Clementina

They reached Ala towards two o'clock of the morning. The town had some

reputation in those days for its velvets and silks, and Wogan made no

doubt that somewhere he would procure a carriage to convey them the

necessary five miles into Venetian territory. The Prince of Baden was

still ahead of them, however. The inn of "The Golden Lion" had not a

single horse fit for their use in its stables. Wogan, however, obtained

there a few likely addresses and set out alone upon his search. He

returned in a couple of hours with a little two-wheeled cart drawn by a

pony, and sent word within that he was ready. Clementina herself with

her hood thrown back from her face came out to him at the door. An oil

lamp swung in the passage and lit up her face. Wogan could see that the

face was grave and anxious.

"Your Highness and Mrs. Misset can ride in the cart. It has no springs,

to be sure, and may shake to pieces like plaster. But if it carries you

five miles, it will serve. Misset and I can run by the side."

"But Lucy Misset must not go," said Clementina. "She is ill, and no

wonder. She must not take one step more to-night. There would be great

danger, and indeed she has endured enough for me." The gravity of the

girl's face, as much as her words, convinced Wogan that here was no

occasion for encouragement or resistance. He said with some

embarrassment,-"Yet we cannot leave her here alone; and of us two men, her husband must

stay with her."

"Dare we wait till the morning?" asked Clementina. "Lucy may be

recovered then."

Wogan shook his head.

"The courier we stopped at Wellishmile was not the only man sent after

us. Of that we may be very sure. Here are we five miles from safety, and

while those five miles are still unbridged--Listen!"

Wogan leaned his head forward and held up his hand for silence. In the

still night they could hear far away the galloping of a horse. The sound

grew more distinct as they listened.

"The rider comes from Italy," said Clementina. "But he might have come

from Trent," cried Wogan. "We left Trent behind twelve hours ago, and

more. For twelve hours we crept and crawled along the road; these last

miles we have walked. Any moment the Emperor's troopers might come

riding after us. Ah, but we are not safe! I am afraid!"