THE BALTIC FLEET
Fortunately I am accustomed to face emergencies without losing my
presence of mind.
The manner of Vassileffsky had prepared me for some display of
suspicion on his part, though I hardly anticipated his procedure
would be so theatrical.
Fixing him with my sternest look, I responded,
"Captain Vassileffsky, I do not think you quite understand what you
are doing. I will talk to you in the morning, when you are more
yourself."
He drew back, considerably disconcerted.
"Very well, I will listen to what you have to say in the morning. In
the meantime you will be under a guard."
I shrugged my shoulders with a disdainful smile.
"Be good enough to let me see my quarters," I said.
More and more abashed, the Captain summoned one of his officers, and
gave him some instructions.
"Follow me, sir," said the lieutenant. I walked after him with
perfect self-possession.
"I do not wish to make a fuss to-night, as Captain Vassileffsky is
not himself," I said haughtily, as we drew out of hearing. "But you
will understand that unless I receive an apology in the morning, I
shall complain to his majesty the Czar, by whose orders I am here."
The lieutenant looked badly frightened.
"It is not my fault, as you can see, sir. I am only obeying orders.
Will you accept my own berth for the night, sir?"
I thanked him and entered a small, comfortably-fitted state-room.
With profuse apologies, he turned the key and left me to my own
reflections.
I slept soundly, rocked by the tide of the Finland Gulf.
In the morning my jailer came to wake me.
"Captain Vassileffsky presents his compliments, and asks you to
breakfast with him in his cabin, in half an hour."
This message was a welcome proof to me that my bluff had produced the
desired effect. I accepted the invitation as if it was a matter of
course.
I dressed, and went to the cabin where Vassileffsky awaited me.
"Are we friends or foes this morning?" I called out with a
good-humored laugh, as I greeted him.
The Russian looked dull and nervous.
"I hope all will be well," he muttered. "Let us have something to eat
before we talk."
He might have said, something to drink, for his own breakfast was
mainly of champagne. I, myself, made a point of eating heartily, and
drank only coffee.
"Now, Vassileffsky," I said in authoritative tones, "to business.
First of all, you want some money."
It was a guess, but a fairly safe one. Without waiting for the
astonished man to reply, I took out my pocket-book.
"How much can you do with till the fleet sails?" I asked, still in
the same matter-of-fact tone.
Fairly nonplussed, the Captain blurted out,
"I should like two thousand."
I shook my head.
"I can let you have only a thousand now, but you shall have the
balance this day week." I counted the thousand rubles, and handed
them to him. "They are grumbling, rather, in Berlin over the
expense."
It was, of course, my object to give Vassileffsky no opening for a
cross-examination, but to take it for granted that we were on
confidential terms.
At the word "Berlin" he opened his eyes pretty wide.
"Does this money come from Germany?" he exclaimed, half-withdrawing
his hand.
I affected surprise in my turn.
"You have not received any information at all, apparently! My message
must have miscarried. Didn't the Princess see you?"
Vassileffsky looked still more surprised. His demeanor taught me a
good deal. I saw that Petrovitch had not trusted him very far. The
financier had evidently kept all the threads of the intrigue in his
own hands, as far as possible.
So much the better, I reflected. His removal would disorganize
matters even more thoroughly than I had ventured to hope.
"What Princess?" the Captain asked.
"The Princess Y----, of course."
He brightened up a little, as though this name, at all events, was
familiar.
"No, she has not been here."
"One can never trust these women," I muttered aloud. "She has not
been at all the same since the death of her Englishman."
"Of Sterling, do you mean?"
"Yes. You heard of it, I suppose?"
Vassileffsky grinned.
"Rather sudden, wasn't it?"
I smiled meaningly, as I retorted,
"You remember he fainted rather unexpectedly that night he dined with
me."
A look of relief broke out on Vassileffsky's face, as I thus
referred to an incident which he naturally supposed could be known
only to Petrovitch.
"My dear fellow, I beg a thousand pardons for my stupid conduct last
night," he burst out. "But you must admit that your disguise is
extraordinary."
"Not a word!" I returned. "It is always better to err on the side of
distrust. Besides, I wished to spend a night on your ship in any
case. Your crew can be thoroughly depended on, if I am any judge."
"They would bombard the Tower of London, if I gave the word," boasted
Vassileffsky.
It is extraordinary how widely the belief prevails on the Continent
of Europe that the London Tower is still a fortress, charged with the
protection of the British capital.
"At all events, they will not be frightened by the sight of the Union
Jack?" I returned.
The Russian officer gave me an alarmed glance.
"You do not mean--you are not asking us to fire on the British
fleet?"
"No, no," I reassured him.
"Ah, that is all right. For the moment I confess you frightened me.
They say we shall have to pass Admiral Beresford!"
"What are you prepared to do?" I asked, concealing my deep interest
in the reply.
Vassileffsky's manner became slightly reproachful.
"You did not bargain with me to attack an armed ship," he said in
the tone of one who reminds another of his agreement. "It was
understood that we were to attack merchantmen, like the
Vladivostockers."
At last I had a direct confirmation of my suspicions.
"And what is the tone of the fleet generally?" I inquired.
"I have done my best to make them all of the same mind. They will do
their best, depend on it. I think there will be a few English vessels
mysteriously lost at sea during the next two or three months! The
prize courts cannot always be depended on."
By an effort I restrained my indignation at these atrocious hints.
The Baltic Fleet was about to seek the open sea, secretly intending
to miss no chance of sinking a British merchantman that should be
unlucky enough to cross its path.
It was with a feeling of chagrin that I perceived it would be useless
to send any message to Lord Bedale of what was in preparation. On
certain subjects the British people are deaf and blind. They believe
that all foreign statesmen are as high-minded as a Gladstone, and all
foreign officials as scrupulous and truthful as the Chevalier Bayard
himself.
Captain Vassileffsky continued,
"Our men are badly scared by reports of the Japanese plans. It is
supposed that they have torpedo boats lurking in the English ports.
Hull is said to be full of them."
"Why, Hull?"
Vassileffsky gave me a wink.
"Hull is the great fishing center. Whole fleets of traders come out
from there to the fishing banks in the North Sea. We are going to
stir them up a bit."
The outlines of the plot became every moment more clear.
"On what pretext?" I asked.
The Russian answered me without noticing that I was not so well
informed as himself.
"Oh, we shall find pretexts enough, you bet. For one thing, we shall
signal them to clear out of the way, and when they have their trawl
nets down and can't move! That will be lively. There will be a
collision or two, I shouldn't wonder."
"But isn't that against the rule of the road?"
Though not a seaman, I had always heard that a vessel in motion is
bound to avoid one that is at rest. I knew, moreover, that a
steamship was bound to make way for a sailing vessel.
Vassileffsky cursed the rule of the road.
"It will be a question of evidence," he exclaimed. "My word against a
dirty fisherman's. What do you say?"
I pretended to be thoroughly satisfied. Still, knowing what I did of
the Russian character, I had some hope that the Captain was boasting
in order to impress me, and that he would not really dare to run down
a British vessel within reach of the shores of England.
Our conversation was interrupted by a gun.
As the report died away, a junior officer ran down the companionway,
helter-skelter, and burst into the cabin.
"Something's up, sir," he cried to his commander. "They are signaling
from the Admiral's ship."
Vassileffsky darted up the steps and on to the bridge, and I
followed.
The Baltic fleet presented a striking spectacle. Every vessel was
busily reporting the signals from the flag ship, the launches were
dashing to and fro, and there was every sign of bustle and activity.
The signal officer read out Admiral Rojestvensky's order:
"The fleet will proceed to Libau to-day _en route_ to the East.
Anchors will be weighed at noon. By order of the Czar."
M. Auguste had failed me at last!
With the frightful boasts of Vassileffsky still ringing in my ears, I
felt that I must make one effort to stay its departure.
"This news compels me to return to Petersburg immediately," I told
the Captain. "Have the goodness to put me ashore at once."
For a moment or two the Russian made no answer. I glanced at him
curiously.
His face had gone suddenly livid. His limbs were trembling. He gave
me the dull look of a man stupefied by fear.
"The Japanese!" he ejaculated in a thick voice.
I seized him by the arm.
"Are you pretending?" I whispered.
He gave me a savage glance.
"It's true!" he said. "Those devils will be up to something. It's all
over with the fleet. No one believes we shall ever see Port Arthur."
Grave and pre-occupied, I went ashore and caught a fast train to
Petersburg.
It was late when I got to the little house on the Alexander Quay. The
faithful Breuil received me with a serious face.
"Fauchette is here," he announced.
"Fauchette?"
"Yes. She has some news for you."
"Let me see her."
I strode in front to my study, where I was immediately joined by the
maid, who appeared not a little alarmed.
I never like to see my assistants agitated.
"Sit down, my good girl," I said soothingly. "Do not be afraid; I
know what pains you take to serve me. Now, what is it?"
"Madame has dismissed me."
I had feared as much.
"On what grounds?"
"She gave none, except that she was leaving home."
I pricked up my ears.
"Did she tell you where she was going?"
"Yes, to her estates in the country."
"It was a lie, I suppose. She had come to suspect you, had she not?"
"Since Monsieur's escape, I fear yes."
"And have you ascertained----?"
"The Princess has left Petersburg by the midday train for----"
"For?" I broke in impatiently.
"For Berlin."
I rang the bell. Breuil appeared.
"Have you got the tickets?" I asked.
"Yes, sir."
"And my dress as a pilot of the Kiel Canal?"
"It is packed."
"And what time does the next train leave?"
"In two hours from now."
"Good. And now, my children, we will have supper."