Rudolf ran
to meet me.
"Is all well?" he asked eagerly.
I forgot the queen's presence and paid no sign of respect to her.
I caught Rudolf by the arm and cried to him: "Do they take you
for the king?"
"Yes," he said. "Heavens, man, don't look so white! We shall
manage it. I can be gone by to-night."
"Gone? How will that help, since they believe you to be the
king?"
"You can keep it from the king," he urged. "I couldn't help it. I
can settle with Rupert and disappear."
The three were standing round me, surprised at my great and
terrible agitation. Looking back now, I wonder that I could speak
to them at all.
Rudolf tried again to reassure me. He little knew the cause of
what he saw.
"It won't take long to settle affairs with Rupert," said he. "And
we must have the letter, or it will get to the king after all."
"The king will never see the letter," I blurted out, as I sank
back in a chair.
They said nothing. I looked round on their faces. I had a strange
feeling of helplessness, and seemed to be able to do nothing but
throw the truth at them in blunt plainness. Let them make what
they could of it, I could make nothing.
"The king will never see the letter," I repeated.
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