He seemed to be comparing what we told him with something already known to him but unknown to us.

The little servant stood all the while in respectful stillness by the door; but I could see by a glance at his alert face that he followed the whole scene with keen attention.
At the end of the story, Rudolf turned to Sapt.

"And your secret--is it safe ?" he asked.
"Ay, it's safe enough!" "Nobody has seen what you had to hide ?" "No; and nobody knows that the king is dead," answered Sapt.
"Then what brings you here ?" "Why, the same thing that was about to bring you to the lodge: the need of a meeting between yourself and me, sire." "But the lodge--is it left unguarded ?" "The lodge is safe enough," said Colonel Sapt.
Unquestionably there was a secret, a new secret, hidden behind the curt words and brusque manner.

I could restrain myself no longer, and sprang forward, saying: "What is it?
Tell us, Constable!" He looked at me, then glanced at Mr.Rassendyll.
"I should like to hear your plan first," he said to Rudolf.

"How do you mean to account for your presence alive in the city to-day, when the king has lain dead in the shooting-box since last night ?" We drew close together as Rudolf began his answer.