Clementina

Wogan, however, was not immediately benefited by his discovery. He knew

that if a single whisper of it reached the Prince's ear there would be

at once an end to his small chances. The old man would take alarm; he

might punish the offender, but he would none the less surely refuse his

consent to Wogan's project. Wogan must keep his lips quite closed and

let his antagonists do boldly what they would.

And that they were active he found a way to discover. The Countess from

this time plied him with kindness. He must play cards with her and

Prince Constantine in the evening; he must take his coffee in her

private apartments in the morning. So upon one of these occasions he

spoke of his departure from Ohlau.

"I shall go by way of Prague;" and he stopped in confusion and corrected

himself quickly. "At least, I am not sure. There are other ways into

Italy."

The Countess showed no more concern than she had shown over her

harp-string. She talked indifferently of other matters as though she had

barely heard his remark; but she fell into the trap. Wogan was aware

that the Governor of Prague was her kinsman; and that afternoon he left

the castle alone, and taking the road to Vienna, turned as soon as he

was out of sight and hurried round the town until he came out upon the

road to Prague. He hid himself behind a hedge a mile from Ohlau, and had

not waited half an hour before a man came riding by in hot haste. The

man wore the Countess's livery of green and scarlet; Wogan decided not

to travel by way of Prague, and returned to the castle content with his

afternoon's work. He had indeed more reason to be content with it than

he knew, for he happened to have remarked the servant's face as well as

his livery, and so at a later time was able to recognise it again. He

had no longer any doubt that a servant in the same livery was well upon

his way to Vienna. The roads were bad, it was true, and the journey

long; but Wogan had not the Prince's consent, and could not tell when he

would obtain it. The servant might return with the Emperor's order for

his arrest before he had obtained it. Wogan was powerless. He sent his

list of names to Gaydon in Schlestadt, but that was the only precaution

he could take. The days passed; Wogan spent them in unavailing

persuasions, and New Year's Day came and found him still at Ohlau and in

a great agitation and distress.