I
nodded to her carelessly, and bidding James follow me, set out
for the station. But as we reached the platform, I laid my hand
on his shoulder, saying:
"The Count of Hentzau is in that house, James."
He looked at me without surprise; he was as hard to stir to
wonder as old Sapt himself.
"Indeed, sir. Shall I stay and watch?"
"No, come with me," I answered. To tell the truth, I thought that
to leave him alone in Strelsau to watch that house was in all
likelihood to sign his death warrant, and I shrank from imposing
the duty on him. Rudolf might send him if he would; I dared not.
So we got into our train, and I suppose that my coachman, when he
had looked long enough for me, went home. I forgot to ask him
afterwards. Very likely he thought it a fine joke to see his
master hunting a truant servant and a truant bag through the
streets in broad daylight. Had he known the truth, he would have
been as interested, though, maybe, less amused.
I arrived at the town of Zenda at half-past three, and was in the
castle before four. I may pass over the most kind and gracious
words with which the queen received me. Every sight of her face
and every sound of her voice bound a man closer to her service,
and now she made me feel that I was a poor fellow to have lost
her letter and yet to be alive.
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