Part 40 (2/2)
”You were right,” she said: ”I did persuade hiht I to have let hih? You don't knohat I've endured
And I o now, and the tiether There is pity in God; we shall be together at last”
”If he goes no can he coo to hio to him, some day, when I can be spared frohast at this shattering of , but took her hand and pressed it
”You wanted hi?” she whispered
”With all my heart, madam,” said I
”He wouldn't, Fritz No, and I shouldn't dare to do that, either”
I fell back on the practical difficulties ”But how can he go?” I asked
”I don't know But he knows; he has a plan”
We fell again into silence; her eyes grew more calm, and seemed to look forward in patient hope to the time when her happiness should come to her I felt like a man suddenly robbed of the exaltation of wine and sunk to dull apathy ”I don't see how he can go,” I said sullenly
She did not answer ain opened Rudolf ca boots and cloaks I saw on Bernenstein's face just such a look of disappointment as I knew must be on ht up to the queen
”The horses will be ready in a fewtoto do, Fritz?”
”Not I, sire,” I answered, sulkily
”Not I, sire!” he repeated, in a half-merry, half-sad mockery Then he cah ours ”You two villains!” he said ”You two unscrupulous villains! Here you are, as rough as bears, because I won't be a thief! Why have I killed young Rupert and left you rogues alive?”
I felt the friendly pressure of his hand on my arm I could not answer him With every word frorew keener that he would not stay Bernenstein looked across at ave a little laugh
”You won't forgive ue, won't you?” he asked
Well, I found nothing to say, but I took ripped ht hold of Bernenstein's hand, which the lieutenant yielded with some reluctance ”Now for the plan,” said he ”Bernenstein and I set out at once for the lodge--yes, publicly, as publicly as we can I shall ride right through the people there, showingit be known to everybody where I'et there quite early to-ht There we shall find what you know We shall find Sapt, too, and he'll put the finishi+ng touches to our plan for us Hullo, what's that?”
There was a sudden fresh shouting froered outside the palace I ran to the , and saw a co the sash up Then I heard a well-known, loud, strident voice: ”Make way, you rascals, ain, full of excite like h the crowd, and your servant's just behind him”
”My God, what's happened? Why have they left the lodge?” cried Bernenstein
The queen looked up in startled alarh Rudolf's Thus we all stood, listening to the people good-naturedly cheering Sapt, who James, whom they took for a servant of the constable's