"And we must have the letter, or it will get to the king after all." "The king will never see the letter," I blurted out, as I sank back in a chair.
They said nothing.

I looked round on their faces.

I had a strange feeling of helplessness, and seemed to be able to do nothing but throw the truth at them in blunt plainness.

Let them make what they could of it, I could make nothing.
"The king will never see the letter," I repeated.

"Rupert himself has insured that." "What do you mean?
You've not met Rupert?
You've not got the letter ?" "No, no; but the king can never read it." Then Rudolf seized me by the shoulder and fairly shook me; indeed I must have seemed like a man in a dream or a torpor.
"Why not, man; why not ?" he asked in urgent low tones.