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Updated: May 5, 2025
And, as Colonel Sapt said to me, both I would destroy, if need were ay, and myself with them. A man did not serve Queen Flavia with divided mind. The arrangements for my meeting with Mr. Rassendyll had been carefully made by correspondence before he left England. He was to be at the Golden Lion Hotel at eleven o'clock on the night of the 15th of October.
"Even if my master is not killed, it will be difficult for us to get the king killed at the right time, and by means that will seem plausible." Sapt seemed to fall into the humor of the speculation. "That's all very true. But if Mr. Rassendyll is to be king, it will be both awkward and difficult to dispose of the king's body and of this poor fellow Herbert," said he, sucking at his pipe.
Nothing save assassination suggested itself to the constable; a quarrel and a duel offered no security; and Sapt was not Black Michael, and had no band of ruffians to join him in an apparently unprovoked kidnapping of a distinguished nobleman.
Sapt paid no attention to these mishaps or threatened mishaps. He had taken the lead, and, sitting well down in his saddle, rode ahead, turning neither to right nor left, never slackening his pace, sparing neither himself nor his beast. James and I were side by side behind him. We rode in silence, finding nothing to say to one another.
"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 Fritz shrugged his shoulders, he added: "Oh! I'll remember our early start, Fritz."
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 sat silent in the dining-room. Then old Sapt rubbed his knuckles into his eyes, gave one great gasp, and was himself again. As the clock on the mantelpiece struck one he stamped his foot on the floor, saying: "They've got the King!"
But the queen cried: "Are you sending Rudolf alone, then alone against two?" "Yes, madam, if I may command the campaign," said Sapt. "I take it he should be equal to the task." He could not know the feelings of the queen's heart. She dashed her hand across her eyes, and turned in mute entreaty to Rudolf Rassendyll. "I must go," he said softly. "We can't spare Bernenstein, and I mustn't stay here."
"Rupert of Hentzau? Oh, pooh! Nonsense, my good Simon. He daren't show his face there for his life." "Ah, but it may be no nonsense. Perhaps that's what took the king to Strelsau." "It's enough to take him if it's true," admitted Sapt. "Well, good day, sir." "Good day, Simon." The two huntsmen rode off. James watched them for a little while.
Oh, you can have no secrets from so good a friend as I am, my lord. Be quick and open it." The count began to open it. "If you tear it up, or crumple it, I'll shoot you," said Sapt quietly. "You know you can trust my word. Now read it." "By God, I won't read it." "Read it, I tell you, or say your prayers." The muzzle was within a foot of his head. He unfolded the telegram. Then he looked at Sapt.
Yet there was in truth nothing strange in the queen seeking to see old Sapt that night, nor in her guessing where he would most probably be found. For she had asked him three times whether news had come from Wintenberg and each time he had put her off with excuses.
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