Part 13 (1/2)
”Mostly exploration of what's going to be new Russian territory,”
replied Miss Chrysie, with a snap of her eyes. ”Ah, here's his lords.h.i.+p junior. Well, viscount, I've got to thank you for yet one more just entirely delightful day!”
Before Hardress could reply she turned another sidelong glance on Adelaide. In spite of all her self-control, Adelaide's cheeks flushed ever so slightly and her eyes lighted up as Hardress pulled a chair towards them.
And she hated her frankly and cordially for it; for she was a girl of absolutely honest feelings, and just as straightforward and thorough-going in her hates as in her loves.
”My dear Miss Vandel,” replied Hardress, ”it is quite the other way about; it is I who have to thank you for the pleasure of giving you pleasure.”
”After that,” laughed the marquise, turning her lovely eyes full on his, ”let it never be said that an Englishman cannot turn a compliment.”
Chrysie noticed that Hardress flushed a little and dropped his eyes slightly under that bewildering glance, and she hated the marquise more intensely than ever.
”It was no compliment, I can a.s.sure you,” he said, looking up at Chrysie, ”though what the marquise just said may have been. But, by the way, I came to tell you a rather serious piece of news, marquise; and something that may perhaps influence your aunt's plans.”
”Ah, what is that?” said Adelaide.
”Well, from the telegram my father has just received, which will probably be in the papers to-night, there is going to be a tremendous military scandal in Germany, which may have very grave results indeed, even to the extent of an European war. The detectives of the military staff at Berlin have discovered a sort of Teutonic Dreyfus--a young fellow holding the rank of lieutenant, and employed as a sort of military under-secretary in the bureau of the Minister of War. To a certain extent it's the old story. He had ruined himself with gambling and horse-racing, and, not content with that, had got involved with a very pretty and equally unscrupulous French variety actress, who bled him with apparently more consistency than she loved him. The agents of the French secret service in Germany got hold of him and he sold himself.
”So far the story is commonplace--that sort of thing happens every week in all countries--but the extraordinary thing about this is that when this young fellow was confronted with proofs, he not only made a clean breast of what he had done, but he told his chiefs that the man who had been mostly instrumental in getting him into trouble, and had, in fact, introduced him to the woman who ruined him, was a brother officer--a staff-captain and military attache of a foreign court. This man, he confessed, had obtained, partly through him and partly through his own knowledge and other sources, a complete sketch of the German plans, both for invading France and resisting a French invasion, together with all the necessary details as to men, guns, transports, etc. Stranger still, a German staff-officer answering exactly to the description, resigned his commission nearly a year ago, and retired into private life. He was not a German, but an Alsatian. The German secret agents in Paris took up the scent, and found that this very man had been in close communication with the Minister of War and appeared to be holding some confidential position in the service of the Ministry. Now Germany, it is rumoured, has demanded his extradition on a charge of treason and desertion; for it seems that his resignation was never officially accepted, although he was allowed to go in consequence of some family trouble which brought disgrace upon his name. France has refused it, and--well, the situation may be described as distinctly strained.”
”Well,” said Miss Chrysie to herself, while he was speaking, ”if that's not a pretty good sample of diplomacy, I've got a wrong idea of the word altogether.” She had turned her head lazily on the cus.h.i.+on again, every now and then glancing at Adelaide's face. Hardress had, of course, done the same repeatedly during his narrative, which he had told just as though he were telling some absolutely fresh piece of news to a couple of listeners who would only take an outside interest in it. Since her father's death Adelaide had given no sign that he had told her anything on his deathbed, or that she was aware of the true nature of the Great Storage Scheme. Now she kept her composure admirably under the double scrutiny. Chrysie fancied that she changed colour ever so little at the mention of the German staff-officer who had resigned, and of the visits to the French Minister of War, but otherwise she gave no sign, she just sat and listened, every now and then drawing the point of her parasol across the gra.s.s at her feet, and occasionally looking out over the water dotted with a mult.i.tude of crafts coming to an anchor after the day's racing. Certainly neither of them found any reason so far to believe that the story had anything more than a general interest for her. When she spoke her voice was just as low and sweetly quiet as ever it was.
”Certainly that is very serious news,” she said, looking straight at Hardress. ”We know, of course, that there has been great tension between the two countries for some time, and if France refuses to give this man up there can hardly be anything but war; and yet if it is true that France possesses all the German plans, Germany would be at a terrible disadvantage, for it would be impossible to change them at the last minute. At any rate, I am very much obliged to you for your early information, viscount. Certainly I think it would be better for my aunt to remain in England for the present; and in that case, I am afraid it will be my duty to remain with her.”
”Not at all, my dear marquise,” said Hardress, with an eagerness which Chrysie did not at all appreciate. ”You know your aunt was a great yachtswoman some years ago; she's a splendid sailor, and there's lots of room on board the _Nadine_. Let her come to Canada with us. The voyage would do her all the good in the world. We can land you with Miss Vandel and Olive at Halifax, and you can have a delightful run through Canada and the States under my father's protection, while the president and I pay our visit to the Storage Works.”
”A thousand thanks, my dear viscount,” replied the marquise; ”but that, of course, will be a matter for my aunt alone to decide. For my part, I can only say that I shall be delighted if she says yes.”
”I sha'n't,” said Miss Chrysie, with great emphasis, in her soul.
Meanwhile another conversation on the same subject was going on in another part of the lawn. A messenger-boy had about half-an-hour before brought the count an envelope containing a lengthy telegram; and it was when he had read this that he had beckoned to Sophie, and she had scarcely joined him when one of the servants brought her a note which had been left by a man at the gate of the grounds. They left the verandah where the count had been standing, and strolled down towards the water.
”Well, papa,” said Sophie, ”I saw you had a telegram just now. Any news?”
”News? Yes,” said the count; ”and very serious, too. Briefly, the German government has discovered everything about Fargeau--that is to say, his treason and his connection with Ducros--and has demanded his extradition from the French government. France, having got the plans, will, of course, refuse, and then there will be war--probably in a week or two.”
”And Russia?” queried Sophie, looking up at him.
”Russia, my dear, as you understand, will act as circ.u.mstances direct.”
At this moment the note was put into Sophie's hands. She opened it, read it, dismissed the servant, and said in a low voice:
”Papa, here is even more serious news than yours. This is from my friend the engineer. He tells me that the viscount has suddenly altered his plans; that the _Nadine_ is to be filled with coal to her utmost capacity, and all preparations made for crossing the Atlantic at full speed, instead of about twelve knots.”
”And she can steam twenty knots,” said the count. ”I'm afraid, my dear Sophie, that completely upsets your nicely-arranged plan for a rendezvous in mid-ocean. The _Nadine_ will be across the Atlantic before the _Vlodoya_ can get there, for her best is only about sixteen.”
”No, papa,” said Sophie, ”I've not failed yet. If my engineer is only faithful, and that accident to the machinery happens, we shall get them all the same. I will promise him anything and everything, and he will be faithful. And then I have another plan.”
”Ah! And that?”