Part 45 (1/2)
CHAPTER XL
Mr. Selingman's influence over his fellows had never been more marked than on that gloomiest of all afternoons. They gathered around him as he sat on the cus.h.i.+oned fender, a cup of tea in one hand and a plateful of b.u.t.tered toast by his side.
”To-day,” he proclaimed, ”I bring good news. Yesterday, I must admit, things looked black, and the tragedy to poor young Norgate made us all miserable.”
”I should have said things looked worse,” one of the men declared, throwing down an afternoon paper. ”The Cabinet Council is still sitting, and there are all sorts of rumours in the city.”
”I was told by a man in the War Office,” Mrs. Barlow announced, ”that England would stand by her treaty to Belgium, and that Germany has made all her plans to invade France through Belgium.”
”Rumours, of course, there must be,” Selingman agreed, ”but I bring something more than rumour. I received to-day, by special messenger from Berlin, a dispatch of the utmost importance. Germany is determined to show her entire friendliness towards England. She recognises the difficulties of your situation. She is going to make a splendid bid for your neutrality. Much as I would like to, I cannot tell you more. This, however, I know to be the basis of her offer. You in England could help in the fight solely by means of your fleet. It is Germany's suggestion that, in return for your neutrality, she should withdraw her fleet from action and leave the French northern towns unbombarded. You will then be in a position to fulfil your obligations to France, whatever they may be, without moving a stroke or spending a penny. It is a triumph of diplomacy, that--a veritable triumph.”
”It does sound all right,” Mrs. Barlow admitted.
”It has relieved my mind of a mighty burden,” Selingman continued, setting down his empty plate and brus.h.i.+ng the crumbs from his waistcoat.
”I feel now that we can look on at this world drama with sorrowing eyes, indeed, but free from feelings of hatred and animosity. I have had a trying day. I should like a little bridge. Let us--”
Selingman did not finish his sentence. The whole room, for a moment, seemed to become a study in still life. A woman who had been crossing the floor stood there as though transfixed. A man who was dealing paused with an outstretched card in his hand. Every eye was turned on the threshold.
It was Norgate who stood there, Norgate metamorphosed, in khaki uniform--an amazing spectacle! Mrs. Barlow was the first to break the silence with a piercing shriek. Then the whole room seemed to be in a turmoil. Selingman alone sat quite still. There was a grey shade upon his face, and the veins were standing out at the back of his hands.
”So sorry to startle you all,” Norgate said apologetically. ”Of course, you haven't seen the afternoon papers. It was my valet who was found dead in my rooms--a most mysterious affair,” he added, his eyes meeting Selingman's. ”The inquest is to be this afternoon.”
”Your valet!” Selingman muttered.
”A very useful fellow,” Norgate continued, strolling to the fireplace and standing there, ”but with a very bad habit of wearing my clothes when I am away. I was down in Camberley for three days and left him in charge.”
They showered congratulations upon him, but in the midst of them the strangeness of his appearance provoked their comment.
”What does it mean?” Mrs. Benedek asked, patting his arm. ”Have you turned soldier?”
”In a sense I have,” Norgate admitted, ”but only in the sense that every able-bodied Englishman will have to do, in the course of the next few months. Directly I saw this coming, I arranged for a commission.”
”But there is to be no war!” Mrs. Barlow exclaimed. ”Mr. Selingman has been explaining to us this afternoon what wonderful offers Germany is making, so that we shall be able to remain neutral and yet keep our pledges.”
”Mr. Selingman,” Norgate said quietly, ”is under a delusion. Germany, it is true, has offered us a shameless bribe. I am glad to be able to tell you all that our Ministry, whatever their politics may be, have shown themselves men. An English ultimatum is now on its way to Berlin. War will be declared before midnight.”
Selingman rose slowly to his feet. His face was black with pa.s.sion.
He pushed a man away who stood between them. He was face to face with Norgate.
”So you,” he thundered, suddenly reckless of the bystanders, ”are a double traitor! You have taken pay from Germany and deceived her! You knew, after all, that your Government would make war when the time came.
Is that so?”
”I was always convinced of it,” Norgate replied calmly. ”I also had the honour of deceiving you in the matter of Mr. Bullen. I have been the means, owing to your kind and thoughtful information, of having the fleet mobilised and ready to strike at the present moment, and there are various little pieces of property I know about, Mr. Selingman, around London, where we have taken the liberty of blowing up your foundations.
There may be a little disappointment for you, too, in the matter of Italy. The money you were good enough to pay me for my doubtful services, has gone towards the establishment of a Red Cross hospital. As for you, Selingman, I denounce you now as one of those who worked in this country for her ill, one of those pests of the world, working always in the background, dishonourably and selfishly, against the country whose hospitality you have abused. If I have met you on your own ground, well, I am proud of it. You are a German spy, Selingman.”
Selingman's hand fumbled in his pocket. Scarcely a soul was surprised when Norgate gripped him by the wrist, and they saw the little s.h.i.+ning revolver fall down towards the fender.