The young King, who wore the uniform of a cavalry officer, with sword
and long blue cloak, knelt to the Pope and kissed his ring, while the
Prime Minister, who was in ordinary civilian costume, bowed deeply, but
remained standing.
"Pray sit," said the Pope, seating himself in the gilded arm-chair, with
the Capuchin on his left.
The King sat on one of the wooden stools in front of the Pope, but the
Baron continued to stand by his side. Between the Pope and the King was
a wooden table on which two large candles were burning. The young King
was pale, and the expression of his twitching face was one of pain.
"It was good of your Holiness to see us," he said, "and perhaps the
gravity of our errand may excuse the informality of our visit."
The Pope, who was leaning forward on the arms of his chair, only bent
his head.
"His Excellency," said the King, indicating the Baron, "tells me he has
gained proof of an organised conspiracy against my life, and he says
that your Holiness holds the secret of the conspirators."
The Pope, without responding, looked steadily into the face of the young
King, who became nervous and embarrassed.
"Not that I'm afraid," he said, "personally afraid. But naturally I must
think of others--my family--my people--even of Italy--and if your
Holiness...if your...your Holiness..."
The Baron, who had been standing with one arm across his breast, and the
other supporting his chin, intervened at this moment.
"Your Majesty," he said, "with your Majesty's permission, and that of
his Holiness," he bowed to both sovereigns, "it may be convenient if I
state shortly the object of our visit."
The young King drew a breath of relief, and the Pope, who was still
silent, bent his head again.
"Some days ago your Holiness was good enough to warn his Majesty's
Government that from private sources of information you had reason to
fear that an assault against the public peace was to be attempted."
The Pope once more assented.
"Since then the Government has received corroboration of the gracious
message of your Holiness, coupled with very definite predictions of the
nature of the revolt intended. In short, we have been told by our
correspondents abroad that a conspiracy of European proportions,
involving the subversive elements of England, France, and Germany, is to
be directed against Rome as a centre of revolution, and that an attempt
is to be made to assail constituted society by striking at our King."
"Well, sir?"
"Your Holiness may have heard that it is the intention of the Government
and the nation to honour the anniversary of his Majesty's accession by a
festival. The anniversary falls on Monday next, and we have reason to
fear that Monday is the day intended for the outbreak of this vile
conspiracy."
"Well?"
"Your Holiness may have differences with his Majesty, but you cannot
desire that the cry of suffering should mingle with the strains of the
royal march."
"If your Government knows all this, it has its remedy--let it alter the
King's plans."
"The advice with which your Holiness honours us is scarcely practicable.
For the Government to alter the King's plans would be to alarm the
populace, demoralise the services, and to add to the unhappy excitement
which it is the object of the festival allay."
"But why do you come to me?"
"Because, your Holiness, our information, although conclusive, is too
indefinite for effective action, and we believe your Holiness can supply
the means by which we may preserve public order, and"--with an apologetic
gesture--"save the life of the King."
The Pope was moving uneasily in his chair. "I will ask you to be good
enough to speak more plainly," he said.
The Baron's heavy moustache rose at one corner to a fleeting smile.
"Your Holiness," he said, "is already aware that accident disclosed to
us the source of your information. It was a lady. This knowledge enabled
us to judge who was the subject of her communication. It was the lady's
lover. Official channels give us proof that he is engaged abroad in
plots against public order, and thus..."
"If you know all this, sir, what do you want with me?"
"Your Holiness may not be aware that the person in question is a Deputy,
and that a Deputy cannot be arrested without the fulfilment of various
conditions prescribed by law. One of those conditions is that some one
should be in a position to denounce him."