Part 8 (1/2)
”General Arturo Valentini of the 6th Alpine Regiment, together with a captain of the same regiment, crave an audience with your Excellency.”
”What is the captain's name?” grunted the Minister of War.
The messenger looked at the card that had been given him, and replied--
”Captain Felice Solaro, your Excellency.”
”Ah! Solaro! Solaro!” exclaimed Morini, tossing away his cigar. ”Show them in.”
And as he pa.s.sed before the tiny mirror he glanced at himself to adjust his cravat and see that not a single hair was awry--a habit of his before giving audience.
A few moments later two men in uniform were ushered in. The general, short of stature, white-haired, with firm military step, a red face, and white moustache, saluted and stood at attention as he entered the Minister's presence; while the captain, a smart-looking, dark-haired man of forty, followed his superior's example, yet as Morini darted a quick glance at him, he visibly trembled at it. The captain's face was white as death, and as he stood for a moment in the awkward silence that followed, his gloved fingers chafed his sword hilt nervously.
”Well, general?” inquired the Minister, who had never before met that distinguished officer, but whom he, of course, knew well by repute.
Valentini had been Inspector-General of Genio fifteen years ago, and had served Italy well in those fierce campaigns of the early sixties, as his row of medals and decorations showed. ”Why do you wish for audience?”
he asked sharply.
”Your Excellency, I am here to crave for a more merciful sentence upon this man,” the kindly old officer answered, turning to the captain, who stood with head bowed at his side. ”I am his commanding officer, and in justice I wish to intercede for him.”
The Minister raised his eyes in surprise, and asked--
”And what is this man's name, pray?”
”I am Felice Solaro, your Excellency,” faltered the captain, as though fearing to p.r.o.nounce his own name. ”My general has travelled with me from Piedmont to obtain audience and to implore your mercy.”
”Solaro!” echoed the Minister, looking straight at him. ”Ah yes, I remember!” Then turning to the general, Morini added in a hard, impatient tone--
”I cannot see why you should have troubled yourself to come to Rome on such an errand--and without leave too! I thought this man was under arrest? Is this the way you execute military justice in the north?”
”I took it upon myself to bring the captain here,” was the fine old officer's answer.
”And he wears his sword, I see!” remarked the Minister, with a sneer.
”I suppose you have taken it upon yourself to give it back to him--eh?”
”I returned him his sword temporarily, your Excellency, in order that during our journey here no one should recognise him as the man who has been sentenced, and further, in order that he should stand before you in the full possession of his rights as an officer, and ask your leave to explain.”
”I have no time to hear any explanations from men who have been condemned by court-martial, General Valentini. It is your duty to hear his excuses--not mine. The whole matter is quite clear. I have had the papers before me, and have gone through them carefully. They were sent to me in England. And if you ask me my private opinion, general, I think that dismissal from the army and fifteen years' imprisonment is a very light sentence upon a traitor. Had I been on the court-martial I should have given a life sentence.”
”But, your Excellency!” gasped the unhappy captain, his face blanched, his hands trembling, ”I am innocent. I am the victim of some clever conspiracy, by which the real culprit has s.h.i.+elded himself. I had no chance of defending myself at the court-martial, for--”
”Silence!” cried the Minister. ”You have been tried and found guilty of treason against your king and country. The evidence is as plain as the light of day, and yet you deny your guilt?”
”I do deny it,” declared the unhappy captain. ”They refused to hear my explanation.”
”That is true, your Excellency,” interposed the general. ”The court sat for four days in Turin with closed doors, and as three of the officers composing it were due to go on their annual leave, the sitting on the fourth day was terminated hurriedly, sentence was given, and sent to you for confirmation. Your Excellency has confirmed it, therefore Captain Solaro has no appeal except to yourself.”
”You, as his commanding officer, were not a member of the court?”
”No, your Excellency.”