Clementina

But he was to see a face that night.

At nine o'clock a messenger from Edgar, the secretary, brought him a

package which contained a letter and the passport for these six days

delayed. The letter warned him that Edgar himself would come to fetch

him in the morning to his audience with James. The passport gave

authority to a Flemish nobleman, the Count of Cernes, to make a

pilgrimage to Loretto with his wife and family. The name of Warner had

served its turn and could no longer be employed.

As soon as the messenger had gone, Gaydon destroyed Edgar's letter, put

the passport safely away in his breast, and since he had not left his

room that day, put on his hat. Being a prudent man with a turn for

economy, he also extinguished his lamp. He had also a liking for fresh

air, so he opened the window, and at the same moment the door of the

house opposite was opened. A tall burly man with a lantern in his hand

stepped out into the street; he was followed by a slight man of a short

stature. Both men were wrapped in their cloaks, but the shorter one

tripped on a break in the road and his cloak fell apart. His companion

turned at once and held his lantern aloft. Just for a second the light

therefore flashed upon a face, and Gaydon at his dark window caught a

glimpse of it. The face was the face of his King.

Gaydon was more than ever puzzled. He had only seen the face for an

instant; moreover, he was looking down upon it, so that he might be

mistaken. He felt, however, that he was not, and he began to wonder at

the business that could take his King to this mysterious house. But

there was one thing of which he was sure amidst all his doubts, Rome was

not the safest city in the world for a man to walk about at nights. His

King would be none the worse off for a second guardian who would follow

near enough to give help and far enough for discretion. Gaydon went down

his stairs into the street. The lantern twinkled ahead; Gaydon followed

it until it stopped before a great house which had lights burning here

and there in the windows. The smaller man mounted the steps and was

admitted; his big companion with the lantern remained outside.

Gaydon, wishing to make sure of his conjectures one way or the other,

walked quickly past him and stole a glance sideways at his face. But the

man with the lantern looked at Gaydon at the same moment. Their eyes

met, and the lantern was immediately held aloft.