AN IMPROVEMENT ON JACOB’S LADDER
The next day Rupert has an interview with Rassendyll in the ground of Tarlenheim estate.
Rupert says,
“The king is in love, it seems?”
After some communication he says,
“The Duke offers you more that I would, a halter for you, sire, was my suggestion. But he offers you a safe conduct across the frontier and a millions crowns.”
Rassendyll refuses. Rupert mounting his horse suddenly hurls a dagger at Rassendyll and wounds him in the shoulder. Rassendyll’s friends are only thirty yards away but Rupert escapes their fire and gallops away. That night, as the wounded Rassendyll lies in bed, Johann— who has met the girl in the inn and been captures — is brought to him. Johann is persuaded to tell what he knows and he reveals that the king is imprisoned in a small room in the old castle just by the drawbridge, a room with one window close to the surface of the moat. The only entrance to this room is from an inner room in which three of six are always on guard. If an attack were to be made the king would be murdered. A large pipe has been constructed from the window of the king’s room to the surface of the water outside. The king’s body would be thrown through the pipe and sunk in the moat, while his murderer could escape by the same route through the pipe. However Michael does not intend to kill the king until he kills Rassendyll. To Rassendyll as his friends it looks as if any attempt to rescue the king will cause him to be killed. Johann departs and prays for forgiveness while Rudolf says,
“If anyone asks you if there is a prisoner of in Zenda you may answer ‘yes’. But if nay one asks who the prisoner is, do not answer. For all my promises will not save you if any man there learns from you the truth as to the prisoner in Zenda. I’ll kill you like a dog if the thing be so much as breathed within the house!”
QUESTION
Q1. Why does Rupert attack Rassendyll?
Ans. Rupert is a bold and courageous servant of Black Michael. He is also an enemy of Rassendyll so whenever he gets chance he tries to attack him.
