thoughts, it had lain so close at his heart, that he had left it
unspoken, taking it as it were for granted that others were as familiar
with it as he.

"Sir," said he, eagerly, "I have never told you, but the Princess
Clementina when a child amongst her playmates had a favourite game. They
called it kings and queens. And in that game the Princess was always
chosen Queen of England."

The Chevalier started.

"Is that so?" and he gazed into Wogan's eyes, making sure that he spoke
the truth.

"In very truth it is," and the two men stood looking each at the other
and quite silent.

It was the truth, a mere coincidence if you will, but to both these men
omens and auguries were the gravest matters.

"There indeed is God's finger pointing," cried Wogan. "Sir, give me
leave to follow it."

The Chevalier still stood looking at him in silence. Then he said
suddenly, "Go, then, and God speed you! You are a gallant gentleman."

He sat down thereupon and wrote a letter to the King of Poland, asking
him to entrust the rescue of his daughter into Wogan's hands. This
letter Wogan took and money for his journey.