On leaving the king's presence, I sought out the Constable of
Zenda. He knew my errand; and, sitting down beside him, I told
him of the letter I carried, and arranged how to apprise him of
my fortune surely and quickly. He was not in a good humor that
day: the king had ruffled him also, and Colonel Sapt had no great
reserve of patience.
"If we haven't cut one another's throats before then, we shall
all be at Zenda by the time you arrive at Wintenberg," he said.
"The court moves there 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 with a surly smile. "Heaven knows why she must send such a
silly message at all; 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
I took no notice of the terms that he applied to the queen's
farewell. I contented 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 the letter--though there's little chance of it--you could
prevent it from coming to the king.
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