"And leave you in this perilous position? No," was his prompt and decisive answer.
"But I beg--nay, I implore you to do so," she cried, holding out both her hands to him.
He shook his head slowly.
"It is quite impossible. If danger really exists, then I must face it."
For some moments she remained silent.
"Have you seen Ghelardi lately?" she asked quite suddenly.
Her question surprised. What, he wondered, could she know?
"I saw him the day before yesterday," was his vague reply.
"Has it not struck you that he is very ill-disposed towards you?" she exclaimed.
"Certainly. I have always known that--even while we were up the Nile, and he was pa.s.sing as Jules Gigleux. He objected to our friendliness.
Yet he never seemed to discover that you were acquainted with Henri Pujalet. That was curious, was it not?"
She smiled.
"Perhaps because I was extremely careful not to betray it--eh?" But next second she glanced at the little diamond-studded watch upon her wrist, and rising quickly, declared that it was time for her to catch the train back to Rome.
"There is a luncheon to the Grand Duke of Oldenbourg to-day, and I shall be in horrible disgrace if I"m absent," she explained. "But it will be best for you to travel by the next train. It is injudicious for us to be seen together, Mr Waldron, especially if we are watched--as I believe we are."
"Ghelardi"s secret agents may lurk anywhere," he said, as they walked together to the great gateway of the villa.
"No, I do not fear them, I tell you," she said.
"But just now you told me that he is ill-disposed towards me--a fact of which I am well aware."
"I tell you it is not Ghelardi that I fear, but certain persons who, for their own mysterious purposes, intend to make an attack upon you when fitting opportunity offers."
"Trust me to remain wary," replied Hubert with a smile, and then after they had stood together in the winter sunshine for several moments near the gate he lifted his hat, bowed low over her hand, and then stood watching until she, pulling her splendid furs about her shoulders, had disappeared into the road which led down to the rural station.
Ah! how he loved her! But he sighed and bit his lip.
To Hubert, the object of Her Highness"s warning seemed both mysterious and obscure. Did she, for some hidden purpose of her own wish to get rid of him. If so, why?
The story that an attempt might be made upon him he was inclined to discredit, especially as she had refused to reveal the source of her information.
He lunched at the little _albergo_ above the steps leading to the station, and by half-past two found himself back again in Rome where, in his rooms, he found Pucci, the brigadier of police, awaiting him.
"I have a curious fact to report, signore," said the man when they were alone together with the door closed.
"Well," asked Hubert, "what is it?"
"That your movements are being closely watched by two well-known characters--criminals."
Waldron started, staring at the man, for had not Lola warned him that very morning.
"Do you know them?"
"Quite well. One is called `The Thrush" by his a.s.sociates, and has served several long terms of imprisonment for theft. Indeed I arrested him three years ago for attacking a policeman in the Piazza Farnese and using a knife. The other is Beppo Fiola, who has been sentenced several times for burglary."
"Professional thieves then?"
"Two of the worst characters we have in Rome, signore."
"I wonder what they want with me--eh?" asked Hubert, lighting a cigarette, perfectly unperturbed.
"They mean no good, signore," declared the man very gravely. "Perhaps they intend to commit a burglary here?"
"They are welcome. There"s nothing here of any great value, and if they do come they"ll get a pretty warm reception," he laughed.
"Ah, signore, it is a very serious matter," protested the detective.
"These two men would, if it suited them, take life without the slightest hesitation. In a case four months ago where a Russian diamond-dealer was robbed of his wallet and his body found in the Tiber stabbed to the heart, the strongest suspicion attached to the two men in question, though we have not yet been able to bring home the crime to them."
"But I haven"t any diamonds or valuables," replied the diplomat.
"No, but perhaps you, signore, may be in possession of some secret or other concerning them," the detective said. "Perhaps even they may be employed by some enemy of yours to watch an opportunity and close your lips."
Hubert looked at the man in surprise without replying.
"Yes, signore," Pucci added very gravely, "such a thing is not entirely unknown in Rome, remember. Therefore I would urge you to exercise the greatest caution; to beware of any trap, and always to carry arms. It would be best, I think, to report to the Questore, and arrest both men on suspicion."
"No, Pucci," Hubert replied quickly. "No. Watch closely, but make no move. Their arrest might upset all my present plans."
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
ROOM NUMBER 164.
Days, many anxious, fevered days, pa.s.sed--bright winter days during which Hubert was frantically active in his efforts to discover some clue to the mystery of the stolen plans of the frontier fortresses.
Not a stone did he leave unturned in his quiet, patient endeavours, and aided by the faithful Pucci--to whom he still hesitated to reveal the exact object of his search--he kept constant watch upon the actions of His Excellency the Minister of War.
Suspicions were very strong against the latter. He had discovered one important point, namely, that within a week from the loss of the doc.u.ments the sum of one hundred and sixty thousand lire was paid into the General"s account at the Banca Commerciale, and, further, that it appeared to have come from an unknown source.
Agents employed by Pucci had also watched the two secretaries, Lambarini and Pironti, but against neither was there any suspicious circ.u.mstance.
Several times had Waldron had audience with His Majesty, but was compelled to confess that he had nothing to report, while from Vienna came the secret information daily that, though a great army had been mobilised, the "manoeuvres" had not yet commenced.
The very silence was full of menace.
More than once--at Court, at the Emba.s.sy, and in the princely drawing-rooms of Rome--Hubert had met Her Highness. He had stood beside her full of love and admiration, at the same time puzzled at the paleness of her countenance and the constant anxiety which seemed ever expressed there. Since that night when he had delivered Pujalet"s note to her she had never seemed the same.
Yet she would tell him nothing--absolutely nothing. It was her secret, she said--a secret which she steadily declined to divulge.