"Yes: when the news is known, every man in the kingdom will be on
the lookout for him, and he can't escape."
"So that he'd be taken?" asked the constable.
"Yes, to a certainty," I cried, hot in excitement and emotion.
Sapt glanced across at Mr. Rassendyll's servant. James had, with
my help, raised the king's body on to the bed, and had aided the
wounded forester to reach a couch. He stood now near the
constable, in his usual unobtrusive readiness. He did not speak,
but I saw a look of understanding in his eyes as he nodded his
head to Colonel Sapt. They were well matched, that pair, hard to
move, hard to shake, not to be turned from the purpose in their
minds and the matter that lay to their hands.
"Yes, he'd probably be taken or killed," said Sapt.
"Then let's do it!" I cried.
"With the queen's letter on him," said Colonel Sapt.
I had forgotten.
"We have the box, he has the letter still," said Sapt.
I could have laughed even at that moment. He had left the box
(whether from haste or heedlessness or malice, we could not
tell), but the letter was on him. Taken alive, he would use that
powerful weapon to save his life or satisfy his anger; if it were
found on his body, its evidence would speak loud and clear to all
the world.
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