It grew dusk and again James moved to
light the lamp. It was hard on six o'clock, and still no news
came from Strelsau.
Then there was the sound of a horse's hoofs. The two rushed to
the door, beyond it, and far along the grassy road that gave
approach to the hunting-lodge. They forgot to guard the secret
and the door gaped open behind them. Sapt ran as he had not run
for many a day, and outstripped his companion. There was a
message from Strelsau!
The constable, without a word of greeting, snatched the envelope
from the hand of the messenger and tore it open. He read it
hastily, muttering under his breath "Good God!, Then he turned
suddenly round and began to walk quickly back to James, who,
seeing himself beaten in the race, had dropped to a walk. But the
messenger had his cares as well as the constable. If the
constable's thoughts were on a crown, so were his. He called out
in indignant protest:
"I have never drawn rein since Hofbau, sir. Am I not to have my
crown?"
Sapt stopped, turned, and retraced his steps. He took a crown
from his pocket. As he looked up in giving it, there was a queer
smile on his broad, weather-beaten face.
"Ay," he said, "every man that deserves a crown shall have one,
if I can give it him.
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