Part 43 (1/2)

CHAPTER XX THE DECISION OF HEAVEN

WE were halfseeot into our blood and to have become part of ourselves

For us it was inevitable--nay, it was done Sapt busied hie; it was to be communicated to the journals, and it told with much circumstantiality how Rudolf Rassendyll had co being su his Majesty's return when hereference to his fanified expression of condolence with his relatives, to whoret by the hands of Mr Rassendyll's servant At another table young Bernenstein was drawing up, under the constable's direction, a narrative of Rupert of Hentzau's atte hier to return (so it ran), had persuaded the king to reat i, with his habitual fearlessness, had gone alone, but only to refuse with scorn Count Rupert's tered at this unfavorable reception, the audacious cri, hat issue all knew He had lance at the document that it compromised well-known persons, had, with the nobility which marked him, destroyed it unread before the eyes of those ere rushi+ng in to his rescue I supplied suggestions and i how to blind curious eyes, we forgot the real and per we had resolved upon For us they did not exist; Sapthad been done once and could be done again Bernenstein and I were not behind hiuard the secret with brain and hand and life, even as we had guarded and kept the secret of the queen's letter, which would noith Rupert of Hentzau to his grave Bauer we could catch and silence: nay, ould listen to such a tale from such a man? Rischenheim was ours; the old woman would keep her doubts between her teeth for her own sake To his own land and his own people Rudolfof Ruritania would stand before all Europe recognized, unquestioned, unassailed True, he ain; Sapt was ready with theof the difficulty and risk in finding a hand to perfore: we had but to look at the alternative, and find recompense the perils of e meant to undertake by a consideration the desperate risk involved in abandoning it Persuaded the substitution of Rudolf for the king was the only thing would serve our turn, we asked no longer whether it possible, but sought only the means to make it safe and safe

But Rudolf hi cry had shaken but not overcome him; he had wavered, but he was not won Yet there was no talk of impossibility or peril in his ave hi should be done, not whether it could; our appeals were not to brace a failing courage, but cajole a sturdy sense of honor which found the imposture distasteful so soon as it see he had played the king in old days, but he did not love to play the king when the profit of it was to be his own Hence he was unmoved till his care for the fair fame of the queen and the love of his friends joined to buffet his resolution

Then he faltered; but he had not fallen Yet Colonel Sapt did all as though he had given his assent, and watched the last hours in which his flight froo quickly by with more than equanimity Why hurry Rudolf's resolve? Every moment shut him closer in the trap of an inevitable choice With every hour that he was called the king, it became more impossible for him to bear any other name all his days Therefore Sapt let Mr Rassendyll doubt and struggle, while he hi-headed plans And now and then Ja, but with a quiet satisfaction glea in his eyes He hadtranslated into history He at least would bear his part in it unflinchingly

Before now the queen had left us, persuaded to lie down and try to rest till the entle rebuke, she had urged him no er than any spoken prayer, and a piteousness in the lingering of her hand in his harder to resist than ten thousand sad petitions

At last he had led her froa's care

Then, returning to us, he stood silent a little while We also were silent, Sapt sitting and looking up at hi the moustache on his lip

”Well, lad?” he said at last, briefly putting the great question Rudolf walked to theand seemed to lose hiht There were no lers in the street now; the moon shone white and clear on the empty square

”I should like to walk up and down outside and think it over,” he said, turning to us; and, as Bernenstein sprang up to accompany him, he added, ”No Alone”

”Yes, do,” said old Sapt, with a glance at the clock, whose hands were now hard on two o'clock ”Take your time, lad, take your time”

Rudolf looked at him and broke into a s his head ”Trust et away, be it what o'clock it will”

”Yes, confound you!” grinned Colonel Sapt

So he left us, and then ca, and , in which occupations an hour wore its life away Rudolf had not passed out of the porch, and we supposed that he had betaken hiht his battle Old Sapt, having done his work, suddenly turned talkative

”That er at the , ”is a hty untrustworthy lady I've known her wake a villain's conscience before now”

”I've known her send a lover's to sleep,” laughed young Bernenstein, rising froar

”Ay, she's apt to take a man out of what he is,” pursued old Sapt ”Set a quiet man near her, and he dreams of battle; an a better than to muse all his life away I don't trust her, Fritz; I wish the night were dark”

”What will she do to Rudolf Rassendyll?” I asked, falling in with the old fellohimsical mood

”He will see the queen's face in hers,” cried Bernenstein

”He h an unwelcoht had found its way to his mind and lips