Read Online Wallace of the Secret Service by Alexander Wilson - Free Book Online

has disappeared,’ replied Maddison almost as tersely.
    ‘You mean the Prince of Emilia?’
    The Secret Service man nodded.
    ‘Yes, sir,’ he assented. ‘We received information from the Foreign Office at half past three this afternoon, and Major Brienordered me to come to you at once. He thought it more satisfactory than telephoning.’
    ‘What are the details?’ demanded Wallace.
    Maddison consulted a notebook which he had taken from his pocket.
    ‘The Prince with his escort arrived at Gibraltar on the destroyer Lapwing yesterday afternoon. He was received by the Governor, and a dinner and ball were given in his honour. Towards the end of the ball he mentioned that he was very warm, and went for a stroll in the grounds of Government House. He has not been seen since.’
    ‘But, dash it all man! Was he alone?’
    ‘No, sir. One of his equerries and our man were with him.’
    ‘You mean Cousins?’
    ‘Yes, sir.’
    ‘What has he to say about it? Has his report come in?’
    ‘Both Cousins and the equerry disappeared with the Prince,’ Maddison informed him quietly.
    ‘Good Lord!’ Sir Leonard was on his feet now, standing in his favourite attitude on the hearthrug. ‘Is there anything to go on at all, Maddison?’
    ‘Not a thing, sir. The Governor’s cable simply states that the Prince was last seen walking in the garden with his companions, and asks for expert help. There is nothing whatever to suggest or even hint at the reason for the disappearance. The Foreign Office is in a regular stew.’
    ‘It would be,’ commented Wallace drily.
    ‘It’s a nasty business, sir. A most critical international situation may arise through it.’
    ‘It’s possible, especially in the present state of tension between Italy and Britain. But the Italian Government is hardly likely totake an unreasonable attitude. Let me see: the invitation to the Prince to visit our Mediterranean possessions on board a British destroyer dated from the time of his call at Malta, didn’t it?’ Maddison nodded, and Sir Leonard went on: ‘Since then, he has been to Cyprus and Palestine, back to Malta, and was to conclude his tour at Gibraltar, where an Italian warship was due to pick him up and take him back to Italy. I haven’t taken a great deal of interest in the affair, but I believe I am right, am I not?’
    ‘Quite, sir.’
    ‘Well, during that time, has any report arrived from Cousins that all was not as it should have been?’
    ‘Nothing at all, sir. We’ve heard from Cousins twice since you sent him out to keep an eye on the Prince at Malta, and there was certainly nothing in his letters to suggest that there was anything wrong. In fact, he seemed to regard the affair as a holiday, and spoke of enjoying himself immensely.’
    ‘I expected it to be a change for him,’ observed Sir Leonard. ‘This has dished his holiday – and mine,’ he added a trifle ruefully. ‘Is there anything else you can tell me about the affair?’
    ‘Nothing, sir. I hope it doesn’t mean foul play.’
    ‘I hope not. Personally, I believe it is a move by a foreign power either to cause trouble between Britain and Italy, or to use the safety of the Prince as a lever to force the Italian Government to agree to something of advantage to that power.’
    Maddison looked sharply at him.
    ‘Surely no power would allow itself to be party to the kidnapping of a royal person of another nation,’ he objected. ‘Why, sir, it is sheer brigandage.’
    ‘It is,’ agreed Sir Leonard, and added significantly: ‘But there isone country that would dare. Of course, it would be done under the cloak of innocence. The devil of it is that it should take place on British territory. I’ll leave for Gib tonight, and see what I can do to pick up the threads.’
    ‘The Foreign Secretary expressed a wish to see you at the earliest possible moment, sir.’
    ‘Oh, did he? I’ve no time to go to Town. Get him on the phone, Maddison. Ring up the Southampton post