"No. I would not have you married."

Wogan laughed again, but Clementina was very serious. That she had no
right to make any such claim did not occur to her. She was merely
certain and resolved that Wogan must not marry. She did not again refer
to the matter, nor could she so have done had she wished. For a little
later and while they were not yet come to Peri, they were hailed from
behind, and turning about they saw Gaydon and O'Toole riding after them.
O'Toole had his story to tell. Gaydon and he had put the courier to bed
and taken his clothes and his money, and after the fellow had waked up,
they had sat for a day in the bedroom keeping him quiet and telling the
landlord he was very ill. O'Toole finished his story as they came to
Peri. They went boldly to the Cervo Inn, where all traces of the night's
conflict had been removed, and neither Wogan nor the landlady thought it
prudent to make any mention of the matter; they waited for Misset and
his wife, who came the next day. And thus reunited they passed one
evening into the streets of Bologna and stopped at the Pilgrim Inn.

CHAPTER XXI

In the parlour of the Pilgrim Inn the four friends took their leave of
the Princess. She could not part from them lightly; she spoke with a
faltering voice:--

"Five days ago I was in prison at Innspruck, perpetually harassed and
with no hope of release but in you. Now I am in Bologna, and free. I
could not believe that any girl could find such friends except in
fairyland. You make the world very sweet and clean to me. I should thank
you. See my tears fall! Will you take them for my thanks? I have no
words which can tell as much of my thoughts towards you. My little woman
I keep with me, but to you gentlemen I would gladly give a token each,
so that you may know I will never forget, and so that you too may keep
for me a home within your memories." To Major Gaydon she gave a ring
from off her finger, to Captain Misset a chain which she wore about her
neck, to O'Toole, "her six feet four," as she said between laughter and
tears, her watch. Each with a word of homage took his leave. Clementina
spoke to Wogan last of all, and when the room was empty but for these
two.

"To you, my friend," said she, "I give nothing. There is no need. But I
ask for something. I would be in debt to you still deeper than I am. I
ask for a handkerchief which I dropped from my shoulders one evening
under the stars upon the road to Ala."

Wo