"Shut them again when I'm gone," he whispered. "If I come back,
I'll knock like this, and you'll open for me."
"For heaven's sake, be careful," she murmured, catching at his
hand.
He nodded reassuringly, and crossing his leg over the windowsill,
sat there for a moment listening. The storm was as fierce as
ever, and the street was deserted. He let himself down on to the
pavement, his face again wrapped up. She watched his tall figure
stride quickly along till a turn of the road hid it. Then, having
closed the window and the shutters again, she sat down to keep
her watch, praying for him, for me, and for her dear mistress the
queen. For she knew that perilous work was afoot that night, and
did not know whom it might threaten or whom destroy.
From the moment that Mr. Rassendyll thus left my house at
midnight on his search for Rupert of Hentzau, every hour and
almost every moment brought its incident in the swiftly moving
drama which decided the issues of our fortune. What we were doing
has been told; by now Rupert himself was on his way back to the
city, and the queen was meditating, in her restless vigil, on the
resolve that in a few hours was to bring her also to Strelsau.
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