The Earl of Lynton was not in the best of tempers as he entered the
boat train at Dover, on his way to London. An attaché to the British
embassy in Paris, he had received peremptory instructions by cable from
Sir Keith Hamilton, the secretary of state for foreign affairs, to
proceed to London and report himself at the foreign office, immediately
upon his arrival.
It was natural that he should be curious as to the reason why his
presence should be so urgently required. Had it been a couple of years
ago he would have imagined that his many creditors had been making
themselves objectionable to the authorities, but his sister Mildred’s
marriage to John Gaunt had, once for all, removed that sort of worry
from his life.
The Earl was a very ordinary sort of man of average intelligence, but
with a keen capacity for the enjoyment of life. To do him justice he
had been reluctant that his sister should marry Gaunt, and, in spite of
the great pecuniary advantages attached to the match, he had not said a
word to influence her decision.
Almost immediately after the marriage, he had received his appointment
to Paris, and since then had paid very few visits to England. Neither
Lady Mildred nor himself were good correspondents, but he had gathered
the impression that she was quite content with her lot.
During the last few days he had noticed reports in the French papers
connecting Gaunt with the Congo agitation, but it was not until the
journey to London that he realized there was anything serious in the
matter.
It chanced that there was a lack of interesting news at the moment and
editors had seized upon John Gaunt to make the sensation of the hour.
The _Daily Comet_ had started its special commissioner to work, and
that gifted penman could raise a storm where all was peace, and he was
accordingly paid the salary of a cabinet minister.
Now Lord Lynton’s one failing was an overweening pride in his name,
and he felt hurt that Gaunt’s action should have brought about those
disgraceful comments which would naturally reflect upon his sister,
for the _Comet_ was suggesting that his brother-in-law was a most
undesirable person; and so the Earl was determined that the Congo
crusade must come to an end.
As a matter of fact he knew but little of Gaunt’s character, for they
had met on very few occasions, and each time there had been a little
natural embarrassment on his part, for his future brother-in-law had
quietly insisted on paying his debts, and settling upon him and his
heirs a sum of money which had made him comfortably well off, if not
rich. Lord Lynton had demurred to accepting these favors, even at
the hands of a future relative, but Gaunt had taken no notice of his
protests and had merely given instructions to the family solicitors,
and the Earl had found that his debts had been paid and the settlement
executed. After all Lady Mildred was making a sacrifice in marrying a
mere financier, and it was very comforting to think that the worry of a
heavy load of debt had been removed from her mind.
At Victoria Station Lord Lynton jumped into a taxi-cab, and drove
straight to the foreign office, where he was received almost
immediately by Sir Keith Hamilton.
“I am sorry to have brought you from your arduous duties so abruptly,”
the foreign secretary remarked by way of greeting, and there was a
twinkle in his eye.
Sir Keith had the reputation of being a strong minister, and perhaps it
was owing to the fact that he knew when to remain silent. His speeches
in the House were of admirable terseness, and he had made a point of
steering as clear as possible of party conflicts, so that he enjoyed
the respect and confidence of each side of the House. It was rarely
that any rash member tried to cross swords with him, for he possessed
a biting wit that was used unsparingly, greatly to the discomfiture of
his adversaries.
Lord Lynton smiled but made no answer to the remark.
“As a matter of fact I want you here only because you are the
brother-in-law of John Gaunt. I suppose that in the moments that you
can spare from society you do sometimes study international politics,
and you are probably aware that there is room for improvement in the
present position. I am referring more particularly to Germany, but I
don’t blame them more than ourselves. If war ever takes place between
us, it will have been brought about by the press. The position is such
that we have to avoid every possibility of disagreement, and your
worthy brother-in-law is embarrassing me considerably. The Congo must
be a great question in the future, and I am anxious to delay the day
as much as possible. The Free State is surrounded by colonies owned by
England, France, and Germany, and each country would like the largest
slice when the division takes place. Unfortunately Germany is absurdly
jealous of England, and we reciprocate the feeling just as absurdly.
Therefore they will look upon any step we may take with the greatest
suspicion, and we should return the compliment. Do you follow me?”
“Yes, I think so,” Lord Lynton answered quietly.
“Good. This being the state of affairs, it is essential that the
Congo question should be kept out of sight as much as possible.
Your brother-in-law evidently does not understand this, for he is
responsible for an agitation which is rapidly becoming a nuisance. I
think you will now understand what I want. Gaunt must be silenced, and
it struck me that you, being a relative, were the most desirable person
to bring this about.”
“I don’t know that I have any influence with Mr. Gaunt. True, he is my
brother-in-law, but we have seen very little of one another,” the Earl
said doubtfully.
“Then you must cultivate his acquaintance. Probably you have some
influence with your sister. You may be able to reach Gaunt through her.
I want you to appreciate that the matter is very serious, and that you
must leave no stone unturned to make him keep his mouth shut. If once
the British public gets the bit between its teeth, there is no holding
it, and we shall be forced to intervene.”
“I see the danger, and I will do my best, sir.”
“Good. If he is obstinate, send him to see me at once. Let me know how
you get on as I am rather anxious. You need not hurry to get back to
your post.”
And the secretary gave him a curt nod of dismissal.
Lord Lynton did not at all like the task that had been given to him,
but there was no alternative save to obey, so he ordered his baggage to
be put on a taxi-cab, and as he was about to step in, a newsboy thrust
a paper into his hands.
“_Evenin’ Comet_, sir? All the news.”
Lord Lynton gave the boy a copper, and during the drive casually
glanced at the paper, but suddenly an exclamation escaped him, and he
proceeded to read a half column with the deepest attention.
“I think that it was about time I came home,” he muttered savagely. And
when he entered Gaunt’s house there was a grim look on his face.
For a few minutes he waited in the hall until a glad cry was heard, and
Lady Ethel ran towards him with outstretched arms.
“How glad I am to see you, Geoffrey,” she cried, and gave him an
affectionate embrace.
“Where is Mildred?” he asked quietly.
“With her husband. Come along to them,” she said, and slipping her arm
through his, drew him along.
Gaunt and his wife were sitting close together, and it was evident
to Lord Lynton that they were on the best of terms. Lady Mildred’s
expression was that of a perfectly happy woman, and he thought how
greatly she had improved. Her greeting was a quiet one, and then Gaunt
came towards him with outstretched hand.
“Run away, girls; I want to have a business talk with Gaunt, and
afterwards I shall be at your service,” Lord Lynton said hurriedly, as
he just touched his brother-in-law’s hand.
“My husband has no secrets from me—isn’t that so?” Lady Mildred said
quietly, turning to Gaunt with a smile.
“Do you wish her to remain?” the Earl asked coldly.
“It is as my wife wishes,” Gaunt answered, and frankly met his
brother-in-law’s rather hostile look.
“You had better go, Ethel. I don’t suppose we shall be very long.”
“I suppose it is that wretched Congo again,” Lady Ethel said
petulantly, but she left the room.
“What is it?” Gaunt asked quietly, exchanging glances with his wife who
had drawn closer and had slipped her hand into his.
“I really came to see you about this Congo foolishness, but there is
something in to-night’s paper that is of more consequence. Please read
this paragraph, and you will understand why I am rather upset.”
Gaunt took the paper, and his lips were firmly pressed together when he
saw the head-lines.
“_A deal in Amanti Shares. Curious story at the Police Court._”
He rapidly mastered the statement which followed—the arrest of Davis
at the instance of the Mining Company for having forged and despatched
the cable, and the explicit statement that Julian Weiss and John Gaunt
were the men who had planned the forgery. In counsel’s short speech the
facts were disclosed, and Gaunt realized that it was impossible to deny
their accuracy.
Without saying a word, he handed the paper to Lady Mildred, and his
eyes were fixed anxiously on her face as she read.
“I don’t understand it,” she said at last.
“It is simple. If this account is true, your husband conspired with
the Jewish financier, Weiss, to commit a gross fraud upon the public.
Is that correct?” Lord Lynton demanded of Gaunt.
“Yes, it is quite right,” was the quiet reply.
“And do you deny the charge that they make against you?”
“I do not recognize your right to question me,” Gaunt answered coldly,
but he was eagerly looking down at his wife, and her hand still rested
in his.
“Perhaps I had better tell you the whole story,” he began, addressing
himself to Lady Mildred.
The facts were soon told, and he suppressed nothing except the vow that
he had made, but when he spoke of the interview at which Edward Drake
had been present, and the subsequent sending of the check to the King’s
Hospital Fund, the look of distress vanished from his wife’s face.
“You did not benefit from it, John. Of course you were very wrong in
the first place, but——”
“Is that the way you look at it, Mildred? Then you have indeed
changed,” Lord Lynton cried harshly. “Cannot you understand that Gaunt
has been found out in a dishonorable act? By this time all London will
have read the report of the proceedings at the police court, and they
will rightly call him a——”
“Silence, Geoffrey!” she cried peremptorily, and her bosom rose and
fell quickly. “Perhaps John may have done wrong, and I am sorry, but I
do not intend to allow it to affect me. If you wish to remain friends
you must be silent.”
Lord Lynton gazed at his sister in wonder.
“Of course, Gaunt may be able to smooth the matter over. It would be
advisable to go to the Amanti people at once, and if necessary, pay
them handsomely for withdrawing the charge. Then you can get a clever
counsel to go to the police court, and say that it is all a mistake. It
is only a question of money,” he said with the idea of making the best
of the situation.
“I intend to take no step at all, for I cannot deny its truth,” Gaunt
answered, and he felt his wife’s hand tremble slightly.
Lord Lynton uttered an exclamation of anger, but quickly brought into
play his diplomatic training.
“We will discuss it later on—with other matters,” he remarked, and Lady
Mildred gave a quick sigh of relief.