"
She flushed with pleasure at the confidence he seemed to put in
her.
"I should know you anywhere," she whispered, with a glance of the
great black eyes. "Anywhere, your Majesty."
"Then you'll help me, perhaps?"
"With my life."
"No, no, my dear young lady, merely with a little information.
Whose home is this?"
"My mother's."
"Ah! She takes lodgers?"
The girl appeared vexed at his cautious approaches. "Tell me what
you want to know," she said simply.
"Then who's here?"
"My lord the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim."
"And what's he doing?"
"He's lying on the bed moaning and swearing, because his wounded
arm gives him pain."
"And is nobody else here?"
She looked round warily, and sank her voice to a whisper as she
answered:
"No, not now--nobody else."
"I was seeking a friend of mine," said Rudolf. "I want to see him
alone. It's not easy for a king to see people alone."
"You mean--?"
"Well, you know whom I mean."
"Yes. No, he's gone; but he's gone to find you."
"To find me! Plague take it! How do you know that, my pretty
lady?"
"Bauer told me."
"Ah, Bauer! And who's Bauer?"
"The man who knocked. Why did you shut him out?"
"To be alone with you, to be sure.
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