The Mystery of Lincoln's Inn

  CHAPTER XXXII

  Gilbert returned to Rome, well content with his success so far. He feltthat Lord Prestonkirk was genuinely interested, and therefore would doall he possibly could to help him. But, at the same time, what he hadheard concerning James Russell filled his mind with disquiet anduncertainty.

  The presence of James Russell in Northern Italy at or about the date ofSilwood's reported death was in itself startling. True, there were manyJames Russells in the world, and this particular James Russell who hadbeen wounded in the streets of Genoa, might not be the James Russellwhom he regarded as Silwood's confederate or accomplice; but Gilbert hadlittle or no doubt that he was the man he wanted so much to find.

  And if this were the case, what then? What was this man doing inNorthern Italy, a few miles from Camajore? The answer evidently was thathe had been in touch with Silwood.

  Again Gilbert was forced to ask himself, Might not Silwood, after all,be dead and buried at Camajore, as the Syndic had said? If that were so,then Silwood must have communicated a knowledge of the secret chamber toRussell before his death, and the secret chamber must have been openedby Russell. On a review of all the circumstances, Gilbert was compelledto acknowledge that this might be the explanation. If it were, it wasobvious that he must try harder than ever to lay James Russell by theheels. But he was still determined to have the grave opened. For ifSilwood's body were in it, then there was no more to be said on thathead, and Cooper Silwood would disappear finally from the story, leavingthe mystery of Lincoln's Inn for ever unsolved.

  Gilbert wrote to his father, Francis Eversleigh, an account of what hehad done and of what he had heard with regard to James Russell. He alsocommunicated with the private detective he was employing to trackRussell down.

  At the time fixed, Gilbert went to see the Ambassador, but it was onlyto meet with disappointment.

  "I must ask you," said Lord Prestonkirk, "to exercise a little patience,as it may be a day or two before the matter can be settled one way orthe other. I saw the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and told him what youwished. Of course I did not tell him what you told me, but I said Ibelieved there were good reasons for my supporting your application forhaving the grave opened. I dare say he thinks that it has something todo with politics. Be that as it may, we are on excellent terms, and hepromised to see about it, but said it was outside his department, and hemust speak to the Minister of Justice, as such affairs were under hiscontrol."

  "I am greatly obliged to you," said Gilbert, earnestly. "Can you give meany idea when you will hear from the Minister again?"

  "Very soon, I think. I urged that the matter was most important, andsaid that I should deem it a personal favour if there was as littledelay as possible."

  "You are most kind," said Gilbert, "and I don't know how I am to thankyou sufficiently."

  "Pray do not try, Mr. Eversleigh. You see," continued the Ambassadorwith a smile, "you have aroused my curiosity, and I must say I am quitekeen to know the truth. Come again to-morrow, and perhaps I may havesomething definite to tell you."

  Gilbert called at the Embassy the following day, scarcely expecting tohear the "something definite" of which Lord Prestonkirk had spoken, butto his joy he did.

  "I have to tell you," said the Ambassador, cordially, "of a mostunexpected piece of good fortune."

  "You have succeeded!" cried Gilbert, excitedly.

  "Yes; but let me tell you how it came about. It appears that Ucelli, theSyndic of Camajore, has been for a long time in the black books of hissuperior, the Minister of Justice. This is the piece of good fortune sofar as you are concerned. As soon as he heard that Ucelli was suspectedof having issued a false death certificate, he instantly said that sucha charge must be immediately investigated. So far as I can make out, theMinister was delighted with the opportunity of making thingsparticularly unpleasant for Ucelli, on whom he has had an eye formonths. I imagine he is anxious to find a sufficient reason for removinghim from his position. You will get the benefit of the Minister's beingin this frame of mind. It is a lucky thing for you, and I hope it is agood omen of your success."

  "Thank you again and again," said Gilbert. "I am infinitely indebted toyour Excellency. What can I do to show how thankful I am?"

  "There is one way," replied the Ambassador, kindly. "I wish you to keepme informed of what takes place--I want to know the sequel to thisstrange story into which you have brought me."

  "Oh, I shall be very glad to let you know what happens; I should havedone that in any case. Now, your Excellency, what is the next move?"

  "The Minister of Justice is determined that the matter shall be probedto the bottom," rejoined Lord Prestonkirk. "He is therefore sending toCamajore no less a person than his Deputy-Minister. I was rathersurprised to hear it, for the Deputy-Minister is quite a great man, butit indicates the importance the Minister attaches to the investigation,and you may be sure it will be thorough."

  "I am very glad to hear it," said Gilbert, but he had hardly utteredthese words when a sort of dread came over him that Silwood's body mightbe found in the grave. He steadily refused, however, to let his minddwell on this idea.

  "All that remains for me to do now, Mr. Eversleigh," said theAmbassador, "is to give you a line to the Minister of Justice by way ofintroduction; you had better go and call on him at once."

  "Yes, I will do so."

  Lord Prestonkirk wrote a short note, and handing it to Gilbert, wishedhim good-bye and good luck.

  "Don't forget to let me know--eh--the sequel," smiled the Ambassador, ashe shook hands with Gilbert.

  Arrived, within a few minutes of his leaving the Embassy, at theMinistry of Justice, Gilbert was almost immediately ushered into thepresence of Signor Fava, the Minister. Finding that Gilbert did not knowItalian, Signor Fava conversed with him in English.

  "You believe Ucelli to be in a plot," said the Minister, after somediscussion, "to screen this Mr. Silwood? Yes; but there is one questionI must ask: Why has he tried to screen Mr. Silwood? What was, or is, theconsideration?"

  "I do not know what was, or is, the connection between the two," repliedGilbert.

  "Ucelli must have been offered some strong inducement."

  "That is probable, most probable."

  "It must be inquired into, it must!"

  The Minister touched an electric bell, and his Secretary entered theroom.

  "Please request Signor Vinci to come to me," the Minister said inItalian to his subordinate, who forthwith withdrew.

  "Signor Vinci," the Minister explained to Gilbert, "is my Deputy. Imerely desire to introduce you to him. I have already asked him toarrange with you when to go to Camajore. When do you intend to go?"

  "I should like to go at once--that is, if it is convenient to SignorVinci."

  "How would to-morrow do?"

  "Capitally."

  A tall, swarthy man, with a determined-looking face, now came in.

  "Mr. Eversleigh," said the Minister, "this is the Deputy-Minister,Signor Vinci. He has already received his instructions, and if you cango to-morrow, so can he. And you will find that he can speak English aswell as or better than I."

  "Oh no, Excellency," protested the Deputy. "But I am certainly quiteready to go with Mr. Eversleigh to-morrow, if that suits him."

  And so it was arranged.

  Before setting out next morning, Gilbert received a telegram from hisbrother Ernest, which made him very sad. It ran--

  "Father seriously ill, but immediate danger not apprehended. He isunable to attend office. I opened your last letter to him, but amcompletely fogged as to its meaning."

  "My father seriously ill," thought Gilbert. "How he has suffered! If theworst happens, it will have been Silwood who has killed him! And theoffice! How long can it go on in my father's absence without somethingbeing discovered and a catastrophe precipitated? What a terriblesituation! What am I to do?" he asked himself, greatly agitated. But alittle reflection convinced him that it was his duty to proceed toCamajore. Still, his brot
her's message chilled and depressed hisspirits.

  It was towards the middle of the afternoon when Gilbert and Signor Vinciwalked up the single street of Camajore to the residence of Ucelli.

  The Syndic saw the Deputy-Minister with surprise, but was far fromguessing the real cause of his appearance.

  "It is about the effects of that poor Signor Silwood you have come," hesaid to Signor Vinci in Italian, "along with Signor Eversleigh, is itnot?"

  "The effects," said Vinci, diplomatically; "yes. Let me see them."

  The Syndic produced the money and the various articles which hadbelonged to Silwood.

  "I will give you a receipt for them," said the Deputy, "and take themwith me to Rome. They will eventually be given to the person or personswho can show the best claim to them."

  "That is quite correct," agreed the Syndic, obsequiously. "Will yourExcellency take them now?"

  "Yes."

  The Deputy-Minister, the look of determination on his face which ithabitually wore suddenly becoming sharply accentuated, snapped out the"Yes" so harshly that Ucelli could not help noticing it; there was thatin it which made him quake. He glanced at the Deputy to see if he couldinterpret the swift change in his manner.

  "Mr. Eversleigh," said Vinci, crisply, "has proffered a request to theMinister of Justice, and his Excellency will comply with it. Thisrequest was that the grave of Mr. Silwood should be opened, and the bodyremoved to England. It is permitted."

  "But, Excellency," urged the Syndic, "pray consider the circumstances.Mr. Silwood died of cholera."

  "I am aware of it," said the Deputy. "Of course, every precautionscience can suggest must be taken. But the command of the Ministeradmits of no discussion. The grave must be opened, and that to-day; now,or at any rate as soon as possible."

  "But, Excellency!" began Ucelli, "I----"

  "Say no more! The matter is settled, and I am here to see the grave isopened and the body given over to Mr. Eversleigh."

  "A thousand pardons, but, Excellency, I shall be able to get no one todig. Everybody knows Mr. Silwood died of cholera; and who amongst thevillagers will have the courage to face the pestilence?"

  "But with proper precautions?"

  "Alas! our simple people do not understand precautions; they dounderstand what death from cholera means by the way of infection."

  "I must say I do not comprehend the objection, if the necessaryprecautions are taken. No, signor, let us to work at once. I will gowith you and procure disinfectants, and, thereafter, the grave-diggers,while Mr. Eversleigh rests here. Come!"

  The Syndic scanned the Deputy's face, but it was uncompromisinglyresolute.

  "There is no need for your Excellency to put yourself to the trouble ofgoing with me--I can easily see to all that is required," suggestedUcelli.

  "I prefer to go with you," replied the Deputy, with unmistakabledecision. Then he added, "My authority may be of some use to you,signor, with the grave-diggers."

  And the voice of the Deputy was exceedingly grim, while Ucelli turned asickly white and found nothing more to say.