The Baron de Croiseuil had not anticipated that Gaunt would give in
to his threats, but he waited for the time to expire before taking
any further steps. In the afternoon Sherren came round to the hotel
to receive his instructions, and, in consequence, the article duly
appeared in the _Daily Comet_.
The paper was brought to the Baron’s bedroom the following morning,
and when he read the references to Gaunt a grim smile came to his
face, but his attention was attracted to the front page of the _Daily
Herald_, and he uttered an exclamation of anger when he had mastered
the advertisements that appeared there.
“So Gaunt has declared war,” he muttered, and threw the paper
impatiently away.
But shortly afterwards he rang the bell, and ordered a copy of each
morning newspaper, only to find that the majority of them contained
similar advertisements. It was his intention to send for Sherren,
but that was unnecessary, for his satellite arrived just as he was
finishing breakfast. For a long time they discussed the situation
gravely, and it was the Baron who suggested the next move.
“What is the name of the man who forged the cable?” he asked of Sherren.
“Davis. I expect that he will arrive at Plymouth this morning, and I
have arranged that Weiss should wire him to come to London at once.”
“_Bien._ I wish to see Weiss this afternoon, and it would be as well if
you try to get hold of Davis yourself.”
“I will find out what time the special arrives at Paddington, and will
meet him. The difficulty to my mind is how we can expose Gaunt’s share
in the Amanti business without giving Weiss away,” Sherren remarked
hoarsely.
“You may safely leave that in my hands. By the bye, are you in touch
with the directors of the Amanti Mining Company?”
“Yes. The chairman is a personal friend of mine.”
“Excellent. And do you think that you could persuade this friend to do
what you asked?” the Baron asked significantly.
“Yes. But it might prove rather costly, but of course it would depend
upon the nature of the service,” Sherren replied promptly.
“We will talk of it later on, for there is no immediate hurry. In
the meantime you must keep up your attack on Gaunt. Don’t miss a
single opportunity, for at all costs we must damage his reputation.
It would seem that he is now working hand in hand with the secretary
of the Congo Reform Association, and they are evidently planning out
a campaign on a grand scale. I fear that this man Gaunt is rapidly
capturing the sympathy of the public, and it is essential that we
expose him so that anything he says will be discredited. I trust you to
do your best, and your reward shall be commensurate with your success.
Succeed in crushing Gaunt, and your future is assured,” the Baron said
earnestly.
“I will do all I can, Baron, but I must own to a certain amount of
admiration for Gaunt’s pluck. He must know that he is risking a good
deal, and yet he does not seem to hesitate. There is no mistaking from
this new mood that he means business, for those advertisements must
have cost a tidy penny. Besides——”
“I shall expect you here at three o’clock with Weiss,” the Baron
interrupted him sharply, for he was not in the humor to listen to
platitudes.
Sherren accepted his dismissal meekly, for he was not the man to resent
outwardly a direct insult, so long as he was to receive a financial
reward that was sufficiently great, but to himself he cursed the Baron
with vigor.
De Croiseuil lighted a cigarette with great care, and sat down to think
out his next move, and finally decided to call upon Gaunt, although he
knew that it was very probable that he would be refused admittance.
Indeed, the footman did hesitate, but finally asked him to take a seat
in the hall.
“It will be unfortunate if madame comes along,” the Baron thought as he
waited.
It was some few minutes before the footman returned, and he became sure
that his expectations would be realized, but to his great surprise he
was asked to go to the library.
Gaunt was standing in the middle of the room facing the door, and his
expression was cold and forbidding.
“If I had refused to see you, you might have imagined that I was
afraid. I do not think that there is anything to be gained by this
interview, and I shall be glad if you will state your errand in as few
words as possible,” Gaunt said grimly.
The Baron smiled, and his eyes moved around the room in search of a
chair.
“You are not very polite, _mon ami_. But even if we are to be enemies
you will not deny me the ease of a seat. I am no longer a young
man, and—ah—thank you, Gaunt. I know you will not mind if I smoke a
cigarette. I can talk so much better, and this morning I wish to be
very eloquent.”
“I have never known you, Baron, when you could not talk, and that time
will only arrive when you are in your grave,” Gaunt said drily.
“A truce to compliments. We know one another—our faults and our
virtues, and so we will come to business. Of what extraordinary
extravagances you have been guilty. These advertisements must have
cost you a small fortune, and for what purpose, _mon cher_? You throw
your money away and the return you will receive is what—ruin. I have
not come here to threaten, but merely to state my intentions. If you
persist in this mad course it will be my painful duty to act at once.
Every dishonorable deed in your life shall be made public and there is
a ghastly array to your discredit. Not only will there be those things
in the Congo of which I have already reminded you, but there are many
little affairs of England—many little deals by which you have enriched
yourself that will not bear the light of day. It will pain me to make
these exposures, but you yourself will be the first to see that they
are necessary. It is my painful duty to discredit you to the world, and
I shall succeed,” the Baron wound up with quiet confidence.
“You appear to forget one thing, Baron. If I cease to speak, there are
others who can take my place. You may ruin my character, but that will
not smother the cry for reform. You say that we know one another, but
I think you are wilfully blind to my character. I have vowed to fight
you until the natives are free, and receive equitable treatment, and
nothing shall turn me back, now I have once started. You can do your
worst,” Gaunt cried contemptuously.
“And that is your final word?” the Baron said with a sigh.
“Yes. It will be well if you do not call here again for——”
“There is no need to finish the sentence. Let us, at least, retain the
appearance of politeness. You English are so brutal in your enmities.
Although I am about to injure you seriously, I like you personally,
Gaunt, and apart from this sordid business, I shall always be glad to
meet you. So you have decided. I am very sorry, my friend, for I am
afraid that Lady Mildred will——”
“Be silent, and go,” Gaunt cried harshly.
“I hate to war upon a lady, for she will suffer with you, and——”
“Go.”
There was a threat in Gaunt’s voice, and the Baron perceptibly hastened
his step, and his nether lip trembled slightly. The footman threw
open the door, and he hastened to cross the hall, but when he reached
the pavement he stood there for a few moments. Then he strode slowly
towards Piccadilly but had not gone very far before he heard his name
called from behind.
He turned quickly and uncovered his head.
“Madam,” he said, and bowed politely to the beautiful girl who had
joined him.
“I am Lady Ethel Blythe.”
“Ah! I knew your sister, but in those days I think you must have been
at school,” he said pleasantly, and there was unconcealed admiration in
his eyes.
“Will you not come into the park? I wish to speak to you,” Lady Ethel
remarked, nervously.
She had acted on the impulse of the moment, and was already beginning
to regret the step that she had taken, but the Baron was only too glad
of the chance of gaining information, and so promptly led the way
across the road, keeping up a steady flow of conversation until they
reached a row of chairs.
“Won’t you sit down, Lady Ethel? I do not think it is too cold,
for your furs will keep you warm,” he said suavely, and again she
encountered the look of admiration in his eyes.
“Why have you quarrelled with Mr. Gaunt?” she demanded suddenly.
It was with the idea of helping her sister that she had intercepted the
Baron, and already she realized that she would receive no consideration
from this man whom instinct told her to distrust. Suddenly she grew
afraid, and continued hurriedly: “I think I have made a mistake, Baron,
and will go. Forgive me for having detained you.”
“Stay, Lady Ethel. Please let us have a little talk, for I am sure
that you may be the means of stopping Mr. Gaunt from ruining himself;
that is, if you have any influence with your sister. My position is a
particularly unfortunate one, for I was once a friend of your family,
and Gaunt is compelling me to become his enemy.”
“What is all this wretched bother about? What is Mr. Gaunt attacking
the Congo for?” she asked eagerly.
“If you could find out the answer to that last question, I should be
eternally your debtor. Cannot you and I become allies? I give you my
word of honor that I am anxious to be Gaunt’s friend, if only he will
permit me to be. Of course, I can understand that your sister must feel
bitterly the insane course which her husband is taking?” he suggested,
and she did not notice the eager look in his eyes.
“She naturally resents it, and is very unhappy,” was her impulsive
answer.
“I can readily understand that, and in my opinion she is quite
justified in resenting it. But I do hope that they have not already
seriously quarreled.”
She glanced at him suspiciously for she could detect a note of
insincerity in his voice.
“I have no right to discuss my sister’s affairs,” she said coldly.
However, the Baron had already obtained the information that he sought,
but took good care that Lady Ethel should not see his satisfaction.
“May I ask you to use your influence both with your sister and with
Gaunt to persuade the latter to abandon this wretched agitation? I am
sure you will do so when I say that he is likely to suffer both in
pocket and reputation, if he does not do so. I won’t detain you any
longer, Lady Ethel, but if at any time you should wish to communicate
with me, I am staying at the Ritz.”
Lady Ethel was eager to get away, but her face grew white, for
approaching her rapidly was Edward Drake. The Baron, too, saw him, and
smiled deprecatingly.
“Lady Ethel, I shall be glad to take you home. You must know that both
your sister and Mr. Gaunt have given orders that this gentleman is
not to be allowed to enter their house again,” Drake said coldly, and
stared at the Belgian, his eyes full of hostility.
“Then I have the honor of wishing you good-day.”
And so saying the Baron raised his hat and strolled away.
Lady Ethel was silent as they walked along, and Drake could not decide
if she were angry with him or herself, but he came to the conclusion
that she needed a lesson.