CHAPTER XXVI
Lady Mildredwas dressed for dinner, and as it was rather early, she sat down in her own room, but very soon Gaunt came in. They had not spoken since the interview with her brother, and there were still traces of anxiety on his face.
“You were very good to stand up for me in the way you did, Mildred,” he said earnestly. “Your brother was in the right, for it is a sordid business, and I greatly regret it.”
“Say no more, John,” she said gently, and drawing his face to hers, kissed him on the lips. “Perhaps it is true that women lose some of their ideas of morality when they love, for I cannot condemn you. I only know that I love you.”
He took her in his arms, and there was a great yearning in his eyes, as he looked steadfastly at her.
“These last few hours have given me a glimpse of paradise, dearest. For your sake, I wish that I had been a better man. If I had met you years ago, I believe that I should have always been straight. At any rate, I can give you my word that there shall be nothing in my future to make you ashamed.”
“I am sure of that, John. Promise me that you will be very patient with Geoffrey. He is impulsive and may say things that will hurt you.”
“I will keep my temper for your sake. After all he has some reason on his side, for this scandal will naturallyreflect upon you, and indirectly upon himself. Now I think it is time to go down to dinner.”
“One kiss, dearest.”
And she placed her arms around his neck and drew him to her. And John was happy, in spite of the many dangers by which he was surrounded. There was only one thing that he feared—that she should become acquainted with the Marillier affair. Her present attitude assured him that she would forgive the exposure of any of the shady transactions in the City of which he had been guilty, but he realized that a charge of murder was a very different matter.
At dinner Lord Lynton made himself agreeable, and the conversation became animated, all taking part in it save John Gaunt, for he suspected the reason of his brother-in-law’s unexpected journey from Paris, and he anticipated an unpleasant interview. However, it was not his way to postpone anything that was disagreeable, so when the ladies had left the room, he proposed that the Earl should accompany him to the library.
“I do not intend to talk about that Amanti business. I will be quite frank with you, Gaunt. I was sent for by the foreign secretary, and he wishes me to tell you that your present action of fanning this Congo agitation is causing him serious embarrassment,” Lord Lynton said slowly and impressively.
“I can quite understand that he does not like it,” Gaunt answered with a faint smile.
“The present moment is inopportune for the raising of any international question. It is impossible for us to do anything without Germany, and she thinks us incapable of any action for philanthropic motives. She imaginesthat we have an eye on the Congo Free State, and that if any partition should take place we shall, as usual, succeed in getting the lion’s share.”
“I do not think that we should allow Germany to dictate our policy. In other days England was wont to go her own way, and she was always eager to help the oppressed.”
“We have already done everything in our power, for we have made urgent representations to the Belgian government.”
“Representations are useless—a cruiser at the mouth of the Congo is the only effective argument,” Gaunt answered drily.
“You will not try to understand our difficulties, and it is useless discussing the matter further. I want you to promise that you will do your utmost to stop this agitation. I presume that it is you that pay for these advertisements. May I ask why you are wasting your money in this way?”
“Surely that is my business. If I like to throw away my own money, it only concerns myself. On occasions I have given away large amounts, when there was no prospect of an adequate return.”
The Earl’s face flushed, and he rose to his feet.
“I suppose you intend to refer to myself. You were very generous, and the money came when I was hard pressed. I am very grateful to you for your kindness, but I shall begin to regret that I accepted any benefit at your hands.”
“You are mistaken, Lynton. On my honor I was not thinking of you. The money I settled was on my wife’s brother, and you are not under the slightest obligationtowards me. If you had not been Mildred’s brother, I should have seen you damned before giving you a penny, so you may make your mind easy. I never professed to like you personally, for you always struck me as being one of those ultra-self-satisfied people, who are an offense to the mere ordinary person. One only has to look at you to know that you appreciate yourself at your full value—and a little over. Forgive my plain speech, but you rather brought it upon yourself.”
Lord Lynton looked curiously at Gaunt, and knew not whether to resent this frankness; but he quickly remembered his mission, and forced a rather sickly smile to his face.
“It is a good thing to hear an opinion of oneself. But let us return to the Congo. I want you to promise to give up this crusade. It can’t really mean very much to you, and you will be doing me a great favor. Naturally the foreign office know that you are my brother-in-law, and——”
“They may think the less of you for possessing such an undesirable relative? I am afraid I can give you no such promise, for instead of relaxing my efforts, I intend to redouble them, until I force the government to intervene,” Gaunt said, and the voice was grimly determined.
“Governments are not moved so easily, and you will only injure yourself.”
“I have already done that, for I am pretty sure that the Belgians are responsible for the Amanti exposure.”
“All the more reason why you should do as I ask,” the Earl broke in quickly.
“Do I interrupt you?” Lady Mildred called from the doorway.
“No. Come in, for I don’t think that your brother has much more to say,” Gaunt answered.
“Yes, come in, Mildred, and help me to persuade your husband to be sensible,” the Earl cried eagerly.
“What is it?” she asked, and sat on the arm of Gaunt’s chair, allowing her hand to rest on his shoulder.
“Sir Keith Hamilton wants him to stop this Congo agitation, and he flatly refuses,” Lord Lynton answered, and there was wonder in his voice that any one dare oppose the wishes of such an august official as the foreign secretary.
“I do not intend to interfere. John must decide for himself, and I shall be content with his decision,” she answered quietly.
“You are a very dutiful wife, and a foolish woman. I did think that you would have more common sense, Mildred,” he cried angrily; and then turned to Gaunt. “Is this your final decision?”
“Absolutely, and I keep my word,” he answered quietly.
“Sir Keith must have anticipated this, for he said that if I were unsuccessful, I was to ask you to go and see him at the foreign office,” the Earl said reluctantly, for his lack of success would be a reflection upon his diplomacy.
A smile came to Gaunt’s face, and he looked at his wife as he answered.
“I fear that I must refuse Sir Keith’s invitation. If he wants to see me, he must come here.”
“The foreign secretary come to you!” the Earl cried in an amazed tone.
“Yes. But you may tell him that his visit will be a useless one.”
“Gaunt, I don’t understand you. I think you must be mad.”
“Let us join the others,” Lady Mildred cried hurriedly, for she saw a glint appear in her husband’s eye, and she had no wish that they should quarrel.
“Very well, dear,” Gaunt said with a laugh, and the Earl followed them slowly.
During the rest of the evening there was no further reference to the subject, but Gaunt now and then caught Lord Lynton looking at him with a curious expression in his eyes.
In the morning the two men met in the library where the Earl was surrounded by the morning papers, most of which bore evidence of having been impatiently thrown aside.
“Gaunt, you must do something. The papers are making a feature of this Amanti business, and it ought to be stopped. Get your lawyer man to threaten them with a libel action.”
“For telling the truth. No, I intend to let them go their own way.”
“It is scandalous,” the Earl cried hotly, but Gaunt only smiled. In fact he had just left his wife and could still feel her kiss upon his lips, so these troubles were things that did not matter.
When Edward Drake came in, the Earl at once tackled him.
“I understand, sir, that you are Gaunt’s adviser?”
“Why do you say that?” Drake asked quickly.
“He has probably been talking to Lady Ethel,” Gaunt answered quickly.
“If you have any influence with Mr. Gaunt, pray inducehim to reconsider his decision. As his near relative, I wish him to do two things—to stamp out these vermin who are attacking him, and to cease this Congo agitation. Don’t you agree with me that I am only reasonable?” the Earl asked warmly.
“No. I know the whole facts of the Amanti business. Gaunt did wrong, and he must suffer for his wrong-doing. As to the Congo, he would dishonor himself if he turned back,” Drake answered quietly.
“You speak as a clergyman?” the Earl cried angrily.
“I speak as a Christian and a man. May I suggest that you allow Mr. Gaunt to manage his own affairs? For I assure you that he is quite capable of doing so.”
Lord Lynton plainly showed his annoyance.
“Gaunt—I am now going to the foreign office,” he said curtly.
“You may convey my answer to the foreign secretary.”
Lord Lynton left the room, as he did not wish to lose his temper, for he knew that he was a match for neither of these strong, self-contained men.
“His lordship is angry,” Drake said with a smile.
“And has reason to be, if you look at it from his point of view. Have you seen the morning papers?” Gaunt asked casually.
“Yes, and I am sorry that this thing has come out at the present moment. I suppose there can be no doubt that the Baron is behind it?”
“No doubt at all, and they will probably work the trial so that I am subpœnaed to attend. It might even be possible to get Weiss and myself in the dock on a charge of conspiracy. However, I am prepared for any development.”
“You are not afraid?”
“Of nothing, for I have my wife’s confidence—and her love,” he added so quietly that Drake could scarcely catch the words.
However, he understood and he placed his hand on Gaunt’s shoulder.
“I am very glad, and have only one regret,” he said in a low voice.
“What is that?”
“That you did not tell your wife everything. She is a noble woman and large-minded enough to have forgiven, if you had confessed. But if she finds out from any one else——”
“I won’t think it possible,” Gaunt cried passionately, and there was horror in his eyes.