WHOSE FINDETH A WIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10425, 24 April 1897, Page 3 (Supplement)

WHOSE FINDETH A WIFE.

BY WILLIAM LK QI'EUX, Author of "The Great War in England ii 1897," "Ztraida," ".Stolen Souls," " Guilty Bonds," " A Secret Service," etc., etc. [Copvßisni. CHAPTER /Continued.) With these ominous words ringing in my ears I stumbled out, knowing not whither I went, and scarcely responding to the greetings of the men I knew, who regarded me in askance. The great central staircase up which climbed the brilliantly-uniformed representatives of all civilised countries on the face of the earth whenever the Minister held his receptions, I descended with heavy heart, and crossing the groy, silent courtyard soon found myself amid the bustle of Parliament-street.

I saw with chagrin how utterly I had failed in my endeavour to elucidate the mystery, for not only had I been unable to throw any further light upon the theft of the treaty or the tragic end of the man I suspected, but I had actually heaped increased suspicion upon myselt. On reflection I found myself in accord with the Minister's declaration that the passport was a forgery, and that the brass stamp was not the seal used by the spy, These facts were absolutely incontestable. The only thing remaining was the paper whereon attempts had been marie to imitate my writing. I tried to explain this fact away and cloar the memory of the dead man of all suspicion, but, alas! could not bring myself to believe in his innocence. There rankled in my broast the bitter thought that ho had uttered words of love to Ella, and had tried to induce her to break off her engagement to me. She herself had acknowledged, on oath before the coroner, that they had quarrelled bocause she loved me. No. Although this passport was a clumsy imitation and the seal had been cut without due regard to the Warnhum quarterings, the plain incontestable evidence of his forgery remained. He was, after all, a cunning, despicable scoundrel, who had brought dishonour upon my name and ruinod me bath socially and financially. I found myself smiling grimly at the thought of how quickly retribution had fallen upon him. If he hud died from natural causes it was but a judgment for his misdeeds; if struck down by an unknown hand it was but vengeance for his treachery towards his Quoen, his country, and his bosom friend.

Heedless of where 1 went, I walked on, called at ray club, I remember, and thrust my letters into my pocket unopened; then pursuing my way arrived home late in the afternoon. As 1 entered Juckes handed me a note from Kiln, telling me that they had left Staines owing to the tragic affair, and asking me to call that evening at Pontstroeb, adding that she wished to sue me upon a very important matter. For a long time I sat alouo, smoking and thinking, trying to deviso some moans by which 1 could bring the earl to believe in my loyalty but at last, in desperation, I rose, dressed, and took a cab to Mrs. Lairg's. The house was not large, but well ordered, exquisiioly furnished, and there was about everything an air of elegant refinement that betokened wealth, taste, and culture. It was nearly seven when I arrived, and I was gratified to learn that with the exception of Beck,, who came later, I was the only guest. Dinner was a much more stately ineal at Ponc-street than it had been at Staines whero very often wo Bat down in flannels, and I was not sorry when it was over, and I found myself free to talk alono with Ella. it was plain, from the dark rings about her cyos, that she had passed a sleepless night, and that her terrible and mysterious secret bare her down beneath its oppressive weight. Yet she had greeted me with the same joyous smile, the samo hearty hand-shake as of old, and 1 had, while sitting at dinner chatting with her, felt myself wondering how I could over have brought myself to utter such bitter reproaches and recriminations as I had done on the previous day. Her kiss, now that we were alono, thrilled me ; her speech, soft and musical, held me encaptured by its charm. She told mo, in answer to my questions, how alio had fared after 1 loft the Nook; how dismal the place had appeared, and how many bitter memories it would always possess for her. Then, in response to her suggestion, wo walked out upon the balcony, whore, under tho striped awning, a table and chairs were set. Here, in the cool night air, the quiet only broken by an occasional footfall or the tinkle of a passing cab-bell, we sipped our coffee and gossiped on as lovers will. Suddenly, while she was tolling me of ttio plans her mothor had prepared lor their sojourn for a couple of months at the seaBide, the loud, strident cry of a running newsman broko upon our ears. At first, in the distance, tho voice did nob attract our attention, but when it noareel us the words, hoarse yet indistinct, held ine speechless. I sat stunned.

Ella herself sprang from her chair, and leaned over the balcony, straining her ears to catch every sound of the rough, coarse voice. The man had paused for breath before the house, a bundle of papers across his shouldor, and the ominous words he shouted were:

" ICxtra ape-shall 1 War declared against England I Sno-shall I War against England I Startling statement! Spa-shall 1"

CHAPTER XI. DECK'S PRO I'JI E0 Y. "Hark 1" gasped Ella, turning to me, pale in alarm. " What is that man crying Listen 1" Again the hoarse voice broke the silence, clear, distinct, ominous: " War declared against England ! Speshall I" his cry being followed by tho sound of hurrying feet as people rushed from their houses, purchased copies of the paper at exorbitant prices, and eagerly devoured the amazing news. "Surely it must be some absurd story that the papers have got hold of," Ella exclaimed a few moments later, when, after again watching tho excitement below, she roturned and stood beside my chair. " The idea of war against us is absolutely absurd. You Foreign Office people would have known if such were actually the case. Evening papers are so often full of exaggerated reports, contradicted next morning, that one conses to believe in them."

" I have every reason, unfortunately, to believe in the truth of this sudden declaration of war," I answered, gloomily, scarce knowing what I said. "You believe it's true I" she cried. " How do you know ? Has Russia aotually dared to challenge us 1" " Yes," I replied. "But how were you aware that Russia was our enemy ?" She started, and held her breath. Her attitude was that of one who had unconsciously betrayed herself. " I—l—merely guessed it," alia answered lamely, with a forced smile a moment later. "I've been reading the papers lately." " The papers have given no hint of any impending complication," I answered abruptly, removing the cigarette from my lips and looking up at her keenly. '• Bub 1 read something the other day which stated that Russia and Franco had combined with the object of attacking England in the near future." I did not answer. I could only gaze at her, amazed at the calm, circumstantial manner in which she lied. That she had some knowledge of the political situation —of what character or extent 1 knew not— was certain, for other words she had let drop in unguarded moments had once or twice aroused within mo increasing suspicion. When I reflected upon her alarm on hearing the strident cry of tho newsman, £ was compelled to admit that her fears wero nob genuine. The questions she put to me regarding the relative strengths of England and Russia, and the probable course of events, were naive enough, but they wereutterod, I knew, .with a view to disarm any suspicion I might entertain. At last, wearied of her eternal masquerade, I roused myself, tossed away my dead cigarette, and, declaring that in the circumstances my presence at the Foreign Office was imperative, suddenly said:' " You asked me to come here this evening because! you had something particular to say to me, Ella. You have not yet referred to it."

"I want to ask you a question," she exclaimed, in. a low tone, slowly moving towards me, and bending until she placed her arm tenderly around my neck. ' "Well, what is it I"

For a moment she remained silent in hesitation, but at last spoke in that harsh, (trained voice that had so frequently puzzled me of late. "I know you have investigated Dudley's belongings," she said. " And 1 wanted to know whether you discovered among them some scraps of paper hearing imitations of your own Handwriting ?" 1 regarded her in surprise J her question amazed me. In her eyes I noticed ti look o intense earnestness and uppeal for symf pathy. " Well, what if I have!" I inquired. "If you have, they will, 1 know, be regarded by you as evidence that Dudley was a forger." "That is what I believe him to have been," I said with bitterness. "You judge him wrongly," she replied quite calmly, her face, nevertheless, as white as the simply-made dinner gown she wore. " I have already seen thoso papers, and know their authorship." " Did not Dudley trace my writing t" "He never did," she replied. "As his death was encompassed by his enemies, so is dishonour cast upon his memory." " Then you allego that he was the victim of conspiracy ?" i exclaimed, surprised. "No doubt. When lam at last free to speak I shall prove it, and by so doing remove from myself the suspicion now resting upon me." She spoke earnestly, with an intense ring in her voice that told me she now uttered the truth.

" For what reason was it desired to imitate my handwriting ?" I asked, pressing her hand tenderly. "Come, tell me, Ella."

"I— really don't know," she replied. "All I am aware is that your writing was most carefully traced and imitated, and for that purpose two of your letters to me were stolen." " By whom ?" " I have never been able to discover." At that moment our conversation was interrupted by a voice crying, " Here, Deedes! Have you seen this alarming news ?" and turning I saw Beck standing beside the tall amber-shaded lamp in tho drawing-room, a pale pink news-sheet in his hand. Rising quickly, Ire entered the room, and walking over to him, followed by Ella, took tho newspaper and devoured the dozen lines nt leaded type placed beneath the bold, alarming head-lines. My well-beloved was peering over my shoulder as, in breathless eagerness, I read that, according to Reutor's correspondent at St. Petersburg, the Novoii Vremya had that afternoon issued a special edition containing the amnzing statement that Russia would, in the course of a few hours, formally declare war against England, and that this fact was corroborated by the issue of telographic orders to the commanders of military districts as a preliminary to a general mobilisation of the forces. This announcement was similar to that of our secret agent in St. Petersburg, with the additional facts'that the greatest activity had commenced in tho War Office and Admiralty, and that the Czar had, in consequence, abandoned his visit to Odessa, which lie was about to undertake that day.

" The outlook is certainly most alarming," I observed, handing on the paper to Ella.

" It's extraordinary I" cried Beck, intensely excited, as became a patriotic legislator. "We have not had the slightest inkling of any diplomatic deadlock, or any disagreement with Russia. The whole thing is absolutely amazing." " Bub what will happen ?'' asked Ella eagerly, with white, seared face. " Will England be invaded, and battles fought here in the manner prophetic writers have foretold?"

"I fear so," I said despondently. "If war is really declared a conflict must very soon occur, and the struggle will then be long and deadly." " But surely the Government will not allow an enemy to land upon English soil," she exclaimed, still holding the paper in her trembling hands. " What are ambassadors for but to avert such catastrophes as this ?"

"Ambassadors," exclaimed Beck, "appear to me to be useless pawns. Surely our embassy at St. Petersburg must have been asleep not to have given the Government warning of the plans of Russia long ago. A declaration of war against a Power like England is not made without very careful deliberation."

" But can we bo invaded ?" I queried. "No doubt," Beck replied promptly. " The opinion of our greatest strategists are unanimous that, under certain conditions, France and Russia combined could invade our island. It is all very well for people to talk about England's maritime power; but is it what wo believe it to be? I think not." Having mado a deep study of this very question, I was, although a loyal and patriotic Englishman, compelled to agree with him in a certain measure. Once, not so very long ago, it was generally believed, even by our greatest military and naval experts, that, should England become engaged with a first-rate military Power, singlo-h.indod, in a week she could close every one of her enemy's ports, and have a fleet ready to reduce at its leisure everything he held beyond the seas. Indeed, some authorities went so far as to declare that, with almost any two Powers against her, she could do as much ; and it was that recognition of this power abroad that gave England, in spite of her military weakness, so commanding a position in Europe. But since the Franco-Russian alliance the increase in the fleets of the Powers had been so rapid that we had utterly failed to keep pace with them. We built Inge unwieldy battleships while our enemies constructed the fastest cruisers and torpedo-boat destroyers afloat, thereby sweeping away our hitherto undisputed mastery of vhe sen, The great danger that appears to me," Bock said presently, after we had been discussing the serious outlook at considerable length, " is that we may be blockaded by these two hostile powers so as to reduce us near starvation, and compel us to surrender."

"But not before we have engaged the enemy at sea and given them a tasto of the lion's paw," I said "Of course. First, we must expect a great naval battle or battles, followed by a dash upon our territory and the landing of the hostile armies. If England recoived one serious reverse at sea, she could never recover from it. The loss of her maritime power would paralyse her." "I know," I said. "That argument is trite enough. But I nevertheless believe that England is still, and will be for many centuries to come, Queen of the Sea."

"Oh I yes," lie said, ri.ther contemptuously. "The cheap clap-trap patriotism of the pothouse and the music hall is all very well, but we, in the House of Commons, entertain a very different opinion. The belief in England's greatness hold by the lower classes is admirable, and, of course, aught to be carefully fostered, because ib leads men to enlist in the services. But you know, as well as I do, that in the Government, departments our naval strength is over-estimated in comparison with the power of some other European nations, and our military strength utterly inadequate. If it is really true that Russia has declared war against us, I fear the awakening of those confident of our insular security will be a terrible one."

" Terrible no doubt it will be, on account of the fearful loss of life and property such a war must entail; bub I anticipate that when the struggle comes every Englishman will bear arms for the defence of his home and loved ones, and that the foreign invader will meet with a reception the warmth of which he never expected." "Geoffrey is a patriot," exclaimed Ella, laughing. "So am I. I don't believe Russia and France will ever dare to land soldiers oil our coasts."

" Well spoken," I exclaimed. " I do not share the fears of these so-called experts." "Ido," Beck went on excitedly. "If hostilities occur our defences will soon be found weak and utterly unreliable. That's my opinion." "Then you declare that England is great no longer," I observed with a smile. " No, I don't go so far as that; but 1 contend, as I did in my speech in the House a fortnight ago, that those charged with maintaining our defences in a proper state of efficiency have for years been culpably negligent. The power of England to day is still the same as it has been—on paper. But, in ascertaining it, we always close our eyes wilfully to the true fact that other nations hare awakened during the past ten years, and hare now actually overtaken us."

"I don't think that," I answered. "Until our country is actually invaded I shall still believe in its strength.". ,' 'But Beck, greatly to the'amusement of Ella, was dogged .in his opinions, and* when

i I argued with him, commenced to quote | statistics with a glibness that told how carefully he had studied the speech he ' recently delivered before the House, a | speech which, by the way, had been dis- | missed in one line by all the newspapers. Ella, sending beside mo in her pale cream dress, girdled narrow with a band of mauve silk, looked charming, and supported mo in all my views, exhibiting a knowledge of politics and of the Continental outlook that 1 had not in the least suspected. Indeed, she now and then attacked the arguments of the member for West Rutlandshire with a vehemence that surprised me, for more than once she completely upset his declarations by citing some fact ho had overlooked

Even while we discussed these things we knew how wildly excited must be the seething world of London. The news, although alas! not fresh to me, had no doubt fallen that night upon the metropolis like a thunderbolt. Mrs. Laing, who presently entered the room, was shown the paper by Ella, and was utterly unnerved by the startling intelligence. I had noticed that she had never since been the sime stately, composed woman as before the discovery of Dudley. The tragic affair at the Nook seemed to have upset her, and in her face there were now traces of extreme nervousness and excitability. "Surely the paper has printed an unwarrantable untruth, Mr. Beck," she exclaimed, after reading the statement by the aid of her glasses. " I really can't believo it."

" I scarcely think we ought to credit it before we recoire some confirmation," the burly legislator replied. "It may, of course, be a mere idle rumour set afloat for Stock Exchange purposes."

At that moment they exchanged swift, mysierious glances that somehow appeared to me to be significant, yet next instant I found myself convinced that the unusual expression in their eyes had merely been due to a chimera of my own imagination. With a foolish disregard for probability I seemed somehow to scent mystery in everything, and it now occurred to me that to successfully probe the truth of Ella's relations with the two men I must never allow mysolf to be misled by misconstruing words or actions. I felt almost confident that I had noticed Beck and Mrs. Laing exchange looks akin to approbation, nevertheless, on reflection, I convinced myself that I had been quite mistaken, and half an hour later laughed at my suspicions.

Presently Beck announced big intention of {joint; down to the House ot Commons to ascertain the latest news; and I, bidding Ella and her mother farewell, accompanied him. It was about eleven o'clock when we drove up, but the cab could not get much further than Broad Sanctuary, so dense was the crowd that had gathered at St). Stephen's on the startling news being spread. From the high summit of Big Ben the electric light was streaming westward, showing the excited thousands assembled there that Parliament was already deliberating upon the best course to pursue on the outbreak of hostilities, and as we elbowed our way through the turbulent concourse war was on everyone's tongue, Men and women of all classes of society, wildly excited, with pale scared faces, discussed the probable course of events; many sang patriotic songs, the choruses of which were taken up and shouted lustily, while here and there, as we proceeded, loud invectives againaji the Czar and his French allies greeted our ears.

At last we reached St. Stephen's Hall, and, passing its zealously-guarded portals, hurried forward to the Lobby. Here the scene was of a most exciting character. Members were standing in small groups, eagerly discussing the serious and unexpected turn affairs had taken ; and, in answer to our inquiries, we learnt that a quarter of an hour before an official reply had been given in the House to a question addressed from the Opposition benches, admitting that, according to the latest ndvicos from St. Petersburg, there was, no doubt, foundation for the rumour published by the Novoe Vremya, and that it was very probable that in tho course of an hour or two war would formally be declared.

A tiresome topic was being discussed in the House, but it was being carried on without spirit or enthusiasm, all the members being on tiptoe with expectation regarding the next telegram from the enemy's camp. The amazing intelligence that had spread like wildfire throughout the metropolis had brought every member in town down. to the House until the Lobby became so thronged that locomotion was difficult. I chatted with many legislators I knew, and found all held similar views, that an attempted invasion of England had been planned by France .nd Russia. The Cabinet had been hastily summoned, and was that moment deliberating with the Commander-in-Chief regarding the immediate steps to be taken for the complete mobilisation of the forces.

One fact) had impressed itself upon me as, accompanied by Beck, I had struggled through the ever-increasing crowd outside, namely, the intense patriotism of the volunteers, There were dozens who, on hearing the news, had at once put on their uniforms in readiness to bear their part in the defence of their homes, and everywhere, as they swayed to and fro in the crowd, they were lustily cheered. The sight of a uniform in those wild moments was sufficient to send the multitude half mad with enthusiasm, and in one or two instances volunteers had been raised shoulder-high in order that all should unite in giving them ovations.

Within the sombre smoke-blackened walls of Parliament it was a breathless period of eager waiting. There was no cheering, there was no cheap patriotism, no outburst of enthusiasm. Some of the little knots of white-hatted politicians condemned the Government unmercifully for failing to obtain news of a pending catastrophe that might have been avoided by diplomacy, while others declared that the action of the Opposition in the nast was alone responsible for the present disaster. Wherever I went 1 found an opinion, almost unanimous, that England could not withstand the blow now threatened. In that time of wild theories and wilder apprehensions Beck's arguments and prophetic utterances were listened to eagerly, until quite a crowd stood around him. Of late lie had written one or two articles 011 the subjectof England's unpreparedness for war, notablyone in the Nineteenth Century, that had attracted considerable attention, and his opinions were now listened to and afterwards discussed, even among men whose names were household words.

As I stood watching and listening, I was compelled to admit that during the short time my friend had been in Parliament he had certainly won good opinions, and even among the most level-headed politicians his views, notwithstanding his blustering manner, were regarded as worthy of serious consideration. I confess to having previously looked upon him rather as a crank upon this subject, but I did so no longer, now that I recognised what weight his arguments carried. [To be continued on Wednesday next.]