He stood by the window and spelled the meaning.

Then he turned to go down; but at the door his foot slipped upon the polished boards, and he stumbled onto his knee.

He picked himself up, and thinking no more of the matter rejoined the company in a room where the Countess of Berg was playing upon a harp.
"The King," said Wogan, drawing the Prince apart, "leaves Bologna for Rome." "So the letter came from him ?" asked the Prince, with an eagerness which could not but seem hopeful to his companion.
"And in his own hand," replied Wogan.
The Prince shuffled and hesitated as though he was curious to hear particulars.

Wogan thought it wise to provoke his curiosity by disregarding it.

It seemed that there was wisdom in his reticence, for a little later the Prince took him aside while the Countess of Berg was still playing upon her harp, and said,-- "Single-handed you could do nothing.