Page:The Prisoner of Zenda.djvu/136

120 and send a messenger to Zenda. The other three will murder the king in the castle, and the duke will proclaim either himself or the princess—himself if he is strong enough. Anyhow, he'll marry her, and become king in fact, and soon in name. Do you see?"

"It's a pretty plot. But why, madame, do you——"

"Say I'm a Christian—or say I'm jealous. My God! shall I see him marry her? Now go; but remember this is what I have to tell you—that never by night or by day are you safe. Three men follow you as a guard. Is it not so? Well, three follow them. Michael's three are never two hundred yards from you. Your life is not worth a moment if ever they find you alone. Now go. Stay, the gate will be guarded by now. Go down softly, go past the summerhouse, on for a hundred yards, and you'll find a ladder against the wall. Get over it and fly for your life."

"And you? "I asked.

"I have my game to play, too. If he finds out what I have done we shall not meet again. If