"The Minister of War, the Prefect, Commendatore Angelelli, and one of

his delegates," replied the secretary.

"Bring the Prefect first," said the Baron, and a severe-looking man of

military bearing entered the room.

"Come in, Senator. You know Donna Roma. Our business is urgent--she will

allow us to go on. I am anxious to hear how things stand and what you

are doing."

The Prefect began on his report. Immediately the new law was promulgated

by royal decree, he had sent out a circular to all the Mayors in his

province, stating the powers it gave the police to dissolve associations

and forbid public meetings.

"But what can we expect in the provincial towns, your Excellency, while

in the capital we are doing nothing? The chief of all subversive

societies is in Rome, and the directing mind is at large among

ourselves. Listen to this, sir."

The Prefect took a newspaper from his pocket and began to read:

"ROMANS,--The new law is an attempt to deprive us of liberties

which our fathers made revolutions to establish. It is, therefore,

our duty to resist it, and to this end we must hold our meeting on

the 1st of February according to our original intention. Only thus

can we show the Government and the King what it is to oppose the

public opinion of the world.... Meet in the Piazza del Popolo at

sundown and walk to the Coliseum by way of the Corso. Be peaceful

and orderly, and God put it into the hearts of your rulers to avert

bloodshed."

"That is from the Sunrise?"

"Yes, sir, the last of many manifestoes. And what is the result? The

people are flocking into Rome from every part of the province."

"And how many political pilgrims are here already?"

"Fifty thousand, sixty, perhaps a hundred thousand. It cannot be allowed

to go on, your Excellency."

"It is a levée-en-masse certainly. What do you advise?"

"That the enemies of the Government and the State, whose erroneous

conceptions of liberty have led to this burst of anarchist feelings, be

left to the operation of the police laws."

The Baron glanced at Roma. Her face was flushed and her eyes were

flashing.

"That," he said, "may be difficult, considering the number of the

discontented. What is the strength of your police?"

"Seven hundred in uniform, four hundred in plain clothes, and five

hundred and fifty municipal guards. Besides these, sir, there are three

thousand Carabineers and eight thousand regular troops."




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