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Updated: May 11, 2025
Rassendyll; she knew that he was again in Ruritania, it was no surprise to her that he should be in Strelsau; but she did not know that Rupert had killed the king, and she had not seen the king close at hand since his illness and his beard impaired what had been a perfect likeness. In fine, she could not tell whether it were indeed the king who spoke to her or his counterfeit.
Saving the hair on my face and a manner of conscious dignity which his position gave him, saving also that he lacked perhaps half an inch nay, less than that, but still something of my height, the King of Ruritania might have been Rudolf Rassendyll, and I, Rudolf, the King. For an instant we stood motionless, looking at one another. Then I bared my head again and bowed respectfully.
Rudolf Rassendyll skipped behind the curtain. Sapt's revolver slipped into a handy pocket. Rischenheim stood with arms dangling by his side and his waistcoat half unbuttoned. Young Bernenstein was bowing low on the threshold, and protesting that the king's servant had but just gone, and that they were on the point of waiting on his Majesty. Then the king walked in, pale and full-bearded.
"In a minute, Lieutenant." "I should like to kiss her hand." "Well, if you think it worth waiting a quarter of an hour for!" said Sapt, with a slight smile. "You said a minute, sir." "So did she," answered the constable. Nevertheless it was a quarter of an hour before Rudolf Rassendyll opened the door and the queen appeared on the threshold.
Rassendyll had no more than time to spring away, holding his prize. The next moment he had his revolver in his hand none too soon, for Rupert of Hentzau's barrel faced him, and they stood thus, opposite to one another, with no more than three or four feet between the mouths of their weapons.
But when I saw how Rudolf looked at him, I did not know but that they would go from the queen's presence set on a deadly quarrel. Mr. Rassendyll, however, mastered his temper. "You're all bent on having me a rascal," he said coldly. "Fritz and Bernenstein here urge me; you, Sapt, try to force me. James, there, is in the plot, for all I know."
The device that he adopted was nicely chosen. It was too late to call a rest or ask breathing space: Mr. Rassendyll was not blind to the advantage he had won, and chivalry would have turned to folly had it allowed such indulgence. Rupert was hard by the mantelpiece now.
Rassendyll. He smiled at Bernenstein. Then he said to me: "Is she coming, Fritz?" "Yes, she's coming, sire," I answered. He noticed the style of my address; a faint amused gleam shot into his languid eyes. "Well, for an hour, then," he murmured, and lay back on his pillows. She came, dry-eyed, calm, and queenly. We all drew back, and she knelt down by his bed, holding his hand in her two hands.
They stood for a moment on the pavement, the younger saying: "Isn't it pleasant, mother? I wish I could always be up at five o'clock." "My dear, you wouldn't like it for long," answered the elder. "It's very nice for a change, but " She stopped abruptly. Her eye had fallen on Rudolf Rassendyll.
Her thoughts, as I judged them, were bounded by the longing to see Mr. Rassendyll again, and dwelt on the visit that he promised as the horizon of hope. To Rudolf we had dared to disclose nothing of the part our imaginations set him to play: if he were to accept it, the acceptance would be of his own act, because the fate that old Sapt talked of drove him, and on no persuasion of ours.
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