"You must be here!" asked Rudolf of the constable. "Well, I'll go
to Strelsau." His smile broke out. "That is, if Bernenstein'll
lend me a hat."
The queen made no sound; but she came and laid her hand on his
arm. He looked at her, smiling still.
"Yes, I'll go to Strelsau," said he, "and I'll find Rupert, ay,
and Rischenheim too, if they're in the city."
"Take me with you," cried Bernenstein eagerly.
Rudolf glanced at Sapt. The constable shook his head.
Bernenstein's face fell.
"It's not that, boy," said old Sapt, half in kindness, half in
impatience. "We want you here. Suppose Rupert comes here with
Rischenheim!"
The idea was new, but the event was by no means unlikely.
"But you'll be here, Constable," urged Bernenstein, "and Fritz
von Tarlenheim will arrive in an hour."
"Ay, young man," said Sapt, nodding his head; "but when I fight
Rupert of Hentzau, I like to have a man to spare, and he grinned
broadly, being no whit afraid of what Bernenstein might think of
his courage. "Now go and get him a hat," he added, and the
lieutenant ran off on the errand.
But the queen cried:
"Are you sending Rudolf alone, then--alone against two?"
"Yes, madam, if I may command the campaign," said Sapt.
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