WHOSO FIXDETH A WIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10428, 28 April 1897, Page 3

WHOSO FIXDETH A WIFE.

[Coi'vnioiiT. CHAPTER XII. AS IMPORTANT DISPATCH. Half an hour later I stood at the door of the small post office in the Lobby after discussing the situation with that moat cheery and courteous of officials, Mr. Pike, the postmaster, who had left me for a moment to give some instructions to his subordinates. My mind was filled by gloomy thoughts, as I reflected that all this national terror and excitement had been produced by the dastardly and almost miraculous ingenuity of some unknown person.

But was he unknown ? Was it not more than probable that the person to whom all this was due was Dudley Ogle, the man who lay lifeless without a single sorrowing friend to follow his body to the grave? Sometimes I felt entirely convinced of this; at others I doubted it. If Ella spoke the truth, as it now appeared, then it was plain that Dudley had been the victim of a terribly cruel and crafty conspiracy that culminated in his death. Might not this be so, I argued within myself. Yet the words and actions of Ella were all so remarkable, so veiled by an impenetrable mystery, that any endeavour to elucidate her reasons only puzzled me the more, driving me almost to the verge of madness. Truth to tell, I loved her with a fond, passionate love, and had, only after months of trepidation and uncertainty, succeeded in obtaining her declaration that she reciprocated my affection and her promise to be my wife. Yet within a month of my nowborn lifo in happiness supreme, all these untoward events had. alas! occurred, stifling my joy, replacing confidence by doubt, and driving me to despair, While I stood there alone Lord Warnham hastily approached the post office window with a telegram, and, seeing me, exclaimed: "Ah I I want you, Deedes. An hour ago I sent telegrams everywhere for you. Come with me to my room." He handed in his telegram, and together we went along the corridors to his own private room, where, in an armchair, with some papers in his hand, eat the Marquis of Maybury, Prime Minister of England. We had met before many timos when tho burly eldorly peer had been a guest at Warnham Hall, and on many occasions 1 had acted as his secretary when he had been alone. " Well, Deedes," he exclaimed, gravely, looking up suddenly from the papers. " Lord Warnham has explained to me the mysterious theft of the secret convention, and I am anxious to see yon regarding it." The Foreign Minister seated himself at his tablo in silence, with folded arms, as the world-renowned statesman proceeded to question me closely regarding the events of that memorable day when the document had been so ingeniously stolen. " Have you not the slightest clue to the 1 culprit, even now Lord Maybury asked at last, stroking his full grey beard. " Remember that England's honour and her future depends absolutely upon the issue of this serious complication. If you can furnish us with any information, it is just possible that diplomacy may do something, oven at the eleventh hour. You seo wo have lost the original of the convention, and this, if produced in Petersburg, is sufficient evidence against us to upset all our protestations." " I have told Lord Warnham all I know, I answered, calmly. "To him I have explained my suspicions." "That this friend of yours called Ogle, who died mysteriously on that very same day, was the actual spy," ho observed. " Some of the facts certainly point to such a conclusion; but, now tell me, did Ogle enter your room at'the Foreign Office on that day?" ,« . "Certainly not,"l replied. "No one is allowed in my room except tho clerks." "Could he have seen the envelope sticky ing out of your pocket ?" " No," I answered. lam confidont he could not, because on placing it in my pocket, a doop one, I took precaution to notice whether it woro visible." "Then, if such is the case, I maintain that Oglo could not possibly have known what designation you had written upon the envelope," the Premier observed, adding, "Did you meet anyone you know during your walk to the Ship, or while you were in Ogle's company?" " No one whatever," I said. "I know the Ship. At which table did you sit ... "At the first table on the left, in the inner room beyond the bar. I sat in the ' cornor, with my back to a high partition. Therefore, the envelope could not possibly have boon extracted from my pocket without my knowledge." " Then I should like to hear your theory of the affair," said the Prime Minister, his dark, penetrating eyes fixed upon me. " It is so remarkable," I answered, " that I am utterly unable to form any idea how the theft was accomplished." " You believe, however, that Ogle was a spy ?" "At present, yes," I said, "And further, I have grave suspicions that he was murdered." "Ah, that was alleged at the inquest, his lordship observed. "At present the police are sparing no effort to determine the cause of his death, and to find out who manufactured the duplicate of Lord Warnham's seal."

"The seal I picked up from among the contents of Ogle's pockets was not the identical one used to secure the dummy envelope," I said, quickly. " I am fully aware of all the facts, he answered, rather coldly. "My desire is to find out something fresh. Even the police seem utterly baffled. Who is this young woman, Ella Laing, who at the inquest alleged murder?" ... ,„ . " The daughter of Mrs. Laing, of Fontstreet." " Do you know her intimately ? "She is engaged to be married to me," I

replied. . " It is apparent that she was very friendly with this Oglo. Surely you can induce her to tell vou something about him." " She knows but little more than what I already know. Ho lived with mo at Sbepperton, and had few secrets from me." " Did you ever suspect him to be a spy "Nob"for one moment. He had plenty of money of his own, and was in no sense an adventurer." " Well." exclaimed the Premier, turning to his colleague at last. "It is extraordinarymost extraordinary." Lord'Warnhain nodded acquiescent, and said: "Yes, there is a deep and extraordinary mystery somewhere: a mystery we must, for the sake of our own honour, penetrate and elucidate." " I entirely agree," answered the other. " We have been victimised by clever spies." "And all owing to Deedes" culpable negligence," added Lord Warnham, testily, glancing at me. " No, I am inclined to differ," exclaimed the Premier. He had never acted very generously towards me, and I was surprised that he should at this moment take up the cudgels on my behalf. " To me it appears, as far as the facts go, that Deedes has been victimised in the same manner as ourselves. "But if he had exercised due caution this terrible catastrophe could never have occurred," the Foreign Minister cried, impatiently, tapping the table with his pen in emphasis of his words. "A little more than mere caution, or even shrewdness, is required to defeat the efforts of the Czar's spies," the Premier said, quietly. "In my opinion, Deedes, although in a measure under suspicion, cannot be actually condemned. Remember, among Ogle's correspondence he discovered evidence of an undoubted attempt to forge his handwriting." " We have no corroboration that he really did find that actually among the dead man's possessions," exclaimed Lord Warnham, quickly. "I have myself seen the detective who accompanied him to Sbepperton, and be tells me that no sheets of paper of that character were discovered. He—" , .."I found them while he was engaged in an adjoining room," I interrupted. " I did not mention it to him, preferring to bring the'evidence straight to you." " It i* just possible that Deedes' version is comet," observed the Premier. "Per-

sonally, I mast say, Warnham, that I can not sea any ground for the dismissal of i hitherto trustworthy servant of Her Majesty upon this extraordinary evidence. I havi always found Deedes upright, loyal, and patriotic, and coming as he does of a well known family of diplomats, 1 really do noi suspect him of having played his countrj false." " I am obliged for your lordship's words,' I exclaimed, fervently. " I assure you thai your merciful view is entirely correct. ] am innocent, and at this moment am utterlj at a los» to account for any of the amazing events of the past few days." Lord Warnham was silent in thought foi a few moments, then, turning his sphinxlike face to me, he said, in a tone rathei more conciliatory than before, " Very well. As it is Lord Maybury's wish I will rein state you in the service, but remember, 1 have no confidence in you," " Then you still suspecb me of being i spy?" I cried, reproachfully. "I am tc remain under suspicion!" " Exactly," he answered, dryly. " Until the truth is ascertained I, at least, shall believe you had something to do with the theft of that secret convention. Even the telegram sent from the Strand Post Office to St. Petersburg is in your handwriting—" " Forged 1" I interposed. "Have you not jlready seen the careful attempts made to 3opy the formation of my letters and Sgures f' " The greatest caligraphic expert of the lay has pronounced the telegram to be undoubtedly in your own hand, while the :ounter-clerk who took in the message and received payment for it, has seen you surreptitiously, and recognised you by the ihape of the silk hat you habitually wear." Here was an astounding case of mistaken dentity. I had never entered the post iffice near Exeter Hall for six months at east. " I should like to meet that clerk face to ace," I burst forth. "He tells a distinct alsebood when he says he recognises me. I did not go into the Strand at all on that lay." Then a thought Btiddenly occurred o me when I reflected upon the shape of ny hat, and I added, "I admit that my tat is of a rather unusual shape,'-' taking it ip and exhibiting it to them. " But when : bought this in Piccadilly two months ago )gle was with me, and he purchased one ixnctly similar." "Again the evidence is against the dead nan,"" the Premier said, turning to Lord Yarnham. "Where is his hat?" he in[uired of me sharply. "At Shepperton. I can produce it if equired. Its shape is exactly like mine." " You had better speak to Frayling upon hat point," observed Lord Warnham. '' It nay prove important. At any rate, Doades, lerhaps, after all, I have been just a trifle in just iii condemning you, therefore consider 'ourself re-instated in the same position as lefore, although I must admit that) my lonfidence in your integrity is, to say the east, seriously-very seriously impaired." " I hope it will not remain so long," I laid. "If there is anything I can do to estoro your belief in my honesty I will do tat whatever cost." " There is but, one thing," he exclaimed. ' Discover the identity of the spy." " I will regard that the one endeavour of ny life," I declared, earnestly. "If the nystery is to be fathomed I will accomplish t." " While we'vo been talking," the Premier nterposed, "a thought has occurred to me, md for mentioning it I hope you, Deedes, vill pardon me. It has struck me that if, is seoms even more than likely, this man )gle was actually a spy who had carefully lultivated your acquaintance with an ilterior motive, is it not within the range if possibility that the lady who was also rour most intimate friend as well as his, lither knew the true facts, or had a hand in he affair?" " I can trust Ella," I said, glancing at dm resentfully. " She is no spy." The elderly statesman stroked his beard ihoughtfully and smiled, saying: " Ah, I ixpected as much. I myself was young once. iVhen a man loves a woman he is very loth ,a think her capable of any deceit. Yet in his instance we must not overlook the fact ihat more than one female spy has been irought under our notice." " I am awaro of that," I replied, angry hat he should have made such a suggestion igainst my well-beloved, yet remembering ler strange uttorances when, she heard the lews of impending war shouted in the street. ' But I have the most implicit faith in the voman who is to be my wife." " Has she explained, then, the character if the secret existing between herself and )glo ?" naked Lord Warnham, raising his 'rey shaggy brows, " from the evidence it the inquest it was plain, you will emember, that there was some mysterious inderstandiiig between them. Has she riven you her reasons for declaring that )gle has been murdered ?" For a moment I was silent j afterwards I vas compelled to make a negative reply. "That doesn't appear like perfect conidence, does it?" the Foreign Minister ibserved, with a short, hard laugh. ' Depend upon it, Deedes, she fears to tell rou the truth." "No, she fears some other person," I idmittod, " Who it is I know not." " Find out, and we shall then discover ■lie spy," the Premier said, adding, with a ouch of sympathy, after a moment's pause : ' Remember, I allege nothing against yon, )eedes. Do your duty, and regardless of ill consequences discover the means, by vhich we have been tricked. Induce the voman you love to speak; nay, if she loves rou force her to do so, for a woman who ruly loves a man will do anything to lenefit him, otherwise she is unworthy to leoome his wife. Some day ere long you rourself will become a diplomat, as other nembers of your family have been. Now is ihe time to practise tact, the first requisite if successful diplomacy. Be tactful, be esourceful, be cunning, and look far into he future, and you will succeed both in taring yourself and in explaining this, the nost remarkable mystery that has occurred luring the long years of my administration." I thanked him briefly for his advice, leclaring that it should be my firm enleavour to follow it, and also thanked Lord ■Varnham for my re-inatatement, bub my »ords were interrupted by a loud double mock at the door, And in response to an njunction to enter, there appeared, hot and ireathlesi, Frank Lawley, one of the foreign Office messengers. He wore, halfsoncealed by his overcoat, his small inamelled greyhound suspended around his leek by a thin chain, his badge of office, md in his hand carried one of the familiar ravelling dispatch boxes. "Good evening, your lordships," he exilaimed, greeting us. " Where are you from, Lawley ?" inquired jord Warnham, eagerly, "From Paris, your lordship. My dis>atch, I believe, is most important. The ilarquis of Worthorpe told me that he eared to trust it on the wire, and sent) me lere post-haste." In an instant both the Premier and dinister sprang to their feet. While Lord ilaybury broke the seals Lord Warnham chipped out his keys, opened the outer :aie, and then the inner red leather box, rom which he drew forth a single envelope. This he tore open, and holding beneath he softly-shaded electric lamp the sheet if note-paper that bore the heading of our Embassy in Paris, both of Her Majesty's dimeters eagerly devoured its contents. When they hid done so they both held heir breath, raised their heads, and withmt speaking, looked at each other in abject lismay. The contents of the dispatch held hem spellbound. The window of the room was open, and he dull distant roaring of the great turtulent multitude broke upon our ears. Che excitement outside had risen to fever teat.

CHAPTER XIII. A STATEMENT TO THE PRESS. " This is indeed extraordinary,"exclaimed Lord Maybury, the Premier, at last. " An amazing development— amazing 1" the Foreign Minister cried, unusually excited, "What is the best course!" asked the head of the Government. "There is but one," his colleague answered. "I shall wire to. St. Petersburg at once and await confirmation." "The situation is becoming absolutely bewildering," observed the Premier. "It may be best, I think, to convene another meeting of the Cabinet." Lord Warnham, with that involuntary caution that be had developed during long years of office as Minister of Foreign Affairs, at once dismissed Frank Lawley, bub allowed me to remain. As bis confidential secretary I had been present on many : occasions when delicate mitten of dipto-

macy had been adjusted and plans arranged which, if divulged, would hare caused an upheaval throughout Europe. "No, I don't think another Council is necessary, at least not tonight," answered Lord Warnham when the cosmopolitan messenger had closed the door behind him.

"But the whole thing is at present a mystery," said the Prime Minister, standing astride with his broad back to the

empty grate. "Exactly. We must hare news from the Embassy in St. Petersburg before long. Until then, I think we should be patient." "But hark!" exclaimed the Premier, quite calmly, and as we all three listened we could hear the dull roar of the crowd becoming louder. The popular excitement outside was intense, and the eager multitude increased each moment. "They are clamouring for news. It is, I think, time that another statement should be made in the House." " As you wish," Lord Warnham answered with ill-grace. It was part of his creed to tell the public absolutely nothing. The Premier "was for publicity; he for secrecy always. " But whatever statement is made regarding the receipt of intelligence it cannot compromise our position at St. Petersburg," the Marquis argued. "Very well. Let the statement be made. But, personally, I cannot see what we can lay at present." "Say something. It will reassure the public that we are endeavouring to readjust diplomatic negotiations. Already we are being hounded down on all sides by wild-haired agitators as having been asleep. Let us show our opponents that we are now fully alive to England's peril." "Ah, May bury," laughed the Foreign Minister. "It is always my opinion that the less the public know the easier it is for us to carry on the business of the country. The irresponsible journals are really the cause of nine-tenths of our diplomatic ruptures." " But the press assist us in many ways, and if you are averse to a statement in the House why not make one to the Times, or to a news agency ? Perhaps the latter course would be best, for it will re-establish public confidence." "But that will not be official. Lord Warnham demurred. _ " Nevertheless we can make the official statement later, when we have received confirmation of this extraordinary dispatch." "Is the dispatch from Paris very remarkable?" I asked, unable to any longer bear their tantalising conversation, so anxious was I to ascertain the latest development of this conspiracy, against our country. " Read it for yourself," Lord Warninm answered, glancing at the Premier to ascertain whether this course received his approbation, and finding that it did he handed me the dispatch, which I found a moment later read as follows :— " From Marquis of Worthorpe, Paris, to Earl of Warnham, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.— My lord,—ln further continuation of my dispatch of this morning I have the honour to report to your lordship that the war preparations actively commenced here on receipt of a telegram from St. Petersburg (copy of which was enclosed in ray last dispatch) have, owing to a later telegram from Russia, been entirely stopped. The orders for mobilisation have everywhere been countermanded. According to a statement just made to me by our secret agent in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the French Government have to-day received word that the Czar's declaration of war will not, for some unexpected reason, be published. I send this by special messenger in the hope that it will reach your lordship this WORTHORFE." "This is remarkable!" 1 cried. "It appears as if Russia has already repented." But the Premier and his colleague, at that moment in consultation regarding the stops to be taken should this astounding and reassuring news prove correct, did not notice my remark. Presently, however, the Prime Minister, turning to me, asked: "Are any of the reporters your personal friends, Deedos ?" " Yes, I know several." "To whom shall we make our statement ?" he inquired. "We want it spread throughout the country." "In that case I should suggest Mr. Johns, of the agency that supplies the club tapes and newspapers." "Then send for him." (To be continued on Saturday next).