Part 22 (1/2)

”Him least of all You must tell nobody My business is very private, and Rischenheim doesn't know it”

”I'll do all you tell me But--but Bauer knows”

”True,” said Rudolf ”Bauer knows Well, we'll see about Bauer”

As he spoke he turned towards the door Suddenly the girl bent, snatched at his hand and kissed it

”I would die for you,” she ently I believe he was loath to make profit, even in the queen's service, of her poor foolish love He laid his hand on the door, but paused a mo Mind, nothing! I threatened you, but you told ”

”He'll tell them you have been here”

”That can't be helped; at least they won't knohen I shall arrive again Good-night”

Rudolf opened the door and slipped through, closing it hastily behind hiot back to the house, his visit irl's silence was assured He stood just outside, listening intently and searching the darkness with eager eyes

CHAPTER XI WHAT THE CHANCELLOR'S WIFE SAW

THE night, so precious in its silence, solitude, and darkness, aning fast; soon the first dim approaches of day would be visible; soon the streets would become alive and people be about Before then Rudolf Rassendyll, the man who bore a face that he dared not show in open day,was in Strelsau, and the neould flash in a few hours through the kingdom and (so Rudolf feared) reach even those ears which we knew to be shut to all earthly sounds But there was still some time at Mr Rassendyll's disposal, and he could not spend it better than in pursuing his fight with Bauer Taking a leaf out of the rascal's own book, he drew himself back into the shadow of the house walls and prepared to wait At the worst he could keep the fellow froer, but his hope was that Bauer would steal back after a while and reconnoitre with a view to discovering how matters stood, whether the unwelcome visitor had taken his departure and the way to Rischenhei his scarf closely round his face, Rudolf waited, patiently enduring the tediuht, drenched by the rain, which fell steadily, and very i of the wind Minutes went by; there were no signs of Bauer nor of anybody else in the silent street Yet Rudolf did not venture to leave his post; Bauer would seize the opportunity to slip in; perhaps Bauer had seen hi till the coast should be clear; or, again, perhaps the useful spy had gone off to intercept Rupert of Hentzau, and warn hinorant of the truth and compelled to accept all these chances, Rudolf waited, still watching the distant beginnings of dawning day, which ain Meanwhile my poor aited also, a prey to every fear that a woine and feed upon

Rudolf turned his head this way and that, seeking always the darker blot of shadow that wouldFor a while his search was vain, but presently he found what he looked for--ay, and even more On the same side of the street, to his left hand, from the direction of the station, not one, but three blurred shapes moved up the street

They came stealthily, yet quickly; with caution, but without pause or hesitation Rudolf, scenting danger, flattened hiainst the wall and felt for his revolver Very likely they were only early workers or late revelers, but he was ready for sohted Bauer, and action was to be looked for fros he moved a few paces from the door of Mother Holf's house, and stood six feet perhaps, or eight, on the right-hand side of it The three came on He strained his eyes in the effort to discern their features In that diht certainty was iht well be Bauer: the height, the walk, and the make were much what Bauer's were If it were Bauer, then Bauer had friends, and Bauer and his friends seeradually Rudolf edged yet farther from the little shop At a distance of some five yards he halted finally, drew out his revolver, covered the man whom he took to be Bauer, and thus waited his fortune and his chance

Now, it was plain that Bauer--for Bauer it ould look for one of two things: what he hoped was to find Rudolf still in the house, what he feared was to be told that Rudolf, having fulfilled the unknown purpose of his visit, was gone whole and sound If the latter tidings ood friends of his whom he had enlisted for his reinforceo home in peace; if the former, they were to do their work and make ten crowns Years after, one of them told me the whole story without shaeons they carried and the long knife that one of them had lent to Bauer showed pretty clearly

But neither to Bauer nor to the near, hunting as well as hunted Not that the pair of ruffians who had been thus hired would have hesitated for that thought, as I ie, yet certain, that the zenith of courage and the aclove A such outcasts as those from whom Bauer drew his recruits the murder of a man is held serious only when the police are by, and death at the hands of him they seek to kill is no more than an every-day risk of their e at the door ”Now, I'll knock, and you stand by to knock hiot a six-shooter, so lose no tirowled a hoarse, guttural voice that ended in a chuckle

”But if he's gone?” objected the other auxiliary

”Then I knohere he's gone,” answered Bauer ”Are you ready?”

A ruffian stood on either side of the door with uplifted bludgeon Bauer raised his hand to knock

Rudolf knew that Rischenhei that the stranger had gone, would take the opportunity of telling the count of his visit The count would, in his turn, warn Rupert of Hentzau, and the work of catching the ringleader would all fall to be done again At no tiainst hiht himself, with his revolver, a match for the three ruffians At any rate, before Bauer had ti out suddenly from the wall and darted at the fellow His onset was so sudden that the other two fell back a pace; Rudolf caught Bauer fairly by the throat I do not suppose that hestored in his heart, found vent in the fierce grip of his fingers It is certain that Bauer thought his time was come, unless he struck a blow for himself

Instantly he raised his hand and thrust fiercely at Rudolf with his long knife Mr Rassendyll would have been a dead htly away But Bauer sprang at hi to his associates,

”Club him, you fools, club him!”

Thus exhorted, one juone

In spite of the noise of wind and pelting rain, the sound of a shot risked much; but not to fire was death Rudolf fired full at Bauer: the fello his intention and tried to leap behind one of his coround

Again the other ruffians shrank back, appalled by the sudden ruthless decision of the act Mr Rassendyll laughed A half smothered yet uncontrolled oath broke fro at Rudolf's face and letting his arm fall to his side