dily on his prisoner's
face.

"I don't know," he continued, "why you are in this business, my lord.
Your cousin's motives I know well. But I wonder that they seemed to you
great enough to justify the ruin of an unhappy lady who is your queen.
Be assured that I will die sooner than let that letter reach the king's
hand."

Rischenheim made him no answer.

"Are you armed?" asked Rudolf.

Rischenheim sullenly flung his revolver on the table. Bernenstein came
forward and took it.

"Keep him here, Bernenstein. When I return I'll tell you what more to
do. If I don't return, Fritz will be here soon, and you and he must make
your own plans."

"He sha'n't give me the slip a second time," said Bernenstein.

"We hold ourselves free," said Rudolf to Rischenheim, "to do what we
please with you, my lord. But I have no wish to cause your death, unless
it be necessary. You will be wise to wait till your cousin's fate is
decided before you attempt any further steps against us." And with a
slight bow he left the prisoner in Bernenstein's charge, and went back
to the room where the queen awaited him. Helga was with her. The queen
sprang up to meet him.

"I mustn't lose a moment," he said. "All that crowd of people know now
that the king is here. The news will filter through the town in no time.
We must send word to Sapt to keep it from the king's ears at all costs:
I must go and do my work, and then disappear."

The queen stood facing him. Her eyes seemed to devour his face; but she
said only: "Yes, it must be so."

"You must return to the palace as soon as I am gone. I shall send out
and ask the people to disperse, and then I must be off."

"To seek Rupert of Hentzau?"

"Yes."

She struggled for a moment with the contending feelings that filled her
heart. Then she came to him and seized hold of his hand.

"Don't go," she said in low trembling tones. "Don't go, Rudolf. He'll
kill you. Never mind the letter. Don't go: I had rather a thousand times
that the king had it than that you should.... Oh, my dear, don't go!"

"I must go," he said softly.

Again she began to implore him, but he would not yield. Helga moved
towards the door, but Rudolf stopped her.

"No," he said; "you must stay with her; you must go to the palace with
her."

Even as he spoke they heard the wheels of a carriage driven quickly to
the door. By now I had met Anton von Strofzin and heard from him that
the king was at my house. As I dashed up the n