Summary - ‘Prisoner of Zenda’

Chapters I and II

Rudolf Rassendyll, who shares a common ancestor with the King of Ruritania (an imaginary country in the Central Europe), visits Ruritania for the first time with the intention of seeing the new king's coronation. He has let his acquaintances in London and Paris know only that he is to visit Dresden and the Tyrol. At the frontier he learns that the coronation is to take place unexpectedly soon, in two days' time Because it appears that accommodation will be difficult to secure at Strelsau, the capital city lie decides to stay at Zenda, a small town ten miles from the frontier and fifty from the capital. On his first evening at the hotel in Zenda he learns that king is resting at a nearby shooting-lodge on the estate of Michael, Duke of Strelsau, the king's half-brother, to whom belongs the great castle of Zenda. He also learns that the duke is far more popular than the new king, who has spent most of his life abroad. The king and the duke are both said to wish to marry Princess Flavia, the king's cousin.

Chapter III

Colonel Sapt. Fritz Von Tarlenheim and King Rudolf meet Rassendyll by chance the next day in the forest near Zenda. They are astonished at his resemblance to the king The king discovers the blood relationship that has produced this amazing resemblance, is amused and takes Rassendyll back to the lodge for an informal supper At supper the king drinks a bottle of rare old wine, a present from Michael.

Chapter IV

The king is insensible the next morning, the day of the coronation, because the wine was drugged. Sapt and Fritz are certain that Michael will spread the story that the king was too drunk to attend his own coronation and will seize the throne for himself They persuade Rassendyll to save the throne for the king by impersonating him and going through the coronation in his place He is made clean-shaven like the king and dressed in the cellar of the lodge Josef, a trusty servant, is left there. The plan is for Rassendyll to return secretly with Sapt that night. Sapt will take the king back to Strelsau and Rassendyll will get across the frontier. Rassendyll, now impersonating the king, goes to Strelsau with Sapt and Fritz.

Chapter V

Rassendyll's impersonation of the king at the coronation, the public precessions and the post-coronation banquet, appears to be completely successful Not even Princess Flavia, who is with him throughout the day, has any suspicions, though she does compliment the "king" on appearing much more resolute and dignified than he had ever seemed before. Rassendyll becomes aware that there is a strong popular demand for the king to marry Princess Flavia as soon as possible after the coronation.

Chapter VI

After the banquet Sapt and Rassendyll (disguised as Sapt's orderly) secretly leave the palace and ride out of the city unobserved. Fritz stays behind to prevent anybody from entering the king's room and discovering the king's absence Sapt knows that Michael has had news from Zenda. A few miles before Zenda, Sapt hears horsemen riding fast behind them He and Rassendyll stop and hide at a fork in the road to see who they are and where they are going. They are Michael and his servant. Max Holt. After hesitating whether to go to the castle or the lodge, they take the road to the castle Sapt and Rassendyll then go to the lodge. They find the old woman has been released, Josef is murdered and king has gone, obviously kidnapped by Michael's followers.

Chapter VII

Sapt decides that the only way to prevent Michael from seizing the throne is for Rassendyll to go back to Strelsau and continue to impersonate the king Outside the lodge they attack a party of Michael's men coming to bury the body of Josef, and kill three of them Then they ride back to Strelsau, enter the city and the palace unobserved, and rejoin Fritz in the king's room.

Chapter VIII

The next day Rassendyll carries out the routine duties of the king (A slight injury to the hand, received in the previous night's fighting is a convenient excuse for not signing documents) Fritz reports that the three foreigners of Michael's "Six" (see the note on characters) are in Strelsau and this suggests the king is still alive and guarded by the three Ruritanians of the Six There is now a deadlock between the two sides. Michael and his associates know that the "king" is an impostor but they cannot expose him without revealing their own crimes. Rassendyll, to enhance the king's popularity, rides through the streets and calls upon Princess Flavia In the princess's palace, he has a tense meeting with Michael and his three foreign followers - De Gautet, Bersonin and Detchard Since others are present, they all have to keep up the pretence that Rassendyll is the real king.

Chapter IX

Time passes and Rassendyll successfully maintains his imposture. The presence of the Six at Zenda confirms that the king is held prisoner there. One day a letter signed "A" arrives for the king. It is obviously from Madame Antoinette de Mauban. It asks the king to come alone at midnight to the summerhouse in the grounds of a large house in Strelsau. The writer says she has important information to give and suggests that she is as concerned as the king to prevent Michael from marrying Princess Flavia.

Rassendyll and Sapt suspect a trap but Rassendyll keeps the appointment, leaving Sapt on watch outside the grounds of the house He meets Madame de Mauban in the summerhouse. She discloses that the letter was written at the command of Michael and the three men were coming to catch Rassendyll in the summerhouse and kill him. Then Michael intends to place either himself on the throne or Princess Flavia. In either case, he would marry her and make himself ruler of the country. Because Madame de Mauban wishes to prevent this marriage, she is betraying the duke Detchard, De Gautet and Bersonin trap Rassendyll in the summerhouse. They speak to him through the door and offer him a large bribe, with a safe-conduct to the frontier, if he will leave Ruritania immediately. Rassendyll pretends to agree, but when they open the door of the summerhouse he charges upon them holding in front of himself an iron-topped table. They fire their pistols but the bullets merely hit the iron tabletop and they are sprawling down the steps Rassendyll wounds Detchard with a pistol shot, escapes over the wall of the grounds by means of a ladder that Madame de Mauban has told him of, and safely rejoins Sapt.

Chapter X

A confidential report from the prefect of police states that there is popular discontent because the king appears to be neglecting Princess Flavia and there is consequently strong public feeling in favor of Michael's marrying her. Sapt and Fritz have arranged for the king to give a ball for the princess and they insist that Rassendyll, for the sake of the king must appear to be encouraging her. He shows her much public attention at the ball. When they are alone he realizes that he is in love with her and her with him. She of course, firmly believes him to be the real king. He is about to reveal that he is not the king when Sapt arrives to prevent him. Now he has to fight the wicked temptation to crush Michael let the real king die keep the throne for himself and marry Flavia. His sense of honor shows him what he must do. He tells Sapt they must leave Strelsau without delay and attempt the rescue of the king at Zenda.

Chapter XI

Rassendyll warns Flavia of the danger from Michael, entrusts Marshal Strakencz with the task of protecting her and lets it be publicly known that he is leaving Strelsau to go on a hunting expedition.

Chapter XII

Rassendyll, Sapt and Fritz travel to the estate of a relation of Fritz Von Tarlenheim's, about five miles from Zenda. With them go ten trustworthy gentlemen who are told that Michael has already made an attempt on the king's life and is suspected of having one of the king's friends imprisoned in the castle of Zenda. Only an hour after his arrival at the chateau of Tarlenheim, the "king" receives a "courtesy" visit form three of the Six, the Ruritanians Lauengram, Krafstein and Rupert of Hentzau. That evening Rassendyll, with Fritz, visits the inn where he previously stayed at Zenda and persuades the landlady's daughter to arrange to meet Johann at a spot outside Zenda on the following evening. On his return, he learns that one of his ten gentlemen, rather like him in build, has been shot at and wounded by one of Michael's followers.

Chapter XIII

The next day Rupert of Hentzau has an interview with Rassendyll in the ground of the Tarlenheim estate. He conveys an offer from Michael of a million crowns and a safe conduct to the frontier. Rassendyll refuses. As Rupert is about to mount his horse he suddenly hurls a dagger at Rassendyll and wounds him in the shoulder. Rassendyll's friends are only thirty yards away but Rupert escapes their fire and gallops away. That night, as the wounded Rassendyll lies in bed, Johann-who has met the girl from the inn and been captured - is brought to him. Johann is persuaded to tell what he knows and reveals that the king is imprisoned in a small room in the old castle just by the drawbridge, a room with one window close to the surface of the moat, the only entrance to this room is from an inner room in which three of the Six are always on guard. If an attack were to be made the king would be murdered. A large pipe has been constructed from the window of the king's room to the surface of the water outside The king's body would be weighted, thrown through the pipe and sunk in the moat while his murderers could escape by the same route through the pipe. However, Michael does not intend to kill the king until he has, killed Rassendyll. To Rassendyll and his friends it looks as if any attempt to rescue the king will cause him to be killed.

Chapter XIV

To explain Rassendyll's wound official bulletins are published that he the king has been injured in a hunting accident, the news brings Princess Flavia to Tarlenheim. Because of his wound, Rassendyll can do nothing for the next two days but a report from Johann that the king's health is breaking down because of his close confinement, makes Rassendyll decide that he can risk no further delay. At night Sapt and Rassendyll, backed up by Fritz and the ten Gentlemen, make a reconnaissance of the castle. Rassendyll swims across the moat and finds the pipe Max Holf is asleep in a boat by the pipe and Rassendyll silently stabs and kills him. He hears a conversation between Detchard and wretched king. Rassendyll swims back to Sapt and as they leave the moat they and their followers have a fight with Krafstein, Lauengram and Rupert of Hentzau. Krafstein and Lauengram are killed but so are four of Fritz’s party.

Chapter XV

The deaths of the gentlemen in the affray at Zenda cannot be concealed and the public explanation is that they died in a private quarrel. Rassendyll is embarrassed by the arrival in Zenda of the prefect of police who, at the request of the British ambassador, is investigating the disappearance of Mr. Rassendyll. The prefect knows that Rassendyll came into Ruritania on the same train as Madame de Mauban that Madame de Mauban is at Michael's castle, and fears that Michael, out of jealousy, may have kidnapped the missing Mr. Rassendyll, using his authority as king, instructs the prefect to leave the matter to him for the next few days and return to Strelsau. Rassendyll also meets Rupert of Hentzau in the street of Zenda -neither side dare attack the other in such a public place- and learns that Rupert and Michael are enemies because they both are attracted by Madame de Mauban. Rupert makes the unscrupulous suggestion, to Rassendyll's anger, that they should combine to kill both the king and the duke, and keep Rassendyll on the throne. Immediately afterwards Rassendyll receives, through Johann, a note from Madame de Mauban, who begs to be rescued from Michael and his gang.

Chapter XVI

Marshal Strakencz and the chancellor (who both, it must be remembered, believe Rassendyll to be the real king) insist on its being announced that the king and Princess Flavia will publicly solemnize (celebrate) their betrothal (engagement) in a fortnight's time. Also there comes news through Johann that the king has become very ill, so ill that a physician is being held in the castle to look after him. Rassendyll has two strong reasons, therefore, for pressing on immediately with an attempt to rescue the king. In drawing up his plan, he has the following information -- mainly derived from Johann-to go on. The four survivors of the Six now guard the king. Detchard and Bersonin by night, Rupert of Hentzau and Gautet by day. The two off duty rest in a room on the floor above the king's cell. The door leading to the pair of rooms containing the king and his guards is locked and only the four gentlemen have keys. Michael's rooms are in the new part of the castle, just across the moat from the king's cell and by the drawbridge Madame de Mauban is locked in an apartment also in the new castle just by the drawbridge but on the other side of the approach to it. Only the duke holds the key to the drawbridge which is drawn back at night. Johann and five other servants sleep in the entrance hall of the new castle. Rassendyll draws up the following plan of attack for the next night. At two o clock in the morning, Johann will open the door of the new castle Sapt, with a strong party of men will over-power the servants. At the same moment, Madame de Mauban-acting on a letter conveyed by Johann-will scream for help as if Rupert is molesting her. This should bring Michael out to her rescue and then Sapt will capture him alive. Sapt will then have the drawbridge run out and it is likely that Rupert, possibly with De Gautet, will rush across the bridge to see what is happening. Rassendyll, equipped with a small ladder and hiding in the moat, will get onto the bridge and kill Rupert and possibly De Gautet as well. Taking the keys to the rooms in the old castle he will then lead a swift raid to try and save the king.

Chapter XVII

The next night Rassendyll rides alone to the moat, carrying the small ladder Sapt and his party are to ride separately and secretly timing their arrival at the castle a quarter to two in the morning. At a quarter to one, Rassendyll swims across the moat and hides by the pipe form the king's room. He is just by the drawbridge, which is still in place, and looking across the moat at the duke's apartment where a light is burning. He sees Madame de Mauban there and Rupert with her, obviously an unwelcome visitor Michael enters and tells Rupert to return to the old castle before the drawbridge is pulled back. Rupert and De Gautet cross the bridge just before it is withdrawn. About ten minutes later -- just before one --Rassendyll sees Rupert swim across the moat, holding a sword between his teeth unlock the gate into the new castle and go in.

Chapter XVIII

Soon after half past one, Rassendyll hears Madame de Mauban, in her own room shriek to Michael for help. It is not a false cry (as Rassendyll has planned it to be) for Rupert really has entered her room. Rassendyll gets up on the gateway of the old castle, by the entrance from the drawbridge, and sees Michael and his servants rush to Madame de Mauban's room, where Rupert savagely fights them all with his sword. De Gautet looks out of the gateway to investigate the uproar across the water. He is stabbed to death by Rassendyll, who takes his keys and makes his way to the outer room by the king's cell where Bersonin and Detchard are on guard. The noise of the affray makes them unbolt their door so Rassendyll is able to burst in. He kills Bersonin with his sword but Detchard rushes into the king's room to carry out Michael's orders for such a crisis and murder him. The doctor is heroically struggling with him but is killed at the moment Rassendyll enter. Rassendyll and Detchard fight and Detchard proves the better swordsman Rassendyll is able to kill him. As Rassendyll examines the unconscious king, he hears the sound of the drawbridge being run out over the moat and has to rush back to the gateway.

Chapter XIX

He sees Rupert on the bridge, holding at bay the servants of Michael A woman's cry is heard that Michael is dead and there is also the sound of Sapt's party breaking into the far side of the new castle. Madame de Mauban appears on the far side of the bridge and, determined to avenge Michael's death, fires at Rupert. Her first shot misses and, as she takes a more direct aim for her second. Rupert dives into the moat and swims away Rassendyll swims in pursuit and chases him when he leaves the moat to escape through the forest The wounded Rassendyll cannot overtake him but Rupert seizes a horse from a farm girl and rides back to Rassendyll, Rassendyll attacks him fiercely enough to gash his face but would be at a hopeless disadvantage if the tight continued. Rassendyll is saved, and Rupert has to ride away, when Fritz comes riding, armed with a revolver to his rescue. He collapses but remains conscious long enough to hear Fritz say that the king is still alive.

Chapter XX

Fritz has been with Sapt's party through the night. They were not let into the new castle by Johann, as planned, because Johann had been wounded in the fight between Michael and Rupert When they eventually broke in, they found Michael dead. Sapt and Fritz then make their way to the old castle found the bodies of Bersonin, De Gautet and the doctor, and the king unconscious but likely to live. Sapt sent Fritz in search of Rassendyll and put out a story which will explain the events of the night without disclosing the fact that Rassendyll has been posing as the king since the day of the coronation. The story put out is that Michael was confining at Zenda an unnamed friend of the king and that Michael was killed, and the king gravely wounded when the king went to rescue his friend from his illegal detention However, Princess Flavia insists on seeing the wounded king at once She is riding to the castle just when Rassendyll, supported by Fritz has reached the edge of the forest by the road to the castle The farm girl, seeing Rassendyll and believing him to be the king, runs to the princess saying that the king is wounded and lying in the nearby bushes Princess Flavia, with Sapt, walks up to the wounded Rassendyll He and Sapt now have to tell her that Rassendyll is not the real king.

Chapters XXI and XXII

Rassendyll now has to be kept concealed until he secretly leaves Ruritania. He pays farewell to the deeply grateful king and then has a last painful interview with Princess Flavia They agree that the interests of the kingdom must be placed before their love Sapt and Fritz escort Rassendyll to a station across the frontier and bid him goodbye, with great affection and respect Rassendyll rests for a time in the Tyrol, letting his friends know his whereabouts to prevent any further enquiries about his disappearance. He returns home and settles down to the quiet life of a country gentleman, broken only by an annual visit to Dresden where he meets Fritz Von Tarlenheim, his sole remaining & with his past adventure. Princess Flavia has sacrificed love to by marrying the king. Because the people love her, this marriage has made the throne secure and assured the internal peace Ruritania.

RURITANIA

Anthony Hope's imaginary kingdom of Ruritania has, of course, never been on any maps of Europe. However, it is fairly clear that he placed this fictional country in the area occupied by Bohemia, once an independent kingdom but for long a province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as it was when the novel was written Since 1918 it has been part of the Republic of Czechoslovakia.