about her.
The future of that beautiful girl, the most admired of all thatbrilliant throng at court, was the future of Italy. Angelo Borselliknew it, and recognised what an important part that handsome daughter ofthe Minister was destined to play.
"There is one way--only one way," he answered, bending towards her,speaking confidentially, and keeping his deep-set eyes fixed upon hers."The man Dubard has very cleverly succeeded in forcing you to accept himas husband. But you must escape from your present peril by revealingthe truth."
"The truth of what?"
"The truth of that man's motives."
"But they are all a mystery. How can I ascertain the truth?"
"There is one man who knows--one man who, if he chose to speak, could atonce give you freedom."
"But who is he?" she inquired eagerly.
"Felice Solaro--your friend."
"Solaro!" she gasped. "But he is in prison in Turin, condemned forfifteen years for treason!"
"For an offence of which he is not guilty," declared the Under-Secretaryquickly.
"Ah! And that is your opinion, as mine, general!" she cried eagerly."I know he is innocent."
"Then secure his release. Persuade your father to sign a decreereversing the finding of the court-martial, and he, in turn, can saveyou from falling victim to this man to whom you are giving yourself inmarriage."
Angelo Borselli met her piercing glance unmoved. She seemed to betrying to divine the schemer's secret thoughts.
"You will do this--for your own sake," he whispered earnestly. "It isunjust that the poor captain should be kept in prison for a crime ofwhich he is innocent."
"But if you know that he is not guilty, why have you not already usedyour own influence as Under-Secretary to secure his release?" she asked,with distinct suspicion, a thousand uneasy thoughts agitating her bosom.
"Because I am powerless. It is only His Excellency, your father, whocan sign decrees," was his reply, adding, "I have more than oncedirected his attention to the act of gross injustice, but his reply hasin each case been the same--namely, that he had examined the evidence,and that he could discover no doubt about the captain's culpability inselling the secrets of Tresenta and of our mobilisation scheme for theprotection of the French frontier. Both secrets actually reached theIntelligence Department of the French Ministry of War, for that has beenproved beyond doubt by our secret agents in Paris; and, further, theypassed through the hands of a lady friend of Solaro's--Filomena Nodari."
"Where is that woman now? Still in Bologna?"
"No, I think not," was his reply, without, however, telling her how hehad taken the woman into his service and sent her to England. "Ilearned a short time ago that she had left, and gone abroad."
"It was through her false evidence that Felice was convicted. She toldfoul untruths concerning him," his companion cried angrily.
"I know. Perhaps it is owing to fear of the truth being exposed thatshe has left Bologna. But in any case, it is only common justice thatpoor Solaro should be released. He has never had a chance of a properappeal--your father refused it to him."
"But why? Has my father any reason why the poor fellow should be keptin prison?"
Angelo Borselli raised his shoulders and exhibited his palms in agesture more forcible than mere words.
"And if he has, then how can I hope to succeed in turning his favourtowards the accused man?"
"Try. Do your utmost, signorina," he urged, with perhaps more eagernessthan was really warrantable in such circumstances. "Appeal to yourfather's sense of justice, to his honour, to his reputation as onealways ready to redress wrongs. You, as his daughter, can accomplisheverything if you wish--even the freedom of Felice Solaro."
"And if I do?"
"Then he will speak the truth, and you need have no fear of the man whohas so cleverly entrapped you into this engagement. When the truth isout he will at once relinquish his claim to your hand."
She hesitated. She was wondering whether the crafty statesman who hadrisen by her father's favours was really aware of the secret compact shehad made with Dubard; whether he knew that she had given her hand to himin exchange for his protection of her father's honour.
Jules had seen her a few days after the curious scene in the Chamber ofDeputies. He had come to her to receive the payment he had demanded inthe shape of a formal engagement of marriage. But he had told hernothing concerning the manner in which he had managed to avert thecrisis, and she only knew the story of the letter to Montebruno throughVito Ricci, her father's spy. She was unaware of Jules' visit to theman now before her, or of his threat to make revelations if the fatalquestion were asked in the Chamber.
Women of Mary Morini's type rise to higher heights of sacrifice and,when determined, act with a courage rare among men. She is herself in athousand ways men never dare to be, and a fine woman is worth a hundredof the finest men.
"But if you are really speaking in my own interests as my friend,general, why cannot you furnish me with the weapon by which I can defendmyself from him?" she suggested at last.
"For two reasons. First, your parents, ignorant of the real facts, aredelighted at the prospect of your marriage; secondly, Solaro alone holdsthe truth. He can speak and prove his facts."
"Regarding what?"
"Regarding Jules Dubard."
"Regarding the man whom you still allege is your friend? Really,general, the manner in which you exhibit friendship towards others is arather curious one, if this is an example of it?"
He was unprepared for such a remark from her. But it showed him,nevertheless, how frank and fearless she had become.
"I merely offer you my advice, signorina," he answered, shiftingslightly in his chair and settling his sword. "It is surely a thousandpities that you should become the victim of a man of Dubard's stampwhen, by a little clever manoeuvring, you may not only do an act ofjustice by freeing poor Solaro, but also free yourself from theengagement into which you have entered against your will."
"But you tell me that my father has already refused to release thecaptain?" she remarked, regarding him with a puzzled air. "If this isso, then what can I do further?"
"Persuade him. You alone can induce him to act as you desire.Recollect that upon that man's liberty your own future depends."
The Sicilian, careful student of the human character as he was, knewwell that a generous, magnanimous woman, like the one before him, ismore ingenious and confident in well-doing than any man. He hadcarefully watched her, and by means of his secret agents knew that sheentertained no love for the man to whom she had become engaged.Therefore, with his unequalled cunning, he had devised a fresh means ofmaking his _coup_ and attaining his end in spite of Jules Dubard.
He watched her beautiful countenance, and saw that his words had createdan impression. A grave injustice had been done in degrading andimprisoning the handsome young captain who had once admired her so, andhe knew that she would seek to remedy it. He had given her a strong anddirect motive for securing Solaro's release--her own liberty.
"Very well," she sighed at last. "I thank you, general, for speaking tome so frankly. I will see what I can do in order to obtain a pardon forhim. But if I do, will you promise to assist me in the matter whichconcerns me personally?"
"I promise you that Solaro shall tell the truth; that on the dayfollowing his release you shall be placed in a position to defy this manwho believes that you have fallen his victim. Do you agree?"
She was silent for a moment, still distrustful of the man who had sonarrowly encompassed her father's downfall. Yet she recollected thatthe face of politics changes quickly, and in a low voice and with suddenresolution answered--
"I do."
He stretched forth his white gloved hand, and without further word shetook it in pledge of good faith. She had in her desperation made termswith the enemy, and as the Under-Secretary rose to escort her backthrough the gay assembly in the state-rooms, a faint, good-humouredsmile flitted across hi
s sallow features.
He felt confident that his craft and cunning must succeed--that shewould obtain Solaro's release, and then the triumph for which he had solong and patiently waited would be his.
True, the fate of men's lives and nations' destinies was often juggledwith in those great gilded halls where the air was heavy with perfume,the ear charmed with delightful music, and the eye dazzled by theglitter of that brilliant court, every member of which, man or woman,schemed, struggled, and intrigued to satisfy their own vices or theirown ambitions.
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.
THE BIRTH OF LOVE.
George and Mary met frequently in the days that followed. HisExcellency was still