back crying, "You!" The hound, in subtle
understanding of his master's movement, growled angrily.

"You expected me, sire?" said Rupert with a bow; but he smiled. I know
that the sight of the king's alarm pleased him. To inspire terror was
his delight, and it does not come to every man to strike fear into the
heart of a king and an Elphberg. It had come more than once to Rupert of
Hentzau.

"No," muttered the king. Then, recovering his composure a little, he
said angrily, "How dare you come here?"

"You didn't expect me?" cried Rupert, and in an instant the thought of a
trap seemed to flash across his alert mind. He drew the revolver halfway
from his belt, probably in a scarcely conscious movement, born of the
desire to assure himself of its presence. With a cry of alarm Herbert
flung himself before the king, who sank back on the bed. Rupert,
puzzled, vexed, yet half-amused (for he smiled still, the man said),
took a step forward, crying out something about Rischenheim--what,
Herbert could not tell us.

"Keep back," exclaimed the king. "Keep back."

Rupert paused; then, as though with a sudden thought, he held up the box
that was in his left hand, saying:

'"Well, look at this sire, and we'll talk afterwards," and he stretched
out his hand with the box in it.

Now the king stood on a razor's edge, for the king whispered to Herbert,
"What is it? Go and take it."

But Herbert hesitated, fearing to leave the king, whom his body now
protected as though with a shield. Rupert's impatience overcame him:
if there were a trap, every moment's delay doubled his danger. With a
scornful laugh he exclaimed, "Catch it, then, if you're afraid to come
for it," and he flung the packet to Herbert or the king, or which of
them might chance to catch it.

This insolence had a strange result. In an instant, with a fierce growl
and a mighty bound, Boris was at the stranger's throat. Rupert had not
seen or had not heeded the dog. A startled oath rang out from him. He
snatched the revolver from his belt and fired at his assailant. This
shot must have broken the beast's shoulder, but it only half arrested
his spring. His great weight was still hurled on Rupert's chest, and
bore him back on his knee. The packet that he had flung lay unheeded.
The king, wild with alarm and furious with anger at his favorite's fate,
jumped up and ran past Rupert into the next room. Herbert followed;
even as they went Rupert flung the wounded, weakened be