view of the theft of the plans themselves; mysecretary placed them in the safe prior to being returned to theDepartment of Fortifications."
"Then I take it that the missing plans are quite useless to any outsiderwithout the measurements and calculations upon the key?"
"That is so."
"You have never stated this before," remarked Waldron in surprise.
"No question has been put to me."
"But the plans were stolen and the consequences extremely grave."
"And Ghelardi has been in search of the thief. He is no friend ofmine," said the General with an expressive smile.
"Hence you have not mentioned the key--eh?" His Excellency smiled againin the affirmative. "Then, if the key is safe, the plans are, afterall, useless?"
"Exactly, Signor Waldron. Indeed I question whether a foreign Powercould make out what new construction were intended--and certainly theycould not--without the tracings you refer to--discover the strength ofthe armaments of the forts."
"Then that is all I require to know at present," Hubert said, and a fewmoments later, as Pironti entered, he took his leave.
At noon he was standing in his room when the crooked-backed Petersushered in Her Royal Highness. She was dressed smartly, but neatly, indeep black, with a large hat which suited her admirably, though her facewas white as paper.
"I was unable to go out to Frascati," she explained, as she put out hergloved hand to him. "So I thought it better to risk being seen and tocall on you, Mr Waldron."
The door was closed and they stood alone.
His eyes were fixed upon her, and for some seconds he did not reply.
"Lola," he said at last, "I--I really hardly know what to say. Thewhole affair of last night is too terrible for words."
"I know, Mr Waldron. Ah! I--I feel that I cannot face you, for whatexcuse can I make? I have no excuse--none whatever."
"But why in Heaven's name have you betrayed your country--why have youplaced yourself so utterly and entirely in the hands of your enemies?"he cried in blank dismay.
"Because--ah! because I have been compelled."
"Compelled to hand Italy's secrets over to the hands of her enemies?" heasked in bitter reproach.
"Yes. But, at the time, I was in ignorance of what I was doing--of thefateful consequences--until, alas! too late."
"And then?"
"Then, when I realised what! Had done--when I knew that I had made sucha terrible mistake, and, further, that you were in search of the thief,I became horrified. Ah! you do not know what I have suffered--howhorrible, how awful it has all been; in what constant dread I have livedall these long months, forced as I was to betray my country which Ilove."
"Forced--what do you mean?" he asked with a very grave look.
"I was forced, because I was utterly helpless," she gasped, her glovedhand upon the back of a chair to steady herself. "Last night I failed,because--because of you, Mr Waldron, and that failure means to me butone thing--death--_death by my own hand_!"
He stared at her, starting at her strange words. "Why, what do youmean, Lola?" he asked quickly. "Are you really in your right sensesthat you should say this?"
"I tell you quite openly and frankly, that I have come this morning tosee you, because of my promise of last night--but it is to see you forthe last time. Now, when I leave you I shall go back, and before to-dayis out, I shall have bidden farewell to you--and to all!"
"No, no. You are not yourself to-day," he said. "You--a RoyalPrincess--contemplating suicide! It's absurd! Think of the terriblescandal--of your family, of the Royal House."
"The scandal would be greater, if I dared to live and face exposure."
"But why face exposure?"
"There is no other way. Last night, just as I was within an ace ofreleasing myself from the terrible bondage, you entered and discoveredthe disgraceful truth. Ghelardi, too, knows it. He will tell HisMajesty--for he hates both you and I, as you well know."
"Your Highness may rest absolutely assured that he will say no word tothe King--he dare not."
"Dare not? Why? Ghelardi will dare anything."
"He will not dare to utter a syllable regarding the events of lastnight," said Waldron. "Therefore this affair remains between you andme."
And he looked her straight in the face, much pained at that tragicinterview.
"Be frank with me, Lola--do!" he urged after a moment's pause. "Tell methe real truth, and I may yet be able to save the situation."
"No," she cried, wringing her hands frantically. "You cannot. I havecome to bid you good-bye--you, my good friend. Ah! I have been toofoolish; I have disregarded all good counsels, and have gone down--downto my death! Yet only; because I have loved. Had I not had themisfortune to have been born a princess I should have loved and beenhappy. But, alas! happiness is impossible for me, unfortunate as I am--only death--death!"
And she stood, her white nervous lips moving in silence, her fine eyesfixed straight before her as though looking into the Unknown, horrified,transfixed.
CHAPTER THIRTY.
MIJOUX FLOBECQ.
"Lola," he cried at last, unable to stand the sight of her tears anddespair, and equally unable to restrain--himself longer. "Lola! Let mehelp you--let me know the real facts, however ugly they may be--and Iwill get you out of this difficulty! I implore you to do this,because--ah! you force me to confess to you, though I have believedmyself strong enough to preserve my secret--_because I love you_!"
She started quickly and drew back, staring at him in surprise throughher tear-dimmed eyes.
"You!" she gasped.
"Yes," he answered in a quick, low whisper, grasping her small hand inhis. "I know that I have no right to speak to you thus, but I cannothold my secret longer. My love for you is forbidden, and besides Iknow, alas! too well, that your affection is centred upon another--HenriPujalet--the man who loves you."
Mention of her lover's name seemed to electrify her. She snatched awayher hand, turned her head and ejaculated:
"No, no. Do not mention that man's name, I beg of you?"
This caused Hubert considerable surprise. Was it actually possible thatthey had quarrelled? He recollected that Pujalet had told him that hehad come to Rome to meet her.
"I regret, Lola, if I have annoyed you," he said quickly in deepapology, "but the fact remains that I love only you--you, my love!"
"You have forgotten your Spanish dancer--eh?" she asked in a strangetone of reproach.
"I took your advice," was his simple reply; "and in doing so I graduallygrew to love you, Princess, yet knowing that my affection could onlybring me, a lonely man, grief, pain and despair."
She was silent. Her little, white-gloved hand was again in his, and hehad raised it reverently to his lips.
Ah! that was to him a moment of extreme ecstasy, for her hand lay inertand he saw that though her head was turned to conceal her emotion, herchest heaved and fell convulsively. She was sobbing.
He placed his arm tenderly about her small waist, and slowly she turnedher tear-stained face to his. Their gaze met, but no second glance wasneeded to show that the passionate affection was reciprocated, though itremained unspoken, unacknowledged.
For some moments he held her in his strong, manly embrace, and though noword passed between them their two hearts beat in unison.
Alas! it was but a false paradise. Yet are not our lives made up ofsuch? And we, all of us, are prepared to sacrifice years of wearinessand of grief for five brief minutes of sweet illusion.
He did not speak. He knew not what to say. The serious nature of thattheft on the previous night he realised, alas! too well. Had thatintricate key plan passed from her hand, then the whole truth would havebeen out, and Europe must have been suddenly aflame.
As it was, his duty remained towards her, to strive to stifle thescandal and prevent the story either reaching the King's ears orbecoming public property.
Cataldi knew that the key had been stolen, and
would probably inform HisMajesty, in which case Hubert would be hastily summoned to audience andclosely questioned.
In such circumstances what could he explain? Ay, what?
For fully five minutes the pair stood there motionless, save that withhis hand he had softly stroked her cheek. Then, unable to repress thepassion that arose within his bursting heart, he bent until his lipstouched hers in a fierce, passionate caress.
She turned her great, expressive eyes upon his, those eyes that were sodeep and fathomless, and sighed heavily as he kissed her. Her beautifulhead was thrown back, displaying her slim white throat, around which wasa thin platinum chain from which was suspended a tiny platinum locketencrusted with diamonds, a gift of