credit."
The countenance of the Chief of the Secret Service broadened into asmile of open derision. In his high official position he wasall-powerful in Italy--more powerful indeed than the whole Cabinet ofMinisters.
"Neither will it be to your credit when I describe to the King what Ihave witnessed to-night," he answered.
The Englishman had it upon the tip of his tongue to speak more openly,but on reflection realised that it would be more judicious to keep theinformation to himself. Jerningham knew that man who had been England'sarch-enemy while in the pay of his masters at Berlin; he had cause toknow him--and well, too.
"Signor Ghelardi," he said finally, "this matter is one of give andtake. I offer you terms for your silence. If you refuse, then I shallact as I think fit."
"Act just as you think fit," was the Italian's sneering response.
"Very well," replied the diplomat, turning and walking up the corridorback to the ballroom.
Half an hour later he met His Majesty face to face.
"Ah, Signor Waldron, you are back again in Rome--eh?" the King exclaimedanxiously. "Well--anything to tell me?" he asked, dropping his voice.
His Majesty was passing through the Sala Regia alone, and there wasnobody in the vicinity to overhear.
"Nothing, sir--only--"
"Only what? Quick," he said impatiently. "It is rumoured in Brusselsthat Austria is mobilising for attack!"
"In Brussels!" exclaimed the King as they walked together. "How do youknow that?"
"I have to-night returned from there."
"Curious--very curious," repeated His Majesty reflectively. "Here, asfar as I know, we have heard nothing. Ghelardi's agents in Viennareport by telegraph several times daily, but they can obtain no definiteinformation, though it is known that troops are massing in the south--for manoeuvres--the old story."
"I am still inquiring into the affair," said Waldron. "As soon as Ihave anything to report I will seek audience of Your Majesty."
"Yes; at any hour. I have instructed Villanova."
"I have not spoken about the matter to Ghelardi," the Englishman said asthey left the great _salon_ and turned into one of the corridors.Several men and women had halted to bow as His Majesty passed.
"Ghelardi has discovered nothing," was the King's hasty response. "Hehas all sorts of wild theories regarding the theft of the plans, but asfar as I can see he has no clue whatever to the thief."
"Then I shall continue to work without his aid," Waldron declared, and amoment later he bowed and left His Majesty, who passed through a smalldoor leading to the private apartments.
Next morning, at nine o'clock, Pucci, the brigadier of detective police,called at Hubert's rooms, and produced a carefully written report, whichthe Englishman settled himself to digest.
It certainly was interesting reading.
While the brigadier sat smoking a cigarette, the diplomat ran throughthe document, which showed that Pucci had been extremely active duringthe week of his absence.
The private and public lives--with extracts from the dossiers at thePrefecture of Police--of His Excellency the Minister for War, ofLambarini, secretary of the Council of Defence, and of Pironti, theMinister's private secretary, were all laid bare.
Of General Cataldi it was stated that, after long service in the army,he became General, commanding the Third Army Corps in Calabria. Whileoccupying that post an army scandal occurred regarding the supply ofstores, great quantities having been paid for and not delivered by thecontractors. A court martial was held and four officers attached to theGeneral's headquarters had been sentenced to terms of imprisonment anddismissed the Service. Certain journals had accused the General himselfof being cognisant of the misappropriation of funds, but this he hadindignantly denied and had demanded of the Minister of War an inquiryinto his conduct. This had been held, and a report returned that therewere no grounds for the allegation. But even in face of that thejournals in question had charged him with making scapegoats of the fourimprisoned officers.
It was curious that a year later the General, who had hitherto, like allItalian officers, not been very well off, had suddenly appeared to be inpossession of considerable funds. He had been transferred to Turin,where he had bought a large house and, with his wife, had entertainedlavishly. Another lady, a certain youthful Countess in Milan, hadattracted him, and in consequence, after a few months, his wifepreferred to live apart.
Then, by reason of his lavish entertainments, his apparent wealth, andalso because he had a number of influential friends in the Chamber ofDeputies, he had been called by the King and given his portfolio asMinister of War.
The confidential report added that his present expenditure greatlyexceeded his income, and that he was also heavily in debt, owing, ingreat measure, to the extravagances of the young Countess in question,who had now taken up her abode in Rome.
Against Colonel Lambarini nothing was known. He was happily married,with two charming children. He lived well within his income, and was ofa plain and rather economic turn of mind. He ran into debt for nothing,and his wife had a private income of her own.
The King's estimate of Lambarini was therefore perfectly correct.
With Pironti it was different. As His Excellency's secretary he was aman who pandered in every way to all his Chief's whims and foibles. Hewas a bachelor, and spent his evenings in the gaming clubs and otherquestionable haunts, and had been known to lose considerable sums atbaccarat. He frequented the political cafes and the variety theatres,and it was also well-known in the army that no one could obtain the earof His Excellency without first obtaining "the good graces of hissecretary."
"These good graces you mention, Signor Pucci, mean money, I suppose!"remarked Waldron suddenly in Italian.
"_Si, signore_," replied the dark-faced detective, with a smile.
Continuing, the report stated that Pironti often associated withundesirable persons, and, further, that it was a known fact that he hadreceived from many officers who had sought promotion _douceurs_ to aconsiderable amount. Indeed in the army it was declared that so lax wasHis Excellency in his duties as Minister that he left Pironti to preparethe lists of both promotions and military decorations, merely takingcare that the names of none of his enemies appeared there, andscribbling his signature to the decree for the King's approval.
Hubert Waldon sighed when he had finished that most instructivedocument.
Then, rising, he placed it in a drawer of his writing-table and lockedit safely away.
"So His Excellency and his secretary are not exactly above acceptingbribes--eh?" he asked, throwing himself again in his chair.
"According to the result of my inquiries they seem to be both reaping agolden harvest," Pucci said. "But perhaps not greater than in any otherdepartment."
"The police excepted, I hope," laughed the diplomat.
But the brigadier grinned. During his years of office he had known morethan one person being given timely warning to escape when theGovernment, forced to prosecute, did not wish to expose a scandal. TheItalian peasant may well say that the law for the count is exactlyopposite to that for the _contadino_.
Hubert sat for some moments looking straight into the fire.
He saw that General Cataldi, with the assistance of his dishonestsecretary, could enforce a secret toll from every officer who obtainedpromotion. While nearly every member of the Cabinet was doing the samething, and every Deputy was giving or accepting bribes, often quiteopenly, it was not likely that anyone would dare to come forward anddenounce them.
The motto of the Minister in Italy is to make a fortune while the officelasts. And they certainly do--as is proved by the constant scandalsever being exposed by the Press, while more are suppressed withhush-money.
But if this were so, and if His Excellency and his sycophant werereaping such a rich harvest, then would they dare to run such risks asto connive at the theft of the plans by a foreign agent?
According to Tonini, only His Excelle
ncy and the two secretaries enteredthe room wherein the plans reposed. Therefore, either His Excellency orhis secretary must have extracted them.
Nevertheless this report of Pucci's made it somewhat dubious whetherthese two corrupt officials, making the many thousands a yearthemselves, would go to such lengths as to betray their country into thehands of Austria.
Pucci sat there in silence, wondering what was passing through thediplomat's mind. He was, of course, in ignorance of what had happened,and was puzzled as to the reason why Waldron was so inquisitive.
Hubert knew the General's house well--a splendid villa of princelyproportions, with delightful garden and terraces, about five miles outof Rome on the white, dusty road which leads to Civita Vecchia. It wasnear Malagrotta, in the picturesque hills through which still runs theancient