XVII + 

Young RupertтАЩs Midnight Diversions + 

The night came fine and clear. I had prayed for dirty weather, such as had favoured my previous voyage in the moat, but Fortune was this time against me. Still I reckoned that by keeping close under the wall and in the shadow I could escape detection from the windows of the ch├вteau that looked out on the scene of my efforts. If they searched the moat, indeed, my scheme must fail; but I did not think they would. They had made JacobтАЩs ladder secure against attack. Johann had himself helped to fix it closely to the masonry on the under side, so that it could not now be moved from below any more than from above. An assault with explosives or a long battering with picks alone could displace it, and the noise involved in either of these operations put them out of the question. What harm, then, could a man do in the moat? I trusted that Black Michael, putting this query to himself, would answer confidently, тАЬNone;тАЭ while, even if Johann meant treachery, he did not know my scheme, and would doubtless expect to see me, at the head of my friends, before the front entrance to the ch├вteau. There, I said to Sapt, was the real danger. тАЬAnd there,тАЭ I added, тАЬyou shall be. DoesnтАЩt that content you?тАЭ + 

But it did not. Dearly would he have liked to come with me, had I not utterly refused to take him. One man might escape notice, to double the party more than doubled the risk; and when he ventured to hint once again that my life was too valuable, I, knowing the secret thought he clung to, sternly bade him be silent, assuring him that unless the king lived through the night, I would not live through it either. + 

At twelve oтАЩclock, SaptтАЩs command left the ch├вteau of Tarlenheim and struck off to the right, riding by unfrequented roads, and avoiding the town of Zenda. If all went well, they would be in front of the castle by about a quarter to two. Leaving their horses half a mile off, they were to steal up to the entrance and hold themselves in readiness for the opening of the door. If the door were not opened by two, they were to send Fritz von Tarlenheim round to the other side of the castle. I would meet him there if I were alive, and we would consult whether to storm the castle or not. If I were not there, they were to return with all speed to Tarlenheim, rouse the marshal, and march in force to Zenda. For if not there, I should be dead; and I knew that the king would not be alive five minutes after I ceased to breathe. I must now leave Sapt and his friends, and relate how I myself proceeded on this eventful night. I went out on the good horse which had carried me, on the night of the coronation, back from the hunting lodge to Strelsau. I carried a revolver in the saddle and my sword. I was covered with a large cloak, and under this I wore a warm, tight-fitting woolen jersey, a pair of knickerbockers, thick stockings, and light canvas shoes. I had rubbed myself thoroughly with oil, and I carried a large flask of whisky. The night was warm, but I might probably be immersed a long while, and it was necessary to take every precaution against cold: for cold not only saps a manтАЩs courage if he has to die, but impairs his energy if others have to die, and, finally, gives him rheumatics, if it be GodтАЩs will that he lives. Also I tied round my body a length of thin but stout cord, and I did not forget my ladder. I, starting after Sapt, took a shorter route, skirting the town to the left, and found myself in the outskirts of the forest at about half-past twelve. I tied my horse up in a thick clump of trees, leaving the revolver in its pocket in the saddleтБатАФit would be no use to meтБатАФand, ladder in hand, made my way to the edge of the moat. Here I unwound my rope from about my waist, bound it securely round the trunk of a tree on the bank, and let myself down. The castle clock struck a quarter to one as I felt the water under me and began to swim round the keep, pushing the ladder before me, and hugging the castle wall. Thus voyaging, I came to my old friend, JacobтАЩs ladder, and felt the ledge of the masonry under me. I crouched down in the shadow of the great pipeтБатАФI tried to stir it, but it was quite immovableтБатАФand waited. I remember that my predominant feeling was neither anxiety for the king nor longing for Flavia, but an intense desire to smoke; and this craving, of course, I could not gratify. + 

The drawbridge was still in its place. I saw its airy, slight framework above me, some ten yards to my right, as I crouched with my back against the wall of the kingтАЩs cell. I made out a window two yards my side of it and nearly on the same level. That, if Johann spoke true, must belong to the dukeтАЩs apartments; and on the other side, in about the same relative position, must be Mme.┬аde MaubanтАЩs window. Women are careless, forgetful creatures. I prayed that she might not forget that she was to be the victim of a brutal attempt at two oтАЩclock precisely. I was rather amused at the part I had assigned to my young friend Rupert Hentzau; but I owed him a strokeтБатАФfor, even as I sat, my shoulder ached where he had, with an audacity that seemed half to hide his treachery, struck at me, in the sight of all my friends, on the terrace at Tarlenheim. + 

Suddenly the dukeтАЩs window grew bright. The shutters were not closed, and the interior became partially visible to me as I cautiously raised myself till I stood on tiptoe. Thus placed, my range of sight embraced a yard or more inside the window, while the radius of light did not reach me. The window was flung open and someone looked out. I marked Antoinette de MaubanтАЩs graceful figure, and, though her face was in shadow, the fine outline of her head was revealed against the light behind. I longed to cry softly, тАЬRemember!тАЭ but I dared notтБатАФand happily, for a moment later a man came up and stood by her. He tried to put his arm round her waist, but with a swift motion she sprang away and leant against the shutter, her profile towards me. I made out who the newcomer was: it was young Rupert. A low laugh from him made me sure, as he leant forward, stretching out his hand towards her. + 

тАЬGently, gently!тАЭ I murmured. тАЬYouтАЩre too soon, my boy!тАЭ + 

His head was close to hers. I suppose he whispered to her, for I saw her point to the moat, and I heard her say, in slow and distinct tones: + 

тАЬI had rather throw myself out of this window!тАЭ + 

He came close up to the window and looked out. + 

тАЬIt looks cold,тАЭ said he. тАЬCome, Antoinette, are you serious?тАЭ + 

She made no answer so far as I heard; and he, smiting his hand petulantly on the windowsill, went on, in the voice of some spoilt child: + 

тАЬHang Black Michael! IsnтАЩt the princess enough for him? Is he to have everything? What the devil do you see in Black Michael?тАЭ + 

тАЬIf I told him what you sayтБатАФтАЭ she began. + 

тАЬWell, tell him,тАЭ said Rupert, carelessly; and, catching her off her guard, he sprang forward and kissed her, laughing, and crying, тАЬThereтАЩs something to tell him!тАЭ + 

If I had kept my revolver with me, I should have been very sorely tempted. Being spared the temptation, I merely added this new score to his account. + 

тАЬThough, faith,тАЭ said Rupert, тАЬitтАЩs little he cares. HeтАЩs mad about the princess, you know. He talks of nothing but cutting the playactorтАЩs throat.тАЭ + 

DidnтАЩt he, indeed? + 

тАЬAnd if I do it for him, what do you think heтАЩs promised me?тАЭ + 

The unhappy woman raised her hands above her head, in prayer or in despair. + 

тАЬBut I detest waiting,тАЭ said Rupert; and I saw that he was about to lay his hand on her again, when there was a noise of a door in the room opening, and a harsh voice cried: + 

тАЬWhat are you doing here, sir?тАЭ + 

Rupert turned his back to the window, bowed low, and said, in his loud, merry tones: тАЬApologizing for your absence, sir. Could I leave the lady alone?тАЭ + 

The newcomer must be Black Michael. I saw him directly, as he advanced towards the window. He caught young Rupert by the arm. + 

тАЬThe moat would hold more than the king!тАЭ said he, with a significant gesture. + 

тАЬDoes your Highness threaten me?тАЭ asked Rupert. + 

тАЬA threat is more warning than most men get from me.тАЭ + 

тАЬYet,тАЭ observed Rupert, тАЬRudolf Rassendyll has been much threatened, and yet lives!тАЭ + 

тАЬAm I in fault because my servants bungle?тАЭ asked Michael scornfully. + 

тАЬYour Highness has run no risk of bungling!тАЭ sneered Rupert. + 

It was telling the duke that he shirked danger as plain as ever I have heard a man told. Black Michael had self-control. I dare say he scowledтБатАФit was a great regret to me that I could not see their faces betterтБатАФbut his voice was even and calm, as he answered: + 

тАЬEnough, enough! We mustnтАЩt quarrel, Rupert. Are Detchard and Bersonin at their posts?тАЭ + 

тАЬThey are, sir.тАЭ + 

тАЬI need you no more.тАЭ + 

тАЬNay, IтАЩm not oppressed with fatigue,тАЭ said Rupert. + 

тАЬPray, sir, leave us,тАЭ said Michael, more impatiently. тАЬIn ten minutes the drawbridge will be drawn back, and I presume you have no wish to swim to your bed.тАЭ + 

RupertтАЩs figure disappeared. I heard the door open and shut again. Michael and Antoinette de Mauban were left together. To my chagrin, the duke laid his hand on the window and closed it. He stood talking to Antoinette for a moment or two. She shook her head, and he turned impatiently away. She left the window. The door sounded again, and Black Michael closed the shutters. + 

тАЬDe Gautet, De Gautet, man!тАЭ sounded from the drawbridge. тАЬUnless you want a bath before your bed, come along!тАЭ + 

It was RupertтАЩs voice, coming from the end of the drawbridge. A moment later he and De Gautet stepped out on the bridge. RupertтАЩs arm was through De GautetтАЩs, and in the middle of the bridge he detained his companion and leant over. I dropped behind the shelter of JacobтАЩs ladder. + 

Then Master Rupert had a little sport. He took from De Gautet a bottle which he carried, and put it to his lips. + 

тАЬHardly a drop!тАЭ he cried discontentedly, and flung it in the moat. + 

It fell, as I judged from the sound and the circles on the water, within a yard of the pipe. And Rupert, taking out his revolver, began to shoot at it. The first two shots missed the bottle, but hit the pipe. The third shattered the bottle. I hoped that the young ruffian would be content; but he emptied the other barrels at the pipe, and one, skimming over the pipe, whistled through my hair as I crouched on the other side. + 

тАЬтАКтАЩWare bridge!тАЭ a voice cried, to my relief. + 

Rupert and De Gautet cried, тАЬA moment!тАЭ and ran across. The bridge was drawn back, and all became still. The clock struck a quarter-past one. I rose and stretched myself and yawned. + 

I think some ten minutes had passed when I heard a slight noise to my right. I peered over the pipe, and saw a dark figure standing in the gateway that led to the bridge. It was a man. By the careless, graceful poise, I guessed it to be Rupert again. He held a sword in his hand, and he stood motionless for a minute or two. Wild thoughts ran through me. On what mischief was the young fiend bent now? Then he laughed low to himself; then he turned his face to the wall, took a step in my direction, and, to my surprise, began to climb down the wall. In an instant I saw that there must be steps in the wall; it was plain. They were cut into or affixed to the wall, at intervals of about eighteen inches. Rupert set his foot on the lower one. Then he placed his sword between his teeth, turned round, and noiselessly let himself into the water. Had it been a matter of my life only, I would have swum to meet him. Dearly would I have loved to fight it out with him then and thereтБатАФwith steel, on a fine night, and none to come between us. But there was the king! I restrained myself, but I could not bridle my swift breathing, and I watched him with the intensest eagerness. + 

He swam leisurely and quietly across. There were more steps up on the other side, and he climbed them. When he set foot in the gateway, standing on the drawn-back bridge, he felt in his pocket and took something out. I heard him unlock the door. I could hear no noise of its closing behind him. He vanished from my sight. + 

Abandoning my ladderтБатАФI saw I did not need it nowтБатАФI swam to the side of the bridge and climbed halfway up the steps. There I hung with my sword in my hand, listening eagerly. The dukeтАЩs room was shuttered and dark. There was a light in the window on the opposite side of the bridge. Not a sound broke the silence, till half-past one chimed from the great clock in the tower of the ch├вteau. + 

There were other plots than mine afoot in the castle that night. + 