warmth to its bright colours and a dancing light to the depths of her
dark eyes. Her hair was drawn backwards from her forehead, and the
frank, sweet face revealed to him from the broad forehead to the rounded
chin told him that here was one who joined to a royal dignity the simple
nature of a peasant girl who works in the fields and knows more of
animals than of mankind. Wogan was back again in that stone hall when
the voice of the Chevalier with its strong French accent broke in upon
his vision.

"Well, we will hear the story. Well, you left Ohlau with the Princess
and her mother and a mile-long train of servants in spite of my commands
of secrecy."

There was more anger and less despondency than was often heard in his
voice. Wogan raised himself again on tiptoes and noticed that the
Chevalier's face was flushed and his eyes bright with wrath.

"Sir," pleaded Hay, "the Princess's mother would not abate a man."

"Well, you reached Ratisbon. And there?"

"There the English minister came forward from the town to flout us with
an address of welcome in which he used not our incognitos but our true
names."

"From Ratisbon then no doubt you hurried? Since you were discovered, you
shed your retinue and hurried?"

"Sir, we hurried--to Augsburg," faltered Hay. He stopped, and then in a
burst of desperation he said, "At Augsburg we stayed eight days."