Part 65 (1/2)

”It will not take us long, Kosuth, to hear what our friend has to say,”

he remarked. ”We shall be quite quiet in the smoking-room. Let us go in there and dispose of the affair.”

The Turk turned unwillingly in the direction indicated. All four men pa.s.sed through the cafe, up some stairs, and into the small smoking-room. The room was deserted. Peter led the way to the far corner, and standing with his elbow leaning upon the mantelpiece, addressed them.

”The position is this,” he said. ”Mr. Heseltine-Wrigge has parted with a million and a half of his own money, a loan to the Turkish Government, on security which is not worth a snap of the fingers.”

”It is a lie!” Major Kosuth exclaimed.

”My dear Baron, you are woefully misinformed,” the Count declared.

Peter shook his head slowly.

”No,” he said, ”I am not misinformed. My friend here has parted with the money on the security of two battles.h.i.+ps and a cruiser, now building in Shepherd & Hargreaves' yard at Belfast. The two battles.h.i.+ps and cruiser in question belong to me. I have paid two hundred thousand pounds on account of them, and hold the s.h.i.+pbuilder's receipt.”

”You are mad!” Bernadine cried, contemptuously.

Peter shook his head and continued.

”The battles.h.i.+ps were laid down for the Turkish Government, and the money with which to start them was supplied by the Secret Service of Germany. The second installment was due ten months ago and has not been paid. The time of grace provided for has expired. The s.h.i.+pbuilders, in accordance with their charter, were consequently at liberty to dispose of the vessels as they thought fit. On the statement of the whole of the facts to the head of the firm, he has parted with these s.h.i.+ps to me. I need not say that I have a purchaser within a mile from here. It is a fancy of mine, Count von Hern, that those s.h.i.+ps will sail better under the British flag.”

There was a moment's tense silence. The face of the Turk was black with anger. Bernadine was trembling with rage.

”This is a tissue of lies!” he exclaimed.

Peter shrugged his shoulders.

”The facts are easy enough for you to prove,” he said, ”and I have here,” he added, producing a roll of papers, ”copies of the various doc.u.ments for your inspection. Your scheme, of course, was simple enough. It fell through for this one reason only. A final notice, pressing for the second installment and stating the days of grace, was forwarded to Constantinople about the time of the recent political troubles. The late government ignored it. In fairness to Major Kosuth, we will believe that the present government was ignorant of it. But the fact remains that Messrs. Shepherd & Hargreaves became at liberty to sell those vessels, and that I have bought them. You will have to give up that money, Major Kosuth.”

”By G.o.d, he shall!” the American muttered.

Bernadine leaned a little towards his enemy.

”You must give us a minute or two,” he insisted. ”We shall not go away, I promise you. Within five minutes you shall hear our decision.”

Peter sat down at the writing-table and commenced a letter. Mr.

Heseltine-Wrigge mounted guard over the door and stood there, a grim figure of impatience. Before the five minutes was up, Bernadine crossed the room.

”I congratulate you, Baron,” he said, dryly. ”You are either an exceedingly lucky person or you are more of a genius than I believe.

Kosuth is even now returning his letters of credit to your friend. You are quite right. The loan cannot stand.”

”I was sure,” Peter answered, ”that you would see the matter correctly.”

”You and I,” Bernadine continued, ”know very well that I don't care a fig about Turkey, new or old. The s.h.i.+ps I will admit that I intended to have for my own country. As it is, I wish you joy of them. Before they are completed, we may be fighting in the air.”

Peter smiled, and, side by side with Bernadine, strolled across to Heseltine-Wrigge, who was b.u.t.toning up a pocket-book with trembling fingers.

”Personally,” Peter said, ”I believe that the days of wars are over.”

”That may or may not be,” Bernadine answered. ”One thing is very certain. Even if the nations remain at peace, there are enmities which strike only deeper as the years pa.s.s. I am going to take a drink now with my disappointed friend Kosuth. If I raise my gla.s.s 'To the Day!'