shout "Traitor!" to anyone
who approached him. Sciorati, one of the accused, was at last able to
make himself heard. He related how, at Turin, Centurione had made a fool
of himself. (But if Lewis Carroll had been with us still he might have
made himself immortal.) "I have seen him disguised," said Sciorati, "as
an out-porter at the door of my own house." Giolitti appeared and
demanded an immediate inquiry, with what was described as cold and
menacing emphasis. And Orlando, the Prime Minister, flew up to the
Chamber and parleyed with Giolitti in the most cordial fashion.
Centurione's documents were at once investigated and no proofs of
treason were found, no witnesses proposed by him being examined. He was
expelled from the National Defence group for "indiscipline," his
colleagues frustrating his attempts to sit next to them by repeatedly
changing their seats. The attitude of the Fascio was humble and
apologetic, and the other significant feature of the incident was the
haste with which Orlando reacted to Giolitti's demand for an inquiry.

THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY

Baron Sonnino had to take into account not only the unsteadiness of the
ground on which the Government stood, owing to these parliamentary
regroupings, but the general effects that would ensue from the country's
financial position. When, in spite of the victory and the approach of
peace, the exchange price of the lira dropped 2 to 3 points towards the
end of November, this may have had, contrary to what was thought by
many, no connection with a revolutionary movement. The fact that in
Triest the authorities had been obliged to isolate Italian ex-prisoners
on their return from Russia, since they were imbued with revolutionary
principles, at any rate were uttering loud revolutionary cries, may have
been the mere temporary infection caught from their environment. But
that of which there was no doubt was the entire truth of Caroti's
statement when that deputy declared at Milan that while Italy had been
triumphant in the military sphere, she had been economically overthrown.
Bankruptcy had not been announced, though it existed. Sonnino may
therefore have been impelled not only by imperialism, by his inability
to adjust himself to the new international situation, but by the hope
that through his policy the new internal situation might be tided over.
If the thoughts of his fellow-countrymen could be directed elsewhere
than to bankruptcy and possible revolution, it