Now Robard's voice rose angrily.
"You forbid it!" he exclaimed. "You forbid it! Well, little good will that do. I will see that the work is carried out if I have to do it myself. And what is more, I will see that the blame falls on you. You are right. I have plotted to discredit you, and I shall do it, or my name is not Robard."
"I shall see that your actions are brought to the attention of the emperor," declared the ambassador. "And more than that, I shall immediately notify the Italian authorities of your plans, that they may be on their guard."
"You will never do that," replied Robard, and his voice was so low that the listeners could scarcely catch the words.
"Robard," said the ambassador sternly, "you may consider yourself under arrest."
There was the sound of a scraping chair and heavy footsteps moving in the room beyond.
"Another move and I shall fire," came Robard's voice.
"Man, you don't know what you are doing," came the surprised voice of the ambassador.
"Don't?" said Robard, with a sneer in his voice. "I'll show you."
Again there came to the listeners' ears the sounds of heavy footsteps, followed by the noise of a struggle.