Page:The Prisoner of Zenda.djvu/103

Rh would the king's life be worth then—or his throne? Lad, you must do it!"

"Suppose they kill the king?"

"They'll kill him, if you don't."

"Sapt, suppose they have killed the king?" "Then, by Heaven, you're as good an Elphberg as Black Michael, and you shall reign in Ruritania! But I don't believe they have; nor will they kill him if you're on the throne. Will they kill him to put you in?" It was a wild plan—wilder even and more hopeless than the trick we had already carried through; but as I listened to Sapt I saw the strong points in our game. And then I was a young man and I loved action, and I was offered such a hand in such a game as perhaps never man played yet.

"I shall be found out," I said.

"Perhaps," said Sapt. "Come! to Strelsau! We shall be caught like rats in a trap if we stay here."

"Sapt," I cried, "I'll try it!" "Well played!" said he. "I hope they've left us the horses. I'll go and see."