CHAPTER XV
Gaunt’sfirst impulse was to hasten after his wife and accept the proposal she had made. There could be no doubt that she had offered him all that he was struggling to obtain—her love; and if he had agreed to go away on the yacht, they might live the life of which he had dreamed. To do him justice the temptation, though strong, was but momentary, for he quickly remembered that to leave England at the present moment would be to break the vow that he had made.
“No. I will win her and yet be honest to myself,” he said grimly.
The fever of fighting had entered into his blood, and he was longing to come to close quarters with the enemy. In fact he was looking forward to the meeting at which he was to be the chief speaker, and was determined that he would not mince matters, but would state the truth, brutally and forcibly.
Lady Mildred’s complaint was a just one, for blows would be dealt unscrupulously and there was plenty of ammunition for the enemy in his past. It was quite clear to Gaunt that the Congo officials in Brussels would show no mercy, and would use any weapon that came to hand; perhaps it was this knowledge that made him eager for the fray.
The love of a fight was born in the man, and his eyes sparkled as he thought of the coming contest. For themoment the vow was forgotten and ceased to be the motive that guided him.
Gaunt and Edward Drake dined alone, and the latter spoke but little during the meal.
“Did Lady Mildred tell you of an unfortunate occurrence this afternoon?” he asked at last.
“She mentioned that she had overheard some one make remarks about myself that were the reverse of complimentary. Tell me the details,” Gaunt said with a smile, and he listened quietly to Drake’s accurate description of what had happened.
“There is a certain amount of truth in what the man said, but I can imagine that my wife was annoyed. I fear that she will have to get used to listening to much worse things than that,” Gaunt answered drily.
“It is a pity. Don’t you think she might go abroad for a while with Lady Ethel?” Drake suggested nervously.
“She wouldn’t go and I think that she would prefer to be in England.”
“By the bye, she asked me the reason of the recent change in you, and——”
“What did you say?” Gaunt interrupted him quickly.
“Nothing. And when she wanted to know if you were going to the Congo, I referred her to you. Don’t you think it would be as well to give Lady Mildred your entire confidence? I can see that things are not quite right between you.”
“Listen to me, Drake. If we are to remain friends, that is a subject that must never be mentioned between us. I may not be able to manage my own conscience,but, by Heaven, I’ll manage my own domestic affairs,” Gaunt cried warmly.
“Forgive me. It was not from any desire to meddle that I spoke. Gaunt, I like you and I like Lady Mildred. When two people are proud, misunderstandings arise easily, and I thought that I might be able to help you both,” Drake said gently.
“That’s all right. I shouldn’t have spoken quite so roughly, but I think you understand. We’ve just time for a smoke before we start. Come into the library,” Gaunt said and placed his hand on Drake’s shoulder with an affectionate touch.
Their characters were utterly different, and yet their mutual liking was increasing daily as their knowledge of one another grew.
“I’ve been thinking over that ‘cruiser’ idea,” Gaunt began when they had lighted their cigars, “and I’m not at all sure that the scheme is not practicable as a last resource. I intend to make inquiries at once, but the difficulty is to do so without attracting attention. Secrecy is essential to success.”
“It seems to me that there is a greater chance of making the British government move now that you have started to work. The fact that you are fighting for the natives gives that touch of romance which is necessary to rouse the public’s interest.”
“There is not much romance about John Gaunt. Come along or we shall be late.”
The meeting had been well advertised, and Drake was right in his surmise that Gaunt’s personality would attract when the wrongs of the natives failed to do so, for the large hall was packed from floor to ceiling. Thechairman wasted but little time in his opening remarks and quickly called upon Gaunt to speak.
When he rose to his feet and faced them, there was the same look of defiance on his face that had been there at the previous meeting. In simple language he began to tell them of his experiences on the Congo and there was no straining after effect, but soon he began to see that their attention was engrossed by his words, and he spoke with more feeling.
There are many men in the world who are born orators and yet do not know it, and such a man was Gaunt. Until a few days ago he had never addressed a public meeting in his life, save those of his companies, so he had had no opportunity of discovering the powers that lay dormant in him. There is no more exhilarating feeling than that of the speaker who holds a vast multitude in the hollow of his hand, and who can sway them as he pleases, to laughter, or to tears.
And a great hush fell upon the building as with graphic touch he painted the terrible torturings of a nation. And once more Gaunt realized the baseness of the past that he had played in the Congo, so that when he said the last few solemn words he knew himself to be what he really was.
There was no applause, only a painful hush when he resumed his seat; but still his lips moved, and only Drake who was beside him could catch the muttered words.
“By Heaven, I’ll undo the past.”
Then he chanced to look among the crowd and saw an elderly gentleman of aristocratic appearance seated a few rows from the front, whose overcoat was slightlyopen, and across his white shirt was the broad ribbon of an order.
“So the Baron has arrived,” Gaunt remarked under his breath, and a tense look came into his eyes.
As soon as the meeting was over, they returned to Park Lane and Drake retired to his room, for he was very tired. Gaunt put on a smoking-jacket and settled down comfortably before the fire, but there was an air of expectation on his face and it was not very long before a footman entered and approached his master.
“Baron de Croiseuil wishes to see you, sir,” he announced.
“Show him in here,” Gaunt replied and then rose to his feet and stood facing the door to await his visitor.
In a short time the footman returned and was immediately followed by the gentleman whom Gaunt had noticed at the meeting.
“This is an unexpected pleasure, Baron,” Gaunt remarked quietly.
“Not quite unexpected, I think. May I sit down, for I think that our interview is likely to be a long one?”
The Baron spoke English with only a faint trace of an accent, but his manner and appearance were distinctly foreign. Without waiting for Gaunt to answer, he moved an armchair into position into which he sank gracefully.
“May I smoke?” he said as he produced a gold cigarette case. “Eh bien, mon ami, I listened to your speech with much interest, and pray allow me to congratulate you upon your eloquence, but the subject matter was deplorable,” the Baron said quietly.
“I do not think that your visit is likely to do anygood. Of course I know why you have come to England,” Gaunt answered coldly.
“Yes, it is easy to guess. The cabled reports of your speech the other night seemed incredible and so I thought it better to run over to find out the truth myself.Helas!It is even worse than we had imagined. May I ask if you have taken leave of your senses?” the Baron asked suavely.
“Have I the appearance of a madman?” Gaunt answered with a harsh laugh. “Baron, you and I know one another pretty well, and it is better that we should be quite frank. I suppose that I am the only man in England that really understands the little game that you people are playing in the Congo. In my public utterances I have definitely stated that I intend to concentrate all my energies upon defeating you. Do you understand?”
“Ah, but that wasblague, just something to say for a littleréclamefor yourself. As you say, we know one another, and I am quite sure that you are not the man to go against your own interests, especially those of a pecuniary nature,” the Baron said smoothly.
“If you think that, then I am afraid that you do not know me. I am perfectly serious, and I shall not rest until your régime in the Congo comes to an end.”
“Ah,” the Baron ejaculated, and lapsed into silence.
His eyes were fixed on Gaunt’s face and he studied him keenly. For some time neither of them spoke, and at last the Baron threw away his half consumed cigarette with an impatient movement.
“It is a thousand pities, for I like you, Gaunt. I knew you as a young man and was one of the first torecognize your ability. It is a thousand pities,” he repeated reflectively.
Still Gaunt did not speak, and now their eyes met, the Baron’s cold and menacing.
“You are young and very rash,” he continued quietly, “but with your inside knowledge you ought to recognize our power. Already you have done us serious injury, but I am willing to forgive that if you will promise to remain silent in the future. In a few years our task will be accomplished, and——”
“In a few years—when you have drained the Congo dry—when you have killed off the people in thousands, and when the whole country is desolate. Baron, I understand your policy, for, as you say, I have inside knowledge. I repeat that the infamies shall cease,” Gaunt said with grim determination.
“May I ask if this is blackmail?”
Gaunt jumped to his feet and stood over the Baron with upraised fist.
“Ah! I forgot that you were a rich man. But if that is not your motive, may I ask why you have turned upon those who were once your friends?” the Baron asked calmly, and he did not appear to notice Gaunt’s attitude.
“I think you had better go,” Gaunt said in a low voice that was tense with suppressed anger.
“Not until we come to an understanding,mon ami; I am going to stay here until I convince you that you must be silent—for your own safety.”
Now the suavity had left the Baron’s voice and he spoke sharply as he took a collection of documents from his pocket.
“This is yourdossier, which contains a record of all your actions while you were on the Congo. We often find such things useful in dealing with people who take up the same attitude as yourself. Permit me to remind you of a few incidents. You may find the memory painful, but you bring it on yourself. I wonder if you remember the case of the man Marillier. He was shot—wasn’t he, and by——? Ah! You have turned a little pale. We have a long memory—we who govern the Congo. Murder is a crime that may be punished after many years. Let me remind you of the whole history. You will forgive me if I speak at some length.”
The Baron had risen, and the two men faced one another.
“Or shall I remain silent? It only requires your promise,” the Baron continued very quietly and there was a smile on his face.
“I defy you!” Gaunt cried hoarsely.
And the Baron no longer smiled.