The Prisoner of Zenda Mr.

Mohamed El-Sheikh
Chapter 14 Maadi STEM School

Chapter 14
A Night Outside the Castle
- The people of Ruritania knew about Rassendyll’s injury, although they
didn’t know the truth (the cause of the injury).
- According to the official reports, the King (Rassendyll) had suffered a
grievous and dangerous hurt from an accidental spear-thrust, received
in the course of his sport.
- The King (Rassendyll) created great public excitement, whereby three
things occurred:
1- he gravely offended the medical faculty of Strelsau by refusing to
be treated by any of them, except a young man, a friend of Fritz's, whom
they could trust.
2- He received word from Marshal Strakencz that the King’s and the
Marshal’s ordered weren’t obeyed by Princess Flavia, and that the
Princess Flavia was leaving for Tarlenheim under his unwilling escort
(company).
3- The Duke of Strelsau, although knowing the cause of his injury, was
yet persuaded by the reports and by Rassendyll’s seeming inactivity
that he was in truth incapable of action, and that his life was in some
danger.
• Flavia arrives at the Tarlenheim house:
- When Flavia arrived, she was very happy because she found the King
(Rassendyll) up and well, instead of on his back and fighting with death.
- Rassendyll was very happy because he was able to waste two whole
days with her.
• After anxious consultations, Rassendyll and Sapt resolved to strike
a blow against Michael.
Their determination was strengthened by the following:
1- Johann told them that the King grew pale and ill, and that his health
was breaking down under his strict imprisonment.
2- Strakencz urged on Rassendyll the need of a speedy marriage.

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The Prisoner of Zenda Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh
Chapter 14 Maadi STEM School

• Exploring the moat alone (having a look at "Jacob's Ladder."):

- Late at night, Rassendyll, Sapt, Fritz, and six men headed for the Castle of
Zenda.
- The night was dark and very stormy. They asked their men to hide
among some trees about a quarter of a mile from the Castle. Sapt had a
whistle, and the men could rejoin them in a few moments in case of
danger.
- When they reached the moat, Sapt fastened a rope to a tree by the moat.
- Rassendyll used the rope to climb down into the moat alone.
- Though the night was wild, the day had been warm and bright, and the
water was not cold.
- Rassendyll swam around the Castle until he reached the pipe.
• Rassendyll kills Max Holf:
- Suddenly Rassendyll saw a boat on the other side.
- There was a man in the boat. The man he breathed heavily, regularly,
monotonously. He was a sleep. He was a big man. It was Max Holf, the
brother of Johann.
- Rassendyll drew out his knife and stabbed Max Holf.
- Rassendyll didn’t like what he did, but it was war, and the King’s life was in
danger.
- Leaving Max Holf where he lay dead, Rassendyll turned to "Jacob's
Ladder."
- Leaning over the pipe, Rassendyll examined it, from the end near the
water to the topmost end where it passed through the window. There
was no break in it.
• Detchard mocks the King:
- Then Rassendyll heard a harsh voice. It was Detchard! Rassendyll
caught the English accent in a moment.
- Detchard asked the King if he wanted anything before he left him.
- The King replied in a faint voice_ different from the merry tones
Rassendyll had heard in the forest. He asked Detchard to tell Michael to
kill him soon as he was dying slowly there.
- Detchard told him that the Duke didn’t want his death yet and asked the
King to look at the pipe, telling him it was his path to heaven when the
Duke desired.
- After Detchard had left, Rassendyll heard the king sobbing (crying).
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The Prisoner of Zenda Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh
Chapter 14 Maadi STEM School

- Rassendyll didn’t venture to talk to the King. His task now was to get
himself away in safety and carry off the body of the dead man.
- The wind was blowing a gale now, and there was little danger of
oars being heard. Rassendyll rowed swiftly round to where his friends
waited. He had just reached the spot, when a loud whistle sounded over
the moat behind him.
- Rassendyll called Sapt in a low tone. The rope came down. he tied it
round the corpse (body), and then went up it himself.
- Rassendyll asked Sapt to whistle for their men.
- They hauled (pulled) up the body. Just as it reached the road, three men,
including Rupert, on horseback swept round from the front of the
Castle.
• Fighting Michael’s men:
- A moment later, shots rang out. Rassendyll’s men met them. Rassendyll
started forward at a run, Sapt and Fritz following him.
- When Rupert saw Rassendyll, he called him “the play-actor.”
- Rassendyll’s men were about to kill Rupert, but he leapt into the moat
and disappeared.
- Two of the Six men, Lauengram and Krafstein, were killed, and three of
Rassendyll’s men were killed.
- Rassendyll and his friends went home, heavy at heart for the death of
their friends, sore uneasy concerning the King, and extremely upset that
young Rupert had played yet another winning hand with them.
- Rassendyll was angry that he had killed no man in open fight, but only
stabbed a knave in his sleep. And he did not love to hear Rupert call him
a play-actor.

• Questions:
1. What were the consequences of Rassendyll’s injury by Rupert?
2. The King’s and Marshal Strakencz were not obeyed by Princess Flavia.
Comment.
3. Why were Rassendyll and Sapt determined to blow a strike against
Michael?
4. Describe Rassendyll’s visit to the Jacob’s ladder.
5. Why was Rassendyll angry after his visit to the ladder of Jacob?
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