Читать книгу The Councillors Of Falconhoe - Fred M. White - Страница 8

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There was no sign on Jelicorse's face as he lounged into the breakfast-room the following morning to show whether or not he had succeeded in his rather dangerous venture of the night before. Nor did Barrados appear to be in the least disturbed. It was therefore up to Lady Peggy and her sister, who, needless to say, had been made au fait with what was going on, to wait until such time as Jelicorse was disposed to speak. This would not probably be long, because Barrados would be on his way back to town some time before the luncheon hour. At Lombaso's request, the Duke had asked Barrados there for the night, but he had not the slightest intention of extending the visit, and, indeed, he had already seen to it that no obstacle should be placed in the way of the Austro-German's departure. It was, therefore, some time after eleven o'clock when Barrados made his adieux, and his car disappeared down the drive in the direction of the main road.

"Well, he's gone, at any rate," Lombaso said, as he and Jelicorse strolled up and down the terrace smoking their after-breakfast cigars. "And now, perhaps, you may be disposed to tell me something more than you did last night."

"I could tell you lots of things that would astonish you," Jelicorse smiled. "I mean personal matters. But they can keep for the moment. I mean every word of what I said last night. Now, the question is, are you with us?"

"With you? Of course I am. Wasn't I with you all through the war? Didn't I do good work in the Argentine, to say nothing of that Salonica business? And what about that fortnight you and I spent together in Constantinople? Lord, what a spree it was, Jelicorse! We two passing ourselves off as chiefs from the Sudan, and penetrating right into the Sultan's Palace. Taking our lives in our hands every moment. The fact is, I can't settle down to the old sporting life. After what I went through with you and those two thundering good sportsmen, Enderby and Farncombe, shooting and hunting and golf seem like kids' games. Even my trip to Uganda last year was tame. When a chap takes to brandy he never cares for light wines again, and that is me all the time. For the sake of the country which has educated me, and for the sake of freedom, I ran the risk of being disgraced in the Spanish court, and now that the war is over I am no longer afraid of that. Fact is, I never did care a damn about the Royal displeasure, except for my lady mother's sake. Now, tell me all about it."

"Well, there is nothing really definite to tell, so far," Jelicorse replied. "But I do know that Germany is on the verge of concluding a treaty with Russia. She is going to recognise the Soviet Government—"

"Which Germany created herself," Lombaso said shrewdly. "Oh, I don't forget that Lenin and Trotsky were two German Jews, sent to Russia and kept on the top of the wave by German money and a stiffening of German soldiers in the Red Guard. Of course, I know that the Brest Treaty was mere eyewash. I suppose this new treaty is ostensibly a commercial one."

"That's it," Jelicorse went on to explain. "The world will be able to see that, but they won't see the secret compact behind it. I mean the real offensive and defensive alliance, which will practically mean that Russia becomes a German province. Before the Power from the North knows where she is, she will be under the iron heel of Prussia, and then, with two hundred millions of men, you can imagine what will happen in ten years' time. There is only one thing that stands in the way. The Prussian aristocracy which is engineering the business is a bankrupt one. They dare not go to the present German Government for any money, because that would expose the whole of the scheme. The Socialists would be up in arms at once, and the proposed treaty would be a mere scrap of paper. It will be that in any case, or the Russians don't know it. You heard what Barrados said last night. You heard what he boasted he could do if he had two hundred thousand pounds. It was an idiotic remark to make, especially in my hearing, and I suppose I have to thank Fairbourne's excellent port for it. And Barrados means to get that money. He will get it by fair means or foul, and I have a shrewd notion of the way in which he is going about it. It is just one of those little clues that fall unexpectedly into the hands of those who know how to look for them. But I am not going to say any more about that, because I really don't know. In the course of a few days I shall probably be on the Continent, together with my colleagues, Enderby and Farncombe, and if you like to take a gun and join the shoot, so to speak, I shall be only too glad to have you in the party."

"Done," Lombaso cried. "Done, and double done. I am absolutely at a loose end just now, and if there is anything going with a spice of real danger in it, you can count me in.

"That is a bargain then," Jelicorse said as he extended his hand. Then a sudden thought occurred to him and he smiled. "Look here, my dear chap, there is one proviso I must make. I don't want any of love's young dream business mixed up with this."

"What does that mean?" Lombaso asked.

"Oh, well, one hears all sorts of rumours. You see hints in the Press sometimes. For instance, the Duke of Lombaso is staying at Fairbourne Castle, where Lady Peggy Pevensey is acting as hostess for her father. Society rubs its eyes and begins to take notice, and Society will be confoundedly annoyed if it doesn't wake up some morning to read one of those little paragraphs under the Court Circular in the 'Morning Post.' My dear chap, I am not vulgarly curious, but at the same time, I am not in the least anxious to have a newly engaged young man in my entourage."

Lombaso smiled and coloured slightly.

"Oh, these things do happen," he said. "My mother has been worrying me for years to get married and settle down. Vast family interests, half a dozen estates in different parts of the world, and the succession to think about. Of course it is quite natural for my mother, the Princess, and really it is a duty that I owe to my race. But somehow or another I seem to have had no time to think about women. I am much keener on winning the amateur golf championship. But when I do marry it will have to be a girl approved of by the powers that be. A sort of state marriage on a small scale. But one thing is certain. When I do put my head in the noose it will be an English girl who pulls the cord tight. I have put my foot firmly down on that point. So the last time I discussed the matter with my mother she mentioned several names which would have her approval. The Pevensey girls for two, with Lady Peggy for preference. So I suppose that will be it. But dash it all, old chap, I don't think she likes me a bit in that way, and I don't feel any sort of wild thrills when I come into her dainty presence, as the novelists call it. However, there is no hurry, and I think you are right in suggesting that I come with you without any ties of that sort."

"Then that is settled," Jelicorse said. "You had better stay on here two or three days, and I will drop you a line when I want you. Is that quite satisfactory?"

"Well, no, it isn't," the Duke said. "I must get back to Madrid before the end of the week. There are several things there claiming my attention, amongst other things the opening of the new opera house, where Inez Salviati is going to sing. I faithfully promised my mother I should be back for that. The King will be present, and it is really a command performance."

Jelicorse smiled again behind his hand. All this was no business of his, of course, but he had not forgotten the night of the Agincourt where he had seen Lombaso dining with Inez and Barrados. But these are the sort of things a diplomat does not speak of, and now that he had successfully cleared the ground for Lady Peggy, Jelicorse was not disposed to dwell on the point.

"That's all right then," he said. "Perhaps on the whole it would be better to have you in Madrid. I should not be at all surprised if the first act of the drama is played out there. Now then, let us go and make ourselves agreeable inside."

It was an hour or so later, and just before lunch, that Jelicorse found himself alone with Lady Peggy.

"What have you two been conspiring about?" she asked.

"Ah, that you will know all in good time," Jelicorse said. "But one thing I can promise you. You will not be asked to become Duchess of Lombaso on this occasion. That fact I have established beyond a doubt. Diplomacy, my child, diplomacy. When the big struggle comes, Lombaso is going to help, and I don't want any love-making intervals. You understand?"

"I think I do," Lady Peggy said with a sigh of relief. "It is a reprieve, at any rate. But what about that proposed visit or ours? I mean our visit to Falconhoe Manor."

"Oh, of course," Jelicorse said. "You two are coming, and so is Inez Salviate. You can stay at the post-office there, which is a charming retreat, and where you will be quite well looked after. In fact, the people there cater for visitors. There is no reason why you shouldn't come and dine with us occasionally. And now, my dear Peggy, please, your serious attention. You know perfectly well in the sort of adventures we are familiar with, that occasionally one has to watch even one's own colleagues. Not necessarily because you suspect them. Now, no one could doubt the loyalty of Inez Salviati, but she is a woman, and inclined to have little secrets of her own. It may occur to her that these secrets have no bearing on the big issue, but that is for the chief intriguer like myself to decide."

"You want me to find something out for you, then?"

"Most emphatically I do. Now, you turned up at the Agincourt the other night when Inez was dining with Lombaso. Did you happen to notice a certain jewel that she was wearing at the time?"

"Ah, you mean that big uncut emerald," Lady Peggy cried. "Of course I noticed it. Any woman would."

"That's it," Jelicorse murmured. "She wouldn't tell me, but I want to know where that stone came from. In fact, I must know, and your first task is to find out."

"Oh, I will find out easily enough," Lady Peggy said confidently. "You leave it to me, Hilary."

"Then we can consider that done," Jelicorse said. "Just find out, and make no comment whatever. When you have done that the game will be started in earnest, and it will be no fault of mine if you are not rewarded when the time comes."