"Alas, sir, in spite of all our efforts we should fail. The flames would envelop the lodge in one blaze; before help could come, the lodge would be in ruins, and my unhappy master and poor Herbert would be consumed to ashes."
"Hum!"
"They would, at least, sir, be entirely unrecognizable."
"You think so?"
"Beyond doubt, if the oil and the firewood and the candle were placed to the best advantage."
"Ah, yes. And there would be an end of Rudolf Rassendyll?"
"Sir, I should myself carry the tidings to his family."
"Whereas the King of Ruritania--"
"Would enjoy a long and prosperous reign, God willing, sir."
"And the Queen of Ruritania, James?"
"Do not misunderstand me, sir. They could be secretly married. I
should say re-married."
"Yes, certainly, re-married."
"By a trustworthy priest."
"You mean by an untrustworthy priest?"
"It's the same thing, sir, from a different point of view." For the first time James smiled a thoughtful smile.
Sapt in his turn laid down his pipe now, and was tugging at his moustache. There was a smile on his lips too, and his eyes looked hard into James's. The little man met his glance composedly.
"It's an ingenious fancy, this of yours, James," the constable remarked. "What, though, if your master's killed too? That's quite possible. Count Rupert's a man to be reckoned with."
"If my master is killed, sir, he must be buried," answered James.
"In Strelsau?" came in quick question from Sapt.
"He won't mind where, sir."
"True, he won't mind, and we needn't mind for him."
"Why, no, sir. But to carry a body secretly from here to Strelsau--"
"Yes, that is, as we agreed at the first, difficult. Well, it's a pretty story, but--your master wouldn't approve of it. Supposing he were not killed, I mean."
"It's a waste of time, sir, disapproving of what's done: he might think the story better than the truth, although it's not a good story."
The two men's eyes met again in a long glance.
"Where do you come from?" asked Sapt, suddenly.
"London, sir, originally."
"They make good stories there?"
"Yes, sir, and act them sometimes."
The instant he had spoken, James sprang to his feet and pointed out of the window.
A man on horseback was cantering towards the lodge. Exchanging one quick look, both hastened to the door, and, advancing some twenty yards, waited under the tree on the spot where Boris lay buried.
"By the way," said Sapt, "you forgot the dog." And he pointed to the ground.
"The affectionate beast will be in his master's room and die there, sir."
"Eh, but he must rise again first!"
"Certainly, sir. That won't be a long matter."
Sapt was still smiling in grim amusement when the messenger came up and, leaning from his home, handed him a telegram.
"Special and urgent, sir," said he.
Sapt tore it open and read. It was the message that I sent in obedience to Mr. Rassendyll's orders. He would not trust my cipher, but, indeed, none was necessary. Sapt would understand the message, although it said simply, "The king is in Strelsau.
Wait orders at the lodge. Business here in progress, but not finished. Will wire again."
Sapt handed it to James, who took it with a respectful little bow. James read it with attention, and returned it with another bow.
"I'll attend to what it says, sir," he remarked.
"Yes," said Sapt. "Thanks, my man," he added to the messenger.
"Here's a crown for you. If any other message comes for me and you bring it in good time, you shall have another."
"You shall have it quick as a horse can bring it from the station, sir."
"The king's business won't bear delay, you know," nodded Sapt.
"You sha'n't have to wait, sir," and, with a parting salute, the fellow turned his horse and trotted away.
"You see," remarked Sapt, "that your story is quite imaginary.
For that fellow can see for himself that the lodge was not burnt down last night."
"That's true; but, excuse me, sir--"
"Pray go on, James. I've told you that I'm interested."
"He can't see that it won't be burnt down to-night. A fire, sir, is a thing that may happen any night."
Then old Sapt suddenly burst into a roar, half-speech, half laughter.
"By God, what a thing!" he roared; and James smiled complacently.
"There's a fate about it," said the constable. "There's a strange fate about it. The man was born to it. We'd have done it before if Michael had throttled the king in that cellar, as I thought he would. Yes, by heavens, we'd have done it! Why, we wanted it! God forgive us, in our hearts both Fritz and I wanted it. But Rudolf would have the king out. He would have him out, though he lost a throne--and what he wanted more--by it. But he would have him out. So he thwarted the fate. But it's not to be thwarted. Young Rupert may think this new affair is his doing. No, it's the fate using him. The fate brought Rudolf here again, the fate will have him king. Well, you stare at me. Do you think I'm mad, Mr.
Valet?"
"I think, sir, that you talk very good sense, if I may say so,"
answered James.
"Sense?" echoed Sapt with a chuckle. "I don't know about that.
But the fate's there, depend on it!"
The two were back in their little room now, past the door that hid the bodies of the king and his huntsman. James stood by the table, old Sapt roamed up and down, tugging his moustache, and now and again sawing the air with his sturdy hairy hand.
"I daren't do it," he muttered: "I daren't do it. It's a thing a man can't set his hand to of his own will. But the fate'll do it--the fate'll do it. The fate'll force it on us."
"Then we'd best be ready, sir," suggested James quietly. Sapt turned on him quickly, almost fiercely.
"They used to call me a cool hand," said he. "By Jove, what are you?"
"There's no harm in being ready, sir," said James, the servant.
Sapt came to him and caught hold of his shoulders. "Ready?" he asked in a gruff whisper.
"The oil, the firewood, the light," said James.
"Where, man, where? Do you mean, by the bodies?"
"Not where the bodies are now. Each must be in the proper place."
"We must move them then?"
"Why, yes. And the dog too."
Sapt almost glared at him; then he burst into a laugh.