THE NOVELIST. [Published by Special Arrangement.] THE DAY OF TEMPTATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 41

THE NOVELIST. [Published by Special Arrangement.] THE DAY OF TEMPTATION.

A STORY OP TWO CITIES.

By WILLIAM LE QUEUX, Aixthor of "Whoso Findeth a Wife," "The Great War in England in 1897," " The Eye of Istar " "If Sinners Kntice Thee," '^Zoraida," " Guilty Bonds," " Devil's Dice," "A Secret Service, " <ftc, *c.

[COPYBIGHT.]

Chapter XI. Silence is Best. ET the police enter," Armytage said, still pressing her slim figure in his arms. " You know, Gemma, that I love

you." _ " No, no," she cried, trembling, " I will see them alone. I must see them alone." " Why? " "I cannot bear that you should stand by and hear the terrible charge against me," she answered hoarsely. "No, let me go alone to them," and she struggled to free herself.

But he grasped her slim wrist firmly,say- " I love you and will be your protector. If they make allegations against you they must grove them. I the man who is to be your usband, may surely know the truth?" " But promise me that you will not heed what they say— you will not believe their foul, unfounded charges," she implored, lifting hei pale face to his. "I believe implicity in you, Gemma," he answered calmly, looking seriously into her terror-stricken eyes. "Let them come in." Then, turning to the faithful Margherita, who had stood by la silence and wonderment, he added 1/

"Ask them in."

Gemma, her hand in that of her lover, stood blanched and trembling in the centre of the room as the two police officers in plain clothes advanced, and encountering Armytage bowed with that politeness which an Italian, even though he may be an official, never fails to show to his superiors. One was a tall, broad-shouldered, middleaged man with a pleasant face, a pair of dark piercing eyes, and tiny coal-olack moustache, while the other was younger, and from the bronze of his countenance evidently a Sicilian.

"We are police officers," the elder man exclaimed, opening his coat and displaying the badge of a delegato on his breast. "We would prefer to speak r& the Signorina alone."

" I am the closest friend of the Signorina," Arniytage said, calmly." "I am about to make her my wife." The officer shrugged his shoulders, exhibited his palms,- and a sarcastic smile played about his lips. " If I may presume to advise the Signor Conte," he said, still preserving his ineffable politeness, " I certainly think that it would be best for both the Signore and the Signorina if I spoke to her alone." And Gemma, clinging to her lover, gazed imploringly into his face, adding : " Yes, caro. Let them speak to me alone. " " No," the young Englishman answered firmly. " But the matter is a delicate one, extremely delicate," urged the delegato. " I certainly think that the Signorina should be allowed to decide whether or not you should be present." " In a week or so we shall marry," declared Armytage. " What concerns the Signorina also concerns myself." " To please me, caro, will you not go out of the room for a moment?" Gemma cried, In a low voice of earnest supplication. Her attitude was that of one who feared Ihe revelation of some terrible secret, and !n those moments her lovei had become filled with a keen desire to penetrate the cloak of mystery which enveloped her. She had told him nothing of her past, and all these mysterious events had occurred so suddenly that he was bewildered. The earnestness of her appeals not to be present only' stirrsil within him greater curiosity and a stronger desire to ascertain the whole truth. In those moments her face, previously so bright and innocent, had grown perceptibly worn and haggard ; in her eyes was a look of blank despair, and as he held her 'gloved hand, she seemed to quiver from head to foot. " No," he answered her, after a brief silence. "I have decided to remain and hear what the Signor delegato has to say. The police official and the trembling ■woman exchanged quick glances. In the officer's gaze was a look of sympathy, for perhaps her beauty had softened his impressionable Italian nature ; in her blue eyes was an expression of humiliation and abject fear

"My mission is very quickly accomplished," the delegato exclaimed slowly. '' You intend to arrest me ! " Gemma cried, hoarsely. " I— l have dreaded this for a long time past. I knew that, one day or another, you would come for me, and my reputation would be ruined for ever." " Listen, Signorina," the official said, gravely. " Certain information has been obtained by the Questore, and upon that information I have been sent here to you. I regret very much that the Signore is determined to remain while I speak to you, for it would have been far better for both of you had this matter been settled in private. But as he desires to hear all, I will proceed." " Yes," said Armytage, with a tender pressure upon the little hand he held. Speak, I am ready to hear all you have to say." "Well," the police official continued, turning to Gemma, and hesitating slightly in order to present the matter as politely as possible. " Much as I regret to disturb you, Signorina, the Questore, after carefully considering certain statements before him, has decided that your presence is undesirable in Livorno, and further, he wishes me to inform you that to-day you must leave this city."

Gemma, her face white and drawa, humiliated and abased, sighed deeply, then breathed again more freely. She had expected arrest, but instead waa ordered out of Livorno. To say the least, the police had been merciful towards her.

" Then I must leave to-day? " she repeated, mechanically.

" Yes, Signorina. The penalty for remaining here after this order of the Questoro is immediate arrest," he said.

"But why is such a course pursued?" Armytage asked. " For what reason is the presence of the Signorina deleterious to the city? It all seems very remarkable to me." " The information before the Questore is of a confidential character, Signore." " Are you not aware of the allegations against her? " " No," he replied. " I have only been deputed to warn her to leave Livorno."

"Is such a measure frequently resorted to? "

" Usually we arrest the suspected individual, question him, and afterwards deport him to the railway station if there is not sufficient ground to justify a prosecution. In this case there is just a simple warning. Only in very exceptional cases is the course followed which the Questore is now pursuing." 'Then you have no knowledge of the actual charge in this case?"

"No, Signore, I have not. But," he added, " the Signorina must herself know the reason."

Armytage turned quickly to her. Their eyes met for a single instant. Then she slowly nodded, saying in. an indistinct voice :

" Yes, yes, I know only too welL the reason of this. I must leave Livorno, leave Italy, my own country that I love, never to return."

" That would be the very best course to pursue," the delegato urged. "If you leave Italy, Signorina, you will, I think, hear no more of the unfortunate affair. Indeed, I have strong reasons for believing that th.3 Questore has acted in the manner he has done purposely, in order that you should be afforded an opportunity to leave Italy." " He thinks that exile is preferable to imprisonment," she said aloud, as if reflecting. " Well, perhaps he is right," and she laughed a short hollo w laugh.

" Yes," urged Armytage, turning again to her. " You must leave to-night." She was silent. The ponce official exchanged glances' with the tall, good-looking young Englishman, then said, bowing politely : " I will wish you adieu, Signore. A thousand pardons for disturbing you, out 'fc was my duty, therefore pray forgive me." " Certainly, certainly," he replied, and both men went out bowing, leaving Armytage alone with the woman he loved. " All this is strange — very strange," he observed when they had gone. He was puzzled ; for after all he now knew no more than what Consul Hutchinson had already told him.

"' Yes," she said slowly, in a voice scarcely above a whisper. "To you it must appear extraordinary, but to me, who expected and who dreaded it, it was only what might oe anticipated. They have warned me out of Italy, it's true, but if they knew everything," she added, "if they knew everything, I should to-night be placed in a criminal's ccli."

"Why?"

" Already I have told you it is impossible for me to explain," she answered vehemently, in her voluble Italian. "If you really love me it is surely sufficient to know that the police are in ignorance of facts which I feared were revealed, and that they ha?e not obtained the one item of information necessary to effect my ruin and disgrace." "Why do you speak like this?" he demanded, quickly. " Has your past life in Florence been so full of mystery that you fear its exposure? " " There are certain matters which I desire to keep secret — which I will keep secret, even if it costs me the loss of you, the man I adore," she answered, fiercely. " Then they are matters which surely concern me — if I am to be your husband," he said, gravely. "No," she answered calmly, still pale to the lips. " They only concern myself. 1 admit freely that there is a secret connected with my past — a secret which I shall strive to preserve, because its revelation would, I know, cause you, my beloved, much worry and unneccessary pam. I therefore prefer to hide this truth and fight my enemies alone."

" Is not this secret one that, before marrying you, I ought to know? " he demanded, earnestly. "It cannot concern you m any way," «he_ declared. " True, it has ■ reference to my past life, but surely you don't believe me to' be an adventuress — do you? " | " Of' course not, piccina," he answered, laughing as he again placed his arm tenderly around her waist. " You an adventuress ! What made you suggest such a thing? " " I must be an enigma to you," she said. " But believe me, I would tell you everything if I could see that you could be benefited in the least. The story is a long and wretched one, and when I reflect upon the closed chapter of my life's history, I am always dolorous and unhappy. The more so because I'm unable to confide in you, the man I love." " Will you explain all to me some day? " he asked, in his ungrammatical Italian. " Yes, everything. At present, if I were to tell you, the result would only be disastrous to myself, and in all probability wreck your -happiness. Silence is best now — far the best." i

His face wore a heavy expression of disappointment and dissatisfaction, 'x'ruth to tell, the whole mattei was so utteily inexplicable that he entertained serious misgivings. She noticed this, and raising her face, now no longer haggard, but pale and sweetlooking, she added : "Cannot you trust me further, Nino? ' "Trust you, darling?" he cried. "Wip of course I can. Only all this secrecy worries me."

"Ah, no! Don't think of it any more," she urged. " To-night I will leave with you for Paris. I have a friend there to whom I can go. Afterwards, in London, we will marry — if you still desire that we should." The last words were uttered in a io,w, tremulous, hesitating tone. " Still desire ! " he echoed. " I still love you as fondly, ah ! even more fervently than before. If you would only confide in me I should be entirely happy." "At present that is impossible," she declared. " Some day before long I hope to be in a position to tell you everything." -■*

" Are you ready to go to London," he o% served. " Half an hour ago you said yott did not wish to go to England I " "True, because I feared to go. Now, I no longer fear. lam ready, even eager to, accompany you, if you still wish." "Then will go straight throngh to Paris,, and when I have concluded my uusiness, which will occupy perhaps a couple of days,! we'll go on to London."

" Benissimo ! " she answered, raising her full red lips to his. "I so want to see your great and wonderful London, caro. I've read so much about it,, and seen lots of pictures and photographs of its crowded streets and its motley people. It must be gigantic. I shall be so happy and content with you as my guide." " It will be all very strange to you, dearest; -r-the people, the language, the ways of life,"he said, the. heavy look of despondency giving place to a joyous smile. " All will seem curious to you after your own beautiful Tuscany, wit/h its mountains, its rich and picturesque country and its cities of ancient palaces. But in London there is nothing half so beautiful as the Duorao at Florence ; in England no scenery so picturesque as the wild valleys up beyond the Bagni di Lucca, the country you know so well." ' " To see London," she said, ** has ever been the dream of my life." "Ah! I'm afraid you'll be sadly disappointed, piccina," he said, again smiling. "Aftkr your bright and beautiful Italy our busy, bustling, smoke-blackened city will seem terribly dull, monotonous, and dreary ."- i ac sky is seldom blue and the atmosphere never clear and bright like this. In your Tuscany everything is artistic ; the country, the towns, the people ; but in England — well, you will see for yourself." " But there are lots of amusements in London," she said, " and life there is always " For the rich London offers the greatest and most diverse attractions of any place in the world ; but for the poor, herded together in millions as they are, it is absolutely the worst. In Italy you, have' much poverty and distress, but the lot of the poor man is far easier 'here than in toiling, turbulent, over-crowded London."

" One never appreciates the town in which! one lives, be it ever so beautiful," she laughed. " Well, be patient, and you shall see what London is like," he said. " But it is already 2 o'clock. You must lunch, and afterwards pack your trunks. Our train leaves at halfpast 9 to-night, and at Pisa we shall join the night mail to the frontier. I'll wir^e to the sleeping-car office in Rome and secure our berths in tlie through car to Paris." "Ah, Nino," she exclaimed, happily, "I am content to leave Italy with you An hour ago I had reasons for remaining ; but now it is of course impossible, and strangely enough I have no further object in staying here."

" And you will not regret leaving? " *' Of course not," she said, flinging herse'.f into his ready arms and shedding tears of joy. " I fear nothing now, because I know that you love me, Nino," she sobbed. "I know you will not believe anything that is alleged against me. You have asked me vo marry you, and I am content — ah!- absolutely content to do so. But even now Ido not hold you to your promise, because of my inability to divulge to you my secret. If you think me untrue or scheming^ then 'et us part. If you believe I love you, then let us marry in England and be happy." " I love you, Gemma, " he answered, towj and earnestly. " Let us go together to London, and let this be the last hour of our doubt and unhappiness. Chapter XTT t A word -with. His Excellency. One morning, about 10 days after Armytage had left Leghorn with Gemma, a l-ather curious consultation took place at the Italian Embassy in Grosvenor square between Count Castellani, the Ambassador to the Court of St. James, and Inspector Elmes, of the Criminal Investigation department. The Ambassador, a handsome grey-haired man of 60, .with courtly manner as became the envoy of the most polite nation in the world, stroked his beard thoughtfully while he listened to the detective. He was sitting at his big writting table, in the small well-fur-furnished room where he was in the habit, of holding private conference with those with whom the Chief Secretary of Embassy had no power to deal. Elmes, smart, well-shaven ,and ruddy, sat in a large easy chair close by and slowly explained the reason of his visit.

" I remember the case quite well," his Excellency exclaimed when the detective paused. " Some papers regarding it were placed before me, but I left my secretary to deal with them. The girl, if I remember right, arrived in London from Livorno accompanied by an unknown Englishman, and was found dead in a cab at Piccadilly Circus — mysteriously mm* dered according to the medical evidence." "The jury returned an open "verdict, but without doubt she was the victim of foul" play," Elmes said decisively. "One moment," the Ambassador interrupted, placing his hand upon ar electric bucton upon the table. In answer to his summons the thin, darkfaced Neapolitan man servant appeared, and by him the Ambassador sent c message Lo the secretary, who in a few moments entered.

He was younger by 10 years than the Ambassador, foppishly dressed as Italians are wont to" be, but nevertheless pleasantfaced, with manners which were the essence of good breeding. " You remember the case of the girl — Vittorina I think her name was — who was found dead in a cab outside the Criterion?" "Yes." " Did we make any inquiries of the police in Livorno regarding her identity? Thia gentleman is an inspector from Scotland Yard," he explained. "Yes. Do you wish to see the reply?" "You might send it into me at once," the Ambassador said, and the secretary withdrew. " What you have told me is certainly extiaordinary — most extraordinary," exclaimed his Excellency, addressing Elmes. "All the inquiries I have made point to the one fact I have already suggested," the detective said. v I "At Scotland Yard we received a request : fxpm your Excellency thatj we should cargo

fully investigate the matter, and we are floing so' to the very best of our abiliy"l am sure you are. .T^he police system of England is excellent, notwithstanding what some may say of its small defects. You have iiot the" "'power "of arrest which our Italian - police have, but certainly next to the Paris detective, force that of London is the most shrewd the most intelligent, and the most successful in the detection of crime. I well recollect now signing a formal request to your. department to make searching investigation." At that moment a clerk entered bearing a file- of papers, which he placed before his Ex-

•cellencyx "Now," exclaimed the latter, let us see .■what reply we received from the police of iivorno," and he slowly turned over letter after letter. The correspondence had evidently ben considerable. Its magnitude surprised the detective. Suddenly the' Count paused, and his Jbrows ' contracted as he read ene of the tifficia) letters. He glanced at the signature and saw it was that of the Marquis Monte- ■ lupo, Minister of Foreign Affairs at Rome. QVice he read it through. It was a long ds - spatch closely written an# as the Ambassa- ; .dor re-read it his brow lowered. - • Again he touched the electric bell, and -a second time; summoned the Secretary of Em- ' hussy.- ' l ' - When the latter appeared his .Excellency - "Ifo'eckoned him into an inner room, and taking the file of papers with him, left the inspectoi alone with The Times After the lapse of some 10 minutes both men returned. " But what I desire .to know, and that clearly, is why this despatch was ' never iianded to me," his Excellency Avas saying angrily as they emerged. You were away at Scarborough, therefore I attended to it myself," the secretary -answered. "Did you not appreciate its extreme im- ' fportance?" his Excellency cried impetuously. %t Surely in the interests of our diplomacy this matter should have been placed immediately before me ! This despatch, a private one from the Minister, has apparently been lying about the Embassy for the servants or any chance caller to read. The thing's disgraceful. Suppose for one moment the contents of this despatch have leaked out. What jivould be the result?" The secretary made no reply, but shrugged his shoulders. " Such gross .carelessness on the part of teryone connected with this Embassy amounts khnost to treason," the Ambassador continued, livid with rage and indignation. " We are here to do our utmost to preserve the honour and prestige of our nation. Is. not our natiorial motto ' For the country and the king?' ' Yet, because I was absent week a matter of the most vital importance is calmly shelved in this matter. Moreover, \t was sent by special messenger from Rome ; yet it has been allowed to lie about for anybody to copy." " Pardon me, your Excellency,'-' exclaimed Jihe secretary The file has been kept the private safe unto this moment, and the key has never left my pocket." '" Then why did you send it in here by a .clerk, and not bring it yourself?" was his Exlelleney's withering retort. " It was impossible for me to return at that foment," the secretary explained. "I was dictating an important letter to catch the post." " I see from these papers that we wrote ftirect to the Questore at Livorno, and his reply came by special messenger under cover from the Foreign Minister. Surely that in itself was sufficient to convince you of its extreme importance? Your previous experiences in Vienna and Berlin ought to have shown you that the Minister does not send despatches by special, messenger unless he i'ears the ' cabinet noir.' " " I wrote formally to the Questore at lilvorno, according to your instructions, and certainly received from the Ministry at Rome the reply attached. I must confess, however, that' it did not strike me as extraordinary until this moment. Now that I read it in the light of recent occurrences I see how secret is its nature. It is impossible, however, that anyone besides myself has read it."

' Let us hope not," his Excellency snapped, as he reseated himself. "It was most injudicious, to say the least ; " and then wilh politeness he bowed to the secretary as a sign that he had concluded his expressions <■> displeasure. -' It is most fortunate that you called," the Ambassador observed, turning to tlmts when his secretary had left. If you had not, a most important matter would, have escaped my attention. At it is. T fear 1 shall be too late in intervening owing to tne gross negligence which has been displayed. After the inquest had been held upon' the "body of the unfortunate .girl we wrote, if

appears to the police at Livorno to endeavour to discover who she was ; " and he slowly turned over the papers one by one until he came to a formidable document headed, " Questura ' di Livorno," which he glanced through.

" The police, it seems, have no knowledge of any person missing," he continued, slowly and deliberately,, when he had read through the report. " The name Vittorina is, of course, as common in Tuscany as Mary is in England. The photograph taken by your department after death has been seen by the whole of the detectives in Livorno, but ao one has identified it. If we had had the surname we might possibly have traced her by means of the register which is carefully kept in every Italian town ; but as it is, the Questore expresses regret that he his unable to furnish us with more than one item of information.

"What is that?" asked Elmes eagerly.

"It is stated that by the last train from Liverno one night in August two persons, a man and a woman, inquired for tickets' for London. They were informed that tickets could only be issued a* far as Milan Modane. The man was English and the woman Italian. The detective on duty at the station took 'careful observation of them, as persons' who ask for through tickets or London are rare. The description of the woman tallies exactly -with that of the unknown Vittorina, and that of the man with the* fellow, who so cleverly escaped through the Criterion bar."

"We already knew that they came fron« Leghorn," the inspector 'observed disappointedly, but the Ambassador took no notice of his words. He was re-roading", for the third time, the secret instructions contained in the despatch from the Minister at Rome and stroking his pointed grey beard, a habit of his when usually puzzled.

" You, of course, still have the original of that curiously-worded letter found in ths dead girl's dressing bag, and signed 'Egisto ?'" Count Castellani exclaimed presently, without taking his keen eyes off the despatch before him.

"-Yes, your Excellency," Elmes answered. "I have it in my pocket." " I should like to see it, if you'll allow me," he said in a cold, dignified voice.

The detective took out a well-worn leather wallet, containing many notes of cases on which he was or had been .engaged, and handed to the Ambassador the strange note which had so pxizzled the police and the readers 'of newspapers.

His Excellency assumed Ms gold-rimmed pince-nez, and carefully scrutinised the note. "It is strangely worded — very strangely," he said. " Have you formed any opinion regarding the mention of Bonciani's Restaurant in Regent street? What kind of place is it? -I've never heard of it."

"The Bonciani is a small restaurant halfway up Regent street, frequented by betterclass Italians, but what the veiled reference *o appointments -on Mondays can mean I've at present utterly failed to discover." "This Egisto. whoever he his, writes from Lucca, I see," his Excellency remarked. " Now Lucca is only half an hour from Pisa and if the man wished to say adieu to her he might have taken half an hour's journey and seen her off in the train for the frontier. Have you made any inquiries regarding this strange communication?"

' A letter has been written to the British Consul at Leghorn, in whose district Lucca is, sending him a copy of the letter, together with the evidence, and asking him to communicate with the authorities."

" Has that letter been sent?" the Ambassador inquired quickly. ''No. I only made application for it to be sent when I was round at the chief office this morning." "Then stop it," his Excellency said. "In this matter consular inquiries are not required, and may have the effect of thwarting the success of the police. -If you will leave this letter in my hands I shall be pleased .o make inquiries through the Ministry, and at once acquaint "you with the result." " That will be extremely kind of you, your Excellency," the inspector said, for he at once saw that the Ambassador had far greater chance of discovering some clue than he had. A request from the .Italian representative in London would, he knew, get the police 'office in Lucca m a flutter, and all their wits would be directed towards discovering the identity of the writer of the extraordinary missive. . • "-This piece of evidence will be quite safe in my. hands, of course," added the Count. "If I am compelled to send ifc to Italy, in order that the handwritting should be identified, I shall make it a condition that it shall be returned immediately. Do you speak Italian?" " A little, jour Excellence," he answered.

" I've been in Italy once or twice on extradition cases." " Then you can read this letter, I suppose," ths courtly diplomat asked, eyeing him keenly. " Yes. I made the translation for the coroner," answered Elmes, with a smile. " Well, it does you credit. Very few of our police, unfortunately, know English, 'n your inquiries in this case what have you discovered?" the Ambassador asked. "You may be perfectly frank with me, because the woman was an Italian subject, .and I am prepared to assist you in every way possible." " Thanks," the detective 'said. " Already I've made — and am still making — very cere- ' ful investigations. The one fact, however,* which I have really established is the identity \ of the mysterious Major — who was waiting ; on the platform of Charing Cross station, who was introduced to the girl, who afterwards spoke to her English companion in the Criterion, and whose photograph, fortunately enough, was found in the dead girl's dressing bag." "The Major?" repeated his Excellency, as if reflecting. " Ah ! yes, of course, I recollect. Well, who is that interesting person?" he asked. " The photograph has been identified by at least a dozen persons as that of Major Gordon Maitland, who lives in the Albany, and who is a member of the- Junior United" Service Club." ".Maitland !" echoed the Ambassador, startling at the mention of the name. "He s rather well known, isn't he? I fancy I've met him somewhere or other." " He's very well known," answered Elutcs. " It is strange, however, that he left London a few days after the occurrence, and has not left'his address either at his chambers or his club.!' " That is certainly curious," the Ambassador agreed. "It may, however, be only accidental that he left after the tragic affair." " I have made judicious inquiries in quarters where he is bast known,but absolutely nothing is discoverable regarding his whereabouts, although J have three officers engaged on the case." " You have found out nothing regarding his friend the mysterious Englishman, J suppose?" "Absolutely nothing. All trace of him has vanished as completely as if the earth had swallowed him up." "He may have been an American, and 1 by this time is in New York, or even San Francisco," the Count hazarded. " True, he might have been. Only Major Maitland can tell us that. We are certain to find him sooner or later." " I sincerely hope you will," the Ambassador said. "I am here to guard the, interests of all Italian subjects, and if the life of one is taken it is my duty to ■ press upon your de- ; partment the urgent necessity of discovering j and punishing the assassin. If, however, J j can be 'of any service to you in this matter, j i.or can advise you, do not hesitate to call on i me. You can always see me privately if you send in your card," and rising as a sign' the interview was at an end, his Excellency bowed, and wished 'the detective "good J morning." i The instant Inspector Elmes had closed I the door after him the Ambasador took up j the letter found in the dead girl's bag, together with the file of papers lying before ; him. j Carrying them swiftly to the window he, readjusted his gold-rimmed pince-nez, and hurriedly turned over folio after folio until he came to the secret despatch with the ' sprawly signature of the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Then placing the letter beside the despatch, he closely compared the { signature - with the handwriting of the : letter. ! His face grew pale, his brows contracted, and he bit his lips. The "' l's," " p's," and " t's," in the strange missive were exactly identical with those, in the signatiu'e to the closely-written despatch which had been penned by the private secretary. With trembling hand he held the soiled scrap of paper to the light. " The watermark shows this to be official paper," he muttered aloud. '"There is certainly some deep, extraordinary mystery here — a mystery which must be- fathomed." Again he glanced at the long formal desvjatch. „ Then the Ambassadoi added, in a low, subdued, almost frightened tone — j " What if it is proved that the Marquis S Montelupo and ' Egisto ' are one and the same I"

(To te continued.')