“He will see the queen’s face in hers,” cried Bernenstein.
“He may see God’s,” said Sapt; and he shook himself as though an unwelcome thought had found its way to his mind and lips.
A pause fell on us, born of the colonel’s last remark. We looked one another in the face. At last Sapt brought his hand down on the table with a bang.
“I’ll not go back,” he said sullenly, almost fiercely.
“Nor I,” said Bernenstein, drawing himself up. “Nor you, Tarlenheim?”
“No, I also go on,” I answered. Then again there was a moment’s silence.
“She may make a man soft as a sponge,” reflected Sapt, starting again, “or hard as a bar of steel. I should feel safer if the night were dark. I’ve looked at her often from my tent and from bare ground, and I know her. She got me a decoration, and once she came near to making me turn tail. Have nothing to do with her, young Bernenstein.”
“I’ll keep my eyes for beauties nearer at hand,” said Bernenstein, whose volatile temper soon threw off a serious mood.
“There’s a chance for you, now Rupert of Hentzau’s gone,” said Sapt grimly.
As he spoke there was a knock at the door. When it opened James entered.