Page:The Prisoner of Zenda.djvu/74

60 round in his saddle, waved his hand, and the Cuirassiers closed round us, so that the crowd could not come near me. We were leaving my quarter and entering Duke Michael's, and this action of the marshal's showed me more clearly than words what the state of feeling in the town must be. But if Fate made me a king the least I could do was to play the part handsomely.

"Why this change in our order, marshal?" said I.

The marshal bit his white mustache.

"It is more prudent, sire," he murmured.

I drew rein.

"Let those in front ride on," said I, "till they are fifty yards ahead. But do you, marshal, and Colonel Sapt and my friends wait here till I have ridden fifty yards. And see that no one is nearer to me. I will have my people see that their king trusts them."

Sapt laid his hand on my arm. I shook him off. The marshal hesitated.

"Am I not understood?" said I; and, biting his mustache again, he gave the orders. I saw old