Part 15 (2/2)

The queen rose from her seat and stretched out her hands towards us

”Gentlemen, my letter!” said she

Sapt wasted no tied Nothing is altered Horses for Fritz and myself in five minutes”

Bernenstein turned and shot like an arrow along the terrace towards the stables

”Nothing is altered, madam,” said Sapt, ”except that we must be there before Count Rupert”

I looked at my watch It enty minutes past nine Simon's cursed chatter had lost a quarter of an hour I opened lance from Sapt's eyes told me that he discerned what I was about to say I was silent

”You'll be in tihtened eyes

”assuredly, madam,” returned Sapt with a bow

”You won't let hi?”

”Why, no, entle voice, ”from my heart--”

”Here are the horses,” cried Sapt He snatched her hand, brushed it with his grizzly moustache, and--well, I am not sure I heard, and I can hardly believe what I think I heard But I will set it down for what it is worth I think he said, ”Bless your sweet face, we'll do it” At any rate she drew back with a little cry of surprise, and I saw the tears standing in her eyes I kissed her hand also; then we mounted, and we started, and we rode, as if the devil were behind us, for the hunting-lodge

But I turned once to watch her standing on the terrace, with young Bernenstein's tall figure beside her

”Can we be in time?” said I It hat I had meant to say before

”I think not, but, by God, we'll try,” said Colonel Sapt And I knehy he had not let me speak

Suddenly there was a sound behind us of a horse at the gallop Our heads flew round in the ready apprehension of men on a perilous errand The hoofs drew near, for the unknown rode with reckless haste

”We had best see what it is,” said the constable, pulling up

A second more, and the horseman was beside us Sapt swore an oath, half in amusement, half in vexation

”Why, is it you, James?” I cried

”Yes, sir,” answered Rudolf Rassendyll's servant