Rudolf Rassendyll, an English gentleman of about 29 years old is planning to visit Ruritania to attend the coronation of its new king.
Chapter one
شاهد الفيديو على قناتنا على اليوتيوب
The Prisoner of Zenda
Chapter one
Rudolf Rassendyll was having his breakfast at his brother's house. Rudolf Rassendyll was an English gentleman. He was 29 years old. His family was rich. His brother, Robert, was Lord Burlesdon.
Rose Rassendyll was Rudolf's sister-in-law زوجة أخيه She was angry with Rudolf because:
He was 29 years old, but he didn't have a job
He is proud of his rich family
Rudolf thought that he didn't have to work because:
His family was rich
He didn't need to work
He had enough money
His brother was a lord
His sister-in-law was a countess
Rudolf thought he wasn't lazy because:
He spoke five languages
He worked hard and studied hard when he was at German University
He was good with a gun
He was a good swordsman
He was good at riding horses
Rose thought that Rudolf was different from his brother Robert because:
Rudolf had red hair, but Robert had dark hair
Rudolf sees pleasures in his position, but Robert sees responsibilities
Rose told Rudolf that she had a good opportunity for him. Rose was persuasive مقنعة
She persuaded Rudolf to take the job with Sir Jacob
She had a good way of asking people to do things
Rudolf agreed to take the job because:
He thought it was interesting
It was after six months
He didn't want Rose to think that he was lazy
Rudolf planned to visit Ruritania. The Rassendylls were interested in the Elphbergs, the rulers of Ruritania because:
Their Great Aunt, Amelia Rassendyll visited Ruritania in 1733 and married one of the royal family
The Rassendylls were proud to be the relatives of the Elphbergs
Robert Rassendyll was interested in Ruritania because:
He kept the paintings لوحات of Countess Amelia and her family on his walls
Rudolf was the last one of the Rassendylls to have the same appearance مظهر of the Elphbergs. He had red hair and a straight nose. Rudolf decided to visit Ruritania because:
He wanted to attend يحضر the coronation of the new king
Rudolf lied to Rose and told her that he was going walking in the Alps to write a book about the social problems of its people.
Rose thought it was a good idea.
Robert thought it was the best way to get into politics.
Rudolf didn't want to tell Rose that he was going to Ruritania because:
He didn't like to tell people about his travels
He didn't want Rose to think that he was lazy
Uncle William advised Rudolf to visit Paris because Paris was the capital of business تجارة and politics السياسة at that time. Rudolf arrived in Paris and invited two of his friends to dinner.
George Featherily who worked for the embassy
Bertram Bertrand who was a famous journalist
They told him about the famous people visiting Paris at that time.
Antoinette De Mauban, she was a rich woman. She was the guest of Duke Michael. She was famous for her wealth and her ambition.
Duke Michael, he was the half brother of the new king of Ruritania. He was his father's Favourite son. He wanted to become king.
Rudolf travelled to Ruritania on the same train with Antoinette De Mauban. He booked a ticket to Dresden. He didn't want to tell George that he was going to Ruritania because:
George would tell Bertram
Bertram would write about that in the newspapers
On the borders, the guards stared حملقوا at Rassendyll. He looked like their king. He bought a newspaper. He knew that the coronation was in two days. He had to change his plan. He decided to stay in Zenda.
Strelsau was full of people
He wouldn't find a room at a hotel
He wanted to visit the castle of Zenda
Zenda was a town in Ruritania. It was ten kilometers from the borders. It was eighty kilometers from the capital. He booked a room at an inn in Zenda. Rassendyll booked an inn. The innkeeper told him that she didn't like the king because:
He was a stranger غريب
He spent most of his life abroad
He was interested in easy life and good food
He didn't care about his people
They didn't know what he looked like
The innkeeper told him that she liked Duke Michael because:
He lived with them
He promised them of change
He cared about them
Rassendyll felt sorry for Michael, but he believed that it was right that the older brother became king. Johan, a friend of the innkeeper's daughter, came in. when he saw Rassendyll, he took off his hat and stepped back.
- He thought Rassendyll was the king
The next day, Johan came to the inn and invited Rassendyll to stay at his sister's house. She was married to a rich merchant and she had a large house. Rassendyll accepted his invitation.
Rassendyll decided to walk in the forest.
- To see the castle of Zenda
- He expected to see the king in the forest
The castle of Zenda
- It was an old building but well-built
- It was surrounded by a moat
- There was a mansion near it سرايا
- The castle and the mansion were connected with a drawbridge
Rassendyll was tired, so he slept under a tree in the forest. Sapt and Fritz, the guards of the king, found him in the forest. They thought that:
- He looked exactly like the king
- Although they were alike, they had different personalities
Rassendyll told them that he was a traveler from England. He was an officer in the queen's army. The king came from behind a tree. He was surprised to see Rassendyll.