Enraged at
this unfavorable reception, the audacious criminal had made a
sudden attack on the king, with what issue all knew. He had met
his own death, while the king, perceiving from a glance at the
document that it compromised well-known persons, had, with the
nobility which marked him, destroyed it unread before the eyes of
those who were rushing in to his rescue. I supplied suggestions
and improvements; and, engrossed in contriving how to blind
curious eyes, we forgot the real and permanent difficulties of
the thing we had resolved upon. For us they did not exist; Sapt
met every objection by declaring that the thing had been done
once and could be done again. Bernenstein and I were not behind
him in confidence.
We would guard the secret with brain and hand and life, even as
we had guarded and kept the secret of the queen's letter, which
would now go with Rupert of Hentzau to his grave. Bauer we could
catch and silence: nay, who would listen to such a tale from such
a man? Rischenheim was ours; the old woman would keep her doubts
between her teeth for her own sake. To his own land and his own
people Rudolf must be dead while the King of Ruritania would
stand before all Europe recognized, unquestioned, unassailed.
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