Have you more of a mind now to be King of
Ruritania? If so, I'm ready to be the most faithful of your
subjects."
"You honor me, Count."
"Provided, of course, that I'm one of the most favored and the
richest. Come, come, the fool is dead now; he lived like a fool
and he died like a fool. The place is empty. A dead man has no
rights and suffers no wrongs. Damn it, that's good law, isn't it?
Take his place and his wife. You can pay my price then. Or are
you still so virtuous? Faith, how little some men learn from the
world they live in! If I had your chance!"
"Come, Count, you'd be the last man to trust Rupert of Hentzau."
"If I made it worth his while?"
"But he's a man who would take the pay and betray his associate."
Again Rupert flushed. When he next spoke his voice was hard,
cold, and low.
"By God, Rudolf Rassendyll," said he, "I'll kill you here and
now."
"I ask no better than that you should try."
"And then I'll proclaim that woman for what she is in all
Strelsau." A smile came on his lips as he watched Rudolf's face.
"Guard yourself, my lord," said Mr. Rassendyll.
"Ay, for no better than--There, man, I'm ready for you." For
Rudolf's blade had touched his in warning.
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