O'Toole had not deserted his post, but he had none the less admitted
these two men. For Wogan and Maria Vittoria had barely been ten minutes
within the house when O'Toole heard the sound of horses' hoofs in the
entrance of the alley. They stopped just within the entrance. O'Toole
distinguished three horses, he saw the three riders dismount; and while
one of the three held the horses, the other two walked on foot towards
the postern-door.
O'Toole eased his sword in its scabbard.
"The little fellows thought to catch Charles Wogan napping," he said to
himself with a smile, and he let them come quite close to him. He was
standing motionless in the embrasure of the door, nor did he move when
the two men stopped and whispered together, nor when they advanced
again, one behind the other. But he remarked that they held their cloaks
to their faces. At last they came to a halt just in front of O'Toole.
The leader produced a key.
"You stand in my way, my friend," said he, pleasantly, and he pushed by
O'Toole to the lock of the door. O'Toole put out a hand, caught him by
the shoulder, and sent him spinning into the road. The man came back,
however, and though out of breath, spoke no less pleasantly than before.
"I wish to enter," said he. "I have important business."
O'Toole bowed with the utmost dignity.
"Romanus civis sum," said he. "Sum senator too. Dic Latinam
linguam, amicus meus."
O'Toole drew a breath; he could not but feel that he had acquitted
himself with credit. He half began to regret that there was to be a
learned professor to act as proxy on that famous day at the Capitol. His
antagonist drew back a little and spoke no longer pleasantly.
"Here's tomfoolery that would be as seasonable at a funeral," said he,
and he advanced again, still hiding his face. "Sir, you are blocking my
way. I have authority to pass through that door in the wall."
"Murus?" asked O'Toole. He shook his head in refusal.
"And by what right do you refuse me?"
O'Toole had an inspiration. He swept his arm proudly round and gave the
reason of his refusal.
"Balbus aedificabat murum," said he; and a voice that made O'Toole
start cried, "Enough of this! Stand aside, whoever you may be."
It was the second of the two men who spoke, and he dropped the cloak
from his face. "The King!" exclaimed O'Toole, and he stood aside. The
two men passed into the garden, and Wogan saw them from the window.