Part 7 (2/2)
”Up! He's been up these two hours Indeed we've had the devil of a time of it Treat him carefully, my dear Count; he's in one of his troubleso Pray follow ht say so unfortunate”
”Well, he woke at six; and when the barber caine it, Count!--no less than seven gray hairs” The king fell into a passion ”Take it off!” he said ”Take it off I won't have a gray beard! Take it off!' Well ould you? ASo it's taken off”
”His beard!”
”His beard, one, and declaring he looked ten years younger, he cried, ”The Count of Luzau-Rischenheim breakfasts with me to-day: what is there for breakfast?” And he had the chef out his of bed and--”But, by heavens, I shall get into trouble if I stop here chattering He's waitinghis arh the count's, walked him rapidly into the castle
The Count of Luzau-Rischenhei man; he was no more versed in affairs of this kind than Bernenstein, and it cannot be said that he showed so ; his manner was uneasy, and his hands tree, but that rarer virtue, coolness; and the importance--or perhaps the shame--of hiswhere he went, he allowed Bernenstein to lead him quickly and directly towards the roo that he was being conducted to the king's presence
”Breakfast is ordered for nine,” said Bernenstein, ”but he wants to see you before He has so important to say; and you perhaps have the same?”
”I? Oh, no A small matter; but--er--of a private nature”
”Quite so, quite so Oh, I don't ask any questions,alone?” asked Rischenheim nervously
”I don't think you'll find anybody with him; no, nobody, I think,”
answered Bernenstein, with a grave and reassuring air
They arrived now at the door Here Bernenstein paused
”I am ordered to wait outside till his Majesty suh he feared that the irritable king would hear him
”I'll open the door and announce you Pray keep hi the door open, saying, ”Sire, the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim has the honor to wait on your Majesty” With this he shut the door proainst it Nor did he move, save once, and then only to take out his revolver and carefully inspect it
The count advanced, bowing low, and striving to conceal a visible agitation He saw the king in his ar wore a suit of broeeds (none the better for being crushed into a bundle the night before); his face was in deep shadow, but Rischenhei held out his hand to Rischenheim, and motioned him to sit in a chair just opposite to hihted to see you,
Rischenhei's that no man could tell the difference, but in the last year or two the king's had groeaker, and Rischenheior of the tones in which he was addressed As he looked up, there was a slight ave no further signs of suspicion, but Rudolf had noticed his surprise: the voice, when it next spoke, was subdued
”Most delighted,” pursued Mr Rassendyll ”For I aet the coats right, I've tried everything, but they won't conificent”
”You are very good, sire But I ventured to ask an audience in order to--”
”Positively you s And before Sapt comes, for I want nobody to hear but myself”
”Your Majesty expects Colonel Sapt?”
”In about twenty lance at the clock on the et his errand done before Sapt appeared