CHAPTER XXXIX
Thenews came to the Baron de Croiseuil when he was lying in bed at his hotel. A long cable in cipher from Brussels told him what had happened, and wound up with instructions as to how he should act. By ten o’clock he was at the foreign office, but it was fully an hour before Sir Keith Hamilton arrived.
“Good-morning, Baron,” the latter remarked, when the Belgian came in; but his greeting was not returned.
“I have just heard from Brussels that a war-ship is holding up all ships that enter or endeavor to leave the Congo,” he announced dramatically.
It needed a long life training in diplomacy to give Sir Keith the strength to receive the news calmly. For a few moments he did not speak, but his mind was working rapidly.
“Give me all particulars,” he at last said curtly.
In answer, the Baron placed before him a copy of the cable, with his instructions omitted.
“Have you any idea what it means?” Sir Keith asked quickly.
“Yes—Gaunt.”
“May I ask why you think that he is responsible?”
“It is evident. His disappearance, his well-known animus against us, and——”
“Yes. I think you are right,” Sir Keith interrupted him quietly.
“What are you going to do? It is rank piracy, and the pirate is a British subject.”
The foreign secretary glanced at the clock.
“I will see you at four o’clock. In the meantime, I must make inquiries. Au revoir.”
“We shall hold you responsible.”
“Au revoir, Baron.”
And Sir Keith turned deliberately away, and when he was alone, a smile twitched at his mouth.
“I don’t know that I am altogether sorry,” he muttered, as he rang the bell.
“Find out if I can see the German ambassador at once. Then communicate with the French and American embassies, and make appointments with the ambassadors for two o’clock. You had better go to them yourself and make my excuses for bringing them here. But the matter is of vital importance,” he said to his private secretary.
Half an hour later Sir Keith entered Prince Von Lichtenstein’s library.
“Good-morning, your Excellency. This is a copy of a cable which the Baron de Croiseuil has received from Brussels. It concerns the Congo.”
The Prince read the document, and nodded his head once or twice.
“The situation has its danger,” Sir Keith continued, “yet on the other hand, it may be a blessing in disguise. Now we have an opportunity of settling a matter, once for all, that might cause trouble when we are not so prepared to meet it.”
“I see that a German ship has been detained and damaged,” the Prince remarked reflectively.
“This is so. Also English ships. Also Belgian ones. This pirate has made no distinction as to nationality. Now, Prince, I am going to drop the diplomat in favor of the philanthropist.”
Whereat the Prince smiled.
“I think the Congo question has troubled your conscience as much as it has mine and that you would have been prepared to intervene, had it not been for considerations to which I will not more particularly refer.”
Again the Prince smiled.
“It seems to me that intervention has been forced upon us. You are as little desirous of international complications as I am. And—don’t you think that this is a question that we might settle without the usual delays of diplomacy? I have drawn up a scheme for the administration of the Congo, and here is a copy, from which you will see that I propose to govern the Free State by a council of four. Germany, England, and France will each appoint a member, for we are the most concerned in the Congo, having neighboring colonies.”
“May I ask who is to be the fourth member?” the Prince asked suavely.
“He will be the chairman, and will be appointed by the President of the United States. I would suggest that the chairman has a casting vote.”
“Yes, that would solve many difficulties.”
“Prince, I have been as anxious as any living man to put an end to the present iniquitous rule, but our stupid suspicions of one another have allowed the Belgians to work their will. I appeal to you to help me solve the question, once and for all. I believe that the Emperor——”
“His Majesty has always been anxious to remedy the present deplorable state of affairs. He has taken a personal interest in the question and I may say that I have certain powers. In fact, I think that I can accept your proposals, subject to the consent of the other Powers.”
Sir Keith held out his hand which the Prince grasped.
“Yes, I think we feel alike. Sometimes we may permit ourselves to be human,” the latter remarked.
And it was a busy time for Sir Keith until four o’clock came, then he was quietly smoking a cigarette in his office.
“Yes, I will see the Baron at once,” he said to his secretary.
De Croiseuil came forward eagerly, for he had passed a few hours of terrible suspense.
“Eh bien!” he remarked with well-simulated calmness.
Sir Keith placed a paper before him.
“This is a copy of a provisional agreement for the future government of the Congo Free State, which has been signed by the Powers interested.”
The Baron took the paper and his breath came in quick gasps.
“You can take the copy to peruse at your leisure. And—Baron—I am aware of the part you played in the prosecution of John Gaunt. I may say that you are no longerpersona gratato His Britannic Majesty’s government, and I shall suggest that your king shall send some other special representative.”
Sir Keith smiled pleasantly until the Baron had left and then his face grew hard.
Then with great deliberation he lighted a cigarette andsuddenly his face relaxed; his mouth twitched and he burst into a laugh. Now that the tension was over he was amazed at the precipitate way in which he had acted; and yet it was all very simple.
“And the insane jealousy of England and Germany has given the Belgians a free hand for so long, while it appears that both the countries were anxious to put an end to the rule of tyranny.”
Yes. He had done a capital day’s work, and after all it was John Gaunt who had given him his opportunity.
“And now to save the fool from the consequences of his folly,” he muttered to himself.
A long consultation took place with the officials at the Admiralty, and when they had arrived at a decision, the operator above them sent forth wireless messages that were to affect the future of John Gaunt.
The evening papers had already received news of the hold-up of the Congo; the facts were related with a fair degree of accuracy and Sir Keith read the comments with quiet amusement.
“It is plain what will happen. The great British public will make a hero of John Gaunt.”
In fact, the more serious of the papers were already demanding the intervention of the government.
“One man has shown England its duty. With fearless courage John Gaunt has tackled the problem, and at great risk to himself,” said theEvening Herald, and went on to demand protection for Gaunt.
The next day it was plain that the English people were thoroughly roused and were determined that the Belgian rule of the Congo must come to an end. Allparties for once were united, and a mass meeting was announced to take place at the Royal Albert Hall.
Sir Keith Hamilton invited the German ambassador to lunch.
“Don’t you think it would be as well to put an end to this clamor as soon as possible?” he suggested.
“I have just received the Emperor’s intimation that the agreement will be ratified. I have no objection to its being made public at once, in spite of the vehement protests from Belgium,” the Prince replied.
“I am not at all sure that the better class of Belgians won’t be glad to hear the news. I will communicate with the French and American ambassadors, and I hope that we can make the news public in the morning,” said Sir Keith.
And then he returned to the foreign office to receive the Belgian ambassador, to whom he listened very patiently.
“I understand from the Baron de Croiseuil that you have taken the government of the Congo Free State from our hands.”
“C’est un fait accompli, your Excellency, and won’t permit of discussion,” Sir Keith answered with an air of finality.
“This man Gaunt. Is he to be allowed to escape without punishment? He has been guilty of an act of rank piracy,” the ambassador cried hotly.
“Gaunt will be dealt with; but I cannot tell you what punishment he will receive.”
At last the Belgian departed, and before Sir Keith left his office he knew that the provisional agreement had been ratified by the other Powers concerned. Thatnight a statement was sent to the press announcing the terms of the arrangement, and in the morning enthusiastic “leaders” appeared welcoming this solution of the Congo problem.
But there was one question that troubled every one—what was to happen to John Gaunt? And no one could give the answer. Sir Keith Hamilton smiled to himself as he perused a wireless message that had been sent to him from the Admiralty.
“I think Stretton is the man for the job,” he muttered reflectively.