, and remorsefully in the
highest praise. But she knew his secret, she knew that he loved her, and
therefore every remorseful, loyal word he spoke praised him more than it
praised his master. And it happened that just as they came to the
outskirts of the village, she dropped a handkerchief which hung loosely
about her neck. For a moment she did not remark her loss; when she did
and turned, she saw that her companion was rising from the ground on
which no handkerchief longer lay, and that he had his right hand in his
breast. She turned again without a word, and walked forward. But she
knew that kerchief was against his heart, and the cloud still grew.

CHAPTER XVIII

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