f came
in, followed by Bernenstein. Both wore riding boots and cloaks. I saw on
Bernenstein's face just such a look of disappointment as I knew must be
on mine. Rudolf seemed calm and even happy. He walked straight up to the
queen.

"The horses will be ready in a few minutes," he said gently. Then,
turning to me, he asked, "You know what we're going to do, Fritz?"

"Not I, sire," I answered, sulkily.

"Not I, sire!" he repeated, in a half-merry, half-sad mockery. Then he
came between Bernenstein and me and passed his arms through 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 from his lips and every moment of his presence my
sorrow grew keener that he would not stay. Bernenstein looked across at
me and shrugged his shoulders despairingly. Rudolf gave a little laugh.

"You won't forgive me for not being as great a rogue, won't you?" he
asked.

Well, I found nothing to say, but I took my arm out of his and clasped
his hand. He gripped mine hard.

"That's old Fritz!" he said; and he caught 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, showing myself to as many as will look at me, and letting it
be known to everybody where I'm going. We shall get there quite early
to-morrow, before it's light. There we shall find what you know. We
shall find Sapt, too, and he'll put the finishing touches to our plan
for us. Hullo, what's that?"

There was a sudden fresh shouting from the large crowd that still
lingered outside the palace. I ran to the window, and saw a commotion in
the midst of them. I flung the sash up. Then I heard a well-known, loud,
strident voice: "Make way, you rascals, make way."

I turned round again, full of excitement.

"It's Sapt himself!" I said. "He's riding like mad through 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 alarm, and, rising to her feet, came
and passed her arm through Rudolf's. Thus we all stood, listening to
the people good-naturedly cheering Sapt, w