alone she could not have listened to with dignity. I was there,
and Sapt; the colonel's small eyes had gleamed in anger. "I
should like to shut his mouth for him," I heard him mutter, for
the king's waywardness had well-nigh worn out even his devotion.
The thing, of which I will say no more, happened a day or two
before I was to set out to meet Mr. Rassendyll. I was to seek him
this time at Wintenberg, for I had been recognized the year
before at Dresden; and Wintenberg, being a smaller place and less
in the way of chance visitors, was deemed safer. I remember well
how she was when she called me into her own room, a few hours
after she had left the king. She stood by the table; the box was
on it, and I knew well that the red rose and the message were
within. But there was more to-day. Without preface she broke into
the subject of my errand.

"I must write to him," she said. "I can't bear it, I must write.
My dear friend Fritz, you will carry it safely for me, won't you?
And he must write to me. And you'll bring that safely, won't you?
Ah, Fritz, I know I'm wrong, but I'm starved, starved, starved!
And it's for the last time. For I know now that if I send
anything, I must send more. So after this time I won't send at
all. But I must say good-by to him; I must have his good-by to
carry me through my life. This once, then, Fritz, do it for me."

The tears rolled down her cheeks, which to-day were flushed out
of their paleness to a stormy red; her eyes defied me even while
they pleaded. I bent my head and kissed her hand.

"With God's help I'll carry it safely and bring his safely, my
queen," said I.