"Here's a great deal of jam, sir," said Wogan. "I misdoubt me but what

there's a most unpalatable pill hidden away in it."

"Indeed," said the secretary, "the Prince begs you to be content and to

wait for the post-horses to return."

"Ah, ah!" cried Wogan, "but that's the one thing I cannot do. I must

speak plainly, it appears." He drew the secretary out of ear-shot, and

resumed: "My particular business is to catch up the Prince of Baden. He

is summoned back to Innspruck. Do you understand?" he asked

significantly.

"Sir, we are well informed in Trent as to the Emperor's wishes," said

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the secretary, with a great deal of dignity.

"No, no, my friend," said Wogan. "It is not by the Emperor the Prince of

Baden is summoned, though I have no doubt the summons is much to his

taste."

The secretary stepped back in surprise.

"By her Highness the Princess?" he exclaimed.

"She changes her mind; she is willing where before she was obdurate. To

tell you the truth, the Prince plied her too hard, and she would have

none of him. Now that he turns his back and puts the miles as fast as he

can between himself and her, she cannot sleep for want of him."

The secretary nodded his head sagaciously.

"Her Highness is a woman," said he, "and that explains all. But it will

do her no harm to suffer a little longer for her obstinacy, and, to tell

you the truth, the Prince Taxis is so tormented with the gout that--"

"That you are unwilling to approach him a second time," interrupted

Wogan. "I have no doubt of it. I have myself seen prelates in a most

unprelatical mood. But here is a case where needs must. I have not told

you all. There is a devil of a fellow called Charles Wogan."

The secretary nodded his head.

"A mad Irishman who has vowed to free her Highness."

"He has set out from Strasbourg with that aim."

"He will hang for it, then, but he will never rescue her;" and the

secretary began to laugh. "I cannot upon my honour vex the Prince again

because a gallows-bird has prated in his cups."

"No, no," said Wogan; "you do not follow me. Charles Wogan will come to

the gallows over this adventure. For my part, I would have him broken on

the wheel and tortured in many uncomfortable ways. These Irishmen all

the world over are pestilent fellows. But the trouble is this: If her

Highness hears of his attempt, she is, as you sagely discovered, a

woman, a trivial, trifling thing. She will be absurd enough to imagine

her rescue possible; she will again change her mind, and it is precisely

that which General Heister fears. He would have her formally betrothed

to the Prince of Baden before Charles Wogan is caught and hanged

sky-high. Therefore, since I was pressing into Italy, he charged me with

this message to the Prince of Baden. Now observe this, if you please.

Suppose that I do not overtake the Prince; suppose that her Highness

hears of Wogan's coming and again changes her mind,--who will be to

blame? Not I, for I have done my best, not Prince Taxis, for he is not

informed, but Prince Taxis's secretary."




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