tests of Marsh, Reinsch,and Fresenius, and in each case the result was the same--the cognaccontained sufficient of a specific irritant poison of an arsenicalnature to render a single mouthful of it a fatal dose! This document,"he added, touching his breast-pocket as he spoke, "proves you to be themurderer of Felix Sazarac--you poisoned him deliberately when up alonein that mountain pass, and Solaro found in your effects part of themoney you stole from the dead man's pockets?"
Macbean tried to speak, but his throat contracted; he was unable. Alas!that terrible truth had been ever before him since that fatal day inspring, when his life had been fettered. Try how he would, he could notput from him the horror of those awful hours. There were,unfortunately, witnesses against him, witnesses who could prove hisguilt and send him to an assassin's punishment.
"Well?" he managed to gasp at last in a low, half-frightened voice, hisheart beating quickly as he half turned and faced his accuser.
"Only this," answered Jules Dubard determinedly; "silence for silence!You understand now, my friend--silence for silence!"
And then the two men parted.
The morning dawned bright and sunny--the morning of Mary's wedding day--one of those fresh, brilliant days in June when the grass-country looksits gladdest and best.
The bells were pealing merrily from the old church-tower of Orton inhonour of the event, upon the lawn a large marquee had been erected, andthe men down from London with the wedding breakfast were bustlingeverywhere, while the excitement out in the village was intense.
Morini and his wife were both happy at the match, and in the longdining-room some of the presents were displayed, including a splendidpearl collar from Her Majesty the Queen of Italy. The house was full ofvisitors, several of them being persons of the highest aristocracy inItaly, who had been specially invited over for the wedding, and therewas gaiety everywhere.
The only person who took no part in the bustle was the bride herself,for alone in her bright little room she was upon her knees imploring theDivine aid for strength in that hour of her greatest trial.
During those past weeks, as each day brought her nearer that hatefulunion, she had pondered deeply, trying to devise some means by which toescape, but alas! she saw too well that refusal would only bring ruinupon her father's head; while, if she did marry Dubard, she had nosecurity that the blow would not fall upon her family afterwards. Soshe had been compelled to bow to the inevitable, to make that sacrificeof her love, of her very life.
Those who had seen her in Rome lolling in her splendid carriage drawn bythat perfect pair of English bays, dancing in those gilded salons, orlaughing with her neighbour at dinner at one or other of the foreignembassies, had surely never dreamed that that bright, happy girl, whoseengagement was discussed everywhere, had such a heavy burden of sorrowwithin her young heart.
Before her lay her bridal gown, a magnificent creation from the Rue dela Paix, with old lace that had once belonged to the extinct royal houseof Naples. But when she gazed upon it she burst into a flood of tears,and sank again upon her knees in desperation.
Teresa came at last and tried to calm her.
"Signorina! signorina!" she exclaimed, stroking the dark hair, which,unbound, fell upon her shoulders. "Your eyes will look so red. Oh,surely you should be happy to-day!"
"Happy!" groaned the unfortunate girl bitterly, as she slowly staggeredto her feet. "There is no happiness for me--none--none."
At last the pale-faced girl, summoning up all the courage she possessed,seated herself before the mirror, and having allowed Teresa to dress herhair for the bridal, proceeded, with the help of Santina, her mother'smaid, her mother, and Vi Walters--who was one of the wedding guests--toput on the gown with its wonderful train and real orange-blossoms fromthe orangery at San Donato.
Meanwhile, however, in the study below, Camillo Morini was sitting withhis enemy, Angelo Borselli, who had practically invited himself on aflying visit to the ceremony, and whom he could not well refuse withoutgiving him a direct insult. Morini hated the man who had ever been hisevil genius, but in the present circumstances dared not openly quarrelwith him. Therefore he treated him with diplomatic friendliness.
They were smoking their cigars together when Dubard, elegantly dressed,entered merrily, and greeted them. Borselli had only arrived late onthe previous night, therefore he had not seen him before.
"Well, my friend!" cried the Sicilian, "I congratulate you. You willhave the best of wives in all the world--and the best of fathers-in-law,that I'm sure."
"Ah, I'm certain I shall," replied the bridegroom. "But what greatpreparations are being made!"
"Half the country will be here to the reception later on," Moriniremarked, laughing.
"Where is your secretary--Macbean?" inquired Dubard.
"He is not here yet. He is staying with his uncle over at Thornby," wasHis Excellency's reply.
And the bridegroom smiled to himself. His words of the previous nightwould, he knew, have their effect.
Silence for silence!
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.
REVELATIONS.
At that moment, however, the door suddenly opened, causing the three mento turn and glance, when, to their surprise, they saw, standing beforethem, the man whose name had just been mentioned. Dubard held hisbreath. Macbean's face was bloodless, his lips quivered, his hands wereclenched, his whole countenance seemed to have altered in those momentsof tension and determination, and as he closed the door behind him andadvanced boldly into the room, trying to speak in a cool voice, headdressed the Minister--
"Your Excellency, the tragedy of this marriage must not take place--foryour own sake, as well as for your daughter's."
In an instant the three men were upon their feet, electrified by theEnglishman's startling words.
"What do you mean?" asked Morini, looking at him amazed.
"Yes," cried Dubard, stepping forward angrily. "Let us hear what thisfellow means."
"You wish to hear," exclaimed Macbean, facing the Frenchman boldly."Then listen! I allege that Miss Morini has been forced into thismarriage by you--and by that man there," he added, pointing to thesallow-faced Sicilian. "If you doubt me," he said, turning to theMinister of War, "ask her yourself. This man Dubard made a promise toher that, in exchange for her hand, he would prevent the crisis whichBorselli had arranged to bring ruin and disgrace upon you. You willrecollect the mysterious letter received by Montebruno when he wasalready upon his feet in the Chamber. That letter was sent by yourenemy, Borselli, at Dubard's instigation, because your poor daughter hadconsented to sacrifice herself in order to save you. It is my duty totell you this, your Excellency. You have been pleased to take me intoyour service, to treat me almost as a confidential friend, and it is myduty therefore to speak the truth and to save Miss Mary from falling thevictim of this man?"
"Victim!" cried Dubard quickly. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that you intend to marry her, and having done so, your friendhere, General Angelo Borselli, will strike his blow at His Excellency--amerciless blow, that will crush and ruin him."
"Bah!" exclaimed the Sicilian. "All this is a mere fiction! He lovesyour daughter himself, my dear Camillo. There is lots of gossip aboutit in Rome."
"During my employment in the Ministry I have kept both ears and eyesopen," Macbean went on. "I know well with what devilish ingenuity youhave plotted against your chief, how you have forced him deeper anddeeper into financial intrigue, in order that your revelations may bethe greater, and how, in order to propitiate your accomplice Dubard, youhave stayed your hand until this marriage is effected."
"Basta!" cried the Sicilian. "I will not be insulted by a commonemployee like you!"
"Nor I!" exclaimed Dubard, his face white with passion, as he turned toMacbean. "My affairs are no concern of yours--they concern myself andthe lady who is to become my wife. I am amazed that you, of all men,should dare to come forward and make these unfounded charges against us.Hitherto I have kept my silence, but
as you have sought exposure I willspeak the truth. Then your employer shall judge as to which of us isworthy of confidence, and which--"
"I make no plea for myself," declared George, quickly interrupting him."I merely intervene on behalf of a broken and defenceless woman--thewoman you have so cleverly entrapped."
But Dubard only laughed drily, and said--
"Very well. Let His Excellency listen to you--and afterwards to me."
"Then let me speak first," cried the Englishman desperately. "Let metell you myself the truth of the Sazarac affair."
Borselli's face fell, and Morini's countenance changed colour in aninstant. Mention of that name was sufficient to cause both men
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