Part 30 (1/2)
At twelve o'clock, Sapt's coht, riding by unfrequented roads, and avoiding the town of Zenda If all ell, they would be in front of the Castle by about a quarter to two Leaving their horses half a mile off, they were to steal up to the entrance and hold the of the door If the door were not opened by two, they were to send Fritz von Tarlenheim round to the other side of the Castle I would meet him there if I were alive, and ould consult whether to storm the Castle or not If I were not there, they were to return with all speed to Tarlenheim, rouse the Marshal, and march in force to Zenda For if not there, I should be dead; and I knew that the King would not be alive five minutes after I ceased to breathe I must now leave Sapt and his friends, and relate how I ht
I went out on the good horse which had carried e to Strelsau I carried a revolver in the saddle and e cloak, and under this I wore a war woollen jersey, a pair of knickerbockers, thick stockings, and light canvas shoes I had rubbed e flask of whisky The night ar while, and it was necessary to take every precaution against cold: for cold not only saps a y if others have to die, and, finally, gives him rheumatics, if it be God's will that he lives Also I tied round etafter Sapt, took a shorter route, skirting the town to the left, and found myself in the outskirts of the forest at about half-past twelve I tiedthe revolver in its pocket in the saddle--it would be no use to e of the moat Here I unwound my rope from about my waist, bound it securely round the trunk of a tree on the bank, and let myself down
The Castle clock struck a quarter to one as I felt the water underthe ladder before , I cae of the reat pipe--I tried to stir it, but it was quite i was neither anxiety for the King nor longing for Flavia, but an intense desire to sratify
The drawbridge was still in its place I saw its airy, slight fraht, as I crouched with 's cell I made out a o yards my side of it and nearly on the sa to the duke's apartments; and on the other side, in about the same relative position, etful creatures I prayed that she et that she was to be the victim of a brutal attempt at two o'clock precisely I was rather a friend Rupert Hentzau; but I owed him a stroke--for, even as I sat, my shoulder ached where he had, with an audacity that seeht of all my friends, on the terrace at Tarlenheiht The shutters were not closed, and the interior became partially visible to me as I cautiously raised ht embraced a yard or ht did not reachopen and soure, and, though her face was in shadow, the fine outline of her head was revealed against the light behind I longed to cry softly, ”Remember!” but I dared not--and happily, for a moment later a man came up and stood by her He tried to put his ar away and leant against the shutter, her profile towardsRupert A low laugh fro out his hand towards her
”Gently, gently!” I murmured ”You're too soon, my boy!”
His head was close to hers I suppose he whispered to her, for I saw her point to the moat, and I heard her say, in slow and distinct tones:
”I had rather throw myself out of this !”
He came close up to theand looked out
”It looks cold,” said he ”Come, Antoinette, are you serious?”
Shehis hand petulantly on the -sill, went on, in the voice of so Black Michael! Isn't the princess enough for hi? What the devil do you see in Black Michael?”
”If I told hian
”Well, tell hiuard, he sprang forward and kissed her, laughing, and crying, ”There's so to tell him!”
If I had kept my revolver withspared the temptation, I h, faith,” said Rupert, ”it's little he cares He'sbut cutting the play-actor's throat”
Didn't he, indeed?
”And if I do it for him, what do you think he's promised me?”
The unhappy woman raised her hands above her head, in prayer or in despair
”But I detest waiting,” said Rupert; and I saw that he was about to lay his hand on her again, when there was a noise of a door in the roo here, sir?”
Rupert turned his back to the ed low, and said, in his loud,for your absence, sir Could I leave the lady alone?”
The newcomer must be Black Michael I saw hi Rupert by the ar!” said he, with a significant gesture