Lady Mildred was 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 naturally reflect 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
imagines that 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 obligation towards 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 induce him 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.