CHAPTER XX
John Gauntsat motionless while Drake looked at him with eyes that were brimming over with sympathy, for it was easy for him to guess what had occurred. Although disappointed that his advice had not been followed, he could not greatly blame the millionaire for having lacked the courage to make a confession that might have estranged him from his wife forever.
“You are addressing another meeting to-night. It will soon be time to dress,” he remarked.
“You expect me to speak to-night, when my soul is tortured? Have you no pity, man? Do you realize what the carrying out of this vow means to me? I have but to break it and all my difficulties vanish. Drake, I am beginning to think I must give in,” he wound up wearily.
The passion had vanished and a great anguish of mind had taken its place, for he had been thinking, and it seemed as though he had signed the death warrant of his happiness by refusing his wife’s request. Even the strongest men have moments of weakness and Gaunt lost grip of his purpose, revealing himself as he had never before done to human being.
“You, Drake, are a cold-blooded saint—a man untouched by thought of woman and you cannot imagine the awful longing which is in me. I worship my wife, and every fibre of my being longs for her. Now Imust forego my desire, and——By Heaven! I can’t do it. To hell with the Congo, for I’ve done with its suffering niggers,” he cried recklessly.
Drake’s face was white and drawn, his lips moved but no words could be heard during the breathless silence that followed.
“I’m not an archangel and I can’t rise to your heights. It is my nature to sink and——What am I saying?” Gaunt broke off abruptly, and wildly brushed his hand across his forehead.
Edward Drake’s breath came quickly but still he would not speak and, approaching Gaunt, affectionately placed his hand on his shoulder.
“I, too, love as you do, and I understand. Gaunt, you are my friend, and I am proud of it. I believe in you, and know that you do not mean the words that you have spoken. During the last few days I have been filled with admiration for the things you have done. You have shown courage of a high order. You made a vow and you have carried it out in the spirit and the letter. Gaunt, you will not weaken, I implore you. Remember the good that you have already done. You are rousing England from its lethargy, and you only have to continue to win the battle. Think of it, Gaunt. You can save the natives from torture and make them free men. Could mortal man have a nobler task?”
He spoke with deep feeling, but his words were unheeded.
“Can you blame me if I give way? On the one hand is the love of my wife and on the other a bitter fight that may lose me every friend that I possess. In a few days the country may ring with the things that Ihave done, and my wife may be ashamed at the mention of my name. You deliberately ask me to make this sacrifice, and for what? For a promise made in a moment of dire distress, when I scarcely knew what I was saying,” Gaunt cried vehemently.
“For a promise made to God,” Drake said in a low voice.
His face showed signs of a great emotion, and suddenly he sank to his knees and prayed aloud.
“I pray you to give this man courage to endure, so that this great good can be accomplished.”
And then his voice sank, so that Gaunt could not catch the fervent words he uttered. But Drake’s action of falling on to his knees had recalled the millionaire to his senses, for it brought vividly back to his mind the night of anguish when he had made the vow. And soon the weakness passed and he became once more the strong man, so that he was ashamed of the words that he had spoken.
Drake rose to his feet, and his face was still very white, but when he saw the change in Gaunt, he gave a glad cry and ran towards him.
“Thank God,” he cried fervently and held forth his hand.
Gaunt did not speak at once but looked curiously at the man who was exerting such an influence on his life.
“I am sorry, Drake. Please forget this pitiable scene, and I promise you that it sha’n’t occur again. I was a little upset, and——”
“Say no more. You have fought a bitter fight and won.”
“I think it was the sight of you praying that gave mestrength to conquer.” Then he glanced hastily at his watch. “You were quite right. It is time to dress,” he said quickly, and Drake knew that the subject must never again be mentioned between them.
They met again at dinner, and Gaunt was relieved that his wife was absent. Lady Ethel and Captain Drake did most of the talking, and the former declared her intention of accompanying the others to the meeting.
“My sister is tired, and I shall be all alone. May I not come?” she asked Gaunt who looked doubtfully at her.
But she persisted and when consent was finally given, she ran away to get ready.
That night Gaunt surpassed himself, and his words caused a deep impression on the vast crowd that was present. The emotion of the afternoon had not entirely left him, and perhaps it was that which gave him additional eloquence, so that there were many moist eyes when he resumed his seat.
Lady Ethel was amazed at the earnestness of her brother-in-law, and she gave a quick look at Edward Drake.
“Mr. Gaunt has spoken as one inspired,” she said in a low voice. “Are you responsible for his joining in this crusade?”
“No; but I share his desire to help the Congo people. If I had his gift of eloquence, I should be only too glad to speak as he is doing. Don’t you admire him for it?” he asked quietly.
“I am thinking of my sister, while you think only of the Congo,” she answered gravely, and then lapsed into silence.
But when they were home again she returned to the subject.
“Sit down,” she said to Drake, “and answer me one question. Why is Mr. Gaunt doing this? I am sure it is not solely from a philanthropic motive, and I believe that you are at the bottom of it. I cannot deny that it is a good work, and I am filled with pity for the poor natives who are so cruelly treated. But from my knowledge of Mr. Gaunt’s character, he is not the man to concern himself with such a thing. In fact, I used to imagine him to be rather a bad lot in a respectable sort of way. Before he became engaged to my sister, I received many letters from friends, and they were not all filled with complimentary references to the man who was thought likely to become my brother-in-law. It seems to me that he is dreadfully worried about something and that something has to do with the Congo. You must not think that I cannot be serious and I tell you that I am very anxious to help my sister and her husband. Take me into your confidence, Mr. Drake—two heads are better than one,” she said appealingly.
“I would willingly do so, Lady Ethel, but I have no right to speak without Mr. Gaunt’s consent. In a way I am his servant,” he answered regretfully.
Drake gave a sigh of relief when Gaunt entered accompanied by Captain Drake.
“I want a chat with you,” the former said to him, and he rose so promptly that Lady Ethel smiled.
“You welcome the interruption,” she said coldly, and then turned graciously to Captain Drake, who had occupied the chair vacated by his brother.
“Wasn’t it a ripping meeting? I think Mr. Gaunt spoke splendidly,” the latter said eagerly.
“Yes. He certainly aroused great enthusiasm. But do you think it will do much material good? Things will go on as before, and the natives will suffer just the same,” she answered quietly.
“I am not so sure about that, for it is evident that England is waking up. The papers are pitching it a bit more strongly, and who knows that we may not be able to force the government to move.”
“You seem almost as enthusiastic as your brother and Mr. Gaunt,” she remarked, and gave him a quick look from beneath her lashes, which brought the color to his cheeks.
“I have been doing a great deal of hard thinking since I came back from West Africa. I never was a serious kind of chap like Edward, but I’ve always admired him. He has a wonderful way with him, and has compelled me to see things through his own eyes. Of course I have always known that the state of affairs in the Congo was a crying scandal, but it never worried me much till I heard Mr. Gaunt speak. Now I am with them heart and soul,” he cried earnestly.
“Can you tell me what made my brother-in-law take up the Congo question?” she asked casually.
“There can be only one reason. He is acting from conviction,” he answered wonderingly.
“If you really think that, then you don’t know John Gaunt. So they haven’t taken you into their confidence?” she said reflectively.
“What other reason could there possibly be?”
“That is just what I want to find out. Ask your brother, and let me know what he says.”
“I will certainly do so, but I am sure that I am right. Mr. Gaunt is a ‘white’ man and could have no ulterior purpose in what he is doing. Besides, my brother would not be his friend if everything were not straightforward,” he continued stoutly.
“There I agree with you,” Lady Ethel broke in quickly. “And I do not suggest that his motive is an unworthy one. Your brother had practically admitted that a motive does exist, but he refuses to tell me what it is. Now I am not anxious to know merely from a sense of curiosity, but to help my sister, for she is very worried. Will you do your best to find out what it is and then let me know?”
Captain Drake looked at her, and there was intense surprise in his eyes.
“Would it be quite right that I should tell you when Edward does not wish you to know? I mean, should I be acting straightforwardly if I did so?” he suggested gently.
Lady Ethel jumped to her feet and it was evident that she was annoyed.
“Captain Drake, you ought to have been a member of your brother’s profession. You are only fit for the Church. I did think that I could rely on you,” she said reproachfully.
“You can rely on me, Lady Ethel; I would gladly lay down my life to serve you,” he answered simply, and although the words may have been melodramatic, his manner of speaking made them sound natural.
“And yet you refuse this one little request—the first that I have ever made to you,” she answered ironically.
“I am disappointed that you should have asked me to do such a thing. It was not worthy of you.”
Their eyes met, and though his contained not a hint of reproach, she resented that he should dare to judge her actions.
“Good-night,” she said curtly and hastened towards the door.
“Lady Ethel,” he began hurriedly, but her only answer was to close the door rather sharply; and he sank back into his chair with a sigh.
“After all, she is only a child,” he muttered.
And soon a smile came to his face, for he was remembering her many virtues, and he loved.