Page:Anthony Hope - Rupert of Hentzau.djvu/79

Rh "Perfectly, Colonel," smiled young Bernenstein. "The King will be in this room—the King. You know who is the King?"

"Perfectly, Colonel."

"And when the interview is ended, and we go to breakfast"

"I know who will be the King then. Yes, Colonel."

"Good. But we do him no harm unless"

"It is necessary."

"Precisely."

Sapt turned away with a little sigh. Bernenstein was an apt pupil, but the Colonel was exhausted by so much explanation. He knocked softly at the door of the room. The Queen's voice bade him enter, and he passed in. Bernenstein was left alone again in the passage, pondering over what he had heard and rehearsing the part that it now fell to him to play. As he thought, he may well have raised his head proudly. The service seemed so great and. the honour so high, that he almost wished he could die in the performing of his role. It would be a finer death than his soldier's dreams had dared to picture.

At one o'clock Colonel Sapt came out.

"Go to bed till six," said he to Bernenstein.

"I am not sleepy."