CHAPTER VII
"WE PLAY FOR GREAT STAKES"
Bellamy, travel-stained and weary, arrived at his rooms at twoo'clock on the following afternoon to find amongst a pile ofcorrespondence a penciled message awaiting him in a handwriting heknew well. He tore open the envelope.
DAVID DEAR,--I have just arrived and I am sending you these fewlines at once. As to what progress I have made, I cannot say forcertain, but there is a chance. You had better get the money readyand come to me here. If R. could only escape from Streuss andthose who watch him all the time, I should be quite sure, but theyare suspicious. What may happen I cannot tell. I do my best andI have hated it. Get the money ready and come to me.
LOUISE.
Bellamy drew a little breath and tore the note into pieces. Thenhe rang for his servant. "A bath and some clean clothes quickly,"he ordered. "While I am changing, ring up Downing Street and seeif Sir James is there. If not, find out exactly where he is. Imust see him within half an hour. Afterwards, get me a taxicab."
The man obeyed with the swift efficiency of the thoroughly trainedservant. In rather less than the time which he had stated, Bellamyhad left his rooms. Before four o'clock he had arrived at theaddress which Louise had given him. A commissionaire telephoned hisname to the first floor, and in a very few moments a pale-facedFrench man-servant, in sombre black livery, descended and bowed toBellamy.
"Monsieur will be so good as to come this way," he directed.
Bellamy followed him into the lift, which stopped at the firstfloor. He was ushered into a small boudoir, already smothered withroses.
"Mademoiselle will be here immediately," the man announced. "She isengaged with a gentleman from the Opera, but she will leave him toreceive Monsieur."
Bellamy nodded.
"Pray let Mademoiselle understand," he said, "that I am entirely ather service. My time is of no consequence."
The man bowed and withdrew. Louise came to him almost directly froman inner chamber. She was wearing a loose gown, but the fatigue ofher journey seemed already to have passed away. Her eyes werebright, and a faint color glowed in her cheeks.
"David," she exclaimed, "thank Heaven that you are here!"
She took both his hands and held them for a moment. Then she walkedto the door, made sure that it was securely fastened, and stoodthere listening for a moment.
"I suppose I am foolish," she said, coming back to him, "and yet Icannot help fancying that I am being watched on every side since welanded in England. I detest my new manager, and I don't trust anyof the servants he has engaged for me. You got my note?"
"Yes," he answered, "I had your note--and I am here."
The restraint of his manner was obvious. He was standing a littleaway from her. She came suddenly up to him, her hands fell uponhis shoulders, her face was upturned to his. Even then he made nomotion to embrace her.
"David," she whispered softly, "what I am doing--what I have done--wasat your suggestion. I do it for you, I do it for my country,I do it against every natural feeling I possess. I hate and loathethe lies I tell. Are you remembering that? Is it in your heart atthis moment?"
He stooped and kissed her.
"Forgive me," he said, "it is I who am to blame, but I am only human.We play for great stakes, Louise, but sometimes one forgets."
"As I live," she murmured, "the kiss you gave me last is still uponmy lips. What I have promised goes for nothing. What he haspromised is this--the papers to-night."
"Unopened?"
"Unopened," she repeated, softly.
"But how is it to be done?" Bellamy asked. "He must have arrivedin London when you did last night. How is it they are not alreadyat the Embassy?"
"The Ambassador was commanded to Cowes," she explained. "He cannotbe back until late to-night. No one else has a key to the treatysafe, and Von Behrling declined to give up the document to any onesave the Ambassador himself."
Bellamy nodded.
"What about Streuss?"
"Streuss and the others are all furious," Louise said. "Yet, afterall, Behrling has a certain measure of right on his side. Hisorders were to see with his own eyes this envelope deposited in thesafe by the Ambassador himself."
"He returns to-night!" Bellamy exclaimed quickly.
She nodded.
"Before he comes," she declared, "I think that the document will bein your hands."
"How is it to be done?"
"The report is written," she explained, "on five pages of foolscap.They are contained in a long envelope, scaled with the Chancellor'screst. Von Behrling, being one of the family, has the same crest.He has prepared another envelope, the same size and weight, andsigned it with his seal. It is this which he will hand over to theAmbassador if he should return unexpectedly. The real one he hasconcealed."
"Is he here?" Bellamy inquired.
"Thank Heavens, no!" she answered. "My dear David, what are youthinking of? He is not here and he dare not come here. You are togo to your rooms," she added, glancing at the clock, "and betweenfive and six o'clock this evening you will be rung up on thetelephone. A rendezvous will be given you for later on to-night.You must take the money there and receive the packet. Von Behrlingwill be disguised and prepared for flight."
Bellamy's eyes glowed.
"You believe this?" he exclaimed.
"I believe it," she replied. "He is going to do it. After he hasseen you, he will make his way to Plymouth. I have promised--don'tlook at me, David--I have promised to join him there."
Bellamy was grave.
"There will be trouble," he said. "He will come back. He will wantto shoot you. He may be slow-witted in some things, but he ispassionate."
"Am I a coward?" she asked, with a scornful laugh. "Have I evershown fear of my life? No, David! It is not that of which I amafraid. It is the memory of the man's touch, it is the look whichwas in your face when you came into the room. These are the thingsI fear--not death."
Bellamy drew her into his arms and kissed her.
"Forgive me," he begged. "At such times a man is a weak thing--aweak and selfish thing. I am ashamed of myself. I should haveknown better than to have doubted you for a moment. I know you sowell, Louise. I know what you are."
She smiled.
"Dear," she said, "you have made me happy. And now you must go away.Remember that these few minutes are only an interlude. Over here Iam Mademoiselle Idiale who sings to-night at Covent Garden. See myroses. There are two rooms full of reporters and photographers inthe place now. The leader of the orchestra is in my bedroom, andtwo of the directors are drinking whiskies and sodas with this newmanager of mine in the dining-room. Between five and six o'clockthis afternoon you will get the message. It is somewhere, I think,in the city that you will have to go. There will be no troubleabout the money? Nothing but notes or gold will be of any use."
"I have it in my pocket," he answered. "I have it in notes, but heneed never fear that they will be traced. The numbers of notesgiven for Secret Service purposes are expunged from every one'smemory."
She drew a little sigh.
"It is a great sum," she said. "After all, he should be gratefulto me. If only he would be sensible and get away to the UnitedStates or to South America! He could live there like a prince,poor fellow. He would be far happier."
"I only hope that he will go," Bellamy agreed. "There is one thingto be remembered. If he does not go, if he stays for twenty-fourhours in this country, I do not believe that he will live to do youharm. The men who are with him are not the sort to stop short attrifles. Besides Streuss and Kahn, they have a regular army ofspies at their bidding here. If they find out that he has trickedthem, they will hunt him down, and before long."
Louise shivered.
"Oh, I hope," she exclaimed, "that he gets away! He is a traitor,of course, but he is a traitor to a hateful cause, and, after all,I think it is less
for the money than for my sake that he does it.That sounds very conceited, I suppose," she added, with a faintsmile. "Ah! well, you see, for five years so many have been tryingto turn my head. No wonder if I begin to believe some of theirstories. David, I must go. I must not keep Dr. Henschell waitingany longer."
"To-morrow," he said, "to-morrow early I shall come. I am afraidI shall miss your first appearance in England, Louise."
The sound of a violin came floating out from the inner room.
"That is my signal," she declared smiling. "De. Henschell wasalmost beside himself that I came away. I come, Doctor," she calledout. "David, good fortune!" she added, giving him her hands. "Nowgo, dear."
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