Part 29 (1/2)
”I hadn't speculated on that point!” Socola laughed.
”Well, I've been speculating about you--”
”Indeed?”
”Yes--and I'm going to be honest with you--I don't like you--we're enemies from to-day. But I'll play the game fair and the best man wins--”
The two held each other's eye steadily for a moment and Socola's white teeth flashed.
”The best man wins, M'sieur!”
CHAPTER VIII
THE STORM CENTER
Socola hastened, through Jennie, to cultivate the acquaintance of Senator Davis.
”You'll be delighted with Mrs. Davis, too,” the girl informed him with enthusiasm. ”His second love affair you know--this time, late in life, he married the young accomplished granddaughter of Governor Howell of New Jersey. Their devotion is beautiful--”
The train had barely pulled out of the station before Socola found himself in a delightful conversation with the Senator. To his amazement he discovered that the Southerner was a close student of European statesmans.h.i.+p and well informed on the conditions of modern Italy.
”I am delighted beyond measure, Signor,” he said earnestly, ”to learn of the interest of your King in the South. I have long felt that Cavour was one of the greatest statesmen and diplomats of the world. His achievement in establis.h.i.+ng the Kingdom of Sardinia in the face of the bitter rivalries and ambitions of Europe, to say nothing of the power of Rome, was in itself enough to mark him as the foremost man of his age.”
”The King has great ambitions, Senator. Very shortly his t.i.tle will be King of Italy. He dreams of uniting all Italians.”
”And if it is possible, the Piedmontese are the people ordained for leaders.h.i.+p in that sublime work--”
He looked thoughtfully out of the window at the Virginia hills and Socola determined to change the conversation. He was fairly well informed of the affairs in the little Kingdom on whose throne young Victor Emmanuel sat, but this man evidently knew the philosophy of its history as well as the facts. A question or two with his keen eye boring through him might lead to an unpleasant situation.
”Your family are all with you, Senator?” he asked pleasantly.
Instantly the clouds lifted from the pale, thoughtful face.
”Yes--I've three darling babies. I wish you to meet Mrs. Davis--come, they are in the next car.”
In a moment the statesman had forgotten the storm of revolution. He was laughing and playing with his children. However stern and high his uncompromising opinions might be on public questions, he was wax in the hands of the two lovely boys who climbed over him and the vivacious little girl who slipped her arms about his neck. His respite from care was brief. At the first important stop in Virginia a dense crowd had packed the platforms. Their cries throbbed with anything but the spirit of delay and compromise.
”Davis!”
”Hurrah for Jefferson Davis!”
”Speech--speech!”
”Davis!”
”Speech!”
There was something tense and compelling in the tones of these cries.
They rang as bugle calls to battle. In their hum and murmur there was more than curiosity--more than the tribute of a people to their leader.