Yet to me it was
so great a thing that I could hardly bring myself to the
conviction that we had done with him. True, he was dead; but
could he not strike a blow at us even from beyond the gulf?
Such were the half-superstitious thoughts that forced their way
into my mind as I stood looking out on the crowd which
obstinately encircled the front of the palace. I was alone;
Rudolf was with the queen, my wife was resting, Bernenstein had
sat down to a meal for which I could find no appetite. By an
effort I freed myself from my fancies and tried to concentrate my
brain on the facts of our position. We were ringed round with
difficulties. To solve them was beyond my power; but I knew where
my wish and longing lay. I had no desire to find means by which
Rudolf Rassendyll should escape unknown from Strelsau; the king,
although dead, be again in death the king, and the queen be left
desolate on her mournful and solitary throne. It might be that a
brain more astute than mine could bring all this to pass. My
imagination would have none of it, but dwelt lovingly on the
reign of him who was now king in Strelsau, declaring that to give
the kingdom such a ruler would be a splendid fraud, and prove a
stroke so bold as to defy detection.
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