of which you little dream."
Borselli regarded his companion suspiciously, for he saw that he was inpossession of some information which he was keeping to himself.
"You know something," he said, fixing his dark eyes upon Dubard. "Whatis it?"
"I only know that it would be most injudicious to make any revelations,or to stir up the public indignation at the present moment," was theresponse. "There is no time to lose. You must telephone at once toMontebruno and stop him."
"Impossible. The whole matter is arranged. All the Socialist deputiesare in their places awaiting the bolt to be launched."
"Then let them wait. It shall not be launched to-day," replied Dubardin a clear, distinct voice.
"But it shall?" exclaimed Borselli. "It has taken me nearly three yearsto complete preparations for this _coup_, and I do not intend to abandonit merely because you hint mysteriously that it is premature. I speakquite candidly upon this point."
"And I speak equally candidly when I tell you that Montebruno must notput the question to the Chamber. There are reasons--serious reasons."
He said nothing of his compact with Mary or of his demand of HisExcellency for her hand.
"And what are they, pray?"
"Well,"--and he hesitated. "Well, if the _coup_ is made at the presentmoment you will merely imperil yourself, that is all I can say. Moriniwill retaliate, and charge you with certain things which will place youin a very awkward position."
A silence fell between the two men. Borselli was reflecting upon acertain agreement at which they had arrived when in London.
"I really can't understand you, Jules," he exclaimed at last. "You haverendered us the most valuable assistance until the present moment, andnow, when all is prepared, you suddenly withdraw and make mysterioushints that our efforts may result in serious consequences. What do youmean?"
"I mean that the revelations are premature."
"But tell me the truth, once and for all. Are you still on our side, orhas the girl's beauty appealed to you, and you now intend to save herfather? I know what a soft, impressionable heart you have--like allyour race."
"I am still united with you," the Frenchman declared quickly. "It isbecause of that I give you warning." Borselli's dark eyes were fixedupon the other's with a look of quick shrewdness. He was a man whosemind, when once made up, was not easily turned from its purpose.
"And your warning I shall certainly not heed," he said slowly. "Youknow my intentions, and I shall carry them out to-day to the letter."
"You shall not?" the other exclaimed defiantly.
"Oh! and who will prevent it?" asked the Under-Secretary.
"I will. You shall not seek your own ruin blindly like this!"
Dubard very cleverly endeavoured to convince his companion of his owninterest in the conspiracy against Morini, while Borselli, of course,had no knowledge of his compact with Mary. Nevertheless, he saw plainlythat the Frenchman's sudden withdrawal from the affair was due to somehidden motive, and he refused to be turned from his object. To him theoverthrow of Morini meant wealth and power, and he had no intention ofrelinquishing his efforts just at the moment when the reins of officewere within his grasp. All was prepared. The revelations were to bemade, and charges of misappropriation and treason hurled at theunfortunate Minister; charges which would, on the morrow, be taken up bythe subsidised Press and exaggerated and distorted into a public scandalwhich no statesman, however popular, could withstand. The plot had costhim three years of clever scheming, during which time he had acted asMorini's humble underling, expressing profound thanks for any smallbenefits, but secretly hating and despising him, and yet always seekingto worm himself further into his confidence. And Dubard wished him toabandon it all at the very hour when success was assured! No. Heflatly refused. And he told his companion so in plain, forciblelanguage.
The other, however, merely shrugged his narrow shoulders and was silent,allowing the Under-Secretary to upbraid him without offering a word inself-defence. Then, when Borselli paused to gain breath, he said--
"I merely repeat what I have said--the question must not be put."
"I say it shall be put?" cried the other fiercely.
Dubard was silent again and quite cool, only the slight flush upon hishigh cheeks told that a fierce anger consumed him.
"If it is put, it will be at your own risk," he exclaimed at last,placing his forefinger on the table to emphasise his words. "Rememberthere are many who would gloat over the downfall of Angelo Borselli."
"And there are more who would like to see me Minister of War."
"You will never obtain office if you carry out the scheme you havearranged," Dubard declared. "I think up to the present I have shownmyself your friend, for without me you surely could not have done whatyou have. You have many times admitted that. Why, therefore, do younot take my advice?"
"Because, my dear Jules, you have suddenly turned round and are nowchampioning Morini."
"No, you mistake me. I am merely warning you in our mutual interests.Morini will retaliate--and if he does--!" And again he shrugged hisshoulders significantly.
"Well, and if he does? What can he do?"
"He can make some ugly revelations, you know."
"I have no fear of anything he may allege," laughed the other. "Hecannot establish his innocence."
"Then you will not listen to reason and postpone the public sensationyou have arranged for this afternoon?"
"No," replied Angelo. "I will not."
"Then, if you intend to imperil both of us by acting so injudiciously,I, for one, do not intend to suffer."
"What do you mean?"
"Simply this. If you are determined not to interfere, and to allow thequestion to be put and the stream of allegations to pour forth from theSocialists, I shall, in order to save myself, place myself on the sideof Morini."
"Of course, my dear Jules. You are always on the side which pays youbest," sneered the other.
"And in your company," remarked the Frenchman quite coolly, adding in afirm voice, "I wish you to give me a line to Montebruno now, thismoment, and I will take it to him in the Camera--a word to him topostpone the question."
"I shall do nothing of the sort. I do not intend to sacrifice my futurebecause of your sentimentalities. You are defending Morini."
"Yes," he cried. "I will defend him! I tell you again, and veryclearly, that if Montebruno speaks in the Camera to-day you will berelieved of office."
"Oh, how's that?"
"I am speaking plainly," Dubard said, with knit brows.
"Time does not admit of more words, otherwise Montebruno will rise andput the question. I therefore tell you that if you do not give me theletter I require at once, I shall make a clean breast of the wholeaffair." And he glanced at his watch as he spoke.
"You!" gasped Borselli quickly, staring at the speaker. "Ah yes! I wasa fool to have trusted you after all. I recognised it when too late.You have turned in Morini's favour."
"I have my own interests to serve as well as yours," Dubard remarkedquite frankly. "It is to my interest that the question is postponed."
"And it is to mine that it should be put."
"But you will not allow Montebruno to proceed, and risk your ownposition. Remember that in this affair my interests at the moment arenot the same as yours."
"And you actually declare that you will tell the truth if Montebrunospeaks?" said Borselli hoarsely, realising how completely the man beforehim held his future in his hands.
"I do," was the response. "You surely know me well enough! In suchmoments as these I do not trifle. Give me the letter! It is already aquarter to five, and I have only just time to drive to the Camera andplace it in Montebruno's hand."
"But I can't understand your motive," exclaimed Borselli, realising thathis companion meant what he said. "Remember what we agreed that nightin London."
"Perfectly. While our interests are similar, I am your friend; butwhere they divi
de, I am friend of myself alone. Come, Angelo, we cannotafford to waste further words--the letter, just two lines, or exposureof the truth. The latter would, I think," he laughed, "be even agreater sensation to the public than the allegations against theMinister."
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.
IN THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.
The man who had laid such an elaborate plot against His Excellency stoodhesitating and confounded. He had never dreamed that Dubard, upon whomhe had relied so implicitly, would be seized with this sudden caprice todefend Morini. Mary might have persuaded him
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