name of Schlestadt. No doubt the Countess while she bent over her
harp-strings took a look at that list. I must run the gauntlet into
Schlestadt."

Towards evening he came to Stuttgart and rode through the Schloss Platz
and along the Königstrasse. Wogan would not sleep there, since there the
Duke of Würtemberg held his court, and in that court the Countess of
Berg was very likely to have friends. He rode onwards through the valley
along the banks of the Nesen brook until he came to its junction with
the Neckar.

A mile farther a wooden mill stood upon the river-bank, beyond the mill
was a tavern, and beyond the tavern stood a few cottages. At some
distance from the cottages along the road, Wogan could see a high brick
wall, and over the top the chimneys and the slate roof of a large house.
Wogan stopped at the tavern. It promised no particular comfort, it was a
small dilapidated house; but it had the advantage that it was free from
new paint. It seemed to Wogan, however, wellnigh useless to take
precautions in the choice of a lodging; danger leaped at him from every
quarter. For this last night he must trust to his luck; and besides
there was the splash of the water falling over the mill-dam. It was
always something to Wogan to fall asleep with that sound in his ears. He
dismounted accordingly, and having ordered his supper asked for a room.

"You will sleep here?" exclaimed his host.

"I will at all events lie in bed," returned Wogan.

The innkeeper took a lamp and led the way up a narrow winding stair.