Hence he was unmoved till his care for the fair fame of the queen and the love of his friends joined to buffet his resolution.
Then he faltered; but he had not fallen.

Yet Colonel Sapt did all as though he had given his assent, and watched the last hours in which his flight from Strelsau was possible go quickly by with more than equanimity.

Why hurry Rudolf's resolve?
Every moment shut him closer in the trap of an inevitable choice.

With every hour that he was called the king, it became more impossible for him to bear any other name all his days.

Therefore Sapt let Mr.Rassendyll doubt and struggle, while he himself wrote his story and laid his long-headed plans.