Clementina. A. E. W. Mason

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СКАЧАТЬ his every gesture. It would be difficult he knew to wring the permission he needed from his dejected master, and his unruffled demeanour was a calculated means of persuasion. An air of confidence was the first requisite. In reality, however, Wogan was not troubled at this moment by any thought of failure. It was not that he had any plan in his head; but he was fired with a conviction that somehow this chosen woman was not to be wasted, that some day, released by some means in spite of all the pressure English Ministers could bring upon the Emperor, she would come riding into Bologna.

      The Chevalier paused in his walk and looked towards the Cardinal.

      "What does your Eminence say?"

      "That to the old the impulsiveness of youth is eternally charming," said the Cardinal, with a foppish delicacy of speaking in an odd contrast to his person.

      [pg 21]

      Mr. Wogan understood that he had a second antagonist.

      "I am not a youth, your Eminence," he exclaimed with all the indignation of twenty-seven years. "I am a man."

      "But an Irishman, and that spells youth. You write poetry too, I believe, Mr. Wogan. It is a heady practice."

      Wogan made no answer, though the words stung. An argument with the Cardinal would be sure to ruin his chance of obtaining the Chevalier's consent. He merely bowed to the Cardinal and waited for the Chevalier to speak.

      "Look you, Mr. Wogan; while the Emperor's at war with Spain, while England's fleet could strip him of Sicily, he's England's henchman. He dare not let the Princess go. We know it. General Heister, the Governor of Innspruck, is under pain of death to hold her safe."

      "But, sir, would the world stop if General Heister died?"

      "A German scaffold if you fail."

      "In the matter of scaffolds I have no leaning towards any one nationality."

      The Cardinal smiled. He liked a man of spirit, though he might think him absurd. The Chevalier resumed his restless pacing to and fro.

      "It is impossible."

      But he seemed to utter the phrase with less decision this second time. Wogan pressed his advantage at the expense of his modesty.

      [pg 22]

      "Sir, will you allow me to tell you a story—a story of an impossible escape from Newgate in the heart of London by a man in fetters? There were nine grenadiers with loaded muskets standing over him. There were two courtyards to cross, two walls to climb, and beyond the walls the unfriendly streets. The man hoodwinked his sentries, climbed his two walls, crossed the unfriendly streets, and took refuge in a cellar, where he was discovered. From the cellar in broad daylight he fought his way to the roofs, and on the roofs he played such a game of hide-and-seek among the chimney-tops—" Wogan broke off from his story with a clear thrill of laughter; it was a laugh of enjoyment at a pleasing recollection. Then he suddenly flung himself down on his knee at the feet of his sovereign. "Give me leave, your Majesty," he cried passionately. "Let me go upon this errand. If I fail, if the scaffold's dressed for me, why where's the harm? Your Majesty loses one servant out of his many. Whereas, if I win—" and he drew a long breath. "Aye, and I shall win! There's the Princess, too, a prisoner. Sir, she has ventured much. I beg you give me leave."

      The Chevalier laid his hand gently upon Wogan's shoulder, but he did not assent. He looked again doubtfully to the Cardinal, who said with his pleasant smile, "I will wager Mr. Wogan a box at the Opera on the first night that he returns, that he will return empty-handed."

      Wogan rose to his feet and replied good-humouredly, [pg 23] "It's a wager I take the more readily in that your Eminence cannot win, though you may lose. For if I return empty-handed, upon my honour I'll not return at all."

      The Cardinal condescended to laugh. Mr. Wogan laughed too. He had good reason, for here was his Eminence in a kindly temper and the Chevalier warming out of his melancholy. And, indeed, while he was still laughing the Chevalier caught him by the arm as a friend might do, and in an outburst of confidence, very rare with him, he said, "I would that I could laugh so. You and Whittington, I do envy you. An honest laugh, there's the purge for melancholy. But I cannot compass it," and he turned away.

      "Sure, sir, you'll put us all to shame when I bring her Royal Highness out of Innspruck."

      "Oh, that!" said the Chevalier, as though for the moment he had forgotten. "It is impossible," and the phrase was spoken now in an accent of hesitation. Moreover, he sat down at a table, and drawing a sheet of paper written over with memoranda, he began to read aloud with a glance towards Wogan at the end of each sentence.

      "The house stands in the faubourgs of Innspruck. There is an avenue of trees in front of the house; on the opposite side of the avenue there is a tavern with the sign of 'The White Chamois.'"

      Wogan committed the words to memory.

      "The Princess and her mother," continued the Chevalier, "are imprisoned in the east side of the house."

      [pg 24]

      "And how guarded, sir?" asked Wogan.

      The Chevalier read again from his paper.

      "A sentry at each door, a third beneath the prisoners' windows. They keep watch night and day. Besides, twice a day the magistrate visits the house."

      "At what hours?"

      "At ten in the morning. The same hour at night."

      "And on each visit the magistrate sees the Princess?"

      "Yes, though she lies abed."

      Wogan stroked his chin. The Cardinal regarded him quizzically.

      "I trust, Mr. Wogan, that we shall hear Farini. There is talk of his coming to Bologna."

      Wogan did not answer. He was silent; he saw the three sentinels standing watchfully about the house; he heard them calling "All's well" each to the other. Then he asked, "Has the Princess her own servants to attend her?"

      "Only M. Chateaudoux, her chamberlain."

      "Ah!"

      Wogan leaned forward with a question on his tongue he hardly dared to ask. So much hung upon the answer.

      "And M. Chateaudoux is allowed to come and go?"

      "In the daylight."

      Wogan turned to the Cardinal. "The box will be the best box in the house," Wogan suggested.

      [pg 25]

      "Oh, sir," replied the Cardinal, "on the first tier, to be sure."

      Wogan turned back to the Chevalier.

      "All that I need now is a letter from your Majesty to the King of Poland and a few rascally guineas. I can leave Bologna before a soul's astir in the morning. No one but Whittington saw me to-day, and a word will keep him silent. There will be secrecy—" but the Chevalier suddenly cut him short.

      "No," said he, bringing the palm of his hand down upon the table. "Here's a blow that we must bend to! СКАЧАТЬ