"Gentlemen," said the Pope, still addressing the Swiss Guard, "if the

civil authorities attempt to arrest this young man, you may tell them

they can only do so by giving a written promise of safety for life and

limb."

Rossi's wild eyes began to melt. "You are very good," he said, "and I

will not deceive you. Although I am innocent of the crime they charge me

with, I have broken the law of God and of my country, and if you have

any fear of the consequences you must turn me out while there is still

time."

"Gentlemen," said the Pope, "instead of taking this young man to your

quarters, let him be lodged in the empty apartment below my own, which

was formerly occupied by the Secretary of State."

Rossi broke down utterly and fell to his knees. The Pope raised two

fingers and blessed him.

"Go to your room and rest, my son, and God grant you a little repose."

"Father!"

By an impulse he could not resist, Rossi had risen from his knees, taken

two or three steps forward, knelt again by the side of the bed, and put

his lips to the Pope's hand.

With wet eyes that gleamed under his grey brows the Pope followed the

young man out until, surrounded by the Swiss Guard, he had passed from

the room. Then he rose and turned into his private chapel for his early

Mass.

II

Less than half-an-hour afterwards a rumour swept through the Vatican

like the gust of whistling wind that goes before a storm. The Pope met

it as he was coming from Mass.

"What is it, Gaetanino?" he asked.

"Something about an assassination, your Holiness," said the valet, and

the Pope stood as if thunderstruck, for he thought of Rossi and the

King.

After a while the vague report became more definite. It was not the King

but the Prime Minister who had been assassinated.

The Pope's private room began to fill with pallid faces. The Cardinal

Secretary was there, the Maestro di Camera, and at length the little

Majordomo. By this time a special message had reached the Vatican from

one of its watchers outside, and they were able to discuss the

circumstances. The Prime Minister had been found dead in his official

palace in the Piazza Navona. He had dined at the Quirinal and remained

there for the opening of the State Ball, therefore he could not have

reached the Palazzo Braschi before eleven or twelve o'clock. Two shots

had been heard about midnight, and the body had been discovered in the

early morning.




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