"I believe they have already discovered a good many curious facts."
"Have they?" asked Romanelli quickly, exchanging a hasty glance with
Filippo, who at that moment had paused behind his companion's chair.
"What's the nature of their discoveries?"
"Ah!" Tristram answered, with a provoking smile. "I really don't know,
except that I believe they have discovered something of her motive for
coming to England."
"Her motive!" the other gasped, a trifle pale. "Then there is just a
chance that the mystery will be elucidated, after all."
"More than a chance, I think," the Captain replied. "The police, no
doubt, hold a clue by that strange letter written from Lucca which was
discovered in her dressing-case. And, now that I recollect," he added
in surprise, "this very table at which we are sitting is the one
expressly mentioned by her mysterious correspondent. I wonder what was
meant by it?"
"Ah, I wonder!" the Italian exclaimed mechanically, his brow darkened by
deep thought. "It was evident that the mysterious Egisto feared that
some catastrophe might occur if she arrived in England, and he therefore
warned her in a vague, veiled manner."
Filippo came and went almost noiselessly, his quick ears constantly on
the alert to catch their conversation, his clean-shaven face grave,
smileless, sphinx-like.
"Well," the Captain observed in a decisive manner, "you may rest assured
that Scotland Yard will do its utmost to clear up the mystery
surrounding the death of your friend, for I happen to know that the
Italian Ambassador in London has made special representation to our Home
Office upon the subject, and instructions have gone forth that no effort
is to be spared to solve the enigma."
"Then our Government at Rome have actually taken up the matter?" the
Italian said in a tone which betrayed alarm.
Tristram smiled, but no word passed his lips. He saw that his new
acquaintance had not the slightest suspicion that it was he who had
accompanied Vittorina from Italy to London; that it was he who had
escaped so ingeniously through the bar of the Criterion; that it was for
him the police were everywhere searching.
At last, when they had concluded their meal, Romanelli paid Filippo,
giving him a tip, and the pair left the restaurant to pass an hour at
the Empire before parting.
Once or twice the young Italian referred to the mystery, but found his
companion disinclined to discuss it further.
"In my official capacity, I dare not say what I know," Tristram said at
last in an attitude of confidence, as they were sitting together in the
crowded lounge of the theatre. "My profession entails absolute secrecy.
Often I am entrusted with the exchange of confidences between nations,
knowledge of which would cause Europe to be convulsed by war from end to
end, but secrets entrusted to me remain locked within my own heart."
"Then you are really aware of true facts?" inquired the other.
"Of some," he replied vaguely, with a mysterious smile.
The hand of his foppish companion trembled as he raised his
liqueur-glass to his pale lips. But he laughed a hollow, artificial
laugh, and then was silent.