d Hay, barely aware of what he said.

"No. Her Highness, the Princess Clementina. What said she?"

"Sir, she covered her face with her hands for perhaps the space of a
minute. Then she leaned forward to the Governor, who stood by her
carriage, and cried, 'Shut four walls about me quick! I could sink into
the earth for shame.'"

Wogan in those words heard her voice as clearly as he saw her face and
the dry lips between which the voice passed. He had it in his heart to
cry aloud, to send the words ringing through that hushed room, "She
would have tramped here barefoot had she had one guide with a spirit to
match hers." For a moment he almost fancied that he had spoken them, and
that he heard the echo of his voice vibrating down to silence. But he
had not, and as he realised that he had not, a new thought occurred to
him. No one had remarked his entrance into the room. The group in front
still stood with their backs towards him. Since his entrance no one had
remarked his presence. At once he turned and opened the door so gently
that there was not so much as a click of the latch. He opened it just
wide enough for himself to slip through, and he closed it behind him
with the same caution. On the landing there was only the usher. Wogan
looked over the balustrade; there was no one in the hall below.

"You can keep a silent tongue," he said to the usher. "There's profit in
it;" and Wogan put his hand into his pocket. "You have not seen me if
any ask."

"Sir," said the man, "any bright object disturbs my vision."

"You can see a crown, though," said Wogan.

"Through a breeches pocket. But if I held it in my hand--"

"It would dazzle you."

"So much that I should be blind to the giver."

The crown was offered and taken.

Wogan went quietly down the stairs into the hall. There were a few
lackeys at the door, but they would not concern themselves at all
because Mr. Wogan had returned to Bologna. He looked carefully out into
the street, chose a moment when it was empty, and hurried across it. He
dived into the first dark alley that he came to, and following the wynds
and byways of the town made his way quickly to his lodging. He had the
key to his door in his pocket, and he now kept it ready in his hand.
From the shelter of a corner he watched again till the road was clear;
he even examined the windows of the neighbouring houses lest somewhere a
pair of eyes might happen to be alert. Then he made a run for his door,
ope