CHAPTER XII
STAND AND DELIVER!
The Marchese Loria had always been lucky in games of chance. In thisbiggest game of all Fortune still stood behind him and, with a guidingfinger, pointed out the cards to play.
There were no delays in his programme. His ship arrived in port preciselyat the appointed hour. He was able to go on immediately to San Francisco.There he was just in time to catch a boat for Samoa. He wired to hisfriend, Monsieur de Letz, the French Consul, that he was coming, andreceived an enthusiastic welcome. The Consul was a bachelor, approachingmiddle age, was intensely bored with the monotony of life on an island ofthe Pacific, and was ravished with the chance of entertaining a personageso brilliant in the great far-away world as the Marchese Loria. He had acharming house, and a good cook; some wine also, and cigars of the best.Loria arrived at dinner-time, and afterward, smoking and talking in themoonlight on a broad verandah, the guest led up to the question he washalf dying to ask.
"Have you heard any exciting news lately?" he airily inquired, in a tonethat hovered between pleasantry and mystery.
"Does one ever hear exciting news in this place?" groaned the FrenchConsul. "Nothing has happened for years. Nothing is ever likely to happenagain now that we have become so dull and peaceful here."
"No news of another visitor?"
"Another visitor?"
"A gentleman from New Caledonia."
"_Mon Dieu!_ How did you know that?"
"Is it then so difficult to know, _mon ami_?"
"One hopes so. It is not good that these things should leak out and reachthe public ear. The information is very private. The authorities at homeand abroad do all they can to keep it dark, and yet it seems----"
"My ear isn't exactly the 'public ear,' as I'll presently explain. But itis a fact, then, that a convict has escaped from the Ile Nou, and youhave got word that he is likely to turn up here on board a steam yacht?"
"It is a fact. I see you have the whole story. But how did you get it?"
"I'll tell you that later. First, just a question or two, if you don'tmind, for I happen to be interested in the affair. How long ago did thefellow get away--or rather, when may the yacht, the _Bella Cuba_, beexpected here, if at all?"
"She might come in to-morrow."
Loria gave a long sigh. He was lying back in a big easy-chair and sendingout ring after ring of blue smoke, which he watched, as they disappeared,with half-shut eyes. One would have fancied him the embodiment of happylaziness, unless one had chanced to notice the tension of the fingerswhich grasped an arm of the chair.
"What will happen when she does come in?"
"Oh, trouble for me, and nothing to show for it."
"What do you mean?"--with a sudden change of tone.
"All I could do, I have done; which is to inform the Governmentauthorities here that on board the expected yacht is a runaway _forcat_belonging to France, and ask that he be arrested on the yacht's arrival."
"And then?"
"Then a boat will go out to meet this _Bella Cuba_ as she comes into theharbour, and she will be requested to give up the man. Her people willsay that there's no such person there, and refuse to let any one onboard."
"But surely you could detain the yacht and search? The _Bella Cuba_ comesfrom Sydney and New Caledonia. If you had reason to believe that therewas a case of plague on board, for instance, the yacht would bequarantined."
"Yes; but if she were detained, and the convict found on board, hecouldn't be identified by any one here. There has been no time for aphotograph to arrive from New Caledonia. He won't be dressed like aconvict; his hair will have grown. I have only the descriptiontelegraphed. His friends will take care he doesn't answer to that. Evenif the Government fellows here had any pluck and wanted to attempt anarrest they wouldn't dare, with no one to identify the _forcat_. You see,the yacht will be flying the English or American flag, and so----"
"I can identify him."
"You? There is a mystery then. I scented it at your first words."
"Scarcely a mystery. You have been very good to answer my questions.Answer one more now, and I'll explain everything. Suppose I can put youin the way of identifying this man, without chance of error; suppose Ican put you up to a trick for detaining the yacht, is there any hope, ifI proved to you it would be for your own advantage, as well as ofeverybody else concerned, that you could have the man arrested, and sentback where he deserves to be?"
The Frenchman hesitated. Then he said slowly, and more gravely than hehad yet spoken: "Yes, I think I could."
"That is well, for he is a fiend in human shape, not fit to be at large.Worse than all, if he escapes, he is almost certain to ruin the life ofthe woman I love, and end my hopes of winning her."
"_Mon Dieu!_ We must send him back to New Caledonia, to spend the rest ofhis life in the Black Cell!" enthusiastically exclaimed De Letz. "But mycuriosity is on the stretch. A moment more unsatisfied, and it snaps."
"It shall be satisfied on the instant. I'll tell you the story in as fewwords as may be. You remember the crime committed by this fellow--for ofcourse you know that, before he was Convict 1280, he was MaximeDalahaide?"
"I know that. I know he is a murderer. But it is eight years, you mustrecollect, since I was in France, long before the thing happened. I tookno particular interest in the crime, as I had never met the Dalahaides.He killed a woman: so much I recall. You were acquainted with him, Isuppose?"
"To my sorrow. I thought he was my friend. He was a traitor. I cared forhis sister. She loved and would have married me; but because I knew toomuch about him and his evil ways, he did not want me in the family. Hetold the girl and her parents lies. They believed them and sent me away.He borrowed huge sums of money of me, and never paid--never meant to pay.Always he was my secret enemy, yet when the world knew he was a murdererI strained every nerve to save his life, for his sister's sake. I didsave it. But for every one concerned it was better that he should beremoved where he could no longer strike at society, and I could scarcelyregret his fate. Four years passed; I loved again, this time a beautifulAmerican girl, the most perfect creature I have ever seen, and a greatheiress. Madeleine Dalahaide had learned to detest me. She prejudicedthis girl against me, and, not satisfied with that, excited her romanticnature to sympathy for the murderer, as a victim of injustice. The _BellaCuba_ is this girl's yacht--Miss Beverly's. She bought it in the hope ofrescuing Maxime Dalahaide, and if he can escape, there is little doubtthat she will put her hand in his, red though it is with a detestablecrime. She must be saved from so ghastly a fate. But if she learns thatshe owes the failure of her plans to me, she will hate me to the death,and I shall lose all hope of her; whereas, if my agency in this affaircould be hidden from her knowledge, the chances are that, if I could keepmy head, I might win back her heart, after it is healed from its firstdisappointment. Help me to accomplish this, De Letz, for the sake of oldtimes, and there's nothing you can ask of me that I will not do. Italianthough I am, you know that my French cousins have powerful politicalinfluence. They shall use it to the utmost for you, and get you what postyou please. I promise it--and I never break a promise to a friend."
"You fire me with your own enthusiasm!" cried De Letz. "We shall work thething between us. But if you, and you alone, can identify this man, howwill your part in the business be kept dark?"
"I will tell you how. I have brought several photographs of him, which Ihave always kept within reach. These I will give to you, and you can usethem. If possible, I should, however, like to appear, not in thecharacter of an enemy, but that of a friend. You may think this a low wayof playing the game; but, you know, 'all is fair in love and war.' I wantMiss Beverly to think I am here at this time by chance; that I have triedto soften your heart toward Dalahaide, and that I come with you, not asyour ally against her, but to offer her and her cause what help I can. Ofcourse, I shall fail in that effort, and you will win; but the littlecomedy will have brought me the girl's gratitude, which is worth all theworld at
this ticklish stage of the game. Will you aid me to play thepart on these lines?"
De Letz laughed. "So, I am to be the villain of the piece? Well, I do notmind. We will stage the play realistically, and I----"
"And you will never regret your role in it," returned Loria.
* * * * *
Before the _Bella Cuba_ left Mentone all probable contingencies of themission had been foreseen, and as far as possible provided for, by RogerBroom, George Trent, and Virginia Beverly, in council. They had talkedover what must be done in case of failure or success, and the only eventwhich Virginia had not felt able to discuss had been the death of one ormore of the three men concerned in the rescue. They knew that, if the_Bella Cuba_ should be lucky enough to get away from New Caledonia withMax Dalahaide on board, the news of the convict's escape would certainlyreach the next port at which they must touch, before they could arrivethere. Virginia's hope had been, after meeting the Countess de Mattos,that the woman's confession would exculpate Maxime, and that the peace ofhis future would be secured by the great _coup_ of "kidnapping" her. Butnow this glimpse of brightness seemed likely to prove a mirage. Virginiawas as sure as ever that Manuela de Mattos was Liane Devereux; even RogerBroom's contrary opinion had been somewhat shaken by the woman'shorrified shriek at sight of Max Dalahaide's white face and tragic eyesin the moonlight. But the Countess had hardened once more into marbleself-control, and Maxime, after an hour or two on board the yacht, hadfallen into a state of fever and delirium. For the time being he could donothing to assist in proving her identity; indeed, even if he had kepthis senses, he might not have been able to swear that she was LianeDevereux, so many were the differences of personality. Months might haveto pass before the truth of the strange conjecture could be proved--if itcould ever be proved--while the Countess de Mattos remained entrenched inher strong position as a much injured and innocent lady.
They could not count upon her, and were forced to rely wholly upon theplan formed before the beautiful Manuela had entered into theircalculations. On reaching Samoa it was to be, as George Trent expressedit, a "game of bluff." One hope of saving Max lay in the fact that nophotograph of him could have arrived from New Caledonia; there were ahundred chances to one that there would be no one at Samoa who had everseen him; he could not, therefore, be positively identified, and as the_Bella Cuba_, owned by an American girl, flew the stars and stripes, itwas not likely that the authorities would care to invite trouble byattempting to detain a yacht sailing under American colours. It was wellknown to the initiated also, that successful "evasions" from the Frenchpenal settlements were hushed up with nervous caution whenever possibleand that the news of even an attempted escape was seldom printed inFrench papers. This was another advantage for the guilty _Bella Cuba_. Itmight be considered better to let one convict go free, than precipitatean international complication, a world-wide sensation, especially asthere was no one with a personal interest to serve in recovering thisparticular prisoner.
They steamed boldly on toward Samoa. The morning that the island wassighted, Dr. Grayle had pronounced Max Dalahaide better. The delirium hadpassed. He was quiet, though still very weak.
"I suppose he wouldn't be able to confront that wicked woman and accuseher to her face?" asked Virginia of the little brown man.
Dr. Grayle shook his head. "Not yet," he said. "Our motto must beforward, but not too fast. He isn't fit yet for any strong excitement,since we don't want to risk a relapse now that he's getting on so well. Iwas rather afraid the sight of all those souvenirs of the past in hiscabin would upset him when he should be in a state of mind to recognizethem, but the effect has apparently been precisely opposite. At first,before he entirely realized things, and remembered where he was and howhe had got there, he seemed to think that he was at home, and wascontinually talking to his mother or sister, or calling for his father,sometimes in English, sometimes in French. Now he knows all, and when heheard how it was your thought and his sister's to have so many familiarobjects surrounding him, to give an atmosphere of home to the cabinprepared in case of a rescue, the tears came to his eyes, and he turnedaway his head on the pillow to hide them from me. He believes that, evenin his unconsciousness, these things must have made an impression uponhis mind, and by their soothing influence drawn his thought toward home,otherwise he must have raved about the prison in his delirium, instead ofreturning to old, happy days. So you see, Miss Beverly, he has one morereason to thank you, this poor fellow who has suffered so much, and keptso brave and strong through all."
Virginia had been pale of late, but she flushed at these words. "Youbelieve him innocent, Dr. Grayle!" she exclaimed. "You wouldn't speak ofhim like that unless it were so."
"No one could have been with him as I have these past few days, and notbelieve him innocent," said the little doctor in his quiet voice. "SirRoger thinks as I do, too, now. You will be glad to hear that."
"I am glad," Virginia answered. But Roger was not glad. Above all thingshe was just--sometimes in spite of himself. He had helped to nurse MaxDalahaide; he had changed his opinion of him, and felt bound to say so;yet he was not glad to change. He would have preferred to go on believingDalahaide a guilty man.
Virginia had not the key to Roger's heart, however, and she did not knowthat he had the key to hers--to one hidden place there into which she hadhardly dared to look. She would have kept it always locked, even fromherself, if she could; but because she knew that there was somethingthere to hide, she invited Roger to go with her when Max sent wordthrough Dr. Grayle, begging to see his hostess. She did not want Roger tobe present when she talked with Maxime Dalahaide for the first time sincehis escape. She would have liked to be alone with him, if that had beenpossible; but for the very reason that the wish was so strong in herheart, she denied it. Her cousin Roger had risked his life to please her,and she had a promise to keep. She meant to keep it; and he had a rightto be by her side when she went to the man whom he had so nobly helped tosave.
But Roger refused. "No, dear," he said. "Soon we shall be in the harbourat Samoa. There is plenty to do. I want to be on hand with George to doit. Let Dr. Grayle take you to Maxime. He will know how long and howmuch it is best for him to talk."
"We will be in harbour so soon?" exclaimed Virginia. "The Countess! Shewill try to get away, you know."
"She'll try in vain," responded Roger. "We won't give her a boat."
"But there'll be ships and boats in the harbour. She may call for help,and make us trouble."
"I'll see to her," said Roger. "I don't think we shall get much good outof detaining her; but we've gone so far now, we may as well go a littlefurther."
They were talking in the saloon, out of which the cabins opened, but theyhad spoken in low voices, guarding against being overheard. Nor couldthey have been overheard, unless by some one making a special effort tolisten. Such an effort the Countess de Mattos was making. She had kept toher cabin since the eventful night of the escape from New Caledonia, andhad demanded her meals and other attentions with the air of an insultedqueen claiming her just rights. She always bent herself eagerly tolisten when she heard the murmur of voices in the saloon, especially ifthey seemed to be suppressed. She did not now catch every word, but sheheard "the harbour of Samoa"; "soon in"; "the Countess--try to get away";"call for help--make us trouble"; "I'll see to her"; and she pressed herlips together in fierce anger, her delicate nostrils quivering.
From her porthole she had not seen the land in sight, and had had nomeans of knowing that the time for her to act was so near at hand. Sincethe night of her terrible shock, she had revolved many plans in her mind,but the only one upon which she had definitely decided was to leave the_Bella Cuba_ at all costs, and as soon as possible. Her nerves were notin a state to stand an indefinite strain, and she realized that she couldnot bear much more. Even with the chlorodyne and absinthe she hardlyslept now, and she scarcely cared to project her thoughts beyond the timeof escape from the hateful yacht.
Now
, she had one thing for which to thank Virginia Beverly; thesuggestion that she should call for help when the _Bella Cuba_ hadsteamed into the harbour of Samoa. At once her excitable brain seized thepicturesqueness of a dramatic situation. She saw herself, effectivelydressed, rushing to the rail and hailing any passing ship which might benearest. Sir Roger Broom, or her late friend George Trent, might try tostop her, but their violence would be seen from some other ship, and hercause against them would be strengthened.
Surely her appeals would not be ignored; men, of whatever class orcountry, were never blind to the distress of a woman as beautiful as she.Yes, she would be rescued. The story that she would tell must rouseindignation against Virginia Beverly and her companions. She herself hadnothing to fear--nothing. And the man on whose advice she had spent yearsof exile would admire her more than ever, when he knew what she hadendured, without breaking down. The end of her probation had come. Thereason for delay had disappeared now, after all these years. They wouldmarry, he and she, and he would help her to forget the past.
Manuela's reflections did not cause her to waste time. They were a mereaccompaniment to her rapid action. Virginia had said they would soon bein the harbour. She must prepare herself to leave the yacht, and getready to carry with her such things as were indispensable. Hurriedly shethrew off the _robe de chambre_ of silk and lace which she had beenwearing, and put on a charming dress, suitable for travelling. The longoutstanding account for this _confection_ had been paid with VirginiaBeverly's money; but that was a detail.
When she was ready to go up on deck--which she would do as soon as theyacht dropped anchor--she took her jewels from the large leather boxwhere they were kept, and wrapping everything in a soft silk scarf, shestuffed the thick parcel into a handbag, which already held severalmysterious-looking bottles with the labels carefully taken off. This bagwas always locked, except when the Countess was at her toilet; then, fora brief time, the bottles came out, and a few tiny boxes and brushes;but she never forgot to put them back into the bag again, turn the key,and slip the latter on to the gold key-ring which she wore on herchatelaine.
The bag packed with jewels, as well as its legitimate contents, Manuelaturned her attention to the larger luggage. This she could not carry awaywith her, if she were gallantly rescued from her sea-prison by a _coupd'etat_; but it would be as well to have the things which she most valuedready to go later. She had filled her cabin-box, and was in the act oflocking it, when the yacht's screw ceased to throb. The _Bella Cuba_ hadstopped. Orders were being shouted up above; and then came a grindingsound as the anchor was slowly dropped. The Countess de Mattos knew thatthey must be in the harbour of Samoa. She flung open the door of hercabin and stepped out into the saloon. There sat George Trent, who, asshe appeared, looked up from a book which he was reading, or seemed toread.
"Good morning, Countess," he said coolly, rising and flinging away hisbook. "I'm glad you're better, but I don't think, now I see you in thelight, that you look well enough to be out."
"I was never ill," she answered haughtily--for Virginia Beverly's brothercould only be an enemy.
"It's mighty brave of you to try and keep up like this," said George,"but that was a bad attack of yours the other night. I can see you're notfit yet. You'd better go back and lie down while we coal. The blacks willbe flying around, you know, and you'll get them in your lungs."
"Let me pass," exclaimed the Countess, making a rush to push by him andreach the companionway.
"I'd do a good deal for you, Countess, but I can't do that," retortedGeorge. "It's against the doctor's orders."
"How dare you!" she panted. "Oh, you shall suffer for this!"
"All I'm worried about now is that _you_ don't suffer. You really mustn'texcite yourself. It's not good, you know. It's as much as my place isworth to let you upstairs. I expect it would be the best thing for yourhealth to go and lie down, but if you won't do that, why, I'll try andentertain you here as well as I can."
The beautiful woman looked the tall young man full in the eyes, hersdilated and burning with the impotent fury in her soul. She was wiseenough to see that he was not to be beguiled. If he, like other men, hadhis price, nothing that she could offer would pay it. He did not mean tolet her go up on deck, and it would be as useless as undignified toattempt carrying out her will with a high hand. If there were any hope,it was in stratagem. Without breaking another lance against theimpenetrable armour of his obstinacy, she turned her back upon him, sweptinto her cabin, and shut the door. Having done so--her little bag stillgrasped in her hand--she flew to the porthole and peered out. If a boathad been passing, or a ship at anchor visible near by, she would havescreamed for help; but nothing promising was to be seen for the moment.
Meanwhile, Virginia had spent the most heavenly half-hour of her life.She had been so divinely happy that she had forgotten the danger ahead.To sit beside Max Dalahaide, to meet his eyes, tragic no longer, butbright with passionate gratitude; to know that he was out of danger, thathe would live, and owe his life to her and hers; to hear the thanks,spoken stammeringly, but straight from his heart, filled her with anecstasy such as she had never known. It was akin to pain, and yet it wasworth dying for, just to have felt it once.
She was with him still when the yacht dropped anchor.
"This is Samoa?" he said, half rising on his elbow, and a quick flushspringing to his thin cheeks.
"Yes," Virginia answered. "But there is no danger. My cousin says theywill dare nothing. We shall have coaled in a couple of hours, andthen----"
At this moment a sound of voices came through the open porthole, whichwas on the side of the yacht opposite to Manuela's.
Some one in a boat was calling to some one on the deck of the _BellaCuba_; and evidently the boat was near.
Virginia's sentence broke off. She forgot what she had been saying, andsprang to her feet, her heart in her throat. It was the Marchese Loria'svoice that she had heard.
What could his presence here signify? Did it mean unexpected disaster?Involuntarily her frightened glance went to Maxime's face. Their eyesmet. She saw in his that he, too, had recognized those once familiartones.
"I will go on deck," she said brokenly, trying to control her voice."I--when I can I will come back again. And--of course, Dr. Grayle, youwill stay here."
"You may trust me," said the little brown man, with meaning in hiswords.