You will be wise to wait till your
cousin's fate is decided before you attempt any further steps
against us." And with a slight bow he left the prisoner in
Bernenstein's charge, and went back to the room where the queen
awaited him. Helga was with her. The queen sprang up to meet him.
"I mustn't lose a moment," he said. "All that crowd of people
know now that the king is here. The news will filter through the
town in no time. We must send word to Sapt to keep it from the
king's ears at all costs: I must go and do my work, and then
disappear."
The queen stood facing him. Her eyes seemed to devour his face;
but she said only: "Yes, it must be so."
"You must return to the palace as soon as I am gone. I shall send
out and ask the people to disperse, and then I must be off."
"To seek Rupert of Hentzau?"
"Yes."
She struggled for a moment with the contending feelings that
filled her heart. Then she came to him and seized hold of his
hand.
"Don't go," she said in low trembling tones. "Don't go, Rudolf.
He'll kill you. Never mind the letter. Don't go: I had rather a
thousand times that the king had it than that you should .... Oh,
my dear, don't go!"
"I must go," he said softly.
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