She looked back once: the old woman stirred with a monotonous circular movement of her fat arm.

Rosa, bent half-double, skimmed upstairs, till she came in sight of the king whom she was so proud to serve.

He was on the top landing now, outside the door of a large attic where Rupert of Hentzau was lodged.

She saw him lay his hand on the latch of the door; his other hand rested in the pocket of his coat.

From the room no sound came; Rupert may have heard the step outside and stood motionless to listen.