Page:Anthony Hope - Rupert of Hentzau.djvu/118

108 "Was it only that?" she said, still unconvinced.

What more passed between them I do not know. I think that the Queen told my wife more, but women will sometimes keep women's secrets even from their husbands; though they love us, yet we are always in some sort the common enemy, against whom they join hands. Well, I would not look too far into such secrets, for to know must be, I suppose, to blame, and who is himself so blameless that in such a case he would be free with his censures?

Yet much cannot have passed, for almost close on their talk about the dream came Colonel Sapt, saying that the Guards were in line, and all the women streamed out to watch them, while the men followed, lest the gay uniforms should make them forgotten. Certainly a quiet fell over the old Castle, that only the Constable's curt tones broke, as he bade Rudolf come by the back way to the stables and mount his horse.

"There's no time to lose," said Sapt, and his eye seemed to grudge the Queen even one word more with the man she loved.

But Rudolf was not to be hurried into leaving her in such a fashion. He clapped the Constable on the shoulder, laughing and bidding him think of what he would for a moment; then he went again to the