“But the king is in Strelsau, sir.”
“The deuce he is! He said nothing of going to Strelsau. He rose early and rode off with Herbert, merely saying they would be back to-night.”
“He went to Strelsau, sir. I am just from Zenda, and his Majesty is known to have been in town with the queen. They were both at Count Fritz’s.”
“I’m much interested to hear it. But didn’t the telegram say where Herbert was?”
Simon laughed.
“Herbert’s not a king, you see,” he said. “Well, I’ll come again to-morrow morning, for I must see him soon. He’ll be back by then, sir?”
“Yes, Simon, your brother will be here to-morrow morning.”
“Or what’s left of him after such a two-days of work,” suggested Simon jocularly.
“Why, yes, precisely,” said Sapt, biting his moustache and darting one swift glance at James. “Or what’s left of him, as you say.”
“And I’ll bring a cart and carry the boar down to the castle at the same time, sir. At least, I suppose you haven’t eaten it all?”