formed by the meeting of the drawbridge and the old castle wall.
Sapt watched him go, almost stupefied by the sudden wonder of
hearing that voice come to him out of the stillness of the night.
For the king was abed; and who spoke in that voice save the king
and one other?

Then, with a curse at himself for his delay, he turned and walked
quickly across the room. Opening the door, he found himself in
the passage. But here he ran right into the arms of young
Bernenstein, the officer of the guard, who was going his rounds.
Sapt knew and trusted him, for he had been with us all through
the siege of Zenda, when Michael kept the king a prisoner, and he
bore marks given him by Rupert of Hentzau's ruffians. He now held
a commission as lieutenant in the cuirassiers of the King's
Guard.

He noticed Sapt's bearing, for he cried out in a low voice,
"Anything wrong, sir?"

"Bernenstein, my boy, the castle's all right about here. Go round
to the front, and, hang you, stay there," said Sapt.

The officer stared, as well he might. Sapt caught him by the arm.

"No, stay here. See, stand by the door there that leads to the
royal apartments. Stand there, and let nobody pass. You
understand?"

"Yes, sir."