CHAPTER XXXV
A LITTLE GAME OF CARDS
Mr. Sabin, whose carriage had set him down at the Cromer railway stationwith barely two minutes to spare, took his seat in an empty first-classsmoking carriage of the London train and deliberately lit a fine cigar.He was filled with that sense of triumphant self-satisfaction whichfalls to the lot of a man who, after much arduous labour successfullyaccomplished, sees very near at hand the great desire of his life.Two days' more quiet work, and his task was done. All that he hadpledged himself to give, he would have ready for the offering. Thefinishing touches were but a matter of detail. It had been a greatundertaking--more difficult at times than he had ever reckoned for. Hetold himself with some complacency that no other man breathing couldhave brought it to so satisfactory a conclusion. His had been a lifeof great endeavours; this one, however, was the crowning triumph ofhis career.
He watched the people take their seats in the train with idle eyes; hewas not interested in any of them. He scarcely saw their faces; theywere not of his world nor he of theirs. But suddenly he received a rudeshock. He sat upright and wiped away the moisture from the window inorder that he might see more clearly. A young man in a long ulster wasbuying newspapers from a boy only a yard or two away. Something aboutthe figure and manner of standing seemed to Mr. Sabin vaguely familiar.He waited until his head was turned, and the eyes of the two menmet--then the last vestige of doubt disappeared. It was Felix! Mr. Sabinleaned back in his corner with darkening face. He had noticed to hisdismay that the encounter, surprising though it had been to him, hadbeen accepted by Felix as a matter of course--he was obviously preparedfor it. He had met Mr. Sabin's anxious and incredulous gaze with afaint, peculiar smile. His probable presence in the train had evidentlybeen confidently reckoned upon. Felix had been watching him secretly,and knowing what he did know of that young man, Mr. Sabin was seriouslydisturbed. He did not hesitate for a moment, however, to face theposition. He determined at once upon a bold course of action. Lettingdown the window he put out his head.
"Are you going to town?" he asked Felix, as though seeing him then wasthe most natural thing in the world.
The young man nodded.
"Yes, it's getting pretty dreary down here, isn't it? You're off back, Isee."
Mr. Sabin assented.
"Yes," he said, "I've had about enough of it. Besides, I'm overdue atPau, and I'm anxious to get there. Are you coming in here?"
Felix hesitated. At first the suggestion had astonished him; almostimmediately it became a temptation. It would be distinctly piquant totravel with this man. On the other hand it was distinctly unwise; it wasrunning an altogether unnecessary risk. Mr. Sabin read his thoughts withthe utmost ease.
"I should rather like to have a little chat with you," he said quietly;"you are not afraid, are you? I am quite unarmed, and as you see Naturehas not made me for a fighting man."
Felix hesitated no longer. He motioned to the porter who was carryinghis dressing-case and golf clubs, and had them conveyed into Mr. Sabin'scarriage. He himself took the opposite seat.
"I had no idea," Mr. Sabin remarked, "that you were in theneighbourhood."
Felix smiled.
"You have been so engrossed in your--golf," he remarked. "It is afascinating game, is it not?"
"Very," Mr. Sabin assented. "You yourself are a devotee, I see."
"I am a beginner," Felix answered, "and a very clumsy beginner too. Itake my clubs with me, however, whenever I go to the coast at this timeof year; they save one from being considered a madman."
"It is singular," Mr. Sabin remarked, "that you should have chosen tovisit Cromer just now. It is really a most interesting meeting. I do notthink that I have had the pleasure of seeing you since that evening atthe 'Milan,' when your behaviour towards me--forgive my alluding toit--was scarcely considerate."
Mr. Sabin was quite friendly and unembarrassed. He seemed to treat theaffair as a joke. Felix looked glumly out of the window.
"Your luck stood you in good stead--as usual," he said. "I meant to killyou that night. You see I don't mind confessing it! I had sworn to makethe attempt the first time we met face to face."
"Considering that we are quite alone," Mr. Sabin remarked, lookingaround the carriage, "and that from physical considerations my lifeunder such conditions is entirely at your mercy, I should like someassurance that you have no intention of repeating the attempt. It wouldadd very materially to my comfort."
The young man smiled without immediately answering. Then he wassuddenly grave; he appeared to be reflecting. Almost imperceptiblyMr. Sabin's hand stole towards the window. He was making a mentalcalculation as to what height above the carriage window thecommunication cord might be. Felix, watching his fingers, smiled again.
"You need have no fear," he said; "the cause of personal enmity betweenyou and me is dead. You have nothing more to fear from me at any time."
Mr. Sabin's hand slid down again to his side.
"I am charmed to hear it," he declared. "You are, I presume, inearnest?"
"Most certainly. It is as I say; the cause for personal enmity betweenus is removed. Save for a strong personal dislike, which under thecircumstances I trust that you will pardon me"--Mr. Sabin bowed--"I haveno feeling towards you whatever!"
Mr. Sabin drew a somewhat exaggerated sigh of relief. "I live," he said,"with one more fear removed. But I must confess," he added, "to acertain amount of curiosity. We have a somewhat tedious journey beforeus, and several hours at our disposal; would it be asking you toomuch----"
Felix waved his hand.
"Not at all," he said. "A few words will explain everything. I haveother matters to speak of with you, but they can wait. As you remark, wehave plenty of time before us. Three weeks ago I received a telegramfrom Brussels. It was from--forgive me, if I do not utter her name inyour presence; it seems somehow like sacrilege."
Mr. Sabin bowed; a little red spot was burning through the pallor of hissunken cheeks.
"I was there," Felix continued, "in a matter of twenty-four hours. Shewas ill--believed herself to be dying. We spoke together of a littleevent many years old; yet which I venture to think, neither you, norshe, nor I have ever forgotten."
Mr. Sabin pulled down the blind by his side; it was only a stray gleamof wintry sunshine, which had stolen through the grey clouds, but itseemed to dazzle him.
"It had come to her knowledge that you and I were together inLondon--that you were once more essaying to play a part in civilised andgreat affairs. And lest our meeting should bring harm about, she toldme--something of which I have always been in ignorance."
"Ah!"
Mr. Sabin moved uneasily in his seat. He drew his club-foot a littlefurther back; Felix seemed to be looking at it absently.
"She showed me," he continued, "a little pistol; she explained to methat a woman's aim is a most uncertain thing. Besides, you were somedistance away, and your spring aside helped you. Then, too, so far as Icould see from the mechanism of the thing--it was an old and clumsyaffair--it carried low. At any rate the shot, which was doubtless meantfor your heart, found a haven in your foot. From her lips I learned forthe first time that she, the sweetest and most timid of her sex, haddared to become her own avenger. Life is a sad enough thing, andpleasure is rare, yet I tasted pleasure of the keenest and subtlest kindwhen she told me that story. I feel even now some slight return of itwhen I look at your--shall we call deformity, and consider how differenta person----"
Mr. Sabin half rose to his feet; his face was white and set, save wherea single spot of colour was flaring high up near his cheek-bone. Hiseyes were bloodshot; for a moment he seemed about to strike the otherman. Felix broke off in his sentence, and watched him warily.
"Come," he said, "it is not like you to lose control of yourself in thatmanner. It is a simple matter. You wronged a woman, and she avengedherself magnificently. As for me, I can see that my interference wasquite uncalled for; I even venture to offer you my apologies for thefright I must
have given you at the 'Milan.' The account had alreadybeen straightened by abler hands. I can assure you that I am no longeryour enemy. In fact, when I look at you"--his eyes seemed to fall almostto the ground--"when I look at you, I permit myself some slightsensation of pity for your unfortunate affliction. But it wasmagnificent! Shall we change the subject now?"
Mr. Sabin sat quite still in his corner; his eyes seemed fixed upon adistant hill, bordering the flat country through which they werepassing. Felix's stinging words and mocking smile had no meaning forhim. In fact he did not see his companion any longer, nor was heconscious of his presence. The narrow confines of the railway carriagehad fallen away. He was in a lofty room, in a chamber of a palace, aprivileged guest, the lover of the woman whose dark, passionate eyes andsoft, white arms were gleaming there before his eyes. It was but one ofmany such scenes. He shuddered very slightly, as he went back furtherstill. He had been faithful to one god, and one god only--the god ofself! Was it a sign of coming trouble, that for the first time for manyyears he had abandoned himself to the impotent morbidness of abstractthought? He shook himself free from it with an effort; what lunacy!To-day he was on the eve of a mighty success--his feet were plantedfirmly upon the threshold! The end of all his ambitions stood fairly inview, and the path to it was wide and easy. Only a little time, and hismust be one of the first names in Europe! The thought thrilled him, thelittle flood of impersonal recollections ebbed away; he was himselfagain, keen, alert, vigorous! Suddenly he met the eyes of his companionfixed steadfastly upon him, and his face darkened. There was somethingominous about this man's appearance; his very presence seemed like aforeboding of disaster.
"I am much obliged to you for your little romance," he said. "There isone point, however, which needs some explanation. If your interest isreally, as you suggest, at an end, what are you doing down here? Ipresume that your appearance is not altogether a coincidence."
"Certainly not," Felix answered. "Let me correct you, however, on onetrifling point. I said, you must remember--my personal interest."
"I do not," Mr. Sabin remarked, "exactly see the distinction; in fact, Ido not follow you at all!"
"I am so stupid," Felix declared apologetically. "I ought to haveexplained myself more clearly. It is even possible that you, who knoweverything, may yet be ignorant of my present position."
"I certainly have no knowledge of it," Mr. Sabin admitted.
Felix was gently astonished.
"Really! I took it for granted, of course, that you knew. Well, I amemployed--not in any important post, of course--at the Russian Embassy.His Excellency has been very kind to me."
Mr. Sabin for once felt his nerve grow weak; those evil forebodings ofhis had very swiftly become verified. This man was his enemy. Yet herecovered himself almost as quickly. What had he to fear? His was stillthe winning hand.
"I am pleased to hear," he said, "that you have found such creditableemployment. I hope you will make every effort to retain it; you havethrown away many chances."
Felix at first smiled; then he leaned back amongst the cushions andlaughed outright. When he had ceased, he wiped the tears from his eyes.He sat up again and looked with admiration at the still, pale figureopposite to him.
"You are inimitable," he said--"wonderful! If you live long enough, youwill certainly become very famous. What will it be, I wonder--Emperor,Dictator, President of a Republic, the Minister of an Emperor? Thelatter I should imagine; you were always such an aristocrat. I would nothave missed this journey for the world. I am longing to know what youwill say to Prince Lobenski at King's Cross."
Mr. Sabin looked at him keenly.
"So you are only a lacquey after all, then?" he remarked--"a commonspy!"
"Very much at your service," Felix answered, with a low bow. "A spy, ifyou like, engaged for the last two weeks in very closely watching yourmovements, and solving the mystery of your sudden devotion to aheathenish game!"
"There, at any rate," Mr. Sabin said calmly, "you are quite wrong. Ifyou had watched my play I flatter myself that you would have realisedthat my golf at any rate was no pretence."
"I never imagined," Felix rejoined, "that you would be anything butproficient at any game in which you cared to interest yourself; but Inever imagined either that you came to Cromer to play golf--especiallyjust now."
"Modern diplomacy," Mr. Sabin said, after a brief pause, "has undergone,as you may be aware, a remarkable transformation. Secrecy is now quiteout of date; it is the custom amongst the masters to play with the cardsupon the table."
"There is a good deal in what you say," Felix answered thoughtfully."Come, we will play the game, then! It is my lead. Very well! I havebeen down here watching you continually, with the object of discoveringthe source of this wonderful power by means of which you are prepared tooffer up this country, bound hand and foot, to whichever Power youdecide to make terms with. Sounds like a fairy tale, doesn't it? But youobviously believe in it yourself, and Lobenski believes in you."
"Good!" Mr. Sabin declared. "That power of which I have spoken I nowpossess! It was nearly complete a month ago; an hour's work now willmake it a living and invulnerable fact."
"You obtained," Felix said, "your final success this afternoon, when yourobbed the mad Admiral."
Mr. Sabin shook his head gently.
"I have not robbed any one," he said; "I never use force."
Felix looked at him reproachfully.
"I have heard much that is evil about you," he said, "but I have neverheard before that you were known to--to--dear me, it is a veryunpleasant thing to say!"
"Well, sir?"
"To cheat at cards!"
Mr. Sabin drew a short, little breath.
"What I have said is true to the letter," he repeated "The Admiral gaveme the trifling information I asked for, with his own hands."
Felix remained incredulous.
"Then you must add the power of hypnotism," he declared, "to your otheraccomplishments."
Mr. Sabin laughed scornfully, nevertheless he did not seem to bealtogether at his ease. The little scene in the library at DeringhamHall was not a pleasant recollection for him.
"The matter after all," he said coldly, "is unimportant; it is merely adetail. I will admit that you have done your spy's work well. Now, whatwill buy your memory, and your departure from this train, at the nextstation?"
Felix smiled.
"You are becoming more sensible," he said; "it is a very fair questionto ask. My price is the faithful fulfilment of your contract with mychief."
"I have made no contract with him."
"You have opened negotiations; he is ready to come to terms with you.You have only to name your price."
"I have no price," Mr. Sabin said quietly, "that he could pay."
"What Knigenstein can give," Felix said, "he can give double. The SecretService funds of Russia are the largest in the world; you can havepractically a blank cheque upon them."
"I repeat," Mr. Sabin said, "I have no price that Prince Lobenski couldpay. You talk as though I were a blackmailer, or a common thief. Youhave always misunderstood me. Come! I will remember that the cards areupon the table; I will be wholly frank with you. It is Knigenstein withwhom I mean to treat, and not your chief. He has agreed to myterms--Russia never could."
Felix was silent for a moment.
"You are holding," he said, "your trump card in your hand. Whatever inthis world Germany could give you, Russia could improve upon."
"She could do so," Mr. Sabin said, "only at the expense of her honour.Come! here is that trump card. I will throw it upon the table; now yousee that my hands are empty. My price is the invasion of France, and therestoration of the Monarchy."
Felix looked at him as a man looks upon a lunatic.
"You are playing with me," he cried.
"I was never more in earnest in my life," Mr. Sabin said.
"Do you mean to tell me that you--in cold blood--are working for sovisionary, so impossible an end?"
"It is neither visionary," Mr. Sabin said, "nor impossible. I do notbelieve that any man, save myself, properly appreciates the strength ofthe Royalist party in France. Every day, every minute brings it freshadherents. It is as certain that some day a king will reign once more atVersailles, as that the sun will set before many hours are past. TheFrench people are too bourgeois at heart to love a republic. The desirefor its abolition is growing up in their hearts day by day. Youunderstand me now when I say that I cannot treat with your country? Thehonour of Russia is bound up with her friendship to France. Germany, onthe other hand, has ready her battle cry. She and France have beenquivering on the verge of war for many a year. My whole hand is upon thetable now, Felix. Look at the cards, and tell me whether we can treat!"
Felix was silent. He looked at his opponent with unwilling admiration;the man after all, then, was great. For the moment he could think ofnothing whatever to say.
"Now, listen to me," Mr. Sabin continued earnestly. "I made a greatmistake when I ever mentioned the matter to Prince Lobenski. I cannottreat with him, but on the other hand, I do not want to be hampered byhis importunities for the next few days. You have done your duty, andyou have done it well. It is not your fault that you cannot succeed.Leave the train at the next station--disappear for a week, and I willgive you a fortune. You are young--the world is before you. You can seekdistinction in whatever way you will. I have a cheque-book in my pocket,and a fountain pen. I will give you an order on the Credit Lyonnaise forL20,000."
Felix laughed softly; his face was full of admiration. He looked at hiswatch, and began to gather together his belongings.
"Write out the cheque," he said; "I agree. We shall be at the junctionin about ten minutes."