CHAPTER VIII. THE TEMPER OF BORIS THE HOUND
Looking back now, in the light of the information I have
gathered, I am able to trace very clearly, and almost hour by
hour, the events of this day, and to understand how chance,
laying hold of our cunning plan and mocking our wiliness, twisted
and turned our device to a predetermined but undreamt-of issue,
of which we were most guiltless in thought or intent. Had the
king not gone to the hunting-lodge, our design would have found
the fulfilment we looked for; had Rischenheim succeeded in
warning Rupert of Hentzau, we should have stood where we were.
Fate or fortune would have it otherwise. The king, being weary,
went to the lodge, and Rischenheim failed in warning his cousin.
It was a narrow failure, for Rupert, as his laugh told me, was in
the house in the Konigstrasse when I set out from Strelsau, and
Rischenheim arrived there at half past four. He had taken the
train at a roadside station, and thus easily outstripped Mr.
Rassendyll, who, not daring to show his face, was forced to ride
all the way and enter the city under cover of night. But
Rischenheim had not dared to send a warning, for he knew that we
were in possession of the address and did not know what steps we
might have taken to intercept messages.
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