THE ALLIANCE ENDS
Delcasse's nostrils were distended and his eyes were glowing like those
of a war-horse scenting battle as he invited his visitors to be seated.
Only his iron self-control, tested on I know not how many hard-fought
fields of diplomacy, enabled him to speak coherently; never had it been
strained as at that moment.
He sat down at his desk, and glanced from one face to the other.
"I am indeed glad to meet M. Vard," he said, with a calmness that was no
less than a triumph; "and to see you again, M. Crochard. I had but this
moment charged M. Lepine to bring you to me."
"Is it so serious as that?" asked Crochard, with a little smile.
"The situation could not well be more serious."
"You refer, I suppose, to the Moroccan situation."
"Yes. France must fight, or yield to Germany."
Again Crochard smiled.
"No, no," he protested; "it is Germany which will yield!"
Delcasse bounded in his chair, as his eye caught the glance which
Crochard bent upon him.
"I knew it," he said, his face white as marble. "I guessed it--and yet I
scarcely dared believe it. But the moment you entered, bringing M.
Vard...."
"M. Vard is a very great inventor," said Crochard. "He offered his
services to Germany, and she betrayed him; he now offers his services to
France."
Delcasse glanced at the little man who sat there so still, so fragile,
with eyes which gleamed so fiercely and lips that trembled with emotion;
and he shivered a little at the thought that here was the man who had
struck a terrible blow at France.
"I can see what you are thinking," Vard burst out. "You will pardon me,
if I speak English? I am more familiar with it than with French. I see
what you are thinking. You are thinking, 'Here is the miscreant, the
scoundrel, who destroyed our battleship!' Well, it is true. I am a
scoundrel--or I should be one if I permitted that deed to go unrevenged.
I was betrayed, sir, as this gentleman has said. I offered to Germany
the leadership among nations. But the Emperor is consumed with personal
ambition--his one desire to exalt his house, to establish it more
firmly. Instead of leading, he wished to conquer. I refused to be his
tool. Thereupon I was deceived by a trick, I was imprisoned--I and my
daughter also. We were threatened with I know not what--with starvation,
with torture--but this gentleman rescued us, and I came here with him in
order to place before France the same proposal I made to Germany."
Delcasse had listened closely; but he was plainly confused and
astonished.
"Before going further," he suggested, "I should very much like to hear
M. Crochard's story. There is much about this extraordinary affair which
I do not understand--and I desire to understand everything. Will you not
begin at the beginning, my friend?"
"It was very simple," said Crochard, and told briefly of the pursuit, of
the encounters on the _Ottilie_, and of the final struggle in New York.
"After our escape," he concluded, "we hastened to M. Vard's residence,
where, as I anticipated, his daughter and that admirable M. Webster whom
she loves, soon joined us. It was a most happy reunion, and in the end,
M. Webster forgave me for the theft of the little box. Of our plans we
said nothing, except that M. Vard was journeying back with me to Paris,
and we were aboard the _Lusitania_ when she sailed next morning. We
arrived at Liverpool last night, and here we are!"
Lepine's face was shining with a great enthusiasm.
"Permit me to congratulate you, sir," he said. "It was finely done. I
realise that the more deeply because I myself was completely baffled;
and yet it should have occurred to me that the Captain of the _Ottilie_
might wish to deceive me. My theory was, however, that the tickets had
been purchased to throw me off the scent. M. Vard had, of course, as I
supposed, sought refuge in Germany. Even yet I do not understand why he
should have gone to America."
The remark was, in a way, addressed to the inventor, but he had fallen
into revery and paid no heed to it.
"He is often like that," said Crochard, in rapid French. "I suspect that
something is wrong here," and he touched his forehead. "The trip to
America was, as I understand it, a matter of sentiment with him. He
insisted that this great treaty, which was to bring about world-wide
peace and the brotherhood of man, should be signed on American soil."
"He is really in earnest about that treaty?" asked Delcasse. "He is not
a mercenary?"
"Mercenary? Far from it, sir. Why, M. Delcasse, he was asked to choose
his own reward, and he refused. He is utterly in earnest--he asks
nothing for himself. And I believe his idea practicable. I hope that
you will consider it carefully, sir. The Emperor refused because of his
conditions. One was the reconstitution of Poland--he is himself a Pole.
The other was the restoration of Alsace-Lorraine to France. Pachmann did
at last agree to give up Poland--and to make him King of it, if he
chose!--but the other condition was too much for him. Besides, he
thought the game was in his hands--he saw his Emperor ruler of the
world! Permit me to outline for you the plan of this remarkable man."
And clearly but briefly, Crochard laid before the astonished Minister
the plan for world-wide disarmament, for universal peace, for the
freeing of subject peoples, for the restoration of conquered territory,
and for the gradual establishment of representative government, to the
exclusion of all hereditary rulers, great and small.
"And I see no reason," Crochard concluded, "why France should hesitate
to give herself wholeheartedly to this plan. With all of these things
she is in sympathy; 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity' has been her
watchword for a hundred years. Once we regain Alsace-Lorraine, we can be
well-content to lay down our arms. I believe that we can secure the
support of the United States and perhaps of England. To the United
States, a project so idealistic would be certain to appeal; and as for
England, she is terrified at heart, she fears the future, she staggers
under the burden of her great armaments----which yet are not great
enough. Yes, we could win England!"
Delcasse had listened with gleaming eyes, all the dreamer within him
afire at the splendid vision which Crochard's words evoked.
"You are right!" he cried, and sprang to his feet and approached the
inventor, his hands outstretched. "M. Vard," he said, "on behalf of
France, I accept your proposal!"
Vard was on his feet also, and his whole frame was shaking.
"You are sincere?" he stammered, peering into Delcasse's eyes. "You are
in earnest? You are not deceiving me?"
"No!" said Delcasse, solemnly. "I am not deceiving you. I swear it, on
my honour. France will be proud to take her place at the head of this
great movement." And then he stopped, and a shadow flitted across his
face. "There is but one condition," he added. "You must prove to us that
this power really exists."
"I agree to that!" cried Vard, eagerly. "I agree to that--yes, yes, I
even wish it. Any proof, any test--it shall be yours to choose. And
remember--the Germans were not merciful!"
"I shall remember!" said Delcasse hoarsely, his face quivering; and he
caught himself away and stood for a moment at the window, struggling for
self-control. Through the square below all Paris poured, on its way to
drive in the Bois, careless, happy, all unconscious of the crisis in its
country's history which the moment marked. And then, by habit,
Delcasse's eyes wandered to that great statue by Pradier, with the pile
of mourning wreaths before it....
"I have chosen!" he said, in a choked voice. "The test shall be made at
Strasbourg!"
The inventor bowed.
"If I may retire," he said, "I will begin my preparations at once. I
shall need to work for a day, or perhaps two days, in some well-equipped
wireless laboratory. All other arrangements I shall leave to you. It
will be necessary to secure two stations in sight of the arsenal, and
within five miles of it, where we can work without fear of being
disturbed."
"I will attend to all that," agreed Delcasse, and touched a bell. "If
General Marbeau is in his office," he added to his secretary, "please
say that I wish to see him at once."
* * * * *
The door had closed behind the French Chief of Wireless and the
white-haired enthusiast, and for a moment the three men who were left
behind gazed at each other in silence.
"Do you believe in this power?" asked Delcasse, at last.
"There was _La Liberte_," Crochard reminded him.
"True," and the Minister fell silent again.
"To attack the fort at Strasbourg will not be easy," said Crochard, at
last. "The Germans are no doubt already on their guard."
Delcasse smote his forehead with his open palm.
"That is it!" he cried. "Lepine, that is the explanation! It is not for
war they prepare; it is in terror they withdraw their fleets into
mid-ocean and throw cordons of soldiers about their forts! At this
moment, in spite of their bold front, the Emperor and his ministers are
trembling! For of course they know that Pachmann failed--and that we
succeeded!"
"Undoubtedly," Crochard agreed. "Pachmann would notify the Emperor of
his failure as soon as he regained consciousness!"
"Not a pleasant task," chuckled Delcasse. "He has my pity. What happened
to the Prince?"
"The Prince was released next morning."
"You have friends, then, in New York?" asked Lepine, curiously.
"I have friends everywhere," answered Crochard quietly.
"When I think of the Kaiser trembling!" cried Delcasse. "Ah, what
anguish must be his! I have tasted it, and I know!"
Crochard took from his coat a long pocket-book.
"This belonged to Admiral Pachmann," he said. "I paused long enough to
secure it, because it contained a document which I was most anxious to
possess. It will interest you, sir," and he drew out a black-sealed
envelope and passed it to Delcasse.
The latter opened it, took out the stiff sheet of paper he found within,
read it, re-read it, and then stared at Crochard stupefied.
"That is what one might call an imperial power of attorney," said
Crochard, with a little laugh. "It is sufficiently comprehensive, is it
not?"
"It is unbelievable!" cried Delcasse, and handed the paper to Lepine.
"And this was really given by the Emperor to Pachmann?"
"I see no reason to doubt it. Though," Crochard added, with a smile, "I
am of the opinion that Pachmann put it to uses and went to lengths which
the Emperor did not contemplate--perhaps would have forbidden."
Delcasse's eyes were glowing with an infernal joy.
"That does not matter," he said. "That was because his hand was forced.
It is the Emperor who is responsible--it is a risk he took. If he chose
his instrument badly, it is he who must suffer for it. You permit me to
retain this paper?"
"Certainly. Use it as you think best for France!"
Delcasse was out of his chair, striding up and down the room.
"So the wheel has turned!" he cried. "You may not remember it, M.
Crochard--to you it may have seemed a small thing--but six years ago,
the Emperor caused me to be driven from the foreign office because I did
and said certain things which displeased him. Such was his power even
here in Paris! You will scarcely credit it, but so it was. And now it is
my turn! With this in my hand, all things are possible! He must have
been mad to put his hand to such a paper--but, after all, it does not
astonish me. He is always doing mad things; he has no balance, no
self-control. Ten years ago, with an imprudent telegram, he almost
plunged his country into war with England--and at a moment, too, when it
was wholly unprepared! Two years ago, a wild speech of his brought
Germany to the brink of revolution. Last year, he nearly upset his
empire by an indiscreet interview which was suppressed just in time. He
is always in hot water, but heretofore his good fortune has been
amazing. He has always succeeded in extricating himself. This time, it
seems, he has tempted the gods once too often----the game is in our
hands. Our ultimatum I will prepare to-day, and I will invite to my
office the German ambassador, and I will hand him that ultimatum, and I
will say certain things to him which have long been biting at my throat
for utterance, and then I will give him a glimpse of this document, and
finally I will send him away. Ah, there will be consternation at Berlin
to-night!" Suddenly Delcasse stopped in front of Crochard's chair. "My
friend," he said, in another tone, "you have saved France. You must name
your own reward. I grant it, before you ask it."
"Well, yes," said Crochard, smiling, "I shall not refuse. At Toulon, on
the quay opposite the spot where lies the wreck of _La Liberte_, a
friend of mine conducts a cafe. It was he who noticed the two
Germans--it was he who gave me my first clue. So he deserves a reward on
his own account. He is an honest man, who has suffered unjustly. Four
years ago he was condemned to prison for killing the betrayer of his
daughter. He is called Samson. M. Lepine will no doubt recall the
circumstances."
"I recall them very well," said Lepine. "Samson escaped the day after he
was sentenced. I could find no trace of him, until I saw him at Toulon."
"But you did not arrest him!" said Crochard quickly.
"I promised to take no action until you and I had talked together."
"Thank you, M. Lepine," said Crochard warmly. "I have always respected
you as a man of your word. It was I who assisted Samson to escape, since
his punishment seemed to me undeserved; it was I who secured false
papers for him and established him at Toulon. He has done well, but he
dare not have his family with him. He loves his family, and without them
he finds life sad. M. Delcasse, you have told me to name a reward--I ask
that Samson may be pardoned."
"It is granted," said Delcasse, in a low voice; "but is there nothing
else? Is there nothing I can do for you, my friend?"
Crochard had arisen and he and the great Minister stood face to face.
"Yes, there is something, sir," he said, "which you can do for me, and
which will make me very proud. You are a great man, and I admire you.
There are not many men to whom I raise my hat; but I salute you, sir,
and I hope you will accept my hand!"
Delcasse's hand shot out and seized Crochard's and held it close.
"It is I who am honoured!" he said thickly.
But at the end of a moment, Crochard drew his hand away.
"Do not idealise me, sir," he said. "I am outside the law; you and I go
different ways. If for once, M. Lepine and I have worked together, it
was because France demanded it. We admire each other; we have found
that we possess certain qualities in common. But now I have done my
part; the rest is in your hands. So I say adieu; our alliance is over;
we are enemies again--"
"Not enemies," broke in Delcasse, quickly. "Antagonists perhaps; but not
enemies. I wish--"
"No, do not wish," said Crochard. "My life satisfies me. I have a
certain work to do, and I am happy in doing it. But I accept your
word--henceforth we are antagonists, not enemies. Adieu, sir."
The door closed, and Delcasse, dropping heavily into his chair, gazed
mutely into Lepine's inscrutable eyes.