Part 1 (1/2)
The Lost House.
by Richard Harding Davis.
I
It was a dull day at the chancellery. His Excellency the American Amba.s.sador was absent in Scotland, unveiling a bust to Bobby Burns, paid for by the numerous lovers of that poet in Pittsburg; the First Secretary was absent at Aldershot, observing a sham battle; the Military Attache was absent at the Crystal Palace, watching a foot-ball match; the Naval Attache was absent at the Duke of Deptford's, shooting pheasants; and at the Emba.s.sy, the Second Secretary, having lunched leisurely at the Artz, was now alone, but prepared with his life to protect American interests. Accordingly, on the condition that the story should not be traced back to him, he had just confided a State secret to his young friend, Austin Ford, the London correspondent of the New York REPUBLIC.
”I will cable it,” Ford rea.s.sured him, ”as coming from a Hungarian diplomat, temporarily residing in Bloomsbury, while en route to his post in Patagonia. In that shape, not even your astute chief will suspect its real source. And further from the truth than that I refuse to go.”
”What I dropped in to ask,” he continued, ”is whether the English are going to send over a polo team next summer to try to bring back the cup?”
”I've several other items of interest,” suggested the Secretary.
”The week-end parties to which you have been invited,” Ford objected, ”can wait. Tell me first what chance there is for an international polo match.”
”Polo,” sententiously began the Second Secretary, who himself was a crackerjack at the game, ”is a proposition of ponies! Men can be trained for polo. But polo ponies must be born. Without good ponies----”
James, the page who guarded the outer walls, of the chancellery, appeared in the doorway.
”Please, Sir, a person,” he announced, ”with a note for the Amba.s.sador, he says it's important.”
”Tell him to leave it,” said the Secretary. ”Polo ponies----”
”Yes, Sir,” interrupted the page. ”But 'e won't leave it, not unless he keeps the 'arf-crown.”
”For Heaven's sake!” protested the Second Secretary, ”then let him keep the half-crown. When I say polo ponies, I don't mean----”
James, although alarmed at his own temerity, refused to accept the dismissal. ”But, please, Sir,” he begged; ”I think the 'arf-crown is for the Amba.s.sador.”
The astonished diplomat gazed with open eyes.
”You think--WHAT!” he exclaimed.
James, upon the defensive, explained breathlessly.
”Because, Sir,” he stammered, ”it was INSIDE the note when it was thrown out of the window.”
Ford had been sprawling in a soft leather chair in front of the open fire. With the privilege of an old school-fellow and college cla.s.smate, he had been jabbing the soft coal with his walking-stick, causing it to burst into tiny flames. His cigarette drooped from his lips, his hat was c.o.c.ked over one eye; he was a picture of indifference, merging upon boredom. But at the words of the boy his att.i.tude both of mind and body underwent an instant change. It was as though he were an actor, and the words ”thrown from the window” were his cue. It was as though he were a dozing fox-terrier, and the voice of his master had whispered in his ear: ”Sick'em!”
For a moment, with benign reproach, the Second Secretary regarded the unhappy page, and then addressed him with laborious sarcasm.
”James,” he said, ”people do not communicate with amba.s.sadors in notes wrapped around half-crowns and hurled from windows. That is the way one corresponds with an organ-grinder.” Ford sprang to his feet.
”And meanwhile,” he exclaimed angrily, ”the man will get away.”
Without seeking permission, he ran past James, and through the empty outer offices. In two minutes he returned, herding before him an individual, seedy and soiled. In appearance the man suggested that in life his place was to support a sandwich-board. Ford reluctantly relinquished his hold upon a folded paper which he laid in front of the Secretary.
”This man,” he explained, ”picked that out of the gutter in Sowell Street, It's not addressed to any one, so you read it!”
”I thought it was for the Amba.s.sador!” said the Secretary.