The girl, who was probably his _inamorata_, introduced them, whereupon
he lifted his hat with his finger and thumb and swung it back upon his
head with a twist--an action by which one Camorrist betrays his
allegiance to the initiated.
For a few moments they conversed together, then the girl, wishing the
trio _buona sera_, sped away, and passing me was again lost in the
darkness, while the men, walking together slowly, came on in my
direction. The doctor was conversing with the young man in low
whispers, and it seemed to me that he was giving him certain
instructions. But I could not, of course, approach sufficiently near to
overhear what was said. Miller was listening, but said nothing, except
when addressed by his friend.
Outside the massive Castel S. Angelo there is a cab-rank, and all three
entered a closed cab.
That there was some dark conspiracy in progress I could not doubt. The
presence of that young swaggerer--a man capable of committing any crime
I could see--was distinctly suspicious. Besides they dare not be seen
with him; therefore they took a closed cab, the only one upon the rank
on that hot night.
They moved off across the bridge, and when they were a hundred yards
away I got into one of the open cabs and told the driver to follow, for
I was determined at all hazards to ascertain what cunning scheme was in
progress.
Fortunately, on account of my linen suit being dirty, I had exchanged it
for one of dark blue serge, therefore I was not so conspicuous in the
darkness as was Miller. To my surprise they drove direct to the railway
station, where they alighted and the doctor went to take tickets.
Noticing this, I told my driver to jump down and overhear their
destination, promising him five francs for the information.
In a moment he was gone, while I minded his horse.
Five minutes later he returned, saying:--
"The Signore has taken three second-class tickets to Tivoli."
Tivoli! What, I wondered, was their object in going out to Tivoli at
that hour?
I watched them pass the barrier on to the platform; then I myself took a
ticket for the same destination, passed through, and entered an empty
compartment of the waiting train. I saw, however, that while Miller and
his friend were in a second-class carriage, the young man in the grey
felt hat was in a third-class compartment. They were evidently taking
precautions not to be seen in his company.
I was sorely tempted to slip across to the police office and ask the
_delegato_ to allow a detective to accompany me. Yet if I did this I
should only be giving Miller into the hands of the police, and thus
quite ruin all my chances of discovering the truth. No. If I wished to
find out what was in progress I was, I saw, compelled to continue
fearless and alone.
Something desperate was in progress, otherwise they would never have
sought the services of that young Camorrist. Miller was far too
gentlemanly a rascal to associate with common criminals.