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O wise old Sapt! cried the King. Come, Mr. Rassendyllby the way, what name did they give you? Your Majestys, I answered, bowing. Well, that shows they werent ashamed of us, he laughed. Come, then, cousin Rudolf; Ive got no house of my own here, but my dear brother Michael lends us a place of his, and well make shift to entertain you there; and he put his arm through mine and, signing to the others to accompany us, walked me off, westerly, through the forest. We walked for more than half an hour, and the King smoked cigarettes and chattered incessantly. He was full of interest in my family, laughed heartily when I told him of the portraits with Elphberg hair in our galleries, and yet more heartily when he heard that my expedition to Ruritania was a secret one. You have to visit your disreputable cousin on the sly, have you? said he. Suddenly emerging from the wood, we came on a small and rude hunting-lodge. It was a one-storey building, a sort of bungalow, built entirely of wood. As we approached it, a little man in a plain livery came out to meet us. The only other person I saw about the place was a fat elderly woman, whom I afterwards discovered to be the mother of Johann, the dukes keeper. Well, is dinner ready, Josef? asked the King. The little servant informed us that it was, and we soon sat down to a plentiful meal. The fare was plain enough: the King ate heartily, Fritz von Tarlenheim delicately, old Sapt voraciously. I played a good knife and fork, as my custom is; the King noticed my performance with approval. Were all good trenchermen, we Elphbergs, said he. But what?were eating dry! Wine, Josef! wine, man! Are we beasts, to eat without drinking? Are we cattle, Josef? At this reproof Josef hastened to load the table with bottles. Remember tomorrow! said Fritz. Aytomorrow! said old Sapt. The King drained a bumper to his Cousin Rudolf, as he was graciousor merryenough to call me; and I drank its fellow to the Elphberg Red, whereat he laughed loudly. Now, be the meat what it might, the wine we drank was beyond all price or praise, and we did it justice. Fritz ventured once to stay the Kings hand. What? cried the King. Remember you start before I do, Master Fritzyou must be more sparing by two hours than I. Fritz saw that I did not understand. The colonel and I, he explained, leave here at six: we ride down to Zenda and return with the guard of honour to fetch the King at eight, and then we all ride together to the station. Hang that same guard! growled Sapt. Oh! its very civil of my brother to ask the honour for his regiment, said the King. Come, cousin, you need not start early. Another bottle, man! I had another bottleor, rather, a part of one, for the larger half travelled quickly down his Majestys throat. Fritz gave up his attempts at persuasion: from persuading, he fell to being persuaded, and soon |
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