An Improvement on Jacob's LadderIn the morning of the day after that on which I swore my oath againstthe Six, I gave certain orders, and then rested in greater contentment than Ihad known for some time. I was at work; and work, though it cannot curelove, is yet a narcotic to it; so that Sapt, who grew feverish, marvelled tosee me sprawling in an armchair in the sunshine, listening to one of myfriends who sang me amorous songs in a mellow voice and induced in mea pleasing melancholy. Thus was I engaged when young Rupert Hentzau,who feared neither man nor devil, and rode through the demesne-- whereevery tree might hide a marksman, for all he knew-- as though it had beenthe park at Strelsau, cantered up to where I lay, bowing with burlesquedeference, and craving private speech with me in order to deliver amessage from the Duke of Strelsau. I made all withdraw, and then he said,seating himself by me:

　　"The King is in love, it seems?""Not with life, my lord," said I, smiling.

　　"It is well," he rejoined. "Come, we are alone, Rassendyll--"I rose to a sitting posture.

　　"What's the matter?" he asked.

　　"I was about to call one of my gentlemen to bring your horse, my lord.

　　If you do not know how to address the King, my brother must find anothermessenger.""Why keep up the farce?" he asked, negligently dusting his boot withhis glove.

　　"Because it is not finished yet; and meanwhile I'll choose my ownname.""Oh, so be it! Yet I spoke in love for you; for indeed you are a manafter my own heart.""Saving my poor honesty," said I, "maybe I am. But that I keep faithwith men, and honour with women, maybe I am, my lord."He darted a glance at me--a glance of anger.

　　"Is your mother dead?" said I.

　　"Ay, she's dead.""She may thank God," said I, and I heard him curse me softly. "Well,what's the message?" I continued.

　　I had touched him on the raw, for all the world knew he had broken hismother's heart and flaunted his mistresses in her house; and his airymanner was gone for the moment.

　　"The duke offers you more than I would," he growled. "A halter foryou, sire, was my suggestion. But he offers you safe-conduct across thefrontier and a million crowns.""I prefer your offer, my lord, if I am bound to one.""You refuse?""Of course.""I told Michael you would;" and the villain, his temper restored, gaveme the sunniest of smiles. "The fact is, between ourselves," he continued,"Michael doesn't understand a gentleman."I began to laugh.

　　"And you?" I asked.

　　"I do," he said. "Well, well, the halter be it.""I'm sorry you won't live to see it," I observed.

　　"Has his Majesty done me the honour to fasten a particular quarrel onme?""I would you were a few years older, though.""Oh, God gives years, but the devil gives increase," laughed he. "I canhold my own.""How is your prisoner?" I asked.

　　"The K--?""Your prisoner.""I forgot your wishes, sire. Well, he is alive."He rose to his feet; I imitated him. Then, with a smile, he said:

　　"And the pretty princess? Faith, I'll wager the next Elphberg will bered enough, for all that Black Michael will be called his father."I sprang a step towards him, clenching my hand. He did not move aninch, and his lip curled in insolent amusement.

　　"Go, while your skin's whole!" I muttered. He had repaid me withinterest my hit about his mother.

　　Then came the most audacious thing I have known in my life. Myfriends were some thirty yards away. Rupert called to a groom to bringhim his horse, and dismissed the fellow with a crown. The horse stoodnear. I stood still, suspecting nothing. Rupert made as though to mount;then he suddenly turned to me: his left hand resting in his belt, his rightoutstretched: "Shake hands," he said.

　　I bowed, and did as he had foreseen--I put my hands behind me.

　　Quicker than thought, his left hand darted out at me, and a small daggerflashed in the air; he struck me in the left shoulder --had I not swerved, ithad been my heart. With a cry, I staggered back. Without touching thestirrup, he leapt upon his horse and was off like an arrow, pursued by criesand revolver shots--the last as useless as the first--and I sank into my chair,bleeding profusely, as I watched the devil's brat disappear down the longavenue. My friends surrounded me, and then I fainted.

　　I suppose that I was put to bed, and there lay, unconscious, or halfconscious, for many hours; for it was night when I awoke to my full mind,and found Fritz beside me. I was weak and weary, but he bade me be ofgood cheer, saying that my wound would soon heal, and that meanwhileall had gone well, for Johann, the keeper, had fallen into the snare we hadlaid for him, and was even now in the house.

　　"And the queer thing is," pursued Fritz, "that I fancy he's notaltogether sorry to find himself here. He seems to think that when BlackMichael has brought off his coup, witnesses of how it was effected--saving,of course, the Six themselves--will not be at a premium."This idea argued a shrewdness in our captive which led me to buildhopes on his assistance. I ordered him to be brought in at once. Saptconducted him, and set him in a chair by my bedside. He was sullen, andafraid; but, to say truth, after young Rupert's exploit, we also had our fears,and, if he got as far as possible from Sapt's formidable six-shooter, Saptkept him as far as he could from me. Moreover, when he came in hishands were bound, but that I would not suffer.

　　I need not stay to recount the safeguards and rewards we promised the fellow--all of which were honourably observed and paid, so that he livesnow in prosperity (though where I may not mention); and we were themore free inasmuch as we soon learnt that he was rather a weak man thana wicked, and had acted throughout this matter more from fear of the dukeand of his own brother Max than for any love of what was done. But hehad persuaded all of his loyalty; and though not in their secret counsels,was yet, by his knowledge of their dispositions within the Castle, able tolay bare before us the very heart of their devices. And here, in brief, is hisstory:

　　Below the level of the ground in the Castle, approached by a flight ofstone steps which abutted on the end of the drawbridge, were situated twosmall rooms, cut out of the rock itself. The outer of the two had nowindows, but was always lighted with candles; the inner had one squarewindow, which gave upon the moat. In the outer room there lay always,day and night, three of the Six; and the instructions of Duke Michael were,that on any attack being made on the outer room, the three were to defendthe door of it so long as they co............