"But you are dying to hear what is really happening in Rome, so
your own special envoy must send off her budget as a set-off
against those official telegrams. 'Not a day with out a line,' so
my letter will look like words shaken out of a literary pepper-box.
Let me bring my despatches up to date.
"Military rule severer than ever, and poverty and misery on all
sides. Families of reserve soldiers starving, and meetings of
chief citizens to succour them. Donation from the King and from
the 'Black' Charity Circle of St. Peter. Even the clergy are
sending francs, so none can question their sincerity. Bureau of
Labour besieged by men out of work, and offices occupied by
Carabineers. People eating maize in polenta and granturco with the
certainty of sickness to follow. Red Cross Society organised as in
time of war, and many sick and wounded hidden in houses.
"And now for more personal matters. The proclamation is in hand,
and paid for, and will be posted first thing in the morning. From
the printer's I went on to the Piazza Navona and found a
wilderness of woe. Elena has gone away, leaving an ambiguous
letter behind her, saying that she wished her Madonna to be given
to me, as she would have no need of it in the place she was going
to. This led the old people to believe that for the loss of her
son and husband she had become demented and had destroyed herself.
I pretended to think differently, and warned them to say nothing
of their daughter's disappearance, thinking that Bruno might hear
of it, and find food for still further suspicions.
"Lawyer Napoleon F. has seen the poor soul again, and been here
this evening to tell me the result. It will seem to you
incredible. Bruno will do nothing to help in his own defence.
Talks of 'treachery' and the 'King's pardon.' Napoleon F. thinks
the Camorra is at work with him, and tells how criminals in the
prisons of Italy have a league of crime, with captains, corporals,
and cadets. My own reading of the mystery is different. I think
the Camorra in this case is the Council, and the only design is to
entrap by treachery one of the 'greater delinquents not in
custody.' I want to find out where Charles Minghelli is at
present. Nobody seems to know.
"As for me, what do you suppose is my last performance? I've sold
my jewels! Yesterday I sent for one of the strozzini, and the
old Shylock came this evening and cheated me unmercifully. No
matter! What do I want with jewellery, or a fine house, and
servants to follow me about as if I were a Cardinal? If you can
do without them so can I. But you need not say you are anxious
about what is happening to me. I'm as happy as the day is long. I
am happy because I love you, and that is everything.