Page:Anthony Hope - Rupert of Hentzau.djvu/17

Rh which he had waited; in its bold use he discerned his chance. I cannot say whether he was influenced more strongly by his desire to re-establish his position in the kingdom, or by the grudge he bore against Mr. Rassendyll. He loved power and money; dearly he loved revenge also. No doubt the motives worked together, and he was rejoiced to find that the weapon put into his hand had a double edge; with one he hoped to cut his own path clear, with the other to wound the man he hated through the woman whom that man loved. In fine, the Count of Hentzau, shrewdly discerning the feeling that existed between the Queen and Rudolf Rassendyll, set his spies to work, and was rewarded by discovering the object of my yearly meetings with Mr. Rassendyll. At least he conjectured the nature of my errand: this was enough for him. Head and hand were soon busy in turning the knowledge to account; scruples of the heart never stood in Rupert's way.

The marriage, which had set all Ruritania on fire with joy and formed in the people's eyes the visible triumph over Black Michael and his fellow-conspirators, was now three years old. For three years the Princess Flavia had been Queen. I am come by now to the age when a man should look out on life with an eye undimmed by the mists of passion. My love-making days are over;