54-40 or Fight

by Emerson Hough

  CHAPTER XXXIV

  THE VICTORY

  She will not stay the siege of loving terms, Nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes, Nor ope her lap to soul-seducing gold ... For she is wise, if I can judge of her; And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true; And true she is, as she hath proved herself. --_Shakespeare_.

  "What have you done?" she exclaimed. "Are you mad? He may be here at anymoment now. Go, at once!"

  "I shall not go!"

  "My house is my own! I am my own!"

  "You know it is not true, Madam!"

  I saw the slow shudder that crossed her form, the the fringe of wetwhich sprang to her eyelashes. Again the pleading gesture of herhalf-open fingers.

  "Ah, what matter?" she said. "It is only one woman more, against somuch. What is past, is past, Monsieur. Once down, a woman does notrise."

  "You forget history,--you forget the thief upon the cross!"

  "The thief on the cross was not a woman. No, I am guilty beyond hope!"

  "Rather, you are only mad beyond reason, Madam. I shall not go so longas you feel thus,--although God knows I am no confessor."

  "I confessed to you,--told you my story, so there could be no bridgeacross the gulf between us. My happiness ended then."

  "It is of no consequence that we be happy, Madam. I give you back yourown words about yon torch of principles."

  For a time she sat and looked at me steadily. There was, I say, somesort of radiance on her face, though I, dull of wit, could neitherunderstand nor describe it. I only knew that she seemed to ponder for along time, seemed to resolve at last. Slowly she rose and left me,parting the satin draperies which screened her boudoir from the outerroom. There was silence for some time. Perhaps she prayed,--I do notknow.

  Now other events took this situation in hand. I heard a footfall on thewalk, a cautious knocking on the great front door. So, my lord Pakenhamwas prompt. Now I could not escape even if I liked.

  Pale and calm, she reappeared at the parted draperies. I lifted thebutts of my two derringers into view at my side pockets, and at a glancefrom her, hurriedly stepped into the opposite room. After a time Iheard her open the door in response to a second knock.

  I could not see her from my station, but the very silence gave me apicture of her standing, pale, forbidding, rebuking the first rudeexclamation of his ardor.

  "Come now, is he gone? Is the place safe at last?" he demanded.

  "Enter, my lord," she said simply.

  "This is the hour you said," he began; and she answered:

  "My lord, it is the hour."

  "But come, what's the matter, then? You act solemn, as though this werea funeral, and not--just a kiss," I heard him add.

  He must have advanced toward her. Continually I was upon the point ofstepping out from my concealment, but as continually she left that notquite possible by some word or look or gesture of her own with him.

  "Oh, hang it!" I heard him grumble, at length; "how can one tell what awoman'll do? Damn it, Helen!"

  "'Madam,' you mean!"

  "Well, then, Madam, why all this hoighty-toighty? Haven't I stood floutsand indignities enough from you? Didn't you make a show of me beforethat ass, Tyler, when I was at the very point of my greatest coup? Youdenied knowledge that I knew you had. But did I discard you for that? Ihave found you since then playing with Mexico, Texas, United States allat once? Have I punished you for _that?_ No, I have only shown you themore regard."

  "My lord, you punish me most when you most show me your regard."

  "Well, God bless my soul, listen at that! Listen at that--here, now,when I've--Madam, you shock me, you grieve me. I--could I have a glassof wine?"

  I heard her ring for Threlka, heard her fasten the door behind her asshe left, heard him gulp over his glass. For myself, although I did notyet disclose myself, I felt no doubt that I should kill Pakenham inthese rooms. I even pondered whether I should shoot him through thetemple and cut off his consciousness, or through the chest and so lethim know why he died.

  After a time he seemed to look about the room, his eye falling upon thelittered floor.

  "My key!" he exclaimed; "broken! Who did that? I can't use it now!"

  "You will not need to use it, my lord."

  "But I bought it, yesterday! Had I given you all of the Oregon countryit would not have been worth twenty thousand pounds. What I'll haveto-night--what I'll take--will be worth twice that. But I bought thatkey, and what I buy I keep."

  I heard a struggle, but she repulsed him once more in some way. Still mytime had not come. He seemed now to stoop, grunting, to pick upsomething from the floor.

  "How now? My memorandum of treaty, and torn in two! Oh, I see--I see,"he mused. "You wish to give it back to me--to be wholly free! It meansonly that you wish to love me for myself, for what I am! You minx!"

  "You mistake, my lord," said her calm, cold voice.

  "At least, 'twas no mistake that I offered you this damned country atrisk of my own head. Are you then with England and Sir Richard Pakenham?Will you give my family a chance for revenge on these accursedheathen--these Americans? Come, do that, and I leave this place withyou, and quit diplomacy for good. We'll travel the continent, we'll gothe world over, you and I. I'll quit my estates, my family for you.Come, now, why do you delay?"

  "Still you misunderstand, my lord."

  "Tell me then what you do mean."

  "Our old bargain over this is broken, my lord. We must make another."

  His anger rose. "What? You want more? You're trying to lead me on withyour damned courtezan tricks!"

  I heard her voice rise high and shrill, even as I started forward.

  "Monsieur," she cried, "back with you!"

  Pakenham, angered as he was, seemed half to hear my footsteps, seemedhalf to know the swinging of the draperies, even as I stepped back inobedience to her gesture. Her wit was quick as ever.

  "My lord," she said, "pray close yonder window. The draft is bad, and,moreover, we should have secrecy." He obeyed her, and she led him stillfurther from the thought of investigating his surroundings.

  "Now, my lord," she said, "_take back_ what you have just said!"

  "Under penalty?" he sneered.

  "Of your life, yes."

  "So!" he grunted admiringly; "well, now, I like fire in a woman, even adeceiving light-o'-love like you!"

  "Monsieur!" her voice cried again; and once more it restrained me in myhiding.

  "You devil!" he resumed, sneering now in all his ugliness of wine andrage and disappointment. "What were _you?_ Mistress of the prince ofFrance! Toy of a score of nobles! Slave of that infamous rake, yourhusband! Much you've got in your life to make you uppish now with me!"

  "My lord," she said evenly, "retract that. If you do not, you shall notleave this place alive."

  In some way she mastered him, even in his ugly mood.

  "Well, well," he growled, "I admit we don't get on very well in ourlittle love affair; but I swear you drive me out of my mind. I'll neverfind another woman in the world like you. It's Sir Richard Pakenham asksyou to begin a new future with himself."

  "We begin no future, my lord."

  "What do you mean? Have you lied to me? Do you mean to break yourword--your promise?"

  "It is within the hour that I have learned what the truth is."

  "God damn my soul!" I heard him curse, growling.

  "Yes, my lord," she answered, "God will damn your soul in so far as itis that of a brute and not that of a gentleman or a statesman."

  I heard him drop into a chair. "This from one of your sort!" he halfwhimpered.

  "Stop, now!" she cried. "Not one word more of that! I say within thehour I have learned what is the truth. I am Helena von Ritz, thief onthe cross, and at last clean!"

  "God A'might, Madam! How pious!" he sneered. "Something's behind allthis. I know your record. What woman of the court of Austria or Francecomes out with _morals?_ We used you here
because you had none. And now,when it comes to the settlement between you and me, you talk like a nun.As though a trifle from virtue such as yours would be missed!"

  "Ah, my God!" I heard her murmur. Then again she called to me, as hethought to himself; so that all was as it had been, for the time.

  A silence fell before she went on.

  "Sir Richard," she said at length, "we do not meet again. I await nowyour full apology for these things you have said. Such secrets as I havelearned of England's, you know will remain safe with me. Also your ownsecret will be safe. Retract, then, what you have said, of my personallife!"

  "Oh, well, then," he grumbled, "I admit I've had a bit of wine to-day. Idon't mean much of anything by it. But here now, I have come, and byyour own invitation--your own agreement. Being here, I find this treatyregarding Oregon torn in two and you gone nun all a-sudden."

  "Yes, my lord, it is torn in two. The consideration moving to it was notvalid. But now I wish you to amend that treaty once more, and for aconsideration valid in every way. My lord, I promised that which wasnot mine to give--myself! Did you lay hand on me now, I should die. Ifyou kissed me, I should kill you and myself! As you say, I took yonderprice, the devil's shilling. Did I go on, I would be enlisting for thedamnation of my soul; but I will not go on. I recant!"

  "But, good God! woman, what are you asking _now?_ Do you want me to letyou have this paper anyhow, to show old John Calhoun? I'm no such ass asthat. I apologize for what I've said about you. I'll be your friend,because I can't let you go. But as to this paper here, I'll put it in mypocket."

  "My lord, you will do nothing of the kind. Before you leave this roomthere shall be two miracles done. You shall admit that one has gone onin me; I shall see that you yourself have done another."

  "What guessing game do you propose, Madam?" he sneered. He seemed totoss the torn paper on the table, none the less. "The condition isforfeited," he began.

  "No, it is not forfeited except by your own word, my lord," rejoined thesame even, icy voice. "You shall see now the first miracle!"

  "Under duress?" he sneered again.

  "_Yes_, then! Under duress of what has not often come to surface in you,Sir Richard. I ask you to do truth, and not treason, my lord! She whowas Helena von Ritz is dead--has passed away. There can be no questionof forfeit between you and her. Look, my lord!"

  I heard a half sob from him. I heard a faint rustling of silks andlaces. Still her even, icy voice went on.

  "Rise, now, Sir Richard," she said. "Unfasten my girdle, if you like!Undo my clasps, if you can. You say you know my past. Tell me, do yousee me now? Ungird me, Sir Richard! Look at me! Covet me! Take me!"

  Apparently he half rose, shuffled towards her, and stopped with astifled sound, half a sob, half a growl.

  I dared not picture to myself what he must have seen as she stoodfronting him, her hands, as I imagined, at her bosom, tearing back herrobes.

  Again I heard her voice go on, challenging him. "Strip me now, SirRichard, if you can! Take now what you bought, if you find it here. Youcan not? You do not? Ah, then tell me that miracle has been done! Shewho was Helena von Ritz, as you knew her, or as you thought you knewher, _is not here!_"

  Now fell long silence. I could hear the breathing of them both, where Istood in the farther corner of my room. I had dropped both thederringers back in my pockets now, because I knew there would be noneed for them. Her voice was softer as she went on.

  "Tell me, Sir Richard, has not that miracle been done?" she demanded."Might not in great stress that thief upon the cross have been a woman?Tell me, Sir Richard, am I not clean?"

  He flung his body into a seat, his arm across the table. I heard hisgroan.

  "God! Woman! What are you?" he exclaimed. "Clean? By God, yes, as alily! I wish I were half as white myself."

  "Sir Richard, did you ever love a woman?"

  "One other, beside yourself, long ago."

  "May not we two ask that other miracle of yourself?"

  "How do you mean? You have beaten me already."

  "Why, then, this! If I could keep my promise, I would. If I could giveyou myself, I would. Failing that, I may give you gratitude. SirRichard, I would give you gratitude, did you restore this treaty as itwas, for that new consideration. Come, now, these savages here are thesame savages who once took that little island for you yonder. Twice theyhave defeated you. Do you wish a third war? You say England wishesslavery abolished. As you know, Texas is wholly lost to England. Thearmies of America have swept Texas from your reach for ever, even atthis hour. But if you give a new state in the north to these samesavages, you go so far against oppression, against slavery--you do_that_ much for the doctrine of England, and her altruism in the world.Sir Richard, never did I believe in hard bargains, and never did anygreat soul believe in such. I own to you that when I asked you here thisafternoon I intended to wheedle from you all of Oregon north tofifty-four degrees, forty minutes. I find in you done some such miracleas in myself. Neither of us is so bad as the world has thought, as weourselves have thought. Do then, that other miracle for me. Let uscompose our quarrel, and so part friends."

  "How do you mean, Madam?"

  "Let us divide our dispute, and stand on this treaty as you wrote ityesterday. Sir Richard, you are minister with extraordinary powers. Yourgovernment ratifies your acts without question. Your signature isbinding--and there it is, writ already on this scroll. See, there arewafers there on the table before you. Take them. Patch together thistreaty for me. That will be _your_ miracle, Sir Richard, and 'twill bethe mending of our quarrel. Sir, I offered you my body and you would nottake it. I offer you my hand. Will you have _that_, my lord? I ask thisof a gentleman of England."

  It was not my right to hear the sounds of a man's shame andhumiliation; or of his rising resolve, of his reformed manhood; but Idid hear it all. I think that he took her hand and kissed it. PresentlyI heard some sort of shufflings and crinkling of paper on the table. Iheard him sigh, as though he stood and looked at his work. His heavyfootfalls crossed the room as though he sought hat and stick. Herlighter feet, as I heard, followed him, as though she held out both herhands to him. There was a pause, and yet another; and so, with agrowling half sob, at last he passed out the door; and she closed itsoftly after him.

  When I entered, she was standing, her arms spread out across the door,her face pale, her eyes large and dark, her attire still disarrayed. Onthe table, as I saw, lay a parchment, mended with wafers.

  Slowly she came, and put her two arms across my shoulders. "Monsieur!"she said, "Monsieur!"