"It is impossible."

But he seemed to utter the phrase with less decision this second time.

Wogan pressed his advantage at the expense of his modesty.

"Sir, will you allow me to tell you a story,--a story of an impossible

escape from Newgate in the heart of London by a man in fetters? There

were nine grenadiers with loaded muskets standing over him. There were

two courtyards to cross, two walls to climb, and beyond the walls the

unfriendly streets. The man hoodwinked his sentries, climbed his two

walls, crossed the unfriendly streets, and took refuge in a cellar,

where he was discovered. From the cellar in broad daylight he fought his

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way to the roofs, and on the roofs he played such a game of

hide-and-seek among the chimney-tops--" Wogan broke off from his story

with a clear thrill of laughter; it was a laugh of enjoyment at a

pleasing recollection. Then he suddenly flung himself down on his knee

at the feet of his sovereign. "Give me leave, your Majesty," he cried

passionately. "Let me go upon this errand. If I fail, if the scaffold's

dressed for me, why where's the harm? Your Majesty loses one servant out

of his many. Whereas, if I win--" and he drew a long breath. "Aye, and I

shall win! There's the Princess, too, a prisoner. Sir, she has ventured

much. I beg you give me leave."

The Chevalier laid his hand gently upon Wogan's shoulder, but he did not

assent. He looked again doubtfully to the Cardinal, who said with his

pleasant smile, "I will wager Mr. Wogan a box at the Opera on the first

night that he returns, that he will return empty-handed."

Wogan rose to his feet and replied good-humouredly, "It's a wager I

take the more readily in that your Eminence cannot win, though you may

lose. For if I return empty-handed, upon my honour I'll not return at

all."

The Cardinal condescended to laugh. Mr. Wogan laughed too. He had good

reason, for here was his Eminence in a kindly temper and the Chevalier

warming out of his melancholy. And, indeed, while he was still laughing

the Chevalier caught him by the arm as a friend might do, and in an

outburst of confidence, very rare with him, he said, "I would that I

could laugh so. You and Whittington, I do envy you. An honest laugh,

there's the purge for melancholy. But I cannot compass it," and he

turned away.

"Sure, sir, you'll put us all to shame when I bring her Royal Highness

out of Innspruck."




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