Part 30 (1/2)
”Another paper says that your fortune has been placed at his disposal in the fight he is making against the criminally rich Americans. In this particular article you are quoted as saying that I am a dreadful person and not fit to have the custody of a child.”
”Good Lord!” I gasped helplessly.
”You also expect to do everything in your power to interest the administration at Was.h.i.+ngton in his behalf.”
”Well, of all the--Oh, I say, Countess, you don't believe a word of all this, do you?”
She regarded me pensively. ”You have said some very mean, uncivil things to me.”
”If I thought you believed--” I began desperately, but her sudden smile relieved me of the necessity of jumping into the river. ”By Jove, I shall write to these miserable sheets, denying every word they've printed. And what's more, I'll bring an action for damages against all of 'em. Why, it is positively atrocious! The whole world will think I despise you and--” I stopped very abruptly in great confusion.
”And--you don't?” she queried, with real seriousness in her voice.
”You don't despise me?”
”Certainly _not!_” I cried vehemently. Turning to p.o.o.pend.y.k.e, I said: ”Mr. p.o.o.pend.y.k.e, will you at once prepare a complete and emphatic denial of every da--of every word they have printed about me, and I'll send it to all the American correspondents in Europe. We'll cable it ourselves to the United States. I sha'n't rest until I am set straight in the eyes of my fellow-countrymen. The whole world shall know, Countess, that I am for you first, last and all the time. It shall know--”
”But you don't know who I am, Mr. Smart,” she broke in, her cheeks very warm and rosy. ”How can you publicly espouse the cause of one whose name you refuse to have mentioned in your presence?”
I dismissed her question with a wave of the hand: ”p.o.o.pend.y.k.e can supply the name after I have signed the statement. I give him carte blanche. The name has nothing to do with the case, so far as I am concerned. Write it, Fred, and make it strong.”
She came up to me and held out her hand. ”I knew you would do it,” she said softly. ”Thanks.”
I bent low over the gloved little hand. ”Don Quixote was a happy gentleman, Countess, with all his idiosyncrasies, and so am I.”
She not only came for dinner with us on Sunday, but made the dressing for my alligator pear salad. We were besieged by the usual crowd of Sunday sight-seers, who came clamouring at our staunch, reinforced gates, and anathematised me soundly for refusing admission. One bourgeoise party of fifteen refused to leave the plaza until their return fares on the ferry barge were paid stoutly maintaining that they had come over in good faith and wouldn't leave until I had reimbursed them to the extent of fifty h.e.l.lers apiece, ferry fare. I sent Britton out with the money. He returned with the rather disquieting news that he had recognised two of Mr. Pless's secret agents in the mob.
”I wonder if he suspects that I am here,” said the Countess paling perceptibly when I mentioned the presence of the two men.
”It doesn't matter,” said I. ”He can't get into the castle while the gates are locked, and, by Jove, I intend to keep them locked.”
”What a delightful ogre you are, Mr. Smart,” said she.
Nevertheless, I did not sleep well that night. The presence of the two detectives outside my gates was not to be taken too lightly.
Unquestionably they had got wind of something that aroused suspicion in their minds. I confidently expected them to reappear in the morning, perhaps disguised as workmen. Nor were my fears wholly unjustified.
Shortly after nine o'clock a sly-faced man in overalls accosted me in the hall.
”I beg your pardon, Mr. Smart,” he said in fairly good English, ”may I have a word with you? I have a message from Mr. Pless.” I don't believe he observed the look of concern that flitted across my face.
”From Mr. Pless?” I inquired, simulating surprise. Then I looked him over so curiously that he laughed in a quiet, simple way.
”I am an agent of the secret service,” he explained coolly. ”Yesterday I failed to gain admission as a visitor, to-day I come as a labourer.
We work in a mysterious way, sir.”
”Is it necessary for Mr. Pless to resort to a subterfuge of this character in order to get a message to me?” I demanded indignantly.
He shrugged his shoulders.
”It was not necessary yesterday, but it is to-day,” said he. He leaned closer and lowered his voice. ”Our every movement is being watched by the Countess's detectives. We are obliged to resort to trickery to throw them off the scent. Mr. Pless has read what you had to say in the newspapers and he is too grateful, sir, to subject you to unnecessary annoyance at the hands of her agents. Your friends.h.i.+p is sacred to him. He realises that it means a great deal to have the support of one so powerful with the United States government. If we are to work together, Mr. Smart, in bringing this woman to justice, it must be managed with extreme skill or her family may--”