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! By Heaven, I wonder if a king was ever served so badly as I
am! Why did you trouble to get me out of Zenda? Nobody wants me,
nobody cares whether I live or die."
To reason with such a mood was impossible. I could only assure
him that I would hasten my return by all possible means.
"Yes, pray do," said he. "I want somebody to look after me. Who
knows what that villain Rupert may attempt against me? And I
can't defend myself can I? I'm not Rudolf Rassendyll, am I?"
Thus, with a mixture of plaintiveness and malice, he scolded me.
At last I stood silent, waiting till he should be pleased to
dismiss me. At any rate 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. He had fallen foul of me before on
learning that I was in communication with Rudolf; so completely
had jealousy destroyed gratitude in his breast. If he had known
what I carried, I do not think that he could have hated his
preserver more. Very likely some such feeling was natural enough;
it was none the less painful to perceive.
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