Rupert of Hentzau [22]
and directly towards the room where Rudolf Rassendyll was, not doubting that he was being conducted to the king's presence.
"Breakfast is ordered for nine," said Bernenstein, "but he wants to see you before. He has something important to say; and you perhaps have the same?"
"I? Oh, no. A small matter; but--er--of a private nature."
"Quite so, quite so. Oh, I don't ask any questions, my dear Count."
"Shall I find the king alone?" asked Rischenheim nervously.
"I don't think you'll find anybody with him; no, nobody, I think," answered Bernenstein, with a grave and reassuring air.
They arrived now at the door. Here Bernenstein paused.
"I am ordered to wait outside till his Majesty summons me," he said in a low voice, as though he feared that the irritable king would hear him. "I'll open the door and announce you. Pray keep him in a good temper, for all our sakes." And he flung the door open, saying, "Sire, the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim has the honor to wait on your Majesty." With this he shut the door promptly, and stood against it. Nor did he move, save once, and then only to take out his revolver and carefully inspect it.
The count advanced, bowing low, and striving to conceal a visible agitation. He saw the king in his arm-chair; the king wore a suit of brown tweeds (none the better for being crushed into a bundle the night before); his face was in deep shadow, but Rischenheim perceived that the beard was indeed gone. The king held out his hand to Rischenheim, and motioned him to sit in a chair just opposite to him and within a foot of the window-curtains.
"I'm delighted to see you, my lord," said the king.
Rischenheim looked up. Rudolf's voice had once been so like the king's that no man could tell the difference, but in the last year or two the king's had grown weaker, and Rischenheim seemed to be struck by the vigor of the tones in which he was addressed. As he looked up, there was a slight movement in the curtains by him; it died away when the count gave no further signs of suspicion, but Rudolf had noticed his surprise: the voice, when it next spoke, was subdued.
"Most delighted," pursued Mr. Rassendyll. "For I am pestered beyond endurance about those dogs. I can't get the coats right, I've tried everything, but they won't come as I wish. Now, yours are magnificent."
"You are very good, sire. But I ventured to ask an audience in order to--"
"Positively you must tell me about the dogs. And before Sapt comes, for I want nobody to hear but myself."
"Your Majesty expects Colonel Sapt?"
"In about twenty minutes," said the king, with a glance at the clock on the mantelpiece.
At this Rischenheim became all on fire to get his errand done before Sapt appeared.
"The coats of your dogs," pursued the king, "grow so beautifully--"
"A thousand pardons, sire, but--"
"Long and silky, that I despair of--"
"I have a most urgent and important matter," persisted Rischenheim in agony.
Rudolf threw himself back in his chair with a peevish air. "Well, if you must, you must. What is this great affair, Count? Let us have it over, and then you can tell me about the dogs."
Rischenheim looked round the room. There was nobody; the curtains were still; the king's left hand caressed his beardless chin; the right was hidden from his visitor by the small table that stood between them.
"Sire, my cousin, the Count of Hentzau, has entrusted me with a message."
Rudolf suddenly assumed a stern air.
"I can hold no communication, directly or indirectly, with the Count of Hentzau," said he.
"Pardon me, sire, pardon me. A document has come into the count's hands which is of vital importance to your Majesty."
"The Count of Hentzau, my lord, has incurred my heaviest displeasure."
"Sire, it is in the hopes of atoning for his offences that he has sent me here to-day. There is a conspiracy against your Majesty's honor."
"By whom, my lord?" asked Rudolf, in cold and doubting tones.
"By those who are very near your Majesty's person and very high in your Majesty's love."
"Name
"Breakfast is ordered for nine," said Bernenstein, "but he wants to see you before. He has something important to say; and you perhaps have the same?"
"I? Oh, no. A small matter; but--er--of a private nature."
"Quite so, quite so. Oh, I don't ask any questions, my dear Count."
"Shall I find the king alone?" asked Rischenheim nervously.
"I don't think you'll find anybody with him; no, nobody, I think," answered Bernenstein, with a grave and reassuring air.
They arrived now at the door. Here Bernenstein paused.
"I am ordered to wait outside till his Majesty summons me," he said in a low voice, as though he feared that the irritable king would hear him. "I'll open the door and announce you. Pray keep him in a good temper, for all our sakes." And he flung the door open, saying, "Sire, the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim has the honor to wait on your Majesty." With this he shut the door promptly, and stood against it. Nor did he move, save once, and then only to take out his revolver and carefully inspect it.
The count advanced, bowing low, and striving to conceal a visible agitation. He saw the king in his arm-chair; the king wore a suit of brown tweeds (none the better for being crushed into a bundle the night before); his face was in deep shadow, but Rischenheim perceived that the beard was indeed gone. The king held out his hand to Rischenheim, and motioned him to sit in a chair just opposite to him and within a foot of the window-curtains.
"I'm delighted to see you, my lord," said the king.
Rischenheim looked up. Rudolf's voice had once been so like the king's that no man could tell the difference, but in the last year or two the king's had grown weaker, and Rischenheim seemed to be struck by the vigor of the tones in which he was addressed. As he looked up, there was a slight movement in the curtains by him; it died away when the count gave no further signs of suspicion, but Rudolf had noticed his surprise: the voice, when it next spoke, was subdued.
"Most delighted," pursued Mr. Rassendyll. "For I am pestered beyond endurance about those dogs. I can't get the coats right, I've tried everything, but they won't come as I wish. Now, yours are magnificent."
"You are very good, sire. But I ventured to ask an audience in order to--"
"Positively you must tell me about the dogs. And before Sapt comes, for I want nobody to hear but myself."
"Your Majesty expects Colonel Sapt?"
"In about twenty minutes," said the king, with a glance at the clock on the mantelpiece.
At this Rischenheim became all on fire to get his errand done before Sapt appeared.
"The coats of your dogs," pursued the king, "grow so beautifully--"
"A thousand pardons, sire, but--"
"Long and silky, that I despair of--"
"I have a most urgent and important matter," persisted Rischenheim in agony.
Rudolf threw himself back in his chair with a peevish air. "Well, if you must, you must. What is this great affair, Count? Let us have it over, and then you can tell me about the dogs."
Rischenheim looked round the room. There was nobody; the curtains were still; the king's left hand caressed his beardless chin; the right was hidden from his visitor by the small table that stood between them.
"Sire, my cousin, the Count of Hentzau, has entrusted me with a message."
Rudolf suddenly assumed a stern air.
"I can hold no communication, directly or indirectly, with the Count of Hentzau," said he.
"Pardon me, sire, pardon me. A document has come into the count's hands which is of vital importance to your Majesty."
"The Count of Hentzau, my lord, has incurred my heaviest displeasure."
"Sire, it is in the hopes of atoning for his offences that he has sent me here to-day. There is a conspiracy against your Majesty's honor."
"By whom, my lord?" asked Rudolf, in cold and doubting tones.
"By those who are very near your Majesty's person and very high in your Majesty's love."
"Name