BETWEEN TWO FIRES.
In spite of my many anxieties, after this eventful day I enjoyed the
first decent night's rest I had had for a week. The colonel refused,
with an unnecessary ostentation of scorn, my patriotic offer to keep
watch and ward over the city, and I turned in, tired out, at eleven
o'clock, after a light dinner and a meditative pipe. I felt I had
some reasons for self-congratulation; for considerable as my present
difficulties were, yet I undoubtedly stood in a more hopeful position
than I had before the revolution. I was now resolved to get my money
safe out of the country, and I had hopes of being too much for
McGregor in the other matter which shared my thoughts.
The return of day, however, brought new troubles. I was roused at
an early hour by a visit from the colonel himself. He brought very
disquieting tidings. In the course of the night every one of our
proclamations had been torn down or defaced with ribald scribblings;
posted over or alongside them, there now hung multitudinous enlarged
copies of the President's offensive notice. How or by whom these
seditious measures had been effected we were at a loss to tell, for
the officers and troops were loud in declaring their vigilance. In the
very center of the Piazza, on the base of the President's statue, was
posted an enormous bill: "REMEMBER 1871! DEATH TO TRAITORS!"
"How could they do that unless the soldiers were in it?" asked the
colonel gloomily. "I have sent those two companies back to barracks
and had another lot out. But how do I know they'll be any better? I
met DeChair just now and asked him what the temper of the troops was.
The little brute grinned, and said, 'Ah, mon Président, it would be
better if the good soldiers had a leetle more money.'"
"That's about it," said I; "but then you haven't got much more money."
"What I've got I mean to stick to," said the colonel. "If this thing
is going to burst up, I'm not going to be kicked out to starve. I tell
you what it is, Martin, you must let me have some of that cash back
again."
The effrontery of this request amazed me. I was just drawing on the
second leg of my trousers (for it was impossible to be comfortable in
bed with that great creature fuming about), and I stopped with one leg
in mid-air and gazed at him.
"Well, what's the matter? Why are you to dance out with all the
plunder?" he asked.
The man's want of ordinary morality was too revolting. Didn't he know
very well that the money wasn't mine? Didn't he himself obtain my help
on the express terms that I should have this money to repay the bank
with? I finished putting on my garments, and then I replied:
"Not a farthing, colonel; not a damned farthing! By our agreement
that cash was to be mine; but for that I wouldn't have touched your
revolution with a pair of tongs."
He looked very savage, and muttered something under his breath.
"You're carrying things with a high hand," he said.
"I'm not going to steal to please you," said I.
"You weren't always so scrupulous," he sneered.
I took no notice of this insult, but repeated my determination.
"Look here, Martin," he said, "I'll give you twenty-four hours to
think it over; and let me advise you to change your mind by then. I
don't want to quarrel, but I'm going to have some of that money."
Clearly he had learned statecraft in his predecessor's school!
"Twenty-four hours is something," thought I, and determined to try the
cunning of the serpent.
"All right, colonel," I said, "I'll think it over. I don't pretend to
like it; but, after all, I'm in with you and we must pull together.
We'll see how things look to-morrow morning."
"There's another matter I wanted to speak to you about," he went on.
I was now dressed, so I invited him into the breakfast-room, gave him
a cup of coffee (which, to my credit, I didn't poison), and began on
my own eggs and toast.
"Fire away," said I briefly.
"I suppose you know I'm going to be married?" he remarked.
"No, I hadn't heard," I replied, feigning to be entirely occupied with
a very nimble egg. "Rather a busy time for marrying, isn't it? Who is
she?"
He gave a heavy laugh.
"You needn't pretend to be so very innocent; I expect you could give a
pretty good guess."
"Mme. Devarges?" I asked blandly. "Suitable match; about your age--"
"I wish to the devil you wouldn't try to be funny!" he exclaimed. "You
know as well as I do it's the signorina."
"Really?" I replied. "Well, well! I fancied you were a little touched
in that quarter. And she has consented to make you happy?"
I was curious to see what he would say. I knew he was a bad liar,
and, as a fact, I believe he told the truth on this occasion, for he
answered:
"Says she never cared a straw for anyone else."
Oh, signorina!
"Not even Whittingham?" I asked maliciously.
"Hates the old ruffian!" said the colonel. "I once thought she had a
liking for you, Martin, but she laughed at the idea. I'm glad of it,
for we should have fallen out."
I smiled in a somewhat sickly way, and took refuge in my cup. When I
emerged, I asked:
"And when is it to be?"
"Next Saturday."
"So soon?"
"Yes," he said. "Fact is, between you and me, Martin, she's ready
enough."
This was too disgusting. But whether the colonel was deceiving me, or
the signorina had deceived him, I didn't know--a little bit of both,
probably. I saw, however, what the colonel's game was plainly enough;
he was, in his clumsy way, warning me off his preserves, for, of
course, he knew my pretensions, and probably that they had met with
some success, and I don't think I imposed on him very much. But I was
anxious to avoid a rupture and gain time.
"I must call and congratulate the lady," I said.
The colonel couldn't very well object to that, but he didn't like it.
"Well, Christina told me she was very busy, but I dare say she'll see
you for a few minutes."
"I dare say she will," I said dryly.
"I must be off now. I shall have to be about all day, trying to catch
those infernal fellows who destroyed the bills."
"You won't be doing any business to-day, then?"
"What, about settling the Government?" he asked, grinning. "Not just
yet. Wait till I've got the signorina and the money, and then we'll
see about that. You think about the money, my boy!"
Much to my relief he then departed, and as he went out I swore that
neither signorina nor money should he ever have. In the course of the
next twenty-four hours I must find a way to prevent him.
"Rather early for a call," said I, "but I must see the signorina."
On my way up I met several people, and heard some interesting facts.
In the first place, no trace had appeared of Don Antonio and his
daughter; rumor declared that they had embarked on _The Songstress_
with the President and his faithful doctor. Secondly, Johnny Carr was
still in bed at the Golden House (this from Mme. Devarges, who had
been to see him); but his men had disappeared, after solemnly taking
the oath to the new Government. Item three: The colonel had been
received with silence and black looks by the troops, and two officers
had vanished into space, both Americans, and the only men of any good
in a fight. Things were looking rather blue, and I began to think that
I also should like to disappear, provided I could carry off my money
and my mistress with me. My scruples about loyalty had been removed by
the colonel's overbearing conduct, and I was ready for any step that
promised me the fulfillment of my own designs. It was pretty evident
that there would be no living with McGregor in his present frame of
mind, and I was convinced that my best course would be to cut the
whole thing, or, if that proved impossible, to see what bargain I
could make with the President. Of course, all would go smoothly with
him if I gave up the dollars and the lady; a like sacrifice would
conciliate McGregor. But then, I didn't mean to make it.
"One or other I will have," said I, as I knocked at the door of "Mon
Repos," "and both if possible."
The signorina was looking worried; indeed, I thought she had been
crying.
"Did you meet my aunt on your way up?" she asked, the moment I was
announced.
"No," said I.
"I've sent her away," she continued. "All this fuss frightens her,
so I got the colonel's leave (for you know we mustn't move without
permission now liberty has triumphed) for her to seek change of air."
"Where's she going to?" I said.
"Home," said the signorina.
I didn't know where "home" was, but I never ask what I am not meant to
know.
"Are you left alone?"
"Yes. I know it's not correct. But you see, Jack, I had to choose
between care for my money and care for my reputation. The latter is
always safe in my own keeping; the former I wasn't so sure about."
"Oh, so you've given it to Mrs. Carrington?"
"Yes, all but five thousand dollars."
"Does the colonel know that?"
"Dear me, of course not! or he'd never have let her go."
"You're very wise," said I. "I only wish I could have sent my money
with her."
"I'm afraid that would have made dear aunt rather bulky," said the
signorina, tittering.
"Yes, such a lot of mine's in cash," I said regretfully. "But won't
they find it on her?"
"Not if they're gentlemen," replied the signorina darkly.
Evidently I could not ask for further details; so, without more ado,
I disclosed my own perilous condition and the colonel's boasts about
herself.
"What a villain that man is!" she exclaimed. "Of course, I was civil
to him, but I didn't say half that. You didn't believe I did, Jack?"
There's never any use in being unpleasant, so I said I had rejected
the idea with scorn.
"But what's to be done? If I'm here to-morrow, he'll take the money,
and, as likely as not, cut my throat if I try to stop him."
"Yes, and he'll marry me," chimed in the signorina. "Jack, we must
have a counter-revolution."
"I don't see what good that'll do," I answered dolefully. "The
President will take the money just the same, and I expect he'll marry
you just the same."
"Of the two, I would rather have him. Now don't rage, Jack! I only
said, 'of the two.' But you're quite right; it couldn't help us much
to bring General Whittingham back."
"To say nothing of the strong probability of my perishing in the
attempt."
"Let me think," said the signorina, knitting her brows.
"May I light a cigarette and help you?"
She nodded permission, and I awaited the result of her meditation.
She sat there, looking very thoughtful and troubled, but it seemed
to me as if she were rather undergoing a conflict of feeling than
thinking out a course of action. Once she glanced at me, then turned
away with a restless movement and a sigh.
I finished my cigarette, and flinging it away, strolled up to the
window to look out. I had stood there a little while, when I heard her
call softly:
"Jack!"
I turned and came to her, kneeling down by her side and taking her
hands.
She gazed rather intently into my face with unusual gravity. Then she
said:
"If you have to choose between me and the money, which will it be?"
I kissed her hand for answer.
"If the money is lost, won't it all come out? And then, won't they
call you dishonest?"
"I suppose so," said I.
"You don't mind that?"
"Yes, I do. Nobody likes being called a thief--especially when there's
a kind of truth about it. But I should mind losing you more."
"Are you really very fond of me, Jack? No, you needn't say so. I think
you are. Now I'll tell you a secret. If you hadn't come here, I should
have married General Whittingham long ago. I stayed here intending to
do it (oh, yes, I'm not a nice girl, Jack), and he asked me very soon
after you first arrived. I gave him my money, you know, then."
I was listening intently. It seemed as if some things were going to be
cleared up.
"Well," she continued, "you know what happened. You fell in love with
me--I tried to make you; and then I suppose I fell a little in love
with you. At any rate I told the President I wouldn't marry him just
then. Some time after, I wanted some money, and I asked him to give
me back mine. He utterly refused; you know his quiet way. He said he
would keep it for 'Mrs. Whittingham.' Oh, I could have killed him! But
I didn't dare to break with him openly; besides, he's very hard to
fight against. We had constant disputes; he would never give back the
money, and I declared I wouldn't marry him unless I had it first, and
not then unless I chose. He was very angry and swore I should marry
him without a penny of it; and so it went on. But he never suspected
you, Jack; not till quite the end. Then we found out about the debt,
you know; and about the same time I saw he at last suspected something
between you and me. And the very day before we came to the bank he
drove me to desperation. He stood beside me in this room, and said,
Christina, I am growing old. I shall wait no longer. I believe you're
in love with that young Martin.' Then he apologized for his plain
speaking, for he's always gentle in manner. And I defied him. And
then, Jack, what do you think he did?"
I sprang up in a fury.
"What?" I cried.
"He _laughed_!" said the signorina, with tragic intensity. "I couldn't
stand that, so I joined the colonel in upsetting him. Ah, he shouldn't
have laughed at me!"
And indeed she looked at this moment a dangerous subject for such
treatment.
"I knew what no one else knew, and I could influence him as no one
else could, and I had my revenge. But now," she said, "it all ends in
nothing."
And she broke down, sobbing.
Then, recovering herself, and motioning me to be still, she went on:
"You may think, after holding him at bay so long, I have little to
fear from the colonel. But it's different. The President has no
scruples; but he is a gentleman--as far as women are concerned. I
mean--he wouldn't--"
She stopped.
"But McGregor?" I asked, in a hoarse whisper.
She drooped her head on my shoulder.
"I daren't stay here, Jack, with him," she whispered. "If you can't
take me away, I must go to the President. I shall be at least safe
with him!"
"Damn the ruffian!" I growled; not meaning the President, but his
successor; "I'll shoot him!"
"No, no, Jack!" she cried. "You must be quiet and cautious. But I must
go to-night--to-night, Jack, either with you or to the President."
"My darling, you shall come with me," said I.
"Where?"
"Oh, out of this somewhere."
"How are we to escape?"
"Now, you sit down, dear, and try to stop crying--you break my
heart--and I'll think. It's my turn now."
I carried her to the sofa, and she lay still, but with her eyes fixed
on me. I was full of rage against McGregor, but I couldn't afford the
luxury of indulging it, so I gave my whole mind to finding a way out
for us. At last I seemed to hit upon a plan.
The signorina saw the inspiration in my eye. She jumped up and came to
me.
"Have you got it, Jack?" she said.
"I think so--if you will trust yourself to me, and don't mind an
uncomfortable night."
"Go on."
"You know my little steam launch? It will be dark to-night. If we can
get on board with a couple of hours' start we can show anybody a clean
pair of heels. She travels a good pace, and it's only fifty miles to
safety and foreign soil. I shall land there a beggar!"
"I don't mind that, Jack," she said. "I have my five thousand, and
aunt will join us with the rest. But how are we to get on board?
Besides, O Jack! the President watches the coast every night with _The
Songstress_--and you know she's got steam--Mr. Carr just had auxiliary
steam put in."
"No," I said, "I didn't know about that. Look here, Christina; excuse
the question, but can you communicate with the President?"
"Yes," she said, after a second's hesitation.
This was what I suspected.
"And will he believe what you tell him?"
"I don't know. He might and he might not. He'll probably act as if he
didn't."
I appreciated the justice of this forecast of General Whittingham's
measures.
"Well, we must chance it," I said. "At any rate, better be caught
by him than stay here. We were, perhaps, a little hasty with that
revolution of ours."
"I never thought the colonel was so wicked," said the signorina.
We had no time to waste in abusing our enemy; the question was how to
outwit him. I unfolded my plan to the signorina, not at all disguising
from her the difficulties, and even dangers, attendant upon it.
Whatever may have been her mind before and after, she was at this
moment either so overcome with her fear of the colonel, or so carried
away by her feeling for me, that she made nothing of difficulties
and laughed at dangers, pointing out that though failure would
be ignominious, it could not substantially aggravate our present
position. Whereas, if we succeeded--
The thought of success raised a prospect of bliss in which we reveled
for a few minutes; then, warned by the stroke of twelve, we returned
to business.
"Are you going to take any of the money away with you?" she asked.
"No," said I, "I don't think so. It would considerably increase the
risk if I were seen hanging about the bank; you know he's got spies
all over the place. Besides, what good would it do? I couldn't stick
to it, and I'm not inclined to run any more risks merely to save the
bank's pocket. The bank hasn't treated me so well as all that. I
propose to rely on your bounty till I've time to turn round."
"Now, shall I come for you?" I asked her when we had arranged the
other details.
"I think not," she said. "I believe the colonel has one of my servants
in his pay. I can slip out by myself, but I couldn't manage so well if
you were with me. The sight of you would excite curiosity. I will meet
you at the bottom of Liberty Street."
"At two o'clock in the morning exactly, please. Don't come through the
_Piazza_, and Liberty Street. Come round by the drive. [This was a
sort of boulevard encircling the town, where the aristocracy was wont
to ride and drive.] Things ought to be pretty busy about the bank by
then, and no one will notice you. You have a revolver?"
"Yes."
"All right. Don't hurt anyone if you can help it; but if you do, don't
leave him to linger in agony. Now I'm off," I continued. "I suppose
I'd better not come and see you again?"
"I'm afraid you mustn't, Jack. You've been here two hours already."
"I shall be in my rooms in the afternoon. If anything goes wrong, send
your carriage down the street and have it stopped at the grocer's. I
shall take that for a sign."
The signorina agreed, and we parted tenderly. My last words were:
"You'll send that message to Whittingham at once?"
"This moment," she said, as she waved me a kiss from the door of the
room.