She forgot our presence, and everything in the world, save her
great dread of losing him again.
"Not again, Rudolf, my darling! Not again! Rudolf, I can't bear
it again."
Then she dropped her head on his knees and sobbed.
He raised his hand and gently stroked the gleaming hair. But he
did not look at her. He gazed out at the garden, which grew dark
and dreary in the gathering gloom. His lips were tight set and
his face pale and drawn.
I watched him for a moment, then I drew my wife away, and we sat
down at a table some way off. From outside still came the cheers
and tumult of the joyful, excited crowd. Within there was no
sound but the queen's stifled sobbing. Rudolf caressed her
shining hair and gazed into the night with sad, set eyes. She
raised her head and looked into his face.
"You'll break my heart," she said.
CHAPTER XIX. FOR OUR LOVE AND HER HONOR
RUPERT of Hentzau was dead! That was the thought which, among all
our perplexities, came back to me, carrying with it a wonderful
relief. To those who have not learnt in fighting against him the
height of his audacity and the reach of his designs, it may well
seem incredible that his death should breed comfort at a moment
when the future was still so dark and uncertain.
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