"
"Hum!"
"They would, at least, sir, be entirely unrecognizable."
"You think so?"
"Beyond doubt, if the oil and the firewood and the candle were
placed to the best advantage."
"Ah, yes. And there would be an end of Rudolf Rassendyll?"
"Sir, I should myself carry the tidings to his family."
"Whereas the King of Ruritania--"
"Would enjoy a long and prosperous reign, God willing, sir."
"And the Queen of Ruritania, James?"
"Do not misunderstand me, sir. They could be secretly married. I
should say re-married."
"Yes, certainly, re-married."
"By a trustworthy priest."
"You mean by an untrustworthy priest?"
"It's the same thing, sir, from a different point of view." For
the first time James smiled a thoughtful smile.
Sapt in his turn laid down his pipe now, and was tugging at his
moustache. There was a smile on his lips too, and his eyes looked
hard into James's. The little man met his glance composedly.
"It's an ingenious fancy, this of yours, James," the constable
remarked. "What, though, if your master's killed too? That's
quite possible. Count Rupert's a man to be reckoned with."
"If my master is killed, sir, he must be buried," answered James.
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