A Night Outside the CastleIt would have surprised the good people of Ruritania to know of theforegoing talk; for, according to the official reports, I had suffered agrievous and dangerous hurt from an accidental spear-thrust, received inthe course of my sport. I caused the bulletins to be of a very seriouscharacter, and created great public excitement, whereby three thingsoccurred: first, I gravely offended the medical faculty of Strelsau byrefusing to summon to my bedside any of them, save a young man, afriend of Fritz's, whom we could trust; secondly, I received word fromMarshal Strakencz that my orders seemed to have no more weight than his,and that the Princess Flavia was leaving for Tarlenheim under hisunwilling escort (news whereat I strove not to be glad and proud); andthirdly, my brother, the Duke of Strelsau, although too well informed tobelieve the account of the origin of my sickness, was yet persuaded by thereports and by my seeming inactivity that I was in truth incapable ofaction, and that my life was in some danger. This I learnt from the manJohann, whom I was compelled to trust and send back to Zenda, where, bythe way, Rupert Hentzau had him soundly flogged for daring to smirch themorals of Zenda by staying out all night in the pursuits of love. This, fromRupert, Johann deeply resented, and the duke's approval of it did more tobind the keeper to my side than all my promises.

　　On Flavia's arrival I cannot dwell. Her joy at finding me up and well,instead of on my back and fighting with death, makes a picture that evennow dances before my eyes till they grow too dim to see it; and herreproaches that I had not trusted even her must excuse the means I took toquiet them. In truth, to have her with me once more was like a taste ofheaven to a damned soul, the sweeter for the inevitable doom that was tofollow; and I rejoiced in being able to waste two whole days with her. Andwhen I had wasted two days, the Duke of Strelsau arranged a hunting-party.

　　The stroke was near now. For Sapt and I, after anxious consultations, had resolved that we must risk a blow, our resolution being clinched byJohann's news that the King grew peaked, pale, and ill, and that his healthwas breaking down under his rigorous confinement. Now a man--be heking or no king--may as well die swiftly and as becomes a gentleman,from bullet or thrust, as rot his life out in a cellar! That thought madeprompt action advisable in the interests of the King; from my own point ofview, it grew more and more necessary. For Strakencz urged on me theneed of a speedy marriage, and my own inclinations seconded him withsuch terrible insistence that I feared for my resolution. I do not believe thatI should have done the deed I dreamt of; but I might have come to flight,and my flight would have ruined the cause. And--yes, I am no saint (askmy little sister-in-law), and worse still might have happened.

　　It is perhaps as strange a thing as has ever been in the history of acountry that the King's brother and the King's personator, in a time ofprofound outward peace, near a placid, undisturbed country town, undersemblance of amity, should wage a desperate war for the person and life ofthe King. Yet such was the struggle that began now between Zenda andTarlenheim. When I look back on the time, I seem to myself to have beenhalf mad. Sapt has told me that I suffered no interference and listened tono remonstrances; and if ever a King of Ruritania ruled like a despot, Iwas, in those days, the man. Look where I would, I saw nothing that madelife sweet to me, and I took my life in my hand and carried it carelessly asa man dangles an old glove. At first they strove to guard me, to keep mesafe, to persuade me not to expose myself; but when they saw how I wasset, there grew up among them--whether they knew the truth or not-- afeeling that Fate ruled the issue, and that I must be left to play my gamewith Michael my own way.

　　Late next night I rose from table, where Flavia had sat by me, andconducted her to the door of her apartments. There I kissed her hand, andbade her sleep sound and wake to happy days. Then I changed my clothesand went out. Sapt and Fritz were waiting for me with six men and thehorses. Over his saddle Sapt carried a long coil of rope, and both wereheavily armed. I had with me a short stout cudgel and a long knife.

　　Making a circuit, we avoided the town, and in an hour found ourselves slowly mounting the hill that led to the Castle of Zenda. The night wasdark and very stormy; gusts of wind and spits of rain caught us as webreasted the incline, and the great trees moaned and sighed. When wecame to a thick clump, about a quarter of a mile from the Castle, we badeour six friends hide there with the horses. Sapt had a whistle, and theycould rejoin us in a few moments if danger came: but, up to now, we hadmet no one. I hoped that Michael was still off his guard, believing me tobe safe in bed. However that might be, we gained the top of the hillwithout accident, and found ourselves on the edge of the moat where itsweeps under the road, separating the Old Castle from it. A tree stood onthe edge of the bank, and Sapt,silently and diligently, set to make fast therope. I stripped off my boots, took a pull at a flask of brandy, loosened theknife in its sheath, and took the cudgel between my teeth. Then I shookhands with my friends, not heeding a last look of entreaty from Fritz, andlaid hold of the rope. I was going to have a look at "Jacob's Ladder."Gently I lowered myself into the water. Though the night was wild, theday had been warm and bright, and the water was not cold. I struck out,and began to swim round the great walls which frowned above me. I couldsee only three yards ahead; I had then good hopes of not being seen, as Icrept along close under the damp, moss-grown masonry. There were lightsfrom the new part of the Castle on the other side, and now and again Iheard laughter and merry shouts. I fancied I recognized young RupertHentzau's ringing tones, and pictured him flushed with wine. Recalling mythoughts to the business in hand, I rested a moment. If Johann'sdescription were right, I must be near the window now. Very slowly Imoved; and out of the darkness ahead loomed a shape. It was the pipe,curving from the window to the water: about four feet of its surface weredisplayed; it was as big round as two men. I was about to approach it,when I saw something else, and my heart stood still. The nose of a boatprotruded beyond the pipe on the other side; and listening intently, I hearda slight shuffle--as of a man shifting his position. Who was the man w............