"The problem we have before us is as follows," His Majesty began,
bending towards Waldron from his chair, and speaking in a low, earnest,
intense tone. "Some plans of important defences now being constructed
upon our Austrian frontier have mysteriously disappeared from the
Ministry of War. The theft was discovered at once, but up to the
present it is known only to myself, to Ghelardi, our Chief of Secret
Police; to General Cataldi, Minister of War, who reported to me this
evening, and to three other persons, all of whom have been sworn to
absolute secrecy."
"In what circumstances have they disappeared?" inquired the diplomat.
"I will tell you," was the King's reply. "A year ago it was decided in
secret by the Council of Defence to construct a chain of hidden
fortresses from Feltre along the northern frontier to the Lago di
Garda--eight of them, with quick-firing disappearing guns. Six have
been constructed, commanding a wide sweep of our neighbour's territory,
and armed with our new long-range artillery, while two others are still
in course of construction, the work being carried out in strictest
secrecy. For many years the Council of Defence have felt that this
portion of our frontier was the most vulnerable of all, but according to
our unfortunate treaty with Austria, no strengthening of the defences on
either side is permitted."
"And now the secret is probably out to Austria," Waldron remarked. "Ah!
I follow Your Majesty. The construction of these forts will be
construed by Austria into a menace--even into an act of war!"
"Precisely. I see that you at once perceive the extreme gravity of the
situation. Italy has been betrayed into the hands of her hereditary
enemy, Austria. Ever since the recent riots in Trieste our relations
have been greatly strained, and I am informed on the best authority that
Austria-Hungary is only waiting an excuse to pick a quarrel and attack
us, although her attitude is so diplomatically correct."
"Then the situation is certainly most grave. There is, I fear, a
distinct and imminent peril, Your Majesty."
"Ah! You agree with me--eh?"
"Entirely," was Waldron's answer as he sat, his chin resting upon his
hand, deep in thought. "But may I not know more precisely the exact
circumstances 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 a
keen investigator of diplomatic secrets, and I appeal to you, Waldron,
to assist me in what is a very serious difficulty and a distinct peril
to my nation."
"I am Your Majesty's obedient servant to command," was the other's
prompt reply.
"Yes, yes, I greatly appreciate your words," the monarch said. "Now let
me proceed further. The plans were produced at a meeting of the Council
of Defence held at the Ministry of War yesterday at twelve o'clock.
There had been suggested some strengthening of the fort overlooking the
Lago di Garda at Gardone, also the one commanding the Austrian town of
Riva, at the farther end of the lake. It was to discuss the details--
the addition of guns of greater calibre and further range--that the
plans were laid upon the table and examined by the Ministers of War and
of Marine as well as the eight other high officers composing the
Council. The proceedings were entirely private, of course, even the
secretary of the Council being excluded from the council chamber, as he
always is when purely confidential business affecting the nation's
secret defences is in progress. On his re-entry the plans in question
were handed back to him by the hand of General Cataldi, the Minister of
War, but a few minutes later they seem to have been mysteriously
spirited away, the secretary of the Council, Lambarini, declaring that
he had passed them on to Pironti, private secretary of the Minister."
"And Lambarini?" queried Waldron. "Is he trustworthy--entirely
trustworthy?"
"Entirely. Colonel Lambarini has occupied his position for the past
fifteen years, and is thoroughly loyal and patriotic."
Hubert Waldron drew a deep, long breath. His estimate of the Italian
functionary, of whatever grade, was but a low one. He had never yet
known any Government official in Italy--be he a humble clerk or a
Cabinet Minister--who could not be bought with a price. Alas! that
corruption in Italy was a matter of world-wide knowledge.
The King instantly noticed his visitor's hesitation, and his brows
contracted.
"Ah, I see! You suspect Lambarini. But there you are quite wrong,
Waldron--quite wrong, I assure you! Too well I know the lack of
personal honour at Monte Citorio and in our Government offices. But I
know Lambarini. For me that is all-sufficient. When I know a man I
trust 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 know
this secretary, Lambarini, then no further word need be said."
"It is not my desire to prejudice your views in any way, my dear
Waldron," the King assured him with a smile. "I want you to approach
this affair with a perfectly open mind. Please understand that to you I
am looking for assistance. I am powerless as monarch. I am hoping that
you--the friend of my youth--may be able to solve the very serious and
critical problem."
"Of course I will do my best in Your Majesty's interests," declared
Waldron. "But do please tell me more. What happened after the
documents 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 from
the strong-room in the basement up to the Ministry, in order to be
inspected. 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 system
of keeping confidential documents, for if one is removed for any
purpose, a slip of paper is left in its place bearing the signature of
one or other of the three persons who have the key."
"And has no one access to this safe except the persons Your Majesty has
mentioned?"
"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 duty
outside 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 Secret
Police?"
"He simply declared the whole affair to be a mystery. His suspicion
first fell upon Lambarini, just as yours has done. But he afterwards
agreed 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's
certain. If we could trace money, we could place our hands at once upon
the culprit."
"Agreed," exclaimed His Majesty, a dark cloud upon his brow. "But I
hate to think that any Italian should sell his country's secrets for
foreign gold."
"Alas! Your Majesty, in every country there are to be found black
sheep. Even in our patriotic England we have them, as recent
prosecutions have revealed."
"Ah, yes, I know! But, Waldron, we must find this traitor who has no
doubt stirred up against us once more the bitter enmity of Vienna.
Three years ago our Secret Service reported a cunning and crafty move by
Austria--an intention on her part to encroach into Venetia. There was a
deep conspiracy afoot against us just as there was last year against
Servia in the Balkans. Had we not discovered it we might have awakened
to find Venice and Milan in the enemies' hands. As it was, Ghelardi--
though then in the German Service, but still a patriotic Italian--gave
us a timely warning, and we were able to turn the tables upon our enemy.
After this discovery the Council of War decided to strengthen our
frontier 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 the
Commendatore Ghelardi--or in association with him?" inquired Waldron
thinking deeply, for the problem was a complex one.
"Just as you deem best, Waldron. Act as your own discretion directs
you," the King replied, taking from the table a slip of yellow official
paper whereon was scribbled some memoranda.
"I presume that I shall have no difficulty in obtaining the name of the
sentry who was on duty outside His Excellency's door?" the diplomat
remarked after a brief silence.
"I have it here," responded His Majesty. "It is Corporal Tonini, of the
19th Regiment of Bersiglieri--a loyal soldier."
Hubert took the little gold pencil attached to his watch-chain and
scribbled the name on the cuff of his dress-shirt, together with that of
the secretaries of Minister of War and that of the Council of Defence.
"I will order Ghelardi to give you every assistance and information, as
I desire, Waldron, that you will inquire into this matter upon my own
personal behalf. I ask you to do this as a favour--as one who will be
very grateful to you for your services. You are independent, and a
foreigner, and you have no axe to grind as, alas! they all seem to have
who surround me. A king is always the centre of human avarice, of base
unscrupulousness, of jealousies, and of the fierce struggle for
undeserved honours and emoluments." Then with a sigh he added: "When
one is a Sovereign there is, unfortunately, revealed all the worst side
of 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 the
soldiers returning to their quarters on the opposite side of the great
paved courtyard.
"Austrian agents are, of course, always among us. A dozen or so are
known as residing in the north. But Ghelardi and his staff are ever
watchful. You know him, I suppose?"
"I have met him," replied Hubert vaguely. He dare not tell His Majesty
the curious story of their acquaintance, or the circumstances in which
he had met his madcap niece.
"Ah! then you will want no introduction. You will find him at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But perhaps I had better give him
instructions," he added, and turning to his table he scribbled a hasty
note, which he enclosed in an envelope and addressed. "If you wish to
consult him or others that will prove an open sesame," smiled His
Majesty.
Waldron took the royal mandate with a word of thanks, and placed it
securely in his inner pocket.
"Remember," His Majesty urged very seriously, "in this affair, I beg of
you, Waldron, to spare no effort. We must save the situation at all
hazards, and though Ghelardi and his agents may make their own
inquiries, I rely upon you alone to tell me the truth. Go to your Chief
and ask him to relieve you of your present duties for a short time.
Tell him that you are carrying out a personal mission for myself, the
friend of your youth, and I feel sure he will raise no objection. Great
Britain is ever the firm and true friend of myself, and of my beloved
nation. But please keep the secret of our loss entirely to yourself."
"I respect Your Majesty's confidence as fully and entirely as though it
were that of my own Sovereign," was Waldron's earnest response.
"I know that I can trust you implicitly," declared the monarch upon
whose countenance the diplomat noted a dark cloud of apprehension. The
situation was indeed one of extreme gravity, for the relations between
Austria and Italy--never very cordial--had for the past year been much
overstrained.
Whatever was the truth concerning the theft of those confidential plans,
Waldron suspected from the very outset that one or other of the higher
officials had had a hand in it. The onus might be placed upon
secretaries, clerks, or sentries, but with the recollection of the many
and constantly recurring political scandals in Rome he was inclined to a
distinct belief that even one or other of the members of the Council of
Defence might be the guilty person who had basely betrayed his country
for Austrian gold.
"Then Your Majesty can give me no further details regarding this
mysterious disappearance?" Hubert remarked after a pause, during which
the King had been toying pensively with his fountain pen, his dark, deep
eyes fixed upon the pile of documents awaiting his signature before he
retired to rest.
"No. What I have told you comprises the whole facts as reported to me
to-day. I have not sought to go further into any detail, for I
considered that a shrewd, active man like yourself--and I have heard
what your past record in elucidating diplomatic mysteries has been--
would have greater chance of getting at the truth if allowed to make
inquiries quite independently."
"And Ghelardi?"
"I have not told him that I intended to consult you."
"But he may resent it--most naturally he will."
"Probably. But surely you, as my personal and private agent, will take
no heed. Remember that you are working on my behalf alone."
"But I fear, sir, that he may endeavour to place obstacles in my way,"
Waldron remarked.
"And if he does then report instantly to me. I will warn him at once
that you are to be given every assistance. Indeed, if you require his
services, he shall himself act under your instructions, for am I not
Sovereign--and I tell you I intend at all hazards to know the truth
regarding this dastardly theft!" cried His Majesty with some warmth.
"I will promise to do my very utmost towards that end," was Hubert's
reply. "Your Majesty trusts me, and I will in return carry out the
mission to the very best of my ability."
"Those words of yours are all-sufficient for me," replied the King,
rising and gripping his visitor's hand. "Do your best. Leave no stone
unturned, Waldron, and spare no expense on my behalf. Report to me
frequently, as I shall be full of anxiety until this matter is cleared
up. Count del Grillo will admit you to private audience at any hour. I
will give him instructions. Go," the monarch added. "Do your best on
my behalf, and may every good fortune attend you. Upon your efforts
will mean the averting of a long and disastrous war. _Addio_!"
And he again pressed the diplomat's hand.
The latter bowed low, and with a repeated promise backed out of the
royal presence, closing the door after him.
And carrying with him the secret of Italy's peril, he descended the
great marble staircase, where at the foot stood the two gorgeous
flunkeys in the royal livery who bowed low as he passed out.