“You must return to the palace as soon as I am gone. I shall send out and ask the people to disperse, and then I must be off.”
“To seek Rupert of Hentzau?”
“Yes.”
She struggled for a moment with the contending feelings that filled her heart. Then she came to him and seized hold of his hand.
“Don’t go,” she said in low trembling tones. “Don’t go, Rudolf. He’ll kill you. Never mind the letter. Don’t go: I had rather a thousand times that the king had it than that you should.... Oh, my dear, don’t go!”
“I must go,” he said softly.
Again she began to implore him, but he would not yield. Helga moved towards the door, but Rudolf stopped her.
“No,” he said; “you must stay with her; you must go to the palace with her.”
Even as he spoke they heard the wheels of a carriage driven quickly to the door. By now I had met Anton von Strofzin and heard from him that the king was at my house. As I dashed up the news was confirmed by the comments and jokes of the crowd.
“Ah, he’s in a hurry,” they said. “He’s kept the king waiting. He’ll get a wigging.”