And then you'll go ?" And, dropping his hand, she covered her face with hers.
"I mustn't kiss your face," said he, "but your hands I may kiss," and he kissed her hands as they were pressed against her face.
"You wear my ring," she murmured through her fingers, "always ?" "Why, yes," he said, with a little laugh of wonder at her question.
"And there is--no one else ?" "My queen!" said he, laughing again.
"No, I knew really, Rudolf, I knew really," and now her hands flew out towards him, imploring his pardon.

Then she began to speak quickly: "Rudolf, last night I had a dream about you, a strange dream.

I seemed to be in Strelsau, and all the people were talking about the king.

It was you they meant; you were the king.

At last you were the king, and I was your queen.