登陆注册
15688000000041

第41章 CHAPTER X. THE KING IN STRELSAU(4)

"Indeed, I don't know," smiled Rudolf. "But I hate waiting, and if the door is not open in two minutes, I shall arouse the good folk with a shot. You see? You quite see, don't you?" Again the barrel's motion pointed and explained Mr. Rassendyll's meaning.

Under this powerful persuasion Bauer yielded. He lifted his hand and knocked on the door with his knuckles, first loudly, then very softly, the gentler stroke being repeated five times in rapid succession. Clearly he was expected, for without any sound of approaching feet the chain was unfastened with a subdued rattle. Then came the noise of the bolt being cautiously worked back into its socket. As it shot home a chink of the door opened.

At the same moment Rudolf's hand slipped from Bauer's arm. With a swift movement he caught the fellow by the nape of the neck and flung him violently forward into the roadway, where, losing his footing, he fell sprawling face downwards in the mud. Rudolf threw himself against the door: it yielded, he was inside, and in an instant he had shut the door and driven the bolt home again, leaving Bauer in the gutter outside. Then he turned, with his hand on the butt of his revolver. I know that he hoped to find Rupert of Hentzau's face within a foot of his.

Neither Rupert nor Rischenheim, nor even the old woman fronted him: a tall, handsome, dark girl faced him, holding an oil-lamp in her hand. He did not know her, but I could have told him that she was old Mother Holf's youngest child, Rosa, for I had often seen her as I rode through the town of Zenda with the king, before the old lady moved her dwelling to Strelsau. Indeed the girl had seemed to haunt the king's foot-steps, and he had himself joked on her obvious efforts to attract his attention, and the languishing glances of her great black eyes. But it is the lot of prominent personages to inspire these strange passions, and the king had spent as little thought on her as on any of the romantic girls who found a naughty delight in half-fanciful devotion to him--devotion starting, in many cases, by an irony of which the king was happily unconscious, from the brave figure that he made at his coronation and his picturesque daring in the affair of Black Michael. The worshipers never came near enough to perceive the alteration in their idol.

The half then, at least, of Rosa's attachment was justly due to the man who now stood opposite to her, looking at her with surprise by the murky light of the strong-smelling oil-lamp. The lamp shook and almost fell from her hand when she saw him; for the scarf had slid away, and his features were exposed to full view. Fright, delight, and excitement vied with one another in her eyes.

"The king!" she whispered in amazement. "No, but--" And she searched his face wonderingly.

"Is it the beard you miss?" asked Rudolf, fingering his chin.

"Mayn't kings shave when they please, as well as other men?" Her face still expressed bewilderment, and still a lingering doubt.

He bent towards her, whispering:

"Perhaps I wasn't over-anxious to be known at once."

She flushed with pleasure at the confidence he seemed to put in her.

"I should know you anywhere," she whispered, with a glance of the great black eyes. "Anywhere, your Majesty."

"Then you'll help me, perhaps?"

"With my life."

"No, no, my dear young lady, merely with a little information.

同类推荐
  • 伤寒心法要诀

    伤寒心法要诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 三时伏气外感篇

    三时伏气外感篇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 北苑别录

    北苑别录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 浑元剑经

    浑元剑经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 少仪外传

    少仪外传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 佛说长者女庵提遮师子吼了义经

    佛说长者女庵提遮师子吼了义经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 阴阳玄黄

    阴阳玄黄

    天不待我,我必逆天。地不待我,我必平地。哪管他人生与死,只求自己不违心。
  • 西诛亭许媚仙离

    西诛亭许媚仙离

    “师父,我可不可以不要再吃萝卜了?”“嗯?为什么,你不是叫萝卜吗?我还以为你爱吃呢。”“额,我是爱吃萝卜,可,可是,师父,我已经连续吃了一个月的萝卜了。。。”究竟璃萝和低情商的傲娇师父会发生么不可思议的生活趣事,璃萝又是在什么时候捕捉到傲娇又腹黑的师傅呢?快来看看吧!
  • 盛放的蔷薇

    盛放的蔷薇

    命运多舛,泣血的蔷薇!酷男独爱,盼爱永生!
  • 撩你到底:拐个上神做夫君

    撩你到底:拐个上神做夫君

    他们相遇的第一世,因误会,她想解脱,便以生命为代价了复仇。第二世,误会解开,她不想离开,却又不得不被封锁记忆,魂飞三千世界。林曼娆:"亲亲相公,你可愿意等我归来!"夜谨渊:"望妻石,从来不是我的风格,如影相随,才是我对你的执念!"___历劫归来___林曼娆:"黑化了的相公,别来无恙!"夜谨渊:"你若再敢将我推开,可就不止这么简单!""……"简单……想想那些世界……一把心酸,一把泪……崩坏了的相公太重口,她的节操已碎。混沌魔,你这主谋,她一定要宰了它!!!快把她亲亲相公还回来……
  • 瀚陵书院

    瀚陵书院

    有人就有学习,有学习就有学生,有学生就有私塾……“嘿!书院的墙怎么能是蓝色的呢?”“你不是最喜欢蓝色吗?”“那么尊贵的蓝色怎么能到处都有呢?换成黄的!!”他是凌子旭,风度翩翩的弟控,幻族的少主,为了长老的占卜来到人界,无意中踏入了阴谋,白浪翻起黑纱落,究竟谁还可以不变本心?他是凌子轩,迷迷糊糊,有他在的地方鸡飞狗跳,千里寻兄,误入险境,从前在哥哥的羽翼下的他,是否可以翱翔苍穹,撑起一片蓝天?她是冷妆,人族冷家二小姐,为摆脱某个无赖,一脚插入深渊急流,不过幸好,她遇见了他。她是一个小葫芦、她是一只仓鼠,她们一个在书院生活闲适,一只窜遍山野农家,当她们遇见他,那千年的心是否能平静如水?
  • 颠覆牢笼

    颠覆牢笼

    本小说主要讲了一场遭遇、一场阴谋、一场风花雪月的爱情、一场可歌可泣的征途!主人公彦羽将要颠覆这个绝世牢笼,踏上无止境的修炼之路,他用手中的血矛捅破黑暗束缚,只身来到十方结界!他发现他依然身在牢笼中挣扎......
  • 乱世猎人第二卷

    乱世猎人第二卷

    一位自幼与兽为伍的少年,凭其武功与智慧突起江湖,却被乱世的激流,一次次推向生死的边缘,而使他深明乱世的真谛——狩猎与被猎。凭其机缘运数,突破武学与智慧的极限,终成乱世之中真正的猎人,而使整个武林以至天下的局势运于掌中……
  • 异能之崩坏世界

    异能之崩坏世界

    她是南宫凝月,她善良、纯真、美丽,这世间的美好都集于她一身。突遭变故,她沦为孤儿,她并不绝望,只要还有关心她的人,她都觉得幸福。噩梦再一次降临,她为了拯救孤儿院的大家,不惜以暴露身份为代价。可是,可是你们为什么,为什么要抛弃我?我不是救了你们吗?人性的软弱,人情的冷漠,将她推下无底深渊。蜕变之后,是天使?是恶魔!“欢迎来到无神社。”“你好,我叫君泠,我想夺回属于我的一切。”
  • 长生尘缘路

    长生尘缘路

    穿越千年的王生,看看他是如何与他的当代小伙伴们演绎一场可歌可泣又恐怖加上一点生活小趣味的故事。