Again she began to implore him, but he would not yield. Helga
moved towards the door, but Rudolf stopped her.
"No," he said; "you must stay with her; you must go to the palace
with her."
Even as he spoke they heard the wheels of a carriage driven
quickly to the door. By now I had met Anton von Strofzin and
heard from him that the king was at my house. As I dashed up the
news was confirmed by the comments and jokes of the crowd.
"Ah, he's in a hurry," they said. "He's kept the king waiting.
He'll get a wigging."
As may be supposed, I paid little heed to them. I sprang out and
ran up the steps to the door. I saw my wife's face at the window:
she herself ran to the door and opened it for me.
"Good God," I whispered, "do all these people know he's here, and
take him for the king?"
"Yes," she said. "We couldn't help it. He showed himself at the
door."
It was worse than I dreamt: not two or three people, but all that
crowd were victims of the mistake; all of them had heard that the
king was in Strelsau--ay, and had seen him.
"Where is he? Where is he?" I asked, and followed her hastily to
the room.
The queen and Rudolf were standing side by side. What I have told
from Helga's description had just passed between them.
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