requestedassistance in His Majesty's name, and was given the Brigadier GiovanniPucci, a well-known and astute officer of the _brigade mobile_.
To the tall, thin, athletic-looking, clean-shaven man with small blackeyes, and hair turning a trifle grey, Hubert took a fancy at once, andin a taxi they went round to his rooms to hold secret council.
Beside the fire, while the detective, a crafty, keen-eyed Neapolitan,smoked cigarettes, the diplomat explained that he required strictinquiry made into the antecedents of the corporal, Tonini. He alsodesired information concerning the private lives of General Cataldi, hissecretary, Pironti, and the official, Lambarini.
The detective made some careful memoranda in his pocket-book andpromised most minute attention to the matter.
"Remember, Signor Pucci," Waldron said, "this affair is strictlyconfidential and concerns His Majesty alone. I shall tell him that Ihave entrusted the inquiry to you."
"I will do my very utmost, signore, and place in your hands all theinformation I can gather. You wish for a written report?"
"Certainly. And only actual facts."
The detective showed greatest curiosity regarding the reason of suchinquiries regarding public officials, but the Englishman told himnothing.
"Just make your inquiries, Signor Pucci," he said, "this is all Irequire of you at present. I may be absent from Rome for a week, sowhile I am away please continue to work. As you know, the Questore hasplaced your services entirely at His Majesty's disposal."
"I appreciate the honour which has been done me," was the astuteofficer's reply, for he was a brigadier, and a terror to the criminalfraternity in the Eternal City. Having graduated in the underworld ofNaples among the Camorra and the Mafia, he had become one of theQuestore's right-hand men. "His Majesty knows me," he added, "for Ihave done duty with him many times on his journeys. I am often told offas his personal guardian."
"In that case then I can rely upon you to treat this matter with theutmost confidence," Hubert remarked, and soon afterwards Peters showedthe tall man out.
Time after time Hubert examined the mysterious letter with which HerHighness had entrusted him. Why was Pujalet passing in Brussels as aServian? What secret could that sealed envelope contain which could notbe trusted to the post? Ah! if he could only discover it!
"Peters," he said presently, as his man came in to stir the fire, "I maybe leaving Rome for a day or two. I may even go to-night. So just packmy small suit-case."
"Yes, sir."
"Stay," he said, and going to a drawer in a small occasional table whichwas laden with English books and magazines he took out aserviceable-looking Browning pistol, adding: "Just put that in also."
"Very well, sir."
It did not surprise Peters, for his master often took the weapon withhim on night journeys upon Continental railways. Indeed in Italy oneacquires the habit of carrying a gun.
In the afternoon Hubert strolled, as usual, up the Pincio where he metand greeted many of the great ones in Roman Society, not because hecared for it, but because it was the correct thing to do so, and asdiplomat he had to bow always to Society's decree.
He afterwards paid a call upon the Princess Altieri at the great oldGrazini Palace, that fine mediaeval palazzo, the chief facades of which,as those who know Rome are aware, are in the Piazza della Valle and theVia del Sudario, that palace designed by the immortal Raphael anderected by Lorenzetto.
Entering the great portals where stood the pompous concierge in cockedhat and bearing his silver-headed staff of office, he ascended the greatstone staircase at the head of which a flunkey met him and conducted himto the huge gilded _salon_ wherein the Princess Altieri, a diminutiveold lady in black, was entertaining a crowd of chattering friends.
After he had bowed over the old lady's hand he glanced around andrecognised a number of familiar faces. His own Chief, besides theRussian and French Ambassadors were there, while there were a dozen orso marquises and Counts with their women-folk, a few foreign notables,and a sprinkling of the ornamental men from the Embassies.
Hubert found himself chatting with Count Niccoli, Colonial Secretary ofState, when presently his Chief came up and whispered in his ear:"Waldron, can you be round at the Embassy in an hour? I want to tellyou something."
"Certainly," was the diplomat's reply, and the two men were lost to eachother in the crush.
The chatter went on, for the old Princess being highly popular in Rome,many people always came to her weekly receptions. In half a dozentongues conversation was carried on, and the room with its ancientpainted ceiling, its closed windows and high stoves, was unbearably hot.Indeed, half aristocratic Rome seemed to have dropped in after itssunset airing on the Pincio.
An hour later, however, when Hubert entered the Ambassador's room, hisChief rose from his table with a grave expression upon his pale, refinedface.
"Waldron," he said, "I fear the secret of those stolen plans of thefrontier fortresses is out."
"The secret out!" gasped the other. "Why--what is known?"
"Look at this!" he said, taking from a drawer a telegram in cipher whichwas deciphered upon a sheet of paper to which it was pinned. "It camein at three o'clock. Read it."
Waldron scanned it with eager eyes, and saw that the message which hadbeen handed in at Vienna at half-past one was from Lord Ecclesbourne,British Ambassador to Austria, and read:
"From information received through confidential channels it seems thatAustria-Hungary is now rapidly and secretly mobilising on the Italianfrontier. The Seventh and Eleventh Army Corps are assembled at Bozenand Klagenfurt respectively. Orders have been sent to the Austrianfleet by wireless from Sebenico, but of these I have no knowledge. TheEmperor returned to Vienna last night and a meeting of the War Councilwas held an hour afterwards at which he was present. Though thenewspapers this morning merely announce a series of manoeuvres in theTyrol, it seems clear that a crisis has occurred and that immediatehostilities against Italy are contemplated. Please regard foregoing asconfidential and report back any information which may come to yourknowledge. I have to-day sent dispatches by telegram and also byspecial messenger to London.--Ecclesbourne."
"By Jove! This is extremely serious!" declared Hubert, standing aghastwith the dispatch in his hand. "No doubt the truth is out. Have youtold them here of this dispatch?"
"Certainly not. The information is ours, and, as you see, it isstrictly confidential."
"But surely I may warn His Majesty!"
"No," was the Ambassador's decided reply.
"But are we not a friendly Power?" argued the secretary. "Is it not ourduty to tell them what we know?"
"It may be, but I cannot betray what is sent to me as strictlyconfidential," was His Excellency's response.
"But Lord Ecclesbourne is unaware of the actual truth. If he knew it hecertainly would not withhold the information," Hubert argued.
"True. But do you not remember that any information obtained throughour Secret Service is strictly confidential, and must not on any pretextbe given to a foreign Power?"
"I know that, of course. But such a rule surely cannot apply in such acase as this," urged Waldron impatiently. "We know that the plans havebeen stolen, and that this hostile movement is the result. We surelyought to warn Italy, so that she is not taken by surprise, which is, nodoubt, the intention of her arch-enemy."
"No doubt it is," replied the Ambassador. "And I regret that we cannotbreak the rule. Indeed, I dare not--without orders from home."
"Those we shall never get, I fear. We cannot explain the facts by wire,and a messenger to Downing Street would take fully three days. Why, inthat time the Austrians will be in Venice and Milan!" declared Waldron."Can we do nothing to avert this war?" he asked frantically.
"What can we do, my dear fellow? Even if you went to His Majesty I donot see what benefit would accrue."
"It would put the Ministry of War upon its guard."
"They will know. Possibly they know already. Ghelardi
is a goodwatch-dog, and he has his spies in Vienna, just as we have. Probably heknows as much as we do," was the Ambassador's reply as he stood upon thered Turkey hearthrug with folded arms, a fine diamond pin sparkling inhis black cravat.
"But can we do nothing--nothing?" cried Waldron in impatience and alarm."I promised His Majesty that I would work in the interests of Italy,and if I withhold this fact from him, surely I shall be held culpable!"
"Your first duty is to your own King, Waldron," replied His Excellencyvery gravely. "To betray information obtained by our Secret Service is,by the regulations, absolutely forbidden, I repeat."
"I know that full well.