A MERRY EVENING WITH A DISTANT RELATIVE
Johann accommodates for Rassendyll at Strelsau to his sister. Rassendyll decides to visit the forest of Zenda so he departs his luggage at the address told by Johann and leaves for Zenda. After covering some distance he reaches near the castle of Zenda, old castle is surrounded with a deep moat; the only way for entrance is a drawbridge while the new castle is surrounded with trees. Soon he reaches in the forest due to traveling he feels exhausted and takes rest from some distance of the castle in the jungle. He dreams that he is married with Princess Flavia and living in the castle of Zenda. He is awakened by Sapt and Fritz, the faithful followers of Rudolf Elphberg. He thus, comes to know that he is very much resemble to the King Elphberg as he is commented,
“Why, the devil’s in it! Shave him and he’d be the king”
They take a short introduction to each other. Rassendyll says,
“I am Rudolf Rassendyll. I am a traveler from England; and once for a year or two I held a commission from Her Majesty the Queen.”
He meets Rudolf Elphberg at the same place and both of them become very much surprise to see each other. Rudolf Elphberg takes his introduction while Rudolf Elphberg says that he has come here to join coronation ceremony. He is offered to stay with the king. At the table they eat food and drink. When Rudolf Elphberg has drunk much more then Josef, a servant, presents an old wine to Rudolf Elphberg and says that Black Michael, his illegitimate brother, has sent this wine especially for the King to drink. Rudolf accepts this gift of his brother and says,
“Gentlemen, my friends — Rudolf, my cousin — everything is yours to the half of Ruritania. But ask me not for a single drop of this divine bottle, which I will drink to the health of that — that sly knave, my brother, Black Michael.”
The king drinks the whole bottle of wine and becomes unconscious.
QUESTIONS
Q1. Who accommodates in Strelsau for Rudolf Rassendyll?
Ans. Johann, a faithful servant of the Duke Michael, comes to know about Rudolf Rassendyll that he wants to join coronation ceremony so he accommodates for Rudolf to his sister who lives in the capital of Ruritania.
Q2 Why does Rudolf Elphberg become surprise to see Rudolf Rassendyll?
Ans. Rudolf Elphberg surprises to see Rudolf Rassendyll because he is very much resembled with Elphberg. Apparently he has all the qualities, which Elphberg has so Rudolf Elphberg become surprise to see him.
