by Anthony Hope
Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer, and David Widger
RUPERT OF HENTZAU
FROM THE MEMOIRS OF FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM
Sequel to The Prisoner of Zenda
By Anthony Hope
CONTENTS
I. THE QUEEN'S GOOD-BY II. A STATION WITHOUT A CAB III. AGAIN TO ZENDA IV. AN EDDY ON THE MOAT V. AN AUDIENCE OF THE KING VI. THE TASK OF THE QUEEN'S SERVANTS VII. THE MESSAGE OF SIMON THE HUNTSMAN VIII. THE TEMPER OF BORIS THE HOUND IX. THE KING IN THE HUNTING-LODGE X. THE KING IN STRELSAU XI. WHAT THE CHANCELLOR'S WIFE SAW XII. BEFORE THEM ALL! XIII. A KING UP HIS SLEEVE XIV. THE NEWS COMES TO STRELSAU XV. A PASTIME FOR COLONEL SAPT XVI. A CROWD IN THE KONIGSTRASSE XVII. YOUNG RUPERT AND THE PLAY-ACTOR XVIII. THE TRIUMPH OF THE KING XIX. FOR OUR LOVE AND HER HONOR XX. THE DECISION OF HEAVEN XXI. THE COMING OF THE DREAM
CHAPTER I. THE QUEEN'S GOOD-BY
A man who has lived in the world, marking how every act, althoughin itself perhaps light and insignificant, may become the source ofconsequences that spread far and wide, and flow for years or centuries,could scarcely feel secure in reckoning that with the death of theDuke of Strelsau and the restoration of King Rudolf to liberty and histhrone, there would end, for good and all, the troubles born of BlackMichael's daring conspiracy. The stakes had been high, the strugglekeen; the edge of passion had been sharpened, and the seeds of enmitysown. Yet Michael, having struck for the crown, had paid for the blowwith his life: should there not then be an end? Michael was dead,the Princess her cousin's wife, the story in safe keeping, and Mr.Rassendyll's face seen no more in Ruritania. Should there not then be anend? So said I to my friend the Constable of Zenda, as we talked by thebedside of Marshal Strakencz. The old man, already nearing the deaththat soon after robbed us of his aid and counsel, bowed his head inassent: in the aged and ailing the love of peace breeds hope of it. ButColonel Sapt tugged at his gray moustache, and twisted his black cigarin his mouth, saying, "You're very sanguine, friend Fritz. But is Rupertof Hentzau dead? I had not heard it."
Well said, and like old Sapt! Yet the man is little without theopportunity, and Rupert by himself could hardly have troubled ourrepose. Hampered by his own guilt, he dared not set his foot in thekingdom from which by rare good luck he had escaped, but wandered to andfro over Europe, making a living by his wits, and, as some said, addingto his resources by gallantries for which he did not refuse substantialrecompense. But he kept himself constantly before our eyes, and neverceased to contrive how he might gain permission to return and enjoy theestates to which his uncle's death had entitled him. The chief agentthrough whom he had the effrontery to approach the king was hisrelative, the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim, a young man of high rank andgreat wealth who was devoted to Rupert. The count fulfilled his missionwell: acknowledging Rupert's heavy offences, he put forward in hisbehalf the pleas of youth and of the predominant influence which DukeMichael had exercised over his adherent, and promised, in words sosignificant as to betray Rupert's own dictation, a future fidelity noless discreet than hearty. "Give me my price and I'll hold my tongue,"seemed to come in Rupert's off-hand accents through his cousin'sdeferential lips. As may be supposed, however, the king and those whoadvised him in the matter, knowing too well the manner of man theCount of Hentzau was, were not inclined to give ear to his ambassador'sprayer. We kept firm hold on Master Rupert's revenues, and as good watchas we could on his movements; for we were most firmly determined thathe should never return to Ruritania. Perhaps we might have obtained hisextradition and hanged him on the score of his crimes; but in these daysevery rogue who deserves no better than to be strung up to the nearesttree must have what they call a fair trial; and we feared that, ifRupert were handed over to our police and arraigned before the courtsat Strelsau, the secret which we guarded so sedulously would become thegossip of all the city, ay, and of all Europe. So Rupert went unpunishedexcept by banishment and the impounding of his rents.
Yet Sapt was in the right about him. Helpless as he seemed, he didnot for an instant abandon the contest. He lived in the faith that hischance would come, and from day to day was ready for its coming. Heschemed against us as we schemed to protect ourselves from him; ifwe watched him, he kept his eye on us. His ascendency overLuzau-Rischenheim grew markedly greater after a visit which his cousinpaid to him in Paris. From this time the young count began to supplyhim with resources. Thus armed, he gathered instruments round him andorganized a system of espionage that carried to his ears all our actionsand the whole position of affairs at court. He knew, far more accuratelythan anyone else outside the royal circle, the measures taken for thegovernment of the kingdom and the considerations that dictated the royalpolicy. More than this, he possessed himself of every detail concerningthe king's health, although the utmost reticence was observed onthis subject. Had his discoveries stopped there, they would have beenvexatious and disquieting, but perhaps of little serious harm. Theywent further. Set on the track by his acquaintance with what had passedduring Mr. Rassendyll's tenure of the throne, he penetrated the secretwhich had been kept successfully from the king himself. In the knowledgeof it he found the opportunity for which he had waited; in its bold usehe discerned his chance. I cannot say whether he were influenced morestrongly by his desire to reestablish his position in the kingdom orby the grudge he bore against Mr. Rassendyll. He loved power and money;dearly he loved revenge also. No doubt both motives worked together, andhe was rejoiced to find that the weapon put into his hand had a doubleedge; with one he hoped to cut his own path clear; with the other, towound the man he hated through the woman whom that man loved. In fine,the Count of Hentzau, shrewdly discerning the feeling that existedbetween the queen and Rudolf Rassendyll, set his spies to work, andwas rewarded by discovering the object of my yearly meetings with Mr.Rassendyll. At least he conjectured the nature of my errand; this wasenough for him. Head and hand were soon busy in turning the knowledge toaccount; scruples of the heart never stood in Rupert's way.
The marriage which had set all Ruritania on fire with joy and formedin the people's eyes the visible triumph over Black Michael and hisfellow-conspirators was now three years old. For three years thePrincess Flavia had been queen. I am come by now to the age when a manshould look out on life with an eye undimmed by the mists of passion.My love-making days are over; yet there is nothing for which I am morethankful to Almighty God than the gift of my wife's love. In storm ithas been my anchor, and in clear skies my star. But we common folk arefree to follow our hearts; am I an old fool for saying that he is a foolwho follows anything else? Our liberty is not for princes. We need waitfor no future world to balance the luck of men; even here there is anequipoise. From the highly placed a price is exacted for their state,their wealth, and their honors, as heavy as these are great; to thepoor, what is to us mean and of no sweetness may appear decked in therobes of pleasure and delight. Well, if it were not so, who could sleepat nights? The burden laid on Queen Flavia I knew, and know, so well asa man can know it. I think it needs a woman to know it fully; for evennow my wife's eyes fill with tears when we speak of it. Yet she bore it,and if she failed in anything, I wonder that it was in so little. Forit was not only that she had never loved the king and had loved anotherwith all her heart. The king's health, shattered by the horror andrigors of his imprisonment in the castle of Zenda, soon broke utterly.He lived, indeed; nay, he shot and hunted, and kept in his hand somemeasure, at least, of government. But always from the day of his releasehe was a fretful invalid, different utterly from the
gay and jovialprince whom Michael's villains had caught in the shooting lodge. Therewas worse than this. As time went on, the first impulse of gratitude andadmiration that he had felt towards Mr. Rassendyll died away. He came tobrood more and more on what had passed while he was a prisoner; he waspossessed not only by a haunting dread of Rupert of Hentzau, at whosehands he had suffered so greatly, but also by a morbid, half madjealousy of Mr. Rassendyll. Rudolf had played the hero while he layhelpless. Rudolf's were the exploits for which his own people cheeredhim in his own capital. Rudolf's were the laurels that crowned hisimpatient brow. He had enough nobility to resent his borrowed credit,without the fortitude to endure it manfully. And the hateful comparisonstruck him nearer home. Sapt would tell him bluntly that Rudolf did thisor that, set this precedent or that, laid down this or the other policy,and that the king could do no better than follow in Rudolf's steps. Mr.Rassendyll's name seldom passed his wife's lips, but when she spoke ofhim it was as one speaks of a great man who is dead, belittling allthe living by the shadow of his name. I do not believe that the kingdiscerned that truth which his wife spent her days in hiding from him;yet he was uneasy if Rudolf's name were mentioned by Sapt or myself, andfrom the queen's mouth he could not bear it. I have seen him fall intofits of passion on the mere sound of it; for he lost control of himselfon what seemed slight provocation.
Moved by this disquieting jealousy, he sought continually to exact fromthe queen proofs of love and care beyond what most husbands can boastof, or, in my humble judgment, make good their right to, always askingof her what in his heart he feared was not hers to give. Much she didin pity and in duty; but in some moments, being but human and herself awoman of high temper, she failed; then the slight rebuff or involuntarycoldness was magnified by a sick man's fancy into great offence orstudied insult, and nothing that she could do would atone for it. Thusthey, who had never in truth come together, drifted yet further apart;he was alone in his sickness and suspicion, she in her sorrows andher memories. There was no child to bridge the gulf between them, andalthough she was his queen and his wife, she grew almost a stranger tohim. So he seemed to will that it should be.
Thus, worse than widowed, she lived for three years; and once only ineach year she sent three words to the man she loved, and received fromhim three words in answer. Then her strength failed her. A pitiful scenehad occurred in which the king peevishly upbraided her in regard to sometrivial matter--the occasion escapes my memory--speaking to her beforeothers words that even alone she could not have listened to withdignity. I was there, and Sapt; the colonel's small eyes had gleamed inanger. "I should like to shut his mouth for him," I heard him mutter,for the king's waywardness had well-nigh worn out even his devotion. Thething, of which I will say no more, happened a day or two before Iwas to set out to meet Mr. Rassendyll. I was to seek him this time atWintenberg, for I had been recognized the year before at Dresden;and Wintenberg, being a smaller place and less in the way of chancevisitors, was deemed safer. I remember well how she was when she calledme into her own room, a few hours after she had left the king. She stoodby the table; the box was on it, and I knew well that the red rose andthe message were within. But there was more to-day. Without preface shebroke into the subject of my errand.
"I must write to him," she said. "I can't bear it, I must write. My dearfriend Fritz, you will carry it safely for me, won't you? And he mustwrite to me. And you'll bring that safely, won't you? Ah, Fritz, I knowI'm wrong, but I'm starved, starved, starved! And it's for the lasttime. For I know now that if I send anything, I must send more. So afterthis time I won't send at all. But I must say good-by to him; I musthave his good-by to carry me through my life. This once, then, Fritz, doit for me."
The tears rolled down her cheeks, which to-day were flushed out of theirpaleness to a stormy red; her eyes defied me even while they pleaded. Ibent my head and kissed her hand.
"With God's help I'll carry it safely and bring his safely, my queen,"said I.
"And tell me how he looks. Look at him closely, Fritz. See if he is welland seems strong. Oh, and make him merry and happy! Bring that smile tohis lips, Fritz, and the merry twinkle to his eyes. When you speak ofme, see if he--if he looks as if he still loved me." But then she brokeoff, crying, "But don't tell him I said that. He'd be grieved if Idoubted his love. I don't doubt it; I don't, indeed; but still tell mehow he looks when you speak of me, won't you, Fritz? See, here's theletter."
Taking it from her bosom, she kissed it before she gave it to me. Thenshe added a thousand cautions, how I was to carry her letter, how I wasto go and how return, and how I was to run no danger, because my wifeHelga loved me as well as she would have loved her husband had Heavenbeen kinder. "At least, almost as I should, Fritz," she said, nowbetween smiles and tears. She would not believe that any woman couldlove as she loved.
I left the queen and went to prepare for my journey. I used to take onlyone servant with me, and I had chosen a different man each year. Noneof them had known that I met Mr. Rassendyll, but supposed that I wasengaged on the private business which I made my pretext for obtainingleave of absence from the king. This time I had determined to take withme a Swiss youth who had entered my service only a few weeks before.His name was Bauer; he seemed a stolid, somewhat stupid fellow, but ashonest as the day and very obliging.
He had come to me well recommended, and I had not hesitated to engagehim. I chose him for my companion now, chiefly because he was aforeigner and therefore less likely to gossip with the other servantswhen we returned. I do not pretend to much cleverness, but I confessthat it vexes me to remember how that stout, guileless-looking youthmade a fool of me. For Rupert knew that I had met Mr. Rassendyll theyear before at Dresden; Rupert was keeping a watchful eye on all thatpassed in Strelsau; Rupert had procured the fellow his fine testimonialsand sent him to me, in the hope that he would chance on something ofadvantage to his employer. My resolve to take him to Wintenberg mayhave been hoped for, but could scarcely have been counted on; it was theadded luck that waits so often on the plans of a clever schemer.
Going to take leave of the king, I found him huddled over the fire.The day was not cold, but the damp chill of his dungeon seemed to havepenetrated to the very core of his bones. He was annoyed at my going,and questioned me peevishly about the business that occasioned myjourney. I parried his curiosity as I best could, but did not succeedin appeasing his ill-humor. Half ashamed of his recent outburst,half-anxious to justify it to himself, he cried fretfully:
"Business! Yes, any business is a good enough excuse for leaving me! ByHeaven, I wonder if a king was ever served so badly as I am! Why did youtrouble to get me out of Zenda? Nobody wants me, nobody cares whether Ilive or die."
To reason with such a mood was impossible. I could only assure him thatI would hasten my return by all possible means.
"Yes, pray do," said he. "I want somebody to look after me. Who knowswhat that villain Rupert may attempt against me? And I can't defendmyself can I? I'm not Rudolf Rassendyll, am I?"
Thus, with a mixture of plaintiveness and malice, he scolded me. At lastI stood silent, waiting till he should be pleased to dismiss me. At anyrate I was thankful that he entertained no suspicion as to my errand.Had I spoken a word of Mr. Rassendyll he would not have let me go. Hehad fallen foul of me before on learning that I was in communicationwith Rudolf; so completely had jealousy destroyed gratitude in hisbreast. If he had known what I carried, I do not think that he couldhave hated his preserver more. Very likely some such feeling was naturalenough; it was none the less painful to perceive.
On leaving the king's presence, I sought out the Constable of Zenda. Heknew my errand; and, sitting down beside him, I told him of the letterI carried, and arranged how to apprise him of my fortune surely andquickly. He was not in a good humor that day: the king had ruffled himalso, and Colonel Sapt had no great reserve of patience.
"If we haven't cut one another's throats before then, we shall all be atZenda by the time you arrive at Wintenberg," he said. "Th
e court movesthere to-morrow, and I shall be there as long as the king is."
He paused, and then added: "Destroy the letter if there's any danger."
I nodded my head.
"And destroy yourself with it, if there's the only way," he went on witha surly smile. "Heaven knows why she must send such a silly message atall; but since she must, she'd better have sent me with it."
I knew that Sapt was in the way of jeering at all sentiment, and Itook no notice of the terms that he applied to the queen's farewell. Icontented myself with answering the last part of what he said.
"No, it's better you should be here," I urged. "For if I should lose theletter--though there's little chance of it--you could prevent it fromcoming to the king."
"I could try," he grinned. "But on my life, to run the chance for aletter's sake! A letter's a poor thing to risk the peace of a kingdomfor."
"Unhappily," said I, "it's the only thing that a messenger can wellcarry."
"Off with you, then," grumbled the colonel. "Tell Rassendyll from methat he did well. But tell him to do something more. Let 'em say good-byand have done with it. Good God, is he going to waste all his lifethinking of a woman he never sees?" Sapt's air was full of indignation.
"What more is he to do?" I asked. "Isn't his work here done?"
"Ay, it's done. Perhaps it's done," he answered. "At least he has givenus back our good king."
To lay on the king the full blame for what he was would have been rankinjustice. Sapt was not guilty of it, but his disappointment was bitterthat all our efforts had secured no better ruler for Ruritania. Saptcould serve, but he liked his master to be a man.
"Ay, I'm afraid the lad's work here is done," he said, as I shook himby the hand. Then a sudden light came in his eyes. "Perhaps not," hemuttered. "Who knows?"
A man need not, I hope, be deemed uxorious for liking a quiet dinneralone with his wife before he starts on a long journey. Such, at least,was my fancy; and I was annoyed to find that Helga's cousin, Anton vonStrofzin, had invited himself to share our meal and our farewell. Heconversed with his usual airy emptiness on all the topics that weresupplying Strelsau with gossip. There were rumors that the king wasill; that the queen was angry at being carried off to Zenda; that thearchbishop meant to preach against low dresses; that the chancellor wasto be dismissed; that his daughter was to be married; and so forth.I heard without listening. But the last bit of his budget caught mywandering attention.
"They were betting at the club," said Anton, "that Rupert of Hentzauwould be recalled. Have you heard anything about it, Fritz?"
If I had known anything, it is needless to say that I should not haveconfided it to Anton. But the suggested step was so utterly at variancewith the king's intentions that I made no difficulty about contradictingthe report with an authoritative air. Anton heard me with a judicialwrinkle on his smooth brow.
"That's all very well," said he, "and I dare say you're bound to say so.All I know is that Rischenheim dropped a hint to Colonel Markel a day ortwo ago."
"Rischenheim believes what he hopes," said I.
"And where's he gone?" cried Anton, exultantly. "Why has he suddenlyleft Strelsau? I tell you he's gone to meet Rupert, and I'll bet youwhat you like he carries some proposal. Ah, you don't know everything,Fritz, my boy?"
It was indeed true that I did not know everything. I made haste to admitas much. "I didn't even know that the count was gone, much less why he'sgone," said I.
"You see?" exclaimed Anton. And he added, patronizingly, "You shouldkeep your ears open, my boy; then you might be worth what the king paysyou."
"No less, I trust," said I, "for he pays me nothing." Indeed, at thistime I held no office save the honorary position of chamberlain toHer Majesty. Any advice the king needed from me was asked and givenunofficially.
Anton went off, persuaded that he had scored a point against me. I couldnot see where. It was possible that the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim hadgone to meet his cousin, equally possible that no such business claimedhis care. At any rate, the matter was not for me. I had a more pressingaffair in hand. Dismissing the whole thing from my mind, I bade thebutler tell Bauer to go forward with my luggage and to let my carriagebe at the door in good time. Helga had busied herself, since our guest'sdeparture, in preparing small comforts for my journey; now she cameto me to say good-by. Although she tried to hide all signs of it, Idetected an uneasiness in her manner. She did not like these errands ofmine, imagining dangers and risks of which I saw no likelihood. I wouldnot give in to her mood, and, as I kissed her, I bade her expect me backin a few days' time. Not even to her did I speak of the new and moredangerous burden that I carried, although I was aware that she enjoyed afull measure of the queen's confidence.
"My love to King Rudolf, the real King Rudolf," said she. "Though youcarry what will make him think little of my love."
"I have no desire he should think too much of it, sweet," said I. Shecaught me by the hands, and looked up in my face.
"What a friend you are, aren't you, Fritz?" said she. "You worship Mr.Rassendyll. I know you think I should worship him too, if he asked me.Well, I shouldn't. I am foolish enough to have my own idol." All mymodesty did not let me doubt who her idol might be. Suddenly she drewnear to me and whispered in my ear. I think that our own happinessbrought to her a sudden keen sympathy with her mistress.
"Make him send her a loving message, Fritz," she whispered. "Somethingthat will comfort her. Her idol can't be with her as mine is with me."
"Yes, he'll send something to comfort her," I answered. "And God keepyou, my dear."
For he would surely send an answer to the letter that I carried, andthat answer I was sworn to bring safely to her. So I set out in goodheart, bearing in the pocket of my coat the little box and the queen'sgood-by. And, as Colonel Sapt said to me, both I would destroy, if needwere--ay, and myself with them. A man did not serve Queen Flavia withdivided mind.