XI + 

Hunting a Very Big Boar + 

The terrible temptation which was assailing me will now be understood. I would so force MichaelтАЩs hand that he must kill the king. I was in a position to bid him defiance and tighten my grasp on the crownтБатАФnot 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 that storm his brain when an uncontrolled passion has battered a breach for them. Yet, unless he sets up as a saint, he need not hate himself for them. He is better employed, as it humbly seems to me, in giving thanks that power to resist was vouchsafed to him, than in fretting over wicked impulses which come unsought and extort an unwilling hospitality from the weakness of our nature. + 

It was a fine bright morning when I walked, unattended, to the princessтАЩs house, carrying a nosegay in my hand. Policy made excuses for love, and every attention that I paid her, while it riveted my own chains, bound closer to me the people of the great city, who worshipped her. I found FritzтАЩs inamorata, the Countess Helga, gathering blooms in the garden for her mistressтАЩs wear, and prevailed on her to take mine in their place. The girl was rosy with happiness, for Fritz, in his turn, had not wasted his evening, and no dark shadow hung over his wooing, save the hatred which the Duke of Strelsau was known to bear him. + 

тАЬAnd that,тАЭ she said, with a mischievous smile, тАЬyour Majesty has made of no moment. Yes, I will take the flowers; shall I tell you, sire, what is the first thing the princess does with them?тАЭ + 

We were talking on a broad terrace that ran along the back of the house, and a window above our heads stood open. + 

тАЬMadame!тАЭ cried the countess merrily, and Flavia herself looked out. I bared my head and bowed. She wore a white gown, and her hair was loosely gathered in a knot. She kissed her hand to me, crying: + 

тАЬBring the king up, Helga; IтАЩll give him some coffee.тАЭ + 

The countess, with a gay glance, led the way, and took me into FlaviaтАЩs morning room. And, left alone, we greeted one another as lovers are wont. Then the princess laid two letters before me. One was from Black MichaelтБатАФa most courteous request that she would honour him by spending a day at his Castle of Zenda, as had been her custom once a year in the summer, when the place and its gardens were in the height of their great beauty. I threw the letter down in disgust, and Flavia laughed at me. Then, growing grave again, she pointed to the other sheet. + 

тАЬI donтАЩt know who that comes from,тАЭ she said. тАЬRead it.тАЭ + 

I knew in a moment. There was no signature at all this time, but the handwriting was the same as that which had told me of the snare in the summerhouse; it was Antoinette de MaubanтАЩs. + 

тАЬI have no cause to love you,тАЭ it ran, тАЬbut God forbid that you should fall into the power of the duke. Accept no invitations of his. Go nowhere without a large guardтБатАФa regiment is not too much to make you safe. Show this, if you can, to him who reigns in Strelsau.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy doesnтАЩt it say тАШthe kingтАЩ?тАЭ asked Flavia, leaning over my shoulder, so that the ripple of her hair played on my cheek. тАЬIs it a hoax?тАЭ + 

тАЬAs you value life, and more than life, my queen,тАЭ I said, тАЬobey it to the very letter. A regiment shall camp round your house today. See that you do not go out unless well guarded.тАЭ + 

тАЬAn order, sire?тАЭ she asked, a little rebellious. + 

тАЬYes, an order, madameтБатАФif you love me.тАЭ + 

тАЬAh!тАЭ she cried; and I could not but kiss her. + 

тАЬYou know who sent it?тАЭ she asked. + 

тАЬI guess,тАЭ said I. тАЬIt is from a good friendтБатАФand I fear, an unhappy woman. You must be ill, Flavia, and unable to go to Zenda. Make your excuses as cold and formal as you like.тАЭ + 

тАЬSo you feel strong enough to anger Michael?тАЭ she said, with a proud smile. + 

тАЬIтАЩm strong enough for anything, while you are safe,тАЭ said I. + 

Soon I tore myself away from her, and then, without consulting Sapt, I took my way to the house of Marshal Strakencz. I had seen something of the old general, and I liked and trusted him. Sapt was 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 suffer me to set about my task of releasing the king with a quiet mind. + 

The marshal received me with most loyal kindness. To some extent, I took him into my confidence. I charged him with the care of the princess, looking him full and significantly in the face as I bade him let no one from her cousin the duke approach her, unless he himself were there and a dozen of his men with him. + 

тАЬYou may be right, sire,тАЭ said he, shaking his grey head sadly. тАЬI have known better men than the duke do worse things than that for love.тАЭ + 

I could quite appreciate the remark, but I said: + 

тАЬThereтАЩs something beside love, marshal. LoveтАЩs for the heart; is there nothing my brother might like for his head?тАЭ + 

тАЬI pray that you wrong him, sire.тАЭ + 

тАЬMarshal, IтАЩm leaving Strelsau for a few days. Every evening I will send a courier to you. If for three days none comes, you will publish an order which I will give you, depriving Duke Michael of the governorship of Strelsau and appointing you in his place. You will declare a state of siege. Then you will send word to Michael that you demand an audience of the kingтБатАФYou follow me?тАЭ + 

тАЬAye, sire.тАЭ + 

тАЬтБатАФIn twenty-four hours. If he does not produce the kingтАЭ (I laid my hand on his knee), тАЬthen the king is dead, and you will proclaim the next heir. You know who that is?тАЭ + 

тАЬThe Princess Flavia.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd swear to me, on your faith and honour and by the fear of the living God, that you will stand by her to the death, and kill that reptile, and seat her where I sit now.тАЭ + 

тАЬOn my faith and honour, and by the fear of God, I swear it! And may Almighty God preserve your Majesty, for I think that you go on an errand of danger.тАЭ + 

тАЬI hope that no life more precious than mine may be demanded,тАЭ said I, rising. Then I held out my hand to him. + 

тАЬMarshal,тАЭ I said, тАЬin days to come, it may beтБатАФI know notтБатАФthat you will hear strange things of the man who speaks to you now. Let him be what he may, and who he may, what say you of the manner in which he has borne himself as king in Strelsau?тАЭ + 

The old man, holding my hand, spoke to me, man to man. + 

тАЬI have known many of the Elphbergs,тАЭ said he, тАЬand I have seen you. And, happen what may, you have borne yourself as a wise king and a brave man; aye, and you have proved as courteous a gentleman and as gallant a lover as any that have been of the House.тАЭ + 

тАЬBe that my epitaph,тАЭ said I, тАЬwhen the time comes that another sits on the throne of Ruritania.тАЭ + 

тАЬGod send a far day, and may I not see it!тАЭ said he. + 

I was much moved, and the marshalтАЩs worn face twitched. I sat down and wrote my order. + 

тАЬI can hardly yet write,тАЭ said I; тАЬmy finger is stiff still.тАЭ + 

It was, in fact, the first time that I had ventured to write more than a signature; and in spite of the pains I had taken to learn the kingтАЩs hand, I was not yet perfect in it. + 

тАЬIndeed, sire,тАЭ he said, тАЬit differs a little from your ordinary handwriting. It is unfortunate, for it may lead to a suspicion of forgery.тАЭ + 

тАЬMarshal,тАЭ said I, with a laugh, тАЬwhat use are the guns of Strelsau, if they canтАЩt assuage a little suspicion?тАЭ + 

He smiled grimly, and took the paper. + 

тАЬColonel Sapt and Fritz von Tarlenheim go with me,тАЭ I continued. + 

тАЬYou go to seek the duke?тАЭ he asked in a low tone. + 

тАЬYes, the duke, and someone else of whom I have need, and who is at Zenda,тАЭ I replied. + 

тАЬI wish I could go with you,тАЭ he cried, tugging at his white moustache. тАЬIтАЩd like to strike a blow for you and your crown.тАЭ + 

тАЬI leave you what is more than my life and more than my crown,тАЭ said I, тАЬbecause you are the man I trust more than all other in Ruritania.тАЭ + 

тАЬI will deliver her to you safe and sound,тАЭ said he, тАЬand, failing that, I will make her queen.тАЭ + 

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 hour of action drew nearer and nearer. Fritz, too, was ready; though he, poor fellow, risked more than Sapt did, for he was a lover, and his happiness hung in the scale. Yet how I envied him! For the triumphant issue which would crown him with happiness and unite him to his mistress, the success for which we were bound to hope and strive and struggle, meant to me sorrow more certain and greater than if I were doomed to fail. He understood something of this, for when we were alone (save for old Sapt, who was smoking at the other end of the room) he passed his arm through mine, saying: + 

тАЬItтАЩs hard for you. DonтАЩt think I donтАЩt trust you; I know you have nothing but true thoughts in your heart.тАЭ + 

But I turned away from him, thankful that he could not see what my heart held, but only be witness to the deeds that my hands were to do. + 

Yet even he did not understand, for he had not dared to lift his eyes to the Princess Flavia, as I had lifted mine. + 

Our plans were now all made, even as we proceeded to carry them out, and as they will hereafter appear. The next morning we were to start on the hunting excursion. I had made all arrangements for being absent, and now there was only one thing left to doтБатАФthe hardest, the most heartbreaking. As evening fell, I drove through the busy streets to FlaviaтАЩs residence. I was recognized as I went and heartily cheered. I played my part, and made shift to look the happy lover. In spite of my depression, I was almost amused at the coolness and delicate hauteur with which my sweet lover received me. She had heard that the king was leaving Strelsau on a hunting expedition. + 

тАЬI regret that we cannot amuse your Majesty here in Strelsau,тАЭ she said, tapping her foot lightly on the floor. тАЬI would have offered you more entertainment, but I was foolish enough to thinkтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬWell, what?тАЭ I asked, leaning over her. + 

тАЬThat just for a day or two afterтБатАФafter last nightтБатАФyou might be happy without much gaiety;тАЭ and she turned pettishly from me, as she added, тАЬI hope the boars will be more engrossing.тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm going after a very big boar,тАЭ said I; and, because I could not help it, I began to play with her hair, but she moved her head away. + 

тАЬAre you offended with me?тАЭ I asked, in feigned surprise, for I could not resist tormenting her a little. I had never seen her angry, and every fresh aspect of her was a delight to me. + 

тАЬWhat right have I to be offended? True, you said last night that every hour away from me was wasted. But a very big boar! thatтАЩs a different thing.тАЭ + 

тАЬPerhaps the boar will hunt me,тАЭ I suggested. тАЬPerhaps, Flavia, heтАЩll catch me.тАЭ + 

She made no answer. + 

тАЬYou are not touched even by that danger?тАЭ + 

Still she said nothing; and I, stealing round, found her eyes full of tears. + 

тАЬYou weep for my danger?тАЭ + 

Then she spoke very low: + 

тАЬThis is like what you used to be; but not like the kingтБатАФthe king IтБатАФI have come to love!тАЭ + 

With a sudden great groan, I caught her to my heart. + 

тАЬMy darling!тАЭ I cried, forgetting everything but her, тАЬdid you dream that I left you to go hunting?тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat then, Rudolf? Ah! youтАЩre not goingтБатАФ?тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, it is hunting. I go to seek Michael in his lair.тАЭ + 

She had turned very pale. + 

тАЬSo, you see, sweet, I was not so poor a lover as you thought me. I shall not be long gone.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou will write to me, Rudolf?тАЭ + 

I was weak, but I could not say a word to stir suspicion in her. + 

тАЬIтАЩll send you all my heart every day,тАЭ said I. + 

тАЬAnd youтАЩll run no danger?тАЭ + 

тАЬNone that I need not.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd when will you be back? Ah, how long will it be!тАЭ + 

тАЬWhen shall I be back?тАЭ I repeated. + 

тАЬYes, yes! DonтАЩt be long, dear, donтАЩt be long. I shanтАЩt sleep while youтАЩre away.тАЭ + 

тАЬI donтАЩt know when I shall be back,тАЭ said I. + 

тАЬSoon, Rudolf, soon?тАЭ + 

тАЬGod knows, my darling. But, if neverтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬHush, hush!тАЭ and she pressed her lips to mine. + 

тАЬIf never,тАЭ I whispered, тАЬyou must take my place; youтАЩll be the only one of the House then. You must reign, and not weep for me.тАЭ + 

For a moment she drew herself up like a very queen. + 

тАЬYes, I will!тАЭ she said. тАЬI will reign. I will do my part though all my life will be empty and my heart dead; yet IтАЩll do it!тАЭ + 

She paused, and sinking against me again, wailed softly. + 

тАЬCome soon! come soon!тАЭ + 

Carried away, I cried loudly: + 

тАЬAs God lives, IтБатАФyes, I myselfтБатАФwill see you once more before I die!тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat do you mean?тАЭ she exclaimed, with wondering eyes; but I had no answer for her, and she gazed at me with her wondering eyes. + 

I dared not ask her to forget; she would have found it an insult. I could not tell her then who and what I was. She was weeping, and I had but to dry her tears. + 

тАЬShall a man not come back to the loveliest lady in all the wide world?тАЭ said I. тАЬA thousand Michaels should not keep me from you!тАЭ + 

She clung to me, a little comforted. + 

тАЬYou wonтАЩt let Michael hurt you?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, sweetheart.тАЭ + 

тАЬOr keep you from me?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, sweetheart.тАЭ + 

тАЬNor anyone else?тАЭ + 

And again I answered: + 

тАЬNo, sweetheart.тАЭ + 

Yet there was oneтБатАФnot MichaelтБатАФwho, if he lived, must keep me from her; and for whose life I was going forth to stake my own. And his figureтБатАФthe lithe, buoyant figure I had met in the woods of ZendaтБатАФthe dull, inert mass I had left in the cellar of the hunting lodgeтБатАФseemed to rise, double-shaped, before me, and to come between us, thrusting itself in even where she lay, pale, exhausted, fainting, in my arms, and yet looking up at me with those eyes that bore such love as I have never seen, and haunt me now, and will till the ground closes over meтБатАФand (who knows?) perhaps beyond. + 