Sapt said little, but he had the air of
a man with some news in reserve. He seemed to be comparing what
we told him with something already known to him but unknown to
us. The little servant stood all the while in respectful
stillness by the door; but I could see by a glance at his alert
face that he followed the whole scene with keen attention.
At the end of the story, Rudolf turned to Sapt. "And your
secret--is it safe?" he asked.
"Ay, it's safe enough!"
"Nobody has seen what you had to hide?"
"No; and nobody knows that the king is dead," answered Sapt.
"Then what brings you here?"
"Why, the same thing that was about to bring you to the lodge:
the need of a meeting between yourself and me, sire."
"But the lodge--is it left unguarded?"
"The lodge is safe enough," said Colonel Sapt.
Unquestionably there was a secret, a new secret, hidden behind
the curt words and brusque manner. I could restrain myself no
longer, and sprang forward, saying: "What is it? Tell us,
Constable!"
He looked at me, then glanced at Mr. Rassendyll.
"I should like to hear your plan first," he said to Rudolf. "How
do you mean to account for your presence alive in the city
to-day, when the king has lain dead in the shooting-box since
last night?"
We drew close together as Rudolf began his answer.
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