Our way did not lie by the house, and we came to the palace without any news of our absent chief (so I call him--as such we all, from the queen herself, then regarded him). She did not speak of him again; but her eyes seemed to follow me about as though she were silently asking some service of me; what it was I could not understand. Bernenstein had disappeared, and the repentant count with him: knowing they were together, I was in no uneasiness; Bernenstein would see that his companion contrived no treachery. But I was puzzled by the queen’s tacit appeal. And I was myself on fire for news from the Konigstrasse. It was now two hours since Rudolf Rassendyll had left us, and no word had come of him or from him. At last I could bear it no longer. The queen was sitting with her hand in my wife’s; I had been seated on the other side of the room, for I thought that they might wish to talk to one another; yet I had not seen them exchange a word. I rose abruptly and crossed the room to where they were. “Have you need of my presence, madam, or have I your permission to be away for a time?” I asked. “Where do you wish to go, Fritz?” the queen asked with a little start, as though I had come suddenly across her thoughts. “To the Konigstrasse,” said I. To my surprise she rose and caught my hand. “God bless you, Fritz!” she cried. “I don’t think I could have endured it longer. But I wouldn’t ask you to go. But go, my dear friend, go and bring me news of him. Oh, Fritz, I seem to dream that dream again!” My wife looked up at me with a brave smile and a trembling lip. “Shall you go into the house, Fritz?” she asked. “Not unless I see need, sweetheart,” said I. She came and kissed me. “Go, if you are wanted,” she said. And she tried to smile at the queen, as though she risked me willingly. “I could have been such a wife, Fritz,” whispered the queen. “Yes, I could.” I had nothing to say; at the moment I might not have been able to say it if I had. There is something in the helpless courage of women that makes me feel soft. We can work and fight; they sit and wait. Yet they do not flinch. Now I know that if I had to sit and think about the thing I should turn cur. Well, I went, leaving them there together. I put on plain clothes instead of my uniform, and dropped my revolver into the pocket of my coat. Thus prepared, I slipped out and made my way on foot to the Konigstrasse.