Page:Anthony Hope - Rupert of Hentzau.djvu/241

Rh a message! Aye, and Count Rupert should be here soon, and he'll be in a fine taking if Bauer's not back."

The girl made no answer; she had finished her task and stood in the doorway, looking out on the street. It was past eight, and many people were about, still for the most part humble folk; the more comfortably placed would not be moving for an hour or two yet. In the road the traffic consisted chiefly of country carts and waggons, bringing in produce for the day's victualling of the great city. The girl watched the stream, but her thoughts were occupied with the stately gentleman who had come to her by night and asked a service of her. She had heard the revolver shot outside; as it sounded she had blown out her lamp, and there behind the door in the dark had heard the swiftly retreating feet of the fugitives and, a little later, the arrival of the patrol. Well, the patrol would not dare to touch the King; as for Bauer, let him be alive or dead: what cared she, who was the King's servant, able to help the King against his enemies? If Bauer were the King's enemy, right glad would she be to hear that the rogue was dead. How finely the King had caught him by the neck and thrown him out! She laughed to think how little her mother knew the company she had kept that night.