Part 39 (1/2)

”Pick it up,” said Mr Rassendyll, never thinking there had been a trick

”Ay, and you'll trussfool, don't you knowhis blade, rested its point on the floor, while with his left hand he indicated Rupert's weapon Yet so warned him: it may be there came a look in Rupert's eyes, perhaps of scorn for his eneraceless knavery Rudolf stood waiting

”You swear you won't touchback a little, and thereby getting an inch or two nearer the mantelpiece

”You have er”

”You won't kill me unarmed?” cried Rupert, in alarmed scandalized expostulation

”No; but--”

The speech went unfinished, unless a sudden cry were its ending And, as he cried, Rudolf Rassendyll, dropping his sword on the ground, sprang forward For Rupert's hand had shot out behind him and was on the butt of one of the revolvers The whole trick flashed on Rudolf, and he sprang, flinging his long arms round Rupert But Rupert had the revolver in his hand

In all likelihood the two neither heard nor heeded, though it seeroans of the old stairs were loud enough to wake the dead For now Rosa had given the alarm, Bernenstein and I--or I and Bernenstein (for I was first, and, therefore, may put myself first)--had rushed up Hard behind us came Rischenhei and shouldering and traained the stairs uniulfed in the stor on the steps Yet, soon they were after us, and we heard the as we sped up to the last There was a confused din through all the house, and it seeh the walls froh I paid no heed to anything but reaching the roo--where Rudolf--was Noas there, Bernenstein hanging to my heels The door did not hold us a second I was in, he after ainst it, just as the rush of feet flooded the highest flight of stairs And at theclear and loud

The lieutenant and I stood still, he against the door, I a pace farther into the rooe interest The s about, but neither man seemed wounded The revolver was in Rupert's hand, and its ainst the wall, just by the side of the mantelpiece With one hand Rudolf had pinned his left arher than his head, with the other he held his right wrist I drely nearer: if Rudolf were unarmed, I could fairly enforce a truce and put theh Rudolf was unarht of his face stopped me He was very pale and his lips were set, but it was his eyes that caught lad and merciless I had never seen hi Hentzau's face Rupert's teeth were biting his under lip, the sweat dropped, and the veins swelled large and blue on his forehead; his eyes were set on Rudolf Rassendyll Fascinated, I drew nearer Then I sahat passed Inch by inch Rupert's arm curved, the elbow bent, the hand that had pointed alht from him and at Mr Rassendyll pointed noay from both towards theBut its motion did not stop; it followed the line of a circle: noas on Rupert's arm; still it rew less Rupert was beaten; he felt it and knew it, and I read the knowledge in his eyes I stepped up to Rudolf Rassendyll He heard or felt me, and turned his eyes for an instant I do not knohat my face said, but he shook his head and turned back to Rupert The revolver, held still in the man's own hand, was at his heart The ain at Rupert Now his face was easier; there was a slight s back his co; his eyes asked a question of Rudolf Rassendyll I turned aze to where the ansas to come, for Rudolf made none in words By the swiftest of rasp froer rested on Rupert's and Rupert's was on the trigger I am no soft-heart, but I laid a hand on his shoulder He took no heed; I dared do no ht his look, but what could I say to hier Noas crooked round Rupert's, seeles another

I will not say more He smiled to the last; his proud head, which had never bent for sha in the pressure of that crooked forefinger, a flash, a noise

He was held up against the wall for an instant by Rudolf's hand; when that was removed he sank, a heap that looked all head and knees

But hot on the sound of the discharge came a shout and an oath froh it burst Rischenhei one another and crying out to knohat passed and where the king was High over all the voices, coirl Rosa But as soon as they were in the room, the same spell that had fastened Bernenstein andpower on theave a sudden sob and ran forward to where his cousin lay The rest stood staring For a moment Rudolf eyed them Then, without a word, he turned his back He put out the right hand hich he had just killed Rupert of Hentzau, and took the letter frolanced at the envelope, then he opened the letter The handwriting banished any last doubt he had; he tore the letter across, and again in four pieces, and yet again in sments Then he sprinkled the morsels of paper into the blaze of the fire I believe that every eye in the room followed them and watched till they curled and crinkled into black, wafery ashes Thus, at last the queen's letter was safe

When he had thus set the seal on his task he turned round to us again

He paid no heed to Rischenhei down by the body of Rupert; but he looked at Bernenstein and me, and then at the people behind us He waited a moment before he spoke; then his utterance was not only cal his words carefully

”Gentlemen,” said he, ”a full account of this matter will be rendered by myself in due tientleht an intervieith , as he professed, to desire, privacy And here he tried to kill me The result of his attempt you see”

I bowed low, Bernenstein did the like, and all the rest followed our exaiven,” said Rudolf ”Now let all leave me, except the Count of Tarlenheily, with gapingfiled out of the door Rischenheim rose to his feet

”You stay, if you like,” said Rudolf, and the count knelt again by his kinsh bedsteads by the wall of the attic, I touched Rischenheiether we lifted Rupert of Hentzau The revolver was still in his hand, but Bernenstein disengaged it fro his body decently and spreading over it his riding cloak, still spotted with the e His face looked much as before the shot was fired; in death, as in life, he was the handsoer that ht eyes were diuilt and death went forth There are ladies still in Strelsau ear his trinkets in an ashaood cause to hate and scorn him, set the hair s like a child, and young Bernenstein rested his head on his arm as he leant on the mantelpiece, and would not look at the dead Rudolf alone seemed not to heed him or think of him His eyes had lost their unnatural look of joy, and were now calm and tranquil He took his own revolver fro Rupert's neatly where his had been Then he turned to o to the queen and tell her that the letter is beyond reach of hurt”

Moved by some impulse, I walked to theand put reeted rew everyfrom all quarters would soon multiply it a hundred fold; for such news as had been carried froues spreads like a forest-fire It would be through Strelsau in a few h Europe in but little longer Rupert was dead and the letter was safe, but e to tell that great concourse concerning their king? A queer feeling of helpless perplexity cah Bernenstein was by er face

”You'll have a royal progress to your palace,” said he to Rudolf Rassendyll

Mr RassendylltoRischenheim by the body I did not think of hie given to the queen, for he followed us immediately and without demur There was nobody outside the door The house was very quiet, and the tumult from the street reached us only in a muffled roar But e came to the foot of the stairs we found the tomen Mother Holf stood on the threshold of the kitchen, looking a to her; but as soon as Rudolf ca herself on her knees before hi out incoherent thanks to Heaven for his safety He bent down and spoke to her in a whisper; she looked up with a flush of pride on her face He seelanced at his hands, but he wore no ring save that which the queen had given hiold watch froram, R R

”Rudolfus Rex,” he whispered with a whiirl's hand, saying: ”Keep this to reht it with one hand, while with the other she held his