Page:Anthony Hope - Rupert of Hentzau.djvu/249

Rh enough to lead him into the affair of the letter; he was aghast to think how Rupert's reckless dare-devilry had led on from stage to stage till the death of a King seemed but an incident in his schemes. He sprang suddenly to his feet, crying:

"But we must fly—we must fly!"

"No, we needn't fly. Perhaps we'd better go, but we needn't fly."

"But when it becomes known?" He broke off, and then cried: "Why did you tell me? Why did you come back here?"

"Well, I told you because it was interesting, and I came back here because I had no money to go elsewhere."

"I would have sent money."

"I find that I can get more when I ask in person. Besides, is everything finished?"

"I'll have no more to do with it."

"Ah, my dear cousin, you despond too soon. The good King is unhappily gone from us, but we still have our dear Queen. We have also, by the kindness of Heaven, our dear Queen's letter."

"I'll have no more to do with it."

"Your neck feeling …?" Rupert delicately imitated the putting of a noose about a man's throat.

Rischenheim rose suddenly and flung the window open wide.

"I'm suffocated," he muttered with a sullen frown, avoiding Rupert's eyes.