Clementina
Page 132"Here's a great deal of jam, sir," said Wogan. "I misdoubt me but what
there's a most unpalatable pill hidden away in it."
"Indeed," said the secretary, "the Prince begs you to be content and to
wait for the post-horses to return."
"Ah, ah!" cried Wogan, "but that's the one thing I cannot do. I must
speak plainly, it appears." He drew the secretary out of ear-shot, and
resumed: "My particular business is to catch up the Prince of Baden. He
is summoned back to Innspruck. Do you understand?" he asked
significantly.
"Sir, we are well informed in Trent as to the Emperor's wishes," said
the secretary, with a great deal of dignity.
"No, no, my friend," said Wogan. "It is not by the Emperor the Prince of
Baden is summoned, though I have no doubt the summons is much to his
The secretary stepped back in surprise.
"By her Highness the Princess?" he exclaimed.
"She changes her mind; she is willing where before she was obdurate. To
tell you the truth, the Prince plied her too hard, and she would have
none of him. Now that he turns his back and puts the miles as fast as he
can between himself and her, she cannot sleep for want of him."
The secretary nodded his head sagaciously.
"Her Highness is a woman," said he, "and that explains all. But it will
do her no harm to suffer a little longer for her obstinacy, and, to tell
you the truth, the Prince Taxis is so tormented with the gout that--"
"That you are unwilling to approach him a second time," interrupted
Wogan. "I have no doubt of it. I have myself seen prelates in a most
you all. There is a devil of a fellow called Charles Wogan."
The secretary nodded his head.
"A mad Irishman who has vowed to free her Highness."
"He has set out from Strasbourg with that aim."
"He will hang for it, then, but he will never rescue her;" and the
secretary began to laugh. "I cannot upon my honour vex the Prince again
because a gallows-bird has prated in his cups."
"No, no," said Wogan; "you do not follow me. Charles Wogan will come to
the gallows over this adventure. For my part, I would have him broken on
the wheel and tortured in many uncomfortable ways. These Irishmen all
the world over are pestilent fellows. But the trouble is this: If her
Highness hears of his attempt, she is, as you sagely discovered, a
her rescue possible; she will again change her mind, and it is precisely
that which General Heister fears. He would have her formally betrothed
to the Prince of Baden before Charles Wogan is caught and hanged
sky-high. Therefore, since I was pressing into Italy, he charged me with
this message to the Prince of Baden. Now observe this, if you please.
Suppose that I do not overtake the Prince; suppose that her Highness
hears of Wogan's coming and again changes her mind,--who will be to
blame? Not I, for I have done my best, not Prince Taxis, for he is not
informed, but Prince Taxis's secretary."