The Prisoner of Zenda Mr.

Mohamed El-Sheikh
Chapter 7 Maadi STEM School

Chapter 7
His Majesty Sleeps in Strelsau ‫جاللته نائم فى سترلسو‬
• The King is not in the hunting lodge:
➢ Sapt told Rassendyll that they had got the King.
➢ Rassendyll thought that Black Michael’s dispatch (message) that all was
well must have meant that they had kidnapped the King.
➢ Sapt thought that the message must have been sent in the morning
before the news of Rassendyll’s arrival at Strelsau reached Zenda.
➢ Rassendyll thought that he was not the only man who had had a trying
day; Black Michael also had had a trying day as he had got the message
that all was well, then he found the King at the coronation.
• Further Planning:
▪ Rassendyll’s suggestion:
➢ Rassendyll suggested getting back to Strelsau and rousing every soldier
there and be in pursuit of ‫ يتعقب‬Black Michael before midday. He told
Sapt that the King might be murdered while they sat there.
▪ Sapt’s explanation to what had happened:
➢ Sapt thought Johann’s mother (that cursed old woman) must have
attracted their attention somehow.
➢ Sapt thought that Michael’s men came up to kidnap the King and that if
Rassendyll hadn’t agreed to go to Strelsau, they (Rassendyll, Sapt, and
Fritz) would have been killed.
▪ Sapt’s Plan & How he convinced Rasendyll:
➢ With a cunning smile on his face, Sapt told Rassendyll that they had
shaken up Black Michael (they made him feel shocked and upset, and
unable to think calmly or clearly), and they would shake him up a bit
more. ☺☺
➢ ‫ بيمهد لراسيندل عشان راسيندل ميعصلجش معاه كتير‬:‫سابت ده رهيب‬
The Prisoner of Zenda Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh
Chapter 7 Maadi STEM School

➢ Then, he told Rassendyll that they would go back to Strelsau, and added
that the King would be in his capital again the next day. ‫أسلوب سابت جبار‬
▪ Rassendyll’s Fears and Resistance to Sapt’s plan:
➢ Rassendyll told Sapt that he was mad.
➢ Rassendyll told Sapt that the duke and his villains (the Six Men) knew
that he was not the real King.
➢ Rassendyll told Sapt that he would be found out.
➢ Rassendyll asked Sapt what the situation would be like if they killed the
King.
➢ Rassendyll asked Sapt what if they had already killed the King.
▪ Sapt’s replies & Convincing Rassendyll:
➢ Sapt told Rassendyll that their lives would be in danger if they went
back to Strelsau and told the trick they had played.
➢ He added that the King’s throne would be lost as the nobles and the
people wouldn’t be enjoying being fooled. They would not love a King
who had been too drunk to be crowned and sent a servant to
impersonate him (Michael would convince them that was the truth).
➢ Sapt told Rassendyll that if he agreed, he would save the King and asked
him to go back and keep the King’s throne warm for him.
➢ Sapt told Rassendyll that Michael and his villains couldn’t speak and tell
the people about Rasssendyll’s identity because they couldn’t denounce
‫ يبلغ عن‬Rassendyll without denouncing themselves; they couldn’t tell the
people that was not the real King without telling them that they had
kidnapped the real King and murdered his servant.
➢ Sapt told Rassendyll that they had to have a King in Srelsau or the city
would be Michael’s in twenty-four hours, after which the King’s life
would be worth nothing.
➢ Sapt told Rassendyll that the King would be killed if Rassendyll didn’t go
back to Strelsau.
➢ Sapt told Rassendyll that if the King had already been killed, Rassendyll
would reign in Ruritania as he was an Elphberg after all.
The Prisoner of Zenda Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh
Chapter 7 Maadi STEM School

➢ Sapt thought that the King hadn’t been killed and he wouldn’t be killed
as long as Rassendyll was in Strelsau; the villains wouldn’t do so
because if they killed the king, Rassendyll would remain King forever.
➢ Sapt asked Rassendyll to leave for Strelsau as soon as possible because
they would be caught like rats in a trap if they stayed in the hunting
lodge.
▪ Rassendyll Convinced:
➢ Rassendyll thought it was a wild plan _ even wilder and more hopeless
than the trick they had already carried through. However, because he
saw the strong points in the game and because he was a young man and
loved action and he was given such an opportunity which no man had
yet, he agreed to go to Strelsau and continue to impersonate the King.
• A Noble Deed ‫ عمل نبيل‬before leaving the hunting
lodge:
➢ Rassendyll insisted that they should bury poor Josef’s body before they
left. Sapt tried to persuade Rassendyll that there was no time for that.
However, Rassendyll insisted, and Sapt agreed.
➢ Rassendyll carried Josef’s body to the door in order to bury it when Sapt
told him that they wouldn’t and showed Rassendyll a party of Michael’s
men coming towards the lodge, carrying spades and mattocks.
➢ Sapt told Rassendyll that the men would save Rassendyll the trouble
and bury the body themselves; the men must have come to remove the
traces of their evil work.
• Striking a blow for poor Josef: ‫االنتقام من أجل جوزيف‬
➢ Rassendyll suggested striking a blow for Josef and having a slap at ‫توجيه‬
‫ صفعة لـ‬the men; Sapt agreed and said that Josef must have some
company.
➢ Sapt and Rassendyll hid behind the hunting lodge. They waited there for
some time until the ruffians ‫ المجرمون‬reached the hunting lodge.
➢ Then, driving the spurs into their horses ‫ وخزوا خيولهم‬, Sapt and
Rassendyll rushed at a gallop ‫ اندفعوا مسرعين‬round the house, and in a
moment, they were among the ruffians.
The Prisoner of Zenda Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh
Chapter 7 Maadi STEM School

➢ Rassendyll killed two of them, and Sapt killed one. Rassendyll thought
they would be a partie carree (a party of four persons).
➢ Then Sapt and Rassendyll galloped away. Rassendyll waved his hand in
farewell ‫ لتوديع المجرمين‬and got his finger shot.
➢ The fight would give Michael some work; it might delay his continuing
his wicked plans as he would realize that his enemy is strong and alert.
• On the way back to Strelsau:
➢ Sapt and rassendyll stopped for a short time to make a bandage ‫ ضمادة‬for
Rassendyll’s wounded finger, which was bleeding freely and ached
severely.
➢ Finding a farmer, they made him give them sustenance ‫طعام‬/‫ قوت‬for them
and their horses. Rassendyll, feigning a toothache ‫ متظاهرا بألم فى أسنانه‬,
muffled his face closely ‫عصب وجهه تماما‬/‫ لف‬, in order not to be known.
➢ They reached the gates of Strelsau between eight and nine in the
morning. They found the gates open as they always were except when
Michael’s caprice ‫ نزوة‬or intrigues ‫ مؤامرات‬shut them.
➢ They reached the palace the same way they had left it the night before.
➢ Sapt told the servant, Freyler, that the King was hurt, and Reassendyll
told him that he had caught his finger in the door.
➢ Sapt asked Freyler not to mention anything about that, and Freyler
promised him.
• Fritz thought the real King was back:
➢ Sapt and Rassendyll went in and reached the dressing room. Fritz was
sleeping on the sofa, but their entry woke him.
➢ Thinking that Rassendyll was the real King, Fritz leapt to his feet, gave
one glance at Rassendyll, and with a joyful cry, threw himself on his
knees before Rassendyll, saying, "Thank God, sire! thank God, you're
safe!" He stretched his hand up and caught hold Rassendyll’s hand.
➢ Rassendyll was moved ‫ متأثرا‬and thought that the King, whatever his
faults ‫ برغم أخطائه‬, made people love him.
➢ For a moment Rassendyll could not bear to speak or break the poor
fellow's illusion ‫ وهم‬. However, tough old Sapt slapped his hand on his
thigh delightedly, saying, "Bravo, lad! We shall do!"
➢ Then, Fritz realized that it was Rassendyll, not the real King.
The Prisoner of Zenda Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh
Chapter 7 Maadi STEM School

➢ Fritz cried, "Where's the King? Where's the King?"

➢ Sapt ordered him not to talk so loudly.
• The Princess enquires about the King’s health:
➢ A knock sounded on the door. Sapt seized Rassendyll by the hand and
asked him to go quickly to the bedroom, take off his cap and boots, and
get into bed and cover everything up.
➢ Rassendyll did what he was told, and a moment later Sapt came and
introduced a young gentleman, who was sent by Princess Flavia to
enquire about the King’s health after the fatigues which his Majesty had
undergone the day before.
➢ Rassendyll thanked Princess Flavia and asked the gentleman to tell her
Royal Highness that the King was never better in his life.
➢ Sapt added that the King had slept without a break all night. Then, the
gentleman bowed and left.
➢ Then, Fritz asked if the King was dead. Rassendyll told him he was not
dead, but he was in the hands of Black Michael.
❖ Questions:
1- What did Michael’s despatch/ dispatch/message “All’s well” mean?
2- When did Sapt think Michael got the message “All’s well”?
3- Rassendyll thought that he was not the only man who’d had a trying
day. Explain.
4- What did Rassendyll suggest when they discovered that the King
had been kidnapped?
5- According to Sapt, how did Michael’s men know Sapt’s plan?
6- What would have happened if Rassendyll, Sapt, and Fritz hadn’t
gone to Strelsau?
7- How could Sapt persuade Rassendyll to continue to impersonate
the King?
8- Rassendyll suggested getting back to Strelsau, rousing every
soldier there, and being in pursuit of Michael before midday. Do you
think that was a good suggest? Explain.
The Prisoner of Zenda Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh
Chapter 7 Maadi STEM School

9- Why couldn’t Michael and his men denounce Rassendyll?

10- What was Sapt’s plan after they found out that the King had been
kidnapped?
11- Sapt’s role in rescuing the kidnapped King was not less than that
of Rassendyll. Explain.
12- Why did Rassendyll hesitate at first to continue to impersonate
the King?
13- What noble deed did Rassendyll intend to do for poor Josef before
leaving the hunting lodge? Was he able to carry it out? Why? Why not?
14- Rassendyll and Sapt let poor Josef have company. Explain.
15- Rassendyll thought that Josef and his company would be a partie
carree. Explain.
16- Why do you think Rassendyll and Sapt fought Michael’s men
before they left the hunting lodge?
17- To what extent did Rassendyll succeed in impersonating the King?
18- After the coronation, who took the first step in the relationship,
Rassendyll or Flavia? Explain.