Wallace of the Secret Service by Alexander Wilson

in the garden.’
    ‘And you were unable to find him?’
    ‘There was not a sign of him anywhere.’
    ‘What time was it when you went into the garden to look for him?’
    ‘Ten minutes after two, signor.’
    ‘Ah!’ He glanced at the Governor. ‘Then the Prince was actually kidnapped, that is if he was kidnapped, between half past one and two.’
    ‘What do you mean by saying, “if he was kidnapped”, signor?’ cried the secretary. ‘Surely you do not think that His Highness was murdered, and – and his body taken away?’
    ‘No, I don’t think that,’ replied Wallace to the young man’s evident relief. ‘I might have been disposed to think that he had gone away of his own accord, if the equerry and Cousins had not been with him.’
    ‘Why should he do that?’ demanded the secretary indignantly. ‘His Highness would not think of behaving in such a manner.’
    Sir Leonard smiled.
    ‘I don’t suppose he would,’ he admitted. ‘You must not be annoyed, if I ask you a question touching the private life of the Prince. Has he ever had any clandestine love affairs?’
    The young man shrugged his shoulders.
    ‘One or two, signor,’ he answered, ‘but they were a very long time ago. Since he has been married His Highness has proved himself a model husband.’
    ‘Were the ladies Italians?’
    ‘Yes, signor. At least those with whom I was acquainted were.’
    ‘Thank you,’ said Wallace. ‘That will do, I think.’
    The secretary clasped his hands together imploringly.
    ‘For the love of the Virgin, signor, find him,’ he cried. ‘Italy will always be grateful to you, if you do.’
    ‘I will do my utmost,’ promised Sir Leonard.
    Alone with the Governor he showed little inclination to discuss the affair, but the famous soldier’s repeated questions drew from him the statement, which he had already made to Maddison, that he believed a nation, jealous of Italy, was behind the abduction.
    ‘But,’ protested his amazed companion, ‘surely no country would stoop to such a crime, especially on British territory?’
    ‘The country I have in mind would,’ retorted Sir Leonard. ‘She would be delighted if Italy and Great Britain quarrelled. Naturally she would not show her hand in the affair, but it is quite likely that her idea is to “discover” the Prince, hand him over to his people, and accept the thanks and, later on, certain concessions of a grateful Italy. Britain, in the meantime, having proved herself incapable of protecting her royal guests, receives the opprobrium and distrust of all good Italians.’
    ‘Good Heavens! You don’t really think that?’
    ‘I do. We’ve got to discover His Highness very quickly, or you will find he has been rescued, and returned to his own country by—’
    He stopped and smiled.
    ‘By?’ prompted the Governor eagerly.
    Sir Leonard shook his head.
    ‘Even the walls of Government House, Gibraltar may have ears,’ he observed quietly. ‘If I mention the name of the country I suspect, I may cause international complications.’
    ‘I cannot understand,’ remarked his Excellency after a silence lasting for some minutes, ‘how the Prince and his companions were taken away. The walls round the grounds are very high, and—’
    ‘You forget, sir,’ interrupted Wallace, ‘that probably at that time several of your guests were leaving. Nobody, therefore, on duty at the gates, would have taken much notice of a car or cars going out. It would not have been difficult to have concealed the three inside a large limousine. There may have been more than one.’
    ‘But, my dear fellow, nobody was permitted in the grounds that night without a card of invitation. If what you say is correct, then the car, or cars, used must have belonged to a guest.’
    ‘Quite so! It is obvious.’
    ‘I never thought of that. Would you like to see a list of the guests?’
    Wallace shook his head.
    ‘It wouldn’t help,’ he declared. ‘If my present theory is wrong, then