CHAPTER XI--THE PLOT IN VENICE
That evening, at Turin, while the Fabian party were preparing to go outand see the city by night, the two young men excused themselves and werenot seen again until the next day when the party were to start forMilan. Then they appeared as happy and ready to drive on as they were tojoin the tourists the day before at the foot of the Alps.
"I thought you had planned to remain in Turin?" said Mr. Fabian.
"We had, but upon getting in touch with Chalmys, we find he is now athis place near Venice, and we must meet him there. The rest of our crowdare there, too. So we will drive with you as far as you travel ourroad," explained Traviston.
"Do you know Count Chalmys?" asked everyone in chorus.
"Of course--do you?" returned the handsome boys.
"He toured with me all through Belgium and Holland," quickly braggedMrs. Alexander, certain now that these two young men were "somebodies."
"Why--I really believe you are the people he wrote us about!" exclaimedEverard, honestly surprised at his discovery.
"Yes--he said there were four of the prettiest girls in the party, buthe never mentioned their names," added Traviston.
Now the four girls smiled with gratification, and before they startedfor Milan, it was half decided to visit the Count at his Italian Estate,before going on to Rome, or other places south of Venice.
At Milan the young men said they would get in communication with theCount and arrange for their going there the next day, Mr. Fabianescorted his girls to the famous cathedral of Milan, and showed them theplaces of interest in the city, then they resumed the journey to Padua,where they purposed remaining over-night. From there they would drive toChalmys Palace in the morning, just a few miles from Venice.
During the absence of Mr. Fabian and his companions on the tour of thecity, Mrs. Alexander had determined to get all the information she couldfrom the two young men, when they came back to the hotel. And they,seeing how eager she was for them to develop into superior beings ofquality, thought to please her that way.
When her friends joined her at the hotel again, the two young men werenot there, but she was bubbling over with wonderful news.
"I knew it! _I_ can tell the moment I see a young man with a title. Thatone who calls himself Basil Traviston, is really a Marquis of France. Hecame into the title a few weeks ago, but he doesn't seem to fuss aboutit any. And his cousin Alan Everard is the son of Count Chalmys. That iswhy they know him so well."
"The Count's son?" gasped Nancy Fabian, unbelievingly.
"Yes, and they were all in Paris together and had planned to join eachother again at Venice. But they will meet at Chalmys Palace sooner thanthey had intended," explained Mrs. Alexander.
"Why, Maggie, that boy Everard is only some years younger than theCount, unless the Italian looks much younger than he is; besides that,if the Count is from Italy how can the French Marquis be the boy'scousin? And why do they come from the States?" asked Mr. Alexanderdeeply puzzled.
Mr. Fabian mistrusted the whole story, yet he had to admit thatTraviston seemed most honest the day he spoke of his title and name. Sohe said nothing, but hoped to be spared further agonies from Mrs.Alexander's worship of nobility as per her ideals.
Mrs. Fabian was back with Mrs. Alexander, and the two boys were in theircar; all were travelling along the road at a good speed, and the girlswere picturing what the wonderful old Chalmys' palace would be like,when a long low car with splendid lines approached, coming from theopposite direction.
"If there isn't Chalmys! Coming to meet us!" exclaimed Traviston, to thepeople in the other cars.
"How lovely of him!" sighed Mrs. Alexander, almost running her car intothe ditch in her eagerness to see the Count.
The long-nosed car drew up beside the touring car and the Count leanedover the side.
"Well, this is a great pleasure, Mr. Fabian! And the ladies--how arethey? As beautiful as ever, I warrant," called he, gallantly.
The passengers in Mr. Alexander's car exchanged pleasant greetings withthe Count who then asked pardon while he welcomed his two friends. Heurged his car along a few feet further until it was opposite the boys'car, and there they conversed eagerly for a few minutes.
Mr. Alexander nudged Mr. Fabian and whispered: "Did you-all hear him say'I want to speak to my two friends?' He diden' say 'I want to speak tomy son.'"
Mr. Fabian nodded understandingly, but watched the Count closely. Nolook of paternal affection was given Everard, and if he was his son whohad been absent from home so long, why wouldn't the impulsive Italianfather greet him eagerly? It was a puzzle that became more intricate, toMr. Fabian and Mr. Alexander.
The Count seemed to forget there were others nearby, and when he said:"The wire read for us to be ready for the scene at the Palace Dario,tomorrow night at nine. That is why I drove out to meet you. I'll be atthe hotel tomorrow, myself, in time to go with you. Then we will allcome back to the Palace the next day."
The two young men seemed regretful about something, but they nodded inacceptance of the Count's orders. Then the other members of the partywere addressed.
"I find we all have to be present at Venice tomorrow night for animportant engagement, and if you, my good friends, will pardon thischange of plans, I will be under obligation to you if you go on toVenice now, and visit me at Chalmys Palace a few days hence."
Of course, everyone signified perfect satisfaction at changing theplans, so they all drove along the road together, towards Venice. TheCount left them before reaching the city gates, and his last words were:"I will meet you at the hotel tomorrow evening, boys."
"Do you know, Fabian, it all sounds shady to me?" said little Mr.Alexander, puckering his forehead over the queer case.
"It may be that we think it is strange because we haven't the key to thesituation," said Mrs. Fabian, always ready to make allowances forpeople.
It was a novel experience to exchange motor-cars for the picturesquegondolas of Venice. But it was a luxurious exchange. As they floatedalong, Mrs. Alexander was deeply annoyed because she was separated fromthe young folks, and placed beside her husband, who was concerned aboutso many pigeons living in a city; the boys entertained the girls withdescriptions of romances which had a splendid setting in Venice; thenthey told of the prominent Motion Picture companies who came all the wayfrom America to take their pictures on the spot.
The first evening was spent in passing through the Grand Canal andseeing the wonderful palaces on either side. Mr. Fabian knew the morefamous buildings and called them out to his party in the other gondolas.
The gondolier pointed out the Custom House, the Mint, the Garden of theRoyal Palace, and other buildings, before they came to a beautifulfairy-like palace.
"Isn't that a lovely place," remarked Polly, gazing at the veryancient-looking palace.
"That's the Palazzo Dario, of the 15th century, famous for its beautyand preservation," replied Alan Everard.
"Oh, is that where you are to----" began Dodo, but Polly nudged hersuddenly and checked what she was about to say.
The two young men seemed not to have heard her unfinished sentence, andMr. Fabian was all the more puzzled over the fact.
All the next day was spent in visiting the points of interest in Venice:the Palace of the Doges, the Museum and the famous old churches andpalaces being on the list. The two young men had said they would have tobe excused as they would be very busy all day, in order to be ready forthe evening's engagement with the Count.
The very lack of guile and duplicity in the words and the manners of theyoung men, caused all the more concern over what was now looming up inthe fancies of the adults in the Fabian party, as a plot that had beenaccidentally revealed by the Count.
Mr. Alexander said he would remain about the hotel while the others weresight-seeing, as he had no use for old buildings. So he waited untileveryone had gone--the two boys to their appointment and the Fabianparty to the palaces and museums, then he went upstairs and boldlyentered the roo
ms occupied by the two suspected young men.
After half an hour of careful searching he came forth with a huge bundleunder his arm and an exultant expression on his face. Late thatafternoon when the tourists returned to the hotel to dress for dinnerand then take a sail on the Canal, Mr. Alexander beckoned in a strangemanner to Mr. Fabian.
Mr. Fabian followed the little man to his room, and when the door hadbeen carefully closed and locked, the latter said: "Well, I unearthedthe foxes! I stayed to home on purpose, today, to go through theirbelongings, and this is what I found!"
As he spoke, he lifted his coat from the pile on the table. Mr. Fabianwonderingly examined the articles displayed there. A number of brusheswith silver backs were engraved with the name "Albert Brown." Severalhandkerchiefs were initialed "B.F.S." A fine Panama hat had a markerinside that read: "B.F. Smith." Other small objects which evidentlybelonged to the two young men bore their names or initials--the same asthose already read by Mr. Fabian.
"It's all very queer, and I don't know what to make of it," remarked Mr.Fabian, thoughtfully.
"Well, I tell you what I'd do! I'd tell them what we know of this andthen clear them out. It's my opinion that that dark Count Chalmys fixedup something with these two good-lookers just to get us to visit his oldpalace and maybe play some tricks on us to get our cash," said Mr.Alexander, rising to the very peak of tragic imagination.
Mr. Fabian laughed. "Oh no, I don't think that; but it is all a strangeexperience, when you try to find a reason for it all."
"Wall, just keep your eyes open, tonight, and see if I ain't right inwhat I said. I bet those three men will get in trouble yet, and I'mgoing to do my part to protect the gals."
At Mr. Alexander's words, Mr. Fabian smiled but did not advise thelittle man to wait and watch before he took any further steps. He leftthe room to go and dress for the evening, and Mr. Alexander managed toreturn the articles he had taken from the boys' rooms, without beingdiscovered in the act.
At dinner that night, Mrs. Alexander had a very interesting story torelate.
"I was reading in the Grand Parlor of the hotel, when the Count came in.He was surprised to see me, but he said he was waiting for the two boys,who were going out with him.
"Well, we talked for a time, and then young Everard came in. He lookedangry about something. He said he had had some things stolen from hisroom and Traviston was reporting the theft at the desk. They needed thebrushes and toilet things and now they had to go without them.
"I thought it was funny, if they were only going out for an engagement,to take any toilet articles along, but I didn't say anything. While wethree were talking, Traviston came in and, oh my! wasn't he dressed upto kill. I suppose it was the Court costume they wear when they visitroyalty. He had the gold star on his breast and a wide ribbon crossedover his chest. He had a long ulster coat that his friends made him puton before they left. He never said a word about why he was dressed up,or where they were going, but I know he is going to visit some bignoble--maybe a Prince."
"Maybe they're a lot of tricksters in disguise," sneered Mr. Alexander.
"Why, Ebeneezer! How can you say such mean things before the girls. They_know_ what nice young men they are," declared Mrs. Alexander.
"I must say," added Nancy Fabian, "that I met Count Chalmys in Parisjust before the Art Classes disbanded, and I never saw anything out ofthe way. He was always very gallant and kind."
"You never told me how it was you met him, Nancy," said her father.
Nancy flushed but decided to speak out. "Well, he was studying artposing at the school, and having the dark beauty and magnificent form ofa Greek, he was requested to pose as a gladiator. He explained to melater, that it was the first time in his life that he posed, but he didit for fun more than anything else. I believe him, too, because hecertainly doesn't need the money which was paid for the posing."
Nancy's explanation added still other tangles to the maze, and the twomen wondered what would be the final ravelling of it all.
While the girls went for their long cloaks to wear, that evening, in thegondolas, Mr. Alexander slipped away to converse with anofficial-looking man he had met in the corridor. The Fabians and Mrs.Alexander came downstairs first, but were soon joined by the four girls.As they passed the hotel office, Mr. Alexander followed after them.
It was a beautiful night, with a clear sky overhead and twinkling lightsbobbing along the Grand Canal, as gondolas passed up and down filledwith happy passengers. When the Fabian party in their gondolas drew nearthe Palazzo Dario, they wondered at the crowd gathered in gondolas alongboth sides of the Canal.
A row of gondolas was stationed across the Canal on either side of thePalazzo Dario, and Mr. Fabian learned that they could not pass without apermit.
"What's the matter? I haven't heard of any important event about to takeplace here tonight?" said Mr. Fabian.
"No! But 'tis so. Meester Griffet pay much money for use of Palazzo thisnight. You wait here on line and see the play go on," said the officer,as he made an opening for the gondolas of the generous Americans towedge in on the front line.
Thus it happened that not long after the Fabian party reached the spot,a camera-man climbed upon a platform built opposite the Palazzo Dario,and took his seat behind the apparatus. The blinding Cooper-Hewittlights used in Studios, were so placed over the balcony and entrance ofthe Palazzo that they would reflect and bring out every detail in thepicture about to be taken.
Not a word was heard from anyone in Mr. Fabian's party, but when aMarquis of France challenged a handsome young nobleman of Italy to aduel over a lovely English girl, and the father of the handsome Italianyouth intercepted, the girls in Mr. Fabian's gondola laughedhysterically. Even Mr. Fabian had to smile.
It was most exciting to watch the two handsome young men they had knownin everyday life, now play the leads in this Motion Picture Play. TheCount was exceptionally good in playing his part, while the good looksof the two young men made up for any shortcomings in their acting.
"Well, that explains everything!" sighed Mr. Alexander, as the audiencein the gondolas were allowed to travel onwards along the Canal.
"Oh, but I can't believe those nice young men really have no titles!"cried Mrs. Alexander, tears of vexation filling her eyes.
"They have! Didn't you see for yourself, Maggie?" laughed her husband."Alan is the heir to the Count's title, and Basil is a Marquis."
"I wonder if their fancy names are only for stage use?" said Polly,smiling at the way everyone had been hoaxed.
"Sure! I know their real names," returned Mr. Alexander, triumphantly."I knew them before tonight, and I told Mr. Fabian, diden' I, Fabian?"
"Yes, we know both their _reel_ names," laughed Mr. Fabian.
"Do tell us who they are? Maybe we've seen them at home," said Eleanor.
"Well, one is Albert Brown and t'other is B. Smith. Both are from theStates, and that one from Californy is likely from Hollywood, where thisComp'ny hails from," chuckled Mr. Alexander.
Early the following morning, before the tourists left the breakfastroom, Count Chalmys and his two friends hurried in.
"Well, when will you be ready to visit my palace?" said he.
"What palace?" asked Mr. Alexander, frowning at what he considered aMovie joke from the actor.
"Why, _my_ palace. I expected you to come with me to visit at ChalmysPalace, today. You said you would!" wondered the Count.
"Have you really _got_ a palace?" asked Dodo, innocently.
Her expression caused the others to laugh, and Count Chalmys returned:"Of course I have. Would I invite you to visit me if I had no place toentertain?"
Everyone looked at everyone else, and then at the three actors. Finallythe Count began to understand that the Fabian party had not had theslightest inkling of the scene that took place the night before, and sothe facts began to come forth.
Mrs. Alexander was the only member in the party who had no interest invisiting the Count, now. When he said that another
scene in the play wasto take place that afternoon at his palace, the girls were eager to goand watch the interesting picture-making.
So they all started out, Mrs. Alexander going, too; but she insistedupon having it understood that she was not interested in the visit otherthan to accompany her friends.
Count Chalmys had made elaborate preparations for the guests, and whenthey sat down to luncheon in the grand old palace, Mrs. Alexander staredin amazement at the crest embroidered on the napkins. The liveriedservants came and went noiselessly, carrying services of old plate withthe coat of arms in filigree on the engraved edges.
After luncheon the Count showed his visitors the gardens, and then theyvisited the picture collection he had spoken of at the Paris Art Sale.Mr. Fabian recognized several Old Masters and felt still more puzzledover all he had learned.
Then the Griffet Company arrived and the scenes in the gardens of thePalace began, then several interiors were taken. After the MotionPicture Company had gone, Mr. Fabian said something about returning toVenice.
"Oh, not yet, surely!" exclaimed the Count. "I have ordered dinner fortonight, thinking surely you would remain and spend the evening."
Thus persuaded, they remained and passed a very enjoyable time. On theway back to the hotel, that night, Mr. Alexander decided to ask the twoyoung men outright, how it was their fellow actor called himself "Count"and lived in such a gorgeous manner.
B. Smith _alias_ Basil Traviston laughed. "Why, Chalmys is a bornItalian but he went to America as a boy. He was so handsome that he wasengaged over there to take a lead in a picture where his type wasneeded. He never knew he could act until that trial, but he made so goodthat they offered him a wonderful salary to stay on with them.
"During the recent war the male line of descent in his family werekilled off, so that he came into the title and property of the Chalmys.He never dreamed of such a possibility, as he was but distantlyconnected with the Count's family.
"The estate is heavily taxed and debts are greater to pay, than theincomes to be collected, so the Count uses the palace for picturepurposes and derives a nice little income that way, also. It is enoughto pay the upkeep of the place, anyway, so that he does not have to drawon his own salary to maintain the estate."
"Then he is a real live Count after all?" gasped Mrs. Alexander,sorrowing because she discovered it too late to avail herself of theinformation.
"A reel man in America, and a real Count in Italy," laughed AlanEverard, _alias_ Brown.
One more day was given to Venice, while the tourists visited thecollections at the Accademia, took pictures of the beautiful churchesand admired the wonderful paintings and sculpturings of San Marco, andother famous buildings.
The two handsome young men bid them good-by that afternoon, as they weregoing back to Paris to meet the rest of the Company and then go on toHavre where they were to sail soon, for America. And the touring partyprepared to leave Venice and start for Florence, the Tuscan City whereMr. Fabian expected to find many wonders to show his students.