Part 25 (1/2)
The carter got down fro her, and walked round to the back
”Here you are, sir,” he cried ”Nineteen, Konigstrasse”
A yaas heard, and the long sigh a led luxury and pain of an awakening after sound refreshi+ng sleep
”All right; I'll get down,” came in answer from inside
”Ah, it's the count!” said the old lady to her daughter in satisfied tones ”What will he say, though, about that rogue Bauer?”
Rupert of Hentzau put his head out froave the carter a couple of crowns, leapt down, and ran lightly across the paveonI on hid me very well; and handsome as my face is, I can't let Strelsau enjoy too much of it just now Well, oes it with you?” He carelessly brushed the girl's cheek with the glove that he had drawn off ”Faith, though, I beg your pardon” he added a h for that,” and he looked at his buff glove, which was stained with patches of dull rusty brown
”It's all as when you left, Count Rupert,” said Mother Holf, ”except that that rascal Bauer went out last night--”
”That's right enough But hasn't he returned?”
”No, not yet”
”Huue question
The old woirl turned away to hide a s, so she suspected Well, they should hear nothing froed her to be silent
”But Rischenheim has come, I suppose?” pursued Rupert
”Oh, yes; he ca”
”Ah!” cried Rupert in sudden excite lers! Where's the count?”
”Why, in the attic You know the way”
”True But I want some breakfast, mother”
”Rosa shall serve you at once, irl followed Rupert up the narrow crazy staircase of the tall old house They passed three floors, all uninhabited; a last steep flight that brought theht under the deep arched roof Rupert opened a door that stood at the top of the stairs, and, followed still by Rosa with hernarrow rooh in the centre, sloped rapidly down on either side, so that at door and as little more than six feet above the floor There was an oak table and a few chairs; a couple of iron bedsteads stood by the wall near theOne was empty; the Count of Luzau-Rischenheiht ar of black silk Rupert paused on the threshold, sh press or cupboard, and, opening it, took out plates, glasses, and the other furniture of the table Rischenhei up and ran across the rooerly ”You escaped them, Rupert?”
”It appears so,” said Rupert airily; and, advancing into the roo his hat on to the table
”It appears that I escaped, although some fool's stupidity nearly made an end of me” Rischenheim flushed
”I'll tell you about that directly,” he said, glancing at the girl who had put some coldthe preparations for Rupert'sto do but to look at pretty faces--which, by Heaven, I wish heartily were the case--I would beg you to stay,” said Rupert, rising andher a profound bow
”I've no wish to hear what doesn't concern me,” she retorted scornfully