Page:The Prisoner of Zenda.djvu/298

276 castle, and, seeing the princess, made the best of a bad job, and cried to her that the king was well tended and in no danger.

"In the castle?" she asked.

"Where else, madame?" said he, bowing.

"But this girl says he is yonder—with Count Fritz."

Sapt turned his eyes on the child with an incredulous smile.

"Every fine gentleman is a king to such," said he.

"Why, he's as like the king as one pea to another, madame!" cried the girl, a little shaken, but still obstinate.

Sapt started round. The old marshal's face asked unspoken questions. Flavia's glance was no less eloquent. Suspicion spreads quick.

"I'll ride myself and see this man," said Sapt hastily.

"Nay, I'll come myself," said the princess.

"Then come alone," he whispered.

And she, obedient to the strange hinting in his face, prayed the marshal and the rest to wait; and