The chief agent through
whom he had the effrontery to approach the king was his relative,
the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim, a young man of high rank and
great wealth who was devoted to Rupert. The count fulfilled his
mission well: acknowledging Rupert's heavy offences, he put
forward in his behalf the pleas of youth and of the predominant
influence which Duke Michael had exercised over his adherent, and
promised, in words so significant as to betray Rupert's own
dictation, a future fidelity no less 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's deferential lips. As may be
supposed, however, the king and those who advised him in the
matter, knowing too well the manner of man the Count of Hentzau
was, were not inclined to give ear to his ambassador's prayer. We
kept firm hold on Master Rupert's revenues, and as good watch as
we could on his movements; for we were most firmly determined
that he should never return to Ruritania. Perhaps we might have
obtained his extradition and hanged him on the score of his
crimes; but in these days every rogue who deserves no better than
to be strung up to the nearest tree must have what they call a
fair trial; and we feared that, if Rupert were handed over to our
police and arraigned before the courts at Strelsau, the secret
which we guarded so sedulously would become the gossip of all the
city, ay, and of all Europe.
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