is only waiting an excuse to pick a quarrel and attackus, although her attitude is so diplomatically correct."
"Then the situation is certainly most grave. There is, I fear, adistinct and imminent peril, Your Majesty."
"Ah! You agree with me--eh?"
"Entirely," was Waldron's answer as he sat, his chin resting upon hishand, deep in thought. "But may I not know more precisely the exactcircumstances of this theft?"
"Certainly, every fact within my knowledge is entirely at your disposal,for I am seeking your assistance, I have heard of your successes as akeen investigator of diplomatic secrets, and I appeal to you, Waldron,to assist me in what is a very serious difficulty and a distinct perilto my nation."
"I am Your Majesty's obedient servant to command," was the other'sprompt reply.
"Yes, yes, I greatly appreciate your words," the monarch said. "Now letme proceed further. The plans were produced at a meeting of the Councilof Defence held at the Ministry of War yesterday at twelve o'clock.There had been suggested some strengthening of the fort overlooking theLago di Garda at Gardone, also the one commanding the Austrian town ofRiva, at the farther end of the lake. It was to discuss the details--the addition of guns of greater calibre and further range--that theplans were laid upon the table and examined by the Ministers of War andof Marine as well as the eight other high officers composing theCouncil. The proceedings were entirely private, of course, even thesecretary of the Council being excluded from the council chamber, as healways is when purely confidential business affecting the nation'ssecret defences is in progress. On his re-entry the plans in questionwere handed back to him by the hand of General Cataldi, the Minister ofWar, but a few minutes later they seem to have been mysteriouslyspirited away, the secretary of the Council, Lambarini, declaring thathe had passed them on to Pironti, private secretary of the Minister."
"And Lambarini?" queried Waldron. "Is he trustworthy--entirelytrustworthy?"
"Entirely. Colonel Lambarini has occupied his position for the pastfifteen years, and is thoroughly loyal and patriotic."
Hubert Waldron drew a deep, long breath. His estimate of the Italianfunctionary, of whatever grade, was but a low one. He had never yetknown any Government official in Italy--be he a humble clerk or aCabinet Minister--who could not be bought with a price. Alas! thatcorruption in Italy was a matter of world-wide knowledge.
The King instantly noticed his visitor's hesitation, and his browscontracted.
"Ah, I see! You suspect Lambarini. But there you are quite wrong,Waldron--quite wrong, I assure you! Too well I know the lack ofpersonal honour at Monte Citorio and in our Government offices. But Iknow Lambarini. For me that is all-sufficient. When I know a man Itrust him."
"Then I at once withdraw my suspicion," the diplomat exclaimed quickly."Your Majesty can read men far better than I can. If you actually knowthis secretary, Lambarini, then no further word need be said."
"It is not my desire to prejudice your views in any way, my dearWaldron," the King assured him with a smile. "I want you to approachthis affair with a perfectly open mind. Please understand that to you Iam looking for assistance. I am powerless as monarch. I am hoping thatyou--the friend of my youth--may be able to solve the very serious andcritical problem."
"Of course I will do my best in Your Majesty's interests," declaredWaldron. "But do please tell me more. What happened after thedocuments were placed in Lambarini's hands?"
"He put them at once in the safe in His Excellency's room."
"Then he has a key to the safe?"
"It is a safe used for confidential documents when they are taken fromthe strong-room in the basement up to the Ministry, in order to beinspected. The safe is actually in General Cataldi's private cabinet."
"How many keys are there?"
"Three. The General has one," replied His Majesty. "There is a systemof keeping confidential documents, for if one is removed for anypurpose, a slip of paper is left in its place bearing the signature ofone or other of the three persons who have the key."
"And has no one access to this safe except the persons Your Majesty hasmentioned?"
"No one," was the King's reply.
"There must be a false key."
"Even if one existed that would be useless, for a sentry is on dutyoutside the Minister's private cabinet day and night."
"And has this sentry been questioned?"
"I believe so."
"By Ghelardi, most probably?"
"I think so."
"Is Your Majesty aware of the views held by your Chief of SecretPolice?"
"He simply declared the whole affair to be a mystery. His suspicionfirst fell upon Lambarini, just as yours has done. But he afterwardsagreed with me that the official named is no traitor."
"Well--there must be clever espionage at work somewhere," said Waldron."A substantial sum must have been paid for those documents, that'scertain. If we could trace money, we could place our hands at once uponthe culprit."
"Agreed," exclaimed His Majesty, a dark cloud upon his brow. "But Ihate to think that any Italian should sell his country's secrets forforeign gold."
"Alas! Your Majesty, in every country there are to be found blacksheep. Even in our patriotic England we have them, as recentprosecutions have revealed."
"Ah, yes, I know! But, Waldron, we must find this traitor who has nodoubt stirred up against us once more the bitter enmity of Vienna.Three years ago our Secret Service reported a cunning and crafty move byAustria--an intention on her part to encroach into Venetia. There was adeep conspiracy afoot against us just as there was last year againstServia in the Balkans. Had we not discovered it we might have awakenedto find Venice and Milan in the enemies' hands. As it was, Ghelardi--though then in the German Service, but still a patriotic Italian--gaveus a timely warning, and we were able to turn the tables upon our enemy.After this discovery the Council of War decided to strengthen ourfrontier defences in secret--the secret which is now, unfortunately,betrayed to those who wish to crush us."
"And does Your Majesty desire me to make inquiries independently of theCommendatore Ghelardi--or in association with him?" inquired Waldronthinking deeply, for the problem was a complex one.
"Just as you deem best, Waldron. Act as your own discretion directsyou," the King replied, taking from the table a slip of yellow officialpaper whereon was scribbled some memoranda.
"I presume that I shall have no difficulty in obtaining the name of thesentry who was on duty outside His Excellency's door?" the diplomatremarked after a brief silence.
"I have it here," responded His Majesty. "It is Corporal Tonini, of the19th Regiment of Bersiglieri--a loyal soldier."
Hubert took the little gold pencil attached to his watch-chain andscribbled the name on the cuff of his dress-shirt, together with that ofthe secretaries of Minister of War and that of the Council of Defence.
"I will order Ghelardi to give you every assistance and information, asI desire, Waldron, that you will inquire into this matter upon my ownpersonal behalf. I ask you to do this as a favour--as one who will bevery grateful to you for your services. You are independent, and aforeigner, and you have no axe to grind as, alas! they all seem to havewho surround me. A king is always the centre of human avarice, of baseunscrupulousness, of jealousies, and of the fierce struggle forundeserved honours and emoluments." Then with a sigh he added: "Whenone is a Sovereign there is, unfortunately, revealed all the worst sideof human nature."
"Is there any suspicion of a spy of Austria being at present in Rome?"Waldron inquired after a silence broken only by the tramp of thesoldiers returning to their quarters on the opposite side of the greatpaved courtyard.
"Austrian agents are, of course, always among us. A dozen or so areknown as residing in the north. But Ghelardi and his staff are everwatchful. You know him, I suppose?"
"I have met him," replied Hubert vaguely. He dare not tell His Majestythe curious story of their acquaintance, or the circumstances in whichhe ha
d met his madcap niece.
"Ah! then you will want no introduction. You will find him at theMinistry of Foreign Affairs. But perhaps I had better give himinstructions," he added, and turning to his table he scribbled a hastynote, which he enclosed in an envelope and addressed. "If you wish toconsult him or others that will prove an open sesame," smiled HisMajesty.
Waldron took the royal mandate with a word of thanks, and placed itsecurely in his inner pocket.
"Remember," His Majesty urged very seriously, "in this affair, I beg ofyou, Waldron, to spare no effort. We must save the