Her eyes seemed to devour his face; but she said only: "Yes, it must be so." "You must return to the palace as soon as I am gone.

I shall send out and ask the people to disperse, and then I must be off." "To seek Rupert of Hentzau ?" "Yes." She struggled for a moment with the contending feelings that filled her heart.

Then she came to him and seized hold of his hand.
"Don't go," she said in low trembling tones.

"Don't go, Rudolf.

He'll kill you.