Part 14 (1/2)
”True,” acknowledged the notary, thoughtfully. ”I never thought of it in that light. Perhaps there is such a person, after all. But why has no one ever seen him?”
”Where is Colonel Neri?”
”He is stationed at Messina. Perhaps he could tell you more than I.”
Dismayed, yet not entirely discouraged, by what he had learned, Blake caught the first train back to Messina and that evening found him at Neri's rooms. The Colonel was delighted to see him, but could tell him little more than Aliandro or the notary.
”Do you really believe the Countess left Sicily to travel?” Blake asked him.
”To you I will confess that I do not. We know better than that, you and I. She was working constantly from the time you left for America until her own departure, but I never knew what she discovered. That she learned more than we did I am certain, and it is my opinion that she found the trail of Cardi.”
”Then you're not like the others. You still believe there is such a person?”
”Whether he calls himself Cardi or something else makes no difference; there has been an intelligence of a high order at work among the Mafiosi and the banditti of this neighborhood for many years. We learned things after you left; we were many times upon the verge of important discoveries; but invariably we were thwarted at the last moment by that Sicilian trait of secrecy and by some very potent terror. We tried our best to get to the bottom of this fear I mention, but we could not. It was more than the customary distrust and dislike of the law; It was a lively personal dread of some man or body of men, The fact that we have been working nearly a year now without result would indicate that the person at the head of the organization is no common fellow. No one dares betray him, even at the price of a fortune. I believe him to be some man of affairs, some well-fed and respected merchant, or banker, perhaps, the knowledge of whose ident.i.ty would cause a commotion such as Etna causes when she turns over in her sleep.”
”That was Ricardo's belief, you remember.”
”Yes. I have many reasons for thinking he was right, but I have no proof. Cardi may still be in Sicily, although I doubt it. Gian Narcone has fled; that much I know.”
”Indeed?”
”Yes! The pursuit became hot; we did not rest! I do not see, even yet, how we failed to capture him. We apprehended a number whom we know were in the band, although we have no evidence connecting them with that particular outrage. I think we will convict them for something or other, however; at any rate, we have broken up this gang, even though we have lost the two men we most desired. Narcone went to Naples. He may be there now, he may be in any part of Italy, or he may even be in your own America, for all I know. And this mysterious Cardi is probably with him. It is my hope that we have frightened them off the island for all time.”
”And sent them to my country! Thanks! We're having trouble enough with our own Italians, as it is.”
”You at least have more room than we. But now, before we go further, you must tell me about yourself, about your mother--”
Norvin shook his head gravely. ”I arrived in time to see her, to be with her at the last, that is all.”
”I am indeed full of sympathy,” said Neri. ”It is no wonder you could not return to Sicily as soon as you had planned.”
”Everything conspired to hold me back. There were many things that needed attention, for her affairs had become badly mixed and required a strong hand to straighten them out. Yet all the time I knew I was needed here; I knew the Countess was in want of some one to lean upon.
I came at the first opportunity, but--it seems I am too late. I am afraid, Neri--afraid for her. G.o.d knows what she may do.”
”G.o.d knows!” agreed the soldier. ”I pleaded with her; I tried to argue.”
”But surely she can't absolutely disappear in this fas.h.i.+on. She will have to make herself known sooner or later.”
”I'm not so certain. Her affairs are in good shape and Terranova is for sale.”
”Doesn't the bank know her whereabouts?”
”If so, she has instructed them to conceal it.”
”Nevertheless I shall go there in the morning and also to her cousins.
Will you help me?”
”Of course!” Neri regarded the young man curiously for an instant, then said, ”You will pardon this question, I hope, but since she has taken such pains to conceal herself, do you think it wise to--to--”