Page:The Prisoner of Zenda.djvu/91

Rh "Here's an order from the king. Show it to your father. Orderly, open the gate!"

I leaped down. Between us we rolled back the great gate, led our horses out, and closed it again.

"I shall be sorry for the doorkeeper if Michael finds out that he wasn't there. Now, then, lad, for a canter. We mustn't go too fast while we're near the town."

Once, however, outside the city we ran little danger, for everybody else was inside, merry-making; and as the evening fell we quickened our pace, my splendid horse bounding along under me as though I had been a feather. It was a fine night, and presently the moon appeared. We talked little on the way, and chiefly about the progress we were making.

"I wonder what the duke's dispatches told him!" said I, once.

"Aye, I wonder!" responded Sapt.

We stopped for a draught of wine and to bait our horses, losing half an hour thus. I dared not go into the inn, and stayed with the horses in the stable. Then we went ahead again, and had