The mockery, real or assumed, in which they had begun their work, had vanished now. If they were not serious, they played at seriousness. If they entertained no intention such as their acts seemed to indicate, they could no longer deny that they had cherished a hope. They shrank, or at least Sapt shrank, from setting such a ball rolling; but they longed for the fate that would give it a kick, and they made smooth the incline down which it, when thus impelled, was to run. When they had finished their task and sat down again opposite to one another in the little front room, the whole scheme was ready, the preparations were made, all was in train; they waited only for that impulse from chance or fate which was to turn the servant’s story into reality and action. And when the thing was done, Sapt’s coolness, so rarely upset, yet so completely beaten by the force of that wild idea, came back to him. He lit his pipe again and lay back in his chair, puffing freely, with a meditative look on his face. “It’s two o’clock, sir,” said James. “Something should have happened before now in Strelsau.” “Ah, but what?” asked the constable. Suddenly breaking on their ears came a loud knock at the door. Absorbed in their own thoughts, they had not noticed two men riding up to the lodge. The visitors wore the green and gold of the king’s huntsmen; the one who had knocked was Simon, the chief huntsman, and brother of Herbert, who lay dead in the little room inside. “Rather dangerous!” muttered the Constable of Zenda as he hurried to the door, James following him. Simon was astonished when Sapt opened the door. “Beg pardon, Constable, but I want to see Herbert. Can I go in?” And he jumped down from his horse, throwing the reins to his companion. “What’s the good of your going in?” asked Sapt. “Herbert’s not here.” “Not here? Then where is he?” “Why, he went with the king this morning.” “Oh, he went with the king, sir? Then he’s in Strelsau, I suppose?” “If you know that, Simon, you’re wiser than I am.” “But the king is in Strelsau, sir.” “The deuce he is! He said nothing of going to Strelsau. He rose early and rode off with Herbert, merely saying they would be back to-night.” “He went to Strelsau, sir. I am just from Zenda, and his Majesty is known to have been in town with the queen. They were both at Count Fritz’s.” “I’m much interested to hear it. But didn’t the telegram say where Herbert was?” Simon laughed. “Herbert’s not a king, you see,” he said. “Well, I’ll come again to-morrow morning, for I must see him soon. He’ll be back by then, sir?” “Yes, Simon, your brother will be here to-morrow morning.” “Or what’s left of him after such a two-days of work,” suggested Simon jocularly. “Why, yes, precisely,” said Sapt, biting his moustache and darting one swift glance at James. “Or what’s left of him, as you say.” “And I’ll bring a cart and carry the boar down to the castle at the same time, sir. At least, I suppose you haven’t eaten it all?”