that he had become a naturalised Englishman and was a properly accredited member of the Bootblack Brigade. His name was Luigi Casaroli. The bedroom used by the three anarchistswas found to contain nothing more than Carter had already discovered. It was the locked kitbag and the men’s own pockets which produced the only items of note.
The kitbag, when opened, was found to contain quite an assortment of weapons. Three Mauser pistols – among the most deadly of weapons – four narrow-bladed, ugly knives with edges as keen as those of razor blades, half a dozen small bombs which could be timed to go off to a second were there. The latter were most carefully wrapped up, and Sir Leonard found it necessary to utter a warning, when he noticed Shannon handling one as though it were a cricket ball. There were other articles of even greater interest in the kitbag. One was a letter in German addressed to Haeckel, wishing him success in the first real blow to be struck against the so-called royal families of the world. On plain paper and signed by one Dimitrinhov, it caused Sir Leonard a great deal of thought. Was there, he wondered, a gigantic plot being hatched against all those unfortunate enough to have been born royal? Another article which interested him was a small notebook in which appeared a list of names and addresses of men living in various capitals of Europe. Among them he found the name of Luigi Casaroli, and concluded from that that the list was of those in union with or sympathetic to the anarchist organisation. For the first time he began to feel that he was dealing not with a remote plot to assassinate one king, but a gigantic scheme controlled by a powerful association.
A search of the pockets revealed the significant fact that each was supplied with a great deal of money, while hanging from their necks were small discs of silver on each of which was inscribed a number with the letters I. A. S. beneath. Zanazaryk’s inner coatpocket yielded up a photograph of King Peter, while Haeckel’s contained one of members of the royal family.
While the search was continuing, the faces of the three scoundrels were pictures of varied emotion. Haeckel’s showed hatred pure and simple, Zanazaryk’s was more sullen, but in it was also a tinge of fear. With Pestalozzi the emotion was predominantly terror, with a touch of fanaticism, supplied by his burning eyes. Brien reflected that it would take little to turn the fellow into a maniac. They all refused to reply to any questions put to them, maintaining an obstinate silence. The only time Haeckel opened his mouth was when the letter addressed to him was found in the kitbag. Then he gave vent to a roar which can only be described as of baffled rage. It was easy to see that he had intended to destroy a document which could be, as it had indeed turned out, only a danger to him. Somehow it had been overlooked.
Their investigations concluded, the men of the Secret Service prepared to leave the building. Everything that was of interest or could be used in evidence was carefully packed in the kitbag. Sir Leonard intended taking it back to headquarters in his own car. The police had been communicated with, and a van was expected for the prisoners. The wounds of Haeckel and Zanazaryk had been dressed as well as was possible under the circumstances, but they would be properly attended to later on. Casaroli had been brought to the floor above from his flat, when the search began. He had promptly thrown himself on his knees before Sir Leonard, declaring his innocence, but such protestations were of no avail. He was manacled like the rest, and thereafter maintained a sullen silence, casting malevolent glares from time to time at his companions in misfortune. Hisrooms had yielded nothing at all of an incriminating nature, while his pockets and his person proved equally innocent. It was when the policeman entered the room to announce that the tender was at the door, that his feelings got
The kitbag, when opened, was found to contain quite an assortment of weapons. Three Mauser pistols – among the most deadly of weapons – four narrow-bladed, ugly knives with edges as keen as those of razor blades, half a dozen small bombs which could be timed to go off to a second were there. The latter were most carefully wrapped up, and Sir Leonard found it necessary to utter a warning, when he noticed Shannon handling one as though it were a cricket ball. There were other articles of even greater interest in the kitbag. One was a letter in German addressed to Haeckel, wishing him success in the first real blow to be struck against the so-called royal families of the world. On plain paper and signed by one Dimitrinhov, it caused Sir Leonard a great deal of thought. Was there, he wondered, a gigantic plot being hatched against all those unfortunate enough to have been born royal? Another article which interested him was a small notebook in which appeared a list of names and addresses of men living in various capitals of Europe. Among them he found the name of Luigi Casaroli, and concluded from that that the list was of those in union with or sympathetic to the anarchist organisation. For the first time he began to feel that he was dealing not with a remote plot to assassinate one king, but a gigantic scheme controlled by a powerful association.
A search of the pockets revealed the significant fact that each was supplied with a great deal of money, while hanging from their necks were small discs of silver on each of which was inscribed a number with the letters I. A. S. beneath. Zanazaryk’s inner coatpocket yielded up a photograph of King Peter, while Haeckel’s contained one of members of the royal family.
While the search was continuing, the faces of the three scoundrels were pictures of varied emotion. Haeckel’s showed hatred pure and simple, Zanazaryk’s was more sullen, but in it was also a tinge of fear. With Pestalozzi the emotion was predominantly terror, with a touch of fanaticism, supplied by his burning eyes. Brien reflected that it would take little to turn the fellow into a maniac. They all refused to reply to any questions put to them, maintaining an obstinate silence. The only time Haeckel opened his mouth was when the letter addressed to him was found in the kitbag. Then he gave vent to a roar which can only be described as of baffled rage. It was easy to see that he had intended to destroy a document which could be, as it had indeed turned out, only a danger to him. Somehow it had been overlooked.
Their investigations concluded, the men of the Secret Service prepared to leave the building. Everything that was of interest or could be used in evidence was carefully packed in the kitbag. Sir Leonard intended taking it back to headquarters in his own car. The police had been communicated with, and a van was expected for the prisoners. The wounds of Haeckel and Zanazaryk had been dressed as well as was possible under the circumstances, but they would be properly attended to later on. Casaroli had been brought to the floor above from his flat, when the search began. He had promptly thrown himself on his knees before Sir Leonard, declaring his innocence, but such protestations were of no avail. He was manacled like the rest, and thereafter maintained a sullen silence, casting malevolent glares from time to time at his companions in misfortune. Hisrooms had yielded nothing at all of an incriminating nature, while his pockets and his person proved equally innocent. It was when the policeman entered the room to announce that the tender was at the door, that his feelings got
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