And carrying with him the secret of Italy's peril, he descended the great marble staircase, where at the foot stood the two gorgeous flunkeys in the royal livery who bowed low as he pa.s.sed out.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

IS MAINLY PROBLEMATICAL.

Hubert Waldron, after a sleepless night, determined to begin his inquiries independently of the famous Chief of Police, Ghelardi, whom he had not met since that memorable evening in Shepheard's.

It was news to him that the famous European spy had resigned from the service of his masters in Berlin, and returned to the land of his birth.

At least, however, there was one consolation, namely, that he would, in his new position, no longer be antagonistic to England.

Waldron's first impulse when he dressed that morning was to go over to the Ministry and seek him, but on reflection he feared that the old man might be jealous of his interference in the affair. Hence it would best to act independently.

With that object he first went along to the Emba.s.sy and had a chat with his Chief and then called upon General Cataldi at the handsome Ministry of War in the Via Venti Settembre. There he explained matters to the short, alert, little white-haired man who, in his smart uniform, received him in his private cabinet. His Excellency was at first much surprised to learn that the Englishman knew so much, but soon expressed his readiness to a.s.sist him by every means in his power.

"My first object is to have an interview with Corporal Tonini, of the 19th Bersiglieri," Hubert said in Italian.

"With pleasure, signore," replied the dapper Minister who was enjoying one of those long Toscanos so dear to the Italian palate, and he at once pressed a b.u.t.ton.

A sentry appeared instantly.

"Tell Major Brusati I wish to see him at once," he said.

"Yes, Excellency," replied the man, who saluted and retired.

"This affair, Signor Waldron, is a most serious one for us," he said a few moments later. "You see yonder. There is the safe in which the plans were--"

At that moment he was interrupted by the entrance of a burly major of artillery in dark blue uniform with the broad yellow stripe down his blue-grey trousers.

"Brusati, I want Corporal Tonini, Number 34876 19th Regiment of Bersiglieri to be called here at once. This gentleman, Signor Waldron, of the British Emba.s.sy, desires an interview with him in private."

"_Benissimo_, Excellency," replied the Major, saluting. "I will telephone over to the barracks at once."

"And let me know as soon as he arrives."

"Immediately, Excellency."

And the officer turned upon his heel and left.

"Your Excellency was pointing out the safe when we were interrupted,"

Hubert remarked, noticing that there were three safes in the room. Two were large, heavy ones of a well-known English make, painted dark green, against the left-hand wall, while the other was a smaller one embedded in the wall behind the Minister's chair.

"It is this," replied the General rising and approaching the safe in the wall. "From this the doc.u.ments mysteriously disappeared."

Hubert also rose from his chair, and going behind the writing-table, stood beside the Minister of War examining the steel door carefully.

"Has Ghelardi been here?" he inquired of His Excellency.

"He was here last night."

"What did he do?"

"He made a complete examination of it and took photographs of some finger-prints upon the k.n.o.b and door," responded General Cataldi, placing his own key in the lock and turning the handle twice, opened the heavy, steel door, disclosing a number of pigeon-holes, wherein reposed quant.i.ties of papers.

Waldron carefully inspected the door, and saw that it was by the same excellent maker as the other two.

"There is no question of the papers having been put in one or other of the racks," the General said. "Confidential papers are always placed in this drawer," and he opened a small, steel drawer in the bottom of the safe. It was empty.

"Have all these papers been examined?"

"With my secretary, Colonel Pironti, I examined each one last night.

The doc.u.ments in question have undoubtedly disappeared."

Hubert Waldron stood before the open safe in pensive silence.

Then he bent, and taking his gold, half-hunter watch from his pocket and opening it, used the small lens as a magnifying gla.s.s with which he carefully examined the lock of the safe.

"There are no marks of the lock having been tampered with," he remarked to His Excellency. "A false key must evidently have been used."

"That is Ghelardi's opinion."

Then the diplomat, with His Excellency's permission, removed the whole of the papers from the safe, and carefully examined the sides and back of the interior, satisfying himself that they were all intact.

"Which wall is this?" he asked, tapping it with his hand.

"The outer wall--in the courtyard," was the Minister's prompt reply.

"It could not have been attacked from behind, as we are fifty feet from the ground. The exterior wall has already been examined."

Waldron made no reply. He was thinking deeply--wondering whether, after all, His Excellency, General Cataldi, Minister of War, knew more about the affair than he had admitted? The corruptness of Monte Citorio was too universally known, and Austria would, no doubt, give a very substantial sum for such important information as that which had been stolen.

His Excellency, on his part, stood with his cigar half-smoked between his teeth, a smart figure in his General's undress uniform, with the green-and-white cross of Maurice and Lazarus at his throat, controller of an army which in case of war would consist of three and a half million men.

Was Hubert's faint suspicion correct? Regrettable as it was, few men in Italy accepted Ministerial portfolios for the sake of the small remuneration paid to them. Everyone looked to office as a means of increasing his income, from the Minister of Justice down to the most obscure prefect. Therefore, was General Cataldi an exception, or was he endeavouring to fix a scapegoat among his underlings? Such a circ.u.mstance was not at all unknown in the modern official life in Rome.

But Hubert Waldron determined not to form any premature theory. He refused to allow his mind to become prejudiced by previous events.

In several notable cases of espionage, particularly when that secret report of the British Admiralty regarding the results of our naval manoeuvres two years before had mysteriously disappeared from Whitehall, he had successfully cleared up the mystery. Indeed, he had earned the thanks of the Prime Minister and of the Sovereign, and had gained his M.V.O. for his clever and untiring efforts, by which he was actually able to wrest the precious and most confidential doc.u.ments from the possession of the spy--a traitorous Englishman who had acted on behalf of Germany--a man who that same night committed suicide at his house at Richmond, in order to avoid arrest.

Probably it was knowledge of Hubert's previous successes that had induced His Majesty King Umberto III to invoke his a.s.sistance. At any rate His Majesty could scarcely have chosen a keener, or more resourceful man.

He had made a second and most thoroughly exhaustive examination of the safe when Major Brusati entered, saluted, and remarked:

"Corporal Tonini is in the ante-room, Excellency."

"I will see him alone," said Hubert, "if I may be permitted?"

"Certainly, signore," replied His Excellency politely. Then, addressing the Major, he said:

"Take Signor Waldron to the man. He wishes to see him."