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Updated: June 28, 2025
"Gentlemen," said she, "my servants and dear friends, with you, and with Fritz who lies wounded in Wintenberg, rest my honor and my life; for I will not live if the letter reaches the king." "The king shall not have it, madame," said Colonel Sapt. He took her hand in his and patted it with a clumsy gentleness; smiling, she extended it again to young Bernenstein, in mark of her favor.
"Well, and Bauer?" he asked. "Bauer's at large," I answered. "Hum! Well, it's only Bauer," said the constable, seeming tolerably well pleased. Then his eyes fell on Rudolf and Bernenstein. He stretched out his hand and pointed to their riding-boots. "Whither away so late at night?" he asked. "First together to the lodge, to find you, then I alone to the frontier," said Mr. Rassendyll.
Ah, Rudolf Rassendyll, God preserve me from a conscience that won't let me be true to the woman I love, or to the friends who love me!" I had never seen the old fellow so moved; he carried me with him, as he carried Bernenstein. I know now that we were too ready to be convinced; rather that, borne along by our passionate desire, we needed no convincing at all.
The sound of it brought relief to us; so far at least there was no disaster. But why was not the king with them? "The king is probably tired, and is following more slowly, madam," suggested Bernenstein. This explanation seemed very probable, and the lieutenant and I, as ready to be hopeful on slight grounds as fearful on small provocation, joyfully accepted it.
The Constable of Zenda broke in with a short laugh. "On my life," said he, "how things fall out! We say he will go to the hunting-lodge, and he goes!" "If Rupert goes if Rischenheim doesn't stop him!" I urged again. The queen rose from her seat and stretched out her hands towards us. "Gentlemen, my letter!" said she. Sapt wasted no time. "Bernenstein," said he, "you stay here as we arranged.
There was a confused din through all the house, and it seemed now to echo muffled and vague through the walls from the street without. I was conscious of it, although I paid no heed to anything but reaching the room where the king where Rudolf was. Now I was there, Bernenstein hanging to my heels. The door did not hold us a second. I was in, he after me.
"In God's name, who is he?" she whispered. "Are you mad?" I asked, lifting my brows. "Don't you know the king when he speaks to you? And you'd best remember what he said. He has servants who'll do his orders." She let me go and fell back a step. Young Bernenstein smiled at her; he at least found more pleasure than anxiety in our position.
Bring it and meet us. The business is unsuspected. Rudolf threw the paper across to Sapt; Bernenstein leant over the constable's shoulder and read it eagerly. "I doubt if it would bring me," grinned old Sapt, throwing the paper down. "It'll bring Rupert to Hentzau. Why not?
"They may have a cipher, he and Rischenheim," objected Sapt. "No, or Rupert would have sent the address in it," retorted Rudolf quickly. "Then when he comes?" asked Bernenstein. "He finds such a king as Rischenheim found, and Sapt, here, at his elbow." "But he'll know you," objected Bernenstein. "Ay, I think he'll know me," said Rudolf with a smile.
Thank God, oh, thank God!" and she carried his hands to her lips and kissed them passionately. A moment of absolute silence followed, dictated in the servants by decorum, in the chancellor by consideration, in Helga and Bernenstein by utter consternation. Rudolf himself also was silent, but whether from bewilderment or an emotion answering to hers, I know not. Either it might well be.
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