Italian.
"And it appears to me that very little friendship exists between us oneither side--eh?"
"From what I have just witnessed I can plainly discern the truth," saidthe Chief of the Secret Service. "The Princess is a giddy, skittishgirl whose injudicious actions have, from time to time, caused greatestannoyance and anxiety to Their Majesties. Rome is full of scandalsregarding her unconventionality and her disregard for her high position.And here we have yet another. I discover her insensible with youkneeling at her side declaring your affection?"
"I hope the discovery gives you most supreme satisfaction, SignorGhelardi," exclaimed Hubert defiantly.
"It gives me the greatest dissatisfaction. His Majesty entrusts her tomy care, and I am responsible."
"You exercised your duty very well in Egypt, I admit," Waldron repliedwith a light laugh. "Now I suppose your intention will be to go to HisMajesty and describe what you have seen here this evening."
"I shall act, signore, just as I think fit."
"No doubt, in order to curry favour with His Majesty you will give alurid picture of what you have witnessed," exclaimed Hubert. "Well, doso--at your own peril."
As he spoke two maids entered, accompanied by the sentry.
"Her Royal Highness has fainted," Ghelardi explained, pointing to theprostrate figure upon the couch. "You, sentry, had better go in searchof Doctor Mellini. He is probably in his rooms. You know where theyare--close to the principal entrance. Tell your captain--he will soonfind him."
"_Si, signore_," was the man's answer, as he raised his hand to thesalute, turned again and left.
The two maids in their artistic pale grey caps and aprons--the uniformworn by all the female servants of the Palace--dashed across to theyoung Princess. Then one of them left and ran away for her ownsmelling-salts.
"I think we had better leave Her Highness. She will be attended to andtaken to her rooms," Ghelardi said.
So the two men went out together, passing along the corridor which ledtowards the grand staircase.
Hubert was pondering. He saw that the situation was, both for Lola andhimself, a very unpleasant one. Ghelardi would, without a doubt, informthe King. Since he had been appointed to Rome he had learnt that thenotorious spy was, in addition to being a most remarkable man in hisprofession, at the same time a place-seeker of the worst type, asoft-spoken sycophant who was for ever closeted with the King.
That His Majesty, with his shrewd intuition and his instinctive readingof men's minds, had realised this, had been shown by the fact that hehad called in the British diplomat to make inquiries into the seriousloss of the plans of the frontier fortresses.
No. The King did not trust Luigi Ghelardi so implicitly as Ghelardihimself believed.
The pair, on their way along the corridor, passed an open door. Thesmall room, which was that devoted to the Captain of the Royal Guardwhile on duty.
"Before we part, Signor Ghelardi, I would like to have a word with you,"Hubert said suddenly. "We cannot do better than speak together here inprivate."
"_Benissimo_," was the great spy's reply, acceding most willingly.
Then when they were inside, and Waldron had closed the door, he turned,suddenly asking:
"I presume it is your intention to reveal to the King what you have justwitnessed--eh?"
"It is my duty to do so, signore. I have been entrusted with Her RoyalHighness's welfare."
"And by doing so you will once more cause His Majesty both pain andannoyance," Waldron remarked.
"And if I were silent should I not be conniving at this impossiblesituation?"
Hubert Waldron looking at him with keen defiance said:
"Signor Ghelardi, you will, I tell you, say nothing of to-night'sincident to a single soul."
The elder man laughed openly in the diplomat's face.
"No, Signor Waldron," he said, "I quite understand you have no desirethat the truth should become common property; but His Majesty will saynothing to others."
"His Majesty will not know!" Waldron said decisively and very quietly.There was a hard look upon his dark handsome face.
"_Madonna mia_! I may surely make what report I like to my King, towhom I am directly responsible."
"In this instance, Signor Ghelardi, though you discern in it anexcellent opportunity of showing your remarkable powers of inquiry, youwill remain strictly silent. No word of it shall pass your lips."
"Oh, and pray why, my dear signore?" asked the other opening his eyes.
"Because I forbid it."
"You forbid!" he echoed. "I tell you that I shall act just as I deemproper."
"Then I, too, shall also act, Signor Ghelardi--and much against yourinterests, I assure you."
"You threaten me--eh? You?"
"I do not threaten," Hubert hastened to assure him. "I shall only actin case you should act against the interests of Her Royal Highness."
"I do not think you, a foreigner, can interfere very much with myinterests," laughed the other in defiance.
"Think whatever you please. After you have had audience with HisMajesty I, too, shall have audience, and when I have left, then the Kingwill probably tell you what I have revealed to him."
"And what, pray, can you reveal?" asked the Chief of the Secret Service,his grey brows again knit, showing that he was somewhat puzzled by thediplomat's defiant attitude.
"That is my own affair," replied Hubert with a triumphant smile."Suffice it to say that the hour you make any statement concerning whatyou have witnessed to-night, then in the same hour you will cease to beChief of Italy's Secret Service!"
"Do you think to frighten me, then?"
"I have no wish, my dear Signor Ghelardi," was Hubert's very politereply. "I only desire that no further scandal should be attached to HerRoyal Highness's good name." And after a brief pause he looked theofficial straight in the face and said: "I offer you silence forsilence!"
"And I decline your most generous offer."
"Good. Then we shall see!"
"But--"
"I do not wish to discuss this unpleasant matter further," interruptedWaldron. "Go and tell the King--but at your own peril. _Buona sera_."And the diplomat turned away. As he was about to leave the roomGhelardi sprang forward and placed his fingers upon the handle of thedoor to prevent him.
"I think," he said, "that we are perhaps misunderstanding each other."
"No, we are not," was Hubert's prompt reply, sturdy Briton that he was."I understand you, Luigi Ghelardi, perfectly. You have no compunctionwhere Her Highness is concerned. You, man of secrets that you are,will, rather than conceal a woman's shortcomings, bring upon her theanger of the King in order to secure your own personal ends."
The bristly haired old official bit his lip. Hubert watched him andsmiled inwardly.
"You defy me to execute my duty."
"Your duty is political espionage, not to spy upon a member of the royalfamily," the diplomat replied. "And, further, I tell you that if youbreathe a word of this to His Majesty--or if His Majesty gets to hear ofit through any third party, I will not spare you, Luigi Ghelardi," headded, earnestly facing the old man in defiance. "Go then, tell himwhat you will," Hubert continued angrily, and again he turned the handleof the door to pass out.
"That is my intention."
"And in return my intention will be to bring you down from your highposition in the King's esteem. That I shall do, and quickly--neverfear," Waldron said. Then, after a second's pause, he added: "You areacquainted with a certain Englishman--a Mr Jerningham. He knew youwell when you were in the German Service--he has cause to remember you.Indeed he has still a little account to settle with you, has he not--eh?"
Ghelardi started.
"What do you mean?" he asked, though affecting disregard of the remark.
"I mean nothing--so long as you remain silent," Waldron answered.
Ghelardi was nonplussed. But only for a second, for he was not a man tobe easily deterred from any inte
ntion.
"So you think that I may heed your empty threats--eh, Signor Waldron?Well, we shall see," he replied, with a hard, triumphant laugh.
Then releasing his hold upon the door handle he bowed mockingly to theEnglishman, inviting him to pass out.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
A CONFIDENTIAL REPORT.
Hubert Waldron halted on the threshold, his eyes fixed upon those of thespy.
"Well?" asked Ghelardi, with a sinister smile.
"All I desire to say is that I have the ear of His Majesty as well asyourself. And what I shall tell him will not be to your