Again he was protected by his crime: while he had the letter, he must be kept inviolate from all attack except at our own hands.

We desired his death, but we must be his body-guard and die in his defense rather than let any other but ourselves come at him.

No open means must be used, and no allies sought.
All this rushed to my mind at Sapt's words, and I saw what the constable and James had never forgotten.

But what to do I could not see.

For the King of Ruritania lay dead.
An hour or more had passed since our discovery, and it was now close on midnight.