Part 19 (1/2)
”Hush, hush!+” she whispered ”I don't deserve it--I don't deserve to be doubted Ah, Rudolf! does a woman who marries without love look on the man as I look on you?”
And she hid her face froether; and I, even with my arm about her, summoned up what honour and conscience her beauty and the toils that I was in had left e dry voice that seemed not my own, ”I am not--”
As I spoke--as she raised her eyes to ravel outside, and a man appeared at theA little cry burst fro back from me My half-finished sentence died onlow, but with a stern frown on his face
”A thousand pardons, sire,” said he, ”but his Eminence the Cardinal has waited this quarter of an hour to offer his respectful adieu to your Majesty”
IHow long he had been a listener I knew not, but he had come in upon us in the nick of ti,” said I
But Flavia, in whose love there lay no sha face, held out her hand to Sapt She said nothing, but no , who had ever seen a woman in the exultation of love A sour, yet sad, smile passed over the old soldier's face, and there was tenderness in his voice, as bending to kiss her hand, he said:
”In joy and sorrow, in good tihness!”
He paused and added, glancing athimself up to --God save the King!”
And Flavia caught at :
”Aain Forced to receive adieus, I was separated from Flavia: everyone, when they left , and where he had been, glances, smiles, and whispers were rife I doubted not that, true to his relentless purpose, he was spreading the news that he had learnt To uphold the Crown and beat Black Michael--that was his one resolve Flavia, ame; and pawns have no business with passions Not even at the walls of the Palace did he stop; for when at last I handed Flavia down the broad reat croaiting us, and elco cheers What could I do? Had I spoken then, they would have refused to believe that I was not the King; theyhad run overned passion I had been forced on, and the way back had closed behind me; and the passion still drove me in the same direction as the devices seducedand the accepted suitor of the Princess Flavia
At last, at three in the an to steal in, I was in -roo into the fire; he puffed at his pipe; Fritz was gone to bed, having almost refused to speak to me On the table by me lay a rose; it had been in Flavia's dress, and, as we parted, she had kissed it and given it to me
Sapt advanced his hand towards the rose, but, with a quick movement, I shut mine down upon it
”That's 's either”
”We struck a good blow for the King tonight,” said he
I turned on hi a blow for myself?” I said
He nodded his head
”I knohat's in your mind,” he said ”Yes, lad; but you're bound in honour”
”Have you left irl--”
”You can spare me that Colonel Sapt, if you would not haverot in Zenda, while Michael and I play for the great stake outside--You follow me?”