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THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
by Anthony Hope
CONTENTS
1 The Rassendylls--With a Word on the Elphbergs
2 Concerning the Colour of Men’s Hair
3 A Merry Evening with a Distant Relative
4 The King Keeps his Appointment
5 The Adventures of an Understudy
6 The Secret of a Cellar
7 His M... |
lationship is there
between Ruritania and Burlesdon, between the Palace at Strelsau or the
Castle of Zenda and Number 305 Park Lane, W.?
Well then--and I must premise that I am going, perforce, to rake up the
very scandal which my dear Lady Burlesdon wishes forgotten--in the year
1733, George II. sitting then on the t... |
and a roving disposition.
“The difference between you and Robert,” said my sister-in-law, who
often (bless her!) speaks on a platform, and oftener still as if she
were on one, “is that he recognizes the duties of his position, and you
see the opportunities of yours.”
“To a man of spirit, my dear Rose,” I answered, “o... |
f recognized
eminence.
“I believe you are right, Bob, my boy,” said I.
“Now promise you’ll do it,” said Rose earnestly.
“No, I won’t promise; but if I find enough material, I will.”
“That’s fair enough,” said Robert.
“Oh, material doesn’t matter!” she said, pouting.
But this time she could get no more than a qual... |
esent at the King’s coronation; a
ceremony which, I should say, he’ll not enjoy much. But, Bert, old man,
don’t despair! He won’t marry the fair Antoinette--at least, not unless
another plan comes to nothing. Still perhaps she--” He paused and added,
with a laugh: “Royal attentions are hard to resist--you know that, do... |
an
inn--kept by a fat old lady and her two daughters. They were good,
quiet people, and seemed very little interested in the great doings at
Strelsau. The old lady’s hero was the duke, for he was now, under the
late King’s will, master of the Zenda estates and of the Castle, which
rose grandly on its steep hill at the ... |
“What ails you, Johann?” asked the elder girl. “This is a gentleman on
his travels, come to see the coronation.”
The man had recovered himself, but he was staring at me with an intense,
searching, almost fierce glance.
“Good evening to you,” said I.
“Good evening, sir,” he muttered, still scrutinizing me, and the me... |
as a handsome
modern chateau, erected by the last king, and now forming the country
residence of the Duke of Strelsau. The old and the new portions were
connected by a drawbridge, and this indirect mode of access formed the
only passage between the old building and the outer world; but leading
to the modern chateau the... |
thee,” he chuckled, pointing to my uncovered poll.
“Why, Fritz, you know the story?”
The young man glanced apologetically at me. He felt a delicacy which
my sister-in-law would have admired. To put him at his ease, I remarked
with a smile:
“Ah! the story is known here as well as among us, it seems.”
“Known!” cried S... |
r new cousin for a guest!” cried the King; and, as Fritz
shrugged his shoulders, he added: “Oh! I’ll remember our early start,
Fritz.”
“So will I--tomorrow morning,” said old Sapt, pulling at his pipe.
“O wise old Sapt!” cried the King. “Come, Mr. Rassendyll--by the way,
what name did they give you?”
“Your Majesty’s... |
en the King was weary of all other wines, and pray the King to
drink, for the love that he bears his brother.”
“Well done, Black Michael!” said the King. “Out with the cork, Josef.
Hang him! Did he think I’d flinch from his bottle?”
The bottle was opened, and Josef filled the King’s glass. The King
tasted it. Then, w... |
in hell before Black Michael sits in his place!”
For a moment or two we were all silent; then Sapt, knitting his bushy
grey brows, took his pipe from his mouth and said to me:
“As a man grows old he believes in Fate. Fate sent you here. Fate sends
you now to Strelsau.”
I staggered back, murmuring “Good God!”
Fritz ... |
Black Michael
doesn’t expect to see him in Strelsau today.”
I put the King’s helmet on my head. Old Sapt handed me the King’s sword,
looking at me long and carefully.
“Thank God, he shaved his beard!” he exclaimed.
“Why did he?” I asked.
“Because Princess Flavia said he grazed her cheek when he was graciously
pleas... |
on my ear.
King Rudolf the Fifth was in his good city of Strelsau! And they shouted
outside--
“God save the King!”
Old Sapt’s mouth wrinkled into a smile.
“God save ’em both!” he whispered. “Courage, lad!” and I felt his hand
press my knee.
CHAPTER 5
The Adventures of an Understudy
With Fritz von Tarlenheim an... |
also start, and her lips
moved, and she leant forward and gazed at me. And I, collecting myself,
met her eyes full and square, while again I felt my revolver. Suppose
she had cried aloud, “That’s not the King!”
Well, we went by; and then the Marshal, turning round in his saddle,
waved his hand, and the Cuirassiers clo... |
ith a clatter on the floor. Till that moment I believe that he had
not realized that the King was in very truth come to Strelsau.
Of what followed next I remember nothing. I knelt before the altar and
the Cardinal anointed my head. Then I rose to my feet, and stretched out
my hand and took from him the crown of Rurita... |
ady
Burlesdon held of me.
I braced myself up to the conversation.
“Would that please you?” I asked softly.
“Oh, you know my views,” said she, turning her eyes away.
“Whatever pleases you I try to do,” I said; and, as I saw her smile and
blush, I thought that I was playing the King’s hand very well for him.
So I con... |
?” asked Sapt again. “If the door of this room is
opened while we’re away, you’re not to be alive to tell us about it.”
“I need no schooling, colonel,” said Fritz, a trifle haughtily.
“Here, wrap yourself in this big cloak,” Sapt continued to me, “and
put on this flat cap. My orderly rides with me to the hunting-lodg... |
in behind us as
the track zigged and zagged, prevented us seeing our pursuers, and them
from seeing us.
Another half-hour brought us to a divide of the road. Sapt drew rein.
“To the right is our road,” he said. “To the left, to the Castle. Each
about eight miles. Get down.”
“But they’ll be on us!” I cried.
“Get dow... |
ver the
floor of the passage and dried there. Sapt sank against the opposite
wall. I tried the door. It was locked.
“Where’s Josef?” muttered Sapt.
“Where’s the King?” I responded.
Sapt took out a flask and put it to his lips. I ran back to the
dining-room, and seized a heavy poker from the fireplace. In my terror
a... |
e trick we played, what would you give for our
lives?”
“Just what they’re worth,” said I.
“And for the King’s throne? Do you think that the nobles and the people
will enjoy being fooled as you’ve fooled them? Do you think they’ll love
a King who was too drunk to be crowned, and sent a servant to personate
him?”
“He ... |
ve us lot of
thinking! I’ll show you how to touch them.”
He cautiously closed the open chink of the door.
Then we retreated through the house and made our way to the back
entrance. Here our horses were standing. A carriage-drive swept all
round the lodge.
“Revolver ready?” asked Sapt.
“No; steel for me,” said I.
“... |
e.
I confess that I was moved. This King, whatever his faults, made people
love him. For a moment I could not bear to speak or break the poor
fellow’s illusion. But tough old Sapt had no such feeling. He slapped
his hand on his thigh delightedly.
“Bravo, lad!” cried he. “We shall do!”
Fritz looked up in bewilderment... |
d Sapt.
“If I’m found out,” I pursued, “I will make a clean breast of it, and
fight it out with the duke; but at present I’m waiting for a move from
him.”
“He’ll kill the King,” said Fritz.
“Not he,” said Sapt.
“Half of the Six are in Strelsau,” said Fritz.
“Only half? You’re sure?” asked Sapt eagerly.
“Yes--only... |
e no easier by
the charming embarrassment with which I was received. How I succeeded in
carrying out my programme will appear hereafter.
“You are gaining golden laurels,” she said. “You are like the prince in
Shakespeare who was transformed by becoming king. But I’m forgetting you
are King, sire.”
“I ask you to speak... |
ss to permit me to bring you to
her.”
He thanked me, but coldly. The man had many qualities, but he could not
hide his feelings. A mere stranger could have seen that he hated me, and
hated worse to see me with Princess Flavia; yet I am persuaded that he
tried to conceal both feelings, and, further, that he tried to pe... |
e reckless of the footmen, playing at
cat’s-cradle with the Countess Helga.
“Hang it!” said he, “we can’t always be plotting. Love claims his
share.”
“I’m inclined to think he does,” said I; and Fritz, who had been by my
side, dropped respectfully behind.
CHAPTER 9
A New Use for a Tea-table
If I were to detail t... |
uin a woman who loves him: Black
Michael does not pardon.”
“No,” observed Sapt, as I ended, “but he can dictate a very pretty
letter.”
I had arrived at the same conclusion, and was about to throw the letter
away, when I saw there was more writing on the other side.
“Hallo! there’s some more.”
“If you hesitate,” the... |
king in fact, and soon in
name. Do you see?”
“It’s a pretty plot. But why, madame, do you--?”
“Say I’m a Christian--or say I’m jealous. My God! shall I see him marry
her? Now go; but remember--this is what I have to tell you--that never,
by night or by day, are you safe. Three men follow you as a guard. Is it
not so?... |
outside.
I drew back as far as I could from the door, holding the table in the
position that I have described. Then I called out:
“Gentlemen, I accept your offer, relying on your honour. If you will
open the door--”
“Open it yourself,” said Detchard.
“It opens outwards,” said I. “Stand back a little, gentlemen, or ... |
ched according to instructions, left by train at
midday. She took a ticket for Dresden--’”
“It’s an old habit of hers,” said I.
“‘The Dresden train stops at Zenda.’ An acute fellow, this. And finally
listen to this: ‘The state of feeling in the city is not satisfactory.
The King is much criticized’ (you know, he’s to... |
le room, where coffee was served to us. The gentlemen and ladies in
attendance withdrew, and we were alone.
The little room had French windows opening on the gardens. The night was
fine, cool, and fragrant. Flavia sat down, and I stood opposite her. I
was struggling with myself: if she had not looked at me, I believe ... |
and sorrow, in good times and bad, God save your Royal
Highness!”
He paused and added, glancing at me and drawing himself up to military
erectness:
“But, before all comes the King--God save the King!”
And Flavia caught at my hand and kissed it, murmuring:
“Amen! Good God, Amen!”
We went into the ballroom again. Fo... |
force Michael’s hand that he must kill the King. I was in a
position to bid him defiance and tighten my grasp on the crown--not for
its own sake, but because the King of Ruritania was to wed the Princess
Flavia. What of Sapt and Fritz? Ah! but a man cannot be held to write
down in cold blood the wild and black thoughts... |
s less
enthusiastic, but I had learnt by now that Sapt was best pleased when
he could do everything, and jealousy played some part in his views. As
things were now, I had more work than Sapt and Fritz could manage, for
they must come with me to Zenda, and I wanted a man to guard what I
loved most in all the world, and ... |
n.”
We parted, and I returned to the Palace and told Sapt and Fritz what
I had done. Sapt had a few faults to find and a few grumbles to
utter. This was merely what I expected, for Sapt liked to be consulted
beforehand, not informed afterwards; but on the whole he approved of my
plans, and his spirits rose high as the... |
“I don’t know when I shall be back,” said I.
“Soon, Rudolf, soon?”
“God knows, my darling. But, if never--”
“Hush, hush!” and she pressed her lips to mine.
“If never,” I whispered, “you must take my place; you’ll be the only one
of the House then. You must reign, and not weep for me.”
For a moment she drew herself... |
ul obedience, and
prayed for a fight as the best and most exhilarating mode of showing it.
Thus the scene was shifted from Strelsau to the chateau of Tarlenheim
and Castle of Zenda, which frowned at us across the valley. I tried to
shift my thoughts also, to forget my love, and to bend all my energies
to the task befo... |
h jeering scorn on his face that
I saw the old fellow clench his fist and scowl black as night.
For my part, if a man must needs be a knave, I would have him a debonair
knave, and I liked Rupert Hentzau better than his long-faced, close-eyed
companions. It makes your sin no worse, as I conceive, to do it _à la
mode_ a... |
d.
“Not I, sir.”
“And you wish to serve the King?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then tell him to meet you at the second milestone out of Zenda tomorrow
evening at ten o’clock. Say you’ll be there and will walk home with
him.”
“Do you mean him harm, sir?”
“Not if he will do as I bid him. But I think I’ve told you enough, my
prett... |
lord,” said I, smiling.
“It is well,” he rejoined. “Come, we are alone, Rassendyll--”
I rose to a sitting posture.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“I was about to call one of my gentlemen to bring your horse, my lord.
If you do not know how to address the King, my brother must find another
messenger.”
“Why keep up ... |
will not be at a
premium.”
This idea argued a shrewdness in our captive which led me to build
hopes on his assistance. I ordered him to be brought in at once. Sapt
conducted him, and set him in a chair by my bedside. He was sullen, and
afraid; but, to say truth, after young Rupert’s exploit, we also had
our fears, and... |
now, he is not minded to kill the King
unless he can, before or soon after, kill you also, sir. Now, sir, I
have spoken the truth, as God is my witness, and I pray you to shield me
from the vengeance of Duke Michael; for if, after he knows what I have
done, I fall into his hands, I shall pray for one thing out of all t... |
ot answer. For all my
promises will not save you if any man here learns from you the truth as
to the prisoner of Zenda. I’ll kill you like a dog if the thing be so
much as breathed within the house!”
Then, when he was gone, I looked at Sapt.
“It’s a hard nut!” said I.
“So hard,” said he, shaking his grizzled head, “... |
person and life
of the King. Yet such was the struggle that began now between Zenda and
Tarlenheim. When I look back on the time, I seem to myself to have been
half mad. Sapt has told me that I suffered no interference and listened
to no remonstrances; and if ever a King of Ruritania ruled like a
despot, I was, in thos... |
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