a distant kinsman of Fritz's, theCount Stanislas von Tarlenheim. Count Stanislas himself was a studentand a recluse. He seldom visited the house, and had, on Fritz's request, very readily and courteously offered me its hospitality for myself andmy party. This, then, was our destination; chosen ostensibly for thesake of the boar-hunting (for the wood was carefully preserved, andboars, once common all over Ruritania, were still to be found therein considerable numbers), really because it brought us within strikingdistance of the Duke of Strelsau's more magnificent dwelling on theother side of the town. A large party of servants, with horses andluggage, started early in the morning; we followed at midday, travellingby train for thirty miles, and then mounting our horses to ride theremaining distance to the chateau. 

We were a gallant party. Besides Sapt and Fritz, I was accompanied byten gentlemen: every one of them had been carefully chosen, and no lesscarefully sounded, by my two friends, and all were devotedly attached tothe person of the King. They were told a part of the truth; the attempton my life in the summer-house was revealed to them, as a spur to theirloyalty and an incitement against Michael. They were also informed thata friend of the King's was suspected to be forcibly confined within theCastle of Zenda. His rescue was one of the objects of the expedition;but, it was added, the King's main desire was to carry into effectcertain steps against his treacherous brother, as to the precise natureof which they could not at present be further enlightened. Enough thatthe King commanded their services, and would rely on their devotion whenoccasion arose to call for it. Young, well-bred, brave, and loyal, theyasked no more: they were ready to prove their dutiful obedience, andprayed for a fight as the best and most exhilarating mode of showing it. 

Thus the scene was shifted from Strelsau to the chateau of Tarlenheimand Castle of Zenda, which frowned at us across the valley. I tried toshift my thoughts also, to forget my love, and to bend all my energiesto the task before me. It was to get the King out of the Castle alive. Force was useless: in some trick lay the chance; and I had already aninkling of what we must do. But I was terribly hampered by the publicitywhich attended my movements. Michael must know by now of my expedition;and I knew Michael too well to suppose that his eyes would be blinded bythe feint of the boar-hunt. He would understand very well what the realquarry was. That, however, must be risked--that and all it might mean;for Sapt, no less than myself, recognized that the present state ofthings had become unendurable. And there was one thing that I dared tocalculate on--not, as I now know, without warrant. It was this--thatBlack Michael would not believe that I meant well by the King. He couldnot appreciate--I will not say an honest man, for the thoughts of myown heart have been revealed--but a man acting honestly. He sawmy opportunity as I had seen it, as Sapt had seen it; he knew theprincess--nay (and I declare that a sneaking sort of pity for himinvaded me), in his way he loved her; he would think that Sapt and Fritzcould be bribed, so the bribe was large enough. Thinking thus, would hekill the King, my rival and my danger? Ay, verily, that he would, withas little compunction as he would kill a rat. But he would kill RudolfRassendyll first, if he could; and nothing but the certainty of beingutterly damned by the release of the King alive and his restoration tothe throne would drive him to throw away the trump card which he held inreserve to baulk the supposed game of the impudent impostor Rassendyll. Musing on all this as I rode along, I took courage. 

Michael knew of my coming, sure enough. I had not been in the house anhour, when an imposing Embassy arrived from him. He did not quite reachthe impudence of sending my would-be assassins, but he sent the otherthree of his famous Six--the three Ruritanian gentlemen--Lauengram, Krafstein, and Rupert Hentzau. A fine, strapping trio they were, splendidly horsed and admirably equipped. Young Rupert, who lookeda dare-devil, and could not have been more than twenty-two ortwenty-three, took the lead, and made us the neatest speech, whereinmy devoted subject and loving brother Michael of Strelsau, prayed me topardon him for not paying his addresses in person, and, further, for notputting his Castle at my disposal; the reason for both of these apparentderelictions being that he and several of his servants lay sick ofscarlet fever, and were in a very sad, and also a very infectious state. So declared young Rupert with an insolent smile on his curling upper lipand a toss of his thick hair--he was a handsome villain, and the gossipran that many a lady had troubled her heart for him already. 

"If my brother has scarlet fever, " said I, "he is nearer my complexionthan he is wont to be, my lord. I trust he does not suffer?"

"He is able to attend to his affairs, sire. "

"I hope all beneath your roof are not sick. What of my good friends, DeGautet, Bersonin, and Detchard? I heard the last had suffered a hurt. "

Lauengram and Krafstein looked glum and uneasy, but young Rupert's smilegrew broader. 

"He hopes soon to find a medicine for it, sire, " he answered. 

And I burst out laughing, for I knew what medicine Detchard longedfor--it is called Revenge. 

"You will dine with us, gentlemen?" I asked. 

Young Rupert was profuse in apologies. They had urgent duties at theCastle. 

"Then, " said I, with a wave of my hand, "to our next meeting, gentlemen. May it make us better acquainted. "

"We will pray your Majesty for an early opportunity, " quoth Rupertairily; and he strode past Sapt with such jeering scorn on his face thatI saw the old fellow clench his fist and scowl black as night. 

For my part, if a man must needs be a knave, I would have him a debonairknave, and I liked Rupert Hentzau better than his long-faced, close-eyedcompanions. It makes your sin no worse, as I conceive, to do it a lamode and stylishly. 

Now it was a curious thing that on this first night, instead of eatingthe excellent dinner my cooks had prepared for me, I must needs leave mygentlemen to eat it alone, under Sapt's presiding care, and ride myselfwith Fritz to the town of Zenda and a certain little inn that I knewof. There was little danger in the excursion; the evenings were long andlight, and the road this side of Zenda well frequented. So off we rode, with a groom behind us. I muffled myself up in a big cloak. 

"Fritz, " said I, as we entered the town, "there's an uncommonly prettygirl at this inn. "

"How do you know?" he asked. 

"Because I've been there, " said I. 

"Since--?" he began. 

"No. Before, " said I. 

"But they'll recognize you?"

"Well, of course they will. Now, don't argue, my good fellow, but listento me. We're two gentlemen of the King's household, and one of us has atoothache. The other will order a private room and dinner, and, further, a bottle of the best wine for the sufferer. And if he be as clever afellow as I take him for, the pretty girl and no other will wait on us. "

"What if she won't?" objected Fritz. 

"My dear Fritz, " said I, "if she won't for you, she will for me. "

We were at the inn. Nothing of me but my eyes was visible as I walkedin. The landlady received us; two minutes later, my little friend (ever, I fear me, on the look-out for such guests as might prove amusing) madeher appearance. Dinner and the wine were ordered. I sat down in theprivate room. A minute later Fritz came in. 

"She's coming, " he said. 

"If she were not, I should have to doubt the Countess Helga's taste. "

She came in. I gave her time to set the wine down--I didn't want itdropped. Fritz poured out a glass and gave it to me. 

"Is the gentleman in great pain?" the girl asked, sympathetically. 

"The gentleman is no worse than when he saw you last, " said I, throwingaway my cloak. 

She started, with a little shriek. Then she cried:

"It was the King, then! I told mother so the moment I saw his picture. Oh, sir, forgive me!"

"Faith, you gave me nothing that hurt much, " said I. 

"But the things we said!"

"I forgive them for the thing you did. "

"I must go and tell mother. "

"Stop, " said I, assuming a graver air. "We are not here for sporttonight. Go and bring dinner, and not a word of the King being here. "

She came back in a few minutes, looking grave, yet very curious. 

"Well, how is Johann?" I asked, beginning my dinner. 

"Oh, that fellow, sir--my lord King, I mean!"

"'Sir' will do, please. How is he?"

"We hardly see him now, sir. "

"And why not?"

"I told him he came too often, sir, " said she, tossing her head. 

"So he sulks and stays away?"

"Yes, sir. "

"But you could bring him back?" I suggested with a smile. 

"Perhaps I could, " said she. 

"I know your powers, you see, " said I, and she blushed with pleasure. 

"It's not only that, sir, that keeps him away. He's very busy at theCastle. "

"But there's no shooting on now. "

"No, sir; but he's in charge of the house. "

"Johann turned housemaid?"

The little girl was brimming over with gossip. 

"Well, there are no others, " said she. "There's not a woman there--notas a servant, I mean. They do say--but perhaps it's false, sir. "

"Let's have it for what it's worth, " said I. 

"Indeed, I'm ashamed to tell you, sir. "

"Oh, see, I'm looking at the ceiling. "

"They do say there is a lady there, sir; but, except for her, there'snot a woman in the place. And Johann has to wait on the gentlemen. "

"Poor Johann! He must be overworked. Yet I'm sure he could find half anhour to come and see you. "

"It would depend on the time, sir, perhaps. "

"Do you love him?" I asked. 

"Not I, sir. "

"And you wish to serve the King?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Then tell him to meet you at the second milestone out of Zenda tomorrowevening at ten o'clock. Say you'll be there and will walk home withhim. "

"Do you mean him harm, sir?"

"Not if he will do as I bid him. But I think I've told you enough, mypretty maid. See that you do as I bid you. And, mind, no one is to knowthat the King has been here. "

I spoke a little sternly, for there is seldom harm in infusing a littlefear into a woman's liking for you, and I softened the effect by givingher a handsome present. Then we dined, and, wrapping my cloak aboutmy face, with Fritz leading the way, we went downstairs to our horsesagain. 

It was but half-past eight, and hardly yet dark; the streets were fullfor such a quiet little place, and I could see that gossip was all agog. With the King on one side and the duke on the other, Zenda felt itselfthe centre of all Ruritania. We jogged gently through the town, but setour horses to a sharper pace when we reached the open country. 

"You want to catch this fellow Johann?" asked Fritz. 

"Ay, and I fancy I've baited the hook right. Our little Delilah willbring our Samson. It is not enough, Fritz, to have no women in a house, though brother Michael shows some wisdom there. If you want safety, youmust have none within fifty miles. "

"None nearer than Strelsau, for instance, " said poor Fritz, with alovelorn sigh. 

We reached the avenue of the chateau, and were soon at the house. As thehoofs of our horses sounded on the gravel, Sapt rushed out to meet us. 

"Thank God, you're safe!" he cried. "Have you seen anything of them?"

"Of whom?" I asked, dismounting. 

He drew us aside, that the grooms might not hear. 

"Lad, " he said to me, "you must not ride about here, unless with half adozen of us. You know among our men a tall young fellow, Bernenstein byname?"

I knew him. He was a fine strapping young man, almost of my height, andof light complexion. 

"He lies in his room upstairs, with a bullet through his arm. "

"The deuce he does!"

"After dinner he strolled out alone, and went a mile or so into thewood; and as he walked, he thought he saw three men among the trees;and one levelled a gun at him. He had no weapon, and he started at a runback towards the house. But one of them fired, and he was hit, and hadmuch ado to reach here before he fainted. By good luck, they feared topursue him nearer the house. "

He paused and added:

"Lad, the bullet was meant for you. "

"It is very likely, " said I, "and it's first blood to brother Michael. "

"I wonder which three it was, " said Fritz. 

"Well, Sapt, " I said, "I went out tonight for no idle purpose, as youshall hear. But there's one thing in my mind. "

"What's that?" he asked. 

"Why this, " I answered. "That I shall ill requite the very great honoursRuritania has done me if I depart from it leaving one of those Sixalive--neither with the help of God, will I. "

And Sapt shook my hand on that. 

CHAPTER 13

An Improvement on Jacob's Ladder

In the morning of the day after that on which I swore my oath againstthe Six, I gave certain orders, and then rested in greater contentmentthan I had known for some time. I was at work; and work, though itcannot cure love, is yet a narcotic to it; so that Sapt, who grewfeverish, marvelled to see me sprawling in an armchair in the sunshine, listening to one of my friends who sang me amorous songs in a mellowvoice and induced in me a pleasing melancholy. Thus was I engaged whenyoung Rupert Hentzau, who feared neither man nor devil, and rode throughthe demesne--where every tree might hide a marksman, for all he knew--asthough it had been the park at Strelsau, cantered up to where I lay, bowing with burlesque deference, and craving private speech with mein order to deliver a message from the Duke of Strelsau. I made allwithdraw, and then he said, seating himself by me:

"The King is in love, it seems?"

"Not with life, my lord, " said I, smiling. 

"It is well, " he rejoined. "Come, we are alone, Rassendyll--"

I rose to a sitting posture. 

"What's the matter?" he asked. 

"I was about to call one of my gentlemen to bring your horse, my lord. If you do not know how to address the King, my brother must find anothermessenger. "

"Why keep up the farce?" he asked, negligently dusting his boot with hisglove. 

"Because it is not finished yet; and meanwhile I'll choose my own name. "

"Oh, so be it! Yet I spoke in love for you; for indeed you are a manafter my own heart. "

"Saving my poor honesty, " said I, "maybe I am. But that I keep faithwith men, and honour with women, maybe I am, my lord. "

He darted a glance at me--a glance of anger. 

"Is your mother dead?" said I. 

"Ay, she's dead. "

"She may thank God, " said I, and I heard him curse me softly. "Well, what's the message?" I continued. 

I had touched him on the raw, for all the world knew he had broken hismother's heart and flaunted his mistresses in her house; and his airymanner was gone for the moment. 

"The duke offers you more than I would, " he growled. "A halter foryou, sire, was my suggestion. But he offers you safe-conduct across thefrontier and a million crowns. "

"I prefer your offer, my lord, if I am bound to one. "

"You refuse?"

"Of course. "

"I told Michael you would;" and the villain, his temper restored, gave me the sunniest of smiles. "The fact is, between ourselves, " hecontinued, "Michael doesn't understand a gentleman. "

I began to laugh. 

"And you?" I asked. 

"I do, " he said. "Well, well, the halter be it. "

"I'm sorry you won't live to see it, " I observed. 

"Has his Majesty done me the honour to fasten a particular quarrel onme?"

"I would you were a few years older, though. "

"Oh, God gives years, but the devil gives increase, " laughed he. "I canhold my own. "

"How is your prisoner?" I asked. 

"The K--?"

"Your prisoner. "

"I forgot your wishes, sire. Well, he is alive. "

He rose to his feet; I imitated him. Then, with a smile, he said:

"And the pretty princess? Faith, I'll wager the next Elphberg will bered enough, for all that Black Michael will be called his father. "

I sprang a step towards him, clenching my hand. He did not move an inch, and his lip curled in insolent amusement. 

"Go, while your skin's whole!" I muttered. He had repaid me withinterest my hit about his mother. 

Then came the most audacious thing I have known in my life. My friendswere some thirty yards away. Rupert called to a groom to bring him hishorse, and dismissed the fellow with a crown. The horse stood near. Istood still, suspecting nothing. Rupert made as though to mount; thenhe suddenly turned to me: his left hand resting in his belt, his rightoutstretched: "Shake hands, " he said. 

I bowed, and did as he had foreseen--I put my hands behind me. Quickerthan thought, his left hand darted out at me, and a small dagger flashedin the air; he struck me in the left shoulder--had I not swerved, ithad been my heart. With a cry, I staggered back. Without touching thestirrup, he leapt upon his horse and was off like an arrow, pursued bycries and revolver shots--the last as useless as the first--and Isank into my chair, bleeding profusely, as I watched the devil's bratdisappear down the long avenue. My friends surrounded me, and then Ifainted. 

I suppose that I was put to bed, and there lay, unconscious, or halfconscious, for many hours; for it was night when I awoke to my fullmind, and found Fritz beside me. I was weak and weary, but he bade me beof good cheer, saying that my wound would soon heal, and that meanwhileall had gone well, for Johann, the keeper, had fallen into the snare wehad laid for him, and was even now in the house. 

"And the queer thing is, " pursued Fritz, "that I fancy he's notaltogether sorry to find himself here. He seems to think that whenBlack Michael has brought off his coup, witnesses of how it waseffected--saving, of course, the Six themselves--will not be at apremium. "

This idea argued a shrewdness in our captive which led me to buildhopes on his assistance. I ordered him to be brought in at once. Saptconducted him, and set him in a chair by my bedside. He was sullen, andafraid; but, to say truth, after young Rupert's exploit, we also hadour fears, and, if he got as far as possible from Sapt's formidablesix-shooter, Sapt kept him as far as he could from me. Moreover, when hecame in his hands were bound, but that I would not suffer. 

I need not stay to recount the safeguards and rewards we promised thefellow--all of which were honourably observed and paid, so that he livesnow in prosperity (though where I may not mention); and we were the morefree inasmuch as we soon learnt that he was rather a weak man than awicked, and had acted throughout this matter more from fear of the dukeand of his own brother Max than for any love of what was done. Buthe had persuaded all of his loyalty; and though not in their secretcounsels, was yet, by his knowledge of their dispositions within theCastle, able to lay bare before us the very heart of their devices. Andhere, in brief, is his story:

Below the level of the ground in the Castle, approached by a flight ofstone steps which abutted on the end of the drawbridge, were situatedtwo small rooms, cut out of the rock itself. The outer of the two had nowindows, but was always lighted with candles; the inner had one squarewindow, which gave upon the moat. In the outer room there lay always, day and night, three of the Six; and the instructions of Duke Michaelwere, that on any attack being made on the outer room, the three were todefend the door of it so long as they could without risk to themselves. But, so soon as the door should be in danger of being forced, thenRupert Hentzau or Detchard (for one of these two was always there)should leave the others to hold it as long as they could, and himselfpass into the inner room, and, without more ado, kill the King wholay there, well-treated indeed, but without weapons, and with his armsconfined in fine steel chains, which did not allow him to move his elbowmore than three inches from his side. Thus, before the outer door werestormed, the King would be dead. And his body? For his body would beevidence as damning as himself. 

"Nay, sir, " said Johann, "his Highness has thought of that. While thetwo hold the outer room, the one who has killed the King unlocks thebars in the square window (they turn on a hinge). The window now givesno light, for its mouth is choked by a great pipe of earthenware; andthis pipe, which is large enough to let pass through it the body ofa man, passes into the moat, coming to an end immediately above thesurface of the water, so that there is no perceptible interval betweenwater and pipe. The King being dead, his murderer swiftly ties a weightto the body, and, dragging it to the window, raises it by a pulley (for, lest the weight should prove too great, Detchard has provided one) tillit is level with the mouth of the pipe. He inserts the feet in the pipe, and pushes the body down. Silently, without splash or sound, it fallsinto the water and thence to the bottom of the moat, which is twentyfeet deep thereabouts. This done, the murderer cries loudly, 'All'swell!' and himself slides down the pipe; and the others, if they can andthe attack is not too hot, run to the inner room and, seeking a moment'sdelay, bar the door, and in their turn slide down. And though the Kingrises not from the bottom, they rise and swim round to the other side, where the orders are for men to wait them with ropes, to haul them out, and horses. And here, if things go ill, the duke will join them and seeksafety by riding; but if all goes well, they will return to the Castle, and have their enemies in a trap. That, sir, is the plan of his Highnessfor the disposal of the King in case of need. But it is not to be usedtill the last; for, as we all know, he is not minded to kill the Kingunless he can, before or soon after, kill you also, sir. Now, sir, Ihave spoken the truth, as God is my witness, and I pray you to shield mefrom the vengeance of Duke Michael; for if, after he knows what I havedone, I fall into his hands, I shall pray for one thing out of all theworld--a speedy death, and that I shall not obtain from him!"

The fellow's story was rudely told, but our questions supplementedhis narrative. What he had told us applied to an armed attack; but ifsuspicions were aroused, and there came overwhelming force--such, forinstance, as I, the King, could bring--the idea of resistance would beabandoned; the King would be quietly murdered and slid down the pipe. And--here comes an ingenious touch--one of the Six would take hisplace in the cell, and, on the entrance of the searchers, loudly demandrelease and redress; and Michael, being summoned, would confess to hastyaction, but he would say the man had angered him by seeking the favourof a lady in the Castle (this was Antoinette de Mauban) and he hadconfined him there, as he conceived he, as Lord of Zenda, had right todo. But he was now, on receiving his apology, content to let him go, and so end the gossip which, to his Highness's annoyance, had arisenconcerning a prisoner in Zenda, and had given his visitors the troubleof this enquiry. The visitors, baffled, would retire, and Michael could, at his leisure, dispose of the body of the King. 

Sapt, Fritz, and I in my bed, looked round on one another in horror andbewilderment at the cruelty and cunning of the plan. Whether I wentin peace or in war, openly at the head of a corps, or secretly by astealthy assault, the King would be dead before I could come near him. If Michael were stronger and overcame my party, there would be an end. But if I were stronger, I should have no way to punish him, no means ofproving any guilt in him without proving my own guilt also. On the otherhand, I should be left as King (ah! for a moment my pulse quickened) andit would be for the future to witness the final struggle between him andme. He seemed to have made triumph possible and ruin impossible. Atthe worst, he would stand as well as he had stood before I crossedhis path--with but one man between him and the throne, and that man animpostor; at best, there would be none left to stand against him. I hadbegun to think that Black Michael was over fond of leaving the fightingto his friends; but now I acknowledged that the brains, if not the arms, of the conspiracy were his. 

"Does the King know this?" I asked. 

"I and my brother, " answered Johann, "put up the pipe, under the ordersof my Lord of Hentzau. He was on guard that day, and the King asked mylord what it meant. 'Faith, ' he answered, with his airy laugh, 'it's anew improvement on the ladder of Jacob, whereby, as you have read, sire, men pass from the earth to heaven. We thought it not meet that yourMajesty should go, in case, sire, you must go, by the common route. Sowe have made you a pretty private passage where the vulgar cannot stareat you or incommode your passage. That, sire, is the meaning ofthat pipe. ' And he laughed and bowed, and prayed the King's leave toreplenish the King's glass--for the King was at supper. And the King, though he is a brave man, as are all of his House, grew red and thenwhite as he looked on the pipe and at the merry devil who mocked him. Ah, sir" (and the fellow shuddered), "it is not easy to sleep quiet inthe Castle of Zenda, for all of them would as soon cut a man's throatas play a game at cards; and my Lord Rupert would choose it sooner fora pastime than any other--ay, sooner than he would ruin a woman, thoughthat he loves also. "

The man ceased, and I bade Fritz take him away and have him carefullyguarded; and, turning to him, I added:

"If anyone asks you if there is a prisoner in Zenda, you may answer'Yes. ' But if any asks who the prisoner is, do not answer. For all mypromises will not save you if any man here learns from you the truth asto the prisoner of Zenda. I'll kill you like a dog if the thing be somuch as breathed within the house!"

Then, when he was gone, I looked at Sapt. 

"It's a hard nut!" said I. 

"So hard, " said he, shaking his grizzled head, "that as I think, thistime next year is like to find you still King of Ruritania!" and hebroke out into curses on Michael's cunning. 

I lay back on my pillows. 

"There seems to me, " I observed, "to be two ways by which the King cancome out of Zenda alive. One is by treachery in the duke's followers. "

"You can leave that out, " said Sapt. 

"I hope not, " I rejoined, "because the other I was about to mentionis--by a miracle from heaven!"

CHAPTER 14

A Night Outside the Castle

It would have surprised the good people of Ruritania to know of theforegoing talk; for, according to the official reports, I had suffered agrievous and dangerous hurt from an accidental spear-thrust, received inthe course of my sport. I caused the bulletins to be of a very seriouscharacter, and created great public excitement, whereby three thingsoccurred: first, I gravely offended the medical faculty of Strelsau byrefusing to summon to my bedside any of them, save a young man, a friendof Fritz's, whom we could trust; secondly, I received word from MarshalStrakencz that my orders seemed to have no more weight than his, andthat the Princess Flavia was leaving for Tarlenheim under his unwillingescort (news whereat I strove not to be glad and proud); and thirdly, mybrother, the Duke of Strelsau, although too well informed to believe theaccount of the origin of my sickness, was yet persuaded by the reportsand by my seeming inactivity that I was in truth incapable of action, and that my life was in some danger. This I learnt from the man Johann, whom I was compelled to trust and send back to Zenda, where, by the way, Rupert Hentzau had him soundly flogged for daring to smirch the moralsof Zenda by staying out all night in the pursuits of love. This, fromRupert, Johann deeply resented, and the duke's approval of it did moreto bind the keeper to my side than all my promises. 

On Flavia's arrival I cannot dwell. Her joy at finding me up and well, instead of on my back and fighting with death, makes a picture thateven now dances before my eyes till they grow too dim to see it; and herreproaches that I had not trusted even her must excuse the means I tookto quiet them. In truth, to have her with me once more was like a tasteof heaven to a damned soul, the sweeter for the inevitable doom thatwas to follow; and I rejoiced in being able to waste two whole days withher. And when I had wasted two days, the Duke of Strelsau arranged ahunting-party. 

The stroke was near now. For Sapt and I, after anxious consultations, had resolved that we must risk a blow, our resolution being clinchedby Johann's news that the King grew peaked, pale, and ill, and that hishealth was breaking down under his rigorous confinement. Now a man--behe king or no king--may as well die swiftly and as becomes a gentleman, from bullet or thrust, as rot his life out in a cellar! That thoughtmade prompt action advisable in the interests of the King; from my ownpoint of view, it grew more and more necessary. For Strakencz urged onme the need of a speedy marriage, and my own inclinations seconded himwith such terrible insistence that I feared for my resolution. I do notbelieve that I should have done the deed I dreamt of; but I might havecome to flight, and my flight would have ruined the cause. And--yes, Iam no saint (ask my little sister-in-law), and worse still might havehappened. 

It is perhaps as strange a thing as has ever been in the history of acountry that the King's brother and the King's personator, in a time ofprofound outward peace, near a placid, undisturbed country town, undersemblance of amity, should wage a desperate war for the person and lifeof the King. Yet such was the struggle that began now between Zenda andTarlenheim. When I look back on the time, I seem to myself to have beenhalf mad. Sapt has told me that I suffered no interference and listenedto no remonstrances; and if ever a King of Ruritania ruled like adespot, I was, in those days, the man. Look where I would, I saw nothingthat made life sweet to me, and I took my life in my hand and carried itcarelessly as a man dangles an old glove. At first they strove to guardme, to keep me safe, to persuade me not to expose myself; but when theysaw how I was set, there grew up among them--whether they knew the truthor not--a feeling that Fate ruled the issue, and that I must be left toplay my game with Michael my own way. 

Late next night I rose from table, where Flavia had sat by me, andconducted her to the door of her apartments. There I kissed her hand, and bade her sleep sound and wake to happy days. Then I changed myclothes and went out. Sapt and Fritz were waiting for me with six menand the horses. Over his saddle Sapt carried a long coil of rope, andboth were heavily armed. I had with me a short stout cudgel and a longknife. Making a circuit, we avoided the town, and in an hour foundourselves slowly mounting the hill that led to the Castle of Zenda. Thenight was dark and very stormy; gusts of wind and spits of rain caughtus as we breasted the incline, and the great trees moaned and sighed. When we came to a thick clump, about a quarter of a mile from theCastle, we bade our six friends hide there with the horses. Sapt had awhistle, and they could rejoin us in a few moments if danger came: but, up to now, we had met no one. I hoped that Michael was still off hisguard, believing me to be safe in bed. However that might be, we gainedthe top of the hill without accident, and found ourselves on the edge ofthe moat where it sweeps under the road, separating the Old Castlefrom it. A tree stood on the edge of the bank, and Sapt, silently anddiligently, set to make fast the rope. I stripped off my boots, took apull at a flask of brandy, loosened the knife in its sheath, and tookthe cudgel between my teeth. Then I shook hands with my friends, notheeding a last look of entreaty from Fritz, and laid hold of the rope. Iwas going to have a look at "Jacob's Ladder. "

Gently I lowered myself into the water. Though the night was wild, theday had been warm and bright, and the water was not cold. I struck out, and began to swim round the great walls which frowned above me. I couldsee only three yards ahead; I had then good hopes of not being seen, as I crept along close under the damp, moss-grown masonry. There werelights from the new part of the Castle on the other side, and now andagain I heard laughter and merry shouts. I fancied I recognized youngRupert Hentzau's ringing tones, and pictured him flushed with wine. Recalling my thoughts to the business in hand, I rested a moment. IfJohann's description were right, I must be near the window now. Veryslowly I moved; and out of the darkness ahead loomed a shape. It wasthe pipe, curving from the window to the water: about four feet of itssurface were displayed; it was as big round as two men. I was about toapproach it, when I saw something else, and my heart stood still. The nose of a boat protruded beyond the pipe on the other side; andlistening intently, I heard a slight shuffle--as of a man shifting hisposition. Who was the man who guarded Michael's invention? Was he awakeor was he asleep? I felt if my knife were ready, and trod water; asI did so, I found bottom under my feet. The foundations of the Castleextended some fifteen inches, making a ledge; and I stood on it, out ofwater from my armpits upwards. Then I crouched and peered through thedarkness under the pipe, where, curving, it left a space. 

There was a man in the boat. A rifle lay by him--I saw the gleam ofthe barrel. Here was the sentinel! He sat very still. I listened; hebreathed heavily, regularly, monotonously. By heaven, he slept! Kneelingon the shelf, I drew forward under the pipe till my face was within twofeet of his. He was a big man, I saw. It was Max Holf, the brother ofJohann. My hand stole to my belt, and I drew out my knife. Of all thedeeds of my life, I love the least to think of this, and whether it werethe act of a man or a traitor I will not ask. I said to myself: "It iswar--and the King's life is the stake. " And I raised myself from beneaththe pipe and stood up by the boat, which lay moored by the ledge. Holding my breath, I marked the spot and raised my arm. The great fellowstirred. He opened his eyes--wide, wider. He grasped in terror at myface and clutched at his rifle. I struck home. And I heard the chorus ofa love-song from the opposite bank. 

Leaving him where he lay, a huddled mass, I turned to "Jacob's Ladder. "My time was short. This fellow's turn of watching might be overdirectly, and relief would come. Leaning over the pipe, I examined it, from the end near the water to the topmost extremity where it passed, orseemed to pass, through the masonry of the wall. There was no breakin it, no chink. Dropping on my knees, I tested the under side. Andmy breath went quick and fast, for on this lower side, where the pipeshould have clung close to the masonry, there was a gleam of light! Thatlight must come from the cell of the King! I set my shoulder against thepipe and exerted my strength. The chink widened a very, very little, and hastily I desisted; I had done enough to show that the pipe was notfixed in the masonry at the lower side. 

Then I heard a voice--a harsh, grating voice:

"Well, sire, if you have had enough of my society, I will leave you torepose; but I must fasten the little ornaments first. "

It was Detchard! I caught the English accent in a moment. 

"Have you anything to ask, sire, before we part?"

The King's voice followed. It was his, though it was faint andhollow--different from the merry tones I had heard in the glades of theforest. 

"Pray my brother, " said the King, "to kill me. I am dying by incheshere. "

"The duke does not desire your death, sire--yet, " sneered Detchard;"when he does behold your path to heaven!"

The King answered:

"So be it! And now, if your orders allow it, pray leave me. "

"May you dream of paradise!" said the ruffian. 

The light disappeared. I heard the bolts of the door run home. And thenI heard the sobs of the King. He was alone, as he thought. Who daresmock at him?

I did not venture to speak to him. The risk of some exclamation escapinghim in surprise was too great. I dared do nothing that night; and mytask now was to get myself away in safety, and to carry off the carcassof the dead man. To leave him there would tell too much. Casting loosethe boat, I got in. The wind was blowing a gale now, and there waslittle danger of oars being heard. I rowed swiftly round to where myfriends waited. I had just reached the spot, when a loud whistle soundedover the moat behind me. 

"Hullo, Max!" I heard shouted. 

I hailed Sapt in a low tone. The rope came down. I tied it round thecorpse, and then went up it myself. 

"Whistle you too, " I whispered, "for our men, and haul in the line. Notalk now. "

They hauled up the body. Just as it reached the road, three men onhorseback swept round from the front of the Castle. We saw them; but, being on foot ourselves, we escaped their notice. But we heard our mencoming up with a shout. 

"The devil, but it's dark!" cried a ringing voice. 

It was young Rupert. A moment later, shots rang out. Our people had metthem. I started forward at a run, Sapt and Fritz following me. 

"Thrust, thrust!" cried Rupert again, and a loud groan following toldthat he himself was not behind-hand. 

"I'm done, Rupert!" cried a voice. "They're three to one. Saveyourself!"

I ran on, holding my cudgel in my hand. Suddenly a horse came towardsme. A man was on it, leaning over his shoulder. 

"Are you cooked too, Krafstein?" he cried. 

There was no answer. 

I sprang to the horse's head. It was Rupert Hentzau. 

"At last!" I cried. 

For we seemed to have him. He had only his sword in his hand. My menwere hot upon him; Sapt and Fritz were running up. I had outstrippedthem; but if they got close enough to fire, he must die or surrender. 

"At last!" I cried. 

"It's the play-actor!" cried he, slashing at my cudgel. He cut it cleanin two; and, judging discretion better than death, I ducked my headand (I blush to tell it) scampered for my life. The devil was in RupertHentzau; for he put spurs to his horse, and I, turning to look, saw himride, full gallop, to the edge of the moat and leap in, while the shotsof our party fell thick round him like hail. With one gleam of moonlightwe should have riddled him with balls; but, in the darkness, he won tothe corner of the Castle, and vanished from our sight. 

"The deuce take him!" grinned Sapt. 

"It's a pity, " said I, "that he's a villain. Whom have we got?"

We had Lauengram and Krafstein: they lay dead; and, concealment beingno longer possible, we flung them, with Max, into the moat; and, drawingtogether in a compact body, rode off down the hill. And, in our midst, went the bodies of three gallant gentlemen. Thus we travelled home, heavy at heart for the death of our friends, sore uneasy concerningthe King, and cut to the quick that young Rupert had played yet anotherwinning hand with us. 

For my own part, I was vexed and angry that I had killed no man in openfight, but only stabbed a knave in his sleep. And I did not love to hearRupert call me a play-actor. 

CHAPTER 15

I Talk with a Tempter

Ruritania is not England, or the quarrel between Duke Michael and myselfcould not have gone on, with the extraordinary incidents which markedit, without more public notice being directed to it. Duels were frequentamong all the upper classes, and private quarrels between great menkept the old habit of spreading to their friends and dependents. Nevertheless, after the affray which I have just related, such reportsbegan to circulate that I felt it necessary to be on my guard. The deathof the gentlemen involved could not be hidden from their relatives. Iissued a stern order, declaring that duelling had attained unprecedentedlicence (the Chancellor drew up the document for me, and very well hedid it), and forbidding it save in the gravest cases. I sent a publicand stately apology to Michael, and he returned a deferential andcourteous reply to me; for our one point of union was--and it underlayall our differences and induced an unwilling harmony between ouractions--that we could neither of us afford to throw our cards on thetable. He, as well as I, was a "play-actor', and, hating one another, wecombined to dupe public opinion. Unfortunately, however, the necessityfor concealment involved the necessity of delay: the King might diein his prison, or even be spirited off somewhere else; it could not behelped. For a little while I was compelled to observe a truce, andmy only consolation was that Flavia most warmly approved of my edictagainst duelling, and, when I expressed delight at having won herfavour, prayed me, if her favour were any motive to me, to prohibit thepractice altogether. 

"Wait till we are married, " said I, smiling. 

Not the least peculiar result of the truce and of the secrecy whichdictated it was that the town of Zenda became in the day-time--I wouldnot have trusted far to its protection by night--a sort of neutral zone, where both parties could safely go; and I, riding down one day withFlavia and Sapt, had an encounter with an acquaintance, which presenteda ludicrous side, but was at the same time embarrassing. As I rodealong, I met a dignified looking person driving in a two-horsedcarriage. He stopped his horses, got out, and approached me, bowing low. I recognized the Head of the Strelsau Police. 

"Your Majesty's ordinance as to duelling is receiving our bestattention, " he assured me. 

If the best attention involved his presence in Zenda, I determined atonce to dispense with it. 

"Is that what brings you to Zenda, Prefect?" I asked. 

"Why no, sire; I am here because I desired to oblige the BritishAmbassador. "

"What's the British Ambassador doing _dans cette galere_?" said I, carelessly. 

"A young countryman of his, sire--a man of some position--is missing. His friends have not heard from him for two months, and there is reasonto believe that he was last seen in Zenda. "

Flavia was paying little attention. I dared not look at Sapt. 

"What reason?"

"A friend of his in Paris--a certain M. Featherly--has given usinformation which makes it possible that he came here, and the officialsof the railway recollect his name on some luggage. "

"What was his name?"

"Rassendyll, sire, " he answered; and I saw that the name meant nothingto him. But, glancing at Flavia, he lowered his voice, as he went on:"It is thought that he may have followed a lady here. Has your Majestyheard of a certain Madame de Mauban?"

"Why, yes, " said I, my eye involuntarily travelling towards the Castle. 

"She arrived in Ruritania about the same time as this Rassendyll. "

I caught the Prefect's glance; he was regarding me with enquiry writlarge on his face. 

"Sapt, " said I, "I must speak a word to the Prefect. Will you ride ona few paces with the princess?" And I added to the Prefect: "Come, sir, what do you mean?"

He drew close to me, and I bent in the saddle. 

"If he were in love with the lady?" he whispered. "Nothing has beenheard of him for two months;" and this time it was the eye of thePrefect which travelled towards the Castle. 

"Yes, the lady is there, " I said quietly. "But I don't suppose Mr. Rassendyll--is that the name?--is. "

"The duke, " he whispered, "does not like rivals, sire. "

"You're right there, " said I, with all sincerity. "But surely you hintat a very grave charge?"

He spread his hands out in apology. I whispered in his ear:

"This is a grave matter. Go back to Strelsau--"

"But, sire, if I have a clue here?"

"Go back to Strelsau, " I repeated. "Tell the Ambassador that you have aclue, but that you must be left alone for a week or two. Meanwhile, I'llcharge myself with looking into the matter. "

"The Ambassador is very pressing, sir. "

"You must quiet him. Come, sir; you see that if your suspicions arecorrect, it is an affair in which we must move with caution. We can haveno scandal. Mind you return tonight. "

He promised to obey me, and I rode on to rejoin my companions, a littleeasier in my mind. Enquiries after me must be stopped at all hazards fora week or two; and this clever official had come surprisingly near thetruth. His impression might be useful some day, but if he acted on itnow it might mean the worse to the King. Heartily did I curse GeorgeFeatherly for not holding his tongue. 

"Well, " asked Flavia, "have you finished your business?"

"Most satisfactorily, " said I. "Come, shall we turn round? We are almosttrenching on my brother's territory. "

We were, in fact, at the extreme end of the town, just where the hillsbegin to mount towards the Castle. We cast our eyes up, admiring themassive beauty of the old walls, and we saw a cortege winding slowlydown the hill. On it came. 

"Let us go back, " said Sapt. 

"I should like to stay, " said Flavia; and I reined my horse beside hers. 

We could distinguish the approaching party now. There came first twomounted servants in black uniforms, relieved only by a silver badge. These were followed by a car drawn by four horses: on it, under aheavy pall, lay a coffin; behind it rode a man in plain black clothes, carrying his hat in his hand. Sapt uncovered, and we stood waiting, Flavia keeping by me and laying her hand on my arm. 

"It is one of the gentlemen killed in the quarrel, I expect, " she said. 

I beckoned to a groom. 

"Ride and ask whom they escort, " I ordered. 

He rode up to the servants, and I saw him pass on to the gentleman whorode behind. 

"It's Rupert of Hentzau, " whispered Sapt. 

Rupert it was, and directly afterwards, waving to the procession tostand still, Rupert trotted up to me. He was in a frock-coat, tightlybuttoned, and trousers. He wore an aspect of sadness, and he bowed withprofound respect. Yet suddenly he smiled, and I smiled too, for oldSapt's hand lay in his left breast-pocket, and Rupert and I both guessedwhat lay in the hand inside the pocket. 

"Your Majesty asks whom we escort, " said Rupert. "It is my dear friend, Albert of Lauengram. "

"Sir, " said I, "no one regrets the unfortunate affair more than I. Myordinance, which I mean to have obeyed, is witness to it. "

"Poor fellow!" said Flavia softly, and I saw Rupert's eyes flash at her. Whereat I grew red; for, if I had my way, Rupert Hentzau should nothave defiled her by so much as a glance. Yet he did it and dared to letadmiration be seen in his look. 

"Your Majesty's words are gracious, " he said. "I grieve for my friend. Yet, sire, others must soon lie as he lies now. "

"It is a thing we all do well to remember, my lord, " I rejoined. 

"Even kings, sire, " said Rupert, in a moralizing tone; and old Saptswore softly by my side. 

"It is true, " said I. "How fares my brother, my lord?"

"He is better, sire. "

"I am rejoiced. "

"He hopes soon to leave for Strelsau, when his health is secured. "

"He is only convalescent then?"

"There remain one or two small troubles, " answered the insolent fellow, in the mildest tone in the world. 

"Express my earnest hope, " said Flavia, "that they may soon cease totrouble him. "

"Your Royal Highness's wish is, humbly, my own, " said Rupert, with abold glance that brought a blush to Flavia's cheek. 

I bowed; and Rupert, bowing lower, backed his horse and signed to hisparty to proceed. With a sudden impulse, I rode after him. He turnedswiftly, fearing that, even in the presence of the dead and before alady's eyes, I meant him mischief. 

"You fought as a brave man the other night, " I said. "Come, you areyoung, sir. If you will deliver your prisoner alive to me, you shallcome to no hurt. "

He looked at me with a mocking smile; but suddenly he rode nearer to me. 

"I'm unarmed, " he said; "and our old Sapt there could pick me off in aminute. "

"I'm not afraid, " said I. 

"No, curse you!" he answered. "Look here, I made you a proposal from theduke once. "

"I'll hear nothing from Black Michael, " said I. 

"Then hear one from me. " He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Attack theCastle boldly. Let Sapt and Tarlenheim lead. "

"Go on, " said I. 

"Arrange the time with me. "

"I have such confidence in you, my lord!"

"Tut! I'm talking business now. Sapt there and Fritz will fall; BlackMichael will fall--"

"What!"

"--Black Michael will fall, like the dog he is; the prisoner, as youcall him, will go by 'Jacob's Ladder'--ah, you know that!--to hell! Twomen will be left--I, Rupert Hentzau, and you, the King of Ruritania. "

He paused, and then, in a voice that quivered with eagerness, added:

"Isn't that a hand to play?--a throne and your princess! And for me, saya competence and your Majesty's gratitude. "

"Surely, " I exclaimed, "while you're above ground, hell wants itsmaster!"

"Well, think it over, " he said. "And, look you, it would take more thana scruple or two to keep me from yonder girl, " and his evil eye flashedagain at her I loved. 

"Get out of my reach!" said I; and yet in a moment I began to laugh forthe very audacity of it. 

"Would you turn against your master?" I asked. 

He swore at Michael for being what the offspring of a legal, thoughmorganatic, union should not be called, and said to me in an almostconfidential and apparently friendly tone:

"He gets in my way, you know. He's a jealous brute! Faith, I nearlystuck a knife into him last night; he came most cursedly mal a propos!"

My temper was well under control now; I was learning something. 

"A lady?" I asked negligently. 

"Ay, and a beauty, " he nodded. "But you've seen her. "

"Ah! was it at a tea-party, when some of your friends got on the wrongside of the table?"

"What can you expect of fools like Detchard and De Gautet? I wish I'dbeen there. "

"And the duke interferes?"

"Well, " said Rupert meditatively, "that's hardly a fair way of puttingit, perhaps. I want to interfere. "

"And she prefers the duke?"

"Ay, the silly creature! Ah, well, you think about my plan, " and, with abow, he pricked his horse and trotted after the body of his friend. 

I went back to Flavia and Sapt, pondering on the strangeness of the man. Wicked men I have known in plenty, but Rupert Hentzau remains unique inmy experience. And if there be another anywhere, let him be caught andhanged out of hand. So say I!

"He's very handsome, isn't he?" said Flavia. 

Well, of course, she didn't know him as I did; yet I was put out, for Ithought his bold glances would have made her angry. But my dear Flaviawas a woman, and so--she was not put out. On the contrary, she thoughtyoung Rupert very handsome--as, beyond question, the ruffian was. 

"And how sad he looked at his friend's death!" said she. 

"He'll have better reason to be sad at his own, " observed Sapt, with agrim smile. 

As for me, I grew sulky; unreasonable it was perhaps, for what betterbusiness had I to look at her with love than had even Rupert's lustfuleyes? And sulky I remained till, as evening fell and we rode up toTarlenheim, Sapt having fallen behind in case anyone should befollowing us, Flavia, riding close beside me, said softly, with a littlehalf-ashamed laugh:

"Unless you smile, Rudolf, I cry. Why are you angry?"

"It was something that fellow said to me, " said I, but I was smiling aswe reached the door and dismounted. 

There a servant handed me a note: it was unaddressed. 

"Is it for me?" I asked. 

"Yes, sire; a boy brought it. "

I tore it open:

Johann carries this for me. I warned you once. In the name of God, andif you are a man, rescue me from this den of murderers!--A. De M. 

I handed it to Sapt; but all that the tough old soul said in reply tothis piteous appeal was:

"Whose fault brought her there?"

Nevertheless, not being faultless myself, I took leave to pityAntoinette de Mauban. 

CHAPTER 16

A Desperate Plan

As I had ridden publicly in Zenda, and had talked there with RupertHentzau, of course all pretence of illness was at an end. I marked theeffect on the garrison of Zenda: they ceased to be seen abroad; and anyof my men who went near the Castle reported that the utmost vigilanceprevailed there. Touched as I was by Madame de Mauban's appeal, I seemedas powerless to befriend her as I had proved to help the King. Michaelbade me defiance; and although he too had been seen outside the walls, with more disregard for appearances than he had hitherto shown, he didnot take the trouble to send any excuse for his failure to wait on theKing. Time ran on in inactivity, when every moment was pressing; fornot only was I faced with the new danger which the stir about mydisappearance brought on me, but great murmurs had arisen in Strelsau atmy continued absence from the city. They had been greater, but for theknowledge that Flavia was with me; and for this reason I suffered her tostay, though I hated to have her where danger was, and though everyday of our present sweet intercourse strained my endurance almost tobreaking. As a final blow, nothing would content my advisers, Strakenczand the Chancellor (who came out from Strelsau to make an urgentrepresentation to me), save that I should appoint a day for the publicsolemnization of my betrothal, a ceremony which in Ruritania is wellnigh as binding and great a thing as the marriage itself. And this--withFlavia sitting by me--I was forced to do, setting a date a fortnightahead, and appointing the Cathedral in Strelsau as the place. And thisformal act being published far and wide, caused great joy throughout thekingdom, and was the talk of all tongues; so that I reckoned there werebut two men who chafed at it--I mean Black Michael and myself; and butone who did not know of it--that one the man whose name I bore, the Kingof Ruritania. 

In truth, I heard something of the way the news was received in theCastle; for after an interval of three days, the man Johann, greedy formore money, though fearful for his life, again found means to visit us. He had been waiting on the duke when the tidings came. Black Michael'sface had grown blacker still, and he had sworn savagely; nor was hebetter pleased when young Rupert took oath that I meant to do as Isaid, and turning to Madame de Mauban, wished her joy on a rival gone. Michael's hand stole towards his sword (said Johann), but not a bit didRupert care; for he rallied the duke on having made a better King thanhad reigned for years past in Ruritania. "And, " said he, with a meaningbow to his exasperated master, "the devil sends the princess a finer manthan heaven had marked out for her, by my soul, it does!" Then Michaelharshly bade him hold his tongue, and leave them; but Rupert must needsfirst kiss madame's hand, which he did as though he loved her, whileMichael glared at him. 

This was the lighter side of the fellow's news; but more serious camebehind, and it was plain that if time pressed at Tarlenheim, it pressednone the less fiercely at Zenda. For the King was very sick: Johann hadseen him, and he was wasted and hardly able to move. "There could be nothought of taking another for him now. " So alarmed were they, that theyhad sent for a physician from Strelsau; and the physician having beenintroduced into the King's cell, had come forth pale and trembling, andurgently prayed the duke to let him go back and meddle no more in theaffair; but the duke would not, and held him there a prisoner, tellinghim his life was safe if the King lived while the duke desired and diedwhen the duke desired--not otherwise. And, persuaded by the physician, they had allowed Madame de Mauban to visit the King and give him suchattendance as his state needed, and as only a woman can give. Yet hislife hung in the balance; and I was still strong and whole and free. Wherefore great gloom reigned at Zenda; and save when they quarrelled, to which they were very prone, they hardly spoke. But the deeper thedepression of the rest, young Rupert went about Satan's work with asmile in his eye and a song on his lip; and laughed "fit to burst" (saidJohann) because the duke always set Detchard to guard the King whenMadame de Mauban was in the cell--which precaution was, indeed, notunwise in my careful brother. Thus Johann told his tale and seized hiscrowns. Yet he besought us to allow him to stay with us in Tarlenheim, and not venture his head again in the lion's den; but we had need of himthere, and, although I refused to constrain him, I prevailed on him byincreased rewards to go back and carry tidings to Madame de Mauban thatI was working for her, and that, if she could, she should speak oneword of comfort to the King. For while suspense is bad for the sick, yetdespair is worse still, and it might be that the King lay dying of merehopelessness, for I could learn of no definite disease that afflictedhim. 

"And how do they guard the King now?" I asked, remembering that two ofthe Six were dead, and Max Holf also. 

"Detchard and Bersonin watch by night, Rupert Hentzau and De Gautet byday, sir, " he answered. 

"Only two at a time?"

"Ay, sir; but the others rest in a room just above, and are within soundof a cry or a whistle. "

"A room just above? I didn't know of that. Is there any communicationbetween it and the room where they watch?"

"No, sir. You must go down a few stairs and through the door by thedrawbridge, and so to where the King is lodged. "

"And that door is locked?"

"Only the four lords have keys, sir. "

I drew nearer to him. 

"And have they keys of the grating?" I asked in a low whisper. 

"I think, sir, only Detchard and Rupert. "

"Where does the duke lodge?"

"In the chateau, on the first floor. His apartments are on the right asyou go towards the drawbridge. "

"And Madame de Mauban?"

"Just opposite, on the left. But her door is locked after she hasentered. "

"To keep her in?"

"Doubtless, sir. "

"Perhaps for another reason?"

"It is possible. "

"And the duke, I suppose, has the key?"

"Yes. And the drawbridge is drawn back at night, and of that, too, theduke holds the key, so that it cannot be run across the moat withoutapplication to him. "

"And where do you sleep?"

"In the entrance hall of the chateau, with five servants. "

"Armed?"

"They have pikes, sir, but no firearms. The duke will not trust themwith firearms. "

Then at last I took the matter boldly in my hands. I had failed once at"Jacob's Ladder;" I should fail again there. I must make the attack fromthe other side. 

"I have promised you twenty thousand crowns, " said I. "You shall havefifty thousand if you will do what I ask of you tomorrow night. But, first, do those servants know who your prisoner is?"

"No, sir. They believe him to be some private enemy of the duke's. "

"And they would not doubt that I am the King?"

"How should they?" he asked. 

"Look to this, then. Tomorrow, at two in the morning exactly, fling openthe front door of the chateau. Don't fail by an instant. "

"Shall you be there, sir?"

"Ask no questions. Do what I tell you. Say the hall is close, or whatyou will. That is all I ask of you. "

"And may I escape by the door, sir, when I have opened it?"

"Yes, as quick as your legs will carry you. One thing more. Carry thisnote to madame--oh, it's in French, you can't read it--and charge her, for the sake of all our lives, not to fail in what it orders. "

The man was trembling but I had to trust to what he had of courage andto what he had of honesty. I dared not wait, for I feared that the Kingwould die. 

When the fellow was gone, I called Sapt and Fritz to me, and unfoldedthe plan that I had formed. Sapt shook his head over it. 

"Why can't you wait?" he asked. 

"The King may die. "

"Michael will be forced to act before that. "

"Then, " said I, "the King may live. "

"Well, and if he does?"

"For a fortnight?" I asked simply. 

And Sapt bit his moustache. 

Suddenly Fritz von Tarlenheim laid his hand on my shoulder. 

"Let us go and make the attempt, " said he. 

"I mean you to go--don't be afraid, " said I. 

"Ay, but do you stay here, and take care of the princess. "

A gleam came into old Sapt's eye. 

"We should have Michael one way or the other then, " he chuckled;"whereas if you go and are killed with the King, what will become ofthose of us who are left?"

"They will serve Queen Flavia, " said I, "and I would to God I could beone of them. "

A pause followed. Old Sapt broke it by saying sadly, yet with an unmeantdrollery that set Fritz and me laughing:

"Why didn't old Rudolf the Third marry your--great-grandmother, was it?"

"Come, " said I, "it is the King we are thinking about. "

"It is true, " said Fritz. 

"Moreover, " I went on, "I have been an impostor for the profit ofanother, but I will not be one for my own; and if the King is not aliveand on his throne before the day of betrothal comes, I will tell thetruth, come what may. "

"You shall go, lad, " said Sapt. 

Here is the plan I had made. A strong party under Sapt's command wasto steal up to the door of the chateau. If discovered prematurely, theywere to kill anyone who found them--with their swords, for I wanted nonoise of firing. If all went well, they would be at the door when Johannopened it. They were to rush in and secure the servants if their merepresence and the use of the King's name were not enough. At the samemoment--and on this hinged the plan--a woman's cry was to ring out loudand shrill from Antoinette de Mauban's chamber. Again and again she wasto cry: "Help, help! Michael, help!" and then to utter the name of youngRupert Hentzau. Then, as we hoped, Michael, in fury, would rush out ofhis apartments opposite, and fall alive into the hands of Sapt. Stillthe cries would go on; and my men would let down the drawbridge; and itwould be strange if Rupert, hearing his name thus taken in vain, did notdescend from where he slept and seek to cross. De Gautet might or mightnot come with him: that must be left to chance. 

And when Rupert set his foot on the drawbridge? There was my part: for Iwas minded for another swim in the moat; and, lest I should grow weary, I had resolved to take with me a small wooden ladder, on which I couldrest my arms in the water--and my feet when I left it. I would rear itagainst the wall just by the bridge; and when the bridge was across, Iwould stealthily creep on to it--and then if Rupert or De Gautet crossedin safety, it would be my misfortune, not my fault. They dead, two menonly would remain; and for them we must trust to the confusion we hadcreated and to a sudden rush. We should have the keys of the door thatled to the all-important rooms. Perhaps they would rush out. If theystood by their orders, then the King's life hung on the swiftness withwhich we could force the outer door; and I thanked God that not RupertHentzau watched, but Detchard. For though Detchard was a cool man, relentless, and no coward, he had neither the dash nor the recklessnessof Rupert. Moreover, he, if any one of them, really loved Black Michael, and it might be that he would leave Bersonin to guard the King, and rushacross the bridge to take part in the affray on the other side. 

So I planned--desperately. And, that our enemy might be the betterlulled to security, I gave orders that our residence should bebrilliantly lighted from top to bottom, as though we were engaged inrevelry; and should so be kept all night, with music playing and peoplemoving to and fro. Strakencz would be there, and he was to conceal ourdeparture, if he could, from Flavia. And if we came not again by themorning, he was to march, openly and in force to the Castle, and demandthe person of the King; if Black Michael were not there, as I did notthink he would be, the Marshal would take Flavia with him, as swiftly ashe could, to Strelsau, and there proclaim Black Michael's treachery andthe probable death of the King, and rally all that there was honest andtrue round the banner of the princess. And, to say truth, this was whatI thought most likely to happen. For I had great doubts whether eitherthe King or Black Michael or I had more than a day to live. Well, ifBlack Michael died, and if I, the play-actor, slew Rupert Hentzau withmy own hand, and then died myself, it might be that Fate would dealas lightly with Ruritania as could be hoped, notwithstanding that shedemanded the life of the King--and to her dealing thus with me, I was inno temper to make objection. 

It was late when we rose from conference, and I betook me to theprincess's apartments. She was pensive that evening; yet, when I lefther, she flung her arms about me and grew, for an instant, bashfullyradiant as she slipped a ring on my finger. I was wearing the King'sring; but I had also on my little finger a plain band of gold engravedwith the motto of our family: "_Nil Quae Feci_. " This I took off and puton her, and signed to her to let me go. And she, understanding, stoodaway and watched me with dimmed eyes. 

"Wear that ring, even though you wear another when you are queen, " Isaid. 

"Whatever else I wear, this I will wear till I die and after, " said she, as she kissed the ring. 

CHAPTER 17

Young Rupert's Midnight Diversions

The night came fine and clear. I had prayed for dirty weather, such ashad favoured my previous voyage in the moat, but Fortune was this timeagainst me. Still I reckoned that by keeping close under the wall and inthe shadow I could escape detection from the windows of the chateauthat looked out on the scene of my efforts. If they searched the moat, indeed, my scheme must fail; but I did not think they would. They hadmade "Jacob's Ladder" secure against attack. Johann had himself helpedto fix it closely to the masonry on the under side, so that it couldnot now be moved from below any more than from above. An assault withexplosives or a long battering with picks alone could displace it, andthe noise involved in either of these operations put them out of thequestion. What harm, then, could a man do in the moat? I trusted thatBlack Michael, putting this query to himself, would answer confidently, "None;" while, even if Johann meant treachery, he did not know myscheme, and would doubtless expect to see me, at the head of my friends, before the front entrance to the chateau. There, I said to Sapt, was thereal danger. "And there, " I added, "you shall be. Doesn't that contentyou?"

But it did not. Dearly would he have liked to come with me, had I notutterly refused to take him. One man might escape notice, to doublethe party more than doubled the risk; and when he ventured to hint onceagain that my life was too valuable, I, knowing the secret thought heclung to, sternly bade him be silent, assuring him that unless the Kinglived through the night, I would not live through it either. 

At twelve o'clock, Sapt's command left the chateau of Tarlenheim andstruck off to the right, riding by unfrequented roads, and avoiding thetown of Zenda. If all went well, they would be in front of the Castle byabout a quarter to two. Leaving their horses half a mile off, they wereto steal up to the entrance and hold themselves in readiness for theopening of the door. If the door were not opened by two, they were tosend Fritz von Tarlenheim round to the other side of the Castle. I wouldmeet him there if I were alive, and we would consult whether to stormthe Castle or not. If I were not there, they were to return with allspeed to Tarlenheim, rouse the Marshal, and march in force to Zenda. Forif not there, I should be dead; and I knew that the King would not bealive five minutes after I ceased to breathe. I must now leave Sapt andhis friends, and relate how I myself proceeded on this eventful night. I went out on the good horse which had carried me, on the night ofthe coronation, back from the hunting-lodge to Strelsau. I carried arevolver in the saddle and my sword. I was covered with a large cloak, and under this I wore a warm, tight-fitting woollen jersey, a pair ofknickerbockers, thick stockings, and light canvas shoes. I had rubbedmyself thoroughly with oil, and I carried a large flask of whisky. Thenight was warm, but I might probably be immersed a long while, and itwas necessary to take every precaution against cold: for cold not onlysaps a man's courage if he has to die, but impairs his energy if othershave to die, and, finally, gives him rheumatics, if it be God's willthat he lives. Also I tied round my body a length of thin but stoutcord, and I did not forget my ladder. I, starting after Sapt, took ashorter route, skirting the town to the left, and found myself in theoutskirts of the forest at about half-past twelve. I tied my horse upin a thick clump of trees, leaving the revolver in its pocket in thesaddle--it would be no use to me--and, ladder in hand, made my way tothe edge of the moat. Here I unwound my rope from about my waist, boundit securely round the trunk of a tree on the bank, and let myself down. The Castle clock struck a quarter to one as I felt the water under meand began to swim round the keep, pushing the ladder before me, andhugging the Castle wall. Thus voyaging, I came to my old friend, "Jacob's Ladder, " and felt the ledge of the masonry under me. I croucheddown in the shadow of the great pipe--I tried to stir it, but it wasquite immovable--and waited. I remember that my predominant feelingwas neither anxiety for the King nor longing for Flavia, but an intensedesire to smoke; and this craving, of course, I could not gratify. 

The drawbridge was still in its place. I saw its airy, slight frameworkabove me, some ten yards to my right, as I crouched with my back againstthe wall of the King's cell. I made out a window two yards my side of itand nearly on the same level. That, if Johann spoke true, must belong tothe duke's apartments; and on the other side, in about the same relativeposition, must be Madame de Mauban's window. Women are careless, forgetful creatures. I prayed that she might not forget that she was tobe the victim of a brutal attempt at two o'clock precisely. I was ratheramused at the part I had assigned to my young friend Rupert Hentzau; butI owed him a stroke--for, even as I sat, my shoulder ached where he had, with an audacity that seemed half to hide his treachery, struck at me, in the sight of all my friends, on the terrace at Tarlenheim. 

Suddenly the duke's window grew bright. The shutters were not closed, and the interior became partially visible to me as I cautiously raisedmyself till I stood on tiptoe. Thus placed, my range of sight embraced ayard or more inside the window, while the radius of light did notreach me. The window was flung open and someone looked out. I markedAntoinette de Mauban's graceful figure, and, though her face was inshadow, the fine outline of her head was revealed against the lightbehind. I longed to cry softly, "Remember!" but I dared not--andhappily, for a moment later a man came up and stood by her. He tried toput his arm round her waist, but with a swift motion she sprang away andleant against the shutter, her profile towards me. I made out who thenewcomer was: it was young Rupert. A low laugh from him made me sure, ashe leant forward, stretching out his hand towards her. 

"Gently, gently!" I murmured. "You're too soon, my boy!"

His head was close to hers. I suppose he whispered to her, for I saw herpoint to the moat, and I heard her say, in slow and distinct tones:

"I had rather throw myself out of this window!"

He came close up to the window and looked out. 

"It looks cold, " said he. "Come, Antoinette, are you serious?"

She made no answer so far as I heard; and he smiting his hand petulantlyon the window-sill, went on, in the voice of some spoilt child:

"Hang Black Michael! Isn't the princess enough for him? Is he to haveeverything? What the devil do you see in Black Michael?"

"If I told him what you say--" she began. 

"Well, tell him, " said Rupert, carelessly; and, catching her off herguard, he sprang forward and kissed her, laughing, and crying, "There'ssomething to tell him!"

If I had kept my revolver with me, I should have been very sorelytempted. Being spared the temptation, I merely added this new score tohis account. 

"Though, faith, " said Rupert, "it's little he cares. He's mad about theprincess, you know. He talks of nothing but cutting the play-actor'sthroat. "

Didn't he, indeed?

"And if I do it for him, what do you think he's promised me?"

The unhappy woman raised her hands above her head, in prayer or indespair. 

"But I detest waiting, " said Rupert; and I saw that he was about tolay his hand on her again, when there was a noise of a door in the roomopening, and a harsh voice cried:

"What are you doing here, sir?"

Rupert turned his back to the window, bowed low, and said, in his loud, merry tones: "Apologizing for your absence, sir. Could I leave the ladyalone?"

The newcomer must be Black Michael. I saw him directly, as he advancedtowards the window. He caught young Rupert by the arm. 

"The moat would hold more than the King!" said he, with a significantgesture. 

"Does your Highness threaten me?" asked Rupert. 

"A threat is more warning than most men get from me. "

"Yet, " observed Rupert, "Rudolf Rassendyll has been much threatened, andyet lives!"

"Am I in fault because my servants bungle?" asked Michael scornfully. 

"Your Highness has run no risk of bungling!" sneered Rupert. 

It was telling the duke that he shirked danger as plain as ever Ihave heard a man told. Black Michael had self-control. I dare say hescowled--it was a great regret to me that I could not see their facesbetter--but his voice was even and calm, as he answered:

"Enough, enough! We mustn't quarrel, Rupert. Are Detchard and Bersoninat their posts?"

"They are, sir. "

"I need you no more. "

"Nay, I'm not oppressed with fatigue, " said Rupert. 

"Pray, sir, leave us, " said Michael, more impatiently. "In ten minutesthe drawbridge will be drawn back, and I presume you have no wish toswim to your bed. "

Rupert's figure disappeared. I heard the door open and shut again. Michael and Antoinette de Mauban were left together. To my chagrin, the duke laid his hand on the window and closed it. He stood talkingto Antoinette for a moment or two. She shook her head, and he turnedimpatiently away. She left the window. The door sounded again, and BlackMichael closed the shutters. 

"De Gautet, De Gautet, man!" sounded from the drawbridge. "Unless youwant a bath before your bed, come along!"

It was Rupert's voice, coming from the end of the drawbridge. A momentlater he and De Gautet stepped out on the bridge. Rupert's arm wasthrough De Gautet's, and in the middle of the bridge he detained hiscompanion and leant over. I dropped behind the shelter of "Jacob'sLadder. "

Then Master Rupert had a little sport. He took from De Gautet a bottlewhich he carried, and put it to his lips. 

"Hardly a drop!" he cried discontentedly, and flung it in the moat. 

It fell, as I judged from the sound and the circles on the water, withina yard of the pipe. And Rupert, taking out his revolver, began to shootat it. The first two shots missed the bottle, but hit the pipe. Thethird shattered the bottle. I hoped that the young ruffian would becontent; but he emptied the other barrels at the pipe, and one, skimmingover the pipe, whistled through my hair as I crouched on the other side. 

"'Ware bridge!" a voice cried, to my relief. 

Rupert and De Gautet cried, "A moment!" and ran across. The bridge wasdrawn back, and all became still. The clock struck a quarter-past one. Irose and stretched myself and yawned. 

I think some ten minutes had passed when I heard a slight noise to myright. I peered over the pipe, and saw a dark figure standing in thegateway that led to the bridge. It was a man. By the careless, gracefulpoise, I guessed it to be Rupert again. He held a sword in his hand, andhe stood motionless for a minute or two. Wild thoughts ran through me. On what mischief was the young fiend bent now? Then he laughed lowto himself; then he turned his face to the wall, took a step in mydirection, and, to my surprise, began to climb down the wall. In aninstant I saw that there must be steps in the wall; it was plain. Theywere cut into or affixed to the wall, at intervals of about eighteeninches. Rupert set his foot on the lower one. Then he placed his swordbetween his teeth, turned round, and noiselessly let himself into thewater. Had it been a matter of my life only, I would have swum tomeet him. Dearly would I have loved to fight it out with him then andthere--with steel, on a fine night, and none to come between us. Butthere was the King! I restrained myself, but I could not bridle my swiftbreathing, and I watched him with the intensest eagerness. 

He swam leisurely and quietly across. There were more steps up onthe other side, and he climbed them. When he set foot in the gateway, standing on the drawn-back bridge, he felt in his pocket and tooksomething out. I heard him unlock the door. I could hear no noise of itsclosing behind him. He vanished from my sight. 

Abandoning my ladder--I saw I did not need it now--I swam to the side ofthe bridge and climbed half way up the steps. There I hung with my swordin my hand, listening eagerly. The duke's room was shuttered and dark. There was a light in the window on the opposite side of the bridge. Not a sound broke the silence, till half-past one chimed from the greatclock in the tower of the chateau. 

There were other plots than mine afoot in the Castle that night. 

CHAPTER 18

The Forcing of the Trap

The position wherein I stood does not appear very favourable to thought;yet for the next moment or two I thought profoundly. I had, I toldmyself, scored one point. Be Rupert Hentzau's errand what it might, andthe villainy he was engaged on what it would, I had scored one point. Hewas on the other side of the moat from the King, and it would be by nofault of mine if ever he set foot on the same side again. I had threeleft to deal with: two on guard and De Gautet in his bed. Ah, if Ihad the keys! I would have risked everything and attacked Detchard andBersonin before their friends could join them. But I was powerless. Imust wait till the coming of my friends enticed someone to cross thebridge--someone with the keys. And I waited, as it seemed, for half anhour, really for about five minutes, before the next act in the rapiddrama began. 

All was still on the other side. The duke's room remained inscrutablebehind its shutters. The light burnt steadily in Madame de Mauban'swindow. Then I heard the faintest, faintest sound: it came from behindthe door which led to the drawbridge on the other side of the moat. Itbut just reached my ear, yet I could not be mistaken as to what it was. It was made by a key being turned very carefully and slowly. Who wasturning it? And of what room was it the key? There leapt before my eyesthe picture of young Rupert, with the key in one hand, his sword in theother, and an evil smile on his face. But I did not know what door itwas, nor on which of his favourite pursuits young Rupert was spendingthe hours of that night. 

I was soon to be enlightened, for the next moment--before my friendscould be near the chateau door--before Johann the keeper would havethought to nerve himself for his task--there was a sudden crash fromthe room with the lighted window. It sounded as though someone had flungdown a lamp; and the window went dark and black. At the same instant acry rang out, shrill in the night: "Help, help! Michael, help!" and wasfollowed by a shriek of utter terror. 

I was tingling in every nerve. I stood on the topmost step, clinging tothe threshold of the gate with my right hand and holding my sword in myleft. Suddenly I perceived that the gateway was broader than the bridge;there was a dark corner on the opposite side where a man could stand. Idarted across and stood there. Thus placed, I commanded the path, and noman could pass between the chateau and the old Castle till he had triedconclusions with me. 

There was another shriek. Then a door was flung open and clanged againstthe wall, and I heard the handle of a door savagely twisted. 

"Open the door! In God's name, what's the matter?" cried a voice--thevoice of Black Michael himself. 

He was answered by the very words I had written in my letter. 

"Help, Michael--Hentzau!"

A fierce oath rang out from the duke, and with a loud thud he threwhimself against the door. At the same moment I heard a window above myhead open, and a voice cried: "What's the matter?" and I heard a man'shasty footsteps. I grasped my sword. If De Gautet came my way, the Sixwould be less by one more. 

Then I heard the clash of crossed swords and a tramp of feet and--Icannot tell the thing so quickly as it happened, for all seemed to comeat once. There was an angry cry from madame's room, the cry of a woundedman; the window was flung open; young Rupert stood there sword in hand. He turned his back, and I saw his body go forward to the lunge. 

"Ah, Johann, there's one for you! Come on, Michael!"

Johann was there, then--come to the rescue of the duke! How would heopen the door for me? For I feared that Rupert had slain him. 

"Help!" cried the duke's voice, faint and husky. 

I heard a step on the stairs above me; and I heard a stir down to myleft, in the direction of the King's cell. But, before anything happenedon my side of the moat, I saw five or six men round young Rupert inthe embrasure of madame's window. Three or four times he lunged withincomparable dash and dexterity. For an instant they fell back, leavinga ring round him. He leapt on the parapet of the window, laughing as heleapt, and waving his sword in his hand. He was drunk with blood, and helaughed again wildly as he flung himself headlong into the moat. 

What became of him then? I did not see: for as he leapt, De Gautet'slean face looked out through the door by me, and, without a second'shesitation, I struck at him with all the strength God had given me, andhe fell dead in the doorway without a word or a groan. I dropped on myknees by him. Where were the keys? I found myself muttering: "The keys, man, the keys?" as though he had been yet alive and could listen; andwhen I could not find them, I--God forgive me!--I believe I struck adead man's face. 

At last I had them. There were but three. Seizing the largest, I feltthe lock of the door that led to the cell. I fitted in the key. It wasright. The lock turned. I drew the door close behind me and locked it asnoiselessly as I could, putting the key in my pocket. 

I found myself at the top of a flight of steep stone stairs. An oil lampburnt dimly in the bracket. I took it down and held it in my hand; and Istood and listened. 

"What in the devil can it be?" I heard a voice say. 

It came from behind a door that faced me at the bottom of the stairs. 

And another answered:

"Shall we kill him?"

I strained to hear the answer, and could have sobbed with relief whenDetchard's voice came grating and cold:

"Wait a bit. There'll be trouble if we strike too soon. "

There was a moment's silence. Then I heard the bolt of the doorcautiously drawn back. Instantly I put out the light I held, replacingthe lamp in the bracket. 

"It's dark--the lamp's out. Have you a light?" said the othervoice--Bersonin's. 

No doubt they had a light, but they should not use it. It was come tothe crisis now, and I rushed down the steps and flung myself against thedoor. Bersonin had unbolted it and it gave way before me. The Belgianstood there sword in hand, and Detchard was sitting on a couch at theside of the room. In astonishment at seeing me, Bersonin recoiled;Detchard jumped to his sword. I rushed madly at the Belgian: he gaveway before me, and I drove him up against the wall. He was no swordsman, though he fought bravely, and in a moment he lay on the floor beforeme. I turned--Detchard was not there. Faithful to his orders, he hadnot risked a fight with me, but had rushed straight to the door of theKing's room, opened it and slammed it behind him. Even now he was at hiswork inside. 

And surely he would have killed the King, and perhaps me also, had itnot been for one devoted man who gave his life for the King. For when Iforced the door, the sight I saw was this: the King stood in the cornerof the room: broken by his sickness, he could do nothing; his fetteredhands moved uselessly up and down, and he was laughing horribly inhalf-mad delirium. Detchard and the doctor were together in the middleof the room; and the doctor had flung himself on the murderer, pinninghis hands to his sides for an instant. Then Detchard wrenched himselffree from the feeble grip, and, as I entered, drove his sword throughthe hapless man. Then he turned on me, crying:

"At last!"

We were sword to sword. By blessed chance, neither he nor Bersonin hadbeen wearing their revolvers. I found them afterwards, ready loaded, on the mantelpiece of the outer room: it was hard by the door, ready totheir hands, but my sudden rush in had cut off access to them. Yes, wewere man to man: and we began to fight, silently, sternly, and hard. Yet I remember little of it, save that the man was my match with thesword--nay, and more, for he knew more tricks than I; and that he forcedme back against the bars that guarded the entrance to "Jacob's Ladder. "And I saw a smile on his face, and he wounded me in the left arm. 

No glory do I take for that contest. I believe that the man would havemastered me and slain me, and then done his butcher's work, for he wasthe most skilful swordsman I have ever met; but even as he pressed mehard, the half-mad, wasted, wan creature in the corner leapt high inlunatic mirth, shrieking:

"It's cousin Rudolf! Cousin Rudolf! I'll help you, cousin Rudolf!" andcatching up a chair in his hands (he could but just lift it from theground and hold it uselessly before him) he came towards us. Hope cameto me. "Come on!" I cried. "Come on! Drive it against his legs. "

Detchard replied with a savage thrust. He all but had me. 

"Come on! Come on, man!" I cried. "Come and share the fun!"

And the King laughed gleefully, and came on, pushing his chair beforehim. 

With an oath Detchard skipped back, and, before I knew what he wasdoing, had turned his sword against the King. He made one fierce cut atthe King, and the King, with a piteous cry, dropped where he stood. Thestout ruffian turned to face me again. But his own hand had preparedhis destruction: for in turning he trod in the pool of blood that flowedfrom the dead physician. He slipped; he fell. Like a dart I was uponhim. I caught him by the throat, and before he could recover himself Idrove my point through his neck, and with a stifled curse he fell acrossthe body of his victim. 

Was the King dead? It was my first thought. I rushed to where he lay. Ay, it seemed as if he were dead, for he had a great gash across hisforehead, and he lay still in a huddled heap on the floor. I dropped onmy knees beside him, and leant my ear down to hear if he breathed. Butbefore I could there was a loud rattle from the outside. I knew thesound: the drawbridge was being pushed out. A moment later it rang homeagainst the wall on my side of the moat. I should be caught in a trapand the King with me, if he yet lived. He must take his chance, tolive or die. I took my sword, and passed into the outer room. Who werepushing the drawbridge out--my men? If so, all was well. My eye fell onthe revolvers, and I seized one; and paused to listen in the doorway ofthe outer room. To listen, say I? Yes, and to get my breath: and I toremy shirt and twisted a strip of it round my bleeding arm; and stoodlistening again. I would have given the world to hear Sapt's voice. ForI was faint, spent, and weary. And that wild-cat Rupert Hentzau was yetat large in the Castle. Yet, because I could better defend the narrowdoor at the top of the stairs than the wider entrance to the room, Idragged myself up the steps, and stood behind it listening. 

What was the sound? Again a strange one for the place and time. Aneasy, scornful, merry laugh--the laugh of young Rupert Hentzau! I couldscarcely believe that a sane man would laugh. Yet the laugh told me thatmy men had not come; for they must have shot Rupert ere now, if they hadcome. And the clock struck half-past two! My God! The door had not beenopened! They had gone to the bank! They had not found me! They had goneby now back to Tarlenheim, with the news of the King's death--and mine. Well, it would be true before they got there. Was not Rupert laughing intriumph?

For a moment, I sank, unnerved, against the door. Then I started upalert again, for Rupert cried scornfully:

"Well, the bridge is there! Come over it! And in God's name, let's seeBlack Michael. Keep back, you curs! Michael, come and fight for her!"

If it were a three-cornered fight, I might yet bear my part. I turnedthe key in the door and looked out. 

CHAPTER 19

Face to Face in the Forest

For a moment I could see nothing, for the glare of lanterns and torchescaught me full in the eyes from the other side of the bridge. But soonthe scene grew clear: and it was a strange scene. The bridge was in itsplace. At the far end of it stood a group of the duke's servants; two orthree carried the lights which had dazzled me, three or four held pikesin rest. They were huddled together; their weapons were protruded beforethem; their faces were pale and agitated. To put it plainly, theylooked in as arrant a fright as I have seen men look, and they gazedapprehensively at a man who stood in the middle of the bridge, sword inhand. Rupert Hentzau was in his trousers and shirt; the white linenwas stained with blood, but his easy, buoyant pose told me that he washimself either not touched at all or merely scratched. There he stood, holding the bridge against them, and daring them to come on; or, rather, bidding them send Black Michael to him; and they, having no firearms, cowered before the desperate man and dared not attack him. Theywhispered to one another; and in the backmost rank, I saw my friendJohann, leaning against the portal of the door and stanching with ahandkerchief the blood which flowed from a wound in his cheek. 

By marvellous chance, I was master. The cravens would oppose me no morethan they dared attack Rupert. I had but to raise my revolver, and Isent him to his account with his sins on his head. He did not so much asknow that I was there. I did nothing--why, I hardly know to this day. I had killed one man stealthily that night, and another by luck ratherthan skill--perhaps it was that. Again, villain as the man was, I didnot relish being one of a crowd against him--perhaps it was that. Butstronger than either of these restrained feelings came a curiosity anda fascination which held me spellbound, watching for the outcome of thescene. 

"Michael, you dog! Michael! If you can stand, come on!" cried Rupert;and he advanced a step, the group shrinking back a little before him. "Michael, you bastard! Come on!"

The answer to his taunts came in the wild cry of a woman:

"He's dead! My God, he's dead!"

"Dead!" shouted Rupert. "I struck better than I knew!" and he laughedtriumphantly. Then he went on: "Down with your weapons there! I'm yourmaster now! Down with them, I say!"

I believe they would have obeyed, but as he spoke came new things. First, there arose a distant sound, as of shouts and knockings from theother side of the chateau. My heart leapt. It must be my men, come by ahappy disobedience to seek me. The noise continued, but none of therest seemed to heed it. Their attention was chained by what now happenedbefore their eyes. The group of servants parted and a woman staggered onto the bridge. Antoinette de Mauban was in a loose white robe, her darkhair streamed over her shoulders, her face was ghastly pale, and hereyes gleamed wildly in the light of the torches. In her shaking hand sheheld a revolver, and, as she tottered forward, she fired it at RupertHentzau. The ball missed him, and struck the woodwork over my head. 

"Faith, madame, " laughed Rupert, "had your eyes been no more deadlythan your shooting, I had not been in this scrape--nor Black Michael inhell--tonight!"

She took no notice of his words. With a wonderful effort, shecalmed herself till she stood still and rigid. Then very slowly anddeliberately she began to raise her arm again, taking most careful aim. 

He would be mad to risk it. He must rush on her, chancing the bullet, orretreat towards me. I covered him with my weapon. 

He did neither. Before she had got her aim, he bowed in his mostgraceful fashion, cried "I can't kill where I've kissed, " and beforeshe or I could stop him, laid his hand on the parapet of the bridge, andlightly leapt into the moat. 

At that very moment I heard a rush of feet, and a voice Iknew--Sapt's--cry: "God! it's the duke--dead!" Then I knew that the Kingneeded me no more, and throwing down my revolver, I sprang out on thebridge. There was a cry of wild wonder, "The King!" and then I, likeRupert of Hentzau, sword in hand, vaulted over the parapet, intent onfinishing my quarrel with him where I saw his curly head fifteen yardsoff in the water of the moat. 

He swam swiftly and easily. I was weary and half crippled with mywounded arm. I could not gain on him. For a time I made no sound, but aswe rounded the corner of the old keep I cried:

"Stop, Rupert, stop!"

I saw him look over his shoulder, but he swam on. He was under the banknow, searching, as I guessed, for a spot that he could climb. I knewthere to be none--but there was my rope, which would still be hangingwhere I had left it. He would come to where it was before I could. Perhaps he would miss it--perhaps he would find it; and if he drew it upafter him, he would get a good start of me. I put forth all my remainingstrength and pressed on. At last I began to gain on him; for he, occupied with his search, unconsciously slackened his pace. 

Ah, he had found it! A low shout of triumph came from him. He laidhold of it and began to haul himself up. I was near enough to hear himmutter: "How the devil comes this here?' I was at the rope, and he, hanging in mid air, saw me, but I could not reach him. 

"Hullo! who's here?" he cried in startled tones. 

For a moment, I believe, he took me for the King--I dare say I was paleenough to lend colour to the thought; but an instant later he cried:

"Why it's the play-actor! How come you here, man?"

And so saying he gained the bank. 

I laid hold of the rope, but I paused. He stood on the bank, sword inhand, and he could cut my head open or spit me through the heart as Icame up. I let go the rope. 

"Never mind, " said I; "but as I am here, I think I'll stay. "

He smiled down on me. 

"These women are the deuce--" he began; when suddenly the great bell ofthe Castle started to ring furiously, and a loud shout reached us fromthe moat. 

Rupert smiled again, and waved his hand to me. 

"I should like a turn with you, but it's a little too hot!" said he, andhe disappeared from above me. 

In an instant, without thinking of danger, I laid my hand to the rope. I was up. I saw him thirty yards off, running like a deer towards theshelter of the forest. For once Rupert Hentzau had chosen discretion forhis part. I laid my feet to the ground and rushed after him, calling tohim to stand. He would not. Unwounded and vigorous, he gained on me atevery step; but, forgetting everything in the world except him and mythirst for his blood, I pressed on, and soon the deep shades of theforest of Zenda engulfed us both, pursued and pursuer. 

It was three o'clock now, and day was dawning. I was on a long straightgrass avenue, and a hundred yards ahead ran young Rupert, his curlswaving in the fresh breeze. I was weary and panting; he looked over hisshoulder and waved his hand again to me. He was mocking me, for he sawhe had the pace of me. I was forced to pause for breath. A moment later, Rupert turned sharply to the right and was lost from my sight. 

I thought all was over, and in deep vexation sank on the ground. But Iwas up again directly, for a scream rang through the forest--a woman'sscream. Putting forth the last of my strength, I ran on to the placewhere he had turned out of my sight, and, turning also, I saw him again. But alas! I could not touch him. He was in the act of lifting a girldown from her horse; doubtless it was her scream that I heard. Shelooked like a small farmer's or a peasant's daughter, and she carrieda basket on her arm. Probably she was on her way to the early market atZenda. Her horse was a stout, well shaped animal. Master Rupert liftedher down amid her shrieks--the sight of him frightened her; but hetreated her gently, laughed, kissed her, and gave her money. Then hejumped on the horse, sitting sideways like a woman; and then he waitedfor me. I, on my part, waited for him. 

Presently he rode towards me, keeping his distance, however. He liftedup his hand, saying:

"What did you in the Castle?"

"I killed three of your friends, " said I. 

"What! You got to the cells?"

"Yes. "

"And the King?"

"He was hurt by Detchard before I killed Detchard, but I pray that helives. "

"You fool!" said Rupert, pleasantly. 

"One thing more I did. "

"And what's that?"

"I spared your life. I was behind you on the bridge, with a revolver inmy hand. "

"No? Faith, I was between two fires!"

"Get off your horse, " I cried, "and fight like a man. "

"Before a lady!" said he, pointing to the girl. "Fie, your Majesty!"

Then in my rage, hardly knowing what I did, I rushed at him. For amoment he seemed to waver. Then he reined his horse in and stood waitingfor me. On I went in my folly. I seized the bridle and I struck at him. He parried and thrust at me. I fell back a pace and rushed at him again;and this time I reached his face and laid his cheek open, and dartedback almost before he could strike me. He seemed almost dazed at thefierceness of my attack; otherwise I think he must have killed me. Isank on my knee panting, expecting him to ride at me. And so he wouldhave done, and then and there, I doubt not, one or both of us would havedied; but at the moment there came a shout from behind us, and, lookinground, I saw, just at the turn of the avenue, a man on a horse. He wasriding hard, and he carried a revolver in his hand. It was Fritz vonTarlenheim, my faithful friend. Rupert saw him, and knew that the gamewas up. He checked his rush at me and flung his leg over the saddle, butyet for just a moment he waited. Leaning forward, he tossed his hair offhis forehead and smiled, and said: "_Au revoir_, Rudolf Rassendyll!"

Then, with his cheek streaming blood, but his lips laughing and hisbody swaying with ease and grace, he bowed to me; and he bowed to thefarm-girl, who had drawn near in trembling fascination, and he waved hishand to Fritz, who was just within range and let fly a shot at him. Theball came nigh doing its work, for it struck the sword he held, and hedropped the sword with an oath, wringing his fingers and clapped hisheels hard on his horse's belly, and rode away at a gallop. 

And I watched him go down the long avenue, riding as though he rode forhis pleasure and singing as he went, for all there was that gash in hischeek. 

Once again he turned to wave his hand, and then the gloom of thicketsswallowed him and he was lost from our sight. Thus he vanished--recklessand wary, graceful and graceless, handsome, debonair, vile, andunconquered. And I flung my sword passionately on the ground and criedto Fritz to ride after him. But Fritz stopped his horse, and leapt downand ran to me, and knelt, putting his arm about me. And indeed it wastime, for the wound that Detchard had given me was broken forth afresh, and my blood was staining the ground. 

"Then give me the horse!" I cried, staggering to my feet and throwinghis arms off me. And the strength of my rage carried me so far as wherethe horse stood, and then I fell prone beside it. And Fritz knelt by meagain. 

"Fritz!" I said. 

"Ay, friend--dear friend!" he said, tender as a woman. 

"Is the King alive?"

He took his handkerchief and wiped my lips, and bent and kissed me onthe forehead. 

"Thanks to the most gallant gentleman that lives, " said he softly, "theKing is alive!"

The little farm-girl stood by us, weeping for fright and wide-eyed forwonder; for she had seen me at Zenda; and was not I, pallid, dripping, foul, and bloody as I was--yet was not I the King?

And when I heard that the King was alive, I strove to cry "Hurrah!" ButI could not speak, and I laid my head back in Fritz's arms and closedmy eyes, and I groaned; and then, lest Fritz should do me wrong in histhoughts, I opened my eyes and tried to say "Hurrah!" again. But I couldnot. And being very tired, and now very cold, I huddled myself close upto Fritz, to get the warmth of him, and shut my eyes again and went tosleep. 

CHAPTER 20

The Prisoner and the King

In order to a full understanding of what had occurred in the Castle ofZenda, it is necessary to supplement my account of what I myself sawand did on that night by relating briefly what I afterwards learntfrom Fritz and Madame de Mauban. The story told by the latter explainedclearly how it happened that the cry which I had arranged as a stratagemand a sham had come, in dreadful reality, before its time, and had thus, as it seemed at the moment, ruined our hopes, while in the end ithad favoured them. The unhappy woman, fired, I believe by a genuineattachment to the Duke of Strelsau, no less than by the dazzlingprospects which a dominion over him opened before her eyes, had followedhim at his request from Paris to Ruritania. He was a man of strongpassions, but of stronger will, and his cool head ruled both. He wascontent to take all and give nothing. When she arrived, she was notlong in finding that she had a rival in the Princess Flavia; rendereddesperate, she stood at nothing which might give, or keep for her, herpower over the duke. As I say, he took and gave not. Simultaneously, Antoinette found herself entangled in his audacious schemes. Unwillingto abandon him, bound to him by the chains of shame and hope, yet shewould not be a decoy, nor, at his bidding, lure me to death. Hence theletters of warning she had written. Whether the lines she sent to Flaviawere inspired by good or bad feeling, by jealousy or by pity, I do notknow; but here also she served us well. When the duke went to Zenda, sheaccompanied him; and here for the first time she learnt the full measureof his cruelty, and was touched with compassion for the unfortunateKing. From this time she was with us; yet, from what she told me, I knowthat she still (as women will) loved Michael, and trusted to gainhis life, if not his pardon, from the King, as the reward for herassistance. His triumph she did not desire, for she loathed his crime, and loathed yet more fiercely what would be the prize of it--hismarriage with his cousin, Princess Flavia. 

At Zenda new forces came into play--the lust and daring of young Rupert. He was caught by her beauty, perhaps; perhaps it was enough for him thatshe belonged to another man, and that she hated him. For many days therehad been quarrels and ill will between him and the duke, and the scenewhich I had witnessed in the duke's room was but one of many. Rupert'sproposals to me, of which she had, of course, been ignorant, in noway surprised her when I related them; she had herself warned Michaelagainst Rupert, even when she was calling on me to deliver her from bothof them. On this night, then, Rupert had determined to have his will. When she had gone to her room, he, having furnished himself with a keyto it, had made his entrance. Her cries had brought the duke, and therein the dark room, while she screamed, the men had fought; and Rupert, having wounded his master with a mortal blow, had, on the servantsrushing in, escaped through the window as I have described. The duke'sblood, spurting out, had stained his opponent's shirt; but Rupert, notknowing that he had dealt Michael his death, was eager to finish theencounter. How he meant to deal with the other three of the band, I knownot. I dare say he did not think, for the killing of Michael was notpremeditated. Antoinette, left alone with the duke, had tried to stanchhis wound, and thus was she busied till he died; and then, hearingRupert's taunts, she had come forth to avenge him. Me she had not seen, nor did she till I darted out of my ambush, and leapt after Rupert intothe moat. 

The same moment found my friends on the scene. They had reached thechateau in due time, and waited ready by the door. But Johann, sweptwith the rest to the rescue of the duke, did not open it; nay, he tooka part against Rupert, putting himself forward more bravely than anyin his anxiety to avert suspicion; and he had received a wound, in theembrasure of the window. Till nearly half-past two Sapt waited; then, following my orders, he had sent Fritz to search the banks of the moat. I was not there. Hastening back, Fritz told Sapt; and Sapt was forfollowing orders still, and riding at full speed back to Tarlenheim;while Fritz would not hear of abandoning me, let me have ordered what Iwould. On this they disputed some few minutes; then Sapt, persuaded byFritz, detached a party under Bernenstein to gallop back to Tarlenheimand bring up the marshal, while the rest fell to on the great doorof the chateau. For several minutes it resisted them; then, just asAntoinette de Mauban fired at Rupert of Hentzau on the bridge, theybroke in, eight of them in all: and the first door they came to was thedoor of Michael's room; and Michael lay dead across the threshold, witha sword-thrust through his breast. Sapt cried out at his death, as Ihad heard, and they rushed on the servants; but these, in fear, droppedtheir weapons, and Antoinette flung herself weeping at Sapt's feet. Andall she cried was, that I had been at the end of the bridge and leaptoff. "What of the prisoner?" asked Sapt; but she shook her head. ThenSapt and Fritz, with the gentlemen behind them, crossed the bridge, slowly, warily, and without noise; and Fritz stumbled over the body ofDe Gautet in the way of the door. They felt him and found him dead. 

Then they consulted, listening eagerly for any sound from the cellsbelow; but there came none, and they were greatly afraid that the King'sguards had killed him, and having pushed his body through the greatpipe, had escaped the same way themselves. Yet, because I had been seenhere, they had still some hope (thus indeed Fritz, in his friendship, told me); and going back to Michael's body, pushing aside Antoinette, who prayed by it, they found a key to the door which I had locked, andopened the door. The staircase was dark, and they would not use a torchat first, lest they should be more exposed to fire. But soon Fritzcried: "The door down there is open! See, there is light!" So they wenton boldly, and found none to oppose them. And when they came to theouter room and saw the Belgian, Bersonin, lying dead, they thanked God, Sapt saying: "Ay, he has been here. " Then rushing into the King's cell, they found Detchard lying dead across the dead physician, and the Kingon his back with his chair by him. And Fritz cried: "He's dead!" andSapt drove all out of the room except Fritz, and knelt down by the King;and, having learnt more of wounds and the sign of death than I, he soonknew that the King was not dead, nor, if properly attended, would die. And they covered his face and carried him to Duke Michael's room, andlaid him there; and Antoinette rose from praying by the body of the dukeand went to bathe the King's head and dress his wounds, till a doctorcame. And Sapt, seeing I had been there, and having heard Antoinette'sstory, sent Fritz to search the moat and then the forest. He dared sendno one else. And Fritz found my horse, and feared the worst. Then, as Ihave told, he found me, guided by the shout with which I had called onRupert to stop and face me. And I think a man has never been more gladto find his own brother alive than was Fritz to come on me; so that, inlove and anxiety for me, he thought nothing of a thing so great as wouldhave been the death of Rupert Hentzau. Yet, had Fritz killed him, Ishould have grudged it. 

The enterprise of the King's rescue being thus prosperously concluded, it lay on Colonel Sapt to secure secrecy as to the King ever havingbeen in need of rescue. Antoinette de Mauban and Johann the keeper (who, indeed, was too much hurt to be wagging his tongue just now) were swornto reveal nothing; and Fritz went forth to find--not the King, but theunnamed friend of the King, who had lain in Zenda and flashed fora moment before the dazed eyes of Duke Michael's servants on thedrawbridge. The metamorphosis had happened; and the King, wounded almostto death by the attacks of the gaolers who guarded his friend, hadat last overcome them, and rested now, wounded but alive, in BlackMichael's own room in the Castle. There he had been carried, his facecovered with a cloak, from the cell; and thence orders issued, that ifhis friend were found, he should be brought directly and privately tothe King, and that meanwhile messengers should ride at full speed toTarlenheim, to tell Marshall Strakencz to assure the princess of theKing's safety and to come himself with all speed to greet the King. The princess was enjoined to remain at Tarlenheim, and there await hercousin's coming or his further injunctions. Thus the King would cometo his own again, having wrought brave deeds, and escaped, almost by amiracle, the treacherous assault of his unnatural brother. 

This ingenious arrangement of my long-headed old friend prospered inevery way, save where it encountered a force that often defeats the mostcunning schemes. I mean nothing else than the pleasure of a woman. For, let her cousin and sovereign send what command he chose (or ColonelSapt chose for him), and let Marshal Strakencz insist as he would, thePrincess Flavia was in no way minded to rest at Tarlenheim while herlover lay wounded at Zenda; and when the Marshal, with a small suite, rode forth from Tarlenheim on the way to Zenda, the princess's carriagefollowed immediately behind, and in this order they passed through thetown, where the report was already rife that the King, going the nightbefore to remonstrate with his brother, in all friendliness, for thathe held one of the King's friends in confinement in the Castle, had beenmost traitorously set upon; that there had been a desperate conflict;that the duke was slain with several of his gentlemen; and that theKing, wounded as he was, had seized and held the Castle of Zenda. All ofwhich talk made, as may be supposed, a mighty excitement: and the wireswere set in motion, and the tidings came to Strelsau only just afterorders had been sent thither to parade the troops and overawe thedissatisfied quarters of the town with a display of force. 

Thus the Princess Flavia came to Zenda. And as she drove up the hill, with the Marshal riding by the wheel and still imploring her to returnin obedience to the King's orders, Fritz von Tarlenheim, with theprisoner of Zenda, came to the edge of the forest. I had revived frommy swoon, and walked, resting on Fritz's arm; and looking out from thecover of the trees, I saw the princess. Suddenly understanding from aglance at my companion's face that we must not meet her, I sank on myknees behind a clump of bushes. But there was one whom we had forgotten, but who followed us, and was not disposed to let slip the chance ofearning a smile and maybe a crown or two; and, while we lay hidden, the little farm-girl came by us and ran to the princess, curtseying andcrying:

"Madame, the King is here--in the bushes! May I guide you to him, madame?"

"Nonsense, child!" said old Strakencz; "the King lies wounded in theCastle. "

"Yes, sir, he's wounded, I know; but he's there--with Count Fritz--andnot at the Castle, " she persisted. 

"Is he in two places, or are there two Kings?" asked Flavia, bewildered. "And how should he be there?"

"He pursued a gentleman, madame, and they fought till Count Fritz came;and the other gentleman took my father's horse from me and rode away;but the King is here with Count Fritz. Why, madame, is there another manin Ruritania like the King?"

"No, my child, " said Flavia softly (I was told it afterwards), and shesmiled and gave the girl money. "I will go and see this gentleman, " andshe rose to alight from the carriage. 

But at this moment Sapt came riding from the Castle, and, seeing theprincess, made the best of a bad job, and cried to her that the King waswell tended and in no danger. 

"In the Castle?" she asked. 

"Where else, madame?" said he, bowing. 

"But this girl says he is yonder--with Count Fritz. "

Sapt turned his eyes on the child with an incredulous smile. 

"Every fine gentleman is a King to such, " said he. 

"Why, he's as like the King as one pea to another, madame!" cried thegirl, a little shaken but still obstinate. 

Sapt started round. The old Marshal's face asked unspoken questions. Flavia's glance was no less eloquent. Suspicion spread quick. 

"I'll ride myself and see this man, " said Sapt hastily. 

"Nay, I'll come myself, " said the princess. 

"Then come alone, " he whispered. 

And she, obedient to the strange hinting in his face, prayed the Marshaland the rest to wait; and she and Sapt came on foot towards where welay, Sapt waving to the farm-girl to keep at a distance. And when I sawthem coming, I sat in a sad heap on the ground, and buried my face in myhands. I could not look at her. Fritz knelt by me, laying his hand on myshoulder. 

"Speak low, whatever you say, " I heard Sapt whisper as they came up; andthe next thing I heard was a low cry--half of joy, half of fear--fromthe princess:

"It is he! Are you hurt?"

And she fell on the ground by me, and gently pulled my hands away; but Ikept my eyes to the ground. 

"It is the King!" she said. "Pray, Colonel Sapt, tell me where lay thewit of the joke you played on me?"

We answered none of us; we three were silent before her. Regardless ofthem, she threw her arms round my neck and kissed me. Then Sapt spoke ina low hoarse whisper:

"It is not the King. Don't kiss him; he's not the King. "

She drew back for a moment; then, with an arm still round my neck, sheasked, in superb indignation:

"Do I not know my love? Rudolf my love!"

"It is not the King, " said old Sapt again; and a sudden sob broke fromtender-hearted Fritz. 

It was the sob that told her no comedy was afoot. 

"He is the King!" she cried. "It is the King's face--the King's ring--myring! It is my love!"

"Your love, madame, " said old Sapt, "but not the King. The King is therein the Castle. This gentleman--"

"Look at me, Rudolf! look at me!" she cried, taking my face between herhands. "Why do you let them torment me? Tell me what it means!"

Then I spoke, gazing into her eyes. 

"God forgive me, madame!" I said. "I am not the King!"

I felt her hands clutch my cheeks. She gazed at me as never man's facewas scanned yet. And I, silent again, saw wonder born, and doubt grow, and terror spring to life as she looked. And very gradually the grasp ofher hands slackened; she turned to Sapt, to Fritz, and back to me: thensuddenly she reeled forward and fell in my arms; and with a great cry ofpain I gathered her to me and kissed her lips. Sapt laid his hand on myarm. I looked up in his face. And I laid her softly on the ground, andstood up, looking on her, cursing heaven that young Rupert's sword hadspared me for this sharper pang. 

CHAPTER 21

If love were all!

It was night, and I was in the cell wherein the King had lain in theCastle of Zenda. The great pipe that Rupert of Hentzau had nicknamed"Jacob's Ladder" was gone, and the lights in the room across the moattwinkled in the darkness. All was still; the din and clash of strifewere gone. I had spent the day hidden in the forest, from the time whenFritz had led me off, leaving Sapt with the princess. Under cover ofdusk, muffled up, I had been brought to the Castle and lodged where Inow lay. Though three men had died there--two of them by my hand--I wasnot troubled by ghosts. I had thrown myself on a pallet by the window, and was looking out on the black water; Johann, the keeper, still palefrom his wound, but not much hurt besides, had brought me supper. Hetold me that the King was doing well, that he had seen the princess;that she and he, Sapt and Fritz, had been long together. MarshalStrakencz was gone to Strelsau; Black Michael lay in his coffin, andAntoinette de Mauban watched by him; had I not heard, from the chapel, priests singing mass for him?

Outside there were strange rumours afloat. Some said that the prisonerof Zenda was dead; some, that he had vanished yet alive; some, that hewas a friend who had served the King well in some adventure in England;others, that he had discovered the Duke's plots, and had therefore beenkidnapped by him. One or two shrewd fellows shook their heads and saidonly that they would say nothing, but they had suspicions that more wasto be known than was known, if Colonel Sapt would tell all he knew. 

Thus Johann chattered till I sent him away and lay there alone, thinking, not of the future, but--as a man is wont to do when stirringthings have happened to him--rehearsing the events of the past weeks, and wondering how strangely they had fallen out. And above me, in thestillness of the night, I heard the standards flapping against theirpoles, for Black Michael's banner hung there half-mast high, and aboveit the royal flag of Ruritania, floating for one night more over myhead. Habit grows so quick, that only by an effort did I recollect thatit floated no longer for me. 

Presently Fritz von Tarlenheim came into the room. I was standing thenby the window; the glass was opened, and I was idly fingering the cementwhich clung to the masonry where "Jacob's Ladder" had been. He told mebriefly that the King wanted me, and together we crossed the drawbridgeand entered the room that had been Black Michael's. 

The King was lying there in bed; our doctor from Tarlenheim was inattendance on him, and whispered to me that my visit must be brief. TheKing held out his hand and shook mine. Fritz and the doctor withdrew tothe window. 

I took the King's ring from my finger and placed it on his. 

"I have tried not to dishonour it, sire, " said I. 

"I can't talk much to you, " he said, in a weak voice. "I have had agreat fight with Sapt and the Marshal--for we have told the Marshaleverything. I wanted to take you to Strelsau and keep you with me, andtell everyone of what you had done; and you would have been my best andnearest friend, Cousin Rudolf. But they tell me I must not, and that thesecret must be kept--if kept it can be. "

"They are right, sire. Let me go. My work here is done. "

"Yes, it is done, as no man but you could have done it. When they see meagain, I shall have my beard on; I shall--yes, faith, I shall be wastedwith sickness. They will not wonder that the King looks changed in face. Cousin, I shall try to let them find him changed in nothing else. Youhave shown me how to play the King. "

"Sire, " said I. "I can take no praise from you. It is by the narrowestgrace of God that I was not a worse traitor than your brother. "

He turned inquiring eyes on me; but a sick man shrinks from puzzles, and he had no strength to question me. His glance fell on Flavia'sring, which I wore. I thought he would question me about it; but, afterfingering it idly, he let his head fall on his pillow. 

"I don't know when I shall see you again, " he said faintly, almostlistlessly. 

"If I can ever serve you again, sire, " I answered. 

His eyelids closed. Fritz came with the doctor. I kissed the King'shand, and let Fritz lead me away. I have never seen the King since. 

Outside, Fritz turned, not to the right, back towards the drawbridge, but to the left, and without speaking led me upstairs, through ahandsome corridor in the chateau. 

"Where are we going?" I asked. 

Looking away from me, Fritz answered:

"She has sent for you. When it is over, come back to the bridge. I'llwait for you there. "

"What does she want?" said I, breathing quickly. 

He shook his head. 

"Does she know everything?"

"Yes, everything. "

He opened a door, and gently pushing me in, closed it behind me. I foundmyself in a drawing-room, small and richly furnished. At first I thoughtthat I was alone, for the light that came from a pair of shaded candleson the mantelpiece was very dim. But presently I discerned a woman'sfigure standing by the window. I knew it was the princess, and I walkedup to her, fell on one knee, and carried the hand that hung by herside to my lips. She neither moved nor spoke. I rose to my feet, and, piercing the gloom with my eager eyes, saw her pale face and the gleamof her hair, and before I knew, I spoke softly:

"Flavia!"

She trembled a little, and looked round. Then she darted to me, takinghold of me. 

"Don't stand, don't stand! No, you mustn't! You're hurt! Sit down--here, here!"

She made me sit on a sofa, and put her hand on my forehead. 

"How hot your head is, " she said, sinking on her knees by me. Then shelaid her head against me, and I heard her murmur: "My darling, how hotyour head is!"

Somehow love gives even to a dull man the knowledge of his lover'sheart. I had come to humble myself and pray pardon for my presumption;but what I said now was:

"I love you with all my heart and soul!"

For what troubled and shamed her? Not her love for me, but the fear thatI had counterfeited the lover as I had acted the King, and taken herkisses with a smothered smile. 

"With all my life and heart, " said I, as she clung to me. "Always, fromthe first moment I saw you in the Cathedral! There has been but onewoman in the world to me--and there will be no other. But God forgive methe wrong I've done you!"

"They made you do it!" she said quickly; and she added, raising her headand looking in my eyes: "It might have made no difference if I'd knownit. It was always you, never the King!"

"I meant to tell you, " said I. "I was going to on the night of theball in Strelsau, when Sapt interrupted me. After that, I couldn't--Icouldn't risk losing you before--before--I must! My darling, for you Inearly left the King to die!"

"I know, I know! What are we to do now, Rudolf?"

I put my arm round her and held her up while I said:

"I am going away tonight. "

"Ah, no, no!" she cried. "Not tonight!"

"I must go tonight, before more people have seen me. And how would youhave me stay, sweetheart, except--?"

"If I could come with you!" she whispered very low. 

"My God!" said I roughly, "don't talk about that!" and I thrust her alittle back from me. 

"Why not? I love you. You are as good a gentleman as the King!"

Then I was false to all that I should have held by. For I caught her inmy arms and prayed her, in words that I will not write, to come with me, daring all Ruritania to take her from me. And for a while she listened, with wondering, dazzled eyes. But as her eyes looked on me, I grewashamed, and my voice died away in broken murmurs and stammerings, andat last I was silent. 

She drew herself away from me and stood against the wall, while I saton the edge of the sofa, trembling in every limb, knowing what I haddone--loathing it, obstinate not to undo it. So we rested a long time. 

"I am mad!" I said sullenly. 

"I love your madness, dear, " she answered. 

Her face was away from me, but I caught the sparkle of a tear on hercheek. I clutched the sofa with my hand and held myself there. 

"Is love the only thing?" she asked, in low, sweet tones that seemedto bring a calm even to my wrung heart. "If love were the only thing, Iwould follow you--in rags, if need be--to the world's end; for you holdmy heart in the hollow of your hand! But is love the only thing?"

I made no answer. It gives me shame now to think that I would not helpher. 

She came near me and laid her hand on my shoulder. I put my hand up andheld hers. 

"I know people write and talk as if it were. Perhaps, for some, Fatelets it be. Ah, if I were one of them! But if love had been the onlything, you would have let the King die in his cell. "

I kissed her hand. 

"Honour binds a woman too, Rudolf. My honour lies in being true to mycountry and my House. I don't know why God has let me love you; but Iknow that I must stay. "

Still I said nothing; and she, pausing a while, then went on:

"Your ring will always be on my finger, your heart in my heart, thetouch of your lips on mine. But you must go and I must stay. Perhaps Imust do what it kills me to think of doing. "

I knew what she meant, and a shiver ran through me. But I could notutterly fail her. I rose and took her hand. 

"Do what you will, or what you must, " I said. "I think God shows Hispurposes to such as you. My part is lighter; for your ring shall be onmy finger and your heart in mine, and no touch save of your lips willever be on mine. So, may God comfort you, my darling!"

There struck on our ears the sound of singing. The priests in the chapelwere singing masses for the souls of those who lay dead. They seemed tochant a requiem over our buried joy, to pray forgiveness for our lovethat would not die. The soft, sweet, pitiful music rose and fell as westood opposite one another, her hands in mine. 

"My queen and my beauty!" said I. 

"My lover and true knight!" she said. "Perhaps we shall never see oneanother again. Kiss me, my dear, and go!"

I kissed her as she bade me; but at the last she clung to me, whisperingnothing but my name, and that over and over again--and again--and again;and then I left her. 

Rapidly I walked down to the bridge. Sapt and Fritz were waiting for me. Under their directions I changed my dress, and muffling my face, as Ihad done more than once before, I mounted with them at the door of theCastle, and we three rode through the night and on to the breaking day, and found ourselves at a little roadside station just over the borderof Ruritania. The train was not quite due, and I walked with them in ameadow by a little brook while we waited for it. They promised tosend me all news; they overwhelmed me with kindness--even old Sapt wastouched to gentleness, while Fritz was half unmanned. I listened in akind of dream to all they said. "Rudolf! Rudolf! Rudolf!" still rang inmy ears--a burden of sorrow and of love. At last they saw that I couldnot heed them, and we walked up and down in silence, till Fritz touchedme on the arm, and I saw, a mile or more away, the blue smoke of thetrain. Then I held out a hand to each of them. 

"We are all but half-men this morning, " said I, smiling. "But we havebeen men, eh, Sapt and Fritz, old friends? We have run a good coursebetween us. "

"We have defeated traitors and set the King firm on his throne, " saidSapt. 

Then Fritz von Tarlenheim suddenly, before I could discern his purposeor stay him, uncovered his head and bent as he used to do, and kissed myhand; and as I snatched it away, he said, trying to laugh:

"Heaven doesn't always make the right men kings!"

Old Sapt twisted his mouth as he wrung my hand. 

"The devil has his share in most things, " said he. 

The people at the station looked curiously at the tall man with themuffled face, but we took no notice of their glances. I stood with mytwo friends and waited till the train came up to us. Then we shook handsagain, saying nothing; and both this time--and, indeed, from old Saptit seemed strange--bared their heads, and so stood still till the trainbore me away from their sight. So that it was thought some great mantravelled privately for his pleasure from the little station thatmorning; whereas, in truth it was only I, Rudolf Rassendyll, an Englishgentleman, a cadet of a good house, but a man of no wealth nor position, nor of much rank. They would have been disappointed to know that. Yethad they known all they would have looked more curiously still. For, beI what I might now, I had been for three months a King, which, if nota thing to be proud of, is at least an experience to have undergone. Doubtless I should have thought more of it, had there not echoed throughthe air, from the towers of Zenda that we were leaving far away, intomy ears and into my heart the cry of a woman's love--"Rudolf! Rudolf!Rudolf!"

Hark! I hear it now!

CHAPTER 22

Present, Past--and Future?

The details of my return home can have but little interest. I wentstraight to the Tyrol and spent a quiet fortnight--mostly on my back, for a severe chill developed itself; and I was also the victim of anervous reaction, which made me weak as a baby. As soon as I had reachedmy quarters, I sent an apparently careless postcard to my brother, announcing my good health and prospective return. That would serve tosatisfy the inquiries as to my whereabouts, which were probably stillvexing the Prefect of the Police of Strelsau. I let my moustache andimperial grow again; and as hair comes quickly on my face, they wererespectable, though not luxuriant, by the time that I landed myself inParis and called on my friend George Featherly. My interview withhim was chiefly remarkable for the number of unwilling but necessaryfalsehoods that I told; and I rallied him unmercifully when he told methat he had made up his mind that I had gone in the track of Madame deMauban to Strelsau. The lady, it appeared, was back in Paris, but wasliving in great seclusion--a fact for which gossip found no difficultyin accounting. Did not all the world know of the treachery and deathof Duke Michael? Nevertheless, George bade Bertram Bertrand be of goodcheer, "for, " said he flippantly, "a live poet is better than a deadduke. " Then he turned on me and asked:

"What have you been doing to your moustache?"

"To tell the truth, " I answered, assuming a sly air, "a man now and thenhas reasons for wishing to alter his appearance. But it's coming on verywell again. "

"What? Then I wasn't so far out! If not the fair Antoinette, there was acharmer?"

"There is always a charmer, " said I, sententiously. 

But George would not be satisfied till he had wormed out of me (hetook much pride in his ingenuity) an absolutely imaginary love-affair, attended with the proper soupcon of scandal, which had kept me all thistime in the peaceful regions of the Tyrol. In return for thisnarrative, George regaled me with a great deal of what he called "insideinformation" (known only to diplomatists), as to the true course ofevents in Ruritania, the plots and counterplots. In his opinion, he toldme, with a significant nod, there was more to be said for Black Michaelthan the public supposed; and he hinted at a well-founded suspicion thatthe mysterious prisoner of Zenda, concerning whom a good many paragraphshad appeared, was not a man at all, but (here I had much ado not tosmile) a woman disguised as a man; and that strife between the King andhis brother for this imaginary lady's favour was at the bottom of theirquarrel. 

"Perhaps it was Madame de Mauban herself, " I suggested. 

"No!" said George decisively, "Antoinette de Mauban was jealous of her, and betrayed the duke to the King for that reason. And, to confirm whatI say, it's well known that the Princess Flavia is now extremely cold tothe King, after having been most affectionate. "

At this point I changed the subject, and escaped from George's"inspired" delusions. But if diplomatists never know anything more thanthey had succeeded in finding out in this instance, they appear to me tobe somewhat expensive luxuries. 

While in Paris I wrote to Antoinette, though I did not venture to callupon her. I received in return a very affecting letter, in which sheassured me that the King's generosity and kindness, no less than herregard for me, bound her conscience to absolute secrecy. She expressedthe intention of settling in the country, and withdrawing herselfentirely from society. Whether she carried out her designs, I have neverheard; but as I have not met her, or heard news of her up to this time, it is probable that she did. There is no doubt that she was deeplyattached to the Duke of Strelsau; and her conduct at the time of hisdeath proved that no knowledge of the man's real character was enough toroot her regard for him out of her heart. 

I had one more battle left to fight--a battle that would, I knew, besevere, and was bound to end in my complete defeat. Was I not backfrom the Tyrol, without having made any study of its inhabitants, institutions, scenery, fauna, flora, or other features? Had I not simplywasted my time in my usual frivolous, good-for-nothing way? That was theaspect of the matter which, I was obliged to admit, would present itselfto my sister-in-law; and against a verdict based on such evidence, I hadreally no defence to offer. It may be supposed, then, that I presentedmyself in Park Lane in a shamefaced, sheepish fashion. On the whole, myreception was not so alarming as I had feared. It turned out that Ihad done, not what Rose wished, but--the next best thing--what sheprophesied. She had declared that I should make no notes, record noobservations, gather no materials. My brother, on the other hand, had been weak enough to maintain that a serious resolve had at lengthanimated me. 

When I returned empty-handed, Rose was so occupied in triumphing overBurlesdon that she let me down quite easily, devoting the greaterpart of her reproaches to my failure to advertise my friends of mywhereabouts. 

"We've wasted a lot of time trying to find you, " she said. 

"I know you have, " said I. "Half our ambassadors have led weary liveson my account. George Featherly told me so. But why should you have beenanxious? I can take care of myself. "

"Oh, it wasn't that, " she cried scornfully, "but I wanted to tell youabout Sir Jacob Borrodaile. You know, he's got an Embassy--at least, he will have in a month--and he wrote to say he hoped you would go withhim. "

"Where's he going to?"

"He's going to succeed Lord Topham at Strelsau, " said she. "You couldn'thave a nicer place, short of Paris. "

"Strelsau! H'm!" said I, glancing at my brother. 

"Oh, _that_ doesn't matter!" exclaimed Rose impatiently. "Now, you willgo, won't you?"

"I don't know that I care about it!"

"Oh, you're too exasperating!"

"And I don't think I can go to Strelsau. My dear Rose, would itbe--suitable?"

"Oh, nobody remembers that horrid old story now. "

Upon this, I took out of my pocket a portrait of the King of Ruritania. It had been taken a month or two before he ascended the throne. Shecould not miss my point when I said, putting it into her hands:

"In case you've not seen, or not noticed, a picture of Rudolf V, therehe is. Don't you think they might recall the story, if I appeared at theCourt of Ruritania?"

My sister-in-law looked at the portrait, and then at me. 

"Good gracious!" she said, and flung the photograph down on the table. 

"What do you say, Bob?" I asked. 

Burlesdon got up, went to a corner of the room, and searched in a heapof newspapers. Presently he came back with a copy of the IllustratedLondon News. Opening the paper, he displayed a double-page engraving ofthe Coronation of Rudolf V at Strelsau. The photograph and the picturehe laid side by side. I sat at the table fronting them; and, as Ilooked, I grew absorbed. My eye travelled from my own portrait to Sapt, to Strakencz, to the rich robes of the Cardinal, to Black Michael'sface, to the stately figure of the princess by his side. Long I lookedand eagerly. I was roused by my brother's hand on my shoulder. He wasgazing down at me with a puzzled expression. 

"It's a remarkable likeness, you see, " said I. "I really think I hadbetter not go to Ruritania. "

Rose, though half convinced, would not abandon her position. 

"It's just an excuse, " she said pettishly. "You don't want to doanything. Why, you might become an ambassador!"

"I don't think I want to be an ambassador, " said I. 

"It's more than you ever will be, " she retorted. 

That is very likely true, but it is not more than I have been. 

The idea of being an ambassador could scarcely dazzle me. I had been aking!

So pretty Rose left us in dudgeon; and Burlesdon, lighting a cigarette, looked at me still with that curious gaze. 

"That picture in the paper--" he said. 

"Well, what of it? It shows that the King of Ruritania and your humbleservant are as like as two peas. "

My brother shook his head. 

"I suppose so, " he said. "But I should know you from the man in thephotograph. "

"And not from the picture in the paper?"

"I should know the photograph from the picture: the picture's very likethe photograph, but--"

"Well?"

"It's more like you!" said my brother. 

My brother is a good man and true--so that, for all that he is a marriedman and mighty fond of his wife, he should know any secret of mine. Butthis secret was not mine, and I could not tell it to him. 

"I don't think it's so much like me as the photograph, " said I boldly. "But, anyhow, Bob, I won't go to Strelsau. "

"No, don't go to Strelsau, Rudolf, " said he. 

And whether he suspects anything, or has a glimmer of the truth, I donot know. If he has, he keeps it to himself, and he and I never refer toit. And we let Sir Jacob Borrodaile find another attache. 

Since all these events whose history I have set down happened I havelived a very quiet life at a small house which I have taken in thecountry. The ordinary ambitions and aims of men in my position seem tome dull and unattractive. I have little fancy for the whirl of society, and none for the jostle of politics. Lady Burlesdon utterly despairs ofme; my neighbours think me an indolent, dreamy, unsociable fellow. YetI am a young man; and sometimes I have a fancy--the superstitious wouldcall it a presentiment--that my part in life is not yet altogetherplayed; that, somehow and some day, I shall mix again in great affairs, I shall again spin policies in a busy brain, match my wits against myenemies', brace my muscles to fight a good fight and strike stout blows. Such is the tissue of my thoughts as, with gun or rod in hand, I wanderthrough the woods or by the side of the stream. Whether the fancy willbe fulfilled, I cannot tell--still less whether the scene that, led bymemory, I lay for my new exploits will be the true one--for I love tosee myself once again in the crowded streets of Strelsau, or beneath thefrowning keep of the Castle of Zenda. 

Thus led, my broodings leave the future, and turn back on the past. Shapes rise before me in long array--the wild first revel with the King, the rush with my brave tea-table, the night in the moat, the pursuit inthe forest: my friends and my foes, the people who learnt to love andhonour me, the desperate men who tried to kill me. And, from amidstthese last, comes one who alone of all of them yet moves on earth, though where I know not, yet plans (as I do not doubt) wickedness, yetturns women's hearts to softness and men's to fear and hate. Where isyoung Rupert of Hentzau--the boy who came so nigh to beating me? Whenhis name comes into my head, I feel my hand grip and the blood movequicker through my veins: and the hint of Fate--the presentiment--seemsto grow stronger and more definite, and to whisper insistently in my earthat I have yet a hand to play with young Rupert; therefore I exercisemyself in arms, and seek to put off the day when the vigour of youthmust leave me. 

One break comes every year in my quiet life. Then I go to Dresden, andthere I am met by my dear friend and companion, Fritz von Tarlenheim. Last time, his pretty wife Helga came, and a lusty crowing baby withher. And for a week Fritz and I are together, and I hear all of whatfalls out in Strelsau; and in the evenings, as we walk and smoketogether, we talk of Sapt, and of the King, and often of young Rupert;and, as the hours grow small, at last we speak of Flavia. For every yearFritz carries with him to Dresden a little box; in it lies a red rose, and round the stalk of the rose is a slip of paper with the wordswritten: "Rudolf--Flavia--always. " And the like I send back by him. Thatmessage, and the wearing of the rings, are all that now bind me and theQueen of Ruritania. Far--nobler, as I hold her, for the act--she hasfollowed where her duty to her country and her House led her, and is thewife of the King, uniting his subjects to him by the love they bear toher, giving peace and quiet days to thousands by her self-sacrifice. There are moments when I dare not think of it, but there are others whenI rise in spirit to where she ever dwells; then I can thank God that Ilove the noblest lady in the world, the most gracious and beautiful, andthat there was nothing in my love that made her fall short in her highduty. 

Shall I see her face again--the pale face and the glorious hair? Of thatI know nothing; Fate has no hint, my heart no presentiment. I do notknow. In this world, perhaps--nay, it is likely--never. And can itbe that somewhere, in a manner whereof our flesh-bound minds have noapprehension, she and I will be together again, with nothing to comebetween us, nothing to forbid our love? That I know not, nor wiser headsthan mine. But if it be never--if I can never hold sweet converse againwith her, or look upon her face, or know from her her love; why, then, this side the grave, I will live as becomes the man whom she loves; and, for the other side, I must pray a dreamless sleep.