■ 11 A dangerous plan

One day Johann came to tell us that the King was now very sick， and that Antoinette de Mauban and a doctor were looking after him． But the Duke never left Rupert of Hentzau alone with Antoinette． I understood why， after what Rupert had told me． There were often angry voices in the castle these days， Johann told us．

Two of the Six were now dead， but there were always two men watching the King． The other two slept in a room above and would hear them if they called． Detchard and Bersonin watched by night； Rupert of Hentzau and De Gautet by day． The Duke's rooms were on the first floor， in the new buildings of the castle， and An-toinette's room was on the same floor． But at night the Duke locked the door of her room， and pulled up the drawbridge． He kept the key himself． Johann slept near the front door of the new castle with five other men-but they had no guns．

We could not wait any longer． 'Listen！ 'I said to Johann． 'I'll make you rich if you do what I say． 'Johann agreed．

'You must take this note to Madame de Mauban． ' I said， 'and tomorrow， at two o'clock in the morning， you must open the front door of the new castle． Tell the others that you need air， or something- and then escape． '

Johann was clearly afraid， but he seemed to understand． I explained my plan to Sapt and Fritz．

'When Johann opens the front door， 'I said， 'Sapt and his men will run into the castle and hold the men who are sleeping there． At the same time Antoinette will scream loudly again and again． She'll cry“Help！ Help me， Michael！ ”And she'll shout Rupert of Hentzau's name． Duke Michael will hear and he'll run out of his room- straight into the hands of Sapt！ Sapt will get the key from the Duke and let down the draw-bridge． Rupert and De Gautet will hear the noise and hurry to cross the drawbridge． I'll hide by the bridge in the moat， and when they try to cross， I'll kill them． Then we'll hurry to the room where the King is， and kill Detchard and Bersonin before they have time to kill the King． '

The others listened in silence． It was a very dangerous plan， and I did not really think it would work-but we had to try！

That evening I went to visit Flavia． She seemed very thoughtful， and as I was leaving， she placed a ring on my finger． I was wearing the King's ring， but I took off my Rassendyll family ring and gave it to her． 'Wear this for me always， 'I said．

She kissed the ring， and replied seriously， 'I'll wear it until the day I die． '

And then I had to leave her． I had already told the Marshal that if anything happened to the King， he must take Flavia to Strelsau， tell the people that Duke Michael had killed the King -and that Flavia was their Queen． I knew this could be my last day alive．

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