“I trust you,” I said, wishing I were as sure as I tried to sound. “We must begin acting now, Galiana. Go to bed and at least pretend to sleep. I know this has been a shock to you.”
“Let me stay here with you,” she pleaded. “You can say you were afraid to be alone. I need you, Francesca, I am so worried!”
“That is an excellent idea,” I said. At least I could keep Galiana under my eye for the night, and by morning, if she changed her mind or lost her nerve, the Falcon would hopefully be beyond De Merode’s reach.
Se we went to sleep, side by side, in my big canopied bed. Galiana dropped off sooner than I expected. As I looked at her sleeping face, with traces of tears still on her lashes. I couldn’t help thinking how ironic our situation was. Strange bedfellows indeed—the two women who loved Andrea Tarconti, and who shared his deadly secret.
III
Galiana was still asleep when I awoke next morning. I am sure I need not describe my feelings as consciousness returned to me; any reader of imagination will comprehend them, and will understand why the look I bent upon the sweetly sleeping girl was not entirely kind.
When Galiana woke up I had my hands full calming her. Her resolution was unchanged, but her nerves had weakened. I had to reiterate, over and over, the melodramatic phrases with which I had convinced her the night before. She was a creature of emotion—and God knows the situation was as incredible as the language I had used to describe it. We ate breakfast in my sitting room, and I was still encouraging her, when we received a summons to appear downstairs. I could only hope that my persuasion had been effective, because I feared that the crisis was upon us.
We found the rest of the family assembled in the library. When I saw De Merode standing by the fireplace, I knew my fears were justified.
The Contessa was seated in an armchair. She stretched out her hand to Galiana as soon as we entered, and the wretched girl ran to her and hid her face in the maternal lap.
I had read somewhere that the best defense is to attack, so I turned to De Merode and exclaimed angrily, “You see how you have affected us, Captain! We are all in a state of nervous excitement. Is this a courtroom, or a meeting of the famous Inquisition?”
“I don’t know why you should say that, mademoiselle,” De Merode said quietly. “I have not spoken to you as yet.”
“You don’t have to speak, you look threatening. Grandfather, what is going on? I am still shaken, and I think I have taken cold.”
I suppose my cough was not very convincing. Stefano was smiling thinly, but his smile was no more convincing than my cough. It was obvious that no one had slept well the night before. Stefano’s eyelids were heavy and his eyes dull. Grandfather looked even worse. He was wearing riding clothes, and I wondered where he had been so early in the morning. Had the Captain forced him to accompany a searching party?
“Be calm, my child,” he said heavily. “The Captain has assured us he will not take much of our time. He wishes to ask a few questions.”
“I told you everything I knew last night,” I said.
“This is outrageous,” Miss Rhoda added angrily. For once she was on my side. When I saw her shadowed eyes and the lines in her face, I wondered how much she knew.
De Merode ignored her, as he had ignored Grandfather.
“What you told us, mademoiselle, was somewhat misleading. My men scoured the area you described. They found no traces.”
“I don’t suppose the man would stay there waiting for you to find him,” I retorted.
“No, indeed. He must have moved very quickly, for we did find certain signs in quite the opposite direction. Bloodstains.”
“Bloodstains! But the rain—”
“They were in a sheltered spot. It struck me, you see, that this terrain contains a number of excellent hiding places, in the ancient tombs. And when I learned that one of those tombs has a heavy door, which cannot be moved unless one knows the secret….”
“So you forced the Prince to show you,” I said, with a calm I certainly was not feeling. “You are insulting. Captain. Only members of the family know the secret of that door.”
“But, mademoiselle, always you malign me. There is no such thing as a secret from the servants of a great household. These people know everything that goes on. Obviously one of them is in league with the Falcon, for we found the bloodstains within the tomb.”
I had not been absolutely sure till then that Andrea had made good his escape. Miss Perkins’ reasoning had been logical; but logic does not convince the heart. By a supreme effort I kept my face and voice under control. Out of the corner of my eye I saw that Galiana had raised a tear-stained face from her mother’s lap and was listening with parted lips. It was imperative that I hold the Captain’s attention. I even managed, heaven knows how, to laugh.
“Human blood, of course,” I said sarcastically. “How clever you are, Captain, to be sure it was not that of a poor wounded animal. Once again, I have told you all I know. I am not responsible for the workings of your imagination. So if you will excuse me—”
“One moment!” De Merode’s nerves were beginning to show signs of wear too. His voice cracked like a whip. “You are quite right, mademoiselle, I have no proof of anything. I have only my suspicions, and my orders. Those orders are to capture this brigand at all costs.” He turned to Grandfather, who had started to protest. “Your Excellency is no doubt aware that the political situation is increasingly grave. Garibaldi is on the mainland, and if he takes Naples, the Papal States will be next. Those serpents of Piedmont, Victor Emmanuel and Cavour, threaten our northern borders. If there should be uprisings in this area, they will need no further excuse to invade, on the pretext of restoring order. The aim of the Falcon, and men like him, is to promote such rebellions. I will stop at nothing— nothing!—to prevent this. The man must be found, and when he is, he will be shot, no matter who he is!”
His face was flushed with passion. As a soldier and a loyal subject, he had good reason for pursuing an enemy of the state; but it was clear to all of us that the mocking adversary who had humiliated and defeated him had become his personal enemy as well.
“A neat summary, Captain,” Stefano drawled. “But I fail to see why you are boring us with this information. Some of us know it already, and the ladies, I fear, are not interested in politics.”
“Ah, but this matter of politics may concern them closely,” said De Merode. “Where is Count Andrea?”
Galiana cried out, and Miss Rhoda exclaimed, “What are you implying? Do you dare suggest—”
“Count Andrea is a known revolutionary,” De Merode said. “He is strong enough and clever enough to play the role of the Falcon. He is a friend of Antonio—”
But now he had gone too far. Grandfather rose to his full height and spoke in a voice that quivered with suppressed fury.
“I too am acquainted with Antonio Cadorna, Captain. Do you accuse me of being the Falcon? I warn you, do not try me. I have cooperated to the full so far. Now I ask you to leave my house.”
“I will go. But I will return, your Excellency, and if I find that any persons in this household are involved in any way with the Falcon, not even your influence can save them. If I must, I will shoot first and answer for the consequences.”
He swung on his heel with a clash of spurs and strode out of the room.
Then Miss Rhoda—Miss Rhoda of all people—began to weep.
“Why did you irritate him, you wretched girl?” she sobbed, glaring at me. “He is dangerous, horribly dangerous. How could you be so stupid?”
Our alliance had not lasted long. I didn’t entirely blame her. She needed some object for her fear and rage. I had been provocative, but I could hardly explain why.
“Be silent,” Grandfather shouted. “She was right! Too long we have endured the insolence of this creature. This is how my loyalty, my assistance are rewarded! Francesca, my apologies. I should not have allowed him to speak to you as he did. And if Stefano were half a man—”
Shame stopped him before he completed this unworthy speech, but the damage had been done. Stefano’s pale lips curled in the expression I knew so well.
