And they all three laughed in chorus. His Excellency was of course unaware of the real reason of Jules Dubards flight, and the young Englishman smiled within himself as he reflected upon the staggering surprise it would cause that calm, astute man who was such a power in the south of Europe if he knew the actual truth.
Of course, added Signor Morini, turning to the young man, you will do me one kind favour? You will not mention to anyone here my true position. I come to England each year for rest and quiet, and if I am unknown no political significance can be attached to my summer visits you understand?
Certainly, your Excellency, I shall respect your wishes, was Macbeans reply, and a few minutes later he took leave of the great statesman and his daughter, and, full of strange conflicting reflections, rode out upon the broad highway back to Thornby.
Chapter Six
Discloses Certain Strange Facts
As Big Ben boomed forth twelve oclock over London that same night the supper-room at the Savoy was filled to overflowing with a boisterous, well-dressed crowd of after-theatre revellers. The scene was brighter and gayer perhaps than any other scene at that hour in all the giant city. The smart set, that slangy, vulgar result of societys degeneration, was as largely represented as usual; the women were fair, the jewels sparkled, the dresses were rich, and in the atmosphere was that restlessness, that perpetual craze for excitement which proves so attractive to habitués of the place.
Every table in the great room was engaged, and the company was essentially le monde ou lon samuse. But you probably have sat there amid the hurrying of the waiters, the hum of voices, the loud laughter of smart women, the clinking of champagne-glasses, that babel of noise drowned by the waltzes played by the Hungarian band. The air was heavy with the combined odour of a hundred perfumes, the fresh flowers drooped upon the tables, and the merry company crowded into that last half-hour all the merriment they could before the lights were lowered.
At such places one sees exhibited in public the full, true, and sole omnipotence of money how it wins the impoverished great ones to be guests of its possessor, how it purchases the smiles of the haughtiest, the favours of the most exclusive.
Lazily watching that animated scene, the two men who had been guests at Orton, Dubard and Borselli, were sitting apart at a small table near the window. A bottle of Krug stood between them, and as they leaned their elbows on the table they criticised their fellow-guests, speaking in Italian, so that their remarks should not be understood by their neighbours.
The band had just concluded Desgranges Jalouse, that air so reminiscent of the terrace of the Café de Paris at Monte Carlo, the leader had bowed to the company, and the waiters were busy collecting the banknotes with which the bills were in most cases paid, when the Italian drained his glass, saying
Let us go! Ive had enough of this! Come on to Claridges with me for a final cigar.
A moment? exclaimed Dubard, his eyes fixed across the room. Do you see over there, just behind the column, two ladies with a stout man with grey side-whiskers? One of the ladies is in blue. What a terrible vulgarian the fellow is! Ive been watching him.
The general glanced in the direction indicated and replied
Oh yes, I noticed him as we came in. Youre right, my dear Jules, that fellow is a vulgarian. I met him once in Rome. His name is Morgan-Mason, a deputy and very wealthy.
Morgan-Mason! echoed the Frenchman, looking hard at him. Ah! he added, Ive heard of him, of course. Yes. Let us go, and they both rose, descended by the lift, and drove in a hansom to Claridges.
In the Under-Secretarys elegant little sitting-room the room wherein that afternoon he had accepted the German contractors bribe on Morinis behalf he drew forth a box of choice cigars, and they both commenced to smoke.
A brief and rather painful silence fell between them. Both men had that evening exhibited towards each other a strained politeness, each knowing that the other hated him. Dubards defiance on the previous night had upset all the calculations of that past-master of intrigue, Angelo Borselli, whose dark eyes now darted a swift glance at his companion lolling back in the big arm-chair apparently perfectly at his ease.
To Borsellis surprise, and believing that his departure had been due to his threat on the previous night, Dubard had left Rugby for London an hour before he had, but at four oclock that afternoon he had sent an invitation to the Carlton, suggesting that they should spend the evening together at a theatre, which they had done.
There was a mystery in the Frenchmans sudden departure from Orton, and in it Borselli suspected an ingenious move. Throughout the whole day he had reasoned within himself, finally coming to the conclusion that it was better to be friendly with such a man as Jules Dubard than to be his enemy.
Dubard had seen during the evening that his companion wished to speak with him but was hesitating. At last, however, after they had smoked in silence for some minutes, the crafty Sicilian stroked his moustache and exclaimed
I fear, my dear Jules, that I was rather hasty, perhaps rude, last night. Yet, after all, I am very glad that you took my hint and left Orton.
The Frenchman opened his eyes widely at the mans calm audacity.
I did not take your hint in the least, I assure you, he exclaimed, with quick indignation. I left Orton for quite another reason.
The sallow-faced man smiled, as though quite unconscious of his companions anger.
Yes, he said. I know. You cannot deceive me.
You know? cried the Frenchman, starting to his feet. What do you know? Have you invited me up here to threaten me again?
I merely say that I know the reason why you received the letter calling you to Paris this morning, replied the Under-Secretary in a cold, calm voice. It was because you met and were recognised by a certain Englishman named Macbean, the secretary of that vulgar fellow we saw eating his supper half an hour ago.
Dubards jaw fell. He saw that by some utterly unaccountable means his enemy was aware of the real reason which compelled him to fly from Leicestershire.
Was it possible that he could know the whole truth? No; it was impossible. Macbean dare not speak. Of that he felt quite assured.
Ah? continued the general, a grim smile crossing his thin, hard features as he narrowly watched his companion. You see I am not quite as ignorant of the past as you believe, my dear Jules.
Nor am I! cried the Frenchman, turning upon him savagely. Last night you threatened me, remember!
And to-night I have invited you here, my dear friend, to arrive at some amicable agreement that will be to our mutual advantage, answered the clever Under-Secretary, with a suavity of manner which showed him to be a born diplomat.
Yes, I know, answered the other in a dry, hard voice. This is not the first time you and I have discussed matters, General Borselli. I know that if it suited you youd betray your own mother. You have no conscience, no code of honour?
My code of honour is exactly the same as yours, caro mio, replied the Italian, laughing. I try to turn all I can into profit for myself, just as you are trying to do. My maxim is self first.
And for that reason you are plotting the downfall of Morini and the whole Ministry!