Clementina

Just as O'Toole had blocked the King's entrance into the garden, so did

Wogan bar his way into the house.

"Who, in Heaven's name, are you?" cried the Chevalier.

"Nay, there's a question for me to ask," said Wogan.

"Wogan!" cried the Chevalier, and "The King!" cried Wogan in one breath.

Wogan fell back; the Chevalier pushed into the hall and turned.

"So it is true. I could not, did not, believe it. I came from Spain to

prove it false. I find it true," he said in a low voice. "You whom I so

trusted! God help me, where shall I look for honour?"

"Here, your Majesty," answered Wogan, without an instant's

hesitation,--"here, in this hall. There, in the rooms above."

He had seized the truth in the same second when he recognised his King,

and the King's first words had left him in no doubt. He knew now why he

had never found Harry Whittington in any corner of Bologna. Harry

Whittington had been riding to Spain.

The Chevalier laughed harshly.

"Sir, I suspect honour which needs such barriers to protect it. You are

here, in this house, at this hour, with a sentinel to forbid intrusion

at the garden door. Explain me this honourably."

"I had the honour to escort a visitor to her Highness, and I wait until

the visit is at an end."

"What? Can you not better that excuse?" said the Chevalier. "A visitor!

We will make acquaintance, Mr. Wogan, with your visitor, unless you have

another sentinel to bar my way;" and he put his foot upon the step of

the stairs.

"I beg your Majesty to pause," said Wogan, firmly. "Your thoughts wrong

me, and not only me."

"Prove me that!"

"I say boldly, 'Here is a servant who loves his Queen!' What then?"

"This! That you should say, 'Here is a man who loves a woman,--loves her

so well he gives his friends the slip, and with the woman comes alone to

Peri.'"

"Ah. To Peri! So I thought," began Wogan, and the Chevalier whispered,-"Silence! You raise your voice too high. You no doubt are anxious in

your great respect that there should be some intimation of my coming.

But I dispense with ceremony. I will meet this fine visitor of yours at

once;" and he ran lightly up the stairs.

Then Wogan did a bold thing. He followed, he sprang past the King, he

turned at the stair-top and barred the way.