"Not wholly pleasant news, one might almost think," said Wogan, in some
perplexity.
"Never was better news," exclaimed the Cardinal, hastily,--a trifle too
hastily, it seemed to Wogan. "But it surprises one. Even the King did
not expect this most desirable issue. For the King's in Spain. It is
that which troubles me. Her Highness comes to Bologna, and the King's in
Spain."
"Yes," said Wogan, with a wary eye upon his Eminence. "Why is the King
in Spain?"
"There is pressing business in Spain,--an expedition from Cadiz. The
King's presence there was urged most earnestly. He had no hope you would
succeed. I myself have some share in the blame. I did not hide from you
my thought, Mr. Wogan."
Wogan was not all reassured. He could not but remember that the excuse
for the King's absence which the Cardinal now made to him was precisely
that which he himself had invented to appease Clementina at Innspruck.
It was the simple, natural excuse which came first of all to the
tongue's tip, but--but it did not satisfy. There was, besides, too much
flurry and agitation in the Cardinal's manner. Even now that he was
taking snuff, he spilled the most of it from the trembling of his
fingers. Moreover, he must give reason upon reason for his perturbation
the while he let his supper get cold.
"Her Highness I cannot but feel will have reason to think slightly of
our welcome. A young girl, she will expect, and rightly, something more
of ceremony as her due."
"Your Eminence does not know her," interrupted Wogan, with some
sharpness. His Eminence was adroit enough to seize the occasion of
ending a conversation which was growing with every minute more
embarrassing.
"I shall make haste to repair my defect," said he. "I beg you to present
my duty to her Highness and to request her to receive me to-morrow at
ten. By that, I will hope to have discovered a lodging more suitable to
her dignity."
Wogan made his prayer for the Pope's intervention on Jenny's behalf and
then returned to the Pilgrim Inn, dashed and fallen in spirit. He had
thought that their troubles were at an end, but here was a new
difficulty at which in truth he rather feared to guess. The Chevalier's
departure to Spain had been a puzzle to him before; he remembered now
that the Chevalier had agreed with reluctance to his enterprise, and had
never been more than lukewarm in its support. That reluctance, that
lukewarmness, he had attributed to a natural habit of discouragement;
but the evasiveness of Cardinal Origo seemed to propose a different
explanation. Wogan would not guess at it.