So commenced the most extraordinary journey I have ever taken, a
journey which was destined to end only at Havana. Across France
and Spain and the Atlantic Ocean we travelled side by side, each
unwilling to lose sight of the other; I, resolved to find out and
if possible thwart the designs of my companion; Kehler, unable to
determine whether I was an opponent, a rival, or a spy set over him
by those on whose behalf he was engaged.
On the frontier, at Hendaye, a despatch was handed in to me through
the carriage window. It was from Stearine, and contained these words,
whose terrible significance I was designed to learn later--
‘_United States warship_ Maine _arrived harbour Havana._’
The agent of the Sugar Trust had been too careful to say more. But it
was clear that he regarded this event as a move in the game played by
the great exporting Trusts.
From the moment of our arrival in Madrid I was no longer able to
keep a close watch on Kehler, though by a sort of tacit agreement
we stayed at the same hotel. I found out that he was paying visits
to the Provincials of the Jesuit and Franciscan Orders, and had
been admitted as a visitor to one or two convents, and for a time I
was tempted to relax my suspicions, and to think that the Bavarian
was engaged in some Catholic espionage. These doubts were suddenly
dissipated by my meeting him one day in the courtyard of the hotel
attired in the habit of a priest--the dress of which he had been
deprived on account of his youthful misconduct.
I could not doubt that this dress was a mere disguise, and that
it had been assumed for a political purpose. I went up to him and
whispered--
‘Do we still recognise each other, or do you prefer that we meet as
strangers?’
‘As fellow-travellers simply, I should prefer,’ he responded.
The next day he had disappeared from the hotel. I set the agencies
at my command to work, and learned without much difficulty that
passages had been reserved for the false priest and a Sister of Mercy
travelling under his protection, on board a Spanish steamer sailing
from Cadiz to Havana.
Needless to add, I was on board the same steamer when she quitted her
moorings and breasted the waves of the open sea. During the voyage I
had many opportunities of watching Kehler and his companion, who were
constantly together, holding long private conversations in retired
corners of the vessel. The nun, who was presented to me as Sister
Marie-Joseph, was a pale, delicate-looking girl of about twenty,
with that abstracted look in her eyes which betokens a mind wavering
between earnestness and hallucination.
Dimly, and through clouds of uncertainty, I began to perceive
that Kehler had ransacked the convents of Madrid for a suitable
instrument, and that he was hard at work hypnotising the unfortunate
girl’s mind, so as to prepare it for any suggestion he might have to
make.
Before we reached Cuba I contrived to speak to the Sister apart. I
found her reserved and distrustful of a heretic, as she had evidently
been told to consider me. On my satisfying her that I had been
brought up a Catholic, she became slightly more communicative, and
revealed a disposition singularly sincere and devoted, but almost
morbid in its detestation of Protestantism. She betrayed a feeling
of horror at the idea of American domination in the Catholic island
of Cuba, and it was in vain that I represented to her the generous
tolerance accorded to our religion in the United States.
I did not dare to ask her the subject of her conferences with Kehler.
To have hinted at the Bavarian’s true character would have been
simply to forfeit her confidence in myself. I decided to reserve my
efforts in this direction until our arrival in Havana, where I did
not doubt that I should be able to find some responsible ecclesiastic
who would undertake the investigation of Kehler’s antecedents.
In the meantime I could only wait and watch. I was painfully
impressed by the steady growth of the false priest’s influence
over his victim, who seemed at last to respond to his least word
or gesture. I had before me the spectacle of a possible Teresa
or Elizabeth being gradually transformed into a Ravaillac by the
dexterous touches of a rascally police agent.
As soon as we entered the harbour Kehler and his companion got ready
to disembark. I noticed that at this moment they were separated, the
Sister going ashore by herself with a large basket trunk, while her
protector followed at some distance behind.
They met again at the hotel, to which I had accompanied the man.
By this time I had forced a certain degree of acquaintance on the
couple, though I was unable to interrupt the intimacy of their
private intercourse. I arranged to secure a room next to that of the
Sister, and I observed with some surprise that Herr Kehler was lodged
in another wing of the building.
By a coincidence we found the hotel full of naval officers from the
_Maine_, who had chosen it for their headquarters while on shore.
Instead of disconcerting Kehler, this circumstance appeared to give
him every satisfaction.
He went out of his way to show civility to the Americans, and rapidly
became intimate with several of them. Sister Marie-Joseph, on the
other hand, held sullenly aloof, scarcely able to repress some signs
of the abhorrence which the sight of the heretics inspired.
The visit of the _Maine_ was understood to be a pacific one. It was
a demonstration to the world that the relations between the United
States and Spain continued to be those of perfect friendship, and
that the former Power was inspired by peaceful motives in seeking to
bring about an understanding between the belligerent Cubans and the
mother-country.
Nevertheless it was an imprudent act to send a man-of-war, flying
the Stars and Stripes, into the harbour of a place swarming with
fanatical Spaniards, furious at the interference of another Power
between them and their revolted subjects. It was, in fact, a
provocation, and it was not surprising that the astute agent of the
Sugar Trust had seen in this proceeding the work of those commercial
powers whose interest lay in the direction of a rupture.
Faithful to my preconceived intention, I took an early opportunity of
waiting upon a high Church functionary in the city, to warn him of
the true character of the Bavarian.
The reception I met with was a cold one, however. Monsignor X----
allowed me to see that he considered me an officious person.
‘May I ask what is your interest in all this?’ he demanded, as soon
as I had made my statement.
‘I represent the Sugar Trust,’ I told him.
‘The Sugar Trust?’
‘The manufacturers of sugar in the United States, who fear the
competition of cane sugar, and are therefore opposed to the
annexation of Cuba, which would involve free trade with the island,’
I explained.
[Illustration: “‘We shall find out whether he is a priest,’ was the
retort.”]
‘And you suggest that this Father Kehler----?’
‘Herr Kehler,’ I corrected. ‘This man is no more a priest than I am.
He is believed to be the agent of a Chicago Trust, which desires to
see Cuba brought within the Union.’
‘We shall find out whether he is a priest,’ was the retort. ‘Before
he can say Mass in this diocese he will have to apply for permission,
and to show his ordination papers.’
‘But if he does not wish to say Mass? If he merely confines himself
to directing the Sister whom he has conducted here?’
‘In that case we cannot interfere. We have no more proof that she is
a Sister than that he is a priest?’