They reached Ala towards two o'clock of the morning.

The town had some reputation in those days for its velvets and silks, and Wogan made no doubt that somewhere he would procure a carriage to convey them the necessary five miles into Venetian territory.

The Prince of Baden was still ahead of them, however.

The inn of "The Golden Lion" had not a single horse fit for their use in its stables.

Wogan, however, obtained there a few likely addresses and set out alone upon his search.