"You know, dear mamma, I was against a compartment being reserved. One
might as well advertise the fact that one is starting on one's
honeymoon. But I was not prepared to find the train so full as it was.
Our carriage was crowded, and not with nice people. They played cards
the whole way down, and, when one is just beginning one's married
life, it was not agreeable to have to listen to some of the language
which was used. Conrad was quite fidgety. You know he is most
particular. But it was no use speaking. One of the men asked him if he
would take a hand. When he observed that he objected to cards being
played in a railway carriage, the person replied that he looked as
though he did. And then the others smiled. This quite upset him. And,
as we were nearing Harwich, he began to feel in his pockets in a way
which, I must say, was annoying. I had refrained from speaking to him
as much as possible, being unwilling to let the others have a chance
of guessing at the situation we were in; but when he stood up and
began to turn his pockets inside out, and altogether to upset the
other passengers, I did ask him what it was that he was looking for.
"'I can't find the tickets.'
"You know how easily he becomes embarrassed, and how the blood flies
to his head. You remember that Geraldine said she thought he must be
apoplectic.
"'You put them in your pocket-book.'
"'But that is gone too.'
"'You will find it when you get on board.'
"All the people were staring at him, he was making such a fuss.
"'I should like to find it before I get on board.'
"'Perhaps,' suggested an old gentleman, who was sitting in the
opposite corner, 'it's in your overcoat.' Conrad took his coat from
the rack and looked to see. It was not there. 'Feel in your pockets
again,' suggested the old gentleman.
"Conrad felt. He did not find the pocketbook, but he found something
else instead. He produced it with an exclamation. It was the first
time I ever heard him swear.
"'Good heavens! It's the key of the safe!'
"His manner was so ludicrous, everybody laughed.
"'My dear Conrad, do sit down!'
"He sat down and stared at me like a man in a dream.
"'But you don't understand. It's the key of the safe. I forgot that I
was going to be married, and I brought it away.'
"I do not think that I was ever so much annoyed in my life. After all
the pains I had taken to conceal the fact that we were honeymooning,
and then for him to blurt it out like that! The other passengers
simply roared.
"'This is a nice way of beginning one's honeymoon. I shall have to
return to town at once.'
"Of course they laughed again. I was really too annoyed to speak. I
sat and tried to look as though I liked it. When he had finished
laughing the man who sat next to him stooped and picked up something
from the floor of the carriage.
"'Anybody lost a pocket-book?' he asked.
"Of course it was Conrad's.
"'I--I expect I dropped it,' he explained. Then he turned to me. 'I am
afraid we shall have to return to town at once.'
"'Don't be silly. We shall do nothing of the kind. I suppose there is
a telegraph office at Harwich.'
"Before he had time to answer the train began to slow. I took the
management of affairs into my own hands.
"'If you will go and send your telegram I will go on board. But pray
don't be long.'
"But he was long. It appears, from what I have since learnt, that the
London train was behind its time, and it was a question of missing the
tide in the Scheldt. Anyhow, there was a great deal of hurry and
scurry, and, as I was wondering what had become of Conrad, someone
shouted, 'All on board!' In my agitation I lost my presence of mind.
And at that moment I saw Conrad running along the quay in the
direction of the boat for Rotterdam. I suppose that, owing to his
shortsightedness, and his haste, and the darkness, he mistook one boat
for the other. I was tongue-tied in my bewilderment. Before I
recovered myself we were moving down the river, and the quay was out
of sight. You may imagine my sensations, without tickets, almost
without money, a bride without a bridegroom! I asked for the captain.
I was told that he was navigating the ship, but I could see him later
on. I saw him later on. He came when we had reached the open sea. As
he advanced I thought I knew his figure. I felt as though my legs were
giving way beneath me--it was Mr. Pearson! The recognition was mutual.
"'Jennie!' he cried. 'Miss Nash!' He looked as though he were
dumbfounded. 'This is an unexpected pleasure!'
"'I--I wish to see the captain.'
"'I am the captain. You wish to see me? Come this way!'
"He led the way into his cabin. I followed, speechless. Events were
crowding on me, for which I was wholly unprepared.
"'Mrs. Nash is with you?'
"'No, not--my mother. I--I am with my husband.'
"'Your husband!' He gave a start of surprise. 'Oh, indeed, your
husband.'
"You know what a big man he is, and his huge beard? I declare that, as
he stood and glared at me, I felt positively frightened.
"'That is to say, he was with me, but he has been left behind.'
"'Left behind? Might I ask you to explain?'
"'He went to send a telegram and he mistook the boat, and I'm afraid
he's gone to Rotterdam.'
"'To Rotterdam? And you are bound for Antwerp? Ha, ha, ha!'
"He actually laughed, which was a brutal thing to do.
"'And the worst of it is that he has my ticket.'
"'That would be the worst part of it--to you.'
"I knew very well what he meant, though I took care not to let him
suspect that I knew it. I did not know what else to do, so I took out
my handkerchief and began to cry.
"'Madame la Baronne will excuse me, but I have still some little
matters to which I must attend. Doubtless Madame la Baronne will have
ceased to weep by the time that I return.'
"He left the cabin. I distinctly heard him bolt the door on the other
side. My first impulse was to fasten it upon my side too. But I
refrained. He had entirely upset me--what little there was of me left
to upset--by addressing me as Madame la Baronne! He evidently took it
for granted that I had married the Belgian. I do not suppose that
Geraldine will pay the slightest heed to anything I say, but I would
earnestly advise her to be exceedingly careful in avoiding
complications with men. I know that, as I sat there waiting for Mr.
Pearson's return, I wished with all my heart that I had never met any
man until I met Conrad--some of them never will understand.
"When he came back I had calmed myself to the best of my ability.
There was a tolerable glass in the cabin. I took advantage of it to
put myself a little to rights. He entered while I was engaged in doing
so. He came in so quietly that the first intimation I had of his
presence was seeing his face beside mine in the glass. It gave me
quite a shock.
"'Mr. Pearson!'
"I turned. He bowed.
"'Always the same!' he said.
"'I was just looking to see if there was any of me left.'
"'Let me beg of you to take a seat.'
"I sat down. He went to a desk which was at one side of the cabin and
sat down too, his back to me. His manners did not strike me as
particularly polite. Unlocking the desk, he took something out of it.
I tried to make a little conversation.
"'I had no idea, Mr. Pearson, that you had become a captain.'
"He bowed, but said nothing. I tried again:
"'If it is not giving you too much trouble, Mr. Pearson--I am tired,
you know--might I ask you to show me to a berth?"
"This time he condescended to face me.
"'Our encounter is of so unexpected a nature that I am sure you will
excuse me if for a few minutes I detain you. I can scarcely hope to
have so excellent an opportunity again.'
"'I can only say that I am tired.'
"'There are a few matters here in which you cannot fail to take an
interest.'
"He turned to the things which he had placed upon his desk.
"'Here is a revolver.'
"He took one in his hand and held it out to me. You know, dear mamma,
I am not nervous as a rule, but when he did that a creepy, crawly
feeling went all over me.
"'I purchased it to shoot the Baron. It is perhaps as well that he is
left behind. I might have used it yet.'
"There was something in his eyes I did not like. In an ordinary case I
should have said his language was absurd. But my position was
peculiar.
"'You are under a misapprehension, Mr. Pearson. The Baron d'Ardigny is
not my husband.'
"'Not your husband!'
"He sprang up with a shout. The revolver clattered to the floor. If it
was loaded it was a miracle that it did not go off. 'Not D'Ardigny! Is
it possible that you duped him too?'
"'I am at your mercy, Mr. Pearson, and you are, of course, free to use
towards me any language which, as a gentleman, may be consistent with
your code of honour.'
"'My code of honour! Such words from you! You ruined me--is that not
so? You tempted me to desert my ship. When I did so all that you had
to say was that the whole affair had been a little joke of yours. They
court-martialled me. I was broken. Surely you cannot expect my honour
to be more than yours?'
"You know, dear mamma, when I had that scrape with Charlie Pearson I
never meant any harm--you know I never did. When he was goose enough
to suppose I was in earnest, and actually left his ship to come to me,
you remember how annoyed I was? But really, when, on board his own
boat, he talked to me in that style I was without a word.
"'May I--it seems absurd when I remember that I used, with your
consent, to hold you to my bosom and press your lips to mine!--but may
I ask your name?'
"'I am Mrs. Godwin.'
"'So, since the Baron's little affair and mine there has been another.
What a quantity of bad language I have wasted on D'Ardigny! Do you
know, Mrs. Godwin, when I look at you and think of all that is past, I
wonder how I could ever have been such a fool?'
"I tried to smile.
"'You must own that you were a little foolish.'
"'Oh, I was! Undoubtedly I was! Ever to have believed in you!'
"'May I ask if you intend to continue to insult me till we get to
Antwerp?'
"'I scarcely know what I intend as yet. I belong to the prehistoric
race of man. When I see a woman who deserves to be drowned, I want to
drown her.'
"'Holding the position which you do on board, to drown me would be the
easiest thing in the world.'
"He merely shrugged his shoulders--and laughed.
"'Do you know what this is?' He took up a piece of paper from his
desk. 'This is a lock of your hair. Has Godwin, I wonder, got a lock
as well? Possibly, like the pieces of the true cross, it is to be
found all over the world. This is a flower which you wore in your
bosom at the Yacht Club ball. Before you gave it me you kissed it, so
I kissed it too--ah, many a time! You have no conception of what a
prize I thought it was. Now I am quite aware that there was not a man
in the room who might not have had a similar one for the asking. Do
you see this? This was once your shoe. You would scarcely believe that
I bribed your maid to give it to me. I flattered myself that on our
wedding night I would surprise you with a request to put it on the
foot I loved. I suppose I may not presume to put it on to-night?'
"'I imagine, Mr. Pearson, that you are forgetting that I am married.'
"'That doesn't make any difference, does it? I should not have thought
it would--to you.'
"You know, dear mamma, that I have the sweetest temper in the world. I
never felt inclined to box anybody's ears before, except Geraldine's,
and she is sometimes too provoking! but I did feel inclined to box his
then. However, I told myself that if he forgot he was a gentleman I
would not forget I was a lady.
"'Possibly, Mr. Pearson, it will cause you to keep your remarks
somewhat within bounds when I tell you that this is my wedding night.'
"'Your--wedding night!'
"'Yes, my wedding night. I was married to-day.'
"As I thought of it, and of how different was the reality to the
anticipation, the tears gushed to my eyes. Some men would have been
touched by such a spectacle, but he was not. He began to pace about
the cabin, running his fingers through his beard. All at once he began
to laugh so violently that I thought he would never stop.
"'This is the best joke I ever heard,' he gasped in the middle of his
mirth. 'Do you mean to say that you are starting on your honeymoon?'
"'Yes, I do.'
"'Poor devil of a Godwin! Then there is every prospect of your
spending it with me. Never in my wildest dreams did I look forward to
such happiness as this. Is there nothing I can offer you in the shape
of consolation?'
"'The only consolation you can offer me is to show me to my berth. I
am miserable; you know I am! I should have thought that no man, to
whatever depths he may have sunk, would have taken advantage of a
woman in my situation.'
"By this time my tears were flowing quite profusely. But they made no
impression upon him. He recommenced pacing round and round the cabin.
He was large, and it was small. His tramp, tramp, tramping, and the
general callousness of his demeanour, agitated me to such an extent
that I almost feared that I should become hysterical. Just as I began
to think that I could not hold out any longer he went to the door and
shouted 'Spooner!'
"I supposed he was shouting for the steward. I congratulated myself
that after all he had been touched, and that I was to be shown to a
berth at last. I was beginning to dry my tears when a hairy object
appeared in the doorway. He was so broad in proportion to his height
that I at first thought he was deformed.
"'Come in, Spooner.' The man came in. A more unlikely-looking Spooner
I never saw. Really, he reminded me of nothing so much as Quasimodo.
His face was all covered with hair; even his great hands were hairy.
He had a pair of big black eyes, which, added to his other
attractions, made him look the perfect picture of ferocity. 'This is
my first officer.' Even in my grief I smiled. What could be expected
of a crew which had such officers? 'You recollect, Spooner, my telling
you about that old sweetheart of mine who broke me?'
"'I do.'
"You know how basses seem to produce their voices from their boots.
Mr. Spooner's voice seemed to come from much lower than his boots.
"'You remember my telling you what a jade she was?'
"'I do.'
"'Well, here she is.'
"Mr. Spooner stared at me, as well he might do. For my part I was
dumb. Charlie Pearson always had a graceful way of introducing a lady.
"'You remember my telling you about that Baron she jilted me for?'
"'I do.'
"'And how I used to carry a revolver about with me in my breeches
pocket so that it might be handy to get a shot at him?' Mr. Spooner
nodded his head. 'I used to say that if she married I'd make her a
widow within a week. Well, she is married. But it's not to the Baron.
It seems that she sent him to the deuce after me. She's married a
man named Godwin. I suppose she thinks she can use her husbands like
her sweethearts, so she has given him the slip and left him ashore.
Think she's got tired of him, eh? Well, she must be pretty smart at
tiring--she only married him to-day. She's starting on her honeymoon.
This is her wedding night, and she's left the man ashore.'
"Mr. Spooner listened to this without even so much as blinking an eye.
He stood staring at me like a great stolid bear.
"'Spooner, I've laid awake of nights wondering when she and I would
meet again. I've gone half mad racking my brains, thinking what
vengeance I would take. I've asked myself over and over again what I'd
do to her if ever I got her in my power. Now I've got her. And I ask
you what you would do if you were I?'
"'I'd forgive her.'
"'Forgive her!'
"Mr. Pearson drew a long breath. He looked at Mr. Spooner and then he
looked at me.
"'That's a wrinkle. Hang me, I will forgive her! I'll treat her with
contempt and let her go. What shall I do with these gimcracks? I've
kept them as though they were the richest treasures from Ali Baba's
cave. Here's a lock of her hair, here's a rose from her bosom, here's
a shoe from her foot, here's a bundle of her letters. You know what's
in them, because I've read them to you many a time.'
"These were pleasant things for me to hear.
"'Spooner, what shall I do with these?'
"'Burn 'em.'
"'So I will. Here's the lot. Give 'em to the cook, and tell him to use
them in the morning to light his galley fire.'
"He thrust the various articles into Mr. Spooner's hands. You may
imagine my sensations.
"Then he turned to me.
"'Now, madam, if you wish it, I will show you to your cabin.'
"I was quite unable to speak. I had never supposed it was possible
that I could have been so cowed by two mere men. The truth is, that I
was in such a passion that I really was beside myself. I would have
given anything to have been a man to have been able to knock him down.
He showed me to the cabin, and without a word he left me at the door.
When I was inside I clenched my fists and stamped my foot and
screamed.
"'My dear child, aren't you well?'
"I looked up. There was an old woman, sitting up in her berth, and
looking at me through her spectacles.
"'Stewardess,' she cried. Then to me, 'I wish you'd go and find my
husband. My name is Maunders-Griffin. Oh, I am so ill! And tell him
that those anti-sea-sick lozenges have not had the least effect. I've
eaten them all, and I want some more. Oh!'
"The reaction was so sudden, so extreme, that I was seized with a fit
of laughter. It was impossible for me to control myself. I daresay the
old woman thought that I was mad. It so exhausted me that I had to
drop into a chair to save myself from falling.
"The stewardess advanced.
"'Would madam like a berth?'
"'A berth! No. I--I will go on deck.'
"The atmosphere of the cabin was unbearable; you know what a cabin is
at night when it is full of women who are ill. I felt that if I stayed
there long I should be ill myself. Besides, under the best conditions,
I felt that in the excited state of my brain it would be impossible
for me to sleep, so I went on deck.
"It was a glorious night. There was a full moon and cloudless sky. But
a stiff breeze was blowing, and one soon became conscious that it bore
with it a strong solution of salt spray.
"I paced up and down, trying to calm myself sufficiently to enable me
to realise my situation. I suppose that never was a woman more
unfortunate. What a wedding night!--that night which is supposed to be
the most sacred of a woman's life. To whom was I to turn for advice,
with such a captain and such a chief officer? Dear mamma, I am not
ashamed to confess that I cried, really and truly cried. I sat down by
the side of the ship and quite gave in.
"While I was still crying someone came behind and touched me on the
shoulder.
"'If you are not well, don't you think you had better go downstairs?'
"I looked round. An old gentleman was standing behind me. He actually
thought that I was sick. I was indignant.
"'Thank you. I am quite well.'
"'I--I beg your pardon. I--I thought you were affected by the motion
of the sea.'
"'I am obliged to you. I am never ill on board ship. Never.'
"I think my manner rather startled him. He took off his hat and moved
away. You know how I object to people who think they have a right to
interfere because they happen to be old--and, generally, silly. It is
such stuff. The consciousness that I had crushed him made me feel
distinctly better. I sat up and looked at the sea. But as I watched
the gleaming waters the old thoughts came back, and, before I knew it,
again my eyes filled with tears. It was foolish, but I could not help
it. I do not often cry, but I did cry then.
"I daresay I had been making rather a goose of myself--I had been
crying a good long time, when again someone touched me on the
shoulder. It was once more that absurd old man.
"'If you will take my advice, my dear, you will go downstairs. I am an
old man, and take the liberty of addressing you.'
"Fancy calling me 'my dear,' as though I were a child! I stood up and
faced him.
"'My good sir, _will_ you leave me alone?'
"He looked at me as though he were trying to find an excuse to begin a
conversation. I daresay he would have liked me to make a confidant of
him.
"'I am afraid you are in trouble. I don't like to see a young lady
crying alone on deck all night, especially such a young lady as you.'
"I looked at him--you know how I can look if I like--and I walked
away. I walked up and down the deck, and each time I passed him I
looked him full in the face--such a look! He crossed to the other
side. The scent of battle was in my nostrils. I crossed too. Then he
went downstairs instead of me.
"Dear mamma, I stayed on deck all night. I saw the night gradually
brighten. I saw the sun rise. I saw the birth of day. And, dear mamma,
you have no idea how cold it was. You remember how cold it was when we
saw the sun rise on the Righi? I declare I felt it quite as cold that
morning on the boat. It was bitter. I was chilled to the bone. I went
downstairs and routed out the steward, and made him get me a cup of
coffee. I never enjoyed anything so much. And the state I was in when
I looked at the glass! I went to the ladies' cabin and put myself to
rights. And there I stayed. It was not nice. But I felt that it would
be still less nice to have to return to the deck and meet a crowd of
men and encounter Mr. Pearson. I had quite made up my mind what I
would do. I resolved that when I reached Antwerp I would first of all
wire to you, then go straight to Brussels, and return by the shorter
route to England. I would do it if I only had enough money to take me
the whole of the way third class. If Conrad wanted me he would find me
where he found me first of all--at home. _My_ home, not his.
"I was aware, from the motion of the ship, that we had entered the
Scheldt. For some time we proceeded up the river. Then, all at once,
we stopped. I supposed the stoppage to be for the purpose of taking up
a pilot. After a delay the boat went on again. I was thinking about
all sorts of things, and was telling myself that, perhaps, after all,
I had not been so good a girl as I might have been, and that sometimes
I had been to blame in those little flirtations which had chequered my
career--and I wonder who would not have been sentimental in such a
plight as mine--when someone came to the cabin door and said:
"'Is there anyone here of the name of Godwin?'
"I sprang up, my heart in my mouth.
"'I am Mrs. Godwin!'
"'Would you mind coming up on deck?'
"Without a moment's hesitation I followed the man upstairs. I imagined
that, in some mysterious way, a message had reached me from Conrad, or
that perhaps he had come himself--though, unless he possessed the
seven-leagued boots, how he was to spring from the Rotterdam boat to
the Scheldt I never paused to reflect.
"I was in quite a tremor when I got on deck. I noticed that all the
passengers were gathered together in a crowd, and that in their midst
were three or four foreigners in some kind of uniform.
"One, in particular, was resplendent. On him my eyes fell. And as they
did so--dear mamma, I did not disgrace you by positively fainting, but
a cold chill went down my back and penetrated to the marrow of my
bones. It was the Baron! Hector d'Ardigny! At his side stood Mr.
Pearson. Even at that trying moment I was struck by the ludicrous
contrast the one presented to the other--the Baron four feet six, Mr.
Pearson six feet four. Geraldine will remember how it used to tickle
me in days gone by. It tickled me then.
"As I was becoming conscious that I was the centre of attraction Mr.
Pearson motioned towards me with his hand.
"'This is Mrs. Godwin.'
"I do not think that the Baron had hitherto noticed me. He noticed me
then! It strikes me that up to that moment he had been engaged in
glancing at Mr. Pearson. To say that at sight of me the colour of his
countenance was that of a boiled beetroot is to use a trite and coarse
comparison. But I do not know to what else I could compare it, unless
it be to a lobster newly boiled.
"'Jennie!' he gasped. 'Miss Nash!'
"'This,' repeated Mr. Pearson, 'is Mrs. Godwin.'
"The Baron glared at Mr. Pearson. Then he glared at me. Then he
_sprang_ at Mr. Pearson.
"'Villain!' he cried. 'This is a trick you play on me!'
"Before the eyes of all the passengers he slapped the captain's face.
Of course, it would have been quite easy for Mr. Pearson to have
picked him up and dropped him into the water. I fancy public
expectation took it for granted that the Baron would be summarily
disposed of in some such fashion. If so, public expectation was wrong.
Mr. Pearson did nothing of the kind. He stood quite still. He looked
at the Baron. He took out his handkerchief and wiped his cheek. Then
he looked at his handkerchief. Then he turned to me.
"'Be so good as to come this way.'
"Docile as a child I went that way. Mr. Pearson came after me,
leading, unless I am mistaken, the Baron by his epaulette. We all
three entered the captain's cabin--that apartment in which I had
already spent such an agreeable twenty minutes. Mr. Pearson addressed
the Baron in language which was eminently adapted to tickle the ears
of a lady.
"'I've half a mind, you little brute, to choke the life right out of
you. But I'll give you another chance for your skin. The fun's too
good to lose. You said you wanted someone of the name of Godwin, and
here is someone.'
"The Baron took off his _képi_. He wiped his brow. The dear little man
was damp with perspiration.
"'It is someone of the name of Conrad Godwin that I want.'
"'I am Mrs. Conrad Godwin,' I observed.
"I supposed that, in some mysterious way, he had become possessed of a
message either for Conrad or for me. I was not prepared for his
behaviour. He dropped into a seat with an exclamation which sounded
very like an execration.
"'You see, my dear Baron,' said Mr. Pearson, 'our dear Jennie has
married--and she hasn't married you. She hasn't showed herself
possessed of many virtues, but she has had sense enough for that. I
took it for granted that you were something in the hairdressing line,
from the moment I first set eyes on you.'
"The Baron paid no attention to Mr. Pearson--it was as well he didn't.
"He sat, huddled up on a chair, looking at me with gaping eyes.
"'But it is impossible that you are Mrs. Conrad Godwin!'
"'I fail to see the impossibility, for, in fact, I am. If you have a
message for me, may I ask you to deliver it?'
"'Message! I have no message! I have instructions to arrest you.'
"I was startled then.
"'To arrest me!'
"'A telegram has come to detain anyone arriving by this boat of the
name of Conrad Godwin. I am the chief of the police'--the Baron
d'Ardigny, with his large property in the Ardennes, had sunk to a
policeman--'and I am afraid that, with your husband, Mr. Conrad
Godwin, you must be my prisoner.'
"'My husband, as I cannot help suspecting that you are possibly aware,
does not happen to be on board.'
"'Your husband is not on board? You are travelling alone?'
"'Owing'--dear mamma, I did almost break down then,--'owing to an
unfortunate accident, my husband lost the boat. But, Baron, you must
be under some delusion. Surely you are not having a jest at my
expense?'
"'It is no jest! It is the truth! I am an officer.' He slapped his
chest: you know the way he had when he said anything particularly
absurd. 'My duty is my duty! Before that all other things must fade.
If, as you say, you are Mrs. Conrad Godwin; if your husband is on
board, or no matter where he is, I must proceed to your arrest.'
"'Mr. Pearson, you will not suffer this?'
"'Mrs. Godwin, I am helpless. We are in Belgium, and in Belgium we
must do as the Belgians do.'
"'But the thing is monstrous! You will surely insist on this person's
exhibiting the authority on which he pretends to act?'
"Mr. Pearson shrugged his shoulders. He turned to the Baron with a
smile--and once he said he loved me! Man's falseness is incredible.
"'Baron, have you got the warrant in your pocket?'
"'No warrant is required. I will show madame my instructions when we
reach the _bureau_. We are in Belgium, not in England. I would advise
madame, as a friend, not to give me any trouble.'
"He arrested me! Yes, dear mamma, I spent my wedding night crying,
alone, on the deck of a steamer, and at the break of day I was taken
into custody. Arrested by one old lover in the presence of another. It
was in this way I commenced my married life.
"I sat in the cabin on one chair, and the Baron sat on another chair
in front of me, on guard! I will do him the justice to allow that he
seemed quite as much at a loss as I was.
"When we reached the quay I got into an open fly; the Baron sat on the
seat beside me, two policemen sat on the seat in front of me, and two
more policemen kept the driver in countenance upon the box. In this
way we drove through the streets of Antwerp. We arrived at the
_bureau_. I was shown into what seemed to be a kind of office; the
Baron followed me, closed the door behind him; we were alone. Directly
we were alone he threw his _képi_ on the floor. I thought the man was
mad.
"'Jennie!' he cried. 'Mees Nash! What is the meaning of all this?
Unfold this mystery.'
"'It is you who must do that. It is I who require an explanation from
you.'
"'You have not married Monsieur Pearson?'
"'Baron d'Ardigny!'
"'How came you then to be with him on his ship?'
"'You might as well ask how I came to be the passenger of a train of
which a man named Brown was guard.'
"'Oh, if you only knew what I have suffered. Your image is where it
always was.' He slapped his hand against his right side, where,
probably, he supposed his heart to be. 'You have treated me--ah, how
you have treated me! But no matter. The past is past. It is for the
future that we live. Tell me, what is it you have done?"
"'It occurs to me that I have done one thing, lost my senses.'
"'I am your friend; do not be afraid. No matter for the past. I say it
is for the future that we live. Is it murder?'
"'Murder!'
"'We will say then it is not murder. Thank goodness, it is not that!
But there are other things besides. Is it forgery?'
"'Forgery!'
"'Is it something you have stolen? Perhaps a little money, or some
jewellery, or something of value from your friends.'
"'Baron d'Ardigny, during your acquaintance with me did I strike you
as being of the material of which thieves are made?'
"'Ah, who shall say! No man can tell! There was one woman I loved
before I was in love with you. She did not use me so bad as you; she
was an angel! She was what you call shoplifter. One day I went to see
her; she was not there. I did not see her for a long time. I thought
that she was dead. One day I was in a prison; she was among the
prisoners. When she saw me she laughed; she put out her tongue and
winked her eye. The anguish is still here.'
"'Putting aside the question of what I have done, or left undone,
perhaps you will tell me of what it is I am accused?'
"'How should I know?'
"'If you don't know, I don't know who should.'
"'It is they who are coming who shall know.'
"'And pray who is coming?' A thought occurred to me. 'Is it Conrad?'
"'Conrad! Who is Conrad? Ah! I forgot there was a Conrad.' His manner
changed. Crossing his arms upon his chest he glared at me, as the bad
characters sometimes glare at the Adelphi. 'Miserable! You wish to
play again with me the fool!'
"Dear mamma, if you can imagine the Baron d'Ardigny as being madder
than he used to be--do!
"'Baron d'Ardigny, there are one or two questions which I should like
you to answer. First of all, am I to regard myself as a prisoner?'
"'Did you not use to tell me that you would be for ever mine?'
"'Never, Baron, never!--You have not favoured me with an answer to my
question.'
"'Was there not a moment when I was your star of love?'
"'Not a moment, Baron.--You have not answered me. Am I, or am I not,
to regard myself as a prisoner?'
"'You are a prisoner! It is as a prisoner you are here! It is as a
prisoner you must treat me!'
"'I should be delighted to treat you as a prisoner. Unfortunately it
appears that it is as a prisoner you are treating me.'
"'Your crimes, I do not doubt, they are as black as ink! A woman who
can be as false as you--to such a woman nothing is impossible.'
"'Baron d'Ardigny, I do not know how this sort of thing is done in
Belgium, but in England when they lock a person up they tell him what
they lock him up for. With you, has a policeman the power of taking a
person to the stationhouse for the sole purpose and pleasure of
calling them names?'
"'Mees Nash----'
"'I have already informed you that I am Mrs. Godwin.'
"'So you are Mrs. Godwin! You insist! Well! At last we have arrived!
Meez-sers Godwin, I tell you this. Mark carefully; I meet your husband
once--for a moment. A second time--for ever--upon the field of
honour.'
"I do not know if abroad policemen always speak to their prisoners as
the Baron spoke to me. The inhabitants of those countries must enjoy
themselves if they do. For my part, although my situation was
sufficiently critical, it was all I could do to refrain from laughter.
If you could only have seen how funny he looked! I do not know if he
mistook my silence for admiration, but on a sudden his madness assumed
a dreadful phase. He threw himself into an attitude--ask Geraldine if
she has forgotten his attitudes--and apostrophised me thus: 'When I
look upon that lovely face, upon those eyes of perfect blue, upon that
hair of gold, upon that figure exquisite, I say to myself, "Hector,
Hector d'Ardigny! you who has not been without his fortunate
experience, is it possible that you cannot win the love of a creature
so divine?" I answer to myself, "It is impossible."'
"I hesitated for a moment what, under the circumstances, I had better
do. I saw plainly that it was no use to talk to the man. I arrived at
a sudden resolution. I decided that I would try--as they say in the
cookery-books--another way. As he stood with his eyes and hands raised
towards the ceiling I went and I took him by the thing inside the
collar of his coat--stock, I think they call it--and I shook him.
I do not think he ever had a better shaking in his life. I kept at it
till the thing inside the collar of his coat came loose in my hand.
Then--you know he is _such_ a little man--I lifted him off his feet
and seated him on the edge of the table. The rest was silence. He
looked at me, and I, for my part, looked at him.
"'Now,' I said, when I began to feel a little cooler, 'perhaps you
will tell me what I am here for?'
"'Apparently,' he gasped--the little man was breathless--'to murder
me.'
"'My good man, you shouldn't provoke me.'
"In a sort of unconscious soliloquy I heard him murmur:
"'_Mon Dieu! Ces Anglaises!_' Then with a visible shudder, '_Si elle
etait ma femme!_'
"'Baron d'Ardigny, if you do not wish me to shake you again you will
tell me what I am here for.'
"'Inquire of Philippe.'
"'I will not inquire of Philippe--whoever Philippe may happen to be. I
inquire of you. And I intend you to answer my inquiry. I suppose that
I am here for something."
"'For a great deal, it seems.' His hand stole towards his neck.
'_Bonne chance! Elle a cassé mon col_.'
"'Answer me.'
"Dear mamma, I shook him up a little.
"'I will answer you! _Par exemple! Quel hercule!_'
"'Then do so.'
"'If you will permit me to stand upon my feet I will answer you at
once.'
"'Answer me where you are.'
"But, mademoiselle, I am an officer. It is impossible that an officer
can sit upon a table.'
"'Answer--me--at--once!' Dear mamma, I shook him again.
"'_Ah, sacré nom! C'est embêtant!_ Will you destroy my clothing? Look
into that drawer.'
"I pulled out the drawer. The first thing I saw was a telegram. I took
it up.
"'Is this it?'
"'That is it! You have said! Now, perhaps, you will permit me to
descend.'
"'I think, Baron, that you had better stay for a moment where you
are.'
"I opened the telegram.
"'Detain Conrad Godwin coming by boat from Harwich.'
"'I fancy, M. le Baron, someone has been hoaxing you.'
"'Hoaxing me! What you mean?'
"'It strikes me that if I make public the usage to which you have
subjected me, you are a ruined man.'
"'_Une jolie femme! Elle marche!_ And if I make public the treatment
which you have accorded to the chief of the police, how is that for
you--eh?'
"'Very good. We will leave it so. I will communicate with our
ambassador, our ambassador will communicate with your Government, your
Government will communicate with you.'
"'Mees Nash, I do not understand.'
"'Baron d'Ardigny, if you call me "Mees Nash" again I shall box your
ears. I was married yesterday, and, as I have already told you, I am
Mrs. Conrad Godwin.'
"Dear mamma, I think I _should_ have boxed them. He was _so_
provoking. But while we were staring at one another--the little man
looked thunderstruck!--the door of the room opened and--Conrad
entered.
"'Jennie!' he cried.
"I had intended, when we did meet again, to assume towards him a
dignified deportment, and to treat him with the just resentment which
his conduct merited. But before I knew it I found that I was in his
arms.
"I believe he kissed me--before the Baron. And I am afraid that we
both of us behaved in rather a foolish way. Which is the more strange
because, you know, dear mamma, I am a stickler for decorum.
"'Conrad, I thought that you had left your wife for ever?'
"'Jennie, I reached Rotterdam at 9.0 and I left by the train at 9.15,
_viâ_ Zevenbergen, for Antwerp. When I reached Antwerp they told me
you were arrested.'
"'I have been arrested. This is the chief of police, who arrested me.
Baron d'Ardigny, this is my husband, Mr. Conrad Godwin.'
"I suspect that the Baron, from his perch upon the table, had been
edified by our proceedings.
"When I said this he sprang to the ground.
"'So!--this is Conrad Godwin! Sir, I will pull your nose.'
"Conrad was puzzled.
"'I beg your pardon?'
"'Sir, I tell you are _canaille_, _cochon_--pig! You understand?'
"Conrad turned to me.
"'Is he mad?'
"'Mad!' The Baron went mad at the bare suggestion. 'Mr. Conrad Godwin,
I treat you as a gentleman. As a gentleman I tell you I will cut your
throat.'
"I think he would have 'gone' for Conrad. But just then the door
opened again, and a strange gentleman came in.
"'Godwin!' he cried.
"'Haynes!'
"'You have the key of the safe.'
"'I know it. I wired you that I had.'
"'Wired me! When?'
"'I wired you last night from Harwich.'
"'The deuce you have! And I have been chasing you through Ostend and
Brussels! A nice muddle you have made of it. All the locksmiths and
burglars in London have been retained to effect an entrance to the
safe. I thought I would be even with you, so I sent them a wire to
detain you.'
"'They have not detained me, but they have my wife. They have arrested
her.'
"'Mrs. Godwin!--I beg ten thousand pardons!'
"He was most apologetic--really nice, mamma!" ...
"P.S.--Dear mamma, the Baron lunched with us at the Hotel St. Antoine.
There were four of us. I did not ask Mr. Pearson. I thought that
perhaps he would not come. _The Baron was charming!_"