“But surely I may warn His Majesty!”
“No,” was the Ambassador’s decided reply.
“But are we not a friendly Power?” argued the secretary. “Is it not our duty to tell them what we know?”
“It may be, but I cannot betray what is sent to me as strictly confidential,” was His Excellency’s response.
“But Lord Ecclesbourne is unaware of the actual truth. If he knew it he certainly would not withhold the information,” Hubert argued.
“True. But do you not remember that any information obtained through our Secret Service is strictly confidential, and must not on any pretext be given to a foreign Power?”
“I know that, of course. But such a rule surely cannot apply in such a case as this,” urged Waldron impatiently. “We know that the plans have been stolen, and that this hostile movement is the result. We surely ought to warn Italy, so that she is not taken by surprise, which is, no doubt, the intention of her arch-enemy.”
“No doubt it is,” replied the Ambassador. “And I regret that we cannot break the rule. Indeed, I dare not—without orders from home.”
“Those we shall never get, I fear. We cannot explain the facts by wire, and a messenger to Downing Street would take fully three days. Why, in that time the Austrians will be in Venice and Milan!” declared Waldron. “Can we do nothing to avert this war?” he asked frantically.
“What can we do, my dear fellow? Even if you went to His Majesty I do not see what benefit would accrue.”