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"And he?" she interrupted,--"he died there Well?"

"You know the laurel hedge by the sun-dial? There is an out-house where

the gardener keeps his tools I found a spade there, and beneath that

laurel hedge I buried him"

Lady Featherstone rose to her feet She spoke no word; she uttered no

cry; her face hite and terrible She stood rigid like one

paralysed; then she swayed round and fell in a swoon upon the floor And

as she fell, soht slipped from her hand and dropped at

Wogan's feet He picked it up It was a stiletto He stood looking down

at the childish figure with a queer compassionate smile upon his face

"She could love," said he; "yes, she could love"

He walked out of the house, led his horse back onto the road and ; there were purple shadows upon the

Apennines Wogan rode away alone

Chapter 26 Epilogue Sir Charles Wogan had opportunities enough to appreciate in later years

the accuracy of Maria Vittoria's prophecy "Here are two people

cross-mated," said she, and events bore her out The jealousies of

courtiers no doubt had their share in the estrangement of that unhappy

couple, but that was no consolation to Wogan, who saithin so short a

time of that journey into Italy, James separated fro the seclusion of a convent As his