The moment I had
arrived, I sent James, whose assistance had been, and continued
to be, in all respects most valuable, to despatch a message to
the constable, acquainting him with my whereabouts, and putting
myself entirely at his disposal. Sapt received this message while
a council of war was being held, and the information it gave
aided not a little in the arrangements that the constable and
Rudolf Rassendyll made. What these were I must now relate,
although, I fear, at the risk of some tediousness.
Yet that council of war in Zenda was held under no common
circumstances. Cowed as Rischenheim appeared, they dared not let
him out of their sight. Rudolf could not leave the room into
which Sapt had locked him; the king's absence was to be short,
and before he came again Rudolf must be gone, Rischenheim safely
disposed of, and measures taken against the original letter
reaching the hands for which the intercepted copy had been
destined. The room was a large one. In the corner farthest from
the door sat Rischenheim, disarmed, dispirited, to all seeming
ready to throw up his dangerous game and acquiesce in any terms
presented to him. Just inside the door, guarding it, if need
should be, with their lives, were the other three, Bernenstein
merry and triumphant, Sapt blunt and cool, Rudolf calm and
clear-headed.
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