CHAPTER XI
VIRGINIA'S GREAT MOMENT
She went up on deck, moving dazedly, with a strange sense of unrealityupon her, as if she had somehow wandered into a cold, dim world ofdreams.
The firing had ceased, and the yacht was no longer in motion. Theconfused whirlwind of brain-shaking events which revolved in her memorymight now have been a part of the dream in which she was still entangled.The Countess de Mattos's beautiful eyes swept the moon-drenched scene forenlightenment, but none came.
They were not now in the harbour, that alone was clear; but land wasclose, and black horns of rock stood up out of the shining water as ifthey had broken through a great sheet of looking-glass. Across thisbright, mirror-like surface a small boat was being quickly rowed towardthe yacht. It was very near now, and several dark figures could bedistinguished in it besides those of the four rowers. Another boat, muchlarger, with more than twice the number of oars, swiftly rising andfalling, was hurrying away in the direction of a high, rocky point on theisland itself.
A chill premonition of evil fell upon the woman's soul. It was like aheavy nightmare weight that might only be felt, not seen, and could notbe shaken off. But the Countess de Mattos had experienced thisundefinable misery before, when the reaction came after taking too largea dose of chlorodyne with her "solace." She hoped that it was merely thisnow--that it was no real warning of trouble or threatening danger.
Virginia stood talking to Dr. Grayle and gazing eagerly toward theadvancing boat. The Countess de Mattos glanced at the two wistfully,longing to go to them and ask questions. Yet something seemed to hold herback. It was as if a whisper in her ear advised that there were things itwas better not to know. This was ridiculous, of course. It was alwaysmore prudent to know about disagreeable things before they could happen,and then sometimes they could be prevented, or at least staved off tillone was more prepared to grapple with them. But all the beautiful woman'sprudence was in abeyance to-night. The quality had not been born in her,but acquired; which can never be the same.
She felt weak and unnerved, with a great longing to cling to some onestronger and wiser than herself. But there was no such person at hand forher. These others had their own interests. If they really cared for herat all it was because she was ornamental, a thing of beauty which it ispleasant to have within sight; and usually it was very convenient to theCountess de Mattos to be considered thus. Indeed, most of the luxurieswhich she loved so much more dearly than the necessities of life camethrough her distinct value as an ornament. But now what was ordinarilyenough for her failed to satisfy. She felt horribly alone in the world,as if she had slipped upon some terrible ledge of rock overhanging asheer precipice, and there was no one--no one on earth to help her backto safety. Tears of self-pity rose hot in her eyes as she stood, not farfrom Virginia and the doctor, hesitating what to do.
They were so absorbed in watching the approach of the boat that they wereunconscious of her presence, and suddenly it began to fascinate theCountess de Mattos also, as if it were one of the discs which hypnotistsgive to their patients. She, too, bent over the rail and gazed at theboat as the rowers brought it nearer and nearer, but she could not seethe faces of its occupants. For three or four minutes she stood thus, andthen the boat was under the yacht's side and the men were coming up theladder.
The Countess moved nearer to Virginia and Dr. Grayle. She no longerintended--for the moment at least--to catechize them, but it occurred toher that, by merely standing within earshot while the others exchangedquestions and answers, the mystery of this night's alarming work would beexplained to her. Without being seen by her hostess or the little doctor,she was so close now that the trailing silk and lace of her _robe dechambre_ was blown by the light breeze against Virginia's white dress.
"Thank heaven--thank heaven!" she heard the girl exclaim as some one cameon board. The pair in front of her crowded so closely toward this personthat she could not see who it was, and could only suppose that it must beSir Roger Broom or George Trent returning from some strange adventure.Then, suddenly, she saw the newcomer's face, with the moon shining fullupon it, chiselling it into the perfection of a marble masterpiece ofold, thrown up by the sea from some long engulfed palace.
She stared, incredulous, her breath in abeyance, her heart stopped like ajarred clock. Then, over Virginia's shoulder, a pair of dark eyes foundhers--eyes darkened with tragedy while youth and joy should still haveshone in their untroubled depths.
Ah, the awfulness of that instant, the ghastly horror of it! Something inthe woman's brain seemed to snap, and, with a loud shriek that cut thenew-fallen silence as a jagged knife-blade of lightning cuts the sky, shethrew out her hands to shut away the sight and fell backward, fainting.Virginia turned, and knew that her great moment had come.
* * * * *
When the Countess de Mattos came to herself she awoke gazing straightupward at the stars, which danced a strange, whirling measure as thehorizon rose and dipped with the swift forging of the yacht. She waslying on the deck, her head supported on something low and soft, and Dr.Grayle bent over her, kneeling on one knee.
"All right again?" he inquired cheerfully, in his blunt way.
She did not answer, for with desperate haste she was collecting herthoughts, linking together broken impressions. An awful thing hadhappened. What? she asked herself. Then suddenly the vision flashed backto her, and she shuddered. Lowering her lids, so that the thick, blackfringe of lashes veiled her eyes, she glanced anxiously about. Had itbeen a vision and no more, or was it real, and should she have to meetthose accusing eyes again? As she debated thus Virginia stepped forward.
"I think, Countess, that you will do now," said Dr. Grayle. "There is awounded man below who needs my services, but refused them until youshould have recovered."
"Oh, go--go!" murmured his patient in irritable weakness.
The little doctor got up, and as he walked quickly away Virginia took hisplace.
"Can I do anything for you?" she asked.
The Countess shook her head. Her face looked lined and haggard, despiteits beauty, in the bleaching light of the moon, and Virginia was almostsorry for her. She could afford to pity the woman now, she thought, forshe had triumphed. Her case was proved beyond all doubt, and even Roger,who had heard the scream of recognition and witnessed the fainting fit,could no longer deny that the Countess de Mattos and Liane Devereux wereone. Virginia would not strike a blow at a fallen enemy, and, holdingthis woman in the hollow of her hand, as she believed she did, she wasready to give such help as could be given without injuring the cause sheserved.
"Wouldn't you like to go back to your stateroom?" she went on. "You havehad a great shock, and----"
The Countess sat up quickly, pushing her disordered hair away from hereyes. "I don't know what you mean by a shock," she said, "unless yourefer to the terrible cannonading. That was enough, I should think, tofrighten the bravest. No wonder I fainted. And then, seeing that ghastlyman, dressed like a _forcat_, all dripping wet, and stained red withblood, was the last drop in the cup of fear. I cannot think what horrorshave been happening to-night."
All Virginia's pity was swept away. Her heart hardened toward thistiger-woman.
"Cannot you think?" she echoed bitterly. "Then I will tell you. We havebeen rescuing an innocent man, who for years has suffered untold miseriesfor a crime never committed. Thank heaven that his sufferings are endedat last, for we have him on board this yacht, which is carrying him awayfrom New Caledonia at about twenty knots an hour, and we have the proofwith us which will establish his innocence before many days have passed."
"It is a crime for a _forcat_ to evade his prison--a crime to aid him,"cried the Countess.
"We are not afraid of the punishment," said Virginia, hot, indignantblood springing to her cheeks. "_We_ are ready to face the consequencesof our own actions."
The emphasis was an accusation, but the Countess de Mattos did not winceunder the lash. Even a coward may be
brave in a hand-to-hand fight forlife; and it was only physically that she was a coward.
"You are courageous," she said, almost wholly mistress of herself now,"and, of course, you know your own affairs best, dear girl. But I am notso brave. This awful night has tried me severely, and has come near tospoiling our so pleasant trip. It has sickened me of the sea and ofyachting. I shall beg to be landed as soon as convenient to you."
"It will be convenient to us when you have confessed everything inwriting," Virginia flung at her, stung into mercilessness by the woman'sbrazen defiance. "Then, and not before, you may leave this yacht."
The Countess de Mattos arose from her lowly place as gracefully and withas much dignity as such an act could be performed. While she sat on thefloor and Virginia towered over her, the enemy had too much advantage ofposition. The two were of one height, and, standing, they faced eachother like contending goddesses.
"You speak in riddles," said the elder woman.
"Riddles to which you have the key."
"I do not know what you mean, except that it seems to me it is yourintention to be insolent."
"In your code, perhaps, honesty is insolence. But I do not wish to forgetthat, in a way, you are my guest. I asked you to come for a purpose, Iadmit; yet----"
"Ah! you admit that. Possibly you will condescend to inform me what yourpurpose was?"
"My purpose was to make assurance doubly sure. To-night I have donethis."
"Evidently you do not wish me to understand you."
"Say, rather, you do not wish to understand me. I think you must do so,in spite of yourself; but lest you should not, I will tell you. Isuspected that you were the woman whom Maxime Dalahaide was accused ofmurdering. Now I _know_ that you are not the Countess de Mattos, butLiane Devereux!"
The woman's green-gray eyes were like steel in the moonlight. "MaximeDalahaide; Liane Devereux," she slowly repeated. "I never heard thesenames."
Virginia was struck dumb by the other's effrontery, almost frightened byit. If this terrible creature withdrew into a brazen fortress of lies,who could tell how long a siege she might be able to withstand? The girlhad been astonished and dismayed in the morning, when the first sally ofthe attack had failed; but then her strongest forces, her most deadlyweapons, had been still in reserve. Now they had been brought against theenemy's defenses and--the walls had not fallen; there was no sign ofcapitulation. A cold misgiving began to stir in Virginia's mind. Would itmean failure if the Countess de Mattos obstinately refused to tell thetruth?
After all, she was only a girl, opposed to a woman whose variedexperience of thirty years or more had endowed her with infiniteresource. Virginia's stricken silence gave the other a new advantage.
"As you have said yourself," icily began the Countess once more, "you aremy hostess. You flattered me; you made me think that you were my friend;you asked me on board your yacht, and I came, trustingly, ignorant that,under some wild mistake which even now I do not comprehend, you plottedmy betrayal. Why, it was a Judas act!"
"If I did evil, I did it that good might come," said poor Virginia. "Andit _shall_ come. You are Liane Devereux. _You_ were guilty of the 'Judasact.' Maxime Dalahaide loved you; and with what motive I don't yet know,but mean to know, you betrayed him to a fate worse than death. For thatyou deserve anything. Yes, I kidnapped you. That's what Roger called it,and I don't repent now. You are here on this yacht with Maxime Dalahaide,and we are on the open sea. Unless you jump overboard, you cannot getaway from your atonement. Atonement--that is the word. Oh, woman,woman--if you _are_ a woman and not a stone, think what atonement wouldmean for you! You must have had terrible moments, living withremembrances like yours--a man who loved you sent to a living grave. Nowit is in your power to make up to him--ever so little, perhaps, but athousand times better than nothing--for the wrong you did. Do this--doit, and be thankful all the rest of your life for the blessed chancewhich heaven has sent you."
The Countess laughed. "You change your tone suddenly--from threats to anappeal. You would make quite a good preacher, but your eloquence can haveno effect on my conscience, as I have not the remotest idea what you aretalking about. I had let myself grow fond of you, and I was grateful forall these lazy, pleasant weeks, and for the money you lent me; but nowthat I know what was underneath your seeming kindness I am no moregrateful, and I shall do my best to punish you for the wicked trick youhave played upon me. As for attempting to prove that I am--what name didyou give the woman?--well, anybody except myself, you will find itimpossible. I have powerful friends who would travel far to save me fromany trouble. You cannot keep me a prisoner on board this yacht. You musttouch again at land before long, and then I shall go away and tell everyone what has happened on your _Bella Cuba_."
"We shall see," said Virginia.
"We _shall_ see," echoed the Countess. "And now I am going to mystateroom. Perhaps I may hope to be free from persecution there."
She swept away, looking gorgeously beautiful, and as proud as a queenbent on holding her crown against the people's will.
Virginia stood still, watching her; and when the tall, stately figure haddisappeared, a crushing sense of defeat fell upon the girl.
Only a few moments ago, as time counted, she had felt that, with MaximeDalahaide's rescue, she had every wish of her heart fulfilled. But nowshe saw the position of affairs with changed eyes. It was as different asa flower-decked ballroom seen by the light of a thousand glitteringcandles, and again by sunrise when the candles had burnt down and theflowers faded.
Maxime was out of prison; there was that, at all events, to be thankfulfor, and there was nothing at New Caledonia which could even attempt togive chase to the wicked little _Bella Cuba_. Nevertheless, the FrenchGovernment had a long arm, and would not quietly let a convict sentencedfor life be snatched away without making a grab to get him back again.Virginia had known this from the first, but when Roger had pointed thefact out to her as one of the difficulties to be encountered, she hadsaid in the beginning: "If we have the luck to rescue him we shall havethe luck to hide him," and afterward, when she had seen the Countess deMattos at Cairo, she had amended the prophecy by saying: "If they catchus we shall be able to prove his innocence."
It had all seemed very simple, and she had been impatient with Roger forbringing up so many discouraging objections to her impulsively formedplans. He had gone in with them at last, without, however, pretending tobe convinced, and she had bribed him with a virtual promise of marriage.He had done all that she had asked of him, and more; and she would haveto keep her promise, but--had she accomplished enough that was good forMaxime, to pay for the sacrifice? It would be a sacrifice--a greater onethan she had known at first, greater than, somehow, she had realizeduntil to-day. She must pay the price; and Maxime--what of him?
If his innocence could not be proved, through the dead woman miraculouslycome alive, he could never, at best, go back to France; and as the crimeof which he was accused came under the extradition treaty, he would besafe nowhere. He must--as he himself had said--lead "a hunted life,"wherever he might be. Neither money, nor influence, nor yearningsister-love, nor--the love of friends who would give their heart's bloodto save him, could shield Maxime Dalahaide from the sword of Damocles,ever suspended, ever ready to fall.
* * * * *
When the Marchese Loria received Lady Gardiner's telegram from Sydney, hewas stunned. "Leaving here to-morrow," the message ran; "destinationunknown."
Unknown to her the destination might be, but it was not unknown to him.He was almost as sure that the _Bella Cuba_ was bound for New Caledonia,as if Dr. Grayle had allowed Kate Gardiner to send her desired word fromprison-land; and although he had constantly assured himself that ifVirginia did go there it could do no harm, now that he was morallycertain she would go, he quivered with vague apprehension.
At first, he could not force his mind to concentrate itself upon theintricacies of the situation. He walked up and down his room, like acaged animal, tryin
g to think how, if it were by moving heaven and earth,he could prevent Virginia Beverly and the convict Max Dalahaide fromcoming together. Then, with the thought that they might meet seething inhis head, he would stop abruptly and say to himself, as he had said sooften before: "Nonsense; you are a fool. They cannot come together. Thereis everything against it." Still, the root of fear was there, and grewagain as soon as burned away.
If he chose, he might send a warning to the prison authorities at NewCaledonia. He could say that the _Bella Cuba_ was a suspicious craft, andought not to be allowed in the harbour for a single hour. But to do this,he would be obliged either to proceed to Paris and give satisfactoryreasons why such proceedings should be taken, or wire the warning messagehimself, signing his own name. No other method would be of any avail, asthe governor of the prison would pay no attention to an anonymoustelegram, and there was now no time to write a letter. He would beobliged also to assert positively that he knew the _Bella Cuba's_ errandto be treacherous; and, whether he went to Paris, or telegraphed, throughSydney, to New Caledonia, in either case Virginia was certain to findout, later, what he had done. Such secrets could not be successfullyhidden, and she would hate him for his interference. If there was littlehope for him now, there would be none then.
When his wits began to work he regarded the situation from all points ofview. He admitted the remote--extremely remote--possibility that theparty on the _Bella Cuba_ might actually contemplate a rescue. He wouldalmost have been ready to stake his life that, if such an attempt weremade, it would fail ignominiously, with disaster to allconcerned--perhaps death to more than one. But--it _might_ succeed. If itdid, what would happen?
They would not dare to put back to Sydney Heads. The yacht must be coaledand provisioned somewhere. He consulted maps, and saw that the mostlikely place for the _Bella Cuba_ to proceed on leaving New Caledonia wasSamoa. It seemed to him that she must go there, in any case.
Loria did not wish to appear as an active enemy of Maxime Dalahaide's. Itwas largely owing to his efforts on the prisoner's behalf that Max hadbeen saved from the guillotine, and all the Dalahaides must have knownthat. Virginia, no doubt, knew it too. But what was to be done, if hewere not to fling aside the cloak of his reputation as a friend of thatunfortunate family? The spirit of high romance ran in Virginia Beverly'sblood. She was capable of marrying an escaped prisoner, and sharing hismiserable, hunted existence. Such a thing must not be. Loria felt that itwould be less bearable to lose her through Max Dalahaide than through anyother man. He would rather see her Roger Broom's wife than Maxime's, buthe had not yet given up all hope of having her for his own.
He would have just time to go to Samoa and meet the _Bella Cuba_ there,if he started at once. The yacht would not leave Sydney Heads till nextday, according to the news in the telegram. Then it would take her tendays more to reach New Caledonia. There she was sure to remain for somehours, at the very least. If he, Loria, caught a certain "greyhound ofthe sea" which was sailing from Cherbourg for New York the followingmorning, took a fast express from New York for San Francisco, and thensailed immediately for Samoa, he could not fail to be in time for the_Bella Cuba_. But the important thing was to find an excuse to accountfor his being there when the _Bella Cuba_ arrived.
He was not, luckily for his present plan, supposed to know for what partsthe yacht had been bound; therefore, if he went to Samoa to visit hisfriend the French Consul, who had once really invited him to do so, evenVirginia need not suspect his motive. His opportune appearance might passmerely as a rather odd coincidence.
If the _Bella Cuba_ took away a fugitive on board, the authorities at NewCaledonia would not remain idle. They would at once wire to Sydney of aconvict's escape, and the telegram would be sent on to Samoa from there.A description of the yacht would be given, and inquiries would be made.But those inquiries! It was because of them that Loria was ready to makeso strong an effort to be there in time. Without him, the fugitive fromjustice might be allowed to escape, despite the extradition treaty. Withhim, Loria thought that he saw a way to make the detention of theprisoner sure, and that without showing the hand he played.
He had not lost many hours in indecision. As soon as he had made up hismind what to do, he wired to find out if there were still a berth to behad on board the New York bound ship sailing from Cherbourg next day.Even if he had been forced to travel in the steerage he would have gone,though he keenly disliked physical hardships; but he was fortunate, andobtained a good cabin for himself. As soon as this matter was arranged heleft for Cherbourg; and next day, on board his ship, gazing across thetumbled gray expanse of sea, he thought of Virginia on her little yacht,and smiled. About this time, perhaps, the _Bella Cuba_ was steamingboldly from Sydney Heads, bound for New Caledonia--on what strange,desperate errand, who could tell? The girl's heart was beating high withhope, no doubt. How little she guessed that, half across the world, a manwas setting forth to defeat her plans, even if they attained success!