"We do not doubt you, Mr. Wogan, but that written letter, giving my

daughter leave to go, I needs must have before I let her go. A father's

authority! I cannot take that upon myself."

Clementina took a quick step across to her mother's side.

"You did not hear," she said.

"I heard indeed that Mr. Wogan had burnt the letter."

"But under what stress, and to spare my father and to leave me still a

grain of hope. Mother, this gentleman has run great risks for me,--how

great I did not know; even now in this one instance we can only guess

and still fall short of the mark."

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The Princess-mother visibly stiffened with maternal authority.

"My child, without some sure sign the Prince consents, you must not go."

Clementina looked towards Wogan for assistance. Wogan put his hand into

his pocket.

"That sure sign I have," said he. "It is a surer sign than any written

letter; for handwriting may always be counterfeit. This could never be,"

and he held out on the palm of his hand the turquoise snuff-box which

the Prince had given him on New Year's day. "It is a jewel unique in all

the world, and the Prince gave it me. It is a jewel he treasured not

only for its value, but its history. Yet he gave it me. It was won by

the great King John of Poland, and remains as a memorial of the most

glorious day in all that warrior's glorious life; yet his son gave it

me. With his own hands he put it into mine to prove to me with what

confidence he trusted your Highness's daughter to my care. That

confidence was written large in the letter I burnt, but I am thinking it

is engraved for ever upon this stone."

The Princess-mother took the snuff-box reluctantly and turned it over

and over. She was silent. Clementina answered for her.

"I am ready," she said, and she pointed to a tiny bundle on a chair in

which a few clothes were wrapped. "My jewels are packed in the bundle,

but I can leave them behind me if needs be."

Wogan lifted up the bundle and laughed.

"Your Highness teaches a lesson to soldiers; for there is never a

knapsack but can hold this and still have half its space to spare. The

front door is unlatched?"

"M. Chateaudoux is watching in the hall."

"And the hall's unlighted?"

"Yes."




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