She waited for him to speak.

Wogan unwound the coil of rope from his body.
"Your Highness laughed at me for that I would not part with my rope.

I have a fear this night will prove my wisdom." And with that he began deliberately to break up the chairs in the room.

Clementina asked no questions; she watched him take the rungs and bars of the chairs and test their strength.

Then he cut the coil of rope in half and tied loops at intervals; into the loops he fitted the wooden rungs.