LIBRARY
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
SANTA BARBARA
PRESENTED BY
MRS. DONALD KELLOGG
UCSB LIBRARY
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
Being the History of Three Months in the
Life of an English Gentleman
BY
ANTHONY HOPE
TTCUtb five futl=pagc flllustcationa
BY
CHARLES DANA GIBSON
And a view and plan of the castlt of ZenOt
BY HOWARD INCE
NEW YORK
HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY
COPYRIGHT, 1894, 1898, 1921,
BY
HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY
3HAFTER
I. THE RASSENDYLLS WITH A WORD ON
THE ELPHBERGS., ..... i
II. CONCERNING THE COLOR OF MEN'S HAIR... 13
III. A MERRY EVENING WITH A DISTANT REL-
ATIVE 27
IV. THE KING KEEPS His APPOINTMENT 43
V. THE ADVENTURES OF AN UNDERSTUDY..., 56
f I. THE SECRET OF A CELLAR 70
VII. His MAJESTY SLEEPS IN STRELSAU...* 83
VIII. A FAIR COUSIN AND A DARK BROTHER.... 96
IX. A NEW USE FOR A TEA TABLE 112
X. A GREAT CHANCE FOR A VILLAIN 128
XI. HUNTING A VERY BIG BOAR 143
XII. I RECEIVE A VISITOR AND BAIT A HOOK.. 158
XIII. AN IMPROVEMENT ON JACOB'S LADDER..., 172
XIV. A NIGHT OUTSIDE THE CASTLE 186
XV. I TALK WITH A TEMPTER.., 199
XVI. A DESPERATE PLAN ..... 213
XVII. YOUNG RUPERT'S MIDNIGHT DIVERSIONS.. 227
XVIII. THE FORCING OF THE TRAP 240
XIX. FACE TO FACE IN THE FOREST.... 252
XX, THE PRISONER AND THE KING....... ...coo, 265
XXI. IF LOVE WERE ALL?....., . 280
XXIL PRESENT, PAST AN^ FUTURE?,......... ... w
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
THE CASTLE OF ZENDA Frontispiece
PLAN OF THE CASTLE OF ZENDA 28
" IF HE'S RED HE'S RIGHT !" 61
" I HANDED FLAVIA DOWN THE BROAD MABBI.E STAIRS ". 139
"THE FELLOW'S STORY WAS RUDELY TOLD" 181
" COME ON ! COME ON, MAN ! " 248
" IT WAS ALWAYS You, NEVER THE KING ! " 286
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
CHAPTER I.
THE RASSENDYLLS WITH A WORD ON THE ELPH-
BERGS.
" I WONDER when in the world you're going to
do anything, Rudolf? " said my brother's wife.
" My dear Rose," I answered, laying down my
egg-spoon, " why in the world should I do any-
thing? My position is a comfortable one. I have
an income nearly sufficient for my wants (no one's
income is ever quite sufficient, you know). I enjoy
an enviable social position: I am brother to Lord
Burlesdon, and brother-in-law to that most charm-
ing lady his countess. Behold, it is enough! "
" You are nine-and-twenty," she observed, " and
you've done nothing but "
" Knock about? It is true. Our family doesn't
need to do things."
This remark of mine rather annoyed Rose, for
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
everybody knows (and therefore there can be no
harm in referring to the fact) that, pretty and ac-
complished as she herself is, her family is hardly of
the same standing as the Rassendylls. Besides her
attractions, she possessed a large fortune, and my
brother Robert was wise enough not to mind about
her ancestry. Ancestry is, in fact, a matter con-
cerning which the next observation of Rose's has
some truth.
" Good families are generally worse than any
others," she said.
Upon this I stroked my hair: I knew quite well
what she meant.
" I'm so glad Robert's is black! " she cried.
At this moment Robert (who rises at seven and
works before breakfast) came in. He glanced at
his wife: her cheek was slightly flushed; he patted it
caressingly.
" What's the matter, my dear? " he asked.
" She objects to my doing nothing and having
red hair," said I in an injured tone.
" Oh! of course he can't help his hair," admitted
Rose.
THE RASSENDYLLS. 3
" It generally crops out once in a generation,"
said my brother. " So does the nose. Rudolf has
got them both."
" I wish they didn't crop out," said Rose, still
flushed.
" I rather like them myself," said I, and, rising,
I bowed to the portrait of Countess Amelia.
My brother's wife uttered an exclamation of im
patience.
" I wish you'd take that picture away, Robert,"
said she.
" My dear! " he cried.
"Good Heavens!" I added.
" Then it might be forgotten," she continued.
"Hardly with Rudolf about," said Robert,
shaking his head.
" Why should it be forgotten? " I asked*
" Rudolf! " exclaimed my brother's wife, blusli-
ing very prettily.
I laughed, and went on with my egg. At least
I had shelved the question of what (if anything) I
ought to do. And by way of closing the discus-
sion and also, I must admit, of exasperating my
t THE PRISONER OF ZhNLJA.
strict little sister-in-law a trifle more I ob-
served:
" I rather like being an Elphberg myself."
When I read a story I skip the explanations; yet
the moment I begin to write one I find that I must
have an explanation. For it is manifest that I
must explain why my sister-in-law was vexed with
my nose and hair, and why I ventured to call my-
self an Elphberg. For, eminent as, I must protest,
the Rassendylls have been for many generations,
yet participation in their blood of course does not,
at first sight, justify the boast of a connection with
the grander stock of the Elphbergs or a claim to be
one of that royal house. For what relationship is
there between Ruritania and Burlesdon, between
the palace at Strelsau or the castle of Zenda and
No. 305 Park Lane, W.?
Well, then and I must premise that I am going,
perforce, to rake up the very scandal which my
dear Lady Burlesdon wishes forgotten in the year
J 733 George II. sitting then on the throne, peace
reigning for the moment, and the king and the
Prince of Wales being not yet at loggerheads, there
THE RASSENDYLLS. 5
came on a visit to the English court a certain
prince, who was afterward known to history as
Rudolf the Third of Ruritania. The prince was a
tall, handsome young fellow, marked (maybe
marred, it is not for me to say) by a somewhat un=
usually long, sharp, and straight nose, and a mass
of dark-red hair in fact, the nose and the hair
which have stamped the Elphbergs time out of
mind. He stayed some months in England, where
he was most courteously received; yet in the end
he left rather under a cloud. For he fought a due\
(it was considered highly well bred of him to waive
all question of his rank) with a nobleman, well
known in the society of the day, not only for his
own merits, but as the husband of a very beautiful
wife. In that duel Prince Rudolf received a severe
wound, and recovering therefrom, was adroitly
smuggled off by the Ruritanian ambassador, who
had found him a pretty handful. The nobleman
was not wounded in the duel ; but the morning be-
ing raw and damp on the occasion of the meeting,
he contracted a severe chill, and failing to throw if
off, he died some six months after the departure
6 THE PRISONER OF ZEND*.
of Prince Rudolf, without having found leisure to
adjust his relations with his wife who after an-
other two months bore an heir to the title and
estates of the family of Burlesdon. This lady was
the Countess Amelia, whose picture my sister-in-
law wished to remove from the drawing room in
Park Lane; and her husband was James, fifth Earl
of Burlesdon and twenty-second Baron Rassendyll,
both in the peerage of England, and a Knight of
Iftie Garter. As for Rudolf, he went back to Ruri-
tania, married a wife, and ascended the throne,
whereon his progeny in the direct line have sat
from then till this very hour with one short in-
terval. And, finally, if you walk through the pic-
ture galleries at Burlesdon, among the fifty por-
traits or so of the last century and a half you will
find five or six, including that of the sixth earl, dis-
tinguished by long, sharp, straight noses and a
quantity of dark-red hair; these five or six have
also blue eyes, whereas among the Rassendylls
dark eyes are the commoner.
That is the explanation, and I am glad to have
finished it: the blemishes on honorable lineage are
THE RASSENDYLLS. f
a delicate subject, and certainly this heredity we
hear so much about is the finest scandalmonger in
the world; it laughs at discretion, and writes
strange entries between the lines of the " Peer-
age."
It will be observed that my sister-in-law, with a
want of logic that must have been peculiar to her-
self (since we are no longer allowed to lay it to the
charge of her sex), treated my complexion almost
as an offense for which I was responsible, hasten
ing to assume from that external sign inward quali-
ties of which I protest my entire innocence; and
this unjust inference she sought to buttress by
pointing to the uselessness of the life I had led.
Well, be that as it may, I had picked up a good deal
of pleasure and a good deal of knowledge. I had
been to a German school and a German university,
and spoke German as readily and perfectly as Eng-
lish; I was thoroughly at home in French; I had a
smattering of Italian, and enough Spanish to swear
by. I was, I believe, a strong, though hardly a
fine, swordsman and a good shot. I could ride
anything that had a back to sit on; and my
$ THE PRISONER OF ZEND4.
was as cool a one as you could find, for all its flam-
ing cover. If you say that I ought to have spent
my time in useful labor I am out of court and have
nothing to say, save that my parents had no busi-
ness to leave me two thousand pounds a year and a
roving disposition.
" The difference between you and Robert," said
my sister-in-law, who often (bless her!) speaks on a
platform, and oftener still as if she were on one,
" is that he recognizes the duties of his position,
and you only see the opportunities of yours."
" To a man of spirit, my dear Rose," I answered,
" opportunities are duties."
" Nonsense! " said she, tossing her head; and
after a moment she went on: "Now here's Sir
Jacob Borrodaile offering you exactly what you
might be equal to."
" A thousand thanks! " I murmured.
" He's to have an embassy in six months, and
Robert says he is sure that he'll take you as an
attache. Do take it, Rudolf to please me."
Now when my sister-in-law puts the matter in
that way, wrinkling her pretty brows, twisting her
THE R4SSENDYLLS. 9
little hands, and growing wistful in the eyes, all on
account of an idle scamp like myself, for whom she
has no natural responsibility, I am visited with
compunction. Moreover, I thought it possible that
I could pass the time in the position suggested with
some tolerable amusement. Therefore I said:
" My dear sister, if in six months' time no unfore
seen obstacle has arisen, and Sir Jacob invites me,
hang me if I don't go with Sir Jacob ! "
" O Rudolf, how good of you! I am glad! "
" Where's he going to? "
" He doesn't know yet; but it's sure to be a good
embassy."
" Madame," said I, " for your sake I'll go if it's
no more than a beggarly legation. When I do a
thing I don't do it by halves."
My promise, then, was given; but six months are
six months, and seem an eternity, and inasmuch
as they stretched between me and my prospective
industry (I suppose attaches are industrious; but
I know not, for I never became attache to Sir Jacot
or to anybody else) I cast about for some de-sirablfe
mode of spending them. And it occurred to me
!K> THE PRISONER OF ZEND*.
suddenly that I would visit Ruritania. It may seem
strange that I had never visited that country yet;
but my father (in spite of a sneaking fondness for
the Elphbergs, which led him to give me, his sec*
ond son, the famous Elphberg name of Rudolf) had
always been averse to my going, and since his death
my brother, prompted by Rose, had accepted the
family tradition which taught that a wide berth was
to be given to that country. But the moment
Ruritania had come into my head I was eaten up
irith curiosity to see it. After all, red hair and long
noses are not confined to the House of Elphberg,
and the old story seemed a preposterously insuffi-
cient reason for debarring myself from acquaint-
ance with a highly interesting and important king-
dom, one which had played no small part in Euro-
pean history, and might do the like again under the
sway of a young and vigorous ruler, such as the
new king was rumored to be. My determination
was clinched by reading in The Times that Rudolf
the Fifth was to be crowned at Strelsau in the
lourse of the next three weeks, and that great mag-
aificence was to mark the occasion. At once I
THE RASSENDYLLS. It
made up my mind to be present, and began my
preparations. But inasmuch as it has never
been my practice to furnish my relatives with an
itinerary of my journeys, and in this case I antici-
pated opposition to my wishes, I gave out that I
was going for a ramble in the Tyrol an old haunt
of mine and propitiated Rose's wrath by declaring
that I intended to study the political and social
problems of the interesting community which
dwells in that neighborhood.
" Perhaps," I hinted darkly, " there may be an
outcome of the expedition."
" What do you mean? " she asked.
" Well," said I carelessly, " there seems a gap
that might be filled by an exhaustive work
on "
" Oh! will you write a book ?" she cried, clap-
ping her hands. " That would be splendid,
wouldn't it, Robert? "
" It's the best of introductions to political life
nowadays," observed my brother, who has, by the
way, introduced himself in this manner several
times over. Burlesdon on " Ancient Theories and
X3 THE PRISONER. OF ZENDA,
Modern Facts " and " The Ultimate Outcome," toy
a Political Student, are both works of recognized
eminence.
" I believe you are right, Bob, my boy," said I.
" Now promise you'll do it," said Rose earnestly,
" No, I won't promise; but if I find enough ma-
terial I will."
" That's fair enough," said Robert.
" Oh! material doesn't matter," she said,
pouting.
But this time she could get no more than a quali-
fied promise out of me. To tell the truth, I would
have wagered a handsome sum that the story of
my expedition that summer would stain no paper
and spoil not a single pen. And that shows how
little we know what the future holds; for here I am,
fulfilling my qualified promise, and writing, as I
never thought to write, a book though it will
hardly serve as an introduction to political life, and
has not a jot to do with the Tyrol.
Neither would it, I fear, please Lady Burlesdon,
if I were to submit it to her critical eye a step
which I have no intention of taking.
CHAPTER II.
CONCERNING THE COLOR OF MEN'S HAIR.
IT was a maxim of my Uncle William's that no
man should pass through Paris without spending
four-and-twenty hours there. My uncle spoke out
of a ripe experience of the world, and I honored
his advice by putting up for a day and a night at
The Continental on my way to the Tyrol. I
called on George Featherly at the embassy, and we
had a bit of dinner together at Durand's, and after-
ward dropped in to the Opera; and after that we
had a little supper, and after that we called on Ber-
tram Bertrand, a versifier of some repute and Paris
correspondent to The Critic. He had a very com-
fortable little suite of rooms, and we found some
pleasant fellows smoking and talking. It struck
me, however, that Bertram himself was absent and
in low spirits, and when everybody except our-
selves had gone I rallied him on his moping pre*
14 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
occupation. He fenced with me for a while, but
at last, flinging himself on a sofa, he exclaimed:
" Very well; have it your own way. I am in love
infernally in love! "
" Oh, you'll write the better poetry," said I by
way of consolation.
He ruffled his hair with his hand and smoked
furiously. George Featherly, standing with his
back to the mantelpiece, smiled unkindly.
" If it's the old affair," said he, " you may as well
throw it up, Bert. She's leaving Paris to-morrow."
" I know that," snapped Bertram.
" Not that it would make any difference if she
stayed," pursued the relentless George. " She flies
higher than the paper trade, my boy! "
" Hang her! " said Bertram.
" It would make it more interesting for me," I
ventured to observe, " if I knew who you were
talking about."
" Antoinette Mauban," said George.
" De Mauban," growled Bertram.
" Oho! " said I, passing by the question of the
de. " You don't mean to say, Bert "
CONCERNING THE COLOR OF MEN'S HAIR. 15
" Can't you let me alone? "
" Where's she going to? " I asked, for the lady
was something of a celebrity.
George jingled his money, smiled cruelly at poof
Bertram, and answered pleasantly:
" Nobody knows. By the way, Bert, I met a
great man at her house the other night at least,
about a month ago. Did you ever meet him the
Duke of Strelsau? "
" Yes, I did," growled Bertram.
" An extremely accomplished man, I thought
him."
It was not hard to see that George's references
to the duke were intended to aggravate poor
Bertram's sufferings, so that I drew the inference
that the duke had distinguished Mme. de Mauban
by his attentions. She was a widow, rich, hand-
some, and, according to repute, ambitious. It
was quite possible that she, as George put it, was
flying as high as a personage who was everything
he could be short of enjoying a strictly royal rank:
for the duke was the son of the late King of Ruri-
tania by a second and morganatic marriage, and
16 THE PRISONER. OF ZENDA.
half brother to the new king. He had been his
father's favorite, and it had occasioned some un-
favorable comment when he had been created a
duke, with a title derived from no less a city than
the capital itself. His mother had been of good,
but not exalted, birth.
" He's not in Paris now, is he? " I asked.
" Oh, no! He's gone back to be present at the
king's coronation; a ceremony which, I should say,
he'll not enjoy much. But, Bert, old man, don't
despair! He won't marry the fair Antoinette at
least, not unless another plan comes to nothing.
Still, perhaps, she " He paused and added with
a laugh : " Royal attentions are hard to resist you
know that, don't you, Rudolf? "
" Confound you! " said I; and, rising, I left the
hapless Bertram in George's hands and went home
to bed.
The next day George Featherly went with me to
the station, where I took a ticket for Dresden.
" Going to see the pictures?" asked George, with
a grin.
George is an inveterate gossip, and had I told
CONCERNING THE COLOR OF MEN'S HAIR. 17
him that I was off to Ruritania the news would
have been in London in three days and in Park
Lane in a week. I was therefore about to return
an evasive answer when he saved my conscience by
leaving me suddenly and darting- across the plat-
form. Following him with my eyes, I saw him
lift his hat and accost a graceful, fashionably
dressed woman who had just appeared from the
booking office. She was perhaps a year or two
over thirty, tall, dark, and of rather full figure. As
George talked, I saw her glance at me, and my
vanity was hurt by the thought that, muffled in a
fur coat and a neck wrapper (for it was a chilly
April day) and wearing a soft traveling hat pulled
down over my ears, I must be looking very far
from my best. A moment later George rejoined
me.
" You've got a charming traveling companion,"
he said. " That's poor Bert Bertrand's goddess,
Antoinette de Mauban, and, like you, she's going
to Dresden also, no doubt, to see the pictures.
It's very queer, though, that she doesn't at present
rtesire the honor of your acquaintance."
18 THE PRISONER OF ZEND*.
" I didn't ask to be introduced," I observed, a
little annoyed.
" Well, I offered to bring you to her; but she
said, ' Another time.' Never mind, old fellow,
perhaps there'll be a smash, and you'll have a
chance of rescuing her and cutting out the Duke
of Strelsau!"
No smash, however, happened, either to me or
to Mme. de Mauban. I can speak for her as con-
fidently as for myself; for when, after a night's rest
in Dresden, I continued my journey she got into
the same train. Understanding that she wished to
be let alone, I avoided her carefully, but I saw that
she went the same way as I did to the very end of
my journey, and I took opportunities of having a
good look at her, when I could do so unobserved.
As soon as we reached the Ruritanian frontier
(where the old officer who presided over the cus-
tomhouse favored me with such a stare that I felt
surer than before of my Elphberg physiognomy) I
bought the papers, and found in them news which
affected my movements. For some reason, which
was not clearly explained and seemed to be some-
CONCERNING THE COLOR OF MEN'S HAIR. *9
thing of a mystery, the date of the coronation had
been suddenly advanced, and the ceremony was to
take place on the next day but one. The whole
country seemed in a stir about it, and it was evi-
dent that Strelsau was thronged. Rooms were all
let and hotels overflowing; there would be very
little chance of my obtaining a lodging, and I
should certainly have to pay an exorbitant charge
for it. I made up my mind to stop at Zenda, a
small town fifty miles short of the capital, and about
ten from the frontier. My train reached there in
the evening; I would spend the next day, Tuesday,
in a wander over the hills, which were said to be
very fine, and in taking a glance at the famous
castle, and go over by train to Strelsau on the
Wednesday morning, returning at night to sleep at
Zenda.
Accordingly at Zenda I got out, and as the train
passed where I stood on the platform, I saw my
friend Mme. de Mauban in her place; clearly she
was going through to Strelsau, having, with more
providence than I could boast, secured apartments
there. I smiled to think how surprised George
ao THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
Featherly would have been to know that she and I
had been follow-travelers for so long.
I was very kindly received at the hotel it was
really no more than an inn kept by a fat old lady
and her two daughters. They were good, quiet
people, and seemed very little interested in the
great doings at Strelsau. The old lady's hero was
the duke, for he was now, under the late king's will,
master of the Zenda estates and of the castle, which
rose grandly on its steep hill at the end of the val-
ley, a mile or so from the inn. The old lady, in-
deed, did not hesitate to express her regret that the
duke was not on the throne instead of his brother.
" We know Duke Michael," said she. " He has
always lived among us; every Ruritanian knows
Duke Michael. But the king is almost a stranger;
he has been so much abroad not one in ten knows
him even by sight."
" And now," chimed in one of the young women,
" they say he has shaved off his beard, so that no
one at all knows him."
"Shaved his beard!" exclaimed her mother.
" Who says so? "
CONCERNING THE COLOR OF MEN'S HAIR. 2 a
" Johann, the duke's keeper. He has seen the.
king."
"Ah, yes! The king, sir, is now at the duke's
shooting lodge in the forest here; from here he
goes to Strelsau to be crowned on Wednesday
morning."
I was interested to hear this, and made up my
mind to walk next day in the direction of the lodge
on the chance of corning across the king. The old
lady ran on garrulously:
" Ah ! and I wish he would stay at his shooting
that and wine (and one thing more) are all he
loves, they say and suffer our duke to be crowned
on Wednesday. That I wish, and I don't care who
knows it."
" Hush, mother! " urged the daughters.
"Oh, there's many to think as I do! " cried the
old woman stubbornly.
I threw myself back in my deep armchair and
laughed at her zeal.
" For my part," said the younger and prettier oi
the two daughters, a fair, buxom, smiling wendh 9
" I hate Black Michael! A red Elphberg for me.
** THE PRISONER OF ZEND/t.
mother! The king, they say, is as red as a fox 01
as "
And she laughed mischievously as she cast a
glance at me, and tossed her head at her sister's re-
proving face.
" Many a man has cursed this red hair before
now," muttered the old lady and I remembered
James, fifth Earl of Burlesdon.
" But never a woman! " cried the girl.
" Ay, and women, when it was too late," was the
stern answer, reducing the girl to silence and
blushes.
" How comes the king here? " I asked, to break
an embarrassed silence. " It is the duke's land
here, you say."
" The duke invited him, sir, to rest here till
Wednesday. The duke is at Strelsau, preparing
the king's reception."
" Then they're friends? "
" None better," said the old lady.
But my rosy damsel tossed her head again; she
was not to be repressed for long, and she broke
wit again:
CONCERNING THE COLOR OF MEN'S HAIR, 23
"Aye, they love one another as men do who
want the same place and the same wife! "
The old woman glowered; but the last words
pricked my curiosity, and I interposed before she
could begin scolding:
" What, the same wife, too! How's that, young
lady? "
" All the world knows that Black Michael well,
then, mother, the duke would give his soul to
marry his cousin, the Princess Flavia, and that she
is to be the queen."
" Upon my word," said I, " I begin to be sorry
for your duke. But if a man will be a younger
son, why, he must take what the elder leaves, and
be as thankful to God as he can; " and, thinking of
myself, I shrugged my shoulders and laughed.
And then I thought also of Antoinette de Mauban
and her journey to Strelsau.
" It's little dealing Black Michael has with -"
began the girl, braving her mother's anger;
but as she spoke a heavy step sounded on the
floor, and a gruff voice asked in a threatening
tone:
** THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
" Who talks of ' Black Michael ' in his Highness 5
own burgh? "
The girl gave a little shriek, half of fright half,
I think, of amusement.
" You'll not tell of me, Johann? " she said.
" See where your chatter leads," said the old
lady.
The man who had spoken came forward.
" We have company, Johann," said my hostess,
and the fellow plucked off his cap. A moment
later he saw me, and to my amazement he started
back a step, as though he had seen something won-
derful.
" What ails you, Johann? " asked the elder girl.
" This is a gentleman on his travels, come to see the
coronation."
The man had recovered himself, but he was star-
ing at me with an intense, searching, almost fierce
glance.
" Good-evening to you," said I.
" Good-evening, sir," he muttered, still scrutin-
izing me, and the merry girl began to laugh as she
called:
CONCERNING THE COLOR OF MEN'S HAIR, 2
"See, Johann, it is the color you love! He
started to see your hair, sir. It's not the color we
see most of here in Zenda."
" I crave your pardon, sir," stammered the fel-
low, with puzzled eyes. " I expected to see no
one."
" Give him a glass to drink my health in; and I'll
bid you good-night, and thanks to you, ladies, for
your courtesy and pleasant conversation."
So speaking, I rose to my feet, and with a slight
bow turned to the door. The young girl ran to
light me on the way, and the man fell back to let
me pass, his eyes still fixed on me. The moment I
was by he started a step forward, asking:
" Pray, sir, do you know our king? "
" I never saw him," said I. " I hope to do so
on Wednesday."
He said no more, but I felt his eyes following
me till the door closed behind me. My saucy con-
ductor, looking over her shoulder at me as she pre-
ceded me upstairs, said:
" There's no pleasing Master Johann for one 1!
your color, sir."
*6 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
" He prefers yours, maybe? " I suggested.
" I meant, sir, in a man," she answered, with a
coquettish glance.
" What," asked I, taking hold of the other side
of the candlestick, " does color matter in a man? "
" Nay, but I love yours it's the Elphberg red."
" Color in a man," said I, " is a matter of no more
moment than that! " and I gave her something of
no value.
" God send the kitchen door be shut! " said she.
" Amen! " said I, and left her.
In fact, however, as I now know, color is some-
times of considerable moment to a man.
CHAPTER III.
A MERRY EVENING WITH A DISTANT RELATIVE.
I WAS not so unreasonable as to be prejudiced
against the duke's keeper because he disliked my
complexion; and if I had been, his most civil and
obliging conduct (as it seemed to me to be) next
morning would have disarmed me. Hearing that
I was bound for Strelsau, he came to see me while I
was breakfasting, and told me that a sister of his,
who had married a well-to-do tradesman and lived
in the capital, had invited him to occupy a room in
her house. He had gladly accepted, but now found
that his duties would not permit of his absence. He
begged, therefore, that if such humble (though, as
he added, clean and comfortable) lodgings would
satisfy me I would take his place. He pledged his
sister's acquiescence, and urged the inconvenience
and crowding to which I should be subject in my
journeys to and from Strelsau the next day. I ac-
S THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
cepted his offer without a moment's hesitation, and
he went off to telegraph to his sister, while I packed
up and prepared to take the next train. But I stiU
hankered after the forest and the shooting lodge,
and when my little maid told me that I could, by
walking ten miles or so through the forest, hit the
railway at a roadside station, I decided to send my
luggage direct to the address which Johann had
given, take my walk, and follow to Strelsau myself.
Johann had gone off and was not aware of the
change in my plans; but as its only effect was to de-
lay my arrival at his sister's for a few hours, there
was no reason for troubling to inform him of it.
Doubtless the good lady would waste no anxiety
on my account.
I took an early luncheon, and having bidden my
kind entertainers farewell, promising to return to
them on my way home, I set out to climb the hill
that led to the castle, and thence to the forest of
Zenda. Half an hour's leisurely walking brought
me to the castle. It had been a fortress in old days,
and the ancient keep was still in good preservation
and very imposing. Behind it stood another por
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PLAN OF THE CASTLE OF ZENDA.
A MERRY EVENING. 2?
lion of the original castle, and behind that again,
and separated from it by a deep and broad moat,
which ran all round the old buildings, was a hand-
some modern chateau, erected by the last king, and
siow forming the country residence of the Duke of
Strelsau. The old and the new portions were con-
nected by a drawbridge, and this indirect mode of
access formed the only passage between the old
building and the outer world; but leading to the
modern chateau there was a broad and handsome
avenue. It was an ideal residence; when " Black
Michael " desired company he could dwell in his
chateau; if a fit of misanthropy seized him he had
merely to cross the bridge and draw it up after him
(it ran on rollers), and nothing short of a regiment
and a train of artillery could fetch him out. I went
on my way, glad that poor Black Michael, though
he could not have the throne or the princess, had at
least got as fine a residence as any prince in Europe.
Soon I entered the forest, and walked on for an
hour or more in its cool, somber shade. The great
trees enlaced with one another over my head, and
the sunshine stole through in patches as bright as
3<> THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
diamonds, and hardly bigger. I was enchanted
with the place, and finding a felled tree trunk,
propped my back against it, and stretching my legs
out, gave myself up to undisturbed contemplation
of the solemn beauty of the woods and to the com-
fort of a good cigar. And when the cigar was fin-
ished, and I had (I suppose) inhaled as much beauty
as I could, I went off into the most delightful sleep,
regardless of my train to Strelsau and of the fast-
waning afternoon. To remember a train in such
a spot would have been rank sacrilege. Instead of
that I fell to dreaming that I was married to the
Princess Flavia and dwelt in the castle of Zenda,
and beguiled whole days with my love in the glades
of the forest, which made a very pleasant dream.
In fact, I was just impressing a fervent kiss on the
charming lips of the princess when I heard (and
the voice seemed at first a part of the dream) some-
one exclaim in rough, strident tones:
"Why, the devil's in it! Shave him and he'd
be the king! "
The idea seemed whimsical enough fof a dream;
by the sacrifice of my heavy mustache and carefully
A MERRY EVENING. J*
pointed imperial I was to be transformed into a
monarch! I was about to kiss the princess ajain
when I arrived (very reluctantly) at the conclusion
that I was awake.
I opened my eyes, and found two men regarding
me with much curiosity. Both wore shooting cos-
tumes and carried guns. One was rather short and
very stoutly built, with a big bullet-shaped head, a
bristly gray mustache, and small, pale-blue eyes, a
trifle bloodshot. The other was a slender young
fellow, of middle height, dark in complexion, and
bearing himself with grace and distinction. I set
the one down as an old soldier; the other for a gen-
tleman accustomed to move in good society, but
not unused to military life either. It turned out
afterward that my guess was a good one.
The elder man approached me, beckoning the
younger to follow. He did so, courteously raising
Ms hat. I rose to my feet.
" He's the height, too! " I heard the elder mur-
mur as he surveyed my six feet two inches of
stature. Then, with a cavalier touch of the cap, he
addressed me:
J THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
" May I ask your name? "
" As you have taken the first step in the acquaint
ance, gentlemen," said I, with a smile, " suppose
you give me a lead in the matter of names."
The young man stepped forward with a pleasant
smile.
" 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 traveler from
England; and once for a year or two I held a com-
mission from her Majesty the Queen."
" Then we are all brethren of the sword," an-
swered Tarlenheim, holding out his hand, which I
took readily.
"Rassendyll, Rassendyll!" muttered Colonel
Sapt; then a gleam of intelligence flitted across his
face.
"By Heaven!" he cried, "you're of the
Burlesdons? "
" My brother is now Lord Burlesdon," said I
" Thy head bewrayeth thee," he chuckled, point-
A MERRY EVENING, 33
ing to my uncovered poll. " Why, Fritz, you
know the story? "
The young man glanced apologetically at me.
He felt a delicacy which my sister-in-law would
have admired. To put him at his ease I remarked,
with a smile:
" Ah ! the story is known here as well as among
us, it seems."
" Known ! " cried Sapt. " If you stay here the
deuce a man in all Ruritania will doubt of it or a
woman either."
I began to feel uncomfortable. Had I realized
what a very plainly written pedigree I carried about
with me, I should have thought long before I vis-
ited Ruritania. However, I was in for it now.
At this moment a ringing voice sounded from
the wood behind us:
"Fritz, Fritz! where are you, man?"
Tarlenheim started, and said hastily:
" It's the king! "
Old Sapt chuckled again.
Then a young man jumped out from behind the
trunk of a tree and stood beside us. As I looked
34 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
on him I uttered an astonished cry; and he, seeing
me, drew back in sudden wonder. 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
Ruritana 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. The king found his voice, and
asked in bewilderment:
" Colonel Fritz who is this gentleman? "
I was about to answer when Colonel Sapt
stepped between the king and me, and began to
talk to his Majesty in a low growl. The king
towered over Sapt, and as he listened his eyes now
and again sought mine. I looked at him long and
carefully. The likeness was certainly astonishing,
though I saw the points of difference also. The
king's face was slightly more fleshy than mine, the
oval of its contour the least trifle more pronounced,
and, as I fancied, his mouth lacked something of
A MERRY EVENING. 35
the firmness (or obstinacy) which was to be gath-
ered from my close-shutting lips. But for all that,
and above all minor distinctions, the likeness rose
striking, salient, wonderful.
Sapt ceased speaking, and the king still frowned.
Then, gradually, the corners of his mouth began
to twitch, his nose came down (as mine does when
I laugh), his eyes twinkled, and, behold! he burst
into the merriest fit of irrepressible laughter, which
rang through the woods and proclaimed him a
jovial soul.
" Well met, cousin! " he cried, stepping up to
me, clapping me on the back, and laughing still.
" You must forgive me if I was taken aback. A
man doesn't expect to see double at this time of
day; eh, Fritz? "
" I must pray pardon, sire, for my presumption,"
said I. " I trust it will not forfeit your Majesty's
favor."
" By Heaven! you'll always enjoy the king's
countenance," he laughed, " whether I like it or
not; and, sir, I shall very gladly add to it what set-
vices I can. Where are you traveling to? "
36 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
" To Strelsau, sire to the coronation."
The king looked at his friends: he still smiled,
though his expression hinted some uneasiness.
But the humorous side of the matter caught him
again.
" Fritz, Fritz ! " he cried, " a thousand crowns for
a sight of brother Michael's face when he sees a
pair of us!" and the merry laugh rang out
again.
" Seriously," observed Fritz von Tarlenheim, " I
question Mr. Rassendyll's wisdom in visiting Strel-
sau just now."
The king lit a cigarette.
" Well, Sapt? " said he questioningly.
" He mustn't go," growled the old fellow.
" Come, colonel, you mean that I should be in
Mr. Rassendyll's debt if "
" Oh, aye! wrap it up in the right way," said
Sapt, hauling a great pipe out of his pocket.
" Enough, sire," said I. " I'll leave Ruritania
to-day."
" Now, by thunder, you shan't and that's sans
phrase, as Sapt likes it. For you shall dine with
A MERRY EVENING, 31
me to-night, happen what will afterward. Come,
man, you don't meet a new relation every
day!"
"We dine sparingly to-night," said Fritz vor
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."
" So will I to-morrow morning," said old Sapt,
pulling at his pipe.
" Oh, wise old Sapt! " cried the king. " Come,
Mr. Rassendyll by the way, what name did they
give you? "
" Your Majesty's," I answered, bowing.
" Well, that shows they weren't ashamed of us,"
he laughed. " Come, then, cousin Rudolf. I've
got no house of my own here, but my dear brother
Michael lends us a place of his, and we'll make shift
to entertain you there; " and he put his arm
through mine, and signing to the others to ac-
company us, walked me off, westerly, through the
forest.
$8 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
We walked for more than half an hour, and the
king smoked cigarettes and chattered incessantly.
He was full of interest in my family, laughed heart-
ily when I told him of the portraits with Elphberg
hair in our galleries, and yet more heartily when he
heard that my expedition to Ruritania was a secret
one.
" You have to visit your disreputable cousin en
the sly, have you? " said he.
Suddenly emerging from the wood, we came on
a small and rude shooting lodge, It was a one-
story building, a sort of bungalow, built entirely of
wood. As we approached it, a little man in a plain
livery came out to meet us, The only other per-
son I saw about the place was a fat elderly woman,
whom I afterward discovered to be the mother of
Johann, the duke's keeper.
" Well, is dinner ready, Josef? " asked the
king.
The little servant informed us that it was, and we
soon sat down to a plentiful meal. The fare was
plain enough: the king ate heartily, Fritz von Tar-
tenheim delicately, old Sapt voraciously. I played
A MERRY EVENING. 39
a good knife and fork, as my custom is; the king
noticed my performance with approval.
" We're all good trenchermen, we Elphbergs,"
said he. "But what? we're eating dry! Wine,
Josef! wine, man! Are we beasts, to eat without
drinking? Are we cattle, Josef? "
At this reproof Josef hastened to load the table
with bottles.
" Remember to-morrow! " said Fritz.
"Aye to-morrow! " said old Sapt.
The king drained a bumper to his " Cousin
Rudolf," as he was gracious or merry enough
to call me; and I drank its fellow to the " Elphberg
red," whereat he laughed loudly.
Now, be the meat what it might, the wine we
drank was beyond all price or praise, and we did it
justice. Fritz ventured once to stay the king'i
hand.
" What? " cried the king. " Remember you
start before I do, Master Fritz you must be more
sparing by two hours than I."
Fritz saw that I did not understand.
" The colonel and I," he explained, " leave here
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
at six; we ride down to Zenda and return with the
guard of honor to fetch the king at eight, and then
we all ride together to the station."
" Hang that same guard ! " growled Sapt.
" Oh! it's very civil of my brother to ask the
honor for his regiment," said the king. " Come,
cousin, you need not start early. Another uottle,
man!"
I had another bottle or, rather, a part of one,
for the larger half traveled quickly down his
Majesty's throat. Fritz gave up his attempts at
persuasion: from persuading he fell to being per-
suaded, and soon we were all of us as full of wine as
we had any right to be. The king began talking of
what he would do in the future, old Sapt of what he
had done in the past, Fritz of some beautiful girl or
other, and I of the wonderful merits of the Elph-
berg dynasty. We all talked at once, and followed
to the letter Sapt's exhortation to let the morrow
take care of itself.
At last the king set down his glass and leaned
back in his chair.
" I have drunk enough," said he.
A MERRY EVENING. 41
"Far be it from me to contradict the king,"
said I.
Indeed, his remark was most absolutely true-
so far as it went.
While I yet spoke Josef came and set before the
king a marvelous old wicker-covered flagon. It
had lain so long in some darkened cellar that it
seemed to blink in the candlelight.
" His Highness the Duke of Strelsau bade me
set this wine before the king when the king was
weary of all other wines, and pray the king to drink
for the love that he bears his brother."
"Well done, Black Michael!" said the king.
" Out with the cork, Josef. Hang him! Did he
think JL'd flinch from his bottle? "
The bottle was opened, and Josef filled the king's
glass. The king tasted it. Then, with a solemnity
born of the hour and his own condition, he looked
round on us.
" Gentlemen, my friends Rudolf, my cousin
('tis a scandalous story, Rudolf, on my honor!) =
evrything is yours, to the hah of Ruritania. But
ask me not for a single drop of this divine bottlr
4 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
which I will drink to the health of that that sly
knave, my brother, Black Michael."
And the king seized the bottle and turned it over
his mouth, and drained it and flung it from him,
and laid his head on his arms on the table*
And we drank pleasant dreams to his Majesty
and that is all I remember of the evening. Per-
haps it is enough.
CHAPTER IV.
THE KING KEEPS HIS APPOINTMENT.
WHETHER I had slept a minute or a year I knew
not. I awoke with a start and a shiver; my face,
hair, and clothes dripped water, and opposite me
3tood old Sapt, a sneering smile on his face and an
empty bucket in his hand. On the table by him
sat Fritz von Tarlenheim, pale as a ghost and black
as a crow under the eyes.
I leaped to my feet in anger.
" Your joke goes too far, sir! " I cried.
" Tut, man, we've no time for quarreling. Noth-
ing else would rouse you. It's five o'clock."
" I'll thank you, Colonel Sapt " I began
again, hot in spirit, though I was uncommonly cold
in body.
" Rassendyll," interrupted Fritz, getting down
from the table and taking my arm, " look here."
The king lay full length on the floor. His face
m
THE PRISONER OF ZEND/I.
was as red as his hair, and he breathed heavily.
Sapt, the disrespectful old dog, kicked him sharply.
He did not stir, nor was there any break in his
breathing. I saw that his face and head were wet
with water, as were mine.
" We've spent half an hour on him," said Fritz.
" He drank three times what either of you did,"
growled Sapt.
I knelt down and felt his pulse. It was alarm-
ingly languid and slow. We three looked at one
another.
" Was it drugged that last bottle? " I asked in
a whisper.
" I don't know," said Sapt.
" We must get a doctor."
" There's none within ten miles, and a thousand
doctors wouldn't take him to Strelsau to-day. I
know the look of it. He'll not move for six or
seven hours yet."
" But the coronation! " I cried in horror.
Fritz shrugged his shoulders, as I began to see
was his habit on most occasions.
" We must send word that he's ill," he said.
THE KING KEEPS HIS APPOINTMENT. 45
" I suppose so," said I.
Old Sapt, who seemed as fresh as a daisy, had lit
his pipe and was puffing hard at it.
" If he's not crowned to-day," said he, " I'll lay a
crown he's never crowned."
" But, Heavens, why? "
" The whole nation's there to meet him; half the
army aye, and Black Michael at the head. Shall
we send word that the king's drunk? "
" That he's ill," said I, in correction.
"111!" echoed Sapt, with a scornful laugh.
"They know his illnesses too well. He's been
Mil' before!"
" Well, we must chance what they think," said
Fritz helplessly. " I'll carry the news and make
the best of it."
Sapt raised his hand.
" Tell me," said he: " do you think the king was
drugged? "
" I do," said I.
" And who drugged him? "
" That damned hound, Black Michael," said
Fritz between his teeth.
46 THE PRISONER OF ZEND4.
" Aye," said Sapt, " that he might no* come to
be crowned. Rassendyll here doesn't know our
pretty Michael. What think you, Frit* has
Michael no king ready? Has half Strelsau no
other candidate? As God's alive, man, the throne's
lost if the king show himself not in Strelsau to-
day. I know Black Michael."
" We could carry him there," said I.
" And a very pretty picture he makes," sneered
Sapt.
Fritz von Tarlenheim buried his face in his hands.
The king breathed loudly and heavily. Sapt
stirred him again with his foot.
" The drunken dog! " he said. " But he's an
Elphberg and the son of his father, and may I rot
in hell before Black Michael sits in his place! "
For a moment or two we were all silent; then
Sapt, knitting his bushy gray brows, took his pipe
from his mouth and said to me:
" As a man grows old he believes in Fate. Fate
sent you here. Fate sends you now to Strelsau."
I staggered back, murmuring, " Good God! "
Fritz looked up with an eager, bewildered gaze.
THE KING KEEPS HIS APPOINTMENT. 47
"Impossible!" I murmured. "I should be
known."
" It's a risk against a certainty," said Sapt.
" If you shave I'll wager you'll not be known. Are
you afraid? "
"Sir!"
" Come, lad, there, there; but it's your life, you
know, if you're known and mine and Fritz's
here. But if you don't go I swear to you Black
Michael will sit to-night on the throne, and the
king lie in prison or his grave."
" The king would never forgive it," I stammered.
" Are we women? Who cares for his forgive-
ness? "
The clock ticked fifty times, and sixty and
seventy times, as I stood in thought. Then I sup-
pose a look came over my face, for old Sapt caught
me by the hand, crying:
" You'll go? "
" Yes, I'll go," said I, and I turned my eyes on
the prostrate figure of the king on the floor.
" To-night," Sapt went on in a hasty whisper,
" we are to lodge in the palace. The moment they
4 THE PRISONER. OF ZENDA.
leave us you and I will mount our horses Fritz
must stay here and guard the king's room and
ride here at a gallop. The king will be ready
Josef will tell him and he must ride back with me
to Strelsau, and you ride as if the devil were be-
hind you to the frontier."
I took it all in in a second, and nodded my
head.
" There's a chance," said Fritz, with his first sign
of hopefulness.
" If I escape detection," said I.
" If we're detected," said Sapt, " I'll send Black
Michael down below before I go myself, so help
me Heaven! Sit in that chair, man."
I obeyed him.
He darted from the room, calling, " Josef!
Josef! " In three minutes he was back, and Josef
with him. The latter carried a jug of hot water,
soap, and razors. He was trembling as Sapt
told him how the land lay, and bade him shave
me.
Suddenly Fritz smote on hL thigh:
" But the guard! They'll know! they'll know! "
THE KING KEEPS HIS APPOINTMENT. 49
" Pooh! We shan't wait for the guard. We'll
ride to H of ban and catch a train there. When
they come the bird '11 be flown."
" But the king? "
" The king will be in the wine cellar. I'm going
to carry him there now."
" If they find him? "
"They won't. How should they? Josef will
put them off."
But "
Sapt stamped his foot.
"We're not playing," he roared. "My God!
don't I know the risk? If they do find him he's
no worse off than if he isn't crowned to-day in
Strelsau."
So speaking, he flung the door open and, stoop-
ing, put forth a strength I did not dream he had,
and lifted the king in his hands. And as he did so
the old woman, Johann the keeper's mother, stood
in the doorway. For a moment she stood, then
she turned on her heel, without a sign of surprise,
and clattered down the passage.
" Has she heard? " cried Fritz.
50 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
" I'll shut her mouth! " said Sapt grimly, and he
bore off the king in his arms.
For me, I sat down in an armchair, and as I sat
there, half dazed, Josef clipped and scraped me till
my mustache and imperial were things of the past
and my face was as bare as the king's. And when
Fritz saw me thus he drew a long breath and ex-
claimed :
" By Jove, we shall do it! "
It was six o'clock now, and we had no time to
lose. Sapt hurried me into the king's room, and I
dressed myself in the uniform of a colonel of the
Guard, finding time, as I slipped on the king's
boots, to ask Sapt what he had done with the old
woman.
" She swore she'd heard nothing," said he; " but
to make sure I tied her legs together and put a
handkerchief in her mouth and bound her hands,
and locked her up in the coal cellar, next door to
the king. Josef '11 look after them both, later on."
Then I burst out laughing, and even old Sapt
grimly smiled.
" I fancy," said he, " that when Josef tells then?,,
THE KING KEEPS HIS APPOINTMENT. k
the king is gone they'll think it is because we smelt
a rat. For you may swear Black Michael doesn't
expect to see him in Strelsau to-day."
I put the king's helmet on my head. Old Sapt
handed me the king's sword, looking at me long
and carefully.
"Thank God, he shaved his beard!" he ex-
claimed.
" Why did he? " I asked.
" Because Princess Flavia said he grazed her
cheek when he was graciously pleased to give her a
cousinly kiss. Come, though, we must ride."
" Is all safe here? "
" Nothing's safe anywhere," said Sapt, " but we
can make it no safer."
Fritz now rejoined us in the uniform of a captain
in the same regiment as that to which my dress be-
longed. In four minutes Sapt had arrayed himself
in his uniform. Josef called that the horses were
ready. We jumped on their backs and started at
a rapid trot. The game had begun. What would
the issue of it be?
The cool morning air cleared my head, and I wa*
5* THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
able to take in all Sapt said to me. He was won*
derful. Fritz Hardly spoke, riding like a man
asleep; but Sapt, without another word for the king,
began at once to instruct me most minutely in the
history of my past life, of my family, of my tastes,
pursuits, weaknesses, friends, companions, and
servants. He told me the etiquette of the Ruri-
tanian court, promising to be constantly at my
elbow to point out everybody whom I ought to
know, and give me hints with what degree of favor
to greet them.
" By the way," he said, " you are a Catholic, I
suppose? "
" Not I," I answered.
" Lord, he's a heretic ! " groaned Sapt, and forth-
with he fell to a rudimentary lesson in the practices
and observances of the Romish faith.
" Luckily," said he, " you won't be expected to
know much, for the king's notoriously lax and care-
less about such matters. But you must be as civil
as butter to the cardinal. We hope to win him
over, because he and Michael have a standing quar-
rel about their precedence."
THE KING KEEPS HIS APPOINTMENT. S3
We were by now at the station. Fritz had re-
covered nerve enough to explain to the astonished
station master that the king had changed his plans.
The train steamed up. We got into a first-class
carriage, and Sapt, leaning back on the cushions,
went on with his lesson. I looked at my watch
the king's watch it was, of course. It was just
eight.
" I wonder if they've gone to look for us," I said.
" I hope they won't find the king," said Fritz
nervously, and this time it was Sapt who shrugged
his shoulders.
The train traveled well, and at half-past nine,
looking out of the window, I saw the towers and
spires of a great city.
" Your capital, my liege," grinned old Sapt, witlv
a wave of his hand, and, leaning forward, he laid his
finger on my pulse. " A little too quick," said he
in his grumbling tone.
" I'm not made of stone ! " I exclaimed.
" You'll do," said he, with a nod. " We must
jsay Fritz here has caught the ague. Drain yotw
flask, Fritz, for Heaven's sake, boy! "
$4 THE PRISONER OF Zt-NDJ.
Fritz did as he was bid.
" We're an hour early," said Sapt. " We'll send
word forward of your Majesty's arrival, for there'll
be no one here to meet us yet. And mean-
while "
" Meanwhile," said I, " the king '11 be hanged if
he doesn't have some breakfast."
Old Sapt chuckled, and held out his hand.
" You're an Elphberg, every inch of you," said
he. Then he paused, and looking at us, said
quietly, " God send we may be alive to-night! "
" Amen! " said Fritz von Tarlenheim.
The train stopped. Fritz and Sapt leaped out>
uncovered, and held the door for me. I choked
down a lump that rose in my throat, settled my
helmet firmly on my head, and (I'm not ashamed
to say it) breathed a short prayer to God. Then I
stepped on the platform of the station at Strelsau.
A moment foter all was bustle and confusion:
men hurrying up, hats in hand, and hurrying off
again; men conducting me to the buffet; men
mounting and riding in hot haste to the quarters
of the troops, to the cathedral, to the resHe^ce of
THE KING KEEPS HIS APPOINTMENT, 55
Duke Michael. Even as I swallowed the last drop
of my cup of coffee the bells throughout all the
city broke out into a joyful peal, and the sound of
a military band and of men cheering smote upon
my ear.
King Rudolf the Fifth was in his good city of
Strelsau! And they shouted outside:
" God save the king! "
Old Sapt's mouth wrinkled into a smile.
" God save 'em both! " he whispered.
age, lad! " and I felt his hand press my knee.
CHAPTER V.
THE ADVENTURES OF AN UNDERSTUDY.
WITH Fritz von Tarlenheim and Colonel Sapi
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. A gay group of officers and high dig-
nitaries stood waiting me, at their head a tall old
man, covered with medals, and of military bearing.
He wore the yellow and red ribbon of the Red
Rose of Ruritania which, by the way, decorated
my unworthy breast also.
" Marshal Strakencz," whispered Sapt, and I
knew that I was in the presence of the most famous
veteran of the Ruritanian army.
Just behind the marshal stood a short, spare
man, in flowing robes of black and crimson.
" The chancellor of the kingdom," whispered
Sapt.
THE ADVENTURES OF *IN UNDERSTUDY, 5?
The marshal greeted me in a few loyal words,
and proceeded to deliver an apology from the
Duke of Strelsau. The duke, it seemed, had been
afflicted with a sudden indisposition which made it
impossible for him to come to the station, but he
craved leave to await his Majesty at the cathedral.
I expressed my concern, accepted the marshal's
excuses very suavely, and received the compli-
ments of a large number of distinguished person-
ages. No one betrayed the least suspicion, and I
felt my nerve returning and the agitated beating of
my heart subsiding. But Fritz was still pale, and
his hand shook like a leaf as he extended it to the
marshal.
Presently we formed procession and took our
way to the door of the station. Here I mounted
my horse, the marshal holding my stirrup. The
civil dignitaries went off to their carriages, and I
started to ride through the streets with the marshal
on my right and Sapt (who 1 , as my chief aid-de-
camp, was entitled to the place) on my left. The
city of Strelsau is partly old and partly new. Spa-
cious modern boulevards and residential quarter!
8 'I HE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
surround and embrace the narrow, tortuous, and
picturesque streets of the original town. In the
outer circles the upper classes live : in the inner the
shops are situated; and behind their prosperous
fronts lie hidden populous but wretched lanes and
alleys, filled with a poverty-stricken, turbulent, and
(in large measure) criminal class. These social
and local divisions corresponded, as I knew from
Sapt's information, to another division more im-
portant to me. The New Town was for the king;
but to the Old Town Michael of Strelsau was a
hope, a hero, and a darling.
The scene was very brilliant as we passed along
the Grand Boulevard and on to the great square
where the royal palace stood. Here I was in the
midst of my devoted adherents. Every house was
hung with red and bedecked with flags and mot-
toes. The streets were lined with raised seats on
each side, and I passed along, bowing this way and
that, under a shower of cheers, blessings, and wav-
ing handkerchiefs. The balconies were full of
gayly dressed ladies, who clapped their hands and
sourtesied and threw their brightest glances at me,
ADVENTURES OF AN UNDERSTUDY. $$
A. torrent of red roses fell on me; one bloom lodged
in iy horse's mane, and 1 took it and stuck it in
my coat. The marshal smiled grimly. I had
stolen some giances at his face, but he was too im-
passive to show me whether his sympathies were
with me or not.
" The red rose for the Elphbergs, marshal," saicf
I gayly, and he nodded.
I have written " gayly," and a strange word it
must seem. But the truth is that I was drunk with 1
excitement. At that moment I believed I al-
most believed that I was in very truth the king;
and, with a look of laughing triumph, I raised my
eyes to the beauty-laden balconies again . . . and
then I started. Fof looking down on me, with her
handsome face and proud smile, was the lady who
had been my fellow-traveler Antoinette de Mau-
ban; and I saw her also start, and her lips moved,
and she leaned forward and gazed at me. And I,
collecting myself, met her eyes full and square,
while again I felt my revolver. Suppose she had
cried aloud, " That's not the king! "
Well, we went by; and then the marshal turn-
6o THE PRISONER. OF ZENDA.
ing round in his saddle, waved his hand, and the
Cuirassiers closed round us, so that the crowd
could not come near me. We were leaving my
quarter and entering Duke Michael's, and this
action of the marshal's showed me more clearly
than words what the state of feeling in the town
must be. But if Fate made me a king the least I
could do was to play the part handsomely.
" Why this change in our order, marshal? "
said I.
The marshal bit his white mustache.
" It is more prudent, sire," he murmured.
I drew rein.
" Let those in front ride on," said I, " till they
are fifty yards ahead. But do you, marshal, and
Colonel Sapt and my friends wait here till I have
ridden fifty yards. And see that no one is nearer
to me. I will have my people see that their king
trusts them."
Sapt laid his hand on my arm. I shook him off.
The marshal hesitated.
" Am I not understood? " said I; and, biting his
mustache again, he gave the orders. I saw old
THE JDPENTURES OF /IN UNDERSTUDY, 6l
Sapt smiling into his beard, but he shook his head
at me. If I had been killed in open day in the
streets of Streslau Sapt's position would have been
a difficult one.
Perhaps I ought to say that I was dressed all in
white, except my boots. I wore a silver helmet
with gilt ornaments, and the broad ribbon of the
Rose looked well across my chest. I should be
paying a poor compliment to the king if I did not
set modesty aside and admit that I made a very
fine figure. So the people thought; for when I,
riding alone, entered the dingy, sparsely deco-
rated, somber streets of the Old Town there was
first a murmur, then a cheer, and a woman, from a
window above a cookshop, cried the old local
saying:
" If he's red he's right! " whereat I laughed and
took off my helmet that she might see that I was
of the right color, and they cheered me again at
that.
It was more interesting riding thus alone, for I
heard the comments of the crowd.
" He looks paler than his wont," said one.
6 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
" You'd look pale if you lived as he did," waa
the highly disrespectful retort.
" He's a bigger man than I thought," said an-
other.
" So he had a good jaw under that beard after
all," commented a third.
" The pictures of him aren't handsome enough,**
declared a pretty girl, taking great care that I
should hear. No doubt it was mere flattery.
But in spite of these signs of approval and
interest the mass of the people received me in si-
lence and with sullen looks, and my dear brother's
portrait ornamented most of the windows which
was an ironical sort of greeting to the king. I was
quite glad that he had been spared the unpleasant
sight. He was a man of quick temper, and per-
haps he would not have taken it so placidly as I
did.
At last we were at the cathedral. Its great gray
front, embellished with hundreds of statues and
boasting a pair of the finest oak doors in Europe ;1
rose for the first time before me, and the sudden
sense of my audacity almost overcame me. Every*
THE ADVENTURES OF AH UNDERSTUDY. 63
(thing was in a mist as I dismounted. I saw the
marshal and Sapt dimly, and dimly the throng of
gorgeously robed priests who awaited me. And
my eyes were still dim as I walked up the great
nave, with the pealing of the organ in my ears. I
saw nothing of the brilliant throng that filled it; I
hardly distinguished the stately figure of the cardi-
nal as he rose from the archiepiscopal throne to
greet me. Two faces only stood out side by side
clearly before my eyes the face of a girl, pale and
lovely, surmounted by a crown of the glorious
Elphberg hair (for in a woman it is glorious), and
the face of a man whose full-blooded red cheeks,
black hair, and dark, deep eyes told me that at last
I was in the presence of my brother, Black Michael,
And when he saw me his red cheeks went pale all
in a moment, and his helmet fell with a clatter on
the floor. Till that moment I believe that he had
not realized that the king was in very truth come
to Strelsau.
Of what followed next I remember nothing. I
knelt before the altar and the cardinal anointed my
head. Then I rose to my feet, and stretched out
4 THE PRISONER Of ZEND*
my hana and took from him the crown ot Ruritania
and set it on my head, and I swore the old oath of
the king; and (if it were a sin, may it be forgiven
me) I received the Holy Sacrament there before
them all. Then the great organ pealed out again;,
the marshal bade the heralds proclaim me, and Ru-
dolf the Fifth was crowned king; of which impos-
ing ceremony an excellent picture hangs now in
my dining room. The portrait of the king is very
good.
Then the lady with the pale face and the glorious
hair, her train held by two pages, stepped from her
place and came to where I stood. And a herald
cried:
" Her Royal Highness the Princess Flavia! "
She courtesied low, and put her hand under
mine and raised my hand and kissed it. And for
an instant I thought what I had best do. Then I
drew her to me and kissed her twice on the cheek,
and she blushed red, and why, then his Eminence
the Cardinal Archbishop slipped in front of Black
Michael, and kissed my hand and presented me
with a letter from the Pope the first and lasS
THE ADVENTURES OF AH UNDERSTUDY. 6$
which I have ever received from that exalted
quarter!
And then came the Duke of Strelsau His step
trembled, I swear, and he looked to the right and
to the left, as a man looks who thinks on flight; and
his face was patched with red and white, and his
hand shook so that it jumped under mine, and I
felt his lips dry and parched. And I glanced at
Sapt, who was smiling again into his beard, and,
resolutely doing my duty in .that station of life tc
which I had been marvelousJy called, I took my
dear Michael by both hands and kissed him or fche
cheek. I think we were both glad when that w*6
over!
But neither in the face of the princess nor in that
of any other did I see the least doubt or question-
ing. Yet had I and the king stood side by side
they could have told us in an instant, or, at least,
on a little consideration. But neither they nor
anyone else dreamed or imagined that I could be
other than the king. So the likeness served, and
for an hour I stood there, feeling as weary and blasti
as though I had been a king all my life; and every-
66 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
body kissed my hand, and the ambassadors paid
me their respects, among them old Lord Topham,
at whose house in Grosvenor Square I had danced
a score of times. Thank Heaven, the old man was
as blind as a bat, and did not claim my acquaint-
ance.
Then back we went through the streets to the
palace, and I heard them cheering Black Michael;
but he, Fritz told me, sat biting his nails like a man
in a reverie, and even his own friends said that he
should have made a braver show. I was in a car-
riage now, side by side with the princess Flavia,
and a rough fellow cried out:
" And when's the wedding? " and as he spoke
another struck him in the face, crying, " Long live
Duke Michael! " and the princess colored it was
an admirable tint and looked straight in front of
her.
Now I felt in a difficulty, because I had forgot-
ten to ask Sapt the state of my affections, or how
far matters had gone between the princess and my-
self. Frankly, had I been the king the further they
had gone the better should I have been pleased,
THE ADVENTURES OF AN UNDERSTUDY, 6?
For I am not a slow-blooded man, and I had not
kissed Princess Flavia's cheek for nothing. These
thoughts passed through my head, but, not being
sure of my ground, I said nothing; and in a mo
ment or two the princess, recovering her equa=
nimity, turned to me.
" Do you know, Rudolf," said she, " you look
somehow different to-day? "
The fact was not surprising, but the remark was
disquieting.
" You look," she went on, " more sober, more
sedate; you're almost careworn, and I declare
you're thinner. Surely it's not possible that
you've begun to take anything seriously? "
The princess seemed to hold of the king much
the same opinion that Lady Burlesdon held of
me.
I braced myself up to the conversation.
" Would that please you? " I asked softly.
" Oh, you know my views," said she, turning her
eyes away.
" Whatever pleases you I try to do," I said; and
as I saw her smile and blush I thought that I was
68 THE PRISONER OF ZEND*.
playing the king's hand very well for him. So 1
continued, and what I said was perfectly true:
" I assure you, my dear cousin, that nothing in
my life has affected me more than the reception
I've been greeted with to-day."
She smiled brightly, but in an instant grew grave
again, and whispered:
" Did you notice Michael? "
"Yes," said I; adding, "He wasn't enjoying
himself."
"Do be careful!" she went on. "You don't
indeed you don't keep enough watch on him,
You know "
" I know," said I, " that he wants what I've
got."
"Yes. Hush!"
Then and I can't justify it, for I committed the
king far beyond what I had a right to do I sup-
pose she carried me off my feet I went on:
" And, perhaps, also something which I haven't
got yet, but hope to win some day."
This was my answer had I been the king I
should have thought it encouraging:
THE 4DVENTURES OF 4N UNDERSTUDY. 6g
" Haven't you enough responsibilities on you
for one day, cousin? "
Bang, bang! Blare, blare! We were at the
palace. Guns were firing and trumpets blowing,,
Rows of lackeys stood waiting, and, handing the
princess up the broad marble staircase, I took for-
mal possession, as a crowned king, of the house of
my ancestors, and sat down at my own table, with
my cousin on my right hand, on her other side
Black Michael, and on my left his Eminence the
Cardinal. Behind my chair stood Sapt; and at the
end of the table I saw Fritz von Tarlenheim drain
to the bottom his glass of champagne rathef
sooner than he decently should.
I wondered what the King of Ruritania was
doing.
CHAPTER VI.
THE SECRET OF A CELLAR.
WE were in the king's dressing room Fritz von
Tarlenheim, Sapt, and I. I flung myself ex-
hausted into an armchair. Sapt lit his pipe. He
uttered no congratulations on the marvelous suc-
cess of our wild risk, but his whole bearing was elo-
quent of satisfaction. The triumph, aided perhaps
by good wine, had made a new man of Fritz.
" What a day for you to remember! " he cried.
" Gad, I'd like to be a king for twelve hours my-
self! But, Rassendyll, you mustn't throw your
heart too much into the part. I don't wonder
Black Michael looked blacker than ever you and
the princess had so much to say to one another."
" How beautiful she is! " I exclaimed.
" Never mind the woman," growled Sapt.
" Are you ready to start? "
" Yes," said I, with a sigh.
It was five o'clock, and at twelve I should be no
THE SECRET OF A CELLAR, 1\
more than Rudolf Rassendyll. I remarked on it
in a joking tone.
" You'll be lucky," observed Sapt grimly, " if
you're not the late Rudolf Rassendyll. By
Heaven! I feel my head wobbling on my shoul-
ders every minute you're in the city. Do you
know, friend, that Michael has had news from
Zenda? He went into a room alone to read it
and he came out looking like a man dazed."
" I'm ready," said I, this news making me none
the more eager to linger.
Sapt sat down.
" I must write us an order to leave the city.
Michael's governor, you know, and we must be
prepared for hindrances. You must sign the
order."
" My dear colonel, I've not been bred a forger! "
Out of his pocket Sapt produced a piece of
paper.
" There's the king's signature," he said, " and
here," he went on, after another search in his
pocket, " is some tracing paper. If you can't man-
age a ' Rudolf ' in ten minutes, why I can."
y THE PRISONER OP ZENDA.
'' Your education has been more comprehensive
than mine," said I. " You write it."
And a very tolerable forgery did this versatile
hero produce.
" Now, Fritz," said he, " the king goes to bed.
He is upset. No one is to see him till nine o'clock
to-morrow. You understand no one? "
" I understand," answered Fritz.
" Michael may come, and claim immediate au-
dience. You'll answer that only princes of the
blood are entitled to it."
" That '11 annoy Michael," laughed Fritz.
" You quite understand? " asked Sapt again.
" If the door of this room is opened while we're
away you're not to be alive to tell us about it."
" I need no schooling, colonel," said Fritz, a
trifle haughtily.
" Here, wrap yourself in this big cloak," Sapt
continued to me, " and put on this flat cap. My
orderly rides with me to the shooting lodge to-
night."
" There's an obstacle," I observed. " The horse
doesn't live that can carry me forty miles."
THE SECRET OF A CELLAR. 73
"Oh, yes, he does two of him: one here one
at the lodge. Now are you ready? "
" I'm ready," said I.
Fritz held out his hand.
" In case," said he; and we shook hands heartily*
"Damn your sentiment!" growled Sapt,
" Come along."
He went, not to the door, but to a panel in the
wall.
" In the old king's time," said he, " I knew this
way well."
I followed him, and we walked, as I should esti-
mate, near two hundred yards along a narrow pass-
age. Then we came to a stout oak door. Sapt
unlocked it. We passed through, and found our-
selves in a quiet street that ran along the back of
the palace gardens. A man was waiting for us
with two horses. One was a magnificent bay, up
to any weight; the other a sturdy brown. Sapt
signed to me to mount the bay. Without a word
to the man we mounted and rode away. The town
was full of noise and merriment, but we took se-
cluded ways. My cloak was wrapped over half my
74 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
face; the capacious flat cap hid every lock of my
telltale hair. By Sapt's directions I crouched on
my saddle, and rode with such a round back as 1
hope never to exhibit on a horse again. Down a
long, narrow lane we went, meeting some wan-
derers and some roisterers; and as we rode we
heard the cathedral bells still clanging out their
welcome to the king. It was half-past six, and still
light. At last we came to the city wall and to a
gate.
" Have your weapon ready," whispered Sapt.
" We must stop his mouth if he talks."
I put my hand on my revolver. Sapt hailed the
doorkeeper. The stars fought for us! A little
girl of fourteen tripped out.
" Please, sir, father's gone to see the king."
" He'd better have stayed here," said Sapt to
me, grinning.
" But he said I wasn't to open the gate, sir."
" Did he, my dear? " said Sapt, dismounting.
" Then give me the key."
The key was in the child's hand. Sapt gave hef
a crown.
THE SECRET OF A CELLAR. 75
" Here's an order from the king. Show it to
your father. Orderly, open the gate! "
I leaped down. Between us we rolled back the
great gate, led our horses out, and closed it again.
" I shall be sorry for the doorkeeper if Michael
finds out that he wasn't there. Now, then, lad, for
a canter. We mustn't go too fast while we're near
the town."
Once, however, outside the city we ran little
danger, for everybody else was inside, merry-mak-
ing; and as the evening fell we quickened our pace,
my splendid horse bounding along under me as
though I had been a feather. It was a fine night,
and presently the moon appeared. We talkecj
little on the way, and chiefly about the progress w
were making.
" I wonder what the duke's dispatches told
him! " said I, once.
"Aye, I wonder!" responded Sapt.
We stopped for a draught of wine and to bait
our horses, losing half an hour thus. I dared not
go into the inn, and stayed with the horses in the
stable. Then we went ahead again, and had cov-
76 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
ered some five-and-twenty miles when Sapt
abruptly stopped.
"Hark! "he cried.
I listened. Away, far behind us, in the still of
the evening it was just half-past nine we heard
the beat of horses' hoofs. The wind, blowing
strong behind us, carried the sound. I glanced at
Sapt.
" Come on! " he cried, and spurred his horse
into a gallop. When we next paused to listen the
hoof-beats were not audible, and we relaxed our
pace. Then we heard them again. Sapt jumped
down and laid his ear to the ground.
"There are two," he said. "They're only a
mile behind. Thank God, the road curves in and
out, and the wind's our way."
We galloped on. We seemed to be holding our
own. We had entered the outskirts of the forest
of Zenda, and the trees, closing in behind us as the
track zigged and zagged, prevented us seeing our
pursuers, and them from seeing us.
Another half hour brought us to a divide of the
road. Sapt drew rein.
THE SECRET OF A CELLAR. 77
" To the right is our road," he said. " To left,
to the castle. Each about eight miles. Get
down."
" But they'll be on us! " I cried.
"Get down!" he repeated brusquely; and I
obeyed.
The wood was dense up to the very edge of the
road. We led our horses into the covert, bound
handkerchiefs over their eyes, and stood besicte
them.
" You want to see v/ho they are? " I whispered.
"Aye, and where they're going," he answered.
I saw that his revolver was in his hand.
Nearer and nearer came the hoofs. The moon
shone out now clear and full, so that the road was
white with it. The ground was hard and we had
left no traces.
" Here they come! " whispered Sapt.
"It's the duke!"
" I thought so! " he answered.
It was the duke; and with him a burly fellow
whom I knew well, and who had cause to know me
afterward Max Holf, brother to Johann the
7* THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
keeper, and body servant to his Highness. They
were up to us; the duke reined up. I saw Sapt's
finger curl lovingly toward the trigger. I believe
he would have given ten years of his life for a shot;
and he could have picked off Black Michael as
easily as I could a barn-door fowl in a farmyard.
I laid my hand on his arm. He nodded reassur-
ingly; he was always ready to sacrifice inclination
to duty.
" Which way? " asked Black Michael.
" To the castle, your Highness," urged his com-
panion. " There we shall learn the truth."
For an instant the duke hesitated.
" I thought I heard hoofs/' said he.
" I think not, your Highness."
" Why shouldn't we go to the lodge? "
" I fear a trap. If all is well, why go to the
lodge? If not, it's a snare to trap us."
Suddenly the duke's horse neighed. In an in-
stant we folded our cloaks close round our horses'
heads, and, holding them thus, covered the duke
and his attendant with our revolvers. If they had
found us they had been dead men, or our prisoners.
THE SECRET OF A CELLAR 79
Michael waited a moment longer. Then he
cried:
" To Zenda, then ! " and setting spurs to his
horse, galloped on.
Sapt raised his weapon after him, and there was
such an expression of wistful regret on his face that
I had much ado not to burst out laughing.
For ten minutes we stayed where we were.
" You see," said Sapt, " they've sent him news
that all is well."
" What does that mean? " I asked.
" God knows," said Sapt, frowning heavily.
" But it's brought him from Strelsau in a rare
puzzle."
Then we mounted, and rode fast as our weary
horses could lay their feet to the ground. For
those last eight miles we spoke no more. Our
minds were full of apprehension. "All is well."
What did it mean? Was all well with the
king?
At last the lodge came in sight. Spurring our
horses to a last gallop, we rode up to the gate. All
was still and quiet. Not a soul came to meet u&.
#0 THE PRISONER Of- ZENDA,
We dismounted in haste. Suddenly Sapt caught
me by the arm.
" Look here! " he said, pointing to the ground*
I looked down. At my feet lay five or six silk
handkerchiefs, torn and slashed and rent. I turned
to him questioningly.
" They're what I tied the old woman up with/'
said he. " Fasten the horses and come along."
The handle of the door turned without resist-
ance. We passed into the room which had been
the scene of last night's bout. It was still strewn
with the remnants of our meal and with empty
bottles.
" Come in/* cried Sapt, whose marvelous com-
posure had at last almost given way.
We rushed down the passage toward the cellars.
The door of the coal cellar stood wide open.
" They found the old woman," said I.
" You might have known that from the hand-
kerchiefs," he said.
Then we came opposite the door of the wine
cellar. It was shut. It looked in all respects as it
had looked when we left it that morning.
THE SECRET OF A CELLAR. 81
" Come, it's all right," said I.
A loud oath from Sapt rang out. His face
turned pale, and he pointed again at the floor.
From under the door a red stain had spread over
the floor of the passage and dried there. Sapt
sank against the opposite wall. I tried the door.
It was locked.
" Where's Josef? " muttered Sapt.
" Where's the king? " I responded.
Sapt took out a flask and put it to his lips, I
ran back to the dining room, and seized a heavy
poker from the fireplace. In my terror and ex-
citement I rained blows on the lock of the door,
and I fired a cartridge into it. It gave way, and
the door swung open.
" Give me a light," said I; but Sapt still leaned
against the wall.
He was, of course, more moved than I, for he
loved his master. Afraid for himself he was not
no man ever saw him that; but to think what might
lie in that dark cellar was enough to turn any man's
face pale. I went myself, and took a silver candle-
stick from the dining table and struck a light, aad
8s THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
as I returned I felt the hot wax drip on my naked
hand as the candle swayed to and fro ; so that I can-
not afford to despise Colonel Sapt for his agitation.
I came to the door of the cellar. The red stain,
turning more and more to a dull brown, stretched
inside. I walked two yards into the cellar, and
held the candle high above my head. I saw the
full bins of wine; I saw spiders crawling on the
walls; I saw, too, a couple of empty bottles lying on
the floor; and then, away in the corner, I saw the
body of a man, lying flat on his back, with his arms
stretched wide, and a crimson gash across his
throat. I walked to him and knelt down beside
him, and commended to God the soul of a faith-
ful man. For it was the body of Josef, the little
servant, slain in guarding the king.
I felt a hand on my shoulder, and turning, saw
Sapt's eyes, glaring and terror-struck, beside me.
" The king! My God! the king! " he whispered
hoarsely.
I threw the candle's gleam over every inch of the
cellar.
" The king is not here," said I.
CHAPTER VII.
HIS MAJESTY SLEEPS IN STRELSAU.
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 mantel-
piece struck one he stamped his foot on the floor,
saying:
" They've got the king! "
" Yes," said I, " ' all's well! ' as Black Michael's
dispatch said. What a moment it must have been
for him when the royal salutes were fired at Strel-
sau this morning! I wonder when he got the
message? "
" It must have been sent in the morning," said
Sapt. " They must have sent it before news of
your arrival at Strelsau reached Zenda I suppose
it came from Zenda."
4 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
" And he's carried it about all day! " I exclaimed.,
" Upon my honor, I'm not the only man who's had
a trying day! What did he think, Sapt? "
" What does that matter? What does he think,
lad, now? "
I rose to my feet.
" We must get back," I said, " and rouse every
soldier in Strelsau. We ought to be in pursuit of
Michael before midday."
Old Sapt pulled out his pipe and carefully lit it
from the candle which guttered on the table.
" The king may be murdered while we sit here! "
I urged.
Sapt smoked on for a moment in silence.
" That cursed old woman! " he broke out. " She
must have attracted their attention somehow. I
see the game. They came up to kidnap the king,
and as I say somehow they found him. If you
hadn't gone to Strelsau, you and I and Fritz had
been in heaven by now! "
" And the king? "
" Who knows where the king is now? " he asked,
"Come, let's be off!" said I; but he sat still
And suddenly he burst into one of his grating
chuckles:
" By Jove, we've shaken up Black Michael! "
"Come, come!" I repeated impatiently.
" And we'll shake him up a bit more," he added s
a cunning smile broadening on his wrinkled-,
weather-beaten face and his teeth working on aaa
end of his grizzled mustache. " Aye, lad, we'll go
back to Strelsau. The king shall be in his capital
again to-morrow."
" The king? "
" The crowned king! "
"You're mad! "I cried
" If we go back and tell the trick we played what
would you give for our lives? "
" Just what they're worth," said I.
" And for the king's throne? Do you think that
the nobles and the people will enjoy being fooled
as you've fooled them? Do you think they'll love
a king who was too drunk to be crowned, and sent
a servant to personate him? "
" He was drugged and I'm no servant."
** -Mine will be Black Michael's version/ 9
86 THE PRISONER OF ZEND/9,
He rose, came to me, and laid his hand on my
shoulder.
" Lad," he said, " if you play the man you may
save the king yet. Go back and keep his throne
warm for him."
" But the duke knows the villains he has em-
ployed know "
"Aye, but they can't speak!" roared Sapt in
grim triumph. " We've got 'em! How can they
denounce you without denouncing themselves?
' This is not the king, because we kidnaped the
king and murdered his servant.' Can they say
that? "
The position flashed on me. Whether Michael
knew me or not he could not speak. Unless he
produced the king, what could he do? And if he
produced the king, where was he? For a moment
I was carried away headlong; but in an instant the
difficulties came strong upon me.
" I must be found out," I urged.
" Perhaps; but every hour's something. Above
all, we must have a king in Strelsau, or the city will
be Michael's in four-and-twenty hours, and what
HIS MAJESTY SLEEPS IN STRELSAU, 8',
would the king's life be worth then or his throne?
Lad, you must do it ! "
" Suppose they kill the king? "
" They'll kill him, if you don't."
" Sapt, suppose they have killed the king?"
" Then, by Heaven, you're as good an Elphberg
as Black Michael, and you shall reign in Ruritania!
But I don't believe they have; nor will they kill him
if you're on the throne. Will they kill him to put
you in ? "
It was a wild plan wilder even and more hope-
less than the trick we had already carried through;
but as I listened to Sapt I saw the strong points in
our game. And then I was a young man and I
loved action, and I was offered such a hand in such
'i game as perhaps never man played yet.
" I shall be found out," I said.
" Perhaps," said Sapt. " Come ! to Strelsau !
We shall be caught like rats IP a trap if we stay
here."
"Sapt," I cried, "I'll try it!"
" Well played! " said he. " I hope they've left
us the horses. I'll go and see."
88 THE PR/SONER OF ZEND/I.
" We must bury that poor fellow," said I.
" No time," said Sapt.
" I'll do it."
" Hang you ! " he grinned. " I make you a
king, and Well, do it. Go and fetch him,
while I look to the horses. He can't lie very deep,
but I doubt if he'll care about that. Poor iittle
Josef ! He was an honest bit of a man."
He went out and I went to the cellar. I raised
poor Josef in my arms and bore him into the pas-
sage and thence toward the door of the house.
Just inside I laid him down, remembering that I
must find spades for our task. At this instant Sapt
came up.
"The horses are all right; there's the own
brother to the one that brought you here. But
you may save yourself that job."
" I'll not go before he's buried."
"Yes, you will."
" Not I, Colonel Sapt; not for all Ruritania."
" You fool ! " said he. " Come here."
He drew me to the door. The moon was sink-
ing, but about three hundred yards away, coming
HIS MAJESTY SLEEPS IN STRELS4U. 89
along the road from Zenda, I made out a party of
men. There were seven or eight of them; four
were on horseback and the rest were walking, and
I saw that they carried long implements, which I
guessed to be spades and mattocks, on their
shoulders.
"They'll save you the trouble," said Sapt.
" Come along."
He was right. The approaching party must, be-
yond doubt, be Duke Michael's men, come to
remove the traces of their evil work. I hesitated
no longer, but an irresistible desire seized me.
Pointing to the corpse of poor little Joseph, I said to
Sapt:
" Colonel, we ought to strike a blow for him ! "
" You'd like to give him some company, eh ?
But it's too risky work, your Majesty.'*
" I must have a slap at *em," said I.
Sapt wavered.
" Well," said he, " it's not business, you know,
but you've been a good boy and if we come to
grief, why, hang me, it '11 save us a lot of thinking?
I'll show you how to touch them."
9 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
He cautiously closed the open chink of the dooi,
Then we retreated through the house and made our
way to the back entrance. Here our horses were
standing. A carriage drive swept all around the
lodge.
"Revolver ready?" asked Sapt.
" No; steel for me," said I.
" Gad, you're thirsty to-night," chuckled Sapt
* So be it."
We mounted, drawing our swords, and waited
silently for a minute or two. Then we heard the
tramp of men on the drive the other side of the
house. They came to a stand, and one cried:
" Now, then, fetch him out ! "
" Now ! " whispered Sapt.
Driving the spurs into our horses, we rushed at a
gallop round the house, and in a moment we were
among the ruffians. Sapt told me afterward that
he killed a man, and I believe him; but I saw no
more of him. With a cut I split the head of a fel
low on a brown horse, and he fell to the ground.
Then I found myself opposite a big man, and I was
half conscious of another to my right. It was too
HIS MAJESTY SLEEPS IN STRELSAU 91
warm to stay, and with a simultaneous action 1
drove my spurs into my horse again and my sword
full into the big man's breast. His bullet whizzed
past my ear I could almost swear it touched it. I
wrenched at the sword, but it would not come, and
I dropped it and galloped after Sapt, whom I now
saw about twenty yards ahead. I waved my hand
in farewell and dropped it a second later with a yell,
for a bullet had grazed my finger and I felt the
blood. Old Sapt turned round in the saddle.
Someone fired again, but they had no rifles, and we
were out of range. Sapt fell to laughing.
" That's one to me and two to you, with decent
luck," said he. " Little Josef will have company."
" Aye, they'll be a parti carree," said I. My
blood was up, and I rejoiced to have killed them.
" Well, a pleasant night's work to the rest! " said
he. " I wonder if they noticed you? "
" The big fellow did; as I struck him I heard him
cry, ' The king! ' "
" Good ! good ! Oh, we'll give Black Michael
some work before we've done ! "
Pausing an instant, we made a bandage for my
Q2 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
wounded finger, which was bleeding freely and
ached severely, the bone being much bruised.
Then we rode on, asking of our good horses all that
was in them. The excitement of the fight and of
our great resolve died away, and we rode in gloomy
silence. Day broke clear and cold. We found a
farmer just up, and made him give us sustenance
for ourselves and our horses. I, feigning tooth-
ache, muffled my face closely. Then ahead again,
till Strelsau lay before us. It was eight o'clock or
nearing nine, and the gates were all open, as they
always were save when the duke's caprice or in-
trigues shut them. We rode in by the same way
as we had come out the evening before, all four of
us the men and the horses wearied and jaded.
The streets were even quieter than when we had
gone; everyone was sleeping off last night's revelry,.
and we met hardly a soul till we reached the little
gate of the palace. There Sapt's old groom was
waiting for us.
" Is all well, sir? " he asked.
" All's well," said Sapt, and the man, coming to
took my hand to kiss.
HIS MAJESTY SLEEPS IN STRELS/1U. 93
" The king's hurt ! " he cried.
" It's nothing," said I as I dismounted. " I
Caught my finger in the door."
" Remember silence ! " said Sapt. " Ah ! but,
my good Freyler, I do not need to tell you that ! "
The old fellow shrugged his shoulders.
" All young men like to ride abroad now and
again; why not the king?" said he; and Sapt's
laugh left his opinion of my motives undisturbed.
" You should always trust a man," observed
Sapt, fitting the key in the lock " just as far as
you must."
We went in and reached the dressing room.
Flinging open the door, we saw Fritz von Tarlen-
heim stretched, fully dressed, on the sofa. He
seemed to have been sleeping, but our entry woke
him. He leaped to his feet, gave one glance at
me, and with a joyful cry threw himself on his
knees before me.
" Thank God, sire ! thank God, you're safe ! " he
cried, stretching his hand up to catch hold of mine.
I confess that I was moved. This king, what-
ever his faults, made people love him. For a mo
94 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
ment I could not bear to speak or break the poot
fellow's illusion. But tough old Sapt had no such
feeling. He slapped his hand on his thigh
delightedly.
" Bravo, lad! " cried he. " We shall do! "
Fritz looked up in bewilderment I held out
my hand.
" You're wounded, sire! " he exclaimed.
"It's only a scratch," said I, "but " I
paused.
He rose to his feet with a bewildered air. Hold-
ing my hand, he looked me up and down, and down
and up. Then suddenly he dropped my hand and
reeled back.
" Where's the king? Where's the king? " he
cried.
" Hush, you fool! " hissed Sapt. " Not so loud I
Here's the king! "
A knock sounded at the door. Sapt seized me
by the hand.
"Here, quick, to the bedroom! Off with your
cap and your boots. Get into bed. Cover every-
thing up."
HIS MAJESTY SLEEPS IN STRELSAU. 95
I did as I was bid. A moment later Sapt looked
in, nodded, grinned, and introduced an extremely
smart and deferential young gentleman, who came
up to my bedside, bowing again and again, and in-
formed me that he was of the household of the
Princess Flavia, and that her Royal Highness had
sent him especially to inquire how the king's health
was after the fatigues which his Majesty had under-
gone yesterday.
"My best thanks, sir, to my cousin," said I;
" and tell her Royal Highness that I was never bet-
ter in my life."
" The king," added old Sapt (who, I began to
find, loved a good lie for its own sake), " has slept
without a break all night."
The young gentleman (he reminded me of Osric
in " Hamlet ") bowed himself out again. The farce
was over, and Fritz von Tarlenheim's pale face re-
called us to reality though, in faith, the farce had
to be reality for us now.
" Is the king dead ? " he whispered.
" Please God, no," said I. " But he's in the
hands of Black Michael ! "
CHAPTER VIIL
A FAIR COUSIN AND A DARK BROTHER.
A REAL king's life is perhaps a hard one; but a
pretended king's is, I warrant, much harder. On
the next day Sapt instructed me in my duties
what I ought to do and what I ought to know for
three hours; then I snatched breakfast, with Sapt
still opposite me, telling me that the king always
took white wine in the morning and was known to
detest all highly seasoned dishes. Then came the
chancellor for another three hours; and to him I
had to explain that the hurt to my finger (we
turned that bullet to happy account) prevented me
from writing whence arose great to-do, hunting
of precedents and so forth, ending in my " making
my mark," and the chancellor attesting it with a
superfluity of solemn oaths. Then the French
ambassador was introduced, to present his creden-
tials; here my ignorance was of no importance, as
A FAIR COUSIN AND A DARK BROTHER. 97
the king would have been equally raw to the busi-
ness (we worked through the whole corps diplo-
matique in the next few days, a demise of the crown
necessitating all this bother).
Then, at last, I was left alone. I called my new
servant (we had chosen, to succeed poor Josef, a
young man who had never known the king), had
a brandy and soda brought to me, and observed
to Sapt that I trusted that I might now have a rest.
Fritz von Tarlenheim was standing by.
"By Heaven!" he cried, "we waste time.
Aren't we going to throw Black Michael by the
heels? "
" Genfly, 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? "
" And," I suggested, " while the king is here in
Strelsau, on his throne, what grievance has he
against his dear brother Michael? "
" Are we to do nothing, then? "
" We're to do nothing stupid," growled Sapt
" In fact, Fritz," said I, " I am reminded of a
98 THE PRISONER OF ZENDJ.
situation in one of our English plays ' The
Critic ' have you heard of it? Or, if you like, or
two men, each covering the other with a revolver,
For I can't expose Michael without exposing my-
self "
" And the king," put in Sapt.
" Ar/d, hang me, if Michael won't expose himself
if he tries to expose me! "
" It's very pretty," said old Sapt.
" If I'm found out," I pursued, " I will make a
clean breast of it, and fight it out with the duke;
but at present I'm waiting for a move from him."
" He'll kill the king," said Fritz.
" Not he," said Sapt.
f ' Half of the Six are in Strelsau," said Fritz.
" Only half? You're sure? " asked Sapt eagerly.
" Yes only half."
" Then the king's alive, for the other three
are guarding him! " cried Sapt.
"Yes you're right!" exclaimed Fritz, his face
brightening. " If the king were dead and buried
they'd all be here with Michael. You know
Mf^iael's back, colonel? "
A FAIR COUSIN AND A DARK BROTHER. 99
" I know, curse him! "
" Gentlemen, gentlemen," said I, " who are the
Six?"
" I think you'll make their acquaintance soon/'
said Sapt. " They are six gentlemen whom
Michael maintains in his household; they belong- to
him body and soul. There are three Ruritanians;
then there's a Frenchman, a Belgian, and one of
your countrymen."
" They'd all cut a throat if Michael told them,"
said Fritz.
" Perhaps they'll cut mine," I suggested.
" Nothing more likely," agreed Sapt. " Who
are here, Fritz? "
" De Gautet, Bersonin, and Detchard."
"The foreigners! It's as plain as a pikestaff.
He's brought them, and left the Ruritanians with
the king: that's because he wants to commit the
Ruritanians as deep as he can."
" They were none of them among our friends at
the lodge, then? " I asked.
" I wish they had been," said Sapt wistfully,
" They had been, not Six, but Four, by now."
*00 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
I had already developed one attribute of royalty
a feeling that I need not reveal all my mind or
my secret designs even to my intimate friends,, I
had fully resolved on my course of action. I meant
to make myself as popular as I could, and at the
same time to show no disfavor to Michael. By
these means I hoped to allay the hostility of his ad-
herents, and make it appear, if an open conflict
came about, that he was ungrateful and not
oppressed.
Yet an open conflict was not what I hoped for c
The king's interest demanded secrecy; and while
secrecy lasted I had a fine game to play in StrelsatL
Michael should not grow stronger for delay!
I ordered my horse, and, attended by Fritz von
Tarlenheim, rode in the grand avenue of the royal
park, returning all the salutes which I received with
punctilious politeness. Then I rode through a few
of the streets, stopped and bought flowers of a
pretty girl, paying her with a piece of gold; and
then, having attracted the desired amount of atten-
tion (for I had a trail of half a thousand people after
me), I rode to the residence of the Princess Flavia,
A FAIR COUSIN AND A DARK BROTHER, lot
and asked if she would receive me. This step cre-
ated much interest, and was met with shouts of
approval. The princess was very popular, and the
chancellor himself had not scrupled to hint to me
that the more I pressed my suit, and the more
rapidly I brought it to a prosperous conclusion, the
stronger should I be in the affection of my sub-
jects. The chancellor, of course, did not under-
stand the difficulties which lay in the way of fol-
lowing his loyal and excellent advice. However, I
thought I could do no harm by calling; and in this
view Fritz supported me with a cordiality that sur-
prised me, until he confessed that he also had his
motive for liking to visit the princess' house, which
motive was no other than a great desire to see the
princess' lady in waiting and bosom friend, the
Countess Helga von Strofzin.
Etiquette seconded Fritz's hopes. While I was
ushered into the princess' room he remained with
the countess in the antechamber; in spite of the
people and servants who were hanging about I
doubt not that they managed a tete-a-tete; but I had
no leisure to think of them, for I was playing the
102 THE PRISONER OF ZEND/t.
most delicate move in all my difficult game. I
had to keep the princess devoted to me and yet
indifferent to me; I had to show affection for her
and not feel it. I had to make love for another,
and that to a girl who princess or no princess
was the most beautiful I had ever seen. Well, I
braced myself to the task, made no easier by the
charming embarrassment with which I was re-
ceived. How I succeeded in carrying out my pro-
gramme will appear hereafter.
" You are gaining golden laurels," she said.
" You are like the prince in Shakspere who was
transformed by becoming king. But I'm forget-
ting you are king, sire."
" I ask you to speak nothing but what your heart
tells you and to call me nothing but my name."
She looked at me for a moment.
"Then I'm glad and proud, Rudolf," said she.
" Why, as I told you, your very face is changed."
I acknowledged the compliment, but I disliked
the topic; so I said:
" My brother is back, I hear. He made an ex-
cursion, didn't he? "
A FAIR COUSIN AND A DARK BROTHER, IOJ
" Yes, he is here," she said, frowning a little.
" He can't stay long from Strelsau, it seems," I
observed, smiling. " Well, we are all glad to see
him. The nearer he is the better."
The princess glanced at me with a gleam of
amusement in her eyes.
" Why, cousin? Is it that you can "
" See better what he's doing? Perhaps," said I.
" And why are you glad? "
" I didn't say I was glad," she answered.
" Some people say so for you."
" There are many insolent people," she said, with
delightful haughtiness.
" Possibly you mean that I am one? "
" Your Majesty could not be," she said,
courtesying in feigned deference, but adding,
mischievously, after a pause: "Unless, that
" Well, unless what? "
" Unless you tell me that I mind a snap of my
fingers where the Duke of Strelsau is."
Really I wished that I had been the king.
" You don't care where Cousin Michael "
104 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
"Ah, Cousin Michael! I call him the Duke ol
Strelsau."
" You call him Michael when you meet him? "
" Yes by the orders of your father."
" I see. And now by mine? "
" If those are your orders."
" Oh, decidedly! We must all be pleasant to
our dear Michael."
" You order me to receive his friends, too, I sup-
pose? "
" The Six? "
" You call them that, too? "
" To be in the fashion I do. But I order you to
receive no one unless you like."
" Except yourself? "
" I pray for myself. I could not order."
As I spoke there came a cheer from the street.
The princess ran to the window.
"It is he!" she cried. "It is the Duke of
Strelsau!"
I smiled, but said nothing. She returned to her
seat. For a few minutes we sat in silence. The
noise outside subsided, but I heard the tread of feet
4 FAIR COUSIN AND A DARK BROTHER, 105
in the anteroom. I began to talk on general sub-
jects. This went on for some minutes. I won-
dered what had become of Michael, but it did not
seem to be for me to interfere. All at once, to my
great surprise, Flavia, clasping her hands, asked in
an agitated voice:
" Are you wise to make him angry? "
"What? Who? How am I making him
angry."
" Why, by keeping him waiting."
" My dear cousin, I don't want to keep him K
" Well, then, is he to come in? "
" Of course, if you wish it."
She looked at me curiously.
" How funny you are! " she said. " Of course
no one could be answered while I was with you."
Here was a charming attribute of royalty!
" An excellent etiquette! " I cried. " But I had
clean forgotten it; and if I were alone with some-
one else couldn't you be announced? "
;< You know as well as I do. I could be, because
I am of the Blood; " and she still looked puzzled.
" I never could remember all these silly rules, 9 *
106 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
said I rather feebly, as I inwardly cursed Fritz
for not posting me up. " But I'll repair my
fault."
I jumped up, flung open the door, and advanced
into the anteroom. Michael was sitting at a table,
a heavy frown on his face. Everyone else was
standing, save that impudent young dog Fritz, who
was lounging easily in an armchair, and flirting
with the Countess Helga. He leaped up as I
entered, with a deferential elasticity that lent point
to his former nonchalance. I had no difficulty in
understanding that the duke might not like young
Fritz.
I held out my hand, Michael took it, and I em-
braced him. Then I drew him with me into the
inner room.
" Brother," I said, " if I had known you were
here you should not have waited here a moment
before I asked the princess to permit me to bring
you to her."
He thanked me, but coldly. The man had many
qualities, but he could not hide his feelings. A
*iere stranger could have seen that he hated me,
A FAIR COUSIN AND A DARK BROTHER 105
and hated worse to see me with Princess Flavia;
yet I am persuaded that he tried to conceal both
feelings, and, further, that he tried to persuade me
that he believed I was verily the king. I did not
know, of course; but unless the king was an impos-
tor, at once cleverer and more audacious than I
(and I began to think something of myself in that
role), Michael could not believe that. And if he
didn't how he must have loathed paying me defer-
ence, and hearing my " Michael " and my
"Flavia"!
" Your hand is hurt, sire," he observed with con-
cern.
" Yes; I was playing a game with a mongrel dog
(I meant to stir him), and you know, brother, such
have uncertain tempers."
He smiled sourly, and his dark eyes rested on me
for a moment.
" But is there no danger from the bite? " cried
Flavia anxiously.
" None from this," said I. " If I gave him a
chance to bite deeper it would be different,
cousin."
lo8 THE PRISONER Of ZENDJ.
" But surely he has been destroyed? " said she.
" Not yet. We're waiting to see if his bite is
harmful."
" And if it is? " asked Michael, with his sour
smile.
" He'll be knocked on the head, brother," said I.
" You won't play with him any more? " urged
Flavia.
" Perhaps I shall."
" He might bite again."
" Doubtless he'll try," said I, smiling.
Then, fearing Michael would say something
which I must appear to resent (for, though I might
show him my hate, I must seem to be full of favor),
I began to compliment him on the magnificent con-
dition of his regiment and on their loyal greeting to
me on the day of my coronation. Thence I passed
to a rapturous description of the shooting lodge
which he had lent me. But he rose suddenly to his
feet. His temper was failing him, and as an ex-
cuse he said farewell. However, as he reached the
door he stopped, saying:
" Three friends of mine are very anxious to haW
A FAIR COUSIN AND A DARK BROTHER, 109
the honor of being presented to you, sire. They
are here in the antechamber."
I joined him presently, passing my arm through
his. The look on his face was honey to me. We
entered the antechamber in fraternal fashion.
Michael beckoned, and three men came forward.
" These gentlemen," said Michael, with a stately
courtesy which, to do him justice, he could assume
with perfect grace and ease, " are the loyalest and
most devoted of your Majesty's servants, and are
my very faithful and attached friends."
" On the last ground as much as the first," said
I, " I am very pleased to see them."
They came one by one and kissed my hand De
Gautet, a tall, lean fellow, with hair standing
straight up and waxed mustache; Bersonin, the
Belgian, a portly man of middle height with a bald
head (though he was not far past thirty) ; and last,
the Englishman, Detchard, a narrow-faced fellow,
with close-cut fair hair and a bronzed complexion.
He was a finely made man, broad in the shoulders
and slender in the hips. A good fighter, but a
crooked customer, I put him down for. I spoke
no THE PRISONER OF ZEND A.
to him in English, with a slight foreign accent, and
I swear the fellow smiled, though he hid the smile
in an instant.
" So Mr. Detchard is in the secret," thought I.
Having got rid of my dear brother and his
friends, I returned to make my adieu to my cousin.
She was standing at the door. I bade her farewell,
taking her hand in mine.
" Rudolf," she said, very low, " be careful, won't
you? "
" Of what? "
" You know I can't say. But think what your
life is to "
Well, to ? "
" To Ruritania."
Was I right to play the part, or wrong to play
the part? I know not; evil lay both ways, and I
dared not tell her the truth.
" Only to Ruritania? " I asked softly.
A sudden flush spread over her incomparable
face.
" To your friends, too," she said.
"Friends?"
A FAIR COUSIN AND A DARK BROTHER. n
8< And to your cousin," she whispered, " and lov-
ing servant."
I could not speak. I kissed her hand, and went
out cursing myself.
Outside I found Master Fritz, quite reckless of
the footmen, playing at cat's-cradle with the Count-
ess Helga.
" Hang it! " said he, " we can't always be plot-
ting. Love claims his share."
"I'm inclined to think he does," said I; and
Fritz, who had been by my side, dropped respect-
fully behind.
CHAPTER IX.
A NEW USE FOR A TEA TABLE.
IF I were to detail the ordinary events of my
daily life at this time, they might prove instructive
to people who are not familiar with the insides of
palaces; if I revealed some of the secrets I learned,
they might prove of interest to the statesmen of
Europe. I intend to do neither of these things.
I should be between the Scylla of dullness and the
Charybdis of indiscretion, and I feel that I had far
better confine myself strictly to the underground
drama which was being played beneath the surface
of Ruritanian politics. I need only say that the
secret of my imposture defied detection. I made
mistakes. I had bad minutes: it needed all the
tact and graciousness whereof I was master to
smooth over some apparent lapses of memory and
unmindfulness of old acquaintances of which I was
guilty. But I escaped, and I attributed my escape,
A NEW USE FOR A TEA TABLE. "3
as I said before, most of all to the very audacity of
the enterprise. It is my belief that, given the nec-
essary physical likeness, it was far easier to pretend
to be king of Ruritania than it would have been to
personate my next-door neighbor.
One day Sapt came into my room. He threw
me a letter, saying:
" That's for you a woman's hand, I think. But
I've some news for you first."
"What's that?"
" The king's at the castle of Zenda," said he.
" How do you know? "
" Because the other half of Michael's Six are
there. I had inquiries made, and they're all there
Lauengram, Krafstein, and young Rupert Hent-
zau; three rogues, too, on my honor, as fine as live
in Ruritania."
" Well? "
" Well, Fritz wants you to marsh to the castle
with horse, foot, and artillery."
" And drag the moat? " I asked.
"That would be about it," grinned Sapt; "and
we shouldn't find the king's body then."
114 THE PRISONER OF ZEN DA.
" You think it's certain he's there? "
" Very probable. Besides the fact of those three
being there, the drawbridge is kept up and no one
goes in without an order from young Hentzau or
Black Michael himself. We must tie Fritz up."
" I'll go to Zenda," said I.
" You're mad."
" Some day."
" Oh, perhaps. You'll very likely stay there, if
you do."
" That may be, my friend," said I carelessly.
" His Majesty looks sulky," observed Sapt.
" How's the love affair? "
" Damn you, hold your tongue! " I said.
He looked at me for a moment; then he lit his
pipe. It was quite true that I was in a bad tem-
per, and I went on perversely:
" Wherever I go I'm dogged by half a dozen
fellows."
" I know you are; I send 'em," he replied com-
posedly.
" What for? "
" Well," said Sapt, puffing away, s< it wouldn't
A NEW USE FOR A TEA TABLE. n$
be exactly inconvenient for Black Michael if you
disappeared. With you gone the old game that
we stopped would be played or he'd have a shot
at it."
" I can take care of myself."
" De Gautet, Bersonin, and Detchard are in
Strelsau; and any one of them, lad, would cut your
throat as readily as readily as I would Black
Michael's and a deal more treacherously. What's
the letter? "
I opened it and read it aloud:
If the king desires to know what it deeply concerns the king
to know, let him do as this letter bids him. At the end of the
New Avenue there stands a house in large grounds. The
house has a portico, with a statue of a nymph in it. A wall in-
closes the garden ; there is a gate in the wall at the back. At
twelve o'clock to-night, if the king enters alone by that gate,
turns to the right, and walks twenty yards, he will find a sum-
merhouse, approached by a flight of six steps. If he mounts
and enters, he will find someone who will tell him what touches
most dearly his life and his throne. This is written by a faith-
ful friend. He must be alone. If he neglects the invitation, his
life will be in danger. Let him show this to no one, or he
will ruin a woman who loves him ; Black Michael does not
pardon.
" No," observed Sapt as I ended, " but he can
dictate a very pretty letter."
6 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA. "
I had arrived at the same conclusion, and was
about to throw the letter away, when I saw there
was more writing on the other side.
" Hallo! there's some more."
If you hesitate [the writer continued] consult Coloftrf
Sapt
"Eh!" exclaimed that gentleman, genuinely
astonished. " Does she take me for a greater fool
than you? "
I waved to him to be silent.
Ask him what woman would do most to prevent the duke
from marrying his cousin, and therefore most to prevent his be-
coming king ? And ask if her name begins with A.
I sprang to my feet. Sapt laid down his pipe.
"Antoinette de Mauban, by Heaven!" I cried.
" How do you know? " asked Sapt.
I told him what I knew of the lady, and how I
knew it. He nodded.
" It's so far true that she's had a great row with
Michael," said he thoughtfully.
" If she would, she could be useful," I said.
" I believe, though, that Michael wrote that
letter."
A HEW USE FOR A TEA TABLE. n^f
" So do I, but I mean to know for certain. I
shall go, Sapt."
" No, I shall go," said he.
" You may go as far as the gate."
" I shall go to the summerhouse."
" I'm hanged if you shall! "
I rose and leaned my back against the mantel-
piece.
" Sapt, I believe in that woman, and I shall go."
" I don't believe in any woman," said Sapt, " and
you shan't go."
" I either go to the summerhouse or back to
England," said I.
Sapt began to know exactly how far he could
lead or drive, and when he must follow.
" We're playing against time," I added. " Every
day we leave the king where he is there is fresfo
risk. Every day I masquerade like this there ifl
fresh risk. Sept, we must play high; we must fotte
the game."
" So be it," he said with a sigh.
To cut the story short, at half-past eleven that
night Sapt and I mounted our horses. Fritz was
Zl8 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
again left on guard, our destination not being re-
vealed to him. It was a very dark night. I wore
no sword, but I carried a revolver, a long knife, and
a bull's-eye lantern. We arrived outside the gate.
I dismounted. Sapt held out his hand.
" I shall wait here," he said. " If I hear a shot
I'll "
" Stay where you are; it's the king's only chance.
You mustn't come to grief too."
" You're right, lad. Good luck! "
I pressed the little gate. It yielded, and I found
myself in a wild sort of shrubbery. There was a
grass-grown path and, turning to the right as I had
been bidden, I followed it cautiously. My lantern
was closed, the revolver was in my hard. I heard
not a sound. Presently a large dark object loomed
out of the gloom ahead of me. It was the summer-
house. Reaching the steps, I mounted them and
found myself confronted by a weak, rickety wooden
door, which hung upon the latch. I pushed it
open and walked in. A woman flew to me and
seized my hand.
" Shut the door/' she whiskered.
A NEW USE FOR A TEA TABLE. **9
I obeyed, and turned the light of my lantern OL
her. She was in evening dress, arrayed very
sumptuously, and her dark striking beauty was
marvelously displayed in the glare of the bull's-eye.
The summerhouse was a bare little room, furnished
only with a couple of chairs and a small iron table,
such as one sees in a tea garden or an open-air
cafe.
" Don't talk," she said. " We've no time. Lis-
ten! I know you, Mr. Rassendyll. I wrote that
letter at the duke's orders."
" So I thought," said I.
" In twenty minutes three men will be here to
kill you."
"Three the three?"
" Yes. You must be gone by then. If not, to
night you'll be killed "
" Or they will."
" Listen, listen ! When you're killed, your body
will be taken to a low quarter of the town. It will
be found there. Michael will at once arrest all
your friends Colonel Sapt and Captain von Tar-=
lenheim first proclaim a state of siege in Strelsau
ftc THE PRISONER OF ZEND4.
and send a messenger to Zenda. The other three
will murder the king in the castle, and the duke
will proclaim either himself or the princess him-
self if he is strong enough. Anyhow, he'll marry
her, and become king in fact, and soon in name.
Do you see? "
" It's a pretty plot. But why, madame, do
you "
" Say I'm a Christian or say I'm jealous. My
"God! shall I see him marry her? Now go; but re-
member this is what I have to tell you that
never by night or by day are you safe. Three men
follow you as a guard. Is it not so? Well, three
follow them. Michael's three are never two hun-
dred yards from you. Your life is not worth a
moment if ever they find you alone. Now go.
Stay, the gate will be guarded by now. Go down
softly, go past the summerhouse, on for a hundred
yards, and you'll find a ladder against the wall.
Get over it and fly for your life."
"And you? "I asked.
" I have my game to play, too. If he finds out
what I have done we shall not meet again. If
A NEW USE FOR A TEA TABLE. Z9*
not I may yet But never mind. Go at
once."
" But what will you tell him? "
" That you never came that you saw through
the trick."
I took her hand and kissed it.
" Madame," said I, " you have served the king
well to-night. Where is he in the castle? "
She sank her voice to a fearful whisper. I lis-
tened eagerly.
"Across the drawbridge you come to a heavy
door; behind that lies Hark! What's that? *
There were steps outside.
"They're coming! They're too soon! Heav*
ens! they're too soon!" and she turned pale as
death.
" They seem to me," said I, " to be in the nick
of time."
" Close your lantern. See, there's a chink in the
door. Can you see them? "
I put my eye to the chink. On the lowest step I
saw three dim figures. I cocked my revolver*
Antoinette hastily laid her hand on mine.
113 THE PRISONER OF ZEND*.
" You may kill one," said she. " But what
then? "
A voice came from outside-'-a voice that spoke
perfect English.
" Mr. Rassendyll," it said.
I made no answer.
" We want to talk to you. Will you promise not
to shoot till we've done? "
" Have I the pleasure of addressing Mr. Det-
chard? " I said.
" Never mind names."
" Then let mine alone."
. x " All right, sire. I've an offer for you."
I still had my eye to the chink. The three had
mounted two steps more; three revolvers pointed
bill at the door.
" Will you let us in? We pledge our honor to
observe the truce."
" Don't trust them," whispered Antoinette.
" We can speak through the door," said I.
" But you might open it and fire," objected Det-
.dbard; "and though we should finish you, you
A NE1V USE FOR A TEA TABLE, 223
might finish one of us. Will you give your honor
not to fire while we talk? "
" Don't trust them," whispered Antoinette
again.
A sudden idea struck me. I considered it ior a
moment. It seemed feasible.
" I give my honor not to fire before you do,"
said I ; ' but I won't let you in. Stand outside and.
talk."
" That's sensible," he said.
The three mounted the last step, and stood just
outside the door. I laid my ear to the chink. I
could hear no words, but Detchard's head was close
to that of the taller of his companions (De Gautet,
I guessed).
"H'm! Private communications," thought L
Then I said aloud:
" Well, gentlemen, what's the offer? "
" A safe-conduct to the frontier, and fifty thou-
sand pounds English."
" No, no," whispered Antoinette in the lowest of
whispers. " They are treacherous."
24 THE PRISONER Of
" That seems handsome," said I, reconnoitering
through the chink. They were all close together,
just outside the door now.
I had probed the hearts of the ruffians, and I
did not heed Antoinette's warning. They meant
to " rush " me as soon as I was engaged in talk.
" Give me a minute to consider," said I; and I
thought I heard a laugh outside.
I turned to Antoinette.
" Stand up close to the wall, out of the line of
fire from the door," I whispered.
" What are you going to do? " she asked in
fright.
" You'll see," said I.
I took up the little iron table. It was not very-
heavy for a man of my strength, and I held it by the
legs. The top, protruding in front of me, made a
complete screen for my head and body. I fastened
iny closed lantern to my belt and put my revolver
in a handy pocket. Suddenly I saw the door move
ever so slightly perhaps it was the wind, perhaps
it was a hand trying it outside.
I drew back as far as I could from the door,
A HEW USh FOR A TEA TABLE. 125
holding- the table in the position that I have de-
scribed. Then I called out:
" Gentlemen, I accept your offer, relying on your
honor. If you will open the door "
" Open it yourself," said Detchard.
" It opens outward," said I. " Stand back i
little, gentlemen, or I shall hit you when I open it."
I went and fumbled with the latch. Then I stole
back to my place on tiptoe.
"I can't open it!" I cried. "The latch has
caught."
" Tut! I'll open it! " cried Detchard. " Non-
sense, Bersonin, why not? Are you afraid of one
man? "
I smiled to myself. An instant later the door
was flung back. The gleam of a lantern showed
me the three close together outside, their revolvers
leveled. With a shout I charged at my utmost
pace across the summerhouse and through the
doorway. Three shots rang out and battered into
my shield. Another moment, and I leaped out and
the table caught them full and square, and in a
tumbling, swearing, struggling mass they and I and
126 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
that brave table rolled down the steps of the sum-
merhouse to the ground below. Antoinette de
Mauban shrieked, but I rose to my feet, laughing
aloud.
De Gautet and Bersonin lay like men stunned.
Detchard was under the table, but as I rose he
pushed it from him and fired again. I raised my
revolver and took a snap shot. I heard him curse,
and then I ran like a hare, laughing as I went, past
the summerhouse and along by the wall. I heard
steps behind me, and, turning round, I fired again
for luck. The steps ceased.
" Please God," said I, " she told me the truth
about the ladder! " for the wall was high and
topped with iron spikes.
Yes, there it was. I was up and over in a min-
ute. Doubling back, I saw the horses. Then I
heard a shot. It was Sapt. He had heard us and
was battling and raging with the locked gate, ham-
mering it and firing into the keyhole like a man
possessed. He had quite forgotten that he was not
to take part in the fight. Whereat I laughed again,
and said as I clapped him on the shoulder:
A NEW USE FOR A TEA TABLE. 127
" Come home to bed, old chap. I've got the
finest tea-table story that ever you heard ! "
He started and cried: " You're safe! " and wrung
my hand. But a moment later he added:
" And what the devil are you laughing at? "
" Four gentlemen round a tea table," said I,
laughing still, for it had been uncommonly ludi-
crous to see the formidable three altogether routed
and scattered with no more deadly weapon than an
ordinary tea table.
Moreover, you will observe that I had honorably
kept my word and not fired till they did.
CHAPTER X.
A GREAT CHANCE FOR A VILLAIN.
IT was the custom that the prefect of police
should send every afternoon a report to me on the
condition of the capital and the feeling of the
people: the document included also an account of
the movements of any persons whom the police
had received instructions to watch. Since I had
been in Strelsau Sapt had been in the habit of read-
ing the report and telling me any items of interest
which it might contain. On the day after my ad-
venture in the summerhouse he came in as I was
playing a hand of ecarte with Fritz von Tarlenheim.
" The report is rather full of interest this after-
noon," he observed, sitting down.
" Do you find," I asked, " any mention of a cer
tain fracas? "
He shook his head with a smile.
" I find this first," he said: " ' His Highness the
Mi
A GREAT CHANCE FOR A VILLAIN. i?9
Duke of Strelsau left the city (so far as it appears,
suddenly), accompanied by several of his house-
hold. His destination is believed to be the castle
of Zenda, but the party traveled by road and not by
train. MM. De Gautet, Bersonin, and Detchard
followed an hour later, the last named carrying his
arm in a sling. The cause of his wound is not
known, but it is suspected that he has fought a
duel, probably incidental to a love affair.' '
" That is remotely true," I observed, very well
pleased to find that I had left my mark on the
fellow.
" Then we come to this," pursued Sapt. " Mme.
de Mauban, whose movements have been watched
according to instructions, left by train at midday.
She took a ticket for Dresden "
" It's an old habit of hers," said I.
" * The Dresden trains stop at Zenda.' An acute
fellow, this. And finally listen to this: ' The state
of feeling in the city is not satisfactory. The king
is much criticised ' (you know he's told to be quite
frank) ' for taking no steps about his marriage.
From inquiries among the entourage of the Princess
I3<> THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
Flavia her Royal Highness is believed to be deeply
offended by the remissness of his Majesty. The
common people are coupling her name with, that
of the Duke of Strelsau, and the duke gains much
popularity from the suggestion. I have caused
the announcement that the king gives a ball to-
night in honor of the princess to be widely diffused,
and the effect is good/ '
" That is news to me," said I.
" Oh, the preparations are all made! " laughed
Fritz. " I've seen to that."
Sapt turned to me and said in a sharp, decisive
voice:
" You must make love to her to-night, you
know."
"I think it very likely I shall if I see her alone/'
said I. "Hang it, Sapt, you don't suppose I find
it difficult? "
Fritz whistled a bar or two; then he said:
" You'll find it only too easy. Look here, I hate
telling you this, but I must. The Countess Helga
told me that the princess had become most at-
A GREAT CHANCE FOR A VILLAIN. 13*
tached to the king. Since the coronation her feel-
ings have undergone a marked development. It's
quite true that she is deeply wounded by the king's
apparent neglect."
" Here's a kettle of fish! " I groaned.
"Tut, tut!" said Sapt. "I suppose you've
made pretty speeches to a girl before now? That's
all she wants."
Fritz, himself a lover, understood better my dis-
tress. He laid his hand on my shoulder, but said
nothing.
" I think, though," pursued that cold-blooded
old Sapt, " that you'd better make your offer to-
night."
" Good Heavens! "
" Or, at any rate, go near it; and I shall send a
' semi-official ' to the papers."
" I'll do nothing of the sort no more will
you!" said I. "I utterly refuse to take part in
making a fool of the princess."
Sapt looked at me with his small keen eyes. A!
slow, cunning smile passed over his face.
13* THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
"All right, lad, all right!" said he. "We
mustn't press you too hard. Soothe her down a
bit, if you can, you know. Now for Michael ! "
"Oh, damn Michael!" said I. "He'll do to-
morrow. Here, Fritz, come for a stroll in the
garden."
Sapt at once yielded. His rough manner cov-
ered a wonderful tact and, as I came to recognize
more and more, a remarkable knowledge of human
nature. Why did he urge me so little about the
princess? Because he knew that her beauty and
my ardor would carry me further than all his argu-
ments and that the less I thought about the thing
the more likely was I to do it. He must have seen
the unhappiness he might bring on the princess;
but that went for nothing with him. Can I say,
confidently, that he was wrong? If the king were
restored the princess must turn to him, either
knowing, or not knowing, the change. And if the
king were not restored to us? It was a subject
that we had never yet spoken of. But I had an
idea that, in such a case, Sapt meant to seat me on
the throne of Ruritania for the term of my life.
A GREAT CHANCE FOR A VILLAIN. 133
He would have set Satan himself there sooner than
that pupil of his, Black Michael.
The ball was a sumptuous affair. I opened it
by dancing a quadrille with Flavia; then I waltzed
with her. Curious eyes and eager whispers at-
tended us. We went in to supper; and halfway
through I, half mad by then, for her glance had
answered mine, and her quick breathing met my
stammered sentences I rose in my place before all
the brilliant crowd, and taking the Red Rose that
I wore, flung the ribbon with its jeweled badge
round her neck. In a tumult of applause I sat
down; I saw Sapt smiling over his wine, and Fritz
frowning. The rest of the meal passed in silence;
neither Flavia nor I could speak. Fritz touched
me on the shoulder, and I rose, gave her my arm,
and walked down the hall into a little room, where
coffee was served to us. The gentlemen and ladies
in attendance withdrew, and we were alone.
The little room had French windows opening on
the gardens. The night was fine, cool, and fra-
grant. Flavia sat down, and I stood opposite her.
I was struggling with myself; if she had not looked
134 THE PRISONER OF ZEND/I.
at me I believe that even then I should have won
my fight. But suddenly, involuntarily, she gave
me one brief glance a glance of question, hur-
riedly turned aside; a blush that the question had
overcome spread over her cheek, and she caught
her breath.
Ah, if you had seen her! I forgot the king in
Zenda. I forgot the king in Strelsau. She was a
princess and I an impostor. Do you think I re-
membered that? I threw myself on my knee and
seized her hands in mine. I said nothing. Why
should I? The soft sounds of the night set my
wooing to a wordless melody as I pressed my
kisses on her lips.
She pushed me from her, crying suddenly:
"Ah! is it true? or is it only because you
must? "
" It's true! " I said in low, smothered tones
" true that I love you more than life or truth
or honor! "
She set no meaning to my words, treating them
as one of love's sweet extravagances. She came
close to me, and whispered:
A GREAT CHANCE FOR A VILLAIN *35
" Oh, if you were not the king! Then I could
show you how I love you! How is it that I love
you now, Rudolf? "
" Now? "
" Yes just lately. I I never did before."
Pure triumph filled me. It was I Rudolf Ras*
sendyll who had won her! I caught her round
the waist.
" You didn't love me before? " I asked.
She looked up into my face, smiling, as she
whispered:
" It must have been your crown. I felt it first
on the coronation day."
" Never before? " I asked eagerly.
She laughed low.
" You speak as if you would be pleased to hear
me say ' Yes ' to that," she said.
"Would 'Yes 'be true?"
" Yes," I just heard her breathe, and she went
on in an instant: " Be careful, Rudolf; be careful,
dear. He will be mad now."
"What, Michael? If Michael were the
worst "
Z36 THE PRISONER OF ZEKDA.
" What worst is there? "
There was yet a chance for me. Controlling
myself with a mighty effort, I took my hands off
her and stood a yard or two away. I remember
now the note of the wind in the elm trees out-
side.
" If I were not the king," I began; "if I were
only a private gentleman "
Before I could finish her hand was in mine.
" If you were a convict in the prison of Strelsau
you would be my king," she said.
And under my breath I groaned, " God forgive
me! " and, holding her hand in mine, I said again:
" If I were not the king "
"Hush, hush!" she whispered. "I don't de-
serve it I don't deserve to be doubted. Ah, Ru-
dolf! does a woman who marries without love look
on the man as I look on you? "
And she hid her face from me.
For more than a minute we stood there to-
gether; and I, even with my arm about her, sum-
moned up what honor and conscience her beauty
and the toils that I was in had left me.
A GREAT CHANCE FOR A VILLAIN. 137
(< Flavia," I said in a strange, dry voice that
seemed not my own, " I am not "
As I spoke as she raised her eyes to me there
was a heavy step on the gravel outside, and a man
appeared at the window. A little cry burst front
Flavia as she sprang back from me. My half-
finished sentence died on my lips. Sapt stood
there, bowing low, but with a stern frown on his
face.
" A thousand pardons, sire," said he, " but his
Eminence the Cardinal has waited this quarter of
an hour to offer his respectful adieu to your
Majesty."
I met his eye full and square; and I read in it an
angry warning. How long he had been a listener
I knew not, but he had come in upon us in the nick
of time.
"We must not keep his Eminence waiting,"
said I.
But Flavia, in whose love there lay no shame,
with radiant eyes and blushing face held out her
hand to Sapt. She said nothing, but no man could
have missed her meaning who had ever seen a
3 8 THE PRISONER OF ZEND*
woman in the exaltation of love. A sour, yet sad,
smile passed over the old soldier's face, and there
was tenderness in his voice as, bending to kiss her
hand, he said:
" In joy and sorrow, in good times and bad, God
save your Royal Highness! "
He paused and added, glancing at me and draw-
ing himself up to military erectness:
" But before all conies the king God save the
king! "
And Flavia caught at my hand and kissed it,
murmuring:
"Amen! Good God, amen!"
We went into the ballroom again. Forced to
receive adieus, I was separated from Flavia; every-
one, when he left me, went to her. Sapt was out
and in of the throng, and where he had been
glances, smiles, and whispers were rife. I doubted
not that, true to his relentless purpose, he was
spreading the news that he had learned. To up-
hold the crown and beat Black Michael that was
his one resolve. Flavia, myself aye, and the real
king in Zenda, were pieces in his game; and pawns
-I HANDF.D FLA VI A DOWN THE BROAD MARBLE STEPS." Page 1S9-
A GREAT CHANCE FOR A VILLAIN. *39
have no business with passions. Not even at the
walls of the palace did he stop; for when at last I
handed Flavia down the broad marble steps and
into her carriage there was a great crowd awaiting
us, and we were welcomed with deafening cheers.
What could I do? Had I spoken then they would
have refused to believe that I was not the king;
they might have believed that the king had run
mad. By Sapt's devices and my own ungoverned
passion I had been forced on, and the way back
had closed behind me; and the passion still drove
me in the same direction as the devices se-
duced me. I faced all Strelsau that night as
the king and the accepted suitor of the Princess
Flavia.
At last, at three in the morning, when the cold
light of dawning day began to steal in, I was in my
dressing room, and Sapt alone was with me. I sat
like a man dazed, staring into the fire; he puffed at
his pipe; Fritz was gone to bed, having almost re-
fused to speak to me. On the table by me lay a
rose; it had been in Flavia's dress, and as we parted
she had kissed it and given it to me.
24 THE PRISONER Of ZENDA.
Sapt advanced his hand toward the rose, but,
with a quick movement, I shut mine down upon it.
" That's mine/' I said, " not yours nor the
king's either."
" We struck a good blow for the king to-night,"
said he.
I turned on him fiercely.
" What's to prevent me striking a blow for my-
self? " I said.
He nodded his head.
" I know what's in your mind," he said. " Yes,
lad; but you're bound in honor."
" Have you left me any honor? "
" Oh, come! to play a little trick on a girl "
" You can spare me that. Colonel Sapt, if you
would not have me utterly a villain if you would
not have your king rot in Zenda, while Michael
and I play for the great stake outside You
follow me? "
" Aye, I follow you."
" We must act, and quickly! You saw to-night
you heard to-night "
" I did," said he.
A GREAT CHANCE FOR A VILLAIN. I4
w Your cursed acuteness told you what I should
do. Well, leave me here a week and there's
another problem for you. Do you find the an-
swer? "
" Yes, I find it," he answered, frowning heavily.
" But if you did that you'd have to fight me first
and kill me."
" Well, and if I had or a score of men? I tell
you, I could raise all Strelsau on you in an hour,
and choke you with your lies yes, your mad lies
in your mouth."
" It's gospel truth," he said " thanks to my ad-
vice, you could."
" I could marry the princess, and send Michael
and his brother together to "
" I'm not denying it, lad," said he.
" Then, in God's name," I cried, stretching out
my hands to him, " let us go to Zenda and crush
this Michael, and bring the king back to his own
again."
The old fellow stood and looked at me for full a
minute.
" And the princess? " he said.
4 THE PRISONER OF ZEND*.
I bowed my head to meet my hands, and crushed
the rose between my fingers and my lips.
I felt his hand on my shoulder, and his voice
sounded husky is he whispered low in my ear:
" Before God, you're the finest Elphberg of them
all. But I have eaten of the king's bread, and I
am the king's servant. Come, we will go to
Zenda!"
And I looked up and caught him by the hand.
And the eyes of both of us were wet.
CHAPTER XI.
HUNTING A VERY BIG BOAR.
THE terrible temptation which was assailing
jne will now be understood. I would so force
Michael's hand that he must kill the king. I was
in a position to bid him defiance and tighten my
grasp on the crown not for its own sake, but be-
cause the King of Ruritania was to wed the Prin-
cess Flavia. What of Sapt and Fritz? Ah! but a
man cannot be held to write down in cold blood
the wild and black thoughts that storm his brain
when an uncontrolled passion has battered a breach
for them. Yet, unless he sets up as a saint, he
need not hate himself for them. He is better em-
.
ployed, as it humbly seems to me, in giving thanks
that power to resist was vouchsafed to him than in
fretting over wicked impulses which come un-
sought and extort an unwilling hospitality from
the weakness of our nature.
144 THE PRISONER OF ZEND*.
It was a fine bright morning when I walked^ tin*
attended, to the princess' house, carrying a nose-
gay in my hand. Policy made excuses for love,
and every attention that I paid her, while it riveted
my own chains, bound closer to me the people of
the great city, who worshiped her. I found Fritz's
inamorata, the Countess Helga, gathering blooms
in the garden for her mistress' wear, and prevailed
on her to take mine in their place. The girl was
rosy with happiness, for Fritz, in his turn, had not
wasted his evening, and no dark shadow hung over
his wooing, save the hatred which the Duke of
Strelsau was known to bear him.
" And that," she said, with a mischievous smile,
"your Majesty has made of no moment. Yes p
I will take the flowers; shall I tell you, sire,
what is the first thing the princess does with
them? "
We were talking on a broad terrace that ran
along the back of the house, and a window above
our heads stood open.
" Madame ! " cried the countess merrily, and
Flavia herself looked out. I bared my head and
HUNTING A VERY BIG ROAR, 145
bowed. She wore a white gown, and her hair was
loosely gathered in a knot. She kissed her hand
to me, crying:
" Bring the king up, Helga; I'll give him some
coffee/'
The countess, with a gay glance, led the way,
and took me into Flavia's morning room. And,
left alone, we greeted one another as lovers are
wont. Then the princess laid two letters before
me. One was from Black Michael a most cour-
teous request that she would honor him by spend-
ing a day at his castle of Zenda, as had been her
custom once a year in the summer, when the place
and its gardens were in the height of their great
beauty. I threw the letter down in disgust, and
Flavia laughed at me. Then, growing grave
again, she pointed to the other sheet.
" I don't know who that comes from," she said.
" Read it."
I knew in a moment. There was no signature
at all this time, but the handwriting was the same
as that which had told me of the snare in the sum-
merhouse; it was Antoinette de Mauban's.
4* THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
1 have no cause to love you [it ran], but God forbid that
you should fall into the power of the duke. Accept no invi-
tations of his. Go nowhere without a large guard a regiment
is not too much to make you safe, Show this, if you can, to
him who reigns in Strelsau.
" Why doesn't it say ' the king '? " asked Flavia,
leaning over my shoulder, so that the ripple of her
hair played on my cheek. " Is it a hoax? "
"As you value life, and more than life, my
queen," I said, " obey it to the very letter. A regi-
ment shall camp round your house to-day. See
that you do not go out unless well guarded."
"An order, sire?" she asked, a little rebellious.
" Yes, an order, madame if you love me."
"Ah! " she cried; and I could not but kiss her.
'' You know who sent it? " she asked.
" I guess," said I. " It is from a good friend
and, I fear, an unhappy woman. You must be ill,
Flavia, and unable to go to Zenda. Make your
excuses as cold and formal as you like."
" So you feel strong enough to anger Michael? *
she said, with a proud smile.
" I'm strong enough for anything- while you are
safe," said I.
HUNTING A VERY BIG BOAR. 14?
Soon I tore myself away from her, and then,
without consulting Sapt, I took my way to the
house of Marshal Strakencz. I had seen some-
thing of the old general, and I liked and trusted
him. Sapt was less enthusiastic, but I had learned
by now that Sapt was best pleased when he could
do everything, and jealousy played some part in
his views. As things were now I had more work
than Sapt and Fritz could manage, for they must
come with me to Zenda, and I wanted a man to
guard what I loved most in all the world, and suffer
me to set about my task of releasing the king with
i quiet mind.
The marshal received me with most loyal kind-
ness. To some extent I took him into my confi-
dence. I charged him with the care of the
princess, looking him full and significantly in the
face as I bade him let no one from her cousin the
duke approach her, unless he himself were there
and a dozen of his men with him.
" You may be right, sire," said he, shaking his
gray head sadly. " I have known better men than
the duke do worse things than that for love,"
*48 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
I could quite appreciate the remark, but I
said:
" There's something besides love, marshal.
Love's for the heart; is there nothing my brother
might like for his head? "
" I pray that you wrong him, sire."
" Marshal, I'm leaving Strelsau for a few days.
Every evening I will send a courier to you. If for
three days none comes you will publish an order
which I will give you, depriving Duke Michael of
the governorship of Strelsau and appointing you
in his place. You will declare a state of siege.
Then you will send word to Michael that you de-
mand an audience of the king You follow
me?"
" Aye, sire."
" In twenty-four hours. If he does not produce
the king " I laid my hand on his knee " then
the king is dead, and you will proclaim the next
heir. You know who that is? "
" The Princess Flavia."
" And swear to me, on your faith and honor,
and by the fear of the living God, that you will
HUNTING A VERY BIG BOAR. 149
Stand by her to your death, and kill that reptile,
and seat her where I sit now."
" On my faith and honor, and by the fear of
God, I swear it! And may Almighty God pre*
serve your Majesty, for I think that you go on an
errand of danger."
" I hope that no life more precious than mine
may be demanded," said I, rising. Then I held
out my hand to him.
" Marshal," I said, " in days to come it may be =
I know not that you will hear strange things of
the man who speaks to you now. Let him be
what he may, and who he may, what say you of the
manner in which he has borne himself as king in
Strelsau? "
The old man, holding my hand, spoke to me,
man to man.
" I have known many of the Elphbergs," said
he, " and I have seen you. And, happen what
may, you have borne yourself as a wise king and a
brave man; aye, and you have proved as courteous
a gentleman and as gallant a lover as any that havs
been of the House."
*5 THE PRISONER OF
" Be that my epitaph," said I, " when thr time
come that another sits on the throne of Ruritania."
" God send a far day, and may I not see it! " said
he.
I was much moved, and the marshal's worn face
twitched. I sat down and wrote my order.
" I can hardly yet write," said I ; " my finger is
stiff still."
It was, in fact, the first time that I had ventured
/o write more than a signature; and, in spite of the
pains I had taken to learn the king's hand, I was
not yet perfect in it.
" Indeed, sire," he said, " it differs a little from
your ordinary handwriting. It is unfortunate, for
it may lead to a suspicion of forgery."
" Marshal," said I, with a laugh, " what use are
the guns of Strelsau if they can't assuage a little
suspicion? "
He smiled grimly and took the paper.
" Colonel Sapt and Fritz von Tarlenheim go
with me/' I continued.
" You go to seek the duke? " he asked in a low
tone.
HUNTING A VERY BIG BOAR, I$I
"Yes, the duke, and someone else of whom I
have need and who is at Zenda," I replied.
" I wish I could go with you," he cried, tugging
at his white mustache. " I'd like to strike a blow
for you and your crown."
" I leave you what is more than my life and more
than my crown," said I, " because you are the man
I trust more than all others in Ruritania."
" I will deliver her to you safe and sound," said
he, " and, failing that, I will make her queen."
We parted, and I returned to the palace and told
Sapt and Fritz what I had done. Sapt had a few
faults to find and a few grumbles to utter. This
was merely what I expected, for Sapt liked to be
consulted beforehand, not informed afterward; on
the whole, he approved of my plans, and his spirits
rose high as the hour of action drew nearer and
nearer. Fritz, too, was ready; though he, poor
fellow, risked more than Sapt did, for he was a
lover, and his happiness hung in the scale. Yet
how I envied him! For the triumphant issue
which would crown him with happiness and unite
him to his mistress, the success for which we were
15 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
bound to hope and strive and struggle, meant to
me sorrow more certain and greater than if I were
doomed to fail. He understood something of this,
for, when we were alone (save for old Sapt, who
was smoking at the other end of the room), he
passed his arm through mine, saying:
" It's hard for you. Don't think I don't trust
you; I know you have nothing but true thoughts
in your heart."
But I turned away from him, thankful that he
could not see what my heart held, but only
be witness to the deeds that my hands were
to do.
Yet even he did not understand, for he had not
dared to lift his eyes to the Princess Flavia, as I had
lifted mine.
Our plans were now all made, even as we pro-
ceeded to carry them out, and as they will hereafter
appear. The next morning we were to start on the
hunting excursion. I had made all arrangements
lor being absent, and now there was only one thing
left to do the hardest, the most heart-breaking.
As evening fell I drove through the busy streets to
HUNTING A YERY BIG BOAR, 153
Flavia's residence. I was recognized as I went,
and heartily cheered. I played my part, and made
shift to look the happy lover. In spite of my de-
pression I was almost amused at the coolness and
delicate hauteur with which my sweet love re-
ceived me. She had heard that the king was leav-
ing Strelsau on a hunting expedition.
" I regret that we cannot amuse your Majesty
here in Strelsau," she said, tapping her foot lightly
on the floor. " I would have offered you more
entertainment, but I was foolish enough to
think "
" Well, what ? " I asked, leaning over her.
" That for just a day or two, after after last
night you might be happy without much
gayety; " and she turned pettishly from me, as she
added, " I hope the boars will be more engross-
ing."
" I'm going after a very big boar," said I; and,
because I could not help it, I began to play with
her hair, but she moved her head away.
" Are you offended with me? " I asked in feigned
surprise, for I could not resist tormenting her a
'54 THE PRISONER OF ZEND/f.
little. I had never seen her angry, and every fresh
aspect of her was a delight to me.
" What right have I to be offended ? True, you
said last night that every hour away from me was
wasted. But a very big boar! that's a different
thing."
" Perhaps the boar will hunt me," I suggested
" Perhaps, Flavia, he'll catch me."
She made no answer.
" You are not touched even by that danger ? "
Still she said nothing; and I, stealing round!
found her eyes full of tears.
" You weep for my danger ? "
Then she spoke, very low:
" This is like what you used to be; but not like
the king the king I I have come to love ! "
With a sudden great groan I caught her to my
heart.
" My darling ! " I cried, forgetting everything
but her, " did you dream that I left you to go
hunting ? "
"What then, Rudolf? Ah! you're no* go-
in^
HUNTING A VERY BIG BOAR, 155
"Well, it is hunting. I go to seek Michael in
Ms lair."
She had turned very pale.
" So you see, sweet, I was not sc poor a lover as
you thought me. I shall not be long gone."
" You will write to me, Rudolf? "
I was weak, but I could not say a word to stir
suspicion in her.
" I'll send you all my heart every day,"
said I.
" And you'll run no danger? "
" None that I need not."
" And when will you be back? Ah, how long it
will be!"
" When shall I be back? " I repeated.
" Yes, yes ! Don't be long, dear, don't be long,
I shan't sleep while you're away."
" I don't know when I shall be back," said I.
" Soon, Rudolf, soon? "
" God knows, my darling. But if never "
" Hush, hush ! " and she pressed her lips to
mine.
" If never," I whispered, " you must take my
156 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
jplace; you'll be the only one of the House then,
You must reign, and not weep for me."
For a moment she drew herself up like a very
queen.
" Yes, I wilii " she said. " I will reign. I will
do my part. Though all my life will be empty and
my heart dead, yet I'll do it! "
She paused, and sinking against me again,
wailed softly:
" Come soon! come soon! "
Carried away, I cried loudly:
"As God lives, I yes, I myself will see you
once more before I die ! "
" What do you mean? " she exclaimed with
wondering eyes; but I had no answer for her, and
she gazed at me with her wondering eyes.
I dared not ask her to forget; she would have
found it an insult. I could not tell her then who
and what I was. She was weeping, and I had but
to dry her tears.
" Shall a man not come back to the loveliest
lady in all the wide world? " said I. " A thousand
Michaels should not keep me from you! "
HUNTING A VERY BIG BOAR. I$y
She clung to me a little comforted.
" You won't let Michael hurt you? "
" No, sweetheart."
" Or keep you from me? "
" No, sweetheart."
" Nor anyone else? "
And again I answered:
" No, sweetheart."
Yet there was one not Michael who, if he
lived, must keep me from her; and for whose life
I was going forth to stake my own. And his
figure the lithe, buoyant figure I had met in the
woods of Zenda the dull, inert mass I had left in
the cellar of the shooting lodge seemed to rise,
double-shaped, before me, and to come between
us, thrusting itself in even where she lay, pale, ex-
hausted, fainting, in my arms, and yet looking up
at me with those eyes that bore such love as I have
never seen, and haunt me now, and will till the
ground closes over me and (who knows?) per
'laps beyond
CHAPTER XIL
I RECEIVE A VISITOR AND BAIT A HOOK.
ABOUT five miles from Zenda, on the opposite
side from that on which the castle was situated,
there lies a large tract of wood. It is rising
ground and in the center of the demesne, on the
top of the hill, stands a fine modern chateau, the
property of a distant kinsman of Fritz's, the Count
Stanislas von Tarlenheim. Count Stanislas him-
self was a student and a recluse. He seldom vis-
ited the house, and had, on Fritz's request, very
readily and courteously offered me its hospitality
for myself and my party. This, then, was our des-
tination; chosen ostensibly for the sake of the boar
hunting (for the wood was carefully preserved, and
boars, once common all over Ruritania, were still
to be found there in considerable numbers), really
because it brought us within striking distance of
fthe Duke of Strelsau's more magnificent dwelling
*' RECEIVE A VISITOR AND BAIT A HOOK. 1 59
on the other side of the town. A large party of
servants, with horses and luggage, started early in
the morning; we followed at midday, traveling by
train for thirty miles, and then mounting our horses
to ride the remaining distance to the chdteau.
We were a gallant party. Besides Sapt and
Fritz, I was accompanied by ten gentlemen.
Every one of them had been carefully chosen, and
no less carefully sounded by my two friends, and
all were devotedly attached to the person of the
king. They were told a part of the truth. The
attempt on my life in the summerhouse was re-
vealed to them as a spur to their loyalty and an
indictment against Michael. They were also in-
formed that a friend of the king's was suspected
to be forcibly confined within the castle of Zenda.
His rescue was one of the objects of the expedi-
tion; but, it was added, the king's main desire was
to carry into effect certain steps against his treach-
erous brother, as to the precise nature of which
they could not at present be further enlightened.
Enough that the king commanded their services
and would rely on their devotion when occasions
^60 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
arose to call for it. Young, well-bred, brave, and
loyal, they asked no more. They were ready to
prove their dutiful obedience, and prayed for a
fight as the best and most exhilarating mode of
showing it.
Thus the scene was shifted from Strelsau to the
chateau of Tarlenheim and castle of Zenda, which
frowned at us across the valley. I tried to shift
my thoughts also, to forget my love, and to bend
all my energies to the task before me. It was to
get the king out of the castle alive. Force was
useless: in some trick lay the chance; and I had
already an inkling of what we must do. But I was
terribly hampered by the publicity which attended
my movements. Michael must know by now of
my expedition; and I knew Michael too well to
suppose that his eyes would be blinded by the feint
of the boar hunt. He would understand very well
what the real quarry was. That, however, must
be risked that and all it might mean; for Sapt, no
less than myself, recognized that the present state
of things had become unendurable. And there
was one thing that I dared to calculate on nok
1 RECEIVE A VISITOR AND BAIT A HOOK. *6*
as I now know, without warrant. It was this
that Black Michael would not believe that I meant
well by the king. He could not appreciate I will
not say an honest man, for the thoughts of my own
heart have been revealed but a man acting hon-
estly. He saw my opportunity as I had seen it,
as Sapt had seen it; he knew the princess nay
(and I declare that a sneaking sort of pity for him
invaded me), in his way he loved her; he would
think that Sapt and Fritz could be bribed, so the
bribe were large enough. Thinking thus, would
he kill the king, my rival and my danger? Aye,
verily, that he would, with as little compunction as
he would kill a rat. But he would kill Rudolf Ras-
sendyll first, if he could; and nothing but the cer-
tainty of being utterly damned by the release of
the king alive and his restoration to the throne
would drive him to throw away the trump card
which he held in reserve to balk the supposed game
of the impudent impostor Rassendyll. Musing on
all this as I rode along, I took courage.
Michael knew of my coming, sure enough. I
had not been in the house an hour when an impos-
16* THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
ing embassy arrived from him. He did not quite
reach the impudence of sending my would-be
assassins, but he sent the other three of his famous
Six the three Ruritanian gentlemen Lauen-
gram, Krafstein, and Rupert Hentzau. A fine,
strapping trio they were, splendidly horsed and
admirably equipped. Young Rupert, who looked
a dare-devil, and could not have been more than
twenty-two or twenty-three, took the lead, and
made us the neatest speech, wherein my devoted
subject and loving brother, Michael of Strelsau,
prayed me to pardon him for not paying his ad-
dresses in person, and, further, for not putting his
castle at my disposal; the reason for both of these
apparent derelictions being that he and several of
his servants lay sick of scarlet fever, and were in a
very sad, and also a very infectious state. So de-
clared young Rupert with an insolent smile on his
curling upper lip and a toss of his thick hair he
was a handsome villain, and the gossip ran that
many a lady had troubled her heart for him
already.
" If my brother has scarlet fever," said I, " he is
U RECEIVE A VISITOR. AND BAIT A HOOK, J
nearer my complexion than he is wont to be, my
lord. I trust he does not suffer? "
" He is able to attend to his affairs, sire."
" I hope all beneath your roof are not sick.
What of my good friends De Gautet, Bersonin, and
Detchard? I heard the last had suffered a hurt."
Lauengram and Krafstein looked glum and un-
easy, but young Rupert's smile grew broader.
" He hopes soon to find a medicine for it, sire,"
he answered.
And I burst out laughing, for I knew what medi=
cine Detchard longed for it is called Revenge.
" You will dine with us, gentlemen? " I asked.
Young Rupert was profuse in apologies. They
had urgent duties at the castle.
" Then," said I, with a wave of my hand, " to
our next meeting, gentlemen. May it make us
better acquainted! "
" We will pray your Majesty for an early oppor-
tunity," quoth Rupert airily; and he strode past
Sapt with such jeering scorn on his face that I saw
the old fellow clench his fist and scowl black as
night.
i<S4 THE PRISONER OF ZEKDA.
For my part, if a man must needs be a Knave I
would have him a debonair knave, and I liked Ru-
pert Hentzau better than his long-faced, close-
eyed companions. It makes your sin no worse,
as I conceive, to do it d la mode and stylishly.
Now it was a curious thing that on this first
night, instead of eating the excellent dinner my
cooks had prepared for me, I must needs leave my
gentlemen to eat it alone, under Sapt's presiding
care, and ride myself with Fritz to the town of
Zenda and a certain little inn that I knew of.
There was little danger in the excursion; the even-
ings were long and light, and the road this side of
Zends, well frequented. So off we rode, with a
groom behind us. I muffled myself up in a big
cloak.
" Fritz," said I as we entered the town, " there's
an uncommonly pretty girl at this inn."
" How do you know? " he asked.
" Because I've been there," said I.
" Since " he began.
" No. Before," said I.
" But they'll recognize you? "
J RECEIVE A VISITOR AND BAIT A HOOK. i6|
" Well, of course they will. Now don't argue,
my good fellow, but listen to me. We're two
gentlemen of the king's household, arid one of us
has a toothache. The other will order a private
room and dinner, and further, a bottle of the best
wine for the sufferer. And if he be as clever a fel=
low as I take him for, the pretty girl and no other
will wait on us."
" What if she won't? " objected Fritz.
" My dear Fritz," said I, " if she won't for you
she will for me."
We were at the inn. Nothing of me but my
eyes was visible as I walked in. The landlady re-
ceived us; two minutes later my little friend (ever }
I fear me, on the lookout for such guests as might
prove amusing) made her appearance. Din-
ner and the wine were ordered. I sat down
in the private room. A minute after Fritz
came in.
" She's coming," he said.
" If she were not I should have to doubt the
Countess Helga's taste."
She came in. I gave her time to set the win
166 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
down I didn't want it dropped. Fritz poured
out a glass and gave it to me.
" Is the gentleman in great pain? " the girl asked
sympathetically.
" The gentleman is no worse than when he saw
you last," said I, throwing away my cloak.
She started with a little shriek. Then she cried:
" It was the king, then! I told mother so the
minute I saw his picture. Oh, sir, forgive me!"
" Faith, you gave me nothing that hurt much,"
said I.
" But the things we said! "
" I forgive them for the thing you did."
" I must go and tell mother."
" Stop," said I, assuming a graver air. " We
are not here for sport to-night. Go and bring din-
ner, and not a word of the king being here."
She came back in a few minutes, looking grave,
yet very curious.
" Well, how is Johann? " I asked, beginning my
dinner.
"Oh, that fellow, sir my lord king, I mean! 9 *
" * Sir ' will do, please. How is he? "
/ RECEIVE A nslTOR AND BAIT A HOOK *fy
** We hardly see him now, sir! "
" And why not? "
" I told him he came too often, sir," said she,
tosing her head.
" So he sulks and stays away? "
" Yes, sir."
" But you could bring him back? " I suggested,
with a smile.
" Perhaps I could," said she.
" I know your powers, you see," said I, and she
blushed with pleasure.
" It's not only that, sir, that keeps him away.
He's very busy at the castle now."
" But there's no shooting on now."
" No, sir; but he's in charge of the house."
" Johann turned housemaid? "
The little girl was brimming over with gossip.
" Well, there are no others/' said she. " Thereof
not a woman there not as a servant, I mean
They do say but perhaps it's false, sir."
" Let's have it for what it's worth," said L
" Indeed, I'm ashamed to tell you, sir."
" Oh, see! I'm looking at the ceiling,"
*<S8 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
" They do say there is a lady there, sir; but, ex
cept for her, there's not a woman in the place.
And Johann has to wait on the gentlemen."
" Poor Johann! He must be overworked. Yet
I'm sure he could find half an hour to come and see
you."
" It would depend on the time, sir, perhaps."
" Do you love him? " I asked.
" Not I, sir."
" And you wish to serve the king? "
" Yes, sir."
" Then tell him to meet you at the second mile
stone out of Zenda, to-morrow evening at ten
o'clock. Say you'll be there and will walk home
with him."
" Do you mean him harm, sir? "
" Not if he will do as I bid him. But I think
I've told you enough, my pretty maid. See that
you do as I bid you. And, mind, no one is to
know that the king has been here."
I spoke a little sternly, for there is seldom harm
in infusing a little fear into a woman's liking for
you, and I softened the effect by giving her a hand-
/ RECEIVE A VISITOR AND BAIT A HOOK. 169
some present. Then we dined, and wrapping my
cloak about my face, with Fritz leading the way,
we went downstairs to our horses again.
It was but half-past eight, and hardly yet dark;
the streets were full for such a quiet little place, and
I could see that gossip was all agog. With th^
king on one side and the duke on the other, Zenda
felt itself the center of all Ruritania. We jogged
gently through the town, but set our horses to a
sharper pace when we reached the open country.
" You want to catch this fellow Johann? " asked
Fritz.
"Aye, and I fancy I've baited the hook right.
Our little Delilah will bring our Samson. It is not
enough, Fritz, to have no women in a house,
though brother Michael shows some wisdom there.
If you want safety you must have none within fifty
miles."
" None nearer than Strelsau, for instance/' said
poor Fritz, with a lovelorn sigh.
We reached the avenue of the chateau, and were
soon at the house. As the hoofs of our horses
sounded on the gravel Sapt rushed out to meet us
170 THE PRISONER OF ZEN DA.
"Thank God, you're safe!" he cried. "Have
you seen anything of them? "
" Of whom? " I asked, dismounting.
He drew us aside, that the grooms might not
hear.
" Lad," he said to me, " you must not ride about
here unless with half a dozen of us. You know
among our men a tall young fellow, Bernenstein
by name? "
I knew him. He was a fine, strapping young
.man, almost of my height, and of light complexion.
" He lies in his room upstairs, with a bullet
through his arm."
" The deuce he does! "
" After dinner he strolled out alone, and went a
mile or so into the wood; and as he walked he
thought he saw three men among the trees; and
one leveled a gun at him. He had no weapon, and
he started at a run back toward the house. But
one of them fired, and he was hit, and had much
ado to reach here before he fainted. By good
Suck, they feared to pursue him nearer the house, 9f
He paused, and added:
S RECEIVE A VISITOR AND BAIT A HOOK, I7
" Lad, the bullet was meant for you."
" It is very likely," said I, " and it's first blood to
brother Michael."
" I wonder which three it was," said Fritz.
" Well, Sapt," I said. " I went out to-night for
no idle purpose, as you shall hear. But there's one
thing in my mind."
"What's that? "he asked.
" Why, this," I answered. " That I shall ill re-
quite the very great honors Ruritania has done me
if I depart from it leaving one of those Six alive
neither, with the help of God, will I."
And Sapt shook my hand on that
CHAPTER XIII.
AN IMPROVEMENT ON JACOB'S LADDER.
IN the morning of the day after that on which I
swore my oath against the Six I gave certain
orders and then rested in greater contentment
than I had known for some time. I was at work;
and work, though it cannot cure love, is yet a nar-
cotic to it. So that Sapt, who grew feverish, mar-
veled to see me sprawling in an armchair in the
sunshine, listening to one of my friends who sang
me amorous songs in a mellow voice and induced
in me a pleasing melancholy. Thus was I engaged
when young Rupert Hentzau, who feared neither
man nor devil, and rode through the demesne
where every tree might hide a marksman, for all
he knew as though it had been the park at Strel-
sau, cantered up to where I lay, bowing with
burlesque deference, and craving private speech
with me in order to deliver a message from the
JN IMPROVEMENT ON JACOB'S LADDER, i?3
Duke of Strelsau. I made all withdraw, and then
he said, seating himself by me:
" The king is in love, it seems? "
" Not with life, my lord," said I, smiling.
" It is well," he rejoined. " Come, we are alone.
Rassendyll "
I rose to a sitting posture.
" What's the matter? " he asked.
" I was about to call one of my gentlemen to
bring your horse, my lord. If you do not know
how to address the king my brother must find an-
other messenger."
" Why keep up the farce? " he asked, negligently
dusting his boot with his glove.
" Because it is not finished yet; and meanwhile
I'll choose my own name."
" Oh, so be it! Yet I spoke in love for you; for
indeed you are a man after my own heart."
" Saving my pocr honesty," said I, " maybe I
am. But that I keep faith with men, and honor
with women, maybe I am, my lord."
He darted a glance at me a glance of anger,
" Is your mother dead? " said I.
174 THE PRISONER OF
"Aye, she's dead."
" She may thank God," said I, and I heard him
curse me softly. " Well, what's the message? " I
continued.
I had touched him in the raw, for all the world
knew he had broken his mother's heart and
flaunted his mistresses in her house; and his airy
manner was gone for the moment.
" The duke offers you more than I would," he
growled. " A halter for you, sire, was my sugges-
tion. But he offcx you safe-conduct across tjie
frontier and a million crowns."
" I prefer your offer, my lord, if I am bound to
one."
" You refuse? "
" Of course."
" I told Michael you would; " and the villain, his
temper restored, gave me the sunniest of smiles.
"The fact is, between ourselves," he continued,
" Michael doesn't understand a gentleman."
I began to laugh.
"And you?" Tasked.
" I do," he said. " Well, well, the halter be it! "
At* IMPROVEMENT ON JACOB'S LADDER, I7S
M I'm sorry you won't live to see it," I observed.
" Has his Majesty done me the honor to fasten a
particular quarrel on me? "
" I would you were a few years older, though."
" Oh, God gives years, but the devil gives in-
crease," laughed he. " I can hold my own."
" How is your prisoner? " I asked.
" The k "
" Your prisoner."
" I forgot your wishes, sire. Well, he is alive."
He rose to his feet; I imitated him. Then, with
a smile, he said:
" And the pretty princess? Faith, I'll wager the
next Elphberg will be red enough, for all that
Black Michael will be called his father."
I sprang a step toward him, clenching my hand.
He did not move an inch, and his lip curled in inso-
lent amusement.
" Go, while your skin's whole! " I muttered.
He had repaid me with interest my hit about his
mother.
Then came the most audacious thing I have
known in my life. My friends were some thirty
176 THE PRISONER OF ZEN DA
yards away. Rupert called to a groom to bring
him his horse, and dismissed the fellow with a
crown. The horse stood near. I stood still, sus-
pecting nothing. Rupert made as though tc
mount; then he suddenly turned to me, his left
hand resting on his belt, his right outstretched:
" Shake hands," he said.
I bowed, and did as he had foreseen I put my
hands behind me. Quicker than thought his left
hand darted out at me, and a small dagger flashed
in the air; he struck me in the left shoulder had I
not swerved it had been my heart. With a cry I
staggered back. Without touching the stirrup,
he leaped upon his horse and was off like an arrow,
pursued by cries and revolver shots, the last as
useless as the first, and I sank into my chair,
bleeding profusely, as I watched the devil's brat
disappear down the long avenue. My friends sur.
rounded me, and then I fainted.
I suppose that I was put to bed, and there lay
unconscious or half conscious for many hours; for
it was night when I awoke to my full mind, and
found Fritz beside me. I was weak and weary t
AN IMPROVEMENT ON JACOB'S LADDER. 177
but he bade me be of good cheer, saying that my
wound would soon heal, and that meanwhile all
had gone well, for Johann, the keeper, had fallen
into the snare we had laid for him, and was even
now in the house.
" And the queer thing is," pursued Fritz, " that
I fancy he's not altogether sorry to find himself
here. He seems to think that, when Black Michael
has brought off his coup, witnesses of how it was
effected saving, of course, the Six themselves
will not be at a premium."
This idea argued a shrewdness in our captive
which led me to build hopes on his assistance. I
ordered him to be brought in at once. Sapt con-
ducted him, and set him in a chair by my bedside.
He was sullen and afraid; but, to say truth, after
young Rupert's exploit we also had our fears, and
if he got as far as possible from Sapt's formidable
six-shooter, Sapt kept him as far as he could from
me. Moreover, when he came in his hands were
bound, but that I would not suffer.
I need not stay to recount the safeguards and re-
wards we promised the fellow all of which were
7* THE PRISONER OF ZEND A
honorably observed and paid, so that he lives now
in prosperity (though where I may not mention);
and we were the more free inasmuch as we soon
learned that he was rather a weak man than a
wicked, and had acted throughout this matter
more from fear of the duke and of his own brother
Max than for any love of what was done. But he
had persuaded all of his loyalty; and though not in
their secret counsels, was yet, by his knowledge of
their dispositions within the castle, able to lay bare
before us the very heart of their devices. And
here, in brief, is his story:
Below the level of the ground in the castle, ap-
proached by a flight of stone steps which abutted
on the end of the drawbridge, were situated two
small rooms, cut out of the rock itself. The outer
of the two had no windows, but was always lighted
with candles; the inner had one square window,
which gave upon the moat. In this inner room
there lay always, day and night, three of the Six;
and the instructions of Duke Michael were that on
any attack being made on the outer room the three
were to defend the door of it so long as they could
AN IMPROVEMENT ON JACOB'S LADDER. *79
without risk to themselves. But so soon as the
door should be in danger of being forced, then Ru-
pert Hentzau or Detchard (for one of these two
was always there) should leave the others to hold
it as long as they could, and himself pass into the
inner room, and without more ado kill the king,
who lay there, well treated indeed, but without
weapons, and with his arms confined in fine steel
chains, which did not allow him to move his
elbow more than three inches from his shoulder.
Thus, before the outer door were stormed, the king
would be dead. And his body? For his body
would be evidence as damning as himself.
" Nay, sir," said Johann, " his Highness has
thought of that. While the two hold the outer
room the one who has killed the king unlocks the
bars in the square window (they turn on a hinge).
The window now gives no light, for its mouth is
choked by a great pipe of earthenware; and this
pipe, which is large enough to let pass through it
the body of a man, passes into the moat, coming to
an end immediately above the surface of the water,
so that there is no perceptible interval between
*8o ME PRISONER OF ZENDA.
water and pipe. The king being dead, his mur<
derer swiftly ties a weight to the body, and drag-
ging it to the window, raises it by a pulley (for, lest
the weight should prove too great, Detchard has
provided one) till it is level with the mouth of the
pipe. He inserts the feet in the pipe, and pushes
the body down. Silently, without splash or sound,
it falls into the water and thence to the bottom of
the moat, which is twenty feet deep thereabouts.
This done, the murderer cries loudly, ' All's well ! '
and himself slides down the pipe; and the others, if
they can and the attack is not too hot, run to the
inner room and, seeking a moment's delay, bar the
door, and in their turn slide down. And though
the king rises not from the bottom, they rise and
swim round to the other side, where the orders are
for men to wait them with ropes, to haul them out,
and horses. And here, if things go ill, the duke
will join them and seek safety by riding; but if all
goes well they will return to the castle, and have
their enemies in a trap. That, sir, is the plan of
his Highness for the disposal of the king in case of
need. But it is not to be used till the last; for, as
JN IMPROVEMENT ON JACOB'S MDDER. I*
we all know, he is not minded to kill the king unlesi
he can, before or soon after, kill you also, sir.
Now, sir, I have spoken the truth, as God is my
witness, and I pray you to shield me from the ven-
geance of Duke Michael; for if, after he knows
what I have done, I fall into his hands, I shall pray
for one thing out of all the world a speedy death,
and that I shall not obtain from him! "
The fellow's story was rudely told, but our ques-
tions supplemented his narrative. What he had
told us applied to an armed attack; but if suspi-
cions were aroused and there came overwhelming
force such, for instance, as I, the king, could
bring the idea of resistance would be abandoned.
The king would be quietly murdered and slid down
the pipe. And here comes <m ingenious touch
one of the Six would take his place in the cell, and
on the entrance of the searchers loudly demand re-
lease and redress; and Michael, being summoned,
would confess to hasty action, but he would say
the man had angered him by seeking the favor oi
a lady in the castle (this was Antoinette de Man-
ban), and he had confined him there, as he cots-
iBa THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
ceived he, as Lord of Zenda, had a right to do.
But he was now, on receiving his apology, content
to let him go, and so end the gossip which, to his
Highness' annoyance, had arisen concerning a pris-
oner in Zenda, and had give his visitors the trouble
of this inquiry. The visitors, baffled, would retire,
and Michael could, at his leisure, dispose of the
body of the king.
Sapt, Fritz, and I in my bed looked round on
one another in horror and bewilderment at the
cruelty and cunning of the plan. Whether I went
in peace or in war, openly at the head of a corps, or
secretly by a stealthy assault, the king would be
dead before I could come near him. If Michael
were stronger and overcame my party, there would
be an end. But if I were stronger, I should have
no way to punish him, no means of proving any
guilt in him without proving my own guilt also.
On the other hand, I should be left as king (ah ! for
a moment my pulse quickened), and it would be for
the future to witness the final struggle between him
and me. He seemed to have made triumph pos-
sible and ruin impossible. At the worst he would
JN IMPROVEMENT ON JACOB'S LADDER, I&3
stand where he had stood before I crossed his path
with but one man between him and the throne,
and that man an impostor; at best there would be
none left to stand against him. I had begun to
think that Black Michael was overfond of leaving
the fighting to his friends; but now I acknowledged
that the brains, if not the arms, of the conspiracy
were his.
" Does the king know this? " I asked.
" I and my brother," answered Johann, " put up
the pipe, under the orders of my Lord of Hentzau.
He was on guard that day, and the king asked my
lord what it meant. ' Faith/ he answered, with his
airy laugh, ' it's a new improvement on the ladder
of Jacob, whereby, as you have read, sire, men pass
from earth to heaven. We thought it not meet
that your Majesty should go, in case, sire, you must
go, by the common route. So we have made you
a pretty private passage, where the vulgar cannot
stare at you or incommode your passage. That,
sire, is the meaning of that pipe.' And he laughed
and bowed, and prayed the king's leave to replenish
the king's glass for the king was at supper. And
^4 THE PRISONER OP ZENDA,
the king, though he is a brave man, as are all of his
House, grew red and then white as he looked on
the pipe and at the merry devil who mocked him.
A.h, sir," and the fellow shuddered, " it is not
easy to sleep quiet in the castle of Zenda, for all of
them would as soon cut a man's throat as play a
game at cards; and my Lord Rupert would choose
it sooner for a pastime than any other aye, sooner
than he would ruin a woman, though that he loves
also."
The man ceased, and I bade Fritz take him away
and have him carefully guarded; and, turning to
him, I added:
" If anyone asks you if there is a prisoner in
Zenda you may answer * Yes.' But if any asks
who the prisoner is, do not answer. For all my
promises will not save you if any man here learns
from you the truth as to the prisoner in Zenda.
I'll kill you like a dog if the thing be so much as
breathed within the house ! "
Then, when he was gone, I looked at Sapt.
" It is a hard nut! " said I.
" So hard," said he, shaking his grizzled head,
AW IMPROVEMENT ON JACOB'S LADDER, Ji8*
" that, as I think, this time next year is like to find
you still King of Ruritania! " and he broke out
into curses on Michael's cunning.
I lay back on my pillows.
" There seem to me," I observed, " to be two
ways by which the king can come out of Zenda
alive. One is by treachery in the duke's followers."
" You can leave that out," said Sapt.
" I hope not," I rejoined, " because the other
I was about to mention is by miracle froiw
Heaven!"
CHAPTER XIV.
A RIGHT OUTSIDE THE CASTLE.
IT would have surprised the good people of
Ruritania to know the foregoing talk; for, accord-
ing to the official reports, I had suffered a grievous
and dangerous hurt from an accidental spear
thrust, received in the course of my sport. I
caused the bulletins to be of a very serious char-
acter, and created great public excitement whereby
three things occurred: first, I gravely offended
the medical faculty of Strelsau by refusing to
summon to my bedside any of them save a
young man, a friend of Fritz's, whom we could
trust; secondly, I received word from Marshal
Strakencz that my orders seemed to have no
more weight than his, and that the Princess
Flavia was leaving for the Tarlenheim under his
unwilling escort (news whereat I strove not to be
glad and proud); and thirdly, my brother, the Duke
A NIGHT OUTSIDE THE C4STIE, iSfr
of Strelsau, although too well informed to believe
the account of the origin of my sickness, was yet
persuaded by the reports and by my seeming inac-
tivity that I was in truth incapable of action, and
that my life was in some danger. This I learned
from the man Johann, whom I was compelled to
trust and send back to Zenda, where, by the way,
Rupert Hentzau had him soundly flogged for dar-
ing to smirch the morals of Zenda. by staying out
all night in the pursuits of love. This, from Ru-
pert, Johann deeply resented, and the duke's ap-
proval of it did more to bind the keeper to my side
than all my promises.
On Flavia's arrival I cannot dwell. Her joy at
finding me up and well, instead of on my back and
fighting with death, makes a picture that even now
dances before my eyes till they grow too dim to
see it; and her reproaches that I had not trusted
even her must excuse the means I took to quiet
them. In truth, to have her with me once more
was like a taste of heaven to a damned soul, the
sweeter for the inevitable doom that was to follow;
and I rejoiced in being able to waste two whole
THE PRISONER OF ZEND/I.
days with her. And when I had wasted two days
the Duke of Strelsau arranged a hunting party.
The stroke was near now. For Sapt and I, after
anxious consultations, had resolved that we must
risk a blow; our resolution being clinched by
Johann's news that the king grew peaked, pale, and
ill, and that his health was breaking down under his
rigorous confinement. Now a man be he king or
no king may as well die swiftly, and, as becomes
a gentleman, from bullet or thrust, as rot his life out
in a cellar! That thought made prompt action ad-
visable in the interests of the king; from my own
point of view it grew more and more necessary.
For Strakencz urged on me the need of a speedy
marriage, and my own inclinations seconded him
with such terrible insistence that I feared for my
resolution. I do not believe that I should have
done the deed I dreamt of; but I might have come
to flight, and my flight would have ruined the
cause. And yes, I am no saint (ask my little sis-
ter-in-law) and worse still might have happened.
It is perhaps as strange a thing as has ever been
in the history of a country that the king's brother
A NIGHT OUTSIDE THE CASTLE. 189
and the king's personator, in a time of profound
outward peace, near a placid, undisturbed country
town, under semblance of amity, should wage a
desperate war for the person and life of the king.
Yet such was the struggle that began now between
Zenda and Tarlenheim. When I look back on the
time I seem to myself to have been half mad. Sapt
has told me that I suffered no interference and lis-
tened to no remonstrances; and if ever a King of
Ruritania ruled like a despot I was, in those days,
the man. Look where I would I saw nothing that
made life sweet to me, and I took my life in my
hand and carried it carelessly as a man dangles an
old glove. At first they strove to guard me, ta
keep me safe, to persuade me not to expose myself;
but when they saw how I was set there grew up
among them whether they knew the truth or not
a feeling that Fate ruled the issue, and that I
must be left to play my game with Michael my own
way.
Late next night I rose from table, where Flavia
had sat by me, and conducted her to the door of her
apartments. There I kissed her hand, and bade
9 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
her sleep sound and wake to happy days. Then
I changed my clothes and went out. Sapt and
Fritz were waiting for me with three men and the
horses. Over his saddle Sapt carried a long coil of
rope, and both were heavily armed. I had with me
a short stout cudgel and a long knife. Making a
circuit, we avoided the town, and in an hour found
ourselves slowly mounting the hill that led to the
castle of Zenda. The night was dark and very
stormy; gusts of wind and spits of rain caught us as
we breasted the incline, and the great trees moaned
and sighed. When we came to a thick clump,
about a quarter of a mile from the castle, we bade
our three friends hide there with the horses. Sapt
had a whistle, and they could rejoin us in a few mo-
ments if danger came : but up till now we had met
no one. I hoped that Michael was still off his
guard, believing me to be safe in bed. However
that might be, we gained the top of the hill without
accident, and found ourselves on the edge of the
rnoat where it sweeps under the road, separating
the old castle from it. A tree stood on the edge of
the bank, and Sapt silently and diligently set to
A NIGHT OUTSIDE THE CASTLE. I9 E
make fast the rope. I stripped off my boots, took
a pull at a flask of brandy, loosened the knife in its
sheath, and took the cudgel between my teeth.
Then I shook hands with my friends, not heeding
a last look of entreaty from Fritz, and laid hold of
the rope. I was going to have a look at Jacob's
ladder.
Gently I lowered myself into the water. Though
the night were wild, the day had been warm and
bright and the water was not cold. I struck out
and began to swim round the great walls which
frowned above me. I could see only three yards
ahead. I had then good hopes of not being seen,
as I crept along close under the damp, moss-grown
masonry. There were lights from the new part of
the castle on the other side, and now and again I
heard laughter and merry shouts. I fancied I
recognized young Rupert Hentzau's ringing tones,
and pictured him flushed with wine. Recalling my
thoughts to the business in hand, I rested a mo-
ment. If Johann's description were right I must
be near the window now. Very slowly I moved;
and out of the darkness ahead loomed a shape. It
A9* THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
was the pipe, curving from the window to the
water. About two feet of its surface was displayed;
it was as big round as two men. I was about to
approach it when I saw something else, and my
heart stood still. The nose of a boat protruded
beyond the pipe on the other side; and listening in-
tently, I heard a slight shuffle as of a man shifting
his position. Who was the man who guarded
Michael's invention? Was he awake or was he
asleep? I felt if my knife were ready, and trod
water. As I did so I found bottom under my feet.
The foundations of the castle extended some fifteen
inches, making a ledge; and I stood on it, out o!
water from my armpits upward. Then I crouched
and peered through the darkness under the pipe,
where, curving, it left a space.
There was a man in the boat. A rifle lay by
him I saw the gleam of the barrel. Here was the
sentinel ! He sat very still. I listened : he breathed
heavily, regularly, monotonously. By Heaven, he
slept ! Kneeling on the shelf, I drew forward under
the pipe till my face was within two feet of his. He
was a big man, I saw. It was Max Holf, the
A NIGHT OUTSIDE THE C4STLE. 193
brother of Johann. My hand stole to my belt, and
I drew out my knife. Of all the deeds of my Mfe I
love the least to think of this, and whether it was
the act of a man or a traitor I will not ask. I said
to myself: " It is war and the king's life is the
stake." And I raised myself from beneath the
pipe and stood up by the boat, which lay moored
by the ledge. Holding my breath, I marked the
spot and raised my arm. The great fellow stirred.
He opened his eyes wide, wider. He gasped in
terror at my face and clutched at his rifle. I struck
home. And I heard the chorus of a love-song
from the opposite bank.
Leaving him where he lay, a huddled mass, I
turned to "J ac l/s ladder." My time was short.
This fellow's turn of watching might be over di-
rectly, and relief would come. Leaning over the
pipe, I examined it, from the point it left the water
to the topmost extremity where it passed, or
seemed to pass, through the masonry of the wall.
There was no break in it, no chink. Dropping on
my knees, I tested the under side. And my breath
went quick and fast, for on this lower side, where
-<94 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
the pipe should have clung close to the masonry,
there was a gleam of light ! That light must come
from the cell of the king! I set my shoulder
against the pipe and exerted my strength. The
chink widened a very, very little, and hastily I de-
sisted; I had done enough to show that the pipe
was not fixed in the masonry at the lower side.
Then I heard a voice a harsh, grating voice.
" Well, sire, if you have had enough of my
society I will leave you to repose; but I must fasten
the little ornaments first."
It was Detchard! I caught the English accent
in a moment.
" Have you anything to ask, sire, before we
part?"
The king's voice followed. It was his, though
it was faint and hollow different from the merry
tones I had heard in the glades of the forest.
" Pray my brother," said the king, " to kill me.
I am dying by inches here."
"The duke does not desire your death, sire
yet," sneered Detchard; " when he does, behold
your path to heaven ! "
A NIGHT OUTSIDE THE CASTLE, 195
The king answered:
" So be it ! And now, if your orders allow ix,
pray leave me."
" May you dream of paradise! " said the ruffian.
The light disappeared. I heard the bolts of the
door run home. And then I heard the sobs of the
king. He was alone, as he thought. Who dares
mock at him?
I did not venture to speak to him. The risk of
some exclamation escaping him in surprise was too
great. I dared do nothing that night; and my task
now was to get myself away in safety, and to carry
off the carcass of the dead man. To leave him
there would tell too much. Casting loose the boat,
I got in. The wind was blowing a gale now, and
there was little danger of oars being heard. I
rowed swiftly round to where my friends waited.
I had just reached the spot when a loud whistle
sounded over the moat behind me.
" Hullo, Max! " I heard shouted.
I hailed Sapt in a low tone. The rope came
down. I tied it round the corpse, and then went
up it myself.
H9 6 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
" Whistle you, too," I whispered, " for our men,
and haul in the line. No talk now."
They hauled up the body. Just as it reached the
road three men on horseback swept round from the
front of the castle. We saw them; but, being on
foot ourselves, we escaped their notice. But we
heard our men coming up with a shout.
" The devil, but it's dark! " cried a ringing voice.
It was young Rupert. A moment later shots
rang out. Our people had met them. I started
forward at a run, Sapt and Fritz following me.
" Thrust, thrust ! " cried Rupert again, and a
loud groan following told that he himself was not
behindhand.
" I'm done, Rupert! " cried a voice. " They're
three to one. Save yourself! "
I ran on, holding my cudgel in my hand. Sud-
denly a horse came toward me. A man was on it,
leaning over the shoulder.
" Are you cooked too, Krafstein? " he cried.
There was no answer.
I sprang to the horse's head. It was Rupert
Hentzau.
A NIGHT OUTSIDE THE CASTLE. *97
"At last!" I cried.
For we seemed to have him. He had only his
sword in his hand. My men were hot upon him;
Sapt and Fritz were running up. I had outstripped
them; but if they got close enough to fire he must
die or surrender.
"At last!" I cried.
" It's the play-actor! " cried he, slashing at my
cudgel. He cut it clean in two; and, judging dis-
cretion better than death, I ducked my head and
(I blush to tell) scampered for my life. The devil
was in Rupert Hentzau; for he put spurs to his
horse, and I, turning to look, saw him ride, full
gallop, to the edge of the moat and leap in, while
the shots of our party fell thick round him like hail.
With one gleam of moonlight we should have
riddled him with balls; but in the darkness he won
to the corner of the castle, and vanished from our
sight.
" The deuce take him ! " grinned Sapt.
" It's a pity," said I, " that he's a villain. Whom
have we got? "
We had Lauengram and Krafstein: they lay stiff
I9 8 THE PRISONER OF ZEN DA.
and dead; and, concealment being no longer pos-
sible, we flung them, with Max, into the moat ; and,
drawing together in a compact body, rode off down
the hill. And in our midst went the bodies of four
gallant gentlemen. Thus we traveled home, heavy
at heart for the death of our friends, sore uneasy
concerning the king, and cut to the quick that
young Rupert had played yet another winning
hand with us.
For my own part I was vexed and angry that I
had killed no man in open fight, but only stabbed
a knave in his sleep. And I did not love to hear
Rupert call me a play-actor.
CHAPTER XV.
I TALK WITH A TEMPTER,
RURITANIA is not England, or the quarrel be-
tween Duke Michael and myself could not have
gone on, with the remarkable incidents which
marked it, without more public notice being di-
rected to it. Duels were frequent among all the
upper classes, and private quarrels between great
men kept the old habit of spreading to their friends
and dependents. Nevertheless, after the affray
which I have just related, such reports began to
circulate that I felt it necessary to be on my guard.
The death of the gentlemen involved could not be
hidden from their relatives. I issued a stern order,
declaring that dueling had attained unprecedented
license (the chancellor drew up the document for
me, and very well he did it), and forbidding it save
in the gravest cases- I sent a public and stately
apology to Michael, and he returned a deferential
*oo THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
and courteous reply to me; for our one point of
union was and it underlay all our differences and
induced an unwilling harmony between our actions
that we could neither of us afford to throw our
cards on the table. He, as well as I, was a " play-
actor," and, hating one another, we combined to
dupe public opinion. Unfortunately, however, the
necessity for concealment involved the necessity of
delay: the king might die in his prison, or even be
spirited off somewhere else it could not be helped.
For a little while I was compelled to observe a
truce, and my only consolation was that Flavia
most warmly approved of my edict against dueling;
and when I expressed delight at having won her
favor, prayed me, if her favor were any motive to
me, to prohibit the practice altogether.
" Wait till we are married," said I, smiling.
Not the least peculiar result of the truce and of
the secrecy which dictated it was that the town of
Zenda became in the daytime I would not have
trusted far to its protection by night a sort of
neutral zone, where both parties could safely go;
and I, riding down one day with Flava and Sapt,
/ TALK WITH A TEMPTER. aoi
had an encounter with an acquaintance, which pre-
sented a ludicrous side, but was at the same time
embarrassing. As I rode along I met a dignified-
looking person driving in a two-horsed carriage.
He stopped his horses, got out, and approached
me, bowing low. I recognized the head of the
Strelsau police.
" Your Majesty's ordinance as to dueling is re-
ceiving our best attention," he assured me.
If the best attention involved his presence in
Zenda I determined at once to dispense with it.
" Is that what brings you to Zenda, prefect? " I
asked.
" Why, no, sire; I am here because I desired to
oblige the British ambassador."
" What's the British ambassador doing dans
tette galore? " said I carelessly.
" A young countryman of his, sire a man of
eome position is missing. His friends have not
heard from him for two months, and there is rea-
son to believe that he was last seen in Zenda."
Flavia was paying little attention. I dared not
look at Sapt.
*02 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
"What reason?"
" A friend of his in Paris a certain M. Featherly
has given us information which makes it pos-
sible that he came here, and the officials of the rail-
way recollect his name on some luggage."
" What was his name? "
" Rassendyll, sire," he answered; and I saw that
the name meant nothing to him. But, glancing at
Flavia, he lowered his voice as he went on: " It is
thought that he may have followed a lady here.
Has your Majesty heard of a certain Mme. de
Mauban? "
" Why, yes," said I, my eye involuntarily travel-
ing toward the castle. " She arrived in Ruritania
about the same time as this Rassendyll."
I caught the prefect's glance; he was regarding
me with inquiry writ large on his face.
" Sapt," said I, " I must speak a word to the pre-
fect. Will you ride on a few paces with the prin-
cess? " And I added to the prefect: " Come, sir,
what do you mean? "
He drew close to me, and I bent in the saddle.
" If he were in love with the lady? " he
/ TALK WITH A TEMPTER 203
whispered. " Nothing has been heard of him fof
two months; " and this time it was the eye of the
prefect which traveled toward the castle.
" Yes, the lady is there," I said quietly. " But
I don't suppose Mr. Rassendyll is that the name?
is."
" The duke," he whispered, " does not like rivals,
sire."
" You're right there," said I, with all sin-
cerity. " But surely you hint at a very grave
charge."
He spread his hands out in apology. I whis-
pered in his ear:
" This is a grave matter. Go back to Strel-
sau "
" But, sire, if I have a clew here? "
" Go back to Strelsau," I repeated. " Tell the
ambassador that you have a clew, but that you
must be left alone for a week or two. Mean-
while I'll charge myself with looking into the
matter."
" The ambassador is very pressing, sire."
* You must quiet him. Come, sir; you see that,
804 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
if your supicions are correct, it is an affair in which
we must move with caution. We can have no
scandal. Mind you return to-night."
He promised to obey me, and I rode on to rejoin
my companions, a little easier in my mind. In-
quiries after me must be stopped at all hazards
for a week or two; and this clever official had come
surprisingly near the truth. His impression might
be useful some day, but if he acted on it now it
might mean the worst to the king. Heartily did
I curse George Featherly for not holding his
tongue.
" Well," asked Flavia, " have you finished your
business? "
" Most satisfactorily," said I. " Come, shall we
turn round? We are almost trenching on my
brother's territory."
We were, in fact, at the extreme end of the town,
just where the hill begins to mount toward the
castle. We cast our eyes up, admiring the massive
beauty of the old walls, and we saw a cortege wind-
ing slowly down the hill. On it came.
" Let us go back," said Sapt.
/ TALK WITH A TEMPTER. 205
* I should like to stay," said Flavia; and I reined
my horse beside hers.
We could distinguish the approaching party
now. There came first two mounted servants in
black uniforms, relieved only by a silver badge.
These were followed by a car drawn by four horses:
on it, under a heavy pall, lay a coffin; behind it rode
a man in plain black clothes, carrying his hat in
his hand. Sapt uncovered, and we stood waiting,
Flavia keeping by me and laying her hand on my
arm.
" It is one of the gentlemen killed in the quarrel,
I expect," she said.
I beckoned to a groom.
" Ride and ask whom they escort," I ordered.
He rode up to the servants, and I saw him pass
on to the gentleman who rode behind.
" It's Rupert of Hentzau," whispered Sapt.
Rupert it was, and directly afterward, waving to
the procession to stand still, Rupert trotted up to
me. He was in a frock coat, tightly buttoned, and
trousers. He wore an aspect of sadness, and he
bowed with profound respect. Yet suddenly he
*06 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
smiled, and I smiled too, for old Sapt's hand
lay in his left breast pocket, and Rupert and I
both guessed what lay in the hand inside the
pocket.
" Your Majesty asks whom we escort," said
Rupert. " It is my dear friend Albert of Lauen-
gram."
" Sir," said I, " no one regrets the unfortunate
affair more than I. My ordinance, which I mean
to have obeyed, is witness to it."
"Poor fellow!" said Flavia softly, and I saw
Rupert's eyes flash at her. Whereat I grew red;
for if I had my way Rupert Hentzau should not
have defiled her by so much as a glance. Yet he
did it, and dared to let admiration be seen in his
look.
" Your Majesty's words are gracious," he said.
" I grieve for my friend. Yet, sire, others must
soon lie as he lies now."
" It is a thing we all do well to remember, my
lord," I rejoined.
" Even kings, sire," said Rupert in a moralizing
tone; and old Sapt swore softly by my side.
*' TALK WITH A TEMPTER. *oj
" It is true," said I. " How fares my brother,
my lord? "
" He is better, sire."
" I am rejoiced."
" He hopes soon to leave for Strelsau, when his
health is secured."
" He is only convalescent, then? "
" There remain one or two small troubles," an-
swered the insolent fellow in the mildest tone in the
world.
" Express my earnest hope," said Flavia, " that
they may soon cease to trouble him."
" Your Royal Highness' wish is, humbly, my
own," said Rupert with a bold glance that brought
a blush to Flavia's cheek.
I bowed; and Rupert, bowing lower, backed his
horse and signed his party to proceed. With a
sudden impulse I rode after him. He turned
swiftly, fearing that, even in the presence of
the dead and before a lady's eyes, I meant mis-
chief.
" You fought as a brave man the other night,"
I said. " Come, you are young, sir. If you will
08 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
deliver your prisoner alive to me you shall come
to no hurt."
He looked at me with a mocking smile ; but sud-
denly he rode nearer to me.
" I'm unarmed," he said; " and our old Sapt
there could pick me off in a minute."
" I'm not afraid," said I.
" No, curse you! " he answered. " Look here,
I made you a proposal from the duke once."
" I'll hear nothing from Black Michael,"
said I.
" Then hear one from me." He lowered his
voice to a whisper. "Attack the castle boldly.
Let Sapt and Tarlenheim lead."
" Go on," said I.
" Arrange the time with me."
" I have such confidence in you, my lord! "
"Tut! I'm talking business now. Sapt there
and Fritz will fall; Black Michael will fall "
"What!"
" Black Michael will fall, like the dog he is; the
prisoner, as you call him, will go by Jacob's lad-
der ah, you know that? to hell! Two men will
V TALK WITH A TEMPTER. 209
be left I, Rupert Hentzau, and you, the King of
Ruritania."
He paused, and then, in a voice that quivered
with eagerness, added:
" Isn't that a hand to play? a throne and yon
princess ! And for me, say a competence and your
Majesty's gratitude."
" Surely," I exclaimed, " while you're above
ground hell wants its master! "
" Well, think it over," he said. " And, look you,
it would take more than a scruple or two to keep
me from yonder girl," and his evil eyes flashed
again at her I loved.
"Get out of my reach!" said I; and yet in a
moment I began to laugh for the very audacity
of it.
" Would you turn against your master? " I
asked.
He swore at Michael for being what the offspring
of a legal, though morganatic, union should not be
called, and said to me in an almost confidential and
apparently friendly tone:
" He gets in my way, you know. He's a j<
*io THE PRISONER OF ZENDJ,
cms brute! Faith, I nearly stuck a knife into him
last night; he came most cursedly mal apropos! "
My temper was well under control now; I was
learning something.
" A lady? " I asked negligently.
" Aye, and a beauty," he nodded. " But you've
seen her."
" Ah ! was it at a tea party, when some of your
friends got on the wrong side of the table? "
" What can you expect of fools like Detchard
and De Gautet? I wish I'd been there."
" And the duke interferes? "
" Well," said Rupert meditatively, " that's hardly
a fair way of putting it, perhaps. I want to
interfere."
" And she prefers the duke? "
"Aye, the silly creature! Ah, well! you think
about my plan; " and, with a bow, he pricked his
horse and trotted after the body of his friend.
I went back to Flavia and Sapt, pondering on the
strangeness of the man. Wicked men I have
known in plenty, but Rupert Hentzau remains
unique in my experience. And if there be another
/ TALK WITH A TEMPTER, S
anywhere, let him be caught and hanged out of
hand. So say I!
" He's very handsome, isn't he? " said Flavia.
Well, of course she didn't know him as I did; yet
I was put out, for I thought his bold glances would
have made her angry. But my dear Flavia was a
woman, and so she was not put out. On the
contrary, she thought young Rupert was very
handsome as, beyond question, the ruffian was.
" And how sad he looked at his friend's death ! "
said she.
" He'll have better reason to be sad at his own,"
observed Sapt, with a grim smile.
As for me, I grew sulky; unreasonable it was,
perhaps, for what better business had I to look at
her with love than had even Rupert's lustful eyes?
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, rid-
ing close beside me, said softly, with a little half-
ashamed laugh:
" Unless you smile, Rudolf, I cry. Why are you
angry? "
21 a THE PRISONER OF ZEND A.
" It was something that fellow said to me," said
I; but I was smiling as we reached the doors and
dismounted.
There a servant handed me a note; it was un-
addressed.
" Is it for me? " I asked.
" Yes, sire; a boy brought it."
I tore it open:
Johann carries this for me. I warned you once. In the name
of God, and if you are a man, rescue me from this den of mur-
ierers !
A. DE M.
I handed it to Sapt; but all that the tough old
*oul said in reply to this piteous appeal was:
" Whose fault brought her there? "
Nevertheless, not being faultless myself, I took
leave to pity Antoinette de Mauban.
CHAPTER XVI.
A DESPERATE PLAN.
As I had ridden publicly in Zenda, and had talked
there with Rupert Hentzau, of course all pretensg
of illness was at an end. I marked the effect on
the garrison of Zenda: they ceased to be seen
abroad; and any of my men who went near the
castle reported that the utmost vigilance prevailed
there. Touched as I was by Mme. de Mauban's
appeal, I seemed as powerless to befriend her as I
had proved to help the king. Michael bade me de-
fiance; and although he too had been seen outside
the walls with more disregard for appearances
than he had hitherto shown, he did not take the
trouble to send any excuse for his failure to wait on
the king. Time ran on in inactivity, when every
moment was pressing; for not only was I faced with
the new danger which the stir about my own dis-
appearance brought on me, but great murmurs had
14 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
arisen in Strelsau at my continued absence from the
city. They had been greater but for the knowl-
edge that Flavia was with me; and for this reason
I suffered her to stay, though I hated to have her
where danger was, and though every day of our
present sweet intercourse strained my endurance
almost to breaking. As a final blow nothing
would content my advisers, Strakencz and the
chancellor (who came out from Strelsau to make
an urgent representation to me), save that I should
appoint a day for the public solemnization of my
betrothal, a ceremony which in Ruritania is well-
nigh as binding and great a thing as marriage itself.
And this with Flavia sitting by me I was forced
to do, setting a date a fortnight ahead, and appoint-
ing the cathedral in Strelsau as the place. And
this formal act, being published far and wide, caused
great joy throughout the kingdom, and was the
talk of all tongues; so that I reckoned there were
but two men who chafed at it I mean Black
Michael and myself; and but one who did not know
of it that one the man whose name I bore, the
King of Ruritania.
A DESPERATE PLAN, S
In truth, I heard something of the way the news
was received in the castle; for, after an interval of
three days, the man Johann, greedy for more money,
though fearful for his life, again found means to
visit us. He had been waiting on the duke when
the tidings came. Black Michael's face had grown
blacker still, and he had sworn savagely; nor was
he better pleased when young Rupert took oath
that I meant to do as I said, and turning to Mme.
de Mauban, wished her joy on a rival gone.
Michael's hand stole toward his sword (said
Johann), but not a bit did Rupert care; for he ral-
lied the duke on my having made a better king than
had reigned for years past in Ruritania. " And,"
said he, with a meaning bow to his exasperated
master, " the devil sends the princess a finer man
than Heaven had marked out for her; by my soul,
he does! " Then Michael harshly bade him hold
his tongue and leave them; but Rupert must needs
first kiss madame's hand, which he did as though he
loved her, while Michael glared at him.
This was the lighter side of the fellow's news;
but more serious came behind, and it was plain that;
8X0 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
if time pressed at Tarlenheim, it pressed none the
less fiercely at Zenda. For the king was very sick;
Johann had seen him, and he was wasted and hardly
able to move. " There could be no thought of
taking another for him now." So alarmed were
they that they had sent for a physician from Strel-
sau; and the physician, having been introduced
into the king's cell, had come forth pale and trem-
bling, and urgently prayed the duke to let him go
back and meddle no more in the affair; but the
duke would not, and held him there a prisoner, tell-
ing him his life was safe if the king lived while the
duke desired and died when the duke desired not
otherwise. And, persuaded by the physician, they
had allowed Mme. de Mauban to visit the king and
give him such attendance as his state needed, and
as only a woman can give. Yet his life hung in the
balance; and I was yet strong and whole and free.
Wherefore great gloom reigned at Zenda.; and save
when they quarreled, to which they were very
prone, they hardly spoke. But the deeper the de-
pression of the rest, young Rupert went about
Satan's work with a smile in his eye and a song on
A DESPERATE PLAN, *?
fiis lip; and laughed " fit to burst " (said Johann)
because the duke always set Detchard to guard the
king when Mme. de Mauban was in the cell which
precaution was, indeed, not unwise in my careful
brother. Thus Johann told his tale and seized his
crowns. Yet he besought us to allow him to stay
with us in Tarlenheim, and not venture his head
again in the lion's den; but we had need of him
Ihere, and although I refused to constrain him, I
prevailed on him by increased rewards to go back
&nd to carry tidings to Mme. de Mauban that I was
working for her, and that, if she could, she should
speak one word of comfort to the king. For while
suspense is bad for the sick, yet despair is worse
still, and it might be that the king lay dying of
mere hopelessness, for I could learn of no definite
disease that afflicted him.
" And how do they guard the king now? " I
asked, remembering that two of the Six were dead,
and Max Holf also.
" Detchard and Bersonin watch by night Ru-
pert Hentzau and Gautet by day, sir," he answered-
" Only two at a time? "
l8 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
"Aye, sir; but the others rest in a room just
above, and are within sound of a cry or a whistle."
" A room just above? I didn't know that. Is
there any communication between it and the room
where they watch? "
" No, sir. You must go down a few stairs and
through the door by the drawbridge, and so tc
where the king is lodged."
" And that door is locked? "
" Only the four lords have keys, sir."
I drew near to him.
" And have they keys of the grating? " I asked
in a low whisper.
" I think, sir, only Detchard and Rupert."
" Where does the duke lodge? "
" In the chateau, on the first floor. His apart-
ments are on the right as you go toward the draw-
bridge."
" And Mme. de Mauban? "
"Just opposite, on the left. But her door \s
Jocked after she has entered."
" To keep her in? "
" Doubtless, sir."
A DESPERATE PLAN, 219
" Perhaps for another reason? "
" It is possible."
" And the duke, I suppose, has the key? "
" Yes. And the drawbridge is drawn back at
night, and of that too the duke holds the key, so
that it cannot be run across the moat without ap-
plication to him."
" And where do you sleep? "
" In the entrance hall of the chateau, with five
servants."
"Armed?"
" They have pikes, sir, but no firearms. The
duke will not trust them with firearms."
Then at last I took the matter boldly in my
hands. I had failed once at Jacob's ladder; I should
fail again there. I must make the attack from the
other side.
" I have promised you twenty thousand crowns,"
said I. " You shall have fifty thousand if you will
do what I ask of you to-morrow night. But, first,
do those servants know who your prisoner is? "
" No, sir. They believe him to be some private
enemy of the duke's."
THE PRISONER OF ZEND*.
"And they would not doubt that I am the
king? "
" How should they? " he asked.
" Look to this, then. To-morrow, at two in the
morning exactly, fling open the front door of the
chdteau. Don't fail by an instant."
" Shall you be there, sir? "
" Ask no questions. Do what I tell you. Say
the hall is close, or what you will. That is all I ask
of you."
" And may I escape by the open door, sir, when
I have opened it? "
" Yes, as quick as your legs will carry you. One
thing more. Carry this note to madame, oh, it's
in French, you can't read it, and charge her, for
the sake of all our lives, not to fail in what it
orders."
The man was trembling, but I had to trust to
what he had of courage and to what he had of hon-
esty. I dared not wait, for I feared that the king
would die.
When the fellow was gone I called Sapt and Fritz
A DESPERATE PLAN. x
to me, and unfolded the plan that I had formed.
Sapt shook his head over it.
" Why can't you wait? " he asked.
" The king may die."
" Michael will be forced to act before that."
" Then," said I, " the king may live."
" Well, and if he does? "
" For a fortnight? " I asked simply.
And Sapt bit his mustache.
Suddenly Fritz von Tarlenheim laid his hand on
Aiy shoulder.
" Let us go and make the attempt," said he.
" I mean you to go don't be afraid," said I.
" Aye, but do you stay here and take care of the
princess! "
A gleam came into old Sapt's eye.
" We should have Michael one way or the other
then," he chuckled; "whereas if you go and are
killed with the king what will become of those of
us who are left? "
" They will serve Queen Flavia," said I, " and I
would to God I could be one of them."
*23 THE PRISONER OF ZEN DA.
A pause followed. Old Sapt broke it by saying
sadly, yet with unmeant drollery that set Fritz and
me laughing:
" Why didn't old Rudolf the Third marry your
great-grandmother, was it? "
" Come," said I, " it is the king we are think-
ing about."
" It is true," said Fritz.
" Moreover," I went on, " I have been an im-
postor for the profit of another, but I will not be
one for my own; and if the king is not alive and on
his throne before the day of betrothal comes I will
tell the truth, come what may."
" You shall go, lad," said Sapt.
Here is the plan I had made: A strong party, un-
der Sapt's command, was to steal up to the door of
the chateau. If discovered prematurely they were
to kill anyone who found them with their swords r
for I wanted no noise of firing. If all went well
they would be at the door when Johann opened it.
They were to rush in and secure the servants if their
mere presence and the use of the king's name were
not enough. At the same moment and on this
A DESPERATE PLAN. 3
hinged the plan a woman's cry was to ring out
loud and shrill from Antoinette de Mauban's cham-
ber. Again and again she was to cry: " Help, help!
Michael, help!" and then to utter the name of
young Rupert Hentzau. Then, as we hoped,
Michael, in fury, would rush out of his apartments
opposite, and fall alive into the hands of Sapt. Still
the cries would go on; my men would let down the
drawbridge; and it would be strange if Rupert,
hearing his name thus taken in vain, did not de-
scend from where he slept and seek to cross. De
Gautet might or might not come with him: that
must be left to chance.
And when Rupert set his foot on the draw-
bridge? There was my part: for I was minded for
another swim in the moat; and, lest I should grow
weary, I had resolved to take with me a small
wooden ladder, on which I could rest my arms in
the water and my feet when I left it. I would
rear it against the wall just by the bridge; and when
the bridge was across I would stealthily creep on
to it and then if Rupert or De Gautet crossed in
safety it would be my misfortune, not my fault.
*4 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
They dead, two men only would remain; and foi
them we must trust to the confusion we had created
and to a sudden rush. We should have the keys
of the door that led to the all-important rooms.
Perhaps they would rush out. If they stood by
their orders, then the king's life hung on the swift-
ness with which we could force the outer door; and
I thanked God that not Rupert Hentzau watched,
but Detchard. For though Detchard was a cool
man, relentless, and no coward, he had neither the
dash nor the recklessness of Rupert. Moreover,
he, if any one of them, really loved Black Michael,
and it might be that he would leave Bersonin to
guard the king and rush across the bridge to take
part in the affray on the other side.
So I planned desperately. And, that our
enemy might be the better lulled to security, I gave
orders that our residence should be brilliantly
lighted from top to bottom, as though we were
engaged in revelry; and should so be kept all night,
with music playing and people moving to and fro.
Strakencz would be there, and he was to conceal
our departure, if he could, from Flavia. And if v
A DESPERATE PLAN.
came not again by the morning he was to march,
openly and in force, to the castle, and demand the
person of the king: if Black Michael were not there,
as I did not think he would be, the marshal would
take Flavia with him, as swiftly as he could, to
Strelsau, and there proclaim Black Michael's
treachery and the probable death of the king, and
rally all that there was honest and true round the
banner of the princess. And, to say truth, this was
what I thought most likely to happen.
For I had great doubts whether either the king
or Black Michael or I had more than a day to live.
Well, if Black Michael died, and if I, the play-actor,
slew Rupert Hentzau with my own hand, and then
died myself, it might be that Fate would deal as
lightly with Ruritania as could be hoped, notwith-
standing that it demanded the life of the king and
to her dealing thus with me I was in no temper to
make objection.
It was late when we rose from conference, and I
betook me to the princess' apartments. She was
pensive that evening; yet when I left her she flung
her arms about me and grew, for an instant, bash*
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
fully radiant as she slipped a ring on my finger. 1
was wearing the king's ring; but I had also on my
little finger a plain band of gold engraved with the
motto of our family, " NU Qua Fed." This I took
off and put on her finger and signed her to let me
go. And she, understanding, stood away and
watched me with dimmed eyes.
" Wear that ring, even though you wear another
when you are queen," I said.
" Whatever else I wear, this I will wear till I die
and after," said she as she kissed the ring.
CHAPTER XVII.
YOUNG RUPERT'S MIDNIGHT DIVERSIONS.
THE night came fine and clear. I had prayed
for dirty weather, such as had favored my previous
voyage in the moat, but Fortune was this time
against me. Still I reckoned that by keeping close
tinder the wall and in the shadow I could escape
detection from the windows of the chateau that
looked out on the scene of my efforts. If they
searched the moat, indeed my scheme must fail;
but I did not think they would. They had made
Jacob's ladder secure against attack. Johann had
himself helped to fix it closely to the masonry on
the under side, so that it could not now be moved
from below any more than from above. An
assault with explosives or a long battering with
picks alone could displace it, and the noise involved
in either of these operations put them out of the
questiono What harm, then, could a man do ur
THE PRISONER. OF ZENDA.
tfhe moat? I trusted that Black Michael, putting
this query to himself, would answer confidently,
" None "; while even if Johann meant treachery he
did not know my scheme, and would doubtless ex-
pect to see me, at the head of my friends, before
the front entrance to the chateau. There, I said to
Sapt, was the real danger.
" And there," I added, " you shall be. Doesn't
that content you? "
But it did not. Dearly would he have liked to
<x>me with me had I not utterly refused to take
him. One man might escape notice; to double the
party more than doubled the risk: and when he
ventured to hint once again that my life was too
valuable, I, knowing the secret thought he clung
to, sternly bade him be silent, assuring him that
unless the king lived through the night I would
not live through it either.
At twelve o'clock Sapt's command left the
chateau of Tarlenheim and struck off to the right,
riding by unfrequented roads, and avoiding the
town of Zenda. If all went well they would be in
front of Zenda by about a quarter to two. Leav=
YOUNG RUPERTS MIDNIGHT DIVERSIONS, 2$
tng their horses half a mile off, they were to steal
wp to the entrance and hold themselves in readi-
ness for the opening of the door. If the door were
not opened by two they were to send Fritz von
Tarlenheim round to the other side of the castle.
I would meet him there if I were alive, and we
would consult whether to storm the castle or not.
If I were not there they were to return with all
speed to Tarlenheim, rouse the marshal, and march
in force on Zenda. For if not there I should be
dead; and I knew that the king would not be alive
five minutes after I had ceased to breathe.
I must now leave Sapt and his friends, and re-
late how I myself proceeded on this eventful
night. I went out on the good horse which had
carried me, on the night of the coronation, back
from the shooting lodge to Strelsau. I carried a
revolver in the saddle and my sword. I was cov-
ered with a large cloak, and under this I wore a
warm, tight-fitting woolen jersey, a pair of knicker*
bockers, thick stockings, and light canvas shoes,
I had rubbed myself thoroughly with oil, and I
carried a large flask of whisky^ The night was*
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
warm, but I might probably be immersed a long
while, and it was necessary to take every precaution
against cold : for cold not only saps a man's courage
if he has to die, but impairs his energy if others
have to die, and, finally, gives him rheumatics, if it
be God's will that he lives. Also I tied round my
body a length of thin but stout cord, and I did not
forget my ladder. I, starting after Sapt, took a
shorter route, skirting the town to the left, and
found myself in the outskirts of the forest at about
half-past twelve. I tied my horse up in a thick
clump of trees, leaving the revolver in its pocket in
the saddle, it would be no use to me, and, ladder
in hand, made my way to the edge of the moat.
Here I unwound my rope from about my waist,
bound it securely round the trunk of a tree on the
bank, and let myself down. The castle clock
struck a quarter to one as I felt the water under me
and began to swim round the keep, pushing the
ladder before me, and hugging the castle wall.
Thus voyaging, I came to my old friend " Jacob's
ladder," and felt the ledge of masonry under me.
I crouched down in the shadow of the great pipe,
YOUNG RUPERT'S MIDNIGHT Dfl/ERSIONS. *3
-I tried to stir it, but it was quite immovable,
and waited. I remember that my predominant
feeling was neither anxiety for the king nor long-
ing for Flavia, but an intense desire to smoke; and
this craving, of course, I could not gratify.
The drawbridge was still in its place. I saw its
airy, light framework above me, some ten yards to
my right, as I crouched with my back against the
wall of the king's cell. I made out a window two
yards my side of it and nearly on the same level.
That, if Johann spoke true, must belong to the
duke's apartments; and on the other side, in about
the same relative position, must be Mme. de Mau-
ban's window. Women are careless, forgetful
creatures. I prayed that she might not forget that
she was to be the victim of a brutal attempt at two
o'clock precisely. I was rather amused at the part
I had assigned to my young friend Rupert Hent-
zau; but I owed him a stroke for, even as I sat,
my shoulder ached where he had, with an audacity
that seemed half to hide his treachery, struck at
me, in sight of all my friends, on the terrace 3*
Tarlenheim.
232 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
Suddenly the duke's window grew bright. The
shutters were not closed, and the interior became
partially visible to me as I cautiously raised myself
till I stood on tiptoe. Thus placed, my range of
sight embraced a yard or more inside the window,
while the radius of light did not reach me. The
window was flung open and someone looked out.
I marked Antoinette de Mauban's graceful figure,
and though her face was in shadow, the fine outline
of her head was revealed against the light behind.
I longed to cry softly " Remember! " but I dared
not and happily, for a moment later a man came
up and stood by her. He tried to put his arm
round her waist, but with a swift motion she sprang
away and leaned against the shutter, her profile
toward me. I made out who the newcomer was:
it was young Rupert. A low laugh from him made
me sure, as he leaned forward, stretching out his
hand toward her.
" Gently, gently! " I murmured. " You're too
loon, my boy ! "
His head was close to hers. I suppose he wliis*
YOUNG RUPERT'S MIDNIGHT DIVERSIONS. 233
pered to her, for I saw her point to the moat, and I
heard her say in slow and distinct tones:
" I had rather throw myself out of this window! "
He came close up to the window and looked out.
" It looks cold," said he. " Come, Antoinette,
are you serious? "
She made no answer, so far as I heard; and he,
smiting his hand petulantly on the window sill,
went on in the voice of some spoilt child:
"Hang Black Michael! Isn't the princess
enough for him? Is he to have everything?
What the devil do you see in Black Michael? "
" If I told him what you say " she began.
" Well, tell him," said Rupert carelessly; and,
catching her off her guard, he sprang forward and
kissed her, laughing, and crying, " There's some-
thing to tell him! "
If I had kept my revolver with me I should have
been very sorely tempted. Being spared the temp-
tation, I merely added this new score to his account.
"Though, faith," said Rupert, "it's little he
cares. He's mad about the princess, you know.,
*34 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
He talks of nothing but cutting the play-actor*!
throat."
Didn't he, indeed?
" And if I do it for him what do you think he's
promised me? "
The unhappy woman raised her hands above her
head, in prayer or in despair.
" But I detest waiting," said Rupert; and I saw
that he was about to lay his hand on her again
when there was a noise of a door in the room open-
ing, and a harsh voice cried:
" What are you doing here, sir? "
Rupert turned his back to the window, bowed
low, and said in his loud, merry tones:
"Apologizing for your absence, sir. Could I
leave the lady alone? "
The newcomer must be Black Michael. I saw
him directly, as he advanced toward the window.
He caught young Rupert by the arm.
" The moat would hold more than the king! "
said he, with a significant gesture.
" Does your Highness threaten me? " asked Ru
pert.
YOUNG RUPERT'S MIDNIGHT DIVERSIONS. 3S
" A threat is more warning than most men get
from me."
"Yet," observed Rupert, "Rudolf Rassendyll
has been much threatened, and yet lives."
" Am I in fault because my servants bungle? "
asked Michael scornfully.
" Your Highness has run no risk of bungling! "
sneered Rupert.
It was telling the duke that he shirked danger
as plain as ever I have heard a man told. Black
Michael had self-control. I dare say he scowled,
it was a great regret to me that I could not see
their faces better, but his voice was even and calm
as he answered:
" Enough, enough ! We mustn't quarrel, Ru-
pert. Are Detchard and Bersonin at their
posts? "
" They are, sir."
" I need you no more."
" Nay, I'm not oppressed with fatigue," said
Rupert.
" Pray, sir, leave us," said Michael more im-
patiently. " In ten minutes the drawbridge will
3<> THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
be drawn back, and I presume you have no wish t
swim to your bed."
Rupert's figure disappeared. I heard the doon
open and shut again. Michael and Antoinette di
Mauban were left together. To my chagrin, the
fluke laid his hand on the window and closed it.
He stood talking to Antoinette for a moment 01
two. She shook her head, and he turned impa-
tiently away. She left the window. The door
sounded again, and Black Michael closed the
shutters.
" De Gautet, De Gautet, man!" sounded from*
the drawbridge. " Unless you want a bath before
your bed, come along! "
It was Rupert's voice, coming from the end of
the drawbridge. A moment later he and De Gau-
tet stepped out on the bridge. Rupert's arm was
through De Gautet's, and in the middle of the
bridge he detained his companion and leaned over.
I dropped beside the shelter of " Jacob's ladder."
Then Master Rupert had a little sport. He took
from De Gautet a bottle which he carried, and put
it to his lips.
YOUNG RUPERT'S MIDNIGHT DIVERSIONS. 237
" Hardly a drop ! " he cried discontentedly, and
flung it in the moat.
It fell, as I judged from the sound and the circles
on the water, within a yard of the pipe. And Ru-
pert, taking out his revolver, began to shoot at it.
The first two shots missed the bottle, but hit the
pipe. The third shattered the bottle. I hoped
that the young ruffian would be content; but he
emptied the other barrels at the pipe, and one,
skimming over the pipe, whistled through my hair
as I crouched on the other side.
"Ware bridge! " a voice cried, to my relief.
Rupert and De Gautet cried, " A moment ! " and
ran across. The bridge was drawn back, and all
became still. The clock struck a quarter past one.
I rose and stretched myself and yawned.
I think some ten minutes had passed when I
heard a slight noise to my right. I peered over the
pipe, and saw a dark figure standing in the gateway
that led to the bridge. It was a man. By the
careless, graceful poise I guessed it to be Rupert
again. He held a sword in his hand, and he stood
motionless for a minute or two. Wild thoughts
*3 8 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
ran through me. On what mischief was the young
fiend bent now? Then he laughed low to himself;
then he turned his face to the wall, took a step in
my direction, and to my surprise began to climb
down the wall. In an instant I saw that there must
be steps in the wall; it was plain. They were cut
into or affixed to the wall at intervals of about
eighteen inches. Rupert set his foot on the lower
one. Then he placed his sword between his teeth,
turned round, and noiselessly let himself down into
the water. Had it been a matter of my life only I
would have swam to meet him. Dearly would I
have loved to fight it out with him then and there
with steel, on a fine night and none to come be-
tween us. But there was the kingl I restrained
myself, but I could not bridle my swift breath--
ing, and I watched him with the intensest
eagerness.
He swam leisurely and quietly across. There
were more footsteps up on the other side, and he
climbed them. When he set foot in the gateway,
standing on the drawn-back bridge, he felt in his
pocket and took something out. I heard him
YOUNG RUPERTS MIDNIGHT DIVERSIONS. *39
Sock the door. I could hear no noise of its closing
behind him. He vanished from my sight.
Abandoning my ladder, I saw I did not need it
now, I swam to the side of the bridge, and
climbed halfway up the steps. There I hung, with
my sword in my hand, listening eagerly. The
duke's room was shuttered and dark. There was a
light in the window on the opposite side of the
bridge. Not a sound broke the silence, till half-
past one chimed from the great clock in the towe*
of the chateau.
There were other plots than mine afoot in the
castle that night.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE FORCING OF THE TRAP.
THE position wherein I stood does not appeal
very favorable to thought; yet for the next moment
or two I thought profoundly. I had, I told myself,
scored one point. Be Rupert Hentzau's errand
what it might, and the villainy he was engaged on
what it would, I had scored one point. He was on
the other side of the moat from the king, and it
would be by no fault of mine if ever he set foot on
the same side again. I had three left to deal with;
two on guard and De Gautet in his bed. Ah, if I
had the keys! I would have risked everything and
attacked Detchard and Bersonin before their
friends could join them. But I was powerless. I
must wait till the coming of my friends enticed
someone to cross the bridge someone with the
keys. And I waited, as it seemed, for half an hour,
THE FORCING OF THE TRAP, 34*
really for about five minutes, before the next act
in the rapid drama began.
All was still on the other side. The duke's room
remained inscrutable behind its shutters. The
light burned steadily in Mme.de Mauban's window.
Then I heard the faintest, faintest sound; it came
from behind the door which led to the drawbridge
on the other side of the moat. It but just reached
my ear, yet I could not be mistaken as to what it
was. It was made by a key being turned very
carefully and slowly. Who was turning it? And
of what room was it the key? There leaped before
my eyes the picture of young Rupert, with the key
in one hand, his sword in the other, and an evil
smile on his face. But I did not know what door
it was, nor in which of his favorite pursuits young
Rupert was spending the hours of that night.
I was soon to be enlightened, for the next mo-
ment before my friends could be near the chateau
door before Johann, the keeper, would have
thought to nerve himself for his task there was a
sudden crash from the room with the lighted win-
dow. It sounded as though someone had flung
*4 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
down a lamp, and the window went dark and black
At the same instant a cry rang out, shrill in the
night: " Help, help! Michael, help! " and was fol-
lowed by a shriek of utter terror.
I was tingling in every nerve. I stood on the
topmost step, clinging to the threshold of the gate
with my right hand and holding my sword in my
left. Suddenly I perceived that the gateway was
broader than the bridge; there was a dark corner
on the opposite side where a man could stand. I
darted across and stood there. Thus placed, I
commanded the path, and no man could pass be-
tween the chateau and the old castle till he had
tried conclusions with me.
There was another shriek. Then a door was
flung open and clanged against the wall, and I
heard the handle of a door savagely twisted.
" Open the door! In God's name, what's the
matter? " cried a voice the voice of Black Michael
himself.
He was answered by the very words I had writ
ten in my letter:
"Help, Michael Hentzau!"
THE FORCING OF THE TRAP. *4i
A fierce oath rang out from the duke, and with
a loud thud he threw himself against the door. At
the same moment I heard a window above my head
open, and a voice cried: "What's the matter?'*
and I heard a man's hasty footsteps. I grasped
my sword. If De Gautet came my way the Six
would be less by one more.
Then I heard the clash of crossed swords and a
tramp of feet, and I cannot tell the thing so
quickly as it happened, for all seemed to come at
once. There was an angry cry from madame's
room, the cry of a wounded man; the window was
flung open; young Rupert stood there sword in
hand. He turned his back, and I saw his body go
forward to the lunge.
"Ah, Johann, there's one for you! Come on,
Michael!"
Johann was there, then come to the rescue of
the duke? How would he open the door for me?
For I feared that Rupert had slain him.
" Help! " cried the duke's voice, faint and husky.
I heard a stir on the stairs above me; and I heard
& stir down to my rigrht, in the direction of the
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
king's cell. But before anything happened on my
side of the moat I saw five or six men round young
Rupert in the embrasure of madame's window.
Three or four times he lunged with incomparable
dash and dexterity. For an instant they fell back,
learing a ring round him. He leaped on the para-
pet of the window, laughing as he leaped, and wav-
ing his sword in his hand. He was drunk with
blood, and he laughed again wildly as he flung him-
self headlong into the moat.
What became of him then? I did not see: for
as he leaped, De Gautet's lean face looked out
through the door by me, and without a second's
hesitation I struck at him with all the strength God
had given me, and he fell dead in the doorway with-
out a word or a groan. I dropped on my knees by
him. Where were the keys? I found myself mut-
tering: " The keys, man, the keys! " as though he
had been yet alive and could listen; and when I
could not find them I God forgive me! I believe
I struck a dead man's face.
At last I had them. There were but three,
Seizing the largest, I felt the lock of the door that
THE FORCING OP THE TRAP. 45
led to the cell. I fitted in the key. It was right!
The lock turned. I drew the door close behind me
and locked it as noiselessly as I could, putting the
key in my pocket.
I found myself at the top of a flight of steep
stone stairs. An oil lamp burned dimly in the
bracket. I took it down and held it in my hand;
and I stood and listened.
" What in the devil can it be? " I heard a voice
say.
It came from behind a door that faced me at the
bottom of the stairs.
And another answered:
" Shall we kill him? "
I strained to hear the answer, and could have
sobbed with relief when Detchard's voice came,
grating and cold:
"Wait a bit. There'll be trouble if we strike
too soon."
There was a moment's silence. Then I heard
the bolt of the door cautiously drawn back. In
stantly I put out the light I held, replacing th*
lamp in the bracket.
46 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
6< It's dark the lamp's out. Have you a light?
said the other voice Bersonin's.
No doubt they had a light, but they should nc .<
use it. It was come to the crisis now, and I rush',d
down the steps and flung myself against the door.
Bersonin had unbolted it and it gave way before
me. The Belgian stood there, sword in hand, and
Detchard was sitting on a couch at the side of the
room. In astonishment at seeing me, Bersonin
recoiled; Detchard jumped to his sword. I rushed
madly at the Belgian: he gave way before me, and
I drove him up against the wall. He was no
swordsman, though he fought bravely, and in a
moment he lay on the floor before me. I turned
Detchard was not there. Faithful to his orders,
he had not risked a fight with me, but had rushed
straight to the door of the king's room, opened it,
and slammed it behind him. Even now he was at
his work inside.
And surely he would have killed the king, and
perhaps me also, had it not been for one devoted
man who gave his life for the kingc For when 1
forced the door the sight I saw was this: Tfe?
THE FORCING OF THE TRAP. *i
king stood in the corner of the room: broken by
his sickness, he could do nothing; his fettered
hands moved uselessly up and down, and he was
laughing horribly in half-mad delirium. Detchard
and the doctor were together in the middle of the
room; and the doctor had flung himself on the
murderer, pinning his hands to his sides for an in-
stant. Then Detchard wrenched himself free from
the feeble grip, and as I entered drove his sword
through the hapless man.
Then he turned on me, crying:
"At last!"
We were sword to sword. By blessed chance
neither he nor Bersonin had been wearing theii
revolvers. I found them afterward, ready loaded,
on the mantelpiece of the outer room; it was hard
by the door, ready to their hands, but my sudden
rush in had cut off access to them. Yes, we were
man to man: and we began to fight, silently,
sternly, and hard. Yet I remember little of it, save
that the man was my match with the sword nay,
and more, for he knew more tricks than I; and that
he forced me back against the bars that guarded
^4* THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
the entrance to " Jacob's ladder." And I saw $
smile on his face, and he wounded me in the left
arm.
No glory do I take for that contest. I believe
that the man would have mastered me and slain
me, and then done his butcher's work, for he was
the most skillful swordsman I have ever met; but
even as he pressed me hard the half-mad, wasted,
wan creature in the corner leaped high in lunatic
mirth, shrieking:
"It's Cousin Rudolf! Cousin Rudolf! I'll
help you, Cousin Rudolf! " and catching up a chair
in his hands (he could but just lift it from the
ground and hold it uselessly before him), he came
toward us. Hope came to me.
"Come on!" I cried. "Come on! Drive it
against his legs."
Detchard replied with a savage thrust. He all
but had me.
"Come on! Come on, man!" I cried. "Come
and share the fun! "
And the king laughed gleefully, and came on,
pushing his chair before him.
THE FORCING OF THE TRAP. 4$
With an oath Detchard skipped back, and be-
fore I knew what he was doing had turned his
sword against the king. He made one fierce cut
at the king, and the king, with a piteous cry,
dropped where he stood. The stout ruffian turned
to face me again. But his own hand had prepared
his destruction; for in turning he trod in the pool
of blood that flowed from the dead physician. He
slipped; he fell. Like a dart I was upon him. 1
caught him by the throat, and before he could re-
Jover himself I drove my blade through his neck,
and with a stifled curse he fell across the body of
his victim.
Was the king dead? It was my first thought.
I rushed to where he lay. Aye, it seemed as if he
were dead, for he had a great gash across the fore-
head, and he lay still in a huddled mass on the floor,
I dropped on my knees beside him, and leaned my
ear down to hear if he breathed. But before I
could, there was a loud rattle from the outside. I
\new the sound: the drawbridge was being pushed
out. A moment later it rang home against the
wall on my side of the moat. I should be caught
5 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
m a trap and the king with me, if he yet lived. He
must take his chance, to live or to die. I took my
sword, and passed into the outer room. Who
were pushing the drawbridge out my men? II
so, all was well. My eye fell on the revolvers, and
I seized one; and paused to listen in the doorway
of the outer room. To listen, say I ? Yes, and tc
get my breath: and I tore my shirt and twisted a
strip of it round my bleeding arm; and stood listen-
ing again. I would have given the world to hear
Sapt's voice. For I wan faint, spent, ami weary.
And that wildcat Rupert Hentzau was yel at large
in the castle. Yet, because I could better defend
the narrow door at the top of the stairs than the
wider entrance to the room, I dragged myself up
the steps, and stood behind it, listening.
What was the sound? Again a strange one for
the place and the time. An easy, scornful, merry
iaugh the laugh of young Rupert Hentzau! I
could scarcely believe that a sane man would laugh
Yet the laugh told me that my men had not come,
for they must have shot Rupert ere now if they had
come. And the clock struck half-past two!
THE FORCING OF THE TRAP, *S*
God ! The door had not been opened ! They had
gone to the bank! They had not found me!
They had gone by now back to Tarlenheim, with
the news of the king's death and mine. Well, it
would be true before they got there. Was not
Rupert laughing in triumph?
For a moment I sank, unnerved, against the
door. Then I started up alert again, for Rupert
cried scornfully:
" Well, the bridge is there! Come over it! And
in God's name, let's see Black Michael! Keep
back, you curs! Michael, come and fight for her! "
If it were a three-cornered fight I might yet bear
my part. I turned the key in the door and looked
out.
CHAPTER XIX.
FACE TO FACE IN THE FOREST.
FOR a moment I could see nothing, for the glare
of lanterns and torches caught me full in the eyes
from the other side of the bridge. But soon the
scene grew clear; and it was a strange scene. The
bridge was in its place. At the far end of it stood
a group of the duke's servants; two or three car-
ried the lights which had dazzled me, three or four
held pikes in rest. They were huddled together;
their weapons protruded before them; their faces
were pale and agitated. To put it plainly, they
looked in as arrant a fright as I have seen men look,
and they gazed apprehensively at a man who stood
in the middle of the bridge, sword in hand. Rupert
Hentzau was in his trousers and shirt; the white
linen was stained with blood; but his easy, buoyant
pose told me that he was himself either not touched
at all or merely scratched. There he stood, hold-
FACE TO FACE IN THE FOREST. 253
ing the bridge against them, and daring them to
come on; or, rather, bidding them and Black
Michael to him; and they, having no firearms,
cowered before the desperate man and dared not
attack him. They whispered to one another: and
in the backmost rank I saw my friend Johann, lean-
ing against the portal of the door and stanching
with a handkerchief the blood which flowed from a
wound in his cheek.
By marvelous chance I was master. The cravens
would oppose me no more than they dared attack
Rupert. I had but to raise my revolver, and I
sent him to his account with his sins on his head.
He did not so much as know that I was there. I
did nothing why, I hardly know to this day. I
had killed one man stealthily that night, and an-
other by luck rather than skill perhaps it was
that. Again, villain as the man was, I did not rel-
ish being one of a crowd against him perhaps it
was that. But stronger than either of these re-
straining feelings came a curiosity and a fascination
which held me spellbound, watching for the out*
come of the scene.
854 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
" Michael, you dog! Michael! If you can
stand, come on! " cried Rupert; and he advanced a
step, the group shrinking back a little before him.
" Michael, you bastard! come on! "
The answer to his taunts came in the wild cry of
a woman:
" He's dead ! My God, he's dead ! "
"Dead!" shouted Rupert. "I struck better
than I knew! " and he laughed triumphantly.
Then he went on: " Down with your weapon?
there! I'm your master now! Down with then^
I say!"
I believe they would have obeyed, but as he
spoke came new things. First, there arose a dis-
tant sound, as of shouts and knockings from the
other side of the chateau. My heart leaped. It
must be my men, come by a happy disobedience to
seek me. The noise continued, but none of the
rest seemed to heed it. Their attention was
chained by what now happened before their eyes.
The group of servants parted and a woman stag-
gered on to the bridge. Antoinette de Maubai?
was in a loose white robe, her dark hair streamed
FACE TO FACE IN THE FOREST. 255
over her shoulders, her face was ghastly pale, and
her eyes gleamed wildly in the light of the torches,
^n her shaking hand she held a revolver, and as she
Pottered forward she fired it at Rupert Hentzau.
The ball missed him and struck the woodwork over
my head.
" Faith, madame," laughed Rupert, " had your
eyes been no more deadly than your shooting I had
not been in this scrape nor Black Michael in hell
to-night!"
She took no notice of his words. With a won-
derful effort she calmed herself till she stood still
and rigid. Then, very slowly and deliberately, she
began to raise her arm again, taking most careful
aim.
He would be mad to risk it. He must rush on
her, chancing* the bullet, or retreat toward me. I
Covered him with my weapon.
He did neither. Before she had got her aim he
bowed in his most graceful fashion, cried, " I can't
kill where I've kissed," and before she or I could
stop him laid his hand on the parapet of the bridge,
and lightly leaped into the moat.
*S C THE PRISONER OF
At the very moment I heard a rush of feet, and a
voice I knew Sapt's cry: " God! it's the duke-
dead! " Then I knew that the king needed me no
more, and, throwing down my revolver, I sprang
out on the bridge. There was a cry of wild won-
der, " The king! " and then I, like Rupert Kent-
zau, sword in hand, vaulted over the parapet, intent
on finishing my quarrel with him where I saw his
curly head fifteen yards off in the water of the moat.
He swam swiftly and easily. I was weary and
half crippled with my wounded arm. I could not
gain on him. For a time I made no sound, but
as we rounded the corner of the old keep I cried:
"Stop, Rupert, stop!"
I saw him look over his shoulder, but he swam
on. He was under the bank now, searching, as I
guessed, for a spot that he could climb. I kneu
there to be none but there was my rope, which
would still be hanging where I had left it. He
would come to where it was before I could. Per-
haps he would miss it perhaps he would find it;
and if he drew it up after him he would get a good
start of me. I put forth all my remaining strength
FACE TO FACE IN THE FOREST, 257
and pressed on. At last I began to gain on him;
for he, occupied with his search, unconsciously
slackened his pace.
Ah, he had found it! A low shout of triumph
came from him,, He laid hold of it and began to
haul himself up. I was near enough to heaj him
mutter: " How the devil comes this here? " I was
at the rope, and he, hanging in midair, saw me; but
I could not reach him.
" Hullo! who's here? " he cried in startled tones
For a moment I believe he took me for the king
I dare say I was pale enough to lend color to the
thought; but an instant later he cried:
" Why, it's the play-actor! How came you here,
man?"
And so saying he gained the bank.
I laid hold of the rope, but I paused. He stood
on the bank, sword in hand, and he could cut my
head open or spit me through the heart as I came
up. I let go the rope.
" Never mind," said I; " but as I'm here I think
I'll stay."
He smiled down on me.
5 8 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
" These women are the deuce " he began r
when suddenly the great bell of the castle began to
Ting furiously, and a loud shout reached us from the
Jnoat.
Rupert smiled again and waved his hand to me.
"I should like a turn with you, but it's a little too
hot! " said he, and he disappeared from above me.
In an instant, without thinking of danger, I laid
my hand to the rope. I was up. I saw him thirty
yards off, running like a deer toward the shelter of
the forest. For once Rupert Hentzau had chosen
discretion for his part. I laid my feet to the
ground and rushed after him, calling to him to
stand. He would not. Unwounded and vigor-
ous, he gained on me at every step; but, forgetting
everything in the world except him and my thirst
for his blood, I pressed on, and soon the deep
shades of the forest of Zenda engulfed us both, pur-
Jued and pursuer.
It was three o'clock now, and day was dawning.
I was on a long, straight grass avenue, and a hun-
dred yards ahead ran young Rupert, his curls wav-
ing in the fresh breeze. I was weary and panting;
fACE TO FACE IN THp FOREST, 259
he looked over his shoulder and waved his hand
again to me. He was mocking me, for he saw he
had the pace of me. I was forced to pause for
breath. A moment later Rupert turned sharply to
the right and was lost from my sight.
I thought all was over, and in deep vexation sank
on the ground. But I was up again directly, for a
scream rang through the forest a woman's
scream. Putting forth the last of my strength, I
ran on to the place where he had turned out of
sight, and turning also, I saw him again. But alast
I could not touch him. He was in the act of lift-
ing a girl down from her horse; doubtless it was
her scream that I heard. She looked like a small
farmer's or a peasant's daughter, and she carried
a basket on her arm. Probably she was on her way
to the early market at Zenda. Her horse was a
stout, well-shaped animal. Master Rupert lifted
her down amid her shrieks the sight of him fright-
ened her; but he treated her gently, laughed, kissed
her, and gave her money. Then he jumped on the
horse, sitting sideways like a woman; and then hf
waited for me. I, on my part, waited for him.
t6o THE PRISONER OF ZEND/1.
Presently he rode toward me, keeping his di
tance however. He lifted up his hand, saying:
" What did you in the castle? "
" I killed three of your friends," said I.
" What ! You got to the cells? "
" Yes."
"And the king?"
" He was hurt by Detchard before I killed Det-
chard, but I pray that he lives."
* You fool! " said Rupert pleasantly.
* One thing more I did."
"And what's that?"
" I spared your life. I was behind you on the
bridge, with a revolver in my hand."
" No? Faith, I was between two fires! "
" Get off your horse," I cried, " and fight like a
" Before a lady! " said he, pointing to the girl.
" Fie, your Majesty! "
Then in my rage, hardly knowing what I did,
I rushed at him. For a moment he seemed to
waver. Then he reined his horse in and stood
waiting 1 for me. On I went in my folly. I seized
FACE TO FACE IN THE FOREST. **
the bridle and I struck at him. He parried and
thrust at me. I fell back a pace and rushed in at
him again; and this time I reached his face and laid
his cheek open, and darted back before he could
strike me. He seemed almost mazed at the fierce-
ness of my attack; otherwise I think he must have
killed me. I sank on my knee, panting, expecting
him to ride at me. And so he would have done,
and then and there, I doubt not, one or both of
us would have died; but at the moment there can*
a shout from behind us, and, looking round, I saw
just at the turn of the avenue a man on a horse.
He was riding hard, and he carried a revolver in
his hand. It was Fritz von Tarlenheim, my faith-
ful friend. Rupert saw him, and knew that the
game was up. He checked his rush at me and
flung his leg over the saddle, but yet for just a mo-
ment he waited. Leaning forward, he tossed hia
hair off his forehead and smiled, and said:
"Au revoir, Rudolf Rassendyll! "
Then, with his cheek streaming blood, but his
lips laughing and his body swaying with ease and
frace, he bowed to me; and he bowed to the farm
6 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA-
girl, who had drawn near in trembling fascination;
and he waved his hand to Fritz, who was just within
range and let fly a shot at him. The ball came
nigh doing its work, for it struck the sword he held,
and he dropped the sword with an oath, wringing
his fingers, and clapped his heels hard in his
horse's belly, and rode away at a gallop.
And I watched him go down the long avenue,
riding as though he rode for his pleasure and sing-
ing as he went, for all there was that gash in his
cheek.
Once again he turned to wave his hand, and then
the gloom of the thickets swallowed him and he
was lost from our sight. Thus he vanished reck-
less and wary, graceful and graceless, handsome,
Debonair, vile, and unconquered. And I flung my
tword passionately on the ground and cried to
Fritz to ride after him. But Fritz stopped his
horse, and leaped down and ran to me, and knelt,
putting his arm about me. And indeed it was
time, for the wound that Detchard had given me
was broken forth afresh, and my blood was staining
the ground.
FACE TO FACE IN THE FOREST, 263
w Then give me the horse ! " I cried, staggering
to my feet and throwing his arms off me. And the
strength of my rage carried me so far as where the
horse stood, and then I fell prone beside it. And
Fritz knelt by me again.
"Fritz!" I said.
" Aye, friend dear friend 1 " said he, tender as I
woman.
"Is the king alive?"
He took his handkerchief and wiped my lips, anc
bent and kissed me on the forehead.
" Thanks to the most gallant gentleman that
lives," said he softly, " the king is alive ! "
The little farm-girl stood by us, weeping for
fright and wide-eyed wonder; for she had seen
me at Zenda; and was not I, pallid, dripping,
foul, and bloody as I was yet was not I the
king?
And when I heard that the king was alive I
strove to cry " Hurrah ! " But I could not speak
and I laid my head back in Fritz's arms and closed
my eyes, and I groaned ; and then, lest Fritz should
do me wrong in his thoughts, I opened my eyes and
64 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
fried to say " Hurrah ! " again. But I could not
And being- very tired, and now very cold, I huddled
myself close up to Fritz, to get the warmth of
and shut my eyes again and went to sleep.
CHAPTER XX.
THE PRISONER AND THE KING.
IN order to a full understanding of what had oc-
curred in the castle of Zenda it is necessary to sup
plement my account of what I myself saw and did
on that night by relating briefly what I afterward
learned from Fritz and from Mme. de Mauban.
The story told by the latter explained clearly how
it happened that the cry which I had arranged as &
stratagem and a sham had come, in dreadful reality,
before its time, and had thus, as it seemed at the
moment, ruined our hopes, while in the end it
favored them. The unhappy woman, fired, I be-
lieve, by a genuine attachment to the Duke ol
Strelsau, no less than by the dazzling prospects
which a dominion over him opened before her eyes,
had followed him at his request from Paris to Ruri-
tania. He was a man of strong passions, but of
stronger will, and his cool head ruled both. He
THE PRISONER OP ZENDA
was content to take all and give nothing. When
she arrived she was not long in finding that she had
a rival in the Princess Flavia; rendered desperate,
she stood at nothing which might give or keep her
power over the duke. As I say, he took and gave
not. Simultaneously Antoinette found herself en-
tangled in his audacious schemes. Unwilling to
abandon him, bound to him by the chains of shame
and hope, she yet would not be a decoy, nor at his
bidding lure me to death. Hence the letters of
warning she had written. Whether the lines she
sent to Flavia were inspired by good or bad feeling,
by jealousy or by pity, I do not know; but here also
she served us well. When the duke went to Zenda
she accompanied him; and here for the first time
she learned the full measure of his cruelty, and
was touched with compassion for the unfortunate
king. From this time she was with us; yet, from
what she told me, I knew that she still (as
women will) loved Michael, and trusted to gain his
life, if not his pardon, from the king as the reward
for her assistance. His triumph she did not desire,
for she loathed his crime, and loathed yet more
THE PRISONER AND THE KING- *&1
fiercely what would be the prize of it his marriage
with his cousin, Princess Flavia.
At Zenda new forces came into play the lust
and daring of young Rupert. He was caught by
her beauty, perhaps; perhaps it was enough for
him that she belonged to another man, and that she
hated him. For many days there had been quar-
rels and ill will between him and the duke, and the
scene which I had witnessed in the duke's room was
but one of many. Rupert's proposals to me, of
which she had of course been ignorant, in no way
surprised her -when I related them; she had herself
warned Michael against Rupert, even when she was
calling on me to deliver her from both of them.
On this night, then, Rupert had determined to have
his will. When she had gone to her room he, hav-
ing furnished himself with a key to it, had made his
entrance. Her cries had brought the duke, and
there in the dark room while she screamed, the
men had fought; and Rupert, having wounded his
master with a mortal blow, had, on the servants
rushing in, escaped through the window as I have
described. The duke's blood, spurting out. had
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
stained his opponent's shirt; but Rupert, not know*
ing that he had dealt Michael his death, was eager
to finish the encounter. How he meant to deal
with the other three of the band I know not. I
dare say he did not think, for the killing of MichaeJ
was not premeditated. Antoinette, left alone with
the duke, had tried to stanch his wound, and thus
was she busied till he died; and then, hearing Ru-
pert's taunts, she had come forth to avenge him.
Me she had not seen, nor did she till I darted out
of my ambush and leaped after Rupert into the
moat.
The same moment found my friends on the
scene. They had reached the chateau in due time,
and waited ready by the door. But Johann, swept
with the rest to the rescue of the duke, did not open
it, nay, he took a part against Rupert, putting him-
self forward more bravely than any in his anxiety
to avert suspicion; and he had received a wound,
in the embrasure of the window. Till nearly half-
past two Sapt waited; then, following my orders,
he had sent Fritz to search the banks of the moat,
I was not there. Hastening back, Fritz told Sapt;
THE PRISONER AND THE KING- 269
and Sapt was for following- orders still, and riding
at full speed back to Tarlenheim; while Fritz would
not hear of abandoning me, let me have ordered
what I would. On this they disputed some few
minutes; then Sapt, persuaded by Fritz, detached a
party under Bernenstein to gallop back to Tarlen-
heim and bring up the marshal, while the rest fell
to on the great door of the chateau. For nearly
fifteen minutes it resisted them; then, just as An-
toinette de Mauban fired at Rupert Hentzau on
the bridge, they broke in, eight of them in all: and
the first door they came to was the door of
Michael's room; and Michael lay dead across the
threshold, with a sword thfust through his breast.
Sapt cried out at his death, as I had heard, and they
rushed on the servants; but these, in fear, dropped
their weapons, and Antoinette flung herself, weep-
ing, at Sapt's feet. And all she cried was that I
had been at the end of the bridge and had leaped
off. " What of the prisoner? " asked Sapt; but she
shook her head. Then Sapt and Fritz, with thf
gentlemen behind them, crossed the bridge, slowly,
warily, and without noise; and Fritz stumbled ovet
70 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
the body of De Gautet in the way of the door*
They felt him and found him dead.
Then they consulted, listening eagerly for any
sound from the cells below; but there came none,
and they were greatly afraid that the king's guards
had killed him, and having pushed his body
through the great pipe, had escaped the same way
themselves. Yet, because I had been seen here,
they had still some hope (thus indeed Fritz, in his
friendship, told me); and going back to Michael's
body, pushing aside Antoinette, who prayed by it,
they found a key to the door which I had locked,
and opened the door. The staircase was dark, and
they would not use a torch at first, lest they should
be the more exposed to fire. But soon Fritz cried;
"The door down there is open! See, there is
light!*' So they went on boldly, and found norw
to oppose them. And when they came to the
outer room and saw the Belgian, Bersonin, lying
dead, they thanked God, Sapt saying: " Aye, he has
been here." Then rushing into the king's cell,
they found Detchard lying dead across the dead
physician, and the king on his back with his chaw
THE PRISONER AND THE KING, f ?-
JHy Mm. And Fritz cried: " He's dead! " and Sap*
drove all out of the room except Fritz, and knelt
down by the king; and, having learned more of
wounds and the signs of death than I, he soon knew
that the king was not dead, nor, if properly at-
tended, would die. And they covered his face and
carried him to Duke Michael's room, and laid him
there; and Antoinette rose from praying by the
body of the duke and went to bathe the king's head
and dress his wounds, till a doctor came. And
Sapt, seeing I had been there, and having heard
Antoinette's story, sent Fritz to search the moat
and then the forest. He dared send no one else.
And Fritz found my horse, and feared the worst.
Then, as I have told, he found me, guided by the
shout with which I had called on Rupert to stop
and face me. And I think a man has never been
more glad to find his own brother alive than was
Fritz to come on me; so that, in love and anxiety
for me, he thought nothing of a thing so great as
would have been the death of Rupert Hentzau,
jfet, had Fritz killed him, I should have grudged it.
The enterprise of the king's rescue being thus
*7
prosperously concluded, it lay on Colonel Sapt ta
secure security as to the king ever having been in
need of rescue. Antoinette de Mauban and
Johann, the keeper (who, indeed, was too much
hurt to be wagging his tongue just now), were
sworn to reveal nothing; and Fritz went forth to
find not the king, but the unnamed friend of the
king, who had lain in Zenda and flashed for a mo-
ment before the dazed eyes of Duke Michael's serv-
ants on the drawbridge. The metamorphosis had
happened: and the king, wounded almost to deatfi
by the attacks of the jailers who guarded his friend,
had at last overcome them, and rested now,
wounded, but alive, in Black Michael's own room
in the castle. 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 Marshal Stra-
kencz to assure the princess of the king's safety, and
to come himself with all speed to greet the king*
The princess was enjoined to remain at Tarlenheim,
THE PRISONER 4ND THE KING. a 73
laid there await her cousin's coming or his further
injunctions. Thus the king would come to his
own again, having wrought brave deeds, and es-
caped, almost by a miracle, the treacherous assault
of his unnatural brother.
This ingenious arrangement of my long-headed
old friend prospered in every way, save where it
encountered a force that often defeats the most
cunning schemes. I mean nothing else than the
pleasure of a woman. For let her cousin and sov-
ereign send what command he chose (or Colonel
Sapt chose for him), and let Marshal Strakencz in-
sist as he would, the Princess Flavia was in no way
minded to rest at Tarlenheim while her lover lay
wounded at Zenda; and when the marshal, with a
small suite, rode forth from Tarlenheim on the way
to Zenda the princess' carriage followed immedi-
ately behind, and in this order they passed through
the town, where the report was already rife that
the king, going the night before to remonstrate
with his brother, in all friendliness, for that he held
one of the king's friends in confinement in the
castle, had been most traitorously set upon; thaf
THE PRISONER Of ZENDA-
there had been a desperate conflict; that the duke
was slain with several of his gentlemen; and that
the king, wounded as he was, had seized and held
the castle of Zenda. All of which talk made, as
may be supposed, a mighty excitement; and the
wires were set in motion, and the tidings came to
Strelsau only just after orders had been sent thither
to parade the troops and overawe the dissatisfied
quarters of the town with a display of force.
Thus the Princess Flavia came to Zenda. And
as she drove up the hill, with the marshal riding
by the wheel and still imploring her to return in
obedience to the king's orders, Fritz von Tarlen-
heim, with the prisoner of Zenda, came to the edge
of the forest. I had revived from my swoon, and
walked, resting on Fritz's arm; and looking out
from the cover of the trees, I saw the princess.
Suddenly understanding from a glance at my com-
panion's face that we must not meet her, I sank on
my knees behind a clump of bushes. But there
was one whom we had forgotten, but who followed
us, and was not disposed to let slip the chance of
teaming a smile and maybe a crown or two; and
THE PRISONER AND THE KING, 275
while we lay hidden the little farm-girl came by us
and ran to the princess, courtesying and crying:
" Madame, the king is here in the bushes.
May I guide you to him, madame ? "
"Nonsense, child!" said old Strakencz; "the
king lies wounded in the castle."
" Yes, sir, he's wounded, I know; but he's there
with Count Fritz and not at the castle," she
persisted.
" Is he in two places, or are there two kings ? "
asked Flavia, bewildered. " And how should he
be here?"
" He pursued a gentleman, madame, and they
fought till Count Fritz came; and the other gentle-
man took my father's horse from me and rode
away; but the king is here with Count Fritz. Why,
madame, is there another man in Ruritania like the
king?"
" No, my child," said Flavia softly (I was told it
afterward), and she smiled and gave the girl money.
" I will go and see the gentleman," and she rose to
alight from the carriage.
But at this moment Sapt came riding from the
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
castle, and, seeing the princess, made the best of %
bad job, and cried to her that the king was well
tended and in no danger.
" In the castle? " she asked.
" Where else, madame? " said he, bowing.
" But this girl says he is yonder with Count
Fritz."
Sapt turned his eyes on the child with an incredu-
lous smile.
" Every fine gentleman is a king to such," said
he.
" Why, he's as like the king as one pea to an-
other, madame! " cried the girl, a little shaken, but
still obstinate.
Sapt started round. The old marshal's face
asked unspoken questions. Flavia's glance was no
less eloquent. Suspicion spreads quick.
" I'll ride myself and see this man," said Sapt
hastily.
" Nay, I'll come myself," said the princess.
" Then come alone," he whispered.
And she, obedient to the strange hinting in his
face, prayed the marshal and the rest to wait; and
THE PRISONER AND THE KING. 277
she and Sapt came on foot toward where we lay,
Sapt waving to the farm-girl to keep at a distance.
And when I saw them coming I sat in a sad heap
on the ground, and buried my face in my hands.
I could not look at her. Fritz knelt by me, laying
his hand on my shoulder.
" Speak low, whatever you say," I heard Sapt
whisper as they came up, and the next thing I
heard was a low cry half of joy, half of fear from
the princess:
"It is he! Are you hurt?"
And she fell on the ground by me and gently
pulled my hands away; but I kept my eyes to the
ground.
" It is the king! " she said. " Pray, Colonel
Sapt, tell me where lay the wit of the joke you
played on me? "
We answered none of us; we three were silent
before her. Regardless of them, she threw her
arms round my neck and kissed me. Then Sapt
spoke in a low, hoarse whisper:
" It is not the king. Don't kiss him; he's not the
king."
278 THE PRISONER OF ZEN DA.
She drew back for a moment; then, with an arm
still round my neck, she asked in superb indig-
nation :
" Do I not know my love? Rudolf, my love! "
" It is not the king," said old Sapt again; and a
sudden sob broke from tender-hearted Fritz.
It was the sob that told her no comedy was afoot.
" He is the king! " she cried. " It is the king's
face the king's ring my ring! It is my love! "
" Your love, madame," said old Sapt, " but not
the king. The king is there in the castle. This
gentleman "
" Look at me, Rudolf! look at me! " she cried,
taking my face between her hands. " Why do you
let them torment me? Tell me what it means! "
Then I spoke, gazing into her eyes.
" God forgive me, madame! " I said. " I am not
the king! "
I felt her hands clutch my cheeks. She gazed
at me as never man's face was scanned yet. And
I, silent again, saw wonder born, and doubt grow,
and terror spring to life as she looked. And very
gradually the grasp of her hands slackened; she
THE PRISONER AND THE KING. 279
turned to Sapt, to Fritz, and back to me; then sud-
denly she reeled forward and fell in my arms; and
with a great cry of pain I gathered her to me and
kissed her lips. Sapt laid his hand on my arm. I
looked up in his face. And I laid her softly on the
ground, and stood up, looking on her, cursing
Heaven that young Rupert's sword had spared me
Tor this sharper pang.
CHAPTER XXI.
IF LOVE WERE ALL.
IT was night, and I was in the cell wherein the
king had lain in the castle of Zenda. The great
pipe that Rupert of Hentzau had nicknamed
" Jacob's ladder " was gone, and the lights in the
room across the moat twinkled in the darkness.
All was still; the din and clash of strife were gone.
I had spent the day hidden in the forest from the
time when Fritz had led me off, leaving Sapt with
the princess. Under cover of dusk, muffled up, I
had been brought to the castle and lodged where I
now lay. Though three men had died there two
of them by my hand I was not troubled by
ghosts. I had thrown myself on a pallet by the
window, and was looking out on the black water;
Johann, the keeper, still pale from his wound, but
not much hurt besides, had brought me supper.
He told me that the king was doing well, that he
280
IF LOVE WERE ALL I 281
had seen the princess; that she and he, Sapt and
Fritz had been long together. Marshal Strakencz
was gone to Strelsau; Black Michael lay in his
coffin, and Antoinette de Mauban watched by him,
Had I not heard from the chapel priests singing
Mass for him?
Outside there were strange rumors afloat.
Some said that the prisoner of Zenda was dead;
some, that he had vanished yet alive; some, that
he was a friend who had served the king well in
some adventure in England; others, that he had
discovered the duke's plots, and had therefore been
kidnaped by him. One or two shrewd fellows
shook their heads and said only that they would
say nothing, but they had suspicions that more was
to be known than was known if Colonel Sapt would
tell all he knew.
Thus Johann chattered till I sent him away and
lay there alone, thinking, not of the future, but
as a man is wont to do when stirring things have
happened to him rehearsing the events of the past
weeks, and wondering how strangely they had
fallen out. And above me in the stillness of the
8a THE PRISONER OF ZEND A.
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 recol-
lect that it floated no longer for me.
Presently Fritz von Tarlenheim came into the
room. I was standing then by the window; the
glass was opened, and I was idly fingering the
cement which clung to the masonry where
" Jacob's ladder " had been. He told me briefly
that the king wanted me, and together we crossed
the drawbridge and entered the room that had
been Black Michael's.
The king was lying there in bed; our doctor
from Tarlenheim was in attendance on him, and
whispered to me that my visit must be brief. The
king held out his hand and shook mine. Fritz and
the doctor withdrew to the window.
I took the king's ring from my finger and placed
it on his.
" I have tried not to dishonor it, sire," said 1.
" I can't talk much to you," he said in a weak
IF LOVE WERE ALL.
voice. " I have had a great fight with Sapt and
the marshal for we have told the marshal every-
thing. I wanted to take you to Strelsau and keep
you with me, and tell everyone of what you had
done; and you would have been my best and
nearest friend, Cousin Rudolf. But they tell me I
must not, and that the secret must be kept if kept
it can be."
" They are right, sire. Let me go. My work
here is done."
" Yes, it is done, as no man but you could have
done it. When they see me again I shall have my
beard on; I shall yes, faith, I shall be wasted with
sickness. They will not wonder that the king
looks changed in face. Cousin, I shall try to let
them find him changed in nothing else. You have
shown me how to play the king."
" Sire," said I, " I can take no praise from you.
It is by the narrowest grace of God that I was not
a worse traitor than your brother."
He turned inquiring eyes on me; but a sick man
shrinks from puzzles, and he had no strength to
question me. His glance fell on Flavia's ring,
284 THE PRISONER OF ZEND A.
which I wore. I thought he would question me
about it; but after fingering it idly he let his head
fall on his pillow.
" I don't know when I shall see you again," he
said faintly, almost listlessly.
" If I can ever serve you again, sire," I an-
swered.
His eyelids closed. Fritz came with the doctor.
I kissed the king's hand, and let Fritz lead me
away. I have never seen the king since.
Outside Fritz turned, not to the right, back to-
ward the drawbridge, but to the left, and, without
speaking, led me upstairs, through a handsome cor-
ridor in the chateau.
" Where are we going? " I asked.
Looking away from me, Fritz answered:
" She has sent for you. When it is over
come back to the bridge. I'll wait for you
there."
" What does she want? " said I, breathing
quickly.
He shook his head.
" Does she know everything? "
IF LOVE WERE ALL } 285
"Yes, everything."
He opened a door, and gently pushing me in,
closed it behind me. I found myself in a drawing
room, small and richly furnished. At first I
thought that I was alone, for the light that came
from a pair of shaded candles on the mantelpiece
was very dim. But presently I discerned a
woman's figure standing by the window. I knew
it was the princess, and I walked up to ner, fell
on one knee, and carried the hand that hung by
her side to my lips. She neither moved nor spoke.
I rose to my feet, and, piercing the gloom with my
eager eyes, saw her pale face and the gleam of her
hair, and before I knew I spoke softly:
"Flavia!"
She trembled a little, and looked round. Then
she darted to me, taking hold of me.
"Don't stand, don't stand! No, you mustn't!
Vou're hurt ! Sit down here, here ! "
She made me sit on a sofa, and put her hand on
my forehead.
" How hot your head is! " she said, sinking on
her knees by me. Then she laid her head against
*86 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
me, and I heard her murmur: " My darling, how
hot your head is! "
Somehow love gives even to a dull man the
knowledge of his lover's heart. I had come to
humble myself and pray pardon for my presump-
tion; but what I said now was:
" I love you with all my heart and soul ! "
For what troubled and shamed her? Not her
love for me, but the fear that I had counterfeited
the lover as I had acted the king, and taken her
kisses with a smothered smile.
"With all my life and heart!" said I, as she
clung to me. " Always, from the first moment I
saw you in the cathedral ! There has been but one
woman in the world to me and there will be no
other. But God forgive me the wrong I've done
you!"
"They made you do it! " she said quickly; and
she added, raising her head and looking in my eyes,
" It might have made no difference if I'd known it.
It was always you, never the king! " and she raised
herself and kissed me.
" I meant to tell you," said I. " I was going to
'IT WAS ALWAYS YOU, NEVER THE KING ! " Page 2X6.
IF LOVE WERE ALL ! 28}
cm the night of the ball in Strelsau, when Sapt
interrupted me. After that I couldn't I couldn't
risk losing you before before I must! My
darling, for you I nearly left the king to
die!"
" I know, I know ! What are we to do now,
Rudolf? "
I put my arm round her and held her up while
I said:
" I am going away to-night."
" Ah, no, no! " she cried. " Not to-night! "
" I must go to-night, before more people have
seen me. And how would you have me stay,
sweetheart, except "
" If I could come with you! " she whispered very
low.
" My God! " said I roughly, " don't talk about
that ! " and I thrust her a little back from me.
" Why not? I love you. You are as good a
gentleman as the king! '
Then I was false to all that I should have held
by. For I caught her in my arms and prayed her,
in words that I will not write, to come with me,
88 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
daring all Ruritania to take her from me. An^ iof
a while she listened, with wondering, dazzled v/es.
But as her eyes looked on me I grew ashamed, *md
my voice died away in broken murmurs and stam-
merings, and at last I was silent.
She drew herself away from me and stood
against the wall, while I sat on the edge of the sofa,
trembling in every limb, knowing what I had done
loathing it, obstinate not to undo it. So we
rested a long time.
" I am mad ! " I said sullenly.
" I love your madness, dear," she answered.
Her face was away from me, but I caught the
sparkle of a tear on her cheek. I clutched the
sofa with my hand and held myself there.
" Is love the only thing? " sh;> asked, in low,
sweet tones that seemed to bring $ calm even to my
wrung heart. " If love were the only thing I could
follow you in rags, if need be to the world's end;
for you hold my heart in the hollow of your hand!
But is love the only thing? "
I made her no answer. It gives me shame now
to think that I would not help her.
IF LGVE WERE ALL! 8
She came near me and laid her hand on my
shoulder. I put my hand up and held hers.
" I know people write and talk as if it were.
Perhaps, for some, Fate lets it be. Ah, if I were
one of them! But if love had been the only thing
you would have let the king die in his cell."
I kissed her hand.
" Honor binds a woman too, Rudolf. My
honor lies in being true to my country and my
House. I don't know why God has let me love
you; but I know that I must stay! "
Still I said nothing; and she, pausing a while,
then went on:
" Your ring will always be on my finger, your
heart in my heart, the touch of your lips on mine.
But you must go and I must stay. Perhaps I must
dc what it kills me to think of doing."
I knew what she meant, and a shiver ran through
me. But I could not utterly fail beside her. I
rose and took her hand.
" Do you what you will or what you must," I
said. " I think God shows his purposes to such as
you. My part is lighter; for your ring shall be on
9 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
my finger and your heart in mine, and no touch
save of your lips will ever be on mine. So, may
God comfort you, my darling! "
There struck on our ears the sound of singing.
The priests in the chapel were singing masses for
the souls of those who lay dead. They seemed to
chant a requiem over our buried joy, to pray for-
giveness for our love that would not die. The
soft, sweet, pitiful music rose and fell as we stood
opposite one another, her hands in mine.
" My queen and my beauty! " said I.
" My lover and true knight! " she said. " Per-
haps we shall never see one another again. Kiss
me, my dear, and go! "
I kissed her as she bade me; but at the last she
clung to me, whispering nothing but my name,
and that over and over again and again and
again; and then I left her.
Rapidly I walked down to the bridge. Sapt and
Fritz were waiting for me. Under their directions
I changed my dress, and muffling my face, as I had
done more than once before, I mounted with them
at the door of the castle, and we three rode through
IF LOVE WERE ALL! 29*
the night and on to the breaking of day, and found
ourselves at a little roadside station just over the
border of Ruritania. The train was not quite due,
and I walked with them in a meadow by a little
brook while we waited for it. They promised to
send me all news; they overwhelmed me with kind-
ness even old Sapt was touched to gentleness,
while Fritz was half unmanned. I listened in a
kind of dream to all they said. " Rudolf! Ru-
dolf! Rudolf! " still rang in my ears a burden of
sorrow and of love. At last they saw that I could
not heed them, and we walked up and down in
silence, till Fritz touched me on the arm, and I
saw, a mile or more away, the blue smoke of the
train. Then I held out a hand to each of them.
" We are all but half men this morning," said I,
smiling. " But we have been men, eh, Sapt and
Fritz, old friends? We have run a good course
between us."
" We have defeated traitors and set the king firm
on his throne," said Sapt.
Then Fritz von Tarlenheim suddenly, before I
sould discern his purpose or stay him, uncovered
<9 2 THE PRISONER OF ZEND*.
his head and bent as he used to do, and kissed my
hand; and as I snatched it away he said, trying to
laugh:
" Heaven doesn't always make the right men
kings!"
Old Sapt twisted his mouth as he wrung my
hand.
" The devil has his share in most things," said
he.
The people at the station looked curiously at the
tall man with the muffled face, but we took no
notice of their glances. I stood with my two
friends, and waited till the train came up to us.
Then we shook hands again, saying nothing; and
both this time and, indeed, from old Sapt it
seemed strange bared their heads, and so stood
still till the train bore me away from their sigHt.
So that it was thought some great man traveled
privately for his pleasure from the little station that
morning; whereas, in truth, it was only I, Rudolf
Rassendyll, an English gentleman, a cadet of a
good house, but a man of no wealth nor position,
nor of much rank. They would have been disap*
IF LOVE WERE ALLI
pointed to know that. Yet, had they known all,
they would have looked more curiously still. For,
be I what I might now, I had been for three months
a king; which, if not a thing to be proud of, is, at
least, an experience to have undergone. Doubt-
less I should have thought more of it had there not
echoed through the air, from the towers of Zenda
that we were leaving far away, into my ears and
into my heart the cry of a woman's love " Rudolf I
Rudolf! Rudolf! "
Hark! I hear it now!
CHAPTER XXII.
PRESENT, PAST AND FUTURE?
details of my return home can have but
little interest. I went straight to the Tyrol and
spent a quiet fortnight mostly on my back, for a
severe, chill developed itself; and I was also the vic-
tim of a nervous reaction, which made me weak as
a baby. As soon as I had reached my quarters I
sent an apparently careless postcard to my brother,
announcing my good health and prospective re-
turn. That would serve to satisfy the inquiries as
to my whereabouts, which were probably still vex-
ing the prefect of the police of Strelsau. I let my
mustache and imperial grow again; and as hair
comes quickly on my face, they were respectable,
though not luxuriant, by the time that I landed
myself in Paris and called on my friend George
Featherly. My interview with him was chiefly
remarkable for the number of unwilling but
PRESENT, PAST AND FUTURE? *95
sary falsehoods that I told and I rallied him un-
mercifully when he told me that he had made up
his mind that I had gone in the track of Mme. de
Mauban to Strelsau. The lady, it appeared, was
back in Paris, but was living in great seclusion a
fact for which gossip found no difficulty in account-
ing. Did not all the world know of the treachery
and death of Duke Michael? Nevertheless George
bade Bertram Bertrand be of good cheer, " for,"
said he flippantly, " a live poet is better than a dead
duke." Then he turned on me and asked:
" What have you been doing to your mus-
tache? "
"To tell the truth," I answered, assuming a sly
air, " a man now and then has reasons for wishing
to alter his appearance. But it's coming on very
well again."
" What? Then I wasn't so far out! If not the
fair Antoinette, there was a charmer."
" There is always a charmer," said I senten-
tiously.
But George would not be satisfied till he had
wormed out of me (he took much pride in his in-
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
genuity) an absolutely imaginary love affair, at-
tended with the proper soupgon of scandal, which
had kept me all this time in the peaceful regions of
the Tyrol. In return for this narrative George re-
galed me with a great deal of what he called " in-
side information " (known only to diplomatists) as
to the true course of events in Ruritania, the plots
and counterplots. In his opinion, he told me, with
a significant nod, there was more to be said for
Black Michael than the public supposed; and he
hinted at a well-founded suspicion that the mys-
terious prisoner of Zenda, concerning whom a
good many paragraphs had appeared, was not a
man at all, but (here I had some ado not to smile)
a woman disguised as a man; and that strife be-
tween the king and his brother for this imaginary
lady's favor was at the bottom of their quarrel.
" Perhaps it was Mme. de Mauban herself," I
suggested.
"No!" said George decisively. "Antoinette
de Mauban was jealous of her, and betrayed the
duke to the king for that reason. And, to confirm
what I say, it's well known that the Princess Flavia
PRESENT, PAST AND FUTURE f 97
is now extremely cold to the king, after having
been most affectionate."
At this point I changed the subject, and escaped
from George's " inspired " delusions. But if diplo-
matists never know anything more than they had
succeeded in finding out in this instance, they ap-
pear to me to be somewhat expensive luxuries.
While in Paris I wrote to Antoinette, though
I did not venture to call upon her. I received in
return a very affecting letter, in which she assured
me that the king's generosity and kindness, no less
than her regard for me, bound her conscience to
absolute secrecy. She expressed the intention of
settling in the country, and withdrawing herself
entirely from society. Whether she carried out
her designs I have never heard; but as I have not
met her, or heard news of her up to this time, it is.
probable that she did. There is no doubt that she
was deeply attached to the Duke of Strelsau; and
her conduct at the time of his death proved that no
knowledge of the man's real character was enough
to root her regard for him out of her heart.
I had one more battle left to fight a battle that
9 8 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
would, I knew, be severe, and was bound to end in
my complete defeat. Was I not back from the
Tyrol, without having made any study of its in-
habitants, institutions, scenery, fauna, flora, or
other features? Had I not simply wasted my time
in my usual frivolous, good-for-nothing way.
That was the aspect of the matter which, I was
obliged to admit, would present itself to my sister-
in-law; and against a verdict based on such evi-
dence I had really no defense to offer. It may be
supposed, then, that I presented myself in Park
Lane in a shamefaced, sheepish fashion. On the
whole, my reception was not so alarming as I had
feared. It turned out that I had done, not what
Rose wished, but the next best thing what she
prophesied. She had declared that I should make
no notes, record no observations, gather no ma-
terials. My brother, on the other hand, had been
weak enough to maintain that a really serious re-
solve had at length animated me.
When I returned empty-handed Rose was so
occupied in triumphing over Burlesdon that she
let me down quite easily, devoting the greater part
PRESENT, PAST- AND FUTURE? 299
of her reproaches to my failure to advertise my
friends of my whereabouts.
" We've wasted a lot of time trying to find you,"
she said.
" I know you have," said I. " Half our ambas-
sadors have led weary lives on my account.
George Featherly told me so. But why should
you have been anxious? I can take care of
myself."
" Oh, it wasn't that," she cried scornfully; "but
I wanted to tell you about Sir Jacob Borrodaile.
You know he's got an embassy at least, he will
have in a month and he wrote to say he hoped
you would go with him."
" Where's he going to? "
" He's going to succeed Lord Topham at Strel-
sau," said she. " You couldn't have a nicer place,
short of Paris."
"Strelsau! H'm! " said I, glancing at my
brother.
" Oh, that doesn't matter! " exclaimed Rose im
patiently. " Now you will go, won't you? "
" I don't know that I care about it J "
$00 THE PRISONER OF ZEND/t.
" Oh, you're too exasperating! "
" And I don't think I can go to Strelsau. My
dear Rose, would it be suitable? "
" Oh, nobody remembers that horrid old story
now."
Upon this I took out of my pocket a portrait of
die King of Ruritania. It had been taken a month
or two before he ascended the throne, and he
wore a full beard. Nevertheless she could not
miss my point when I said, putting it into her
hands:
" In case you've not seen or not noticed a pic-
ture of Rudolf V., there he is. Don't you think
they might recall the story if I appeared at the
court of Ruritania? "
My sister-in-law looked at the portrait, and then
at me.
" Good gracious! " she said, and flung the pho-
tograph down on the table.
" What do you say, Bob? " I asked.
Burlesdon got up, went to a corner of the room,
and searched in a heap of newspapers. Presently
he came back with a copy of the Illustrated London
PRESENT, PAST AND FUTURE* $01
News. Opening the paper, he displayed a double-
page engraving of the Coronation of Rudolf V. at
Strelsau. The photograph and the picture he laid
side by side. I sat at the table fronting them ; and
as I looked I grew absorbed. My eye traveled
from my own portrait to Sapt, to Strakencz, to the
rich robes of the cardinal, to Black Michael's face,
to the stately figure of the princess by his side.
Long I looked and eagerly. I was roused by my
brother's hand on my shoulder. He was gazing
down at me with a puzzled expression.
" It's a remarkable likeness, you see," said I.
" I really think I had better not to go to Ruri-
tania."
Rose, though half convinced, would not abandon
her position.
" It's just an excuse," she said pettishly. " You
don't want to do anything. Why, you might be-
come an ambassador! "
" I don't think I want to be an ambassador,"
said I.
" It's more than you ever will be," she retorted.
That is very likely true, but it is not more that I
J02 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
have been. The idea of being an ambassador
could scarcely dazzle me. I had been a king!
So pretty Rose left us in dudgeon; and Burles-
don, lighting a cigarette, looked at me still with
that curious gaze.
" That picture in the paper " he said.
" Well, what of it? It shows that the king of
Ruritania and your humble servant are as like as
two peas."
My brother shook his head.
" I suppose so," he said. " But I should know
you from the man in the photograph."
" And not from the picture in the paper? "
" I should know the photograph from the pic-
ture: the picture's very like the photograph,
but "
"Well?"
" It's more like you," said my brother.
My brother is a good man and true so that, for
all that he is a married man and mighty fond of his
wife, he should know any secret of mine. But
this secret was not mine, and I could not tell it
to him.
PRESENT, PAST AND FUTURE f 33
" I don't think it's so much like me as the photo-
graph," said I boldly. " But anyhow, Bob, I
won't go to Strelsau."
" No, don't go to Strelsau, Rudolf," said he.
And whether he suspects anything, or has a glim-
mer of the truth, I do not know. If he has he keeps
it to himself, and he and I never refer to it.
And we let Sir Jacob Borrodaile find another
attache.
Since all these events whose history I have set
down happened I have lived a very quiet life at a
small house which I have taken in the country.
The ordinary ambitions and aims of men in my po-
sition seem to me dull and unattractive. I have
little fancy for the whirl of society, and none for the
jostle of politics. Lady Burlesdon utterly despairs
of me; my neighbors think me an indolent, dreamy,
unsociable fellow. Yet I am a young man; and
sometimes I have a fancy the superstitious would
call it a presentiment that my part in life is not
yet altogether played; that, somehow and some
day, I shall mix again in great affairs, I shall again
spin policies in a busy brain, match my wits against
304 THE PRISONER OF ZENDA,
my enemies', brace my muscle to fight a good fight
and strike stout blows. Such is the tissue of my
thoughts as, with gun or rod in hand, I wander
through the woods or by the side of the stream.
Whether the fancy will be fulfilled I cannot tell
still less whether the scene that, led by memory, I
lay for my new exploits will be the true one for
I love to see myself once again in the crowded
streets of Strelsau, or beneath the frowning keep oi
the castle of Zenda.
Thus led, my broodings leave the future, and
turn back on the past. Shapes rise before me in
long array the wild first revel with the king, the
rush with my brave tea table, the night in the moat,
the pursuit in the forest: my friends and my foes,
the people who learned to love and honor me, the
desperate men who tried to kill me. And, from
amid these last, comes one who alone of all of them
yet moves on earth, though where I know not, yet
plans (as I do not doubt) wickedness, yet turns
women's hearts to softness and men's to fear and
hate. Where is young Rupert of Hentzau the
boy who came so nigh to beating me? When his
PRESENT, PAST AND FUTURE? 305
name comes into my head I feel my hand grip and
the blood move quicker through my veins; and the
hint of Fate the presentiment seems to grow
stronger and more definite, and to whisper insist-
ently in my ear that I have yet a hand to play with
young Rupert ; therefore I exercise myself in arms,
and seek to put off the day when the vigor of youth
must leave me.
One break comes every year in my quiet life.
Then I go to Dresden, and there I am met by my
dear friend and companion Fritz von Tarlenheim.
Last time his pretty wife Helga came, and a lusty
crowing baby with her. And for a week Fritz and
I are together, and I hear all of what falls out in
Strelsau; and in the evenings, as we walk and
smoke together, we talk of Sapt, and of the king,
and often of young Rupert; and, as the hours grow
small, at last we speak of Flavia. For every year
Fritz carries with him to Dresden a little box; in it
lies a red rose, and round the stalk of the rose is a
slip of paper with the words written: " Rudolf
Flavia always." And the like I send back by
him. That message, and the wearing >< the rings,
JOO THE PRISONER OF ZEND/t
are all that now bind me and the Queen of Run-
tania. For nobler, as I told her, for the act she
had followed where her duty to her country and
her House led her, and is the wife of the king, unit-
ing his subjects to him by the love they bear to her,
giving peace and quiet days to thousands by her
self-sacrifice. There are moments when I dare not
think of it, but there are others when I rise in spirit
to where she ever dwells; then I can thank God that
I love the noblest lady in the world, the most gra-
cious and beautiful, and that there was nothing in
my love that made her fall short in her high
duty.
Shall I see her face again the pale face and the
glorious hair? Of that I know nothing; Fate has
no hint, my heart no presentiment. I do not know.
In this world, perhaps nay, it is likely never.
And can it be that somewhere, in a manner whereof
our flesh-bound minds have no apprehension, she
and I will be together again, with nothing to come
between us, nothing to forbid our love? That I
know not, nor wiser heads than mine. But if it
be never if I can never hold sweet converse again
PRESENT, PAST AND FUTURE? 307
with her, or look upon her face, or know from her
her love, why, then, this side the grave, I will live as
becomes the man whom she loves ; and for the othef
side I must pray a dreamless sleep.
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