Page:Anthony Hope - Rupert of Hentzau.djvu/363

Rh "One thing at a time. The frontier will wait. What does Your Majesty want with me at the lodge?"

"I want so to contrive that I shall be no longer Your Majesty," said Rudolf.

Sapt flung himself in a chair and took off his gloves.

"Come, tell me what has happened to-day in Strelsau," he said.

We gave a short and hurried account. He listened with few signs of approval or disapproval; but I thought I saw a gleam in his eyes when I described how all the city had hailed Rudolf as its King, and the Queen received him as her husband before the eyes of all. Again the hope and vision, shattered by Rudolf's calm resolution, inspired me. Sapt said little, but he had the air of a man with some news in reserve. He seemed to be comparing what we told him with something already known to him but unknown to us. The little servant stood all the while in respectful silence by the door; but I could see by a glance at his alert face that he followed the whole scene with keen attention.

At the end of the story Rudolf turned to Sapt.

"And your secret—is it safe?" he asked.

"Aye, it's safe enough."

"Nobody has seen what you had to hide?"

"No; and nobody knows that the King is dead," answered Sapt.