"I'll not go back," he said sullenly, almost fiercely.
"Nor I," said Bernenstein, drawing himself up. "Nor you,
Tarlenheim?"
"No, I also go on," I answered. Then again there was a moment's
silence.
"She may make a man soft as a sponge," reflected Sapt, starting
again, "or hard as a bar of steel. I should feel safer if the
night were dark. I've looked at her often from my tent and from
bare ground, and I know her. She got me a decoration, and once
she came near to making me turn tail. Have nothing to do with
her, young Bernenstein."
"I'll keep my eyes for beauties nearer at hand," said
Bernenstein, whose volatile temper soon threw off a serious mood.
"There's a chance for you, now Rupert of Hentzau's gone," said
Sapt grimly.
As he spoke there was a knock at the door. When it opened James
entered.
"The Count of Luzau-Rischenheim begs to be allowed to speak with
the king," said James.
"We expect his Majesty every moment. Beg the count to enter,"
Sapt answered; and, when Rischenheim came in, he went on,
motioning the count to a chair: "We are talking, my lord, of the
influence of the moon on the careers of men."
"What are you going to do? What have you decided?" burst out
Rischenheim impatiently.
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