I Talk with a TempterRuritania is not England, or the quarrel between Duke Michael andmyself could not have gone on, with the extraordinary incidents whichmarked it, without more public notice being directed to it. Duels werefrequent among all the upper classes, and private quarrels between greatmen kept the old habit of spreading to their friends and dependents.

　　Nevertheless, after the affray which I have just related, such reports beganto circulate that I felt it necessary to be on my guard. The death of thegentlemen involved could not be hidden from their relatives. I issued astern order, declaring that duelling had attained unprecedented licence (theChancellor drew up the document for me, and very well he did it), andforbidding it save in the gravest cases. I sent a public and stately apologyto Michael, and he returned a deferential and courteous reply to me; forour one point of union was--and it underlay all our differences andinduced an unwilling harmony between our actions--that we could neitherof us afford to throw our cards on the table. He, as well as I, was a "play-actor', and, hating one another, we combined to dupe public opinion.

　　Unfortunately, however, the necessity for concealment involved thenecessity of delay: the King might die in his prison, or even be spirited offsomewhere else; it could not be helped. For a little while I was compelledto observe a truce, and my only consolation was that Flavia most warmlyapproved of my edict against duelling, and, when I expressed delight athaving won her favour, prayed me, if her favour were any motive to me, toprohibit the practice altogether.

　　"Wait till we are married," said I, smiling.

　　Not the least peculiar result of the truce and of the secrecy whichdictated it was that the town of Zenda became in the day-time --I wouldnot have trusted far to its protection by night-- a sort of neutral zone,where both parties could safely go; and I, riding down one day with Flaviaand Sapt, had an encounter with an acquaintance, which presented aludicrous side, but was at the same time embarrassing. As I rode along, I met a dignified looking person driving in a two-horsed carriage. Hestopped his horses, got out, and approached me, bowing low. I recognizedthe Head of the Strelsau Police.

　　"Your Majesty's ordinance as to duelling is receiving our bestattention," he assured me.

　　If the best attention involved his presence in Zenda, I determined atonce to dispense with it.

　　"Is that what brings you to Zenda, Prefect?" I asked.

　　"Why no, sire; I am here because I desired to oblige the BritishAmbassador.""What's the British Ambassador doing dans cette galere?" said I,carelessly.

　　"A young countryman of his, sire--a man of some position--is missing.

　　His friends have not heard from him for two months, and there is reason tobelieve that he was last seen in Zenda."Flavia was paying little attention. I dared not look at Sapt.

　　"What reason?""A friend of his in Paris--a certain M. Featherly--has given usinformation which makes it possible that he came here, and the officials ofthe railway recollect his name on some luggage.""What was his name?""Rassendyll, sire," he answered; and I saw that the name meantnothing to him. But, glancing at Flavia, he lowered his voice, as he wenton: "It is thought that he may have followed a lady here. Has your Majestyheard of a certain Madame de Mauban?""Why, yes," said I, my eye involuntarily travelling towards the Castle.

　　"She arrived in Ruritania about the same time as this Rassendyll."I caught the Prefect's glance; he was regarding me with enquiry writlarge on his face.

　　"Sapt," said I, "I must speak a word to the Prefect. Will you ride on afew paces with the princess?" And I added to the Prefect: "Come, sir, whatdo you mean?"He drew close to me, and I bent in the saddle.

　　"If he were in love with the lady?" he whispered. "Nothing has been heard of him for two months;" and this time it was the eye of the Prefectwhich travelled towards the Castle.

　　"Yes, the lady is there," I said quietly. "But I don't suppose Mr.

　　Rassendyll--is that the name?--is.""The duke," he whispered, "does not like rivals, sire.""You're right there," said I, with all sincerity. "But surely you hint at avery grave charge?"He spread his hands out in apology. I whispered in his ear:

　　"This is a grave matter. Go back to Strelsau--""But, sire, if I have a clue here?""Go back to Strelsau," I repeated. "Tell the Ambassador that you havea clue, but that you must be left alone for a week or two. Meanwhile, I'llcharge myself with looking into the matter.""The Ambassador is very pressing, sir.""You must quiet him. Come, sir; you see that if your suspicions arecorrect, it is an affair in which we must move with caution. We can haveno scandal. Mind you return tonight."He promised to obey me, and I rode on to rejoin my companions, alittle easier in my mind. Enquiries after me must be stopped at all hazardsfor a week or two; and this clever official had come surprisingly near thetruth. His impression might be useful some day, but if he acted on it now itmight mean the worse to the King. Heartily did I curse George Featherlyfor not holding his tongue.

　　"Well," asked Flavia, "have you finished your business?""Most satisfactorily," said I. "Come, shall we turn round? We arealmost trenching on my brother's territory."We were, in fact, at the extreme end of the town, just where the hillsbegin to mount towards the Castle. We cast our eyes up, admiring themassive beauty of the old walls, and we saw a cortege winding slowlydown the hill. On it came.

　　"Let us go back," said Sapt.

　　"I should like to stay," said Flavia; and I reined my horse beside hers.

　　We could distinguish the approaching party now. There came first twomounted servants in black uniforms, relieved only by a silver badge.

　　These were followed by a car drawn by four horses: on it, under a heavypall, lay a coffin; behind it rode a man in plain black clothes, carrying hishat in his hand. Sapt uncovered, and we stood waiting, Flavia keeping byme and laying her hand on my arm.

　　"It is one of the gentlemen killed in the quarrel, I expect," she said.

　　I beckoned to a groom.

　　"Ride and ask whom they escort," I ordered.

　　He rode up to the servants, and I saw him pass on to the gentlemanwho rode behind.

　　"It's Rupert of Hentzau," whispered Sapt.