"We couldn't help it.

He showed himself at the door." It was worse than I dreamt: not two or three people, but all that crowd were victims of the mistake; all of them had heard that the king was in Strelsau--ay, and had seen him.
"Where is he?
Where is he ?" I asked, and followed her hastily to the room.
The queen and Rudolf were standing side by side.

What I have told from Helga's description had just passed between them.

Rudolf ran to meet me.
"Is all well ?" he asked eagerly.
I forgot the queen's presence and paid no sign of respect to her.

I caught Rudolf by the arm and cried to him: "Do they take you for the king ?" "Yes," he said.