Then she looked round
on the three of them. "Gentlemen," said she, "my servants and
dear friends, with you, and with Fritz who lies wounded in
Wintenberg, rest my honor and my life; for I will not live if the
letter reaches the king."
"The king shall not have it, madame," said Colonel Sapt. He took
her hand in his and patted it with a clumsy gentleness; smiling,
she extended it again to young Bernenstein, in mark of her favor.
They two then stood at the salute, while Rudolf walked with her
to the end of the passage. There for a moment she and he stood
together; the others turned their eyes away and thus did not see
her suddenly stoop and cover his hand with her kisses. He tried
to draw it away, not thinking it fit that she should kiss his
hand, but she seemed as though she could not let it go. Yet at
last, still with her eyes on his, she passed backwards through
the door, and he shut it after her.
"Now to business," said Colonel Sapt dryly; and Rudolf laughed a
little.
Rudolf passed into the room. Sapt went to the king's apartments,
and asked the physician whether his Majesty were sleeping well.
Receiving reassuring news of the royal slumbers, he proceeded to
the quarters of the king's body-servant, knocked up the sleepy
wretch, and ordered breakfast for the king and the Count of
Luzau-Rischenheim at nine o'clock precisely, in the morning-room
that looked out over the avenue leading to the entrance to the
new chateau.
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