MAKING SURE OF ISABEL
For the second time that morning Lady Jocelyn opened the _Daily Mail_
and adjusting her glasses bent over the centre column with its
staring and heavily leaded headlines.
AMAZING DEVELOPMENT IN LIVADIA
KING PEDRO MARRIED TO THE PRINCESS
ISABELLA
THE CIVIL WAR ENDED
In Saturday's issue we were able to give our readers the exclusive
information that King Pedro and the ex-prime minister of Livadia, the
Marquis da Freitas, had landed in Portriga.
Our well informed special correspondent, who transmitted the news,
hinted also that within a short time we might expect to hear of some
dramatic developments in the situation. The correctness of his
forecast has been amply demonstrated in a further and lengthy message
received late last night; a message which conveys the striking
information that King Pedro and his rival claimant to the throne, the
beautiful daughter of the late Don Francisco, were married on Sunday
morning in the Cathedral at Portriga.
The situation from the political point of view is dealt with fully in
our leading article. We feel certain, however, that all readers of
the _Daily Mail_ will join in congratulating the Royal and happy pair
upon their romantic union.
During his residence amongst us King Pedro has given many proofs of
the manly and democratic spirit by which he is animated, and we share
our correspondent's hope that under his rule and that of his fair and
youthful consort, our old established allies--the Livadian
people--will enter upon a long era of peace and prosperity.
From our Special Correspondent.
PORTRIGA, Sunday night.
Today has been the most dramatic day in the whole history of Livadia.
Within an hour of my sending off my last message (since when I have
been unable to communicate) a number of posters and bills began to
make their appearance all over the town, announcing that on Sunday
morning King Pedro would be married to the Princess Isabella, the
beautiful and rather mysterious daughter of the late Pretender, of
whose whereabouts very few even of her own supporters seemed to have
any definite knowledge.
With great difficulty, and only through the kind assistance of Mr.
Watson the British Consul, I managed to obtain an interview with
General Almaida. The latter, who appeared to be in a state of
considerable agitation, declared the report to be a deliberate canard
set about by the King's supporters.
Further inquiries, however, led me to the conclusion that the
Princess was actually in the hands of the Royalists, and that having
been won over by the King's courtesy and charm of manner, she had
agreed to the marriage as the natural and happy solution of their
rival claims. The truth of this view was soon demonstrated.
At an early hour on Sunday morning, all the foreign correspondents in
Portriga received an official invitation to the Cathedral, the
approaches to which were held in considerable force by the King's
troops. The ceremony, which was originally announced for twelve
o'clock, did not take place until nearly one-thirty, owing I believe
to a final attempt on the part of General Almaida to break through
into the centre of the town. His belated effort was easily
frustrated, as a large number of his followers had already laid down
their arms, recognizing the hopelessness of their position.
The marriage rites, which were performed by the aged Bishop of
Portriga, were carried through with considerable state. Except for a
momentary interruption half through the service, the authors of which
were promptly arrested and conveyed from the Cathedral, the ceremony
proceeded along its course without any untoward incident. On leaving
the building the Royal Pair were greeted with the utmost enthusiasm
by a large and apparently well contented crowd and drove in state to
the ancient palace of St. Peter, where from time immemorial the
ruling house of Livadia have been accustomed to reside.
The new Queen of Livadia is a young girl of remarkable beauty--not
unlike an Englishwoman in appearance. She has a wealth of that
wonderful auburn hair, which is frequently to be met with in the
Southern provinces of Livadia, and throughout the ceremony she
conducted herself with a grace and dignity that won the admiration of
all beholders.
It is not difficult to believe that under its young and happily
endowed rulers, who will be guided by that experienced statesman the
Marquis da Freitas, the country will soon recover from the troublous
times through which it has been recently passing.
Having read so far, Lady Jocelyn laid down the paper, and leaned back
against the sofa. For a minute or so she remained there motionless,
gazing straight out in front of her with an expression such as few
people had ever seen upon her naturally shrewd and cheerful face.
At last, with a faint sigh, she picked up the paper again, and stared
once more at the blatant headlines.
"Oh, my poor Tony," she said softly to herself. "My poor dear boy!"
The words had hardly left her lips when the noise of a motor pulling
up outside came in plainly through the open window. A moment later
the front door bell pealed loudly.
Lady Jocelyn got up, and walking slowly to the door intercepted the
maid who was in the act of crossing the landing.
"I am not at home, Ellen," she said, "unless it's Mr. Henry Conway.
I am expecting him, so you can bring him straight upstairs."
"Yes, M'lady," murmured the girl sympathetically.
All Lady Jocelyn's servants adored her, and although to them Isabel's
abrupt disappearance was still a complete mystery, they were very
troubled and upset at the obvious effect which it had produced upon
their mistress.
Walking back across the room Lady Jocelyn had just reached her former
seat, when a sudden sound of voices in the hall below made her pause
abruptly. An exclamation escaped from her lips, and with an
unconscious movement she stretched out her arm and caught hold of the
back of the sofa to steady herself. The next moment footsteps came
scrambling up the stairs, and forgetful of all her professional
training, Ellen burst wildly into the room, her round face shining
with excitement.
"Oh, M'lady! It's Miss Isabel and Sir Antony, M'lady--and--and Mr.
Oliver."
Even as she spoke the first-named couple appeared in the doorway, and
with a little glad cry, Lady Jocelyn stepped forward, holding out her
hands.
"Tony! Isabel!" she whispered; then as they hurried towards her, and
each threw their arms round her, she added, half laughing, half
crying: "Oh, you dear, bad children! How you've frightened me!"
In the middle of their embrace, Guy Oliver followed them into the
room. With the exception of a slight trace of sunburn he looked as
sedate and respectable as ever; indeed the thought of him standing on
a blood-stained beach blazing away with a revolver seemed like the
wildest fancy of an imaginative dipsomaniac.
"We only landed at Southampton early this morning," explained Tony
penitently; "and I couldn't spoil things by telegraphing."
At this point Ellen, who had been standing contemplating the scene
with the frankest curiosity, suddenly woke up to a realization of her
professional lapse. With a reluctant sigh she withdrew noiselessly
from the room, closing the door behind her, and dashed off downstairs
to communicate the exciting tidings to her fellow-servants.
With their arms round Lady Jocelyn, Tony and Isabel conducted her
gently to the sofa, and seated themselves one on each side of her.
Guy took his place in an armchair facing them.
"You must forgive me, Guy," said Lady Jocelyn. "I am so happy and
excited I haven't even said how do you do, and I'm sure it's all
through you that I have got my mad children back alive and well."
"Of course it is," exclaimed Tony. "If Guy hadn't waded in and
slaughtered half the Livadian police force on the beach, we shouldn't
have had a dog's chance of getting clear. Isn't that so, Isabel?"
Isabel nodded. "He was very brave," she said gratefully. "I shall
never forget how fierce and splendid he looked."
Poor Guy's face turned a vivid crimson.
"I wish I had seen him," remarked Lady Jocelyn, with considerable
regret in her voice; "but it seems to me we are beginning at the
wrong end." She stooped forward and picked up the _Daily Mail_,
which had fallen to the floor. "Look at that," she added, pointing
to the headlines, "and for pity's sake tell me what it all means."
"I've seen it," said Tony. "It means that even Lord Northcliffe may
be deceived at times." He paused. "I didn't tell you quite
everything before we started, Aunt Fanny. I had some silly idea it
might worry you."
"Never mind," said Lady Jocelyn generously. "If you will make up for
it now, I think I might manage to forgive you."
She took Isabel's slim hand in hers and leaned back against the sofa.
"I'll try," said Tony gravely; "but Guy and Isabel will have to help.
It's the sort of story that requires at least three strong people, if
one wants to tell it properly."
The incompleteness of his previous confidences had of course lain in
the fact that hitherto he had omitted all mention of the leading rôle
played by Molly during the latter stages of the proceedings. Going
back now to the point at which she had first told him of her secret
marriage to Pedro, he described in full detail how the main idea of a
possible rescue had originated with her, and the daring and skilful
manner in which she had thrown herself into the scheme.
He gave a rapid account of their run down through the night to
Southampton, and of how--thanks to McEwen--they had managed to reach
Portriga in a time for which the nominal horse-power of the _Betty's_
engines failed to convey any adequate explanation.
Then, after describing the respective arrivals on board of Jimmy and
Colonel Saltero, he went on to explain how they had all come to a
unanimous decision that in a raid on the Château of Saint Anna lay
their only possible chance of success. With an account of that
immortal drive and of their experiences in the Château he at length
brought the story down to the moment when Molly and the Count had
retired upstairs to administer spiritual consolation to the Princess
Isabella.
At this point he paused.
"I think that's about my share," he observed unselfishly. "You go on
now, Isabel; tell Aunt Fanny the rest of it."
Lady Jocelyn, who had been listening to him with an expression of
entranced interest, sat upright in her seat, still holding Isabel's
hand.
"What an amazing and delightful person this Molly Monk must be!" she
exclaimed. "And to think that she is the granddaughter of old Monk
at the Lodge! I always said there was something extraordinarily
bracing in the Helbeck air."
"I think she must be the bravest and cleverest girl that ever lived,"
said Isabel with shining eyes. "You know I hadn't the faintest
suspicion that she wasn't a real clergyman until the Count had gone
out of the room. You can't imagine what I felt like when she
suddenly bolted the door and began to talk to me. I was so
astonished at first that I don't believe I could have done anything
by myself, but she was as cool and quiet about it all as if it was
just the most ordinary thing in the world. All the time she was
talking she was making me change clothes with her, and by the time we
had got into each other's things I didn't feel frightened or stupid
any longer.
"Then, while she was doing up my hair and putting on my wig, she
began to ask me questions--whether I spoke to the Count in English
(which I always had done)--how I behaved as a rule when he came into
the room--and, and other things of that sort. I tried to answer as
well as I could, and you can't think how quick and clever she was at
understanding. She made me walk about and sit down and talk to her,
and by the time she had finished dressing herself and had done her
hair like mine, she was able to imitate me so exactly that I could
hardly believe it was real.
"We were expecting the Count back every minute then; so she unbolted
the door and told me as quickly as possible what I was to do when he
came. She said that whatever happened I was not to answer him if he
spoke to me, but only to nod or shake my head, and leave everything
else to her.
"Then we heard him on the stairs, and she sat down quite quietly in
the chair I generally used, and made me stand just beside her with my
back to the door."
Isabel paused, as if the memory of that rather tense experience still
lingered poignantly in her mind.
"I'd have given a thousand pounds to be there," observed Tony
regretfully. "It must have been the best moment of the whole show."
"I wouldn't go through it again for anything in the world," declared
Isabel with a reminiscent shiver. "It was like standing on the edge
of some horrible precipice waiting to be pushed over." She paused
again. "I can't tell you exactly what happened," she went on. "I
suppose I was too excited to take it in properly. I know that he
spoke to me first, and that Molly interrupted him and said something
about feeling a great deal happier and not minding so much now that
she was going to be married. I remember that she held her
handkerchief up to her eyes as if she had been crying, and that the
Count seemed very pleased and satisfied and patted her on the
shoulder.
"Then almost before I knew what was happening we were walking down
the stairs together. I heard him talking, but I don't know the least
what he said, because when we got to the head of the banisters I
suddenly caught sight of Tony and Mr. Dale standing in the hall, and
somehow that put everything else out of my head. It was all I could
do to stop giving a shout and rushing down to them."
"Well, you didn't show any sign of it," said Tony. "I never saw a
more dignified descent in my life."
"I am sure I should have dropped dead from sheer excitement,"
remarked Lady Jocelyn sympathetically. "It's marvellous what sound
nerves you've got, Isabel; considering the shocking way your father
used to drink."
"It all happened so quickly," said Isabel, "I simply didn't have time
to do anything silly. I just got straight into the car, and in
another minute we were rushing away down the hill, and nothing in the
whole world seemed to matter then."
"And how about the drive back and the battle on the beach?" inquired
Lady Jocelyn. "Come along, Tony, I insist upon knowing everything."
"Oh, the first part was very simple," said Tony. "We dropped dear
old Paqueta at the point where we picked him up, and I think he was
quite sorry to say good-bye to us. Then we jogged along comfortably
till we came to Portriga. Of course we were on the lookout for
trouble there, because of the row we had had with the policeman in
the morning. Nothing happened, however, until we were just reaching
the beach, and then two savage looking gentlemen jumped out at us in
the most unfriendly way. We should have been quite all right, only
as luck would have it there was a big cart drawn right across the
track that ran down to the jetty. We couldn't pass it, so we had to
pull up and get out. After that--" he broke off with a smile, "well,
you had better ask Guy to tell you the rest," he finished. "He's so
saturated with blood and slaughter that he will be able to do justice
to it."
"Go on, Guy," said Lady Jocelyn. "Don't mind my feelings."
"He is talking the most absolute nonsense," exclaimed Guy
indignantly. "Bugg and I were waiting on the quay--we had come
ashore with the Captain to fetch him--and of course when we saw them
being attacked we naturally came to their help. Tony had already
knocked down about three people, so there was practically nothing
left for us to do. I am afraid I did shoot one of the policemen with
a revolver that I happened to have with me, but I am thankful to say
that he was only wounded in the shoulder."
"He's ashamed of himself," said Tony mercilessly; "that's what's the
matter. Why he came up the beach like a roaring tiger, and if it
hadn't----"
There was a knock at the door, and almost simultaneously Ellen
presented herself on the threshold.
"If you please, M'lady, Mr. Henry Conway has called."
"Henry!" repeated Tony; "what a joke. It just needed Henry to make
the party perfect."
Lady Jocelyn looked round her with an exclamation of dismay.
"Oh dear!" she exclaimed. "I quite forgot to tell you I was
expecting him. He rang up early this morning and left a message that
he was coming round. I think he wants to know where you are, Tony."
"I am not quite sure myself yet," said Tony; "but I shall be
delighted to give him all the information I have." He got up from
the sofa. "Besides," he added, "it will be a good opportunity to
introduce him to Isabel."
"Are you serious?" demanded Guy. "Do you really mean you want to see
him?"
"Certainly I do," replied Tony. "I think people ought to meet their
new relations as soon as possible."
"Very well," said Lady Jocelyn. "Show him up, Ellen." Then she
turned to Tony. "Are you going to tell him everything?"
"Of course not," said Tony. "We must keep Isabel's past an absolute
secret between ourselves. I have given my word to Da Freitas about
that."
"But you know what Henry is," objected Guy. "He is sure to ask all
sorts of questions right away."
"Well, if he does," said Tony, "we must give him an evasive
answer--like the sailor."
Before Guy had recovered from this reply, footsteps were heard
ascending the stairs, and the next moment Henry was ushered into the
room.
As he caught sight of its occupants he paused dramatically on the
threshold; his naturally stolid face expanding into an expression of
the utmost surprise.
"You here!" he exclaimed, addressing himself to Tony. "Why I have
been hunting London for you the last twenty-four hours."
"I hope you had good sport," said Tony.
"I wish you wouldn't disappear like that and not leave any address
behind," proceeded Henry in an aggrieved voice, "I had some very
important business I wished to see you about."
"I am so sorry," replied Tony; "but as a matter of fact I had some
very important business too." He took Isabel's hand, and assisted
her up from the sofa. "I have been getting engaged to be married."
For a moment Henry stared at him in dumb amazement.
"Is--is this a fact?" he stammered.
"I should think it was," replied Tony cheerfully. "Let me introduce
you to Isabel. This is Cousin Henry, Isabel. I'm sure you'll get
along together splendidly."
By a tremendous effort Henry managed to pull himself together.
"You must forgive me," he said with a quite creditable bow to Isabel.
"Tony took me so completely by surprise I scarcely knew what I was
saying." He turned to Lady Jocelyn and Guy. "Why have I heard
nothing about this?" he demanded.
"We only heard about it ourselves ten minutes ago," replied Lady
Jocelyn soothingly. "Tony always does things in that sort of way,
you know."
Henry's eyes travelled back to Isabel, and rested on her with
admiration--not, however, untinged by a certain trace of doubt.
"You must forgive me," he said again, "but at present I haven't even
the pleasure of knowing your name."
"Isabel," repeated Tony, "Isabel Francis. It's a nice name, isn't
it?"
To this inquiry Henry returned no answer.
"Are you any relation of Sir George Francis of Laurence Weston?" he
asked.
Isabel shook her head. "I don't think so," she replied simply.
"As a matter of fact," said Tony, "Isabel has no relations at all.
That's one of her chief charms."
"No relations at all!" exclaimed Henry in an aghast and incredulous
voice.
"Not one," said Tony firmly. "But you needn't worry about that,
Henry. Our engagement has the warm approval of both Aunt Fanny and
Guy."
"That's quite right," said Lady Jocelyn, nodding her head. "I think
Tony is a great deal luckier than he deserves."
Henry turned to Guy. "And you too?" he demanded.
Guy rose manfully to the occasion.
"If I was in Tony's place," he declared, "I should be the proudest
and happiest man in the world."
With the air of one who has been unexpectedly torpedoed Henry
abandoned the unequal contest.
"In that case," he observed in a slightly dazed tone, "I can only
offer you both my sincere congratulations."
"I knew you would be pleased," said Tony. "You always wanted me to
get married, didn't you?"
"I hope," continued Henry, addressing himself to Isabel, "that before
long we may have the pleasure of becoming better acquainted.
Unfortunately I can't stay now, because I have an important political
appointment at half-past twelve."
"What a pity," remarked Lady Jocelyn. "I was just going to suggest
that you should stay and lunch with us."
"It's very kind of you," said Henry; "but I'm afraid my presence at
the House is indispensable." He turned back to Tony. "You must
bring Miss Francis round to see us as soon as possible," he added,
"this afternoon if you can. I know that Laura will be intensely
anxious to meet her."
"I am sure of that," said Tony. "We are a bit full up, but we'll
come along if we can. Anyhow, you will be able to let Laura know
what a charming girl Isabel is."
He smiled cheerfully at his cousin, and the latter, whose faculties
still seemed to be suffering a little from the shock that they had
received, shook hands all round and withdrew from the room.
"I think he took it splendidly," said Tony, as soon as the door was
closed. "There's lots of grit in the Conway family when it comes to
the point."
"Are you really going round there this afternoon?" inquired Guy.
Tony shook his head. "I am afraid we sha'n't have time," he said.
"I have to go and get a special license and I believe it's a most
exhausting business."
"A special license!" exclaimed Lady Jocelyn. "Do you mean you are
going to be married at once?"
"Of course we are," said Tony. "I am not going to run any more risk
of losing Isabel. Once we are married she will be quite safe
whatever happens. They can't have her back then without making me
King of Livadia, and I think that even Congosta would draw the line
at that."
"It's the best plan, Aunt Fanny," put in Guy quietly. "We talked it
all over on the boat coming back. This man Congosta is still in
London, and if he was to come across Tony and Isabel it might lead to
all sorts of trouble. The safest thing is for them to get married
and go away at once on the _Betty_. Congosta will probably return to
Livadia before long, but meanwhile it's absolutely essential that
they should both keep out of the way."
"I suppose it is," admitted Lady Jocelyn. "From what you have told
me I should imagine he would be a very unpleasant person to have
hanging about while one was trying to enjoy a honeymoon." She got up
from the sofa. "You haven't half finished the story yet," she added.
"I want to know all sorts of things--how you propose to account for
Molly's sudden disappearance from the Gaiety, and what's happened to
that nice friend of yours who provided you with the car. He seems to
be a remarkably amiable and obliging young man, but I am afraid he
must have rather damaged his prospects of making a comfortable living
in Livadia."
"Jimmy's all right," said Tony. "He came back with us, and we are
going to start a shop together in Piccadilly. As for Molly--well, I
don't think we shall have any real trouble there. She has no
relations who are likely to make a fuss, and we have fixed up a good
sound lie for the theatre that ought to keep them quiet."
"You shall tell me about it when I come back," said Lady Jocelyn. "I
must go downstairs first and talk to the cook, or else we sha'n't
have enough to eat for lunch. You are all going to stay of course."
"I'm afraid I can't," replied Guy, shaking his head. "I must get
back to Hampstead as soon as possible. There are a lot of things to
see to before Tony goes away."
"If you are thinking of giving us a wedding present," said Tony, "we
should like the revolver with which you murdered the policeman."
"Come along, Guy," said Lady Jocelyn, taking his arm. "They are an
ungrateful pair of children, and we will leave them to their fate."
"I wish I was really rich," said Tony, as the door closed. "I should
like to buy Long Acre and put a high wall round it, and never let any
one go into it except ourselves." He took Isabel's hands and drew
her gently towards him. "I can't think of anything else," he added,
"that isn't absolutely and splendidly perfect."
"Only about Molly," answered Isabel, looking up at him with rather
troubled eyes. "Oh, Tony, you do think she's safe and happy, don't
you?"
"I am sure of it," said Tony confidently. "They can never go back on
what they have done, and in about two months Molly will have the
whole place under her thumb. If any one's going to be unhappy it
will be Da Freitas and the Count de Sé."
"Oh, I do hope so," said Isabel feelingly. Then she paused, and took
a long breath. "She will make a wonderful queen, Tony. She will be
as good at it as I should have been bad."
"You were meant for something much nicer than that," said Tony.
He drew her down into his arms, and bending forward pressed a long
and passionate kiss upon her soft and slightly parted lips.
"I love kissing you, Isabel," he remarked. "You always taste of
crushed violets."
"Do I?" said Isabel dreamily. "I'm so glad, Tony."
"So am I," said Tony; and with some deliberation he kissed her again.
THE END