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gallop. The King will be readyJosef will tell himand he must ride back with me to Strelsau, and you ride as if the devil were behind you to the frontier. I took it all in in a second, and nodded my head. Theres a chance, said Fritz, with his first sign of hopefulness. If I escape detection, said I. If were detected, said Sapt. Ill send Black Michael down below before I go myself, so help me heaven! Sit in that chair, man. I obeyed him. He darted from the room, calling Josef! Josef! In three minutes he was back, and Josef with him. The latter carried a jug of hot water, soap and razors. He was trembling as Sapt told him how the land lay, and bade him shave me. Suddenly Fritz smote on his thigh: But the guard! Theyll know! theyll know! Pooh! We shant wait for the guard. Well ride to Hofbau and catch a train there. When they come, the birdll be flown. But the King? The King will be in the wine-cellar. Im going to carry him there now. If they find him? They wont. How should they? Josef will put them off. But Sapt stamped his foot. Were not playing, he roared. My God! dont I know the risk? If they do find him, hes no worse off than if he isnt crowned today in Strelsau. So speaking, he flung the door open and, stooping, put forth a strength I did not dream he had, and lifted the King in his hands. And as he did so, the old woman, Johann the keepers mother, stood in the doorway. For a moment she stood, then she turned on her heel, without a sign of surprise, and clattered down the passage. Has she heard? cried Fritz. Ill shut her mouth! said Sapt grimly, and he bore off the King in his arms. For me, I sat down in an armchair, and as I sat there, half-dazed, Josef clipped and scraped me till my moustache and imperial were things of the past and my face was as bare as the Kings. And when Fritz saw me thus he drew a long breath and exclaimed: By Jove, we shall do it! |
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