Tombstone epitaph., 1915-07-11
he exclaimed harshly. Your .p,es are

he exclaimed harshlg. Your epies are too ingenious; do not let me catch theml' Then. calming himseis by as effort. be went on:
 Tn any case 1t is too late to noke objections. By this time the fleet Is already entering the straits of Mes sina'
 | 'I trembled as I listened to this au dacious declaration. You will perceive | the gravity of the crisis. It was, as
 have said since, the case of the cannon ball and the leg. Signor Cris- pi's object was to convince me that the cannon ball had commenced to
 roll it was for me to establish on the contrary that 1t had not. and that
 France had put her foot down in the
 way.
 "'The feet may have started, but it
 is not too late to alter it's destina-
 tion.' I replied with firmness. It will
 be necessary for you to telegraph at
 once. I notify you that France will
 look upon an invasion of Tripoli aS
 an attack upon herself
 "Crispi turned pale. He saw the
 prize of his stealthy preparations sEp
 ping from his grasp. But his resourcee
 were not yet exhausted.
 "I implore you to withdraw your
 notification he said earnestly. The object of the expedition Is already pub
 lie. Tzs Gazette of Rome has re-
 ceived the official intimation, and 1t , is no doubt already in type
 Are you sure of what you say2'
 I responded with a meaning glance di- rected a: tho half-hidden document upon the table. You have no doubt } prepared the official notice. but per haps 1t has not been dicpatched?' "Crispi started.
 You gre indeed omniscient,' he } murmured with bitterness But after l all the Gazette Is of no consequence. The secret of the expedition Is already ' public property; a paragraph on the subject appeared in the last edition , of the Bocca al Roma this evening" ? For moment I was staggered ' |. this were So the cannon ball had in { deed begun to roll and to stop it would : mean war. While I was hesitsting 9 suddenly recollected the paper which
 had been thrust upon me by the news ]. boy outside. unfolded it and glanced l at the name. It was copy of the ] Bocca si Roma.
 "Then ensued strange scene Wits
 trembling hands spread out the bad. ' ly-printed sheet. casting my eye down : column after column. while the prime ? minister of Italy sat back in his chair : watching me. the beads of perspira. ) tion rolling down his forehead And
 war between two mighty nations, a l war perhaps involving half Europe , and the lives of millions of men. hsns f on the outcome.
 At last I found the miserable par. . agraph on which so much depend l ed. No sooner had my eye fallen ] upon the heading than I drew a deep sigh of relief. It read: Expedition
 to Africa
 T read the paragraph through. laid down the paper, and looked Crispi in : the face
 It is not too late to alter the goal 7 of your expedition, after all I said.
 There are other places in Africa be. l sides Tripoli. and the invasion of which will not mean war with France. For half an hour longer he resist. : ed, argued and implored. But stood
 firm as rock. At last he gave way, 5 A wire was sent that night to Reggie !. to intercept the squadron. and h the l morning the people of Italy learned ] that they were to acquire colony ou
 the shores of the Red sea.
 "Of course I did not then foresee - the disasters that were in store fol ? this colony, on which I persuaded l Crispi to seize as an alternative to
 Tripoli. But I had done my duty + and am not responsible for the re - suits"
 D Surely that is not all you have to
 tell me-" I remonstrated. as my host showed no sign of proceeding. "Wha, n of that charming Mime. D'Urbino. in - whom you have interested me SC
 strongly"
 His excellency first frowned and then smiled.
 You have done well to remind me . of the sequel to this adventure" he re
 marked graciously. T have already | repeated to you the prime ministers . savage threat It appears that my
 friendship for Mme. DUrbino had al
 ready. excited attention among the busybodies of the Quirinal, and it was ' not difficult for our enemies to guess something of the truth
 Tn effect, a few days later I re
 ceived a message from the countess ? requesting my attendance at the pal D ace. On my arrival found my beau. tiful friend in tears. She had just left the presence of the queen, who
 had upbraided her bitterly with her friendship for the enemies of her coun' : try.
 l "'The queen will never forgive me + I am certain said the unhappy count T ess, after describing the scene to me
 Moreover. she has made it impossi- I' ble for us two to meet again Her