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Then she flung the door wide. A new amazement filled her eyes at the sight of the eager crowd before the house. Then her eyes fell on me where I stood between the lieutenant and Rischenheim, and she uttered her wild cry, "Help! The king!" With one bound I was by her side and in the house, while Bernenstein cried, "Quicker!" from behind.
"Meanwhile we send for Fritz to come here and look after the king." "And Rischenheim?" "That's your share, Lieutenant. Sapt, is any one at Tarlenheim?" "No. Count Stanislas has put it at Fritz's disposal." "Good; then Fritz's two friends, the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim and Lieutenant von Bernenstein, will ride over there to-day.
Have nothing to do with her, young Bernenstein." "I'll keep my eyes for beauties nearer at hand," said Bernenstein, whose volatile temper soon threw off a serious mood. "There's a chance for you, now Rupert of Hentzau's gone," said Sapt grimly. As he spoke there was a knock at the door. When it opened James entered.
For the king was abed; and who spoke in that voice save the king and one other? Then, with a curse at himself for his delay, he turned and walked quickly across the room. Opening the door, he found himself in the passage. But here he ran right into the arms of young Bernenstein, the officer of the guard, who was going his rounds.
Well, even I, who had every good cause to hate and scorn him, set the hair smooth on his brow; while Rischenheim was sobbing like a child, and young Bernenstein rested his head on his arm as he leant on the mantelpiece, and would not look at the dead. Rudolf alone seemed not to heed him or think of him. His eyes had lost their unnatural look of joy, and were now calm and tranquil.
"I don't think he'll give you much trouble," whispered Sapt to Bernenstein, with a jerk of his thumb towards the captive. "Act as if he were likely to give you much," urged Rudolf, laying his hand on the lieutenant's arm. "Yes, that's a wise man's advice," nodded the constable approvingly. "We were well governed, Lieutenant, when this Rudolf was king."
As Helga reached the foot of the stairs, her Majesty was just entering the room where Rudolf was, the servants attending her, and Bernenstein standing behind, his helmet in his hand. Rudolf and the chancellor had been continuing their conversation. They had heard the wheels, but neither of them dreamt that the visitor could be the queen.
On this they disputed some few minutes; then Sapt, persuaded by Fritz, detached a party under Bernenstein to gallop back to Tarlenheim and bring up the marshal, while the rest fell to on the great door of the chateau.
In any event his skin was safe, and I presume to think that this weighed a little with him; for excuse he had the wound which Bernenstein had given him, and which rendered his right arm entirely useless; had he gone then, he would have been a most inefficient ally. Of all this we, as we rode through the forest, knew nothing.
But we have also to be ready for him here, and at the hunting lodge. Well, we're ready for him wherever he is: Rudolf will be in Strelsau, you and I will ride to the lodge, and Bernenstein will be here with the queen." "Only one here?" I asked. "Ay, but a good one," said the constable, clapping Bernenstein on the shoulder.
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