"Then you ought to know," His Excellency cried petulantly. "You must find out. Remember, you are the secret agent of this Embassy, and it is your duty to keep me well informed." Malvano smiled. The expression upon his round ruddy face at that moment was the same as when, on the night Romanelli dined with him at Lyddington, he had urged his young friend to travel to Livorno, and make a declaration of love to the unfortunate Vittorina. It was a covert glance of cunning and double dealing. "I always report to you all I know," he answered. "Yes, yes," His Excellency said hastily, in a more conciliatory tone. "I withdraw those words, Filippo. Forgive me, because to-day I'm much worried over a matter of delicate diplomacy. In this affair our interests are entirely mutual. You and I love our country, our beloved Italia, and have taken an oath to our Sovereign to act always in his interests. It therefore now becomes our duty to elucidate this mystery. In you Italy has a fearless man of marvellous resource and activity--a man who has, in the past, obtained knowledge of secrets in a manner which has almost passed credence. Surely you will not desert us now and relinquish all hope of obtaining the key to this extraordinary enigma. What have you heard at Lady Marshfield's?" "I sent in my daily report this morning," the Doctor answered rather coldly. "You have, I suppose, read it?" "I have," His Excellency said, leaning both his arms upon the table. "I cannot, however, believe that your surmise has any foundation. It's really too extraordinary." "Why?" "Such a thing seems not only improbable, but absolutely impossible," the Count replied. There was a pause, brief and painful. The men looked at one another deeply in earnest. At last Malvano spoke. "I know well the conflicting interests in this matter. If we do our best for Italy, we do the worst for ourselves--eh?" The Ambassador nodded. "My political enemies in Rome have, I fear, ingeniously plotted my downfall," the Count replied in a low tone, as he pressed the other's hand. "A single spark is only required to fire the mine. Then the Ministry will be overthrown, and the country must inevitably fall into the hand of the Socialists. Look what they have already done in Venice and in Milan. At the latter city they've closed La Scala, one of the finest theatres in the world; they've dissolved the dancing-school, and have done their worst in every direction. Venice has been revolutionised and now at every local election one reads, written with black paint upon the walls, `Down with the King and the robbers! Long live the Revolution!' I'm a staunch supporter of law and order, a firm upholder of country and of King, therefore my days of office are numbered." "Not if we successfully solve this enigma." "Why? By doing so I shall defeat the plots of my enemies, and thus embitter them against me far more than before." "You fear La Gemma?" His Excellency nodded. "Why?"