Part 15 (1/2)
”And to your cousin,” she whispered, ”and loving servant”
I could not speak I kissed her hand, and went out cursing myself
Outside I found Master Fritz, quite reckless of the foota
”Hang it!” said he, ”we can't always be plotting Love claims his share”
”I'm inclined to think he does,” said I; and Fritz, who had been by my side, dropped respectfully behind
CHAPTER 9
A New Use for a Tea-table
If I were to detail the ordinary events of ht prove instructive to people who are not familiar with the inside of palaces; if I revealed soht prove of interest to the statess I should be between the Scylla of dullness and the Charybdis of indiscretion, and I feel that I had far better confineplayed beneath the surface of Ruritanian politics I need only say that the secret of my imposture defied detection I raciousness whereof I was master to smooth over some apparent lapses of uilty But I escaped, and I attribute my escape, as I have said before, most of all, to the very audacity of the enterprise It is iven the necessary physical likeness, it was far easier to pretend to be King of Ruritania than it would have been to personate hbour One day Sapt ca:
”That's for you--a woman's hand, I think But I've so's at the Castle of Zenda,” said he
”How do you know?”
”Because the other half of Michael's Six are there I had enquiriesRupert Hentzau: three rogues, too, on my honour, as fine as live in Ruritania”
”Well?”
”Well, Fritz wants you to march to the Castle with horse, foot, and artillery”
”And drag the rinned Sapt, ”and we shouldn't find the King's body then”
”You think it's certain he's there?”
”Very probable Besides the fact of those three being there, the drawbridge is kept up, and no one goes in without an order fro Hentzau or Black Michael hio to Zenda,” said I
”You're mad”
”Some day”
”Oh, perhaps You'll very likely stay there though, if you do”
”That may be, my friend,” said I carelessly
”His Majesty looks sulky,” observed Sapt ”How's the love affair?”