The Eternal City - Page 184/385

"What have you done?" she demanded.

"An unfortunate incident, Excellency," said Angelelli, as the Baron

appeared. "After the warning of the delegate the mob laughed and threw

stones, and the Carabineers fired. They were in the piazza and fired up

the steps."

"Well?"

"Unluckily there were a few persons on the upper flights at the moment,

and some of them are wounded, and a child is dead."

Roma muttered a low moan and sank on to the stool.

"Whose child is it?"

"We don't yet know, but the father is there, and he is raging like a

madman, and unless he is arrested he will provoke the people to frenzy,

and there will be riot and insurrection."

The Baron took from the table a letter he had written and sealed.

"Take this to the Quirinal instantly. Ask for an immediate audience with

the King. When you receive his written reply, call up the Minister of

War and say you have the royal decree to declare a state of siege."

Angelelli was going out hurriedly.

"Wait! Send to the Piazza Navona and arrest Rossi. Be careful! You will

arrest the Deputy under Articles 134 and 252 on a charge of using the

great influence he has acquired over the people to urge the masses by

speeches and writings to resist public authority and to change violently

the form of government and the constitution of the State."

"Good!"

Angelelli disappeared, the acute cries outside died away, the scurrying

of flying feet was no more heard, and Roma was still on the stool before

the fire, moaning behind the hands that covered her face. The Baron came

near to her and touched her with a caressing gesture.

"I'm sorry, my child, very sorry. Rossi is a dreamer, not a statesman,

but he is none the less troublesome on that account No wonder he has

fascinated you, as he has fascinated the people, but time will wipe away

an impression like that. The best thing that can happen for both of you

is that he should be arrested to-night. It will save you so many ordeals

and so much sorrow."

At that moment a cannon-shot boomed through the darkness outside, and

its vibration rattled the windows and walls.

"The signal from St. Angelo," said the Baron. "The gates are closed and

the city is under siege."

IX When, in the commotion of the household caused by the near approach of

the crowd which brought Rossi home from the Coliseum, little Joseph

slipped down the stairs and made a dash for the street, he chuckled to

himself as he thought how cleverly he had eluded his mother, who had

been looking out of the bedroom window, and those two old watch-dogs,

his grandfather and grandmother, who were nearly always at the door.