Again he was protected by his crime: while he had the
letter, he must be kept inviolate from all attack except at our
own hands. We desired his death, but we must be his body-guard
and die in his defense rather than let any other but ourselves
come at him. No open means must be used, and no allies sought.
All this rushed to my mind at Sapt's words, and I saw what the
constable and James had never forgotten. But what to do I could
not see. For the King of Ruritania lay dead.
An hour or more had passed since our discovery, and it was now
close on midnight. Had all gone well we ought by this time to
have been far on our road back to the castle; by this time Rupert
must be miles away from where he had killed the king; already Mr.
Rassendyll would be seeking his enemy in Strelsau.
"But what are we to do about--about that, then?" I asked,
pointing with my finger through the doorway towards the bed.
Sapt gave a last tug at his moustache, then crossed his hands on
the hilt of the sword between his knees, and leant forward in his
chair.
"Nothing, he said," looking at my face. "Until we have the
letter, nothing."
"But it's impossible!" I cried.
"Why, no, Fritz," he answered thoughtfully.
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