"I'm going to kill Rupert of Hentzau," he said. "The rest we'll
talk of afterwards."
He walked rapidly across the room and rang the bell. "Clear those
people away," he ordered. "Tell them that I want to be quiet.
Then send a closed carriage round for me. Don't be more than ten
minutes."
The servant received his peremptory orders with a low bow, and
left us. The queen, who had been all this time outwardly calm and
composed, now fell into a great agitation, which even the
consciousness of our presence could not enable her to hide.
"Rudolf, must you go? Since--since this has happened--"
"Hush, my dearest lady," he whispered. Then he went on more
loudly, "I won't quit Ruritania a second time leaving Rupert of
Hentzau alive. Fritz, send word to Sapt that the king is in
Strelsau--he will understand--and that instructions from the king
will follow by midday. When I have killed Rupert, I shall visit
the lodge on my way to the frontier."
He turned to go, but the queen, following, detained him for a
minute.
"You'll come and see me before you go?" she pleaded.
"But I ought not," said he, his resolute eyes suddenly softening
in a marvelous fashion.
"You will?"
"Yes, my queen.
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