Part 29 (1/2)

”But those first four lines--their sentiment ees so fine, so speerited!”

said the princess.

”Well, they're _neat_,” Peter admitted, modestly.

The clown, having recovered his breath, cut a caper. Instantly ”Yankee Doodle” came to an end, and the children all stopped to watch him.

”Tell them to play a waltz,” said Miss Senter to Carmela, who was in waiting at the door. The deputy must have flown up the little stairway leading to the gallery, for the waltz began in less than a minute. Then Ercole, selecting a pretty American child from among the group, began to dance with her in the most charming way, followed by all the little ones, two and two. Those who could waltz, did so; those who could not, held each other's hands and hopped about.

Supper followed. The hot things were smoking and delicious, and the supplies constantly renewed; old Giorgio was evidently on his mettle. It was the gondolier, still in his clown's dress, who brought in these supplies and handed them to the waiters from Florian's.

”You need not do that, Ercole,” said Miss Senter, in an undertone; ”these men can go to the kitchen for them.”

Ercole bowed; it would not have been respectful to reply with his grinning linen lips. But he continued to fill the same office.

”Perhaps Giorgio won't have Florian's people in the kitchen!” the Consuless reflected.

As soon as supper was over, the children clamored for their clown, and he came bounding in a second time, and, after several astonis.h.i.+ng capers, selected a beautiful English child with long golden curls and led a galop, followed again by all the others, two and two. Peter, his mind still occupied with his project of taking the young Italian to America as a star performer, moved from point to point, in order to get different views of him. One of these stations was in the doorway, and here Carmela spoke to him in a low tone, and asked him to come to the outer hall. He did not understand her words; but he comprehended her gesture and followed her. She was talking angrily, almost spluttering, as she led the way. But her talk was lost on her master, who, however, opened his eyes when he saw four policemen standing at his outer door.

”What do you want here?” he said. ”This is a private residence, and you are disturbing a Christmas party.”

The chief officer told his tale. But Peter did not comprehend him.

”You should have gone to the Consulate,” he went on. ”The Consulate, you know--Riva Skevony. The vice-consul won't be there so late as this; but you'll find him early to-morrow morning, sure.”

The policemen, however, remained where they were.

”There's no making them understand a word,” said Peter to himself, in irritation. ”Here, you go and call my sister,” he said to Carmela, who, in her wrath over this intrusion, stood at a distance swallowing nothing in a series of gulps that made her throat twitch. ”Let's see; sister, that's sorelly. Sorelly!” he repeated to Carmela. ”Sorelly!”

The enraged little deputy understood. And she got Miss Senter out of the drawing-room without attracting notice. ”The master wishes to see the signorina,” she said, in a concentrated undertone. ”I burn with indignation, for it is an insolent intrusion; it is an insult to his Excellency, who no doubt is a prince in his own country. But they _would_ not go, in spite of all I could say. Nor would they tell me their errand--brutes!” And with her skirts quivering she led the way to the outer hall.

”Find out what these men want, Barly,” said Peter, when his sister appeared.

And then the chief officer again told his story.

”Mercy!” said Miss Senter, ”how dreadful. Somebody was killed, Peter, about seven o'clock this evening, in a cafe near the Rialto, and they say they have just found a clew which appears to track the a.s.sa.s.sin to this very door! And they wish to search.”

”What an absurd idea! With the whole place crowded and blazing with lights, as it is to-night, a mouse couldn't hide,” said Peter. ”Tell them so.”

”They repeat that they must search,” said Miss Senter. ”But if you will exert your authority, Peter--make use of your official position--I am sure we need not submit to such a thing.”

Peter, however, was helpless without his vice-consul; he had no clear idea as to what his powers were or were not; he had never informed himself.

Carmela, greatly excited, had drawn Miss Senter aside. ”There was a sixth man with those musicians!” she whispered. ”I saw him. He did not play, but he sat behind them. And he has only just gone. Five minutes ago.”

Miss Senter repeated the information to the chief officer. The officer immediately detached two men to follow this important clew; he himself, with the third, would remain to go through the apartment, as a matter of form.

”As the rooms are all open and lighted,” said Miss Senter in English to her brother, ”it will only take a few minutes, if go they must, and no one need know anything about it. But whom shall we send with them? If we call Ercole, it will attract attention; and Florian's men, who were due at another place, have already gone. We could have Andrea come up. But no; Giorgio will do best of all. Call Giorgio to go with these men,” she added in Italian to Carmela.

”Let _me_ conduct them!” answered the deputy.

”Yes; on the whole, she will be better than any one,” said Miss Senter to Peter. ”She is so angry at what she calls the insult to you, and so excited about the mysterious person who was with the musicians, that she will bully them and hurry them off to look for him in no time. They can begin with a peep into the drawing-room; I'll tell them to keep themselves hidden.” She turned and explained her idea in Italian to the officer; they could glance into the drawing-room first, and then Carmela would take them through all the other rooms; the Consul, though he had the power of refusal, would permit this liberty in the cause of justice.