A NEW USE FOR A TEA TABLE

Sapt tells Rassendyll about a letter written by a woman saying,

“That’s for you — a woman’s hand, I think. But I’ve some news for you first.”

Rassendyll is informed that they should attack on Zenda as the king is there. But Rassendyll denies making a foolish attack.  He reads the letter in which he is invited to come alone at Summer House and he is promised to tell some valuable information about the king. Sapt denies going but Rassendyll says,

I either go to the Summer House or back to England.”

They leave for Summer House without telling Fritz about their destiny. Sapt is ordered to stay at the gate till his return. Rassendyll alone enters in the Summer House and meets with De Mauban. She tells him that she was forced to write a letter and to call him here so that they could easily kill him. 

“Don’t talk, we’ve no time. Listen! I know you Mr. Rassendyll. I wrote that letter at the Duke’s orders. In twenty minutes three men will be here to kill you.”

She says Duke wants to kill him to overcome the throne of Ruritania and marry with Princess Flavia. She says that she loves Duke so she can’t see Duke with other woman. Soon the Michael’s ruffians come there and give Rassendyll the message of Duke that either he can go England safe and sound with money given by Duke as well or he has fight with them. 

“A safe conduct to the frontier, and fifty thousand pounds English.”

Rassendyll uses tea table as his Armour and opens the door. Two of them fall down while one fires at Rassendyll but due to iron table he remains safe. In return he also fires at them and safely reaches to Sapt from where they return to Strelsau. 

QUESTIONS

Q1. Who writes letter to Rassendyll?

Ans. De Mauban, a widow lady and a lover of Black Michael, writes letter to Rudolf Rassendyll on the orders of Black Michael.

Q2. Where is Rassendyll called in the letter?

Ans. Rassendyll is called at the Summer House in the letter where he is planned to kill by Black Michael’s ruffians. 

Q3. What is he offered in the Summer House?

Ans. He is offered fifty thousand English pounds and a safe conduct to the frontier.

Q4. How does Rassendyll escape from the Summer House?

Ans. When they communicate each other Rassendyll makes iron table his Armour. When one of the ruffians opens the door he rushes and two of them fall down while the third one fires at Rassendyll but he remains safe. Rassendyll fires in return and wounds one of them and escapes from there.