The Heart of Princess Osra

he Bishop of

f much ambition; and he had gained distinction in the wars that marked the closing years of the reign of King Henry the Lion. With King Rudolf he was not on terms of cordial friendship, for he despised the King's easy manners and carelessness of dignity, while the King had no love for a gentleman whose one object seemed to be to surpass and outshine him in the eyes of his people, and who never rested from extending and fortifying his castle until it threatened to surpass Zenda itself both in st

e purse was as long or longer than his own, and thus gradually came to pass many evenings with the boxes in Nikolas's company. And the more evenings he passed the deeper he fell into the Count's debt; for the King drank wine, while the Count was content with small beer, and when the King was losing he doubled his stakes, whereas the Count took in sail if the wind seemed adverse. Thus always and steadily the debt grew, till at last Rudolf dared not reckon how large it had become, nor did he

e all the evening against the King and for Nikolas, the King flung

game! Come, my lo

moment beyond what you desire

the King with a vexed laugh, "for I believe I

ned on his tablets, took them out, and

you again, to double the debt or wipe it out

long in the Count's heart now saw t

and, smoothing his beard

lf the value of your Majesty's

rted and for

sk Zenda. An Elphberg without Zenda would seem like a man robbed of his wife. We have

's eyes, asking without words, "How will you pay it?" and adding without words, "P

at with the dice-box in his hand and a smile on his lips; for he knew that the King could not pay, and therefore must play, and he was in the vein, and did not doubt of winning from the King Zenda and its demesn

said the King at last. And he to

ire, and I shall not grieve at it," sai

rd, a quick ending to it! One throw, and I am

six and a five, and a sudden gleam of hope lit up his eyes; he leant forward in his chair, gripping the elbows of it with his hands; his cheeks flushed and his breath came quickly.

ed. For I cannot b

hrown sixes, and thereby won from the

y him, and taking his hat in his hand, stood looking down on the King with a maliciou

day dawn, I have matters to transact in Strelsau

mesne should be surrendered to Count Nikolas of Festenburg on his demand, and he gave the paper to Nikolas. Then

und a more worthy master.

is chair again, and remained there till it was full day, neither moving nor yet sleeping. There

that he had spoken of did not keep him long in Strelsau; but in the ear

s. At this they were greatly astonished, but they ate the fine dinner and drank the wine which he provided, and in the evening they rode down the hill very merry, and trotted, nearly a hundred strong, through the town, making a great noise, so that they di

own chamber, and sat before the mirror, dressed in a loose white gown, with her ruddy hair unbound and floating over her shoulders. She was reading an old story book, containing tales of Helen of Troy, of Cleopatra, of Berenice, and other lovely ladies, very elegantly related and embellished with fine pictures. And the Princess, being very much absorbed in the stories, did not hear nor notice the arrival of the Count's company, but continued to read, while Nikolas roused the watchmen,

to be disturbed, but to give me the honour of being her host for as lon

orn with which Osra would receive the tidi

aiting for him there in her chamber, in her white gown and with her hair unbound and flowing down over her shoulders. And when he came she cried: "What is this, my lord?" and listened to his story with parted lips and fl

rtune of the

as you play the

her shoulders, than he had ever felt her to be before, and he eyed her closely. Suddenly she looked at him, and for a moment h

ch is the home and cradle of our House. It was scarc

adame, and now it is

taking a step towards him, she said: "Hav

he, smiling still, while his eyes were fixed on her fa

she cried. "Are we not all gamblers,

our stake be?" he

and she did not flinch; for the honour of her House and of the thron

hat many gentlemen have thought

ered a little, as a man's does in excitement. "For,

sed God to make it and pleases men to think it," said Osra. "And all o

he took his dice-box from his pocket, and he held it u

at stake, mada

my lord," sai

d wondering, though

is much. Is it not more to be

w with open admiration. But she did not heed his glance, but with face pale as death she seiz

a is yours. If I

also," said she.

rice, madame, or o

ck her hair behind her neck, and holding on

s seven. Osra took the box from him, looked

he, biting his lips. "For a five and

hand shook, but hers was firm

d he impatiently, and a f

a; and pointed to the dice that s

rds her, and was about to seize the box. But h

pray you, madame, if it be

broadened on the Count's lips, for he thought surely he could beat seven, he that had beaten eleven and thereby won the Castle of Zenda, which now he

; but she turned away her head before he threw, and stood thus with averted face. But he kept attentive eyes on her, and drew very near to the table so that he stood right over it. And the Prin

se while a man might quickly count a dozen; and then Count Nikolas of F

eight,

im like lightning. She raised her hand so that the loose white sleeve fell back from her round

l pl

ift movement of his left hand, as his fingers deftly darted down and touched one of the dice and turned it. And all this she had seen before he had cried eight. Therefore now she turned on him, and cried, "Foul play!" and before he could speak, she dar

Nikolas of Festenburg is a common cheat and rogue, and should be whipped at the cart's tail through the streets of Strelsau.

ked full in her eyes; covetousness, and desire, and shame, came all tog

! By God, y

ra. "It is a fine tale for the King

a coverlet that lay on the couch he flung it around her, and he folded it tight about her, and he drew it close over her face. She could not cry

t when they saw them. He took no heed of them, but rushed at a run through the hall, and out under the portcullis and across the bridge, which had not been raised since he

low me! To

or left; and again they roused the Bishop of Modenstein, and he turned in his bed, wondering what the rush of mounted men meant. But they, galloping still, climbed the opposite hill and came to the Castle of Festenburg with their horses spent and foundered. In they all crowded, close on one another's heels; the bridge was drawn up; and there in the entrance they sto

will have, and it shall be her husband whom she

y rode, and did not know what had befallen her, nor where she had been brought, nor that she was now in the Castle of Festenburg, and in the power

half dressed and panting from the Castle of Zenda, and declared that whether they chose to believe her or not-and, indeed, she could hardly believe such a thing herself, although she had seen it with her own eyes from her own window-yet Count Nikolas of Festenburg had come to the Castle that evening, had spoken with Princess Osra, and now (they might call her a liar if they chose) had carried off the Princess with him on his horse to Festenburg, alive or dead none

t up in his bed and he fair

then, who can fight

. Count Nikolas is a terrible man. Please

said the Bishop, "a

es as another man risks a penny. So the Bishop, leaving his bed, dressed himself in breeches and boots, and set a black hat with a violet feather on his head, and, staying to put on nothing else but his shirt and his cloak over it, in ten minutes was on his horse at the door of the inn. For a moment he looked at a straggling crowd that had gathered there; then with a toss of his head and a curl of his lip he told them what he th

a Churchman has a

idge was up. But the Bishop shouted, and the watchman came out and stood in the gatewa

Frederick of Hentzau; that is, I am the Bishop of Modenstein, and I charge you, i

Bishop, but he also kn

bridge without an order f

rn round, you're a dead

armless with my lor

iately let it down, I'll shoot you first and refuse

ing from his horse, ran across with his drawn sword in one hand and a pistol in the other. Walking into the hall, he found a great company of Count Nikolas's men, drinking with on

on as a comrade whispered his name, and they sprang to th

our master

my lord," they answered.

ll see him," s

spect, they spread themselves across the hall, and thus barred the way to the staircas

arties in this treachery? Do you all want to swing from the turrets

hen he was roused, and that he loved his sister above everybody in the world. And the Bishop stepped up close t

that would strike a Bishop of God's Church!" And he caught the fellow a buffet with the flat of his sword

and hurled him back. "I want no announcing," he said. "The Church is free to enter everywhere." And he burst through them at the point of the sword, reckless now what might befall him so that he made his way through. But they did not venture to cut him down; for they knew that nothing but death would stop him, and for their very souls' sake they dared not kill him. So he, kicking one and

re now cast; in his fury and fear he had dared all. He was calm now, with the calmness of a man at a great turn of fate. That room, he told her, she should never leave alive, save as his promised wife, sworn and held to secrecy and silence by the force of that bond and of her oath. If he killed her he must die, whether by his own hand or th

to kill me," sa

ay write 'murderer' on my tomb; they sh

at you are-a cheat-a cheat!" Her voice rose, till he feared that she would be heard, if any one chanced to listen, even from so

, am a cheat. I say it, though no other man shall

ther's Castl

on the cast, but I could not endure not to win. Not my stake, madame, but yours lure

, sir, do not touch me. I loathe breathing the same air with you, or so much as s

of his sword, and drew it from the scabbard. But she stood still, facing him

ech, mastering himself for an instant,

cheating in all S

ul to God. For in one

t the utter stillness in the room; and in that instant the Bishop of Modenstein set his foot on the staircase and came running up. On a sudden Osra heard the step, and a gleam flashed in her eye. The Count heard it also, and his sword was arrested in it

on the stone floor of a little chamber, square and lofty, having but one small window high up, through which the moonlight scarcely pierced. She fell with a moan of pain. Unheeding, he turned on his heel and shut the door. And, as he turned, he heard a man throw himself against the door of the room. It also was strong

urgent requests to describe the whole affair, while the Princess was never weary of telling all that she knew, or of blessing all bishops for the sake of the Bishop of Modenstein. Yet the Bishop blamed himself; perhaps, if the truth were known, not for the necessity that drove him to do what he

here is the

e is the prince

who are you?" cried the Co

ew Frederick of Hentzau. Do you not

e for bishops. Get back

matins," answered the Bishop. "

you want

her wherever it may b

n his heart alarmed and uneasy bec

e she is," said Nik

e," said the Bis

the intruder. He had it now, and an angry flush mounted i

op smiled and turned the other cheek to Count Nikolas, who struck again with all his force, so that he reeled back, catching hold o

out the third blow

er full senses and, hearing the Bishop's voice, she cried out loudly for help. He, hearing her, darted in an instant across the room,

me! Sa

to the Count, he continued: "Let us go outside, my lord, and discuss

though his manner and words were gentle; for he had

life: and now that she was no longer wholly at his mercy, but there was a new chance that she might escape, h

n her! I'll be rid

or ten years or more he had not used his sword, but the secret of its mastery seemed to revive, fresh and clear in his mind, and let his soul say what it would, his body rejoiced to be at the exercise again, so that his blood kindled and his eyes gleamed in the glee of strife. Thus he stepped forward, guarding himself, and thus he met the Count's impetuous onset; he neither flinched nor gave back, but finding himself holding his own, he pressed on a

e moat below. The Count, looking into the Bishop's face, and seeing him smile, suddenly recollected the window, and fancied it was the Bishop's design to drive him on to it so that he could give back no more; and, since he knew by now that the Bishop was his master with the sword, a despairing rage settled upon him; determining to die swiftly, since die

op, putting a restraint on the wicked impulse to k

is body, and the count gav

thought of sparing him no more than he would have spared any cruel and savage beast, but he drove his sword into his body, and the Count, not being able to endure the thrust without flinching, against his own will gave back before it. Then came from his lips a loud cry of dismay and despair; for at the same moment that the sword was in him he, staggering back, fell wounded to death through the open window. The Bishop looked out after him, and Princess Osra heard the sound of a great splash in the water of the moat below; for very horror she sank against the door, seeming to be held up more by the sword that had pinned her hair than by her own strength. Then came up through the wind

d him. So perish a

d, he ran across to the Princess; he drew the Count's sword, which was wet with his own blood, out of the door, releasing the Princess's hair; and, seeing that she was very faint, he put his arm about her, and led her to the couch; she sank upon it,

ll danger is past. The villain is dead, and y

pressed his arm and shiv

have mercy on him

u kille

it were a sin, pra

h and on to her knees in front of him, and, seizing hold of his hand, she kissed first the episcopal ring that he wore and then his hand. For he was both Bishop and a gallant gentleman, and a kiss she gave him for each; and after she had kissed his hand, she held it in both of hers as though for safety's sake she clung to it. But he raise

his head as if she would fain have touched him with it. And she bent down ever so little towards him. Yet, perhaps, it was nothing;

Then, suddenly, as though in alarm, she drew her hand away, and he let it go easily. Then he raised his eyes and met the glance of hers, and he smiled; and Osra also

old my sacred office." said he. "I would that I were more worthy

ill ever count you among her dearest friends and the most ga

op gravely; but what other sins he had in his m

hand. The Count's men were all collected in the hall, being crowded round a table that stood by the wall; for on the table lay the body of Count Nikolas of Festenburg, and it was cov

care not to touch one of them even with the hem of her gown. At this they grew red and shuffled on their feet; and one or two swore under their breath, and thanked God their wives were not such shrews, being indeed very much ashamed of themselves, and very uneasy at thinking what these same wives of theirs would say to them when

to great cheering. The men cheered the Princess, while the women thrust themselves to the front rank of the crowd, and blessed the Bishop of Modenstein. But he walked with his head down and his eyes on the ground, and would not look up, even when the women cried out in great fear and admiration on

ad down and his eyes o

rchman, now!" And her laughing eye travelled from

ng down to the Bishop. But the girl only thought tha

em, came to the Castle. At the gate of it the Bishop stopped and aided

e, far

the Bishop returned to his inn in the town, and though the people stood round the i

ing herself against the Castle of Zenda had won it back, he was ashamed, and swore an oath that he would play dice no more, which oath he faithfully observed. But in the morning of the next day he went to Festenburg, where

of the King's favour, not even the Order of the Red Rose. Therefore the King granted the ground on which the Castle stood, and all the lands belonging to it,

ll the trees of the forest hid him; and once, when he was on the edge of the forest, he turned his face for an instant, and looked back at her where she sat watching in the window. Thus he went to Strelsau; and when he was come there, he sent immediately for his confessor, and the conf