THE DAY OF RECKONING
Stanley sat in his room. Before him lay an open letter; below in the
hall, John and the Colonel sat waiting his call. The faithful Legation
messenger being well informed that once Darcy was closeted with his
master, he was to receive the precious letter of evidence from
Kent-Lauriston, and return with all speed to London.
But first the Secretary wished to read and re-read his Chief's
instructions. It was a clear, concise document, occupying only two
sheets of note-paper. Not a word wasted, yet all necessary information
given, it ran as follows:--
"Your satisfactory message received and telegraphed to the
Executive in cipher, without delay. I may inform you that it
is not the intention of the government to prosecute, if the
case presented is sufficiently strong to warrant submission
from the recalcitrant members of the cabinet. I leave it to
your discretion to arrest Darcy. Do not do so if you can
obtain his confession without it. We do not wish to proceed
against the agents, but against the principals. We will do
so, however, if you advise. The points we must prove are as
follows:--
"1st. Evidence of the names of members of the cabinet who
are to receive bribes.
"2d. Evidence of the amounts to be received.
"3d. Evidence relating to the Company offering the bribes.
"Send proofs by John, at once, and report to me as soon as
possible.
"As ever,
"X----"
On a separate sheet of paper was the following:--
"_Private and Confidential._
"I have, in the foregoing, written you a letter which you
might show, if necessary, to any of the principals in this
affair, should such a course seem advisable. If you obtain
possession of the money, in round numbers, L40,000, use it
as your discretion suggests. We do not care to handle it
officially. You may find it useful in obtaining evidence.
"I have also to inform you that your most satisfactory
conduct in this affair will certainly gain you immediate
promotion, though it seems desirable that you should return
home first, and almost at once, in the capacity of witness,
if you are needed.
"_Entre nous_, I have received a cable from Senor De Costa,
requesting me to send his daughter, Madame Darcy, home, as
soon as suitable escort can be provided. I have replied,
nominating you for the post, an office which, I imagine, you
will not find irksome. Make this known to Madame Darcy, if
she is still in Sussex, and use your discretion in this
matter as in all other things. Do not act hastily in
anything. You have a great responsibility for one so young,
but I am confident you will discharge it to my satisfaction.
"Cordially,
"X----"
Stanley sat idly for a few minutes, fingering the papers before him. He
might seem to be wasting valuable time; as a matter of fact he was very
hard at work.
Finally he arose, and, with an air of quick decision, as of one who had
made up his mind, he stepped to the opposite wall, and touched the bell.
A moment later there came a heavy step on the stairs, a knock, and
without waiting for an answer, Colonel Darcy entered the room, threw
himself into the most comfortable chair, and scrutinised keenly the
little bundle of papers, which the Secretary was in the act of putting
into an inside pocket.
Stanley noticed the glance, and replied to the unspoken question, by
saying abruptly:--
"It may facilitate matters between us, if I tell you that the evidence
is no longer in my possession. It has been sent to the Legation."
The Colonel nodded.
"I should prefer this to be a purely business interview," continued the
young diplomat, "and to that end I will state my case and my conditions,
after which you can make any answers or comments you think best."
Another nod from his companion was the only answer he received, so he
accordingly proceeded.
"The Executive of my government received, some time ago, information of
a plot to defeat a treaty, now pending with Great Britain. The subject
of this treaty was an island and sand-bar, lying at the mouth of the
---- river, on which the ---- Company have erected large mills for the
manufacture of a staple product of my country. As long as we held the
island, they secured by government contracts a practical monopoly of the
article in question; by the cession of it to Great Britain their
business would be much impaired. Do I state the case clearly?"
"I've never heard it put better," replied the Colonel, with a calmness
that was admirable.
"Very well--we'll now proceed to the next point. The firm considered
that my government's grants were worth to them, the round sum of two
hundred thousand dollars, or forty thousand pounds."
"In gold, sovereigns," acquiesced Darcy.
"Yes, I've one of them in my possession."
The Colonel nodded as usual. He evidently felt it idle to waste words in
the face of such incontrovertible evidence.
"This amount was to be divided among a majority of the committee, who
would pass on the treaty, thus insuring its defeat. The names of the
members who would receive bribes, and the amount to be given to each,
being arranged beforehand--by you."
Darcy's face was immovable.
"I said by _you_."
"I heard you."
"You've nothing to say?"
"The accused," said the Colonel, "is never required to convict himself."
"You're quite within your rights; we'll let it pass. I make the
statement; you neither affirm or deny it."
"Go on," said Darcy.
"You then come to Sussex to receive the funds from Mr. Riddle, the most
important shareholder."
"You're mistaken. Miss Fitzgerald received the money from Mr. Riddle,"
remarked the Colonel.
"You say nothing of your part in the transaction," commented the
Secretary, sternly.
"I thought you wanted the truth of the matter."
"I do--go on."
"When the Company found, thanks to your conversation with, and
infatuation for, Miss Fitzgerald, that you had in all probability been
set to spy upon us, it was deemed better that I should play a
subordinate part," continued Darcy. "Accordingly she was selected to do
all the dirty work in this country--collect the money and forward it to
London."
"What part did Kingsland play?"
"None whatever, except that of carrier. I sounded him some weeks ago,
and found him too loose-tongued for our purposes. It was Belle's scheme
to let him take the treasure to town, and he actually believed the
cock-and-bull story she told him about the stereopticon slides."
"As soon as you recovered your lost letter of instructions, you intended
to go to London, draw out the forty thousand pounds, embark for my
country, and distribute the bribes," resumed Stanley, "but,
unfortunately for you, your plans are upset entirely. I have in my
possession not only your letter of instructions, but also the name of
the bank in which the money now lies, and where it can be detained at my
orders."
At this point the Colonel's reserve entirely broke down.
"You hold all the trumps, damn you!" he cried. "Give me your terms and
conditions."
"It's not the intention of my government to prosecute the corrupt
members of the cabinet for a variety of reasons, which, even with your
views on the subject of honour, you'll undoubtedly approve."
Darcy flushed, but said nothing.
"In the first place," continued the Secretary, "the Executive has no
desire to wash the government's dirty linen in public, and the story is
not so creditable that it should be spread abroad. All that is needed
is to insure the passage of the treaty; and it is thought, and thought
rightly, that a warning to the opposition, if the true facts are known,
and can be proved if necessary, would be quite sufficient to remove
their obstruction. Of course, the more overwhelming the proof, the more
potent the warning; and, while it's not necessary, understand that, I
should prefer your signed confession to round out my case."
"What do you offer in return?"
"Immunity from prosecution."
"Is that all?"
"_All!_ Colonel Darcy, I'd have you to know that it's left entirely to
my discretion how to proceed against you. I have it in my power to order
your arrest, with a certain term of imprisonment at hard labour."
"Would my evidence be used publicly?"
"I think I can assure against that in any case."
"What assurance have I that your government will play me fair if I turn
state's evidence?"
Stanley thought a moment, and then handed him the Minister's open
letter.
The Colonel perused it, nodded quietly, and said:--
"It will do. I accept the terms. Damn it, I can't do otherwise! Give me
pen, ink, and paper. What do you want me to write?"
"In substance what I've said to you."
"Very well."
"Kindly leave out all reference, by name, to Lieutenant Kingsland and
Miss Fitzgerald."
"Ha! I suppose you still think she's an angel."
"I know she is a woman, Colonel Darcy."
For some time there was no sound in the room but the scratching of pen
to paper. At length, however, the Colonel raised his head from his work,
and, pushing it towards the Secretary, said laconically:--
"Will it do?"
"Quite," replied Stanley, after perusing it. "Will you sign it, please?
Thanks, I'll witness."
"There," said the Colonel, rising. "That closes our interview."
"Not quite yet, Colonel. I've still an advantageous offer to make to
you, in reward for some further concessions of a different character.
The case for the government is closed. Our private affairs yet remain to
be settled."
"By Gad! You're right there! They do!"
"There is that little trifle of the forty thousand pounds. Suppose I was
to give you that amount."
"What!!!" exclaimed his hearer, petrified with astonishment. "You mean
to say that you will give it to me?"
"Never, Colonel, never! I shall go to the Victoria Street Branch of the
Bank of England in London, say the day after to-morrow, to warn them
about the money. If you draw it out before that time, why, it's my
misfortune. I'll be perfectly frank with you, Colonel Darcy. My
government doesn't want the handling of this coin, its disposal is left
to me. You see it's for everybody's interest to lose this large sum.
When the cabinet knows that the truth has been discovered--they know it
now, by the way--it was cabled in cipher--there's not one of them who
would touch a penny of it. The company can't receive it without giving a
receipt, which might prove damaging evidence; while neither government
can take it without becoming a party to the transaction. I'm willing to
give it to you, if you'll do two things in return. Two disagreeable
things, I admit, to a conscientious man; but they're each worth twenty
thousand pounds."
"I'd sell my soul for that!" said he with a laugh.
"My dear Colonel, are you sure you have it to sell?"
"What are the conditions?"
"First, that you consent to a divorce from Madame Darcy."
"Humph! That's a nice thing to ask a man. Moreover, it's not worth
anything. In fact it's a clear loss. My wife's property, of which I have
the use, is worth far more than that."
"But you don't have the use of it, Colonel."
"Well, I should have to pay alimony--then."
"I'll guarantee you against that. Moreover, she'd get her divorce in any
event, and then you'd have nothing."
"You're quite right. A pretty woman, who knows how to have hysterics,
can get anything in a court of law. My wife's an expert in the latter
accomplishment, and she's good-looking enough to corrupt any jury that
was ever empanelled. I give in, it's no use playing a losing game. Now
for the second."
"The second is purely confidential."
"Go on."
"I'd like to know exactly what you and Miss Fitzgerald expected to
receive for this transaction, and whether these letters," producing the
ones Madame Darcy had given him, "do not relate solely to it?"
Darcy laughed.
"You're paying rather a high price for that young lady's character," he
said.
"A woman's character should be above any price, Colonel Darcy. We seem
to have differing standards of value, which does not, however, alter the
main question of whether you will accede to my conditions."
"Certainly I will, and permit me to tell you that you're paying more
than either of them is worth."
"That is for me to decide."
"Quite so. Now how do you wish me to aid in my wife's divorce?"
"A statement signed by you, to the effect that you would not contest a
suit for divorce--say on the grounds of incompatibility of temper,
coupled by your promise of non-interference, would be sufficient. As
Madame Darcy is not a Catholic, and her father is a power in his own
country, she would have no trouble, legal or religious, in using such
evidence."
"Oh, is that all?" said the Colonel, manifestly relieved. "I supposed
you wanted statutory grounds."
"I wish to save your wife as much pain and annoyance as possible, and it
would be well if you felt the same."
"Oh!" exclaimed Darcy. "So that's the way the land lies, is it? A very
interesting way for a young man who is in love with one of the women,
and engaged to the other."
"You'll please attend to business, and not discuss my affairs," broke in
the Secretary, sharply.
"Quite right, quite right; pardon me--there, it's only a few lines, but
I think it will give my wife her freedom when she requires it," and he
handed him a paper, adding:--"Now let me go."
"Two things you've forgotten," said Stanley. "Your promise not to appear
against your wife in her suit for divorce----"
"That's understood!"
"Do you give it?"
"Yes. I promise not to appear against my wife in her suit for divorce,
or in any way to impede its progress. Does that satisfy you? You'll find
I'm a man of my word, Mr. Stanley, when I'm as well paid for it, as in
the present case."
"Now what did you expect to receive from this transaction?"
"Ten per cent. on the amount distributed--say four thousand pounds."
"I see. And what did you propose to give to Miss Fitzgerald?"
"I said I'd share it with her."
"That is, you'd each have two thousand pounds."
"Exactly--but she's such a mercenary, avaricious little baggage, she
struck for more; said she had the most dangerous part to perform, and by
Gad! they allotted her three-fourths."
"Three thousand pounds. Quite a neat little sum."
"Rather! I was only to receive one thousand pounds."
"Now about those letters?"
Darcy looked them over hurriedly, and remarked:--
"Purely commercial."
"So I supposed. But how do you explain that sentence in your letter, in
which you refer to there being a happy future for both of you?"
The Colonel thrust his hands in his pockets, and looked the Secretary
squarely in the face.
"See here, Stanley," he said. "I'm not altogether a cad, and I'll be
damned if I explain any more."
The Secretary flushed, and there was an awkward silence, which he broke
by speaking nervously.
"That's all, I think," he continued, "except--I suppose you'll have no
trouble in getting the money?"
Darcy laughed.
"Give me twenty-four hours," he said.
The Secretary nodded.
"Well, I must be going," remarked the Colonel regretfully, as if he was
just bringing to a close a protracted, but delightful, interview.
"You've paid a high price for rather indifferent goods, young man, and
to show you that I'm dealing fair, I'll throw in a bit of advice. Drop
our Irish friend as soon as you know how. Take my word for it, she's a
thoroughly bad lot. I don't care what you're worth, she'd run through it
in five years, and then----"
"Don't say it!" commanded the Secretary.
"As you like, it's the truth. The money will be in the Victoria Street
Branch of the Bank of England till day after to-morrow? Yes. Thank you,
Mr. Stanley. Trust you're satisfied. I am. Good day."
The door closed. He was gone.