He told her very briefly all he knew. She hid bravely her alarm at hearing that I might perhaps meet Rupert at the lodge, and at once listened to what Rudolf wanted of her.
“Can I get out of the house, and, if need be, back again unnoticed?” he asked.
“The door is locked at night, and only Fritz and the butler have keys.”
Mr. Rassendyll’s eye traveled to the window of the room.
“I haven’t grown so fat that I can’t get through there,” said he. “So we’d better not trouble the butler. He’d talk, you know.”
“I will sit here all night and keep everybody from the room.”
“I may come back pursued if I bungle my work and an alarm is raised.”
“Your work?” she asked, shrinking back a little.
“Yes,” said he. “Don’t ask what it is, Countess. It is in the queen’s service.”
“For the queen I will do anything and everything, as Fritz would.”