.

BEFORE THEM ALL!.
GREAT as was the risk and immense as were the difficulties created by the course which Mr.Rassendyll adopted, I cannot doubt that he acted for the best in the light of the information which he possessed.

His plan was to disclose himself in the character of the king to Helsing, to bind him to secrecy, and make him impose the same obligation on his wife, daughter, and servants.

The chancellor was to be quieted with the excuse of urgent business, and conciliated by a promise that he should know its nature in the course of a few hours; meanwhile an appeal to his loyalty must suffice to insure obedience.

If all went well in the day that had now dawned, by the evening of it the letter would be destroyed, the queen's peril past, and Rudolf once more far away from Strelsau.
Then enough of the truth--no more--must be disclosed.