Clementina

"Not wholly pleasant news, one might almost think," said Wogan, in some

perplexity.

"Never was better news," exclaimed the Cardinal, hastily,--a trifle too

hastily, it seemed to Wogan. "But it surprises one. Even the King did

not expect this most desirable issue. For the King's in Spain. It is

that which troubles me. Her Highness comes to Bologna, and the King's in

Spain."

"Yes," said Wogan, with a wary eye upon his Eminence. "Why is the King

in Spain?"

"There is pressing business in Spain,--an expedition from Cadiz. The

King's presence there was urged most earnestly. He had no hope you would

succeed. I myself have some share in the blame. I did not hide from you

my thought, Mr. Wogan."

Wogan was not all reassured. He could not but remember that the excuse

for the King's absence which the Cardinal now made to him was precisely

that which he himself had invented to appease Clementina at Innspruck.

It was the simple, natural excuse which came first of all to the

tongue's tip, but--but it did not satisfy. There was, besides, too much

flurry and agitation in the Cardinal's manner. Even now that he was

taking snuff, he spilled the most of it from the trembling of his

fingers. Moreover, he must give reason upon reason for his perturbation

the while he let his supper get cold.

"Her Highness I cannot but feel will have reason to think slightly of

our welcome. A young girl, she will expect, and rightly, something more

of ceremony as her due."

"Your Eminence does not know her," interrupted Wogan, with some

sharpness. His Eminence was adroit enough to seize the occasion of

ending a conversation which was growing with every minute more

embarrassing.

"I shall make haste to repair my defect," said he. "I beg you to present

my duty to her Highness and to request her to receive me to-morrow at

ten. By that, I will hope to have discovered a lodging more suitable to

her dignity."

Wogan made his prayer for the Pope's intervention on Jenny's behalf and

then returned to the Pilgrim Inn, dashed and fallen in spirit. He had

thought that their troubles were at an end, but here was a new

difficulty at which in truth he rather feared to guess. The Chevalier's

departure to Spain had been a puzzle to him before; he remembered now

that the Chevalier had agreed with reluctance to his enterprise, and had

never been more than lukewarm in its support. That reluctance, that

lukewarmness, he had attributed to a natural habit of discouragement;

but the evasiveness of Cardinal Origo seemed to propose a different

explanation. Wogan would not guess at it.