Part 51 (2/2)
”Yes. Arrived last night In the hope of your arrival, I gave him a rendezvous here--any hour from ten to one or two to-night--and we shall soon see him.”
”I must confess, I don't care how brief the interview be: the man is not at all to my liking.”
”You are not likely to be much bored by him here, at least.”
”How do you mean?”
”The police are certain to hear of his arrival, and to give him a friendly hint to arrange his private affairs with all convenient despatch and move off.”
”With what party or section do they connect him?”
”With how many? you might perhaps ask; for I take it he has held office with every shade of opinion, and intrigued for any cause from Henry V.
to the reddest republicanism. The authorities, however, always deal with a certain courtesy to a man of this sort. They intimate, simply, We are aware you are here,--we know pretty well for what; and so don't push us to any disagreeable measures, but cross over into Belgium or Switzerland. M'Caskey himself told me he was recognized as he drew up at the hotel, and, in consequence, thinks he shall have to go on in a day or two.”
”Is not the fellow's vanity in some measure a reason for this? Does he not rather plume himself on being _l'homme dangereux_ to all Europe?”
”In conversation he would certainly give this idea, but not in fact. He is marvellously adroit in all his dealings with the authorities, and in nothing is he more subtle than in the advantage he takes of his own immense conceit. He invariably makes it appear that vanity is his weak point; or, as he phrases it himself, 'I always show my adversary so much of my hand as will mislead him.'”
”And is he really as deep as all this would imply?”
”Very deep for an Englishman; fully able to cope with the cunningest of his own people, but a child amongst ours, Maitland.”
Maitland laughed scornfully as he said, ”For the real work of life all your craft avails little. No man ever cut his way through a wood with a penknife, were it ever so sharp.”
”The Count M'Caskey, Eccellenza, desires to know if you receive?” said Caffarelli's servant, in a low tone.
”Yes, certainly; but do not admit any one else.”
Very significant--but very differently significant--were the looks that pa.s.sed between Maitland and Caffarelli in the brief interval before M'Caskey entered. At last the door was flung wide, and the distinguished Major appeared in full evening dress, one side of his coat a blaze of stars and crosses, while in front of his cravat he wore the ribbon and collar of some very showy order. Nothing could be easier than his _entree_; nothing less embarra.s.sed than his salutation to each in turn, as, throwing his white gloves into his hat, he drew over to the table, and began to search for an unused wine-gla.s.s.
”Here is a gla.s.s,” said Caffarelli. ”What will you drink? This is Bordeaux, and this is some sort of Hock; this is Moselle.”
”Hand me the sherry; I am chilly. I have been chilly all day, and went out to dine against my will.”
”Where did you dine?”
”With Plon-Plon,” said he, languidly.
”With the Prince Napoleon?” asked Maitland, incredulously.
”Yes; he insisted on it I wrote to him to say that La Verrier, the sous-prefect, had invited me to make as short a delay at Paris as was consistent with my perfect convenience,--the police euphuism for twenty-four hours; and I said, 'Pray excuse me at dinner, for I shall want to see Caffarelli.' But he would n't take any apology, and I went, and we really were very pleasant.”
”Who was there?” asked Caffarelli.
”Only seven altogether: Bagration and his pretty niece; an Aldobrandini Countess,--bygone, but still handsome; Joseph Poniatowsky; Botrain of 'La Patrie;' and your humble servant. Fould, I think, was expected, but did not come. Fearfully hot, this sherry,--don't you think so?”
Maitland looked superbly defiant, and turned his head away without ceremony. Caffarelli, however, came quickly to the rescue by pus.h.i.+ng over a bottle of Burgundy, and Baying, ”And it was a pleasant party?”
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