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Authors: Michael Gilbert
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a statement of diplomatic faith. “It was an unbelievable outrage. A Prince of the Church.”
“And particularly unfortunate that it should have happened when–”
“Yes.”
“When what?” asked Laura.
“Dr Pisoni told me just before the parade. There was an unhappy incident in the South Tyrol last night – not far from Bolzano. A group of terrorists attacked an Italian police station. Two policemen were killed and three were injured. It would have been serious enough as an isolated incident. But now–”
Laura said, “Would Boschetto have known anything about it? If Dr Pisoni had only learned about it through official circles?”
“News travels quickly in this part of the country.”
“Especially bad news.”
“All the same,” said Laura, “a man like that. It’s hard to believe that he would hear about it before it got into the papers.”
“There was a personal involvement here,” said Dr Pisoni. “It is possible that Boschetto may have been given this news in advance of the general public. One of the policemen who was killed was his brother.”
It was clear to Laura that this was news to Charles as well. For a moment the embryo diplomatic mask slipped and a look of honest excitement had taken its place. It made him look years younger.
Laura said, “That doesn’t tie in very well with your first conclusion, does it? You said he was mad. If he had a brother killed by the Austrian terrorists, and got to know about it before it came out in the papers, and got hold of a gun, and got his own back by shooting an Austrian bishop – all inside twenty-four hours – he sounds to me a pretty smooth performer.”
“Smooth?” said Dr Pisoni anxiously.
“She means efficient,” said Charles. And to Laura, “You seem to be taking all this very calmly. I suppose you realize that we’re in the middle of the biggest diplomatic crisis in Austria since Dollfuss was assassinated.”
Dr Pisoni nodded energetically. “If it was thought that Boschetto had official support in this matter – that it was a reprisal – it could lead to almost any consequences.”
“I thought he’d been in prison until yesterday,” said Laura. “How could he possibly have any official support. He’s a criminal.”
“Governments have used criminals before now,” said Charles.
“Well, I don’t believe it. I think you were right the first time. He’s just a madman. He’d probably had too much to drink. And he couldn’t be stopped from waving his arms and shouting. His friends were trying to hold him down. I saw him. He was right opposite me.”
“You saw him do the shooting?”
“Now look, Charles,” said Laura, “let’s get this quite straight. Boschetto did not shoot the Bishop.”
“He was taken with a gun in his hand,” said Dr Pisoni. “Many people standing near him saw him pull it out, and saw him fire it, twice.”
“I’m not denying that,” said Laura. Now that the crisis had arrived she felt surprisingly calm. “But the shots he fired went nowhere near the Bishop. He was struggling with the people standing around him. The shots probably went straight up into the air.”
“It is more probable, I agree,” said Dr Pisoni, “but we have the fact. The Cardinal Bishop was shot. If not by Boschetto, then by whom?”
“He was shot twice, quite deliberately, from a turret window beside the portico of the theatre. I saw the gun.”
Dr Pisoni looked at her. His round face had become suddenly shrewd. It was as if he was weighing her as a witness in a court of law.
“You saw the gun?”
“I saw more than the gun,” said Laura. “When I was getting away from the square I saw the man who had used it. He was slipping out of the theatre by a side door. And I not only saw him, but I recognized him. And I should be able to recognize him again.”
6
A Chat with the Grey Bear
“Vienna for you,” said the exchange.
“Lienz consulate here,” said Charles. “Is that you,
“And particularly unfortunate that it should have happened when–”
“Yes.”
“When what?” asked Laura.
“Dr Pisoni told me just before the parade. There was an unhappy incident in the South Tyrol last night – not far from Bolzano. A group of terrorists attacked an Italian police station. Two policemen were killed and three were injured. It would have been serious enough as an isolated incident. But now–”
Laura said, “Would Boschetto have known anything about it? If Dr Pisoni had only learned about it through official circles?”
“News travels quickly in this part of the country.”
“Especially bad news.”
“All the same,” said Laura, “a man like that. It’s hard to believe that he would hear about it before it got into the papers.”
“There was a personal involvement here,” said Dr Pisoni. “It is possible that Boschetto may have been given this news in advance of the general public. One of the policemen who was killed was his brother.”
It was clear to Laura that this was news to Charles as well. For a moment the embryo diplomatic mask slipped and a look of honest excitement had taken its place. It made him look years younger.
Laura said, “That doesn’t tie in very well with your first conclusion, does it? You said he was mad. If he had a brother killed by the Austrian terrorists, and got to know about it before it came out in the papers, and got hold of a gun, and got his own back by shooting an Austrian bishop – all inside twenty-four hours – he sounds to me a pretty smooth performer.”
“Smooth?” said Dr Pisoni anxiously.
“She means efficient,” said Charles. And to Laura, “You seem to be taking all this very calmly. I suppose you realize that we’re in the middle of the biggest diplomatic crisis in Austria since Dollfuss was assassinated.”
Dr Pisoni nodded energetically. “If it was thought that Boschetto had official support in this matter – that it was a reprisal – it could lead to almost any consequences.”
“I thought he’d been in prison until yesterday,” said Laura. “How could he possibly have any official support. He’s a criminal.”
“Governments have used criminals before now,” said Charles.
“Well, I don’t believe it. I think you were right the first time. He’s just a madman. He’d probably had too much to drink. And he couldn’t be stopped from waving his arms and shouting. His friends were trying to hold him down. I saw him. He was right opposite me.”
“You saw him do the shooting?”
“Now look, Charles,” said Laura, “let’s get this quite straight. Boschetto did not shoot the Bishop.”
“He was taken with a gun in his hand,” said Dr Pisoni. “Many people standing near him saw him pull it out, and saw him fire it, twice.”
“I’m not denying that,” said Laura. Now that the crisis had arrived she felt surprisingly calm. “But the shots he fired went nowhere near the Bishop. He was struggling with the people standing around him. The shots probably went straight up into the air.”
“It is more probable, I agree,” said Dr Pisoni, “but we have the fact. The Cardinal Bishop was shot. If not by Boschetto, then by whom?”
“He was shot twice, quite deliberately, from a turret window beside the portico of the theatre. I saw the gun.”
Dr Pisoni looked at her. His round face had become suddenly shrewd. It was as if he was weighing her as a witness in a court of law.
“You saw the gun?”
“I saw more than the gun,” said Laura. “When I was getting away from the square I saw the man who had used it. He was slipping out of the theatre by a side door. And I not only saw him, but I recognized him. And I should be able to recognize him again.”
6
A Chat with the Grey Bear
“Vienna for you,” said the exchange.
“Lienz consulate here,” said Charles. “Is that you,
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