CHAPTER XXXI
While Ucelli, Syndic of Camajore, was congratulating himself he hadplayed his part so well that he had as little to fear from GilbertEversleigh as from the detective Brydges, or the journalist Westgate,who had come to make inquiries respecting the death of Cooper Silwood,Gilbert, on the other hand, was congratulating himself that, owing tothe final turn of their conversation, his going on to Rome seemed to theSyndic the right and proper thing to be done.
If Ucelli had suspected Gilbert had a twofold object in view, he wouldhave taken all the means in his power to prevent him from attaining it;but he thought Gilbert had dropped any idea he might have entertained ofopening Silwood's grave, and now had no other end than to obtain thenecessary authorization by which Silwood's effects would be handed tohim. The Syndic's mind, therefore, was at ease.
On his way to the Italian capital, Gilbert considered the situation. Hedid not doubt that the law with regard to the removal of acholera-infected body was what Ucelli stated, and he foresaw it might bedifficult, perhaps impossible, for him to accomplish his purpose. Hehoped, however, that he might put such stress on his belief that inSilwood's grave was no body at all, as would lead the British Ambassadorto make strong representations that in this case there could be nodanger in opening the grave.
On his arrival in Rome, Gilbert called at the Embassy immediately, onlyto be told that Lord Prestonkirk, the Ambassador, was not in the city,but was staying at a house he had in the mountains many miles away.Thither, accordingly, Gilbert went, the journey involving the loss of aday, at which he fretted not a little.
The kindness of his reception by Lord Prestonkirk speedily caused him toforget his vexation.
Lord Prestonkirk was one of the ablest and most experienced diplomatistsin the English service. He had spent a great many years at the ForeignOffice in London, becoming eventually the Permanent Under-Secretary, aposition he had occupied with great distinction until the PrimeMinister, who was also Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, hadoffered him the Embassy at Rome.
Gilbert presented his letter of introduction from Sir John Manners, theAmbassador's successor as Permanent Under-Secretary, to LordPrestonkirk, who at once said he would be very glad to do anything inhis power to assist him.
"I have come to your Excellency," said Gilbert, after thanking theAmbassador for his courteous reception, "to consult you confidentiallyon a very serious matter. I must unfold to you a strange story, and askfor your assistance, or, at least, advice. It is connected with thedeath of Mr. Silwood, my father's partner."
"I remember hearing of Mr. Silwood's death," said Lord Prestonkirk, "inthe north of Italy some weeks ago. Cholera, was it not?"
"So it was said," replied Gilbert. "My father received the intelligencein a letter from the Syndic of Camajore, the place of Mr. Silwood'sdeath; a certificate of the death accompanied the letter. Here theyare," Gilbert continued, taking them from his pocket, and placing thembefore the Ambassador. "Please read them."
"The certificate is in the usual form," said Lord Prestonkirk, "and theSyndic's letter shows that everything was done for the unfortunate manthat could be done. That is satisfactory."
"I have just come from Camajore," remarked Gilbert, "where I saw theSyndic. You will notice that in his letter he speaks of Mr. Silwoodhaving left certain effects; they will be handed over to me on myobtaining the proper authority."
"And you wish my help in the matter?"
"Yes, your Excellency; but this is only the beginning. I told you I hada strange story to unfold," said Gilbert. "To put the matter as brieflyas possible, I--or rather, I should say, my father and I--have reason tobelieve that the certificate of Mr. Silwood's death is a falsecertificate, that the letter of the Syndic is nothing but a clever pieceof fiction, and that Silwood is alive."
"What!" exclaimed the Ambassador. "Are you quite serious in making thesestatements?"
He looked at Gilbert incredulously.
"I certainly should not make them," answered Gilbert, gravely, "unlessthere was good ground for them. And as I do not believe that Silwood isdead, it follows that I do not believe his body lies buried at Camajore.It is regarding this that I beseech your Excellency's assistance."
The Ambassador was silent, but his face wore a perplexed expression.
"What you have said suggests, Mr. Eversleigh," remarked LordPrestonkirk, after a lengthy pause, "something criminal, that is, if youare right in your belief. I am afraid that I am not the proper personexactly to come to. But tell me succinctly what you thought you wouldask me to do in the case."
"I wished you to help me with the Italian Government by getting, or byputting me in the way of getting, authority to have the alleged grave ofSilwood opened up."
"I see. But supposing I did try to do this for you, it must be obviousto you that I should have to bring forward some very convincingargument. Graves are not opened except for special reasons."
"I know," responded Gilbert. "I was prepared for what you urge, and Imust tell you all. But in doing so, I am placing the honour of my fatherin your hands."
The Ambassador bowed.
"Mr. Eversleigh," he said, somewhat stiffly, "you must please yourselfas to what you tell me."
"I beg your Excellency's pardon," cried Gilbert; "but it is not too muchto say that it is a matter of life and death to my father and myself.Pardon me, I beg of you."
"Well, I'm ready to listen," said Lord Prestonkirk, more graciously."Indeed, I am a good deal interested. You have said enough to show methat there is some strange story, as you stated, and if I can be of anyservice to you, you may count upon me."
Then Gilbert told him all.
The Ambassador listened with great attention, asking a question now andagain as Gilbert proceeded with his tale. When it was finished, LordPrestonkirk remarked that he had never heard a stranger story.
"You believe," he asked, "that the testimony of the secret chamber isabsolutely convincing of Silwood's being alive?"
"Yes."
"Was there no one else who could have opened it?"
"No one but the maker, and he is out of the question. Who, besideSilwood, would have any object in opening it?"
"The conclusion is just," acknowledged the Ambassador; "and I believe,with you and your father, that the man is alive; everything undoubtedlypoints that way. But as I hinted, I think, to you already, it is reallya case for the police."
"Later it will in all probability be," said Gilbert; speaking with greatearnestness. "But at present my strong desire and hope is that I may beable to trace Silwood, lay hands on him, and get from him, in some wayor other, an explanation of certain transactions which he negotiated inthe course of his defalcations. If I were to have him arrested whenfound, it would most likely be impossible to get him to say anything."
"I understand," said the Ambassador, but he looked at Gilbert dubiously.
"I believe he had a confederate," Gilbert went on, as he saw LordPrestonkirk did not altogether follow him. "Let me explain a little morefully. The accountant who went over his books and papers found thatlarge transactions had taken place between Silwood and a certain JamesRussell. Inquiries were made about this Russell, and it turned out hewas quite a poor man, or, at all events, a man living in a very poor wayin Stepney--not in the least the sort of man to engage in largefinancial operations. I fancy he was a man of straw over whom, perhaps,Silwood may have had some hold, and that Silwood made use of him when aman of straw was needed. We found that this man had recently leftStepney, and I have employed a private detective to hunt him down."
"What did you say his name was?"
"James Russell."
"Ah!" exclaimed Lord Prestonkirk.
"Is it possible your Excellency knows anything of him?"
"Perhaps. Do you happen to know what he was like in appearance?"
"We could get no accurate description of the man. His neighbours said hewas seldom at home; they thought he was a workman."
"Well, it may only be a case of
coincidence," said the Ambassador; "butthe man's connection with Silwood suggests it may be something more thana coincidence. It happened one day last month, August, that there was aperson giving the name of James Russell, and described as a workman, aBritish subject, stabbed in the streets of Genoa. He was wounded in theside, but not severely. Though he refused to prosecute the person whoknifed him, and the thing was hushed up, the affair was reported to me,as it might have led to trouble. There was no prosecution, however, andI took very little interest in it, but the man's name comes back to me."
"It is more than a trifle curious," said Gilbert, musingly, "and Ishall not forget what you have told me."
This he said aloud, but inwardly he was asking himself if it might notbe that, after all, Silwood had communicated to James Russell the methodof opening the secret chamber. If that were the case, then the proof onwhich they built the idea of Silwood's being alive was not so convincingas they had thought. He kept this, however, to himself.
"I should say it was the same man," remarked the Ambassador. "As I tellyou, I attached no importance to the matter at the time, since it led tono trouble. Now, it seems very odd that this workman, James Russell, didnot try to get compensation for his injury--that looks strange in anordinary workman. Then there is the fact that Silwood was in the sameneighbourhood."
Lord Prestonkirk gazed at Gilbert.
"Your story grows upon me, Mr. Eversleigh," continued the Ambassador. "Iam immensely interested, and I'll see what I can do. But once more Imust tell you that it is a case for the police."
"I admit that it would be so under ordinary circumstances. But, yourExcellency, I must think of my father. I must try to save him. I do notsee how I am to do it, I confess; but while there is the slightestchance of getting fuller information than we now possess of what Silwooddid, I cannot abandon all hope. You see my position?"
"And sympathize with it; but still--still, it is all very irregular."
"But you will help me?"
"There will be difficulties. You see, I cannot tell the Italianauthorities what you have told me. I cannot use the same arguments withthem that you have used with me. Still, I am going to try what I can do.There is a detective in all of us, and you have excited the detective inme, and if I can get that grave opened for you, it shall be opened."
Gilbert thanked the Ambassador warmly.
"I shall be in Rome the day after to-morrow," said Lord Prestonkirk, ashe shook hands with Gilbert. "Come and see me in the afternoon."