'What difference would that have made, Sir?'
Tt would have made a world of difference. Ferrer and his friends were then living openly just outside Barcelona, once more spreading their pernicious doctrines. The police could easily have picked them up and we could have had them brought to trial. That might well have proved the stitch in time that would have prevented the recent outbreak of armed revolt in the city. There can be no question about it, the anarchists were behind that, and if only we could have roped in their leaders a few weeks ago it would have saved many lives, much bloodshed and a great deal of bitterness.'
'There is, then, more reason than ever to arrest them and bring them to trial.'
True; but that is easier said than done. Warrants are out for them on a charge of having incited the workers to rebellion; but yesterday I had a report that they have already gone to earth, and it may now prove extremely difficult to trace them.'
De Richleau leaned forward and said earnestly, 'Your Majesty. As you are aware, after accepting the mission with which you charged me, I spent the best part of two months in Barcelona posing as a Russian refugee. During that time I got to know a considerable number of people with whom the Ferrers had dealings. Not all of them were anarchists. Many of them must still be living normal lives and it is most unlikely that your police would know that they have ever been acquainted with Ferrer. Through one or more of them I feel confident that I could get on his track. I request Your Majesty's permission to proceed to Barcelona and collaborate with your police in hunting Ferrer down.'
'No.' The young King's voice was firm. 'You served me well, Duke, three years ago in enabling me to break up the original Escuela Moderna; but you very nearly lost your life in the process and have since been a marked man. Barcelona is now a veritable hornet's nest, and I'll not allow you to stick your head into it. I refuse to have the blood of so good a friend on my head.'
The Duke sighed. 'I appreciate Your Majesty's consideration for me. But I am a soldier and used to taking my life in my hands, I am determined to get the man Ferrer sooner or later; so I beg you to reconsider your decision.'
'Sooner or later,' repeated the King. 'That is another matter. And nothing would please me better. For the year that Ferrer was in prison anarchist activities in Barcelona practically ceased. Soon after he was released they recommenced and for the past year they have steadily mounted in numbers and violence. There was only one lull. Last November a squadron of the Fleet of Austria-Hungary paid a courtesy visit to Barcelona. My Ministers did their utmost to persuade me not to go there to receive it; but I insisted. The celebrations lasted for three days and during them not one bomb was thrown. Three days without a bomb! It was a record against the sort of thing that had been going on for months, and considered quite remarkable. That gives you the picture.'
'It also gives me a picture of Your Majesty's popularity,' de Richleau smiled.
True. The reason given for the lull was that anyone who had thrown a bomb at me would have been torn to pieces by the crowd; and that the great majority of my subjects should feel that way about me is most gratifying. But it does not console me for the loss of the hundreds of my loyal officials and soldiers who have been murdered by these evil men. And no sooner had I left Barcelona than their outrages recommenced.'
'May I ask, Sir, what the situation is there now?'
'The back of the revolt has been broken, but mopping up operations are not yet completed. My new Home Secretary, Juan de La Cierva, is a good man. He feels that this may be a chance to clear things up in Barcelona once and for all, and he is taking strong measures. Among others, a house-to-house search is being conducted for arms. But hundreds of the malcontents must still have them and that is why I don't wish you to go there yet. There is too great a risk of your being shot in the back or from a window.'
'Things will never be cleared up in Barcelona until Ferrer is brought to book.'
'No; I fear you are right there.'
'Then when does Your Majesty feel that you might be disposed to let me off my chain, so that I can attend to him?'
'Not until the arrests have ceased and the excitement has died down. Even then it would be better to wait for a little because when the city has been back to normal for a while the ringleaders who have escaped the net will begin to take risks by coming out of hiding now and then. That should make it easier for you to catch your man. May I take it that you are enjoying yourself in San Sebastian?'
'Yes; all my friends are being most kind, Sir.'
'Then you had better remain here, and when the time is ripe I will send for you again.'
Seeing that the interview was over, de Richleau stood up, bowed, and said with a smile, 'I only hope, Sir, that you will refrain from putting too great a strain on my impatience to see this matter through.'
Much disappointed by the restraint Don Alfonso had put upon him the Duke lunched at a restaurant in the town with some friends then, after the siesta, as the visit to the Palace had deprived him of his morning bathe, he drove out to the de Cordoba's beach for an early evening swim.
For the past eight days he had seen Gulia every morning and, on most days, also later at a luncheon or dinner party; so they had again dropped quite naturally into the friendly relationship that had existed between them when he had first become convalescent. There was only one subtle difference. Then he had been tied to his bed or a chair so he had been unable to fetch and carry for her. Now, having after a few days come to the conclusion that she had no lover - or, at least, not in her social circle then in San Sebastian - her first coldness towards him had so titillated his vanity that, almost insensibly, he had asserted himself by assuming the role of her cav&lier. She had accepted his attentions gracefully and watched with amusement the skilful way in which he jockeyed other men who were always eager to serve her in small matters out of the chance to do so; but he and she had never been alone together for more than a few minutes and no word of their past feelings for one another had passed between them.
On this evening he had only just changed in one of the beach huts and walked out on to the sand when he saw Gulia and Dona Eulalia coming down from the house towards him. As they approached Gulia waved to him and cried:
T wondered what had happened to you this morning, until Frangois told me at lunch that you had been sent for to the Palace. But it's a lovely evening for a bathe and when I saw you from the house just now I felt I too must come in for a swim.'
Dona Eulalia settled herself with her embroidery in her usual chair and de Richleau made casual conversation with her while Gulia was changing. The bathing dress she wore this summer differed considerably from the one in which she had swum with him three years ago. The fashion had become both more elegant and practical. Skirts were now only knee-length, there was no heavy ruching about the shoulders, no sleeves and the material was much thinner; so the female form was more obviously discernible and women were not so heavily handicapped when swimming by the weight of water-soaked serge.
That, perhaps, partly accounted for the fact that Gulia had become a much stronger swimmer; and when, having joined him on the foreshore, she suggested that they should swim out to the point he had no doubts about her ability to cover the distance.
After wading out they swam side by side for ten minutes, then he shot ahead so as to reach the rocks first and help her up on to them. Near the point there protruded a flattish slab. It had been warmed by a long day of sunshine and there was no wind. Sitting on it they could wriggle their toes in the pools below them as the gentle swell rose and fell. They were still within sight of
Dona Eulalia, sitting something over a quarter of a mile away in front of the row of beach huts, but apart from that they were as much alone between sea and sky as if they had been on a desert island.