o, he's gone; but he's gone to find you."

"To find me! Plague take it! How do you know that, my pretty lady?"

"Bauer told me."

"Ah, Bauer! And who's Bauer?"

"The man who knocked. Why did you shut him out?"

"To be alone with you, to be sure. So Bauer tells you his master's
secrets?"

She acknowledged his raillery with a coquettish laugh. It was not amiss
for the king to see that she had her admirers.

"Well, and where has this foolish count gone to meet me?" asked Rudolf
lightly.

"You haven't seen him?"

"No; I came straight from the Castle of Zenda."

"But," she cried, "he expected to find you at the hunting lodge. Ah, but
now I recollect! The Count of Rischenheim was greatly vexed to find, on
his return, that his cousin was gone."

"Ah, he was gone! Now I see! Rischenheim brought a message from me to
Count Rupert."

"And they missed one another, your Majesty?"

"Exactly, my dear young lady. Very vexatious it is, upon my word!" In
this remark, at least, Rudolf spoke no more and no other than he felt.
"But when do you expect the Count of Hentzau?" he pursued.

"Early in the morning, your Majesty--at seven or eight."

Rudolf came nearer to her, and took a couple of gold coins from his
pocket.

"I don't want money, your Majesty," she murmured.

"Oh, make a hole in them and hang them round your neck."

"Ah, yes: yes, give them to me," she cried, holding out her hand
eagerly.

"You'll earn them?" he asked, playfully holding them out of her reach.

"How?"

"By being ready to open to me when I come at eleven and knock as Bauer
knocked."

"Yes, I'll be there."

"And by telling nobody that I've been here to-night. Will you promise me
that?"

"Not my mother?"

"No."

"Nor the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim?"

"Him least of all. You must tell nobody. My business is very private,
and Rischenheim doesn't know it."

"I'll do all you tell me. But--but Bauer knows."

"True," said Rudolf. "Bauer knows. Well, we'll see about Bauer."

As he spoke he turned towards the door. Suddenly the girl bent, snatched
at his hand and kissed it.

"I would die for you," she murmured.

"Poor child!" said he gently. I believe he was loath to make profit,
even in the queen's service, of her poor foolish love. He laid his hand
on the door, but paused a moment to say:

"If Bauer comes, you have told me nothing. Mind, nothing! I threatened
you, but you told me nothing."

"He'll tell them you have been here."