Part 3 (2/2)
”Better I than the queen's letter,” said he Then he laid his hand on ets to the king, I and I only can do what must be done”
I did not knohat he meant; perhaps it was that he would carry off the queen sooner than leave her alone after her letter was known; but there was another possiblethat I, a loyal subject, dared not inquire into Yet I made no answer, for I was above all and first of all the queen's servant Still I cannot believe that he
”Coreat an affair as the other, and we brought that through safe” I suppose I still looked doubtful, for he added, with a sort of i, anyhow Heavens, ?”
I understood his feeling, and knew that he held life a light thing compared with the recovery of Queen Flavia's letter I ceased to urge him When I assented to his wishes, every shadow vanished froan to discuss the details of the plan with business-like brevity
”I shall leave James with you,” said Rudolf ”He'll be very useful, and you can rely on hie that you dare trust to no other conveyance, give to him; he'll carry it He can shoot, too” He rose as he spoke ”I'll look in before I start,” he added, ”and hear what the doctor says about you”
I lay there, thinking, as ers and the desperate nature of the risk, rather than of the hope which its boldness would have inspired in a healthy, active brain
I distrusted the rapid inference that Rudolf had drawn fro myself that it was based on too slender a foundation
Well, there I rong, and I alad now to pay that tribute to his discernment The first steps of Rupert's scheme were laid as Rudolf had conjectured: Rischenhei on his person a copy of the queen's farewell letter and ar So far ere right, then; for the rest ere in darkness, not knowing or being able even to guess where Rupert would choose to await the result of the first cast, or what precautions he had taken against the failure of his envoy But although in total obscurity as to his future plans, I traced his past actions, and subsequent knowledge has shown that I was right
Bauer was the tool; a couple of florins apiece had hired the felloho, conceiving that they were playing a part in some practical joke, had taken all the cabs at the station Rupert had reckoned that I should linger looking for e, and thus miss my last chance of a vehicle If, however, I had obtained one, the attack would still have been reater difficulties
Finally--and of this at the tiot safe to port with ed
Rupert's attention would then have been diverted fro prudence, he reckoned that Mr Rassendyll would not at once destroy what the queen sent, and had arranged to track his steps fro him of his treasure The sche, and required large resources--the former Rupert himself supplied; for the second he was indebted to his cousin and slave, the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim
My meditations were interrupted by the arrival of the doctor He hummed and ha'd over me, but to my surprise asked me no questions as to the cause of est that his efforts should be seconded by those of the police On the contrary, he appeared, from an unobtrusive hint or two, to be anxious that I should know that his discretion could be trusted
”Youfor a couple of days,” he said; ”but then, I think we can get you aithout danger and quite quietly”
I thanked hi about his fee
”Oh, thank you, that is all settled,” he said ”Your friend Herr Schmidt has seen to it, and, one when 'my friend Herr Schhed a little when I told him how discreet the doctor had been
”You see,” he explained, ”he thinks you've been very indiscreet I was obliged, my dear Fritz, to take soainst theto your wife's ears”
”But couldn't we have laid the others by the heels?”
”With the letter on Rupert? My dear fellow, you're very ill”
I laughed at h I think that hemore than a baker's wife It would have cost no more to make her a countess, and the doctor would have looked with more respect on me However, Rudolf had said that the baker broke -pin, and thus the story rests in the doctor's mind to this day
”Well, I'm off,” said Rudolf
”But where?”
”Why, to that saood friends parted froone?”
”I e knew”