Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 12, 2025
"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.
"Courage, lad!" and I felt his hand press my knee. The Adventures of an Understudy With Fritz von Tarlenheim and Colonel Sapt close behind me, I stepped out of the buffet on to the platform. The last thing I did was to feel if my revolver were handy and my sword loose in the scabbard.
"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 a year or two I held a commission from her Majesty the Queen."
Then, at last, I was left alone. Fritz von Tarlenheim was standing by. "By heaven!" he cried, "we waste time. Aren't we going to throw Black Michael by the heels?" "Gently, my son, gently," said Sapt, knitting his brows. "It would be a pleasure, but it might cost us dear. Would Michael fall and leave the King alive?"
Then he paused, and looking 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 the door for me. Then I stepped on the platform of the station at Strelsau.
And sulky I remained till, as evening fell and we rode up to Tarlenheim, Sapt having fallen behind in case anyone should be following us, Flavia, riding close beside me, said softly, with a little half-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 as we reached the door and dismounted.
"He may see God's," said Sapt; and he shook himself as though an unwelcome thought had found its way to his mind and lips. A pause fell on us, born of the colonel's last remark. We looked one another in the face. At last Sapt brought his hand down on the table with a bang. "I'll not go back," he said sullenly, almost fiercely. "Nor I," said Bernenstein, drawing himself up. "Nor you, Tarlenheim?"
There he had been carried, his face covered with a cloak, from the cell; and thence orders issued, that if his friend were found, he should be brought directly and privately to the King, and that meanwhile messengers should ride at full speed to Tarlenheim, to tell Marshall Strakencz to assure the princess of the King's safety and to come himself with all speed to greet the King.
And above me, in the stillness of the night, I heard the standards flapping against their poles, for Black Michael's banner hung there half-mast high, and above it the royal flag of Ruritania, floating for one night more over my head. Habit grows so quick, that only by an effort did I recollect that it floated no longer for me. Presently Fritz von Tarlenheim came into the room.
I cried. "Yes, sir," answered Rudolf Rassendyll's servant. "What the devil do you want?" asked Sapt. "I came to attend on the Count von Tarlenheim, sir." "I did not give you any orders, James." "No, sir. But Mr. Rassendyll told me not to leave you, unless you sent me away. So I made haste to follow you." Then Sapt cried: "Deuce take it, what horse is that?"
Word Of The Day
Others Looking