Part 23 (1/2)
Vito had, before they parted at the club, arranged to telephone to him in case of necessity.
”Are you there?” inquired the voice of the deputy for Asti.
”Yes. What is it?” asked the Minister, as through the instrument he distinctly heard the snap of the padded door of the telephone cabinet in the Ministry, which was now closed against listeners.
”It is as I thought,” Ricci said in a slow, distinct voice. ”I have been active ever since my return, and it is just as I believed. Last night at the club, Lapi, Marchesi, Prosperi, and Montebruno were playing bridge together, and when they had finished at half-past two I joined them, and from their conversation learned that Montebruno is to bring forward the question of the French frontier in the Camera. This morning I saw Borselli and that young Frenchman Dubard walking together in the Corso. They were talking earnestly, and it seemed as though the count was telling Angelo something which surprised him. I stopped and spoke to them, but they appeared to betray some uneasiness at meeting me.
What do you know about the Frenchman?”
”Nothing to his detriment,” was the Minister's reply. ”It is at present a secret, but he has asked me for Mary's hand.”
”Then don't give it.”
”Why?”
”Because I don't like his intimate friends.h.i.+p with Borselli.”
”It was I who first introduced them. They met at dinner at my table,”
Morini said, surprised at his spy's warning. ”What do you suspect?”
”I have no suspicions,” was the reply. ”Only if he is an intimate friend of yours, as he seems to be if he is to marry the signorina, it is strange that he should at this moment be so constantly in Borselli's company. I hear that nowadays the pair are inseparable. They walked to the Ministry, and were closeted together for over an hour. This has struck me as very curious, especially as I have just heard from a secret socialistic source that the question is to be asked by Montebruno in the Camera at five o'clock this afternoon.”
”This afternoon?” gasped His Excellency, his countenance in an instant white to the lips. ”Then they really mean to ask the question?”
”Yes. I understand that the Opposition have made a sudden resolve, and that they intend to strike the blow against the Government immediately.
To-morrow, unfortunately, all Italy will be aflame. I only regret that I am powerless to prevent it. I miscalculated my influence--I admit it.”
”Then I must face the worst, Vito!” remarked the unhappy man in a low, desperate voice, starting at his own whispered words as they seemed to ring through the lofty, old-world room.
”The instant I heard their intentions I made investigations, and found that nearly every Socialist deputy is in Rome ready to shriek that the safety of the kingdom is at stake. Our friend Borselli has indeed laid his plans very cleverly. But what puzzles me most is the reason Dubard is a.s.sociating himself so closely with your enemy if he intends to marry your daughter! He surely cannot antic.i.p.ate becoming your son-in-law and at the same time conspire to cause your downfall! To me it is a mystery, and that is why I urge you to be wary. That man has some hidden motive--depend upon it.”
Morini glanced mechanically across at that big green-painted steel door of the safe, and recollected Mary's curious story of what she had witnessed.
”But he is very fond of Mary, and as I have given my consent to their marriage and my daughter has accepted him, he can surely have no motive in acting contrary to my interests.”
”He is your enemy, I repeat,” declared Vito Ricci. ”I have made inquiries, and the results all point to one conclusion, namely, that he is acting with Angelo; and, moreover, I have been told on the best authority that certain of the charges to be made against you are based upon information supplied by him.”
”I can't believe it.”
”Be patient, and you will soon see whether the facts I have gathered are true. The question is to be put at five o'clock. I will telephone to you the result as soon as it occurs. I am going down to the Chamber at once, and will do my very utmost; but, as you can see, against such overwhelming opposition I am utterly powerless. If we could prevent Montebruno from putting the fatal question we might gain time and perhaps succeed, but how can we prevent Borselli carrying out his ingenious conspiracy when he is a.s.sisted in it by a hundred hungry office-seekers and adventurers of the Socialist party?”
”Try! Try!” urged Camillo in a wild, desperate voice. ”Try, Vito--for the sake of my poor wife and daughter.”
”Remain firm,” came back the voice of the deputy. ”Be patient, and watch the result of the attempt to wreck the Government.”
”You are hopeless. I recognise it in your voice!” wailed the desperate man. ”I know too well that all the blame and opprobrium must fall upon me. They intend, as you have already told me, that I shall be the scapegoat, and that Angelo shall take my portfolio.”
The deputy returned no answer. What, indeed, could he say? His Excellency, who was a shrewd, far-seeing man, spoke the truth.
”Ah, I know!” cried the Minister. ”The plot is complete. For me, the future is hopeless. Yet I am more than mystified at what you tell me regarding Dubard. Try and discover his motive. Do not fail me in this, Vito, I beg of you. My poor daughter's future depends on that.”