Helsing, blinking
through his spectacles, followed with devout attention the long
narrative that told nothing, and the urgent exhortation that
masked a trick. His accents were almost broken with emotion as he
put himself absolutely at the king's disposal, and declared that
he could answer for the discretion of his family and household as
completely as for his own.
"Then you're a very lucky man, my dear chancellor," said Rudolf,
with a sigh which seemed to hint that the king in his palace was
not so fortunate. Helsing was immensely pleased. He was all agog
to go and tell his wife how entirely the king trusted to her
honor and silence.
There was nothing that Rudolf more desired than to be relieved of
the excellent old fellow's presence; but, well aware of the
supreme importance of keeping him in a good temper, he would not
hear of his departure for a few minutes.
"At any rate, the ladies won't talk till after breakfast, and
since they got home only at five o'clock they won't breakfast yet
awhile," said he.
So he made Helsing sit down, and talked to him. Rudolf had not
failed to notice that the Count of Luzau-Rischenheim had been a
little surprised at the sound of his voice; in this conversation
he studiously kept his tones low, affecting a certain weakness
and huskiness such as he had detected in the king's utterances,
as he listened behind the curtain in Sapt's room at the castle.
Pages:
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221