Clementina

ng home at that hour found his footsteps ring upon the pavement with surprising echoes, and traversed dark street after dark s

curious passer-by could detect upon the blind the shadows of men growing to monstrous giant

ner of wearing it proclaimed them soldiers. Of the three, one, a short, spare man, sat at the table with his head bent over a slip of paper. His per

ce revealed a character quite different. His features were sharp, his eyes quick; if prudence was the predominating quality of the first, resource took its p

was the youngest of the three by five years, but his forehead at this moment was so creased, his mouth so pursed up, his cheeks so wrinkled, he had the look of sixt

said he,

e table looke

sse

e window turn

ve an

ugged his

d, "Let us

his chair no longer creak

made our fortunes. We three are the winne

money in a lotter

" said

"But Charles Wogan has borrowed it for us and paid it

paced t

me four days

n the m

to the window and opened it. Gaydon followed him and

nd of horseshoe

nd keeping pace with the

ders, crushing them both down

a gentleman makes when he

a common effort springing from a common t

t is?" beg

runk in his lif

" said O'Toole; and the three men pr

ssness and pain, but he had retained just enough of his sober

is friends were on the watch was O'Tool

all rich men," and he felt him

than that," stammered Wogan, "when yo

of the house," said Gaydo

ornly, and would not yi

nodded a

man never trusts to his friends. O

looked at O'Toole. O'Tool

ilosophy. I have others. Th

reover, a groom was awake, for the door was opened before they had come near enough to knock. There were

roomed and fed. The mare looked round once or twice in the mid

, my lady," said h

y pallor; his teeth chattered; his eyes burned. Gaydon looked at him with concern and

n went upstairs first. Gaydon held back

l have him in bed for a twelvemonth. Misset, do you run fo

ere clean, and he finished the bottle of wine. Then he rose to his feet with a sigh of something very like to contentment and felt along the mantel-shelf with his hands. O'Toole, however, had foreseen his wants and handed him a pipe newly filled. While Wo

his is Schlestadt. But it is strange," and he laughed a little to himself and

a slip of pa

back," sa

under

were to b

oo

," murmured O'Toole, "an

e can hear us; no one can burst in. But I am sure of that. Misse

ked blankl

n turn the k

had bethought himself, and which he ascribed to Misset, "if there's a key; but

t all comprehending that devi

prize that ever was drawn," r

r; I forgot that this is Gaydon's lodging, and

ped up fro

orner of the room he opened a door and looked in. Wogan laughed again

ill never feel a hand gripping the life out of hi

ent out to meet Wogan; there had been time and to spare for any man to creep upstairs and hide hi

biggest prize in all

be pleased to remember when next

ourselves,"

e's fa

nd it on to a thi

es

hat's quite of a pi

hird party?"

e K

s chair and leaned forwar

ole; "to be sure, tha

ietly, "And wha

d Wogan. "We are to rescue her

don was

!" he ex

s open; his eyes started from his head; he stammered in hi

er of the room, picked up his sw

eady,"

ound in his ch

's an exploit, if we but carry it through, which even antiquity will be at pains to match! It's more than an exploit, for it has the sanctity

and the three brief words seemed

lies our one hope. They will never look for four men, but for many. Four men travelling to the sh

y," O'Tool

ght. There's the passport to

e, there's always a plan." And he sat down aga

ser to Wogan's and instinctively lowere

arned of the attem

to Innspruck. There I saw Chateaudoux, the chamberlain of the Princess'

Misset. Misset nodded and handed it to O'Toole, who read it four times and handed it ba

aid he, sententiously. "Very good

second time thr

ou must have the Prince S

n of my coming leaked out. The Countess de Berg suspected it from the first. She

e!" said Misset.

rstone on the Florence road, but he knew no more abou

," said Gaydon. "But

ty miles away I had last n

rince's written con

found on my dead body, why, there was proof positive of our attempt, and the attempt foiled by sure safeg

s Gaydon's arm and

ly she will not move without that s

t pocket a snuff-box made

unique and in an unique setting. This must persuade her. His father, great King John

ut his hand and e

was promised it to hang about her neck. You must promise it to the Princess, but not give it to her-n

d took back the snuff-box. "I will

ss's mother, insists that a woman shall attend upon her daughter,

et has a wife. By the luckiest stroke in th

s. Wogan was filled with consternation. Was Misset's wife dead? he asked himself. He had spoken lightly, laughingly, and he went hot and cold as he recoll

he said slowly, "My boy would only live to serve his King. Why shoul

much beloved, however generous to his servants, had any right to expect. They took Wogan's breath away, and not Wogan's only, but Gaydon's and O'Toole's, too. A longer silenc

e first to bre

at his first-born must be a boy. When you come to think philosophically about it, you'll see that if father

it, at which all-even Misset, who was a trifle ashamed of his display o

said he, "but so much sacri

ould never forgive one of them if she was left behind. He argued until a compromise was reached. Misset should la

ter's settled," said Misset.

said

us, then," said Gaydon. "I ha

horses; they must not come up with us. From Innspruck to Italy, if we have never an accident, will take us at the least four days; it will take our pursuers three. We must have one clear day before her Highness's evasion is discovered. Now, the chief magistr

be left," said Gaydon. "She can

the curtains drawn about her and a voice so weak with suffering that she cannot raise it above a whisper, with eyes so tire

shook h

n the escape must certainly be known. She will remain f

n issue, once her Highness is in Bologna safe, the Emperor cannot wreak vengea

replied. "I know no wo

do I. There's no difficulty whatever

said

's name i

said

ry good fri

dignantly. "My wife's maid-

le, with a chuckle. "I am the cunning man, after

e courage?"

ndière. It would be a queer thing if she was frightened by a li

her with the sec

rom his chair. "My wife's maid-O'Toole-O'Tool

ms almost as if you wished to reflect upon

en he said, "Well, at all events, she gossips. We cannot take her.

rue," sai

ime that evening he c

el

her Highness the Princess, and I doubt if she cares a button for the King. Besides, she would never believe but that w

eiress who is dying for love of O'Toole, and whose merciless parents are f

s hand down upon t

ever invented! Oh! but you'll hear Jenny sob with pity for the heiress and Lucius O'Toole when she hears it. It will be a b

!" exclai

"Her height is her one vanity. Therefo

heels off and make hers

my friend, to persuade h

or admission below. Gaydon let him in, and he dressed Wogan's wounds with an

id Wogan, as soon as the doctor had gone.

don's bedroom, where t

sage came four days ago," said Gaydon. "Take your choice of the

a long brea

ed suddenly, and caught at Gaydon's arm. "

uished he called to each of his three friends by name to make sure of their company. O'Toole

aid Wogan. "To-morrow when I tell you the story

they were wakened by a wild scream and heard Wogan whispering in an agony for help. They lighted a

my throat! It's not the letter

ad gone to sleep, as the saying is. He had waked suddenly in the dark with the cold pressure at his throat,