CHAPTER XXV.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7289, 28 December 1901, Page 1

CHAPTER XXV.

IS WHICH THE STRANGER STATES HIS ■: ' MISSION. : ' "Well, what do you want?" Chisholm esked sharply, glancing inquiringly at the foreigner, and not approving of his appearance. '"I want a word with the Signore," the snan who had accosted him answered with an air of almost authority. ' '"I don't know you," responded the Un-<Ler-Secretary, "and have no desire to hold intercourse with perfect strangers." ' "It is time that I am unknown to the Signore," responded the man in his broken English, " but I am here, in London, on purpose to speak with you. I ascertained; that you were visiting at yonder palazzo j therefore I waited." , V And why • do . you wish to speak with me? you might have found a more jitting opportunity than this—you could liave waited until to-morrow." ■ "No. The Signore is watched," said the man -walking on at Dudley's side among the pec-pie, "for in Knightsbridge there is always considerable movement after the theatres are over, and the tide of pleasureesekers is flowing westward. "I have ■watched the opportunity to ask the Sig-. store to make an appointment with me." "Can't you tell me your business now?" enquired • Chisholm -suspiciously, not half, liking tae fellow's look. • "To speak here is impossible," he declared glancing about him. " I must not L c aeen with you. Even at this moment it is dangerous. Give me a rendezvous quickly; Signore, and let me leave you. We may be aiien. If- so, my mission is futile." "You have a mission, then. Of what character?" /."I will-tell you .everything, Signore, waen we meet. Where can I see you?" • "At my house in St James's Street—in an hour's time." " Ah! no. That is far too dangerous. Let us meet in some unfrequented cafe, where we can talk without being overheard. I dare not, for certain reasons^ be ■een near the Signore's abode." The man's mysterious manner was any- ' tiling but convincing, bub Dudley; seeing •his earnest determination to speak to him, told him at last to follow him. The stranger instantly dropped behind among the crowd without further word, while the master, of Wroxeter continued his way past Hyde Park Corner and along Piccadilly, gay and reckless as it always is at that hour, until with a sudden t,urn he entered a narrow courb to the left, which led to • Vine Street, the home of the notorious police-station of the" West End. Half-way ■ up the court was a wine-bar, a kind of Bodega, patronised mostly by shopmen from the various establishments in Regent Street, and he entered there, selecting one of the upturned barrels .which served as tables. He seated himself in a far corner, away from the men and women who were drinking port, munching biscuits, and laughing more merrily as closing-time drew n. Tiien, some ten ininutes later, the «tr«n<gcf -slunk in, cast'a quick,' suspicious glance, in the direction of the merry-mak-ers, and then walked over and joined him. . "I, hope we have not been seen/ were * Ms first words as he seated himself upon the stool opposite Ohisholm. " I hope not, if there is really danger, as you allege," responded the latter, having ordered a- glass of wine for him. With the full light upon him, the stranger looked weary and worn. He judged him to be about fifty, a rather refined man, with a grey. wiry moustache, certain well-bred manners, and a curious expression of superiority that struck Dudley as peculiar. ■ " You are Tuscan,' he said, looking at the man with a smile. The other returned his glance in undisguised wonderment. " How did ■ the Signore know, when I have not- spoken, only in my very faulty English?" he asked amazed. Chisholm laughed, affecting an. air of mysterious penetration, which he knew must impress his visitor. , The man's rather faded clothes were of foreign cut, and his wide felt hat was un-English; but he did f Hot explain to him that the unmistakable stamp of the Tuscan was upon him in the tiny object suspended from his watchchain, a small jjiece of twisted and points! coral set in gold, which every Tuscan in fevery walk, of life carries with him openly ©r* concealed upon his person, to counter«jufc the influence of the Evil Eye. "It is true that I am a Tuscan,""the man Raid. "And I arrived from Italy this evening. I have been sent to- London expressly ifco see the Signore." "Sent by whom?" " The Signorina Mortimer." Mention of that name caused Dudley to #arb and fix bis eyes upon the stranger of &c sallow face. " She has sent you,. Why?' "To deliver to you an urgent message," *ras the man's response. " I have here a *redtential." And fumbling in fhe breast toocket of his coat, he produced an envelope, open and without superscription, .yhich he -handed to Ohisholm. From it the latter drew forth a piece of folded white paper, which he opened carefully. What he saw struck him aghast. Withfn the folds was concealed) an object, simple it is true, but which caused Mm to -hold Has breath in sheer, astonishment-. The paper contained -that small lock of fair hair which he had) believed still reposed in the safe at Wroxeter—the refcovered relic of a <iay long past, the ashes «f a love long -dead. That woman into whose hands he had given himself so utterly had stolen it. She had secured it by stealth on- that night when, together in the library, she had confessed her knowledge of his secret, and be had oeen forced by overwhelming circumstances to make that unholy compact (that was ever driving him to despair. His mouth grew 'hard as he thought of St. What did: it matter? Life was sweet after all, and she rescued, him. from suicide. Upon the paper wherein the fair lock was wrapped were words, written in ink in a firm feminine hand. He spread the paper out and read them., JPhey were very brief, though pointed. "The bearer, Francesco Marucci, is to be (trusted implicitly.—rMuriel Mortimer." That was all. Surely no better credential could there be than the return of that treasured love-token she had so ingeniously secured. "Well?" he inquired, refolding the paper £nd replacing it in its envelope. "And your message, what is it?" " A confidential on-?," replied the wiry man. " The Signorina ordered me to find you at once, the instant that I reached London. I left Florence the day before yesterday, and travelled straight through by way of Milan and Bale. She gave me the address of the palazzo where you have been Visiting, and therefore I waited until you came forth." "But you have told ma that I am

watched," said the other. "Who is taking an interest in my movements?" "It is dn that connection that I am in London. The Signore is watched by the most practised and experienced secret agents; therefore it was with difficulty that I succeeded in approaching him. If those men recognise me and know who I am then al will be lost—-■everything." "But why are these men, whoever they are, watching me? What interest can th/ey possibly have in my movements? The day of the Irish agitation, is over," he said somewhat incredulously. "The signorina, in her message, wishes to give you warning that you are in deadliest peril," the man said in a low vowe bending towards him so tibat none should overhear. " Speak in Italian, if you wish, Dudley suggested. " I can understand,- and it will be safer." The eyes of Francesco Marucci sparkled for a moment at this announcement, and he exclaimed' in that soft Tuscan tongue that is so musical to English, ears — " I had no idea the Signore knew Italian. The Signorina did not tell me so." It chanced that Chisholm knew Italian far better than French. He had learnt it when, as a youth, he had' spent two years iv Siena. „-/■,, "But the message?" demanded Dudley, rather. impatiently*. " Tell me quickly, for in five minutes or so this place will be closed, and 1 we shall be turned out into.tbestreet." ? " The message of the Signorina* is, a simple one," answered Marucci, in Italian. "It is to warn you to leave England. secretly, and at once. " To fly instantly^to-. morrow—because the truth is known." "The truth known 1" he gasped, half rising from his seat and then dropping back and glaring fixedly at the stranger. "Yes," the man responded. "Ib is unfortunately so." t,' "How do you know that?" . " Well," responded' the man with the thin face, learning again towards Chisholm confidentially, "because I chance to be in the service of your enemies." "What! You arc-in the British Secret Service?" cried the Under - Secretary, amazed at the revelation. " Si, Signore. lam under the Signor Gapitano Cator." "And you are also in the service cf Signorina Mortimer?".. " That is so," responded the man, 6miling. . "You are actually one of Cator's agents?" . "The Signore is correct," he answered. "I am an agent in the service of the British Government, mainly ' employed in France and Belgium. Indeed, if the Signor Sotto-Secretario reflects he will remember a report upon the Toulon- defences which reached the Intelligence Department a few months ago, and about which a rather awkward question was asked in- the House of Commons." / "Yes, I recollect. The elaborate report, which was produced confidentially I myself saw at the time. It was by one Cuillini, if I remember- aright." " Exactly. Benvenuto Ouilliui and Francesco Marucci are one and the same person." The young statesman sat speechless. This man Marucci was the most ingenious a©d. faithful of all Cator's secret agents, and the manner in which he had obtained the plans of the defences of Toulon was, he knew, considered' by fche Intelligence De* partment to be little short of miraculous. The report was a most detailed and elaborate one, actually accompanied by snapshot photographsan4 amass of information .wlwch^wpuld be-of ,the greatest uti|jty if. ever England fought France in the Mediterranean. \ " Then you, Signor Marucci, are really my friend?" he «xoiaimed at last. "I am the friend of *h© Signorina Mortimer," he responded, correcting him. "And who is the Signorina Mortimer?" Chisholm dienrandedl. "Who and! what is she that you should' be her intimate friend? Tell me."