plain. If Rupert had escaped the trap
and was still alive with the letter on him, Rupert must be found; here
was the first task. That accomplished, there remained for Rudolf himself
nothing save to disappear as quietly and secretly as he had come,
trusting that his presence could be concealed from the man whose name
he had usurped. Nay, if need were, the king must be told that Rudolf
Rassendyll had played a trick on the chancellor, and, having enjoyed his
pleasure, was gone again. Everything could, in the last resort, be told,
save that which touched the queen's honor.

At this moment the message which I despatched from the station at Hofbau
reached my house. There was a knock at the door. Bernenstein opened it
and took the telegram, which was addressed to my wife. I had written all
that I dared to trust to such a means of communication, and here it is:

"I am coming to Strelsau. The king will not leave the lodge to-day. The
count came, but left before we arrived. I do not know whether he has
gone to Strelsau. He gave no news to the king."

"Then they didn't get him!" cried Bernenstein in deep disappointment.

"No, but he gave no news to the king," said Rudolf triumphantly.

They were all standing now round the queen, who sat on the couch. She
seemed very faint and weary, but at peace. It was enough for her that
Rudolf fought and planned for her.

"And see this," Rudolf went on. "'The king will not leave the lodge
to-day.' Thank God, then, we have to-day!"

"Yes, but where's Rupert?"

"We shall know in an hour, if he's in Strelsau," and Mr. Rassendyll
looked as though it would please him well to find Rupert in Strelsau.
"Yes, I must seek him. I shall stand at nothing to find him. If I can
only get to him as the king, then I'll be the king. We have to-day!"

My message put them in heart again, although it left so much still
unexplained. Rudolf turned to the queen.

"Courage, my queen," said he. "A few hours now will see an end of all
our dangers."

"And then?" she asked.

"Then you'll be safe and at rest," said he, bending over her and
speaking softly. "And I shall be proud in the knowledge of having saved
you."

"And you?"

"I must go," Helga heard him whisper as he bent lower still, and she and
Bernenstein moved away.

CHAPTER XIII. A KING UP HIS SLEEVE

The tall handsome girl was taking down the shutters from the shop front
at No. 19 in the Konigstrasse. She went about her work languidly enough