Truly we had tempted fate too far by bringing Rudolf Rassendyll
again to Strelsau.
CHAPTER XII. BEFORE THEM ALL!
GREAT as was the risk and immense as were the difficulties
created by the course which Mr. Rassendyll adopted, I cannot
doubt that he acted for the best in the light of the information
which he possessed. His plan was to disclose himself in the
character of the king to Helsing, to bind him to secrecy, and
make him impose the same obligation on his wife, daughter, and
servants. The chancellor was to be quieted with the excuse of
urgent business, and conciliated by a promise that he should know
its nature in the course of a few hours; meanwhile an appeal to
his loyalty must suffice to insure obedience. If all went well in
the day that had now dawned, by the evening of it the letter
would be destroyed, the queen's peril past, and Rudolf once more
far away from Strelsau. Then enough of the truth--no more--must
be disclosed. Helsing would be told the story of Rudolf
Rassendyll and persuaded to hold his tongue about the
harum-scarum Englishman (we are ready to believe much of an
Englishman) having been audacious enough again to play the king
in Strelsau.
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