Part 84 (2/2)
Calabressa himself soon fell asleep, and did not wake until they were near Paris. By this time the bundle of rugs in the corner had begun to show signs of animation.
”Well, friend Reitzei you have had a good sleep,” said Calabressa, yawning, and stretching his arms.
”I have slept a little.”
”You have slept all night--what more? What do you know, for example, of the young lady who was in the carriage?”
”I saw her come in,” Reitzei said, indifferently, ”and I heard you talking once or twice. What was she?”
”There you ask me a pretty question. My belief is that she was either one of those Nihilist madwomen, or else the devil himself in a new shape. At any rate, she had some good cognac.”
”I should like some coffee now, Signor Calabressa; and you?”
”I would not refuse it.”
Indeed, during all this journey to Naples, Calabressa and his companion talked much more of the commonplace incidents and wants of travel than of the graver matters that lay before them. Calabressa was especially resolute in doing so. He did not like to look ahead. He kept reminding himself that he was simply the agent of the Council; he was carrying out their behests; the consequences were for others to deal with. He had fulfilled his commission; he had procured sufficient proof of the suspected conspiracy; if evil-doers were to be punished, was he responsible? _Fiat just.i.tia!_ he kept repeating to himself. He was answerable to the Council alone. He had done his duty.
But from time to time--and especially when they were travelling at night, and he was awake--a haunting dread possessed him. How should he appear before these two women in Naples? His old friend Natalie Berezolyi had been grievously wronged; she had suffered through long years; but a wife forgets much when her husband is about to die. And a daughter? Lind had been an affectionate father enough to this girl; these two had been companions all her lifetime; recent incidents would surely be forgotten in her terror over the fact that it was her own appeal to the Council that had wrought her father's death. And then he, Calabressa, what could he say? It was through him she had invoked these unknown powers; it was his counsel that had taken her to Naples; and he was the immediate instrument that would produce this tragic end.
He would not think of it. At the various places where they stopped he worried about food and drink, and angrily haggled about hotel-bills: he read innumerable stupid little newspapers from morning till night; he smoked Reitzei nearly blind. At last they reached Naples.
Within an hour after their arrival Calabressa, alone, was in Tommaso's wine-vaults talking to the ghoul-like occupant. A bell rung, faint and m.u.f.fled, in the distance; he pa.s.sed to the back of the vaults, and lit a candle that Tommaso handed him; then he followed what seemed, from the rumble overhead, some kind of subterranean corridor. But at the end of this long sub-way he began to ascend; then he reached some steps; finally, he was on an ordinary staircase, with daylight around him, and above him a landing with two doors, both shut.
Opening one of these doors, after having knocked thrice, he entered a large, bare chamber which was occupied by three men, all seated at a table which was covered with papers. One of them, Von Zoesch, rose.
”That is good; that is very well settled,” he said to the other two. ”It is a good piece of work. Now here is this English business, and the report of our wily friend, Calabressa. What is it, Calabressa? We had your telegram; we have sent for Lind and Beratinsky; what more?”
”Excellency, I have fulfilled your commission, I hope with judgment,”
Calabressa said, his cap in his hand. ”I believe it is clear that the Englishman had that duty put upon him by fraudulent means.”
”It is a pity if it be so; it will cost us some further trouble, and we have other things to think about at present.” Then he added, lightly, ”but it will please your young lady friend, Calabressa. Well?”
”Excellency, you forget it may not quite so well please her if it is found that her father was in the conspiracy,” said Calabressa, submissively.
”Why not?” answered the bluff, tall soldier. ”However, to the point, Calabressa. What have you discovered? and your proofs.”
”I have none, your Excellency; but I have brought with me one of the four in the ballot who is willing to confess. Why is he willing to confess?” said Calabressa, with a little triumphant smile; ”because he thinks the gentlemen of the Council know already.”
”And you have frightened the poor devil, no doubt,” said Von Zoesch, laughing.
”I have on the contrary, a.s.sured him of pardon,” said Calabressa, gravely. It is within the powers you gave me, Excellency. I have pledged my honor--”
”Oh yes, yes; very well. But do you mean to tell us, my good Calabressa,” said this tall man, speaking more seriously, ”that you have proof of these three--Lind, Beratinsky, Reitzei--having combined to impose on the Englishman? Not Lind, surely? Perhaps the other two--”
”Your Excellency, it is for you to investigate further and determine. I will tell you how I proceeded. I went to the Englishman, and got minute particulars of what occurred. I formed my own little story, my guess, my theory. I got hold of Reitzei, and hinted that it was all known. On my faith, he never thought of denying anything, he was so frightened! But regard this, Excellency; I know nothing. I can give you the Englishman's account; then, if you get that of Reitzei, and the two correspond, it is a good proof that Reitzei is not lying in his confession. It is for you to examine him, Excellency.”'
”No, it is not for me,” the ruddy-faced soldier-looking man said, and then he turned to his two companions. The one was the Secretary Granaglia: the other was a broad-shouldered, elderly man, with strikingly handsome features of the modern Greek type, a pallid, wax-like complexion, and thoughtful, impenetrable eyes. ”Brother Conventzi, I withdraw from this affair. I leave it in hands of the Council; one of the accused was in former days my friend; it is not right that I should interfere.”
<script>