At that moment, however, the door suddenly opened, causing the three men
to turn and glance, when, to their surprise, they saw, standing before
them, the man whose name had just been mentioned. Dubard held his
breath. Macbean's face was bloodless, his lips quivered, his hands were
clenched, his whole countenance seemed to have altered in those moments
of tension and determination, and as he closed the door behind him and
advanced boldly into the room, trying to speak in a cool voice, he
addressed the Minister--
"Your Excellency, the tragedy of this marriage must not take place--for
your own sake, as well as for your daughter's."
In an instant the three men were upon their feet, electrified by the
Englishman's startling words.
"What do you mean?" asked Morini, looking at him amazed.
"Yes," cried Dubard, stepping forward angrily. "Let us hear what this
fellow means."
"You wish to hear," exclaimed Macbean, facing the Frenchman boldly.
"Then listen! I allege that Miss Morini has been forced into this
marriage by you--and by that man there," he added, pointing to the
sallow-faced Sicilian. "If you doubt me," he said, turning to the
Minister of War, "ask her yourself. This man Dubard made a promise to
her that, in exchange for her hand, he would prevent the crisis which
Borselli had arranged to bring ruin and disgrace upon you. You will
recollect the mysterious letter received by Montebruno when he was
already upon his feet in the Chamber. That letter was sent by your
enemy, Borselli, at Dubard's instigation, because your poor daughter had
consented to sacrifice herself in order to save you. It is my duty to
tell you this, your Excellency. You have been pleased to take me into
your service, to treat me almost as a confidential friend, and it is my
duty therefore to speak the truth and to save Miss Mary from falling the
victim of this man?"
"Victim!" cried Dubard quickly. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that you intend to marry her, and having done so, your friend
here, General Angelo Borselli, will strike his blow at His Excellency--a
merciless blow, that will crush and ruin him."
"Bah!" exclaimed the Sicilian. "All this is a mere fiction! He loves
your daughter himself, my dear Camillo. There is lots of gossip about
it in Rome."
"During my employment in the Ministry I have kept both ears and eyes
open," Macbean went on. "I know well with what devilish ingenuity you
have plotted against your chief, how you have forced him deeper and
deeper into financial intrigue, in order that your revelations may be
the greater, and how, in order to propitiate your accomplice Dubard, you
have stayed your hand until this marriage is effected."
"Basta!" cried the Sicilian. "I will not be insulted by a common
employee like you!"
"Nor I!" exclaimed Dubard, his face white with passion, as he turned to
Macbean. "My affairs are no concern of yours--they concern myself and
the lady who is to become my wife. I am amazed that you, of all men,
should dare to come forward and make these unfounded charges against us.
Hitherto I have kept my silence, but as you have sought exposure I will
speak the truth. Then your employer shall judge as to which of us is
worthy of confidence, and which--"
"I make no plea for myself," declared George, quickly interrupting him.
"I merely intervene on behalf of a broken and defenceless woman--the
woman you have so cleverly entrapped."