THE WRATH TO COME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18941, 12 February 1925, Page 5

THE WRATH TO COME.

BY E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM.

Author of "The Hillman," " The Moving Finger." " Th® Tempting of Tavernake," " Tiio Missing Delora, 1 ' " The Wicked Marquess," Etc.. Etc. (Copyright.) CHAPTER VII .—(Continued.) "la Berlin they say. that the Pact is breaking up," dropping her voice u little. "I never thought that it would last SO: long. America did well to keep out of it. "Yes, I think we did the right thing," he agreed. "America doesn't, need allies, and she certainly doesn't want to be dragged in to pull the chestnuts out of anyone elso's fire. She can stand alone.' "America has 'enemies, you know," Gertrude reflected. "None that really count. Japan, oE course—furious because wo won't let her little yellow men come in and become citizens. And I suppose a portion oi, German y'::, historic hatred descends upon us, too. Apart from that- wo are all right." "Supposing America were asked to join the Pact to-day, do you think she would consent?" "Not the ghost of a chance of it, he replied confidently, "She's been oat for all these years, making her own commercial treaties, and is easily to-dav, the richest country in tho world. Why should she change V "I was just interested to know how you felt about it." "I feel as our President feels/' he continued. "and most of our thinking men. We are satisfied. We shouldn't get into a state of nerves even if Japan got leave to start building a couole more ciruisers a year . . . By the bye I wonder who they well send to take Naga's place at the Pact ?" ,

"Katina is coming from Berlin," she. told him .... I don't suppose I should have told you that," she added with a little laugh'* "But you see I'm 'beginning to have confidence "in your indifference to these things." \ "Why did you ever doubt me?" he asked. ' "I told you yesterday that I had finished with politics." "Well," sho explained, "you know how careful Germans are. You used to be in the Diplomatic Service, and I've heard you spoken of Once or twice as a person who ought to be watched. I can clear your charactei now." "I'm too lazy to be seriously interested in anything. ■ The van Roorden millions wrecked my ambitions." The restaurant, which had been almost empty at their first coming, had now filled up. Gertrude looked about her in surprise.

"Why, I never saw these people come in," she declared. "There's Prince Lutrecht over there. And a whole party of your friends. I don't think Lady Susan' likes me."

"Likes you? Of course she likes you," Ik. protested. "Look how Lymane is glaring ;;t me. Gertrude, you won't dine with him, will you?" "My dear Grant, how on earth am I going to get out of it?"

"I'll get you out of it all right," he promised. "Tell me, who is the corpulent gentleman of pleasant appearance, with the hat too small for his head, who is standing upon the threshold, beaming at you?"

.'That is Cornelius Blunn," she whispered. "He's a dear thing. Do be civil to f° r my sake. He could make mischief with Otto if he wanted to, and I'm afraid he's coming to speak to me." J.he newcomer was crossing the roomstout, genial and jovial. He lumbered up like, a great elephant, moving clumsily on his lather short legs. But he raised Gertrude's fingers to his lips with the air of a courtier.

" Why, Princess," he exclaimed, " how delightful to find you, and to discover that 110 one in this wonderful place car hold a candle to a compatriot." " Always a flatterer," she smiled. " Let me introduce Mr. Grant Slattery, Mr. Cornelius Blunn."

_ Mr. Bhinn shook hands without enthusiasm. His manner suggested that Grant's presence as Gertrude s sole companion needed explanation.

" Mr. Slattery is one of my oldest friends," she continued. "We were children together in Washington." Mr. Blunn beamed. He recognised the claim of old friendships. He took the affair under his protection. "Delightful!" he exclaimed. "It is always a pleasure to meet an American. I am no stranger in New York. I was one of the first who dared show himself there after the terrible days of the war. I was a youngster then. Still, I said to myself, I will go there. It is the home of many of my race. If there is still bad feeling between us, it must perish. And it has perished. Of that lam assured." "Do you travel in England, too?" Grant asked.

"In England—no. That is another matter. Princess, I kiss your fingers. My luncheon will be a happier meal for the pleasure you have brought into the room. Mr. Slattery, I envy you, sir. So does every man, but I bear you no grudge. " He departed, ponderous yet light-footed, elephantine yet dignified. "If I were up against that man in a business deal or a political imbroglio," Grant murmured, " I should feel that I needed all my wits about me. A person of that typo is more dangerous than all the Lutrechts in the world."

" How dangerous ?" she queried. "Mr. Blunn is a great philanthropist, and an enthusiastic patron of the arts. In what respect could he be dangerous?" " Only if he chose to be." " Could I bo dangerous, if I chose to be?" she demanded. " You are dangerous," 1 he assured her. " You are the most dangerous woman in the world, to ruv peace of mind. And the terrible part of it all is that you are a German. 'You belong to a race with whom the domestic virtues are a positive fetish." "Just because I married Otto?" "Just because you married Otto," he acknowledged. "Germans have the knack of making Germans of their wives." "Absurd! What is there Teutonic about me. German women haven't my figure, and they certainly couldn't wear my clothes." *" Externally you have advantages," he admitted. " All the same you have married a Gorman and you are a governed woman,"

" How you hate my adopted country!" she exclaimed.

"I do not," he objected. 01 hate neither the country nor the people. If 1 were a seriously-minded politician I should be afraid of them."

" What is there to fear ? ' Industrially, the world is open to everyone since war was done away with." " Perhaps so."

" But isn't it, Grant, really ? The Pact includes every European nation, as well as Japan. Then there's the Limitation of Armaments as well. Every nation is more or less on an equal footing, and they are all pledged not to fight one another. You must admit that Germany has kept the conditions of the Pact faithfully. Where can fear lie?" "Where, indeed? You mustn't take me too seriously, Gertrude, I only meant that, so far as I can see, Germany is well on the way to becoming the second most powerful nation in the world. But, honestly, I don't know why we're talking politics. I lost all interest in them years ago. Do you know what I did yesterday ?" *" " Tell me," she begged. "I. wired to Cannes for titty yacht. It should be here, to-morrow." She looked at him for a moment. She seemed suddenly a little nervous. " I wish I knew which. was the real Grant," she murmured. "What do you mean?" " The Grant of yesterday—or the Grant of to-dav." CHAPTER VIII. An hour later Susan found herself seated side by sido with Grant ou a bench at the tennis courts. " Last night," said she, you showed marked attentions to a dansouse; this morning you flirted with that beautiful, princess;'now you propose to devote a few minutes to me. I fear, Mr. Grant Slattery, that you are going to be a dis- ! appointment to me."

" Not at tennis, anyhow," ho assured her. " You and 1 ave going to wipe the ground with the Lancaster. " I speak (if life; you of tennis. I. think we shall beat them, if you stand up to t.lisi net and dou't poach." " How's your father to-day ?" lie asked. " Quite all right, considering. It was a terrible shock to him to see that, poor old man collapse." "Naga was a great statesman," Grant, remarked. "One of the last of the old school. Conic on, it's our court. ' - On the way across an acquaintance hailed Grant. By bis side stood Count Hash—sometimes called Sammy. "Slattcry, Count ttnflh > ays that he has only an informal acquaintance with yon and, would like an introduction," the. former said, "Count Hash—.Mr. Grant. SluHerv." Grant held out his hand. The other, after 'a little how,, accepted it. lie Ayoa insignificant-looking, hut his eyes, behind his'horn-rimmed : spectacles, ■ were exceptionally hard and piercing. "I am: glad to .meet you* .Mr. Slattery." Tie said. "Gould you, before you leave the courts, spare me a minute or two'''' "With pleasure," Grant assented. '"Wa are going to : play, .the-..best of -three-.sets here. "I'll look for you afterwards." "You are very kind, sir . - "Who's your little friend, Grant ?" young Lancaster inquired curiously. "'He'3 the fellow we saw at the Carlton last night;, isn't he?" "That's tho chap," Grant replied. "Ho rejoices in the iwine of'ltash, I beiieve I have heard that he is attached to tha Japanese* Embassy in Berlin, and is doing secretarial work for their section litre,. Queer-looking card, isn't he?" "I couldn't make out where I'd seen him before," Lancaster observed. "I remember now, I used to see him driving about with Baron Naga. Dismal-look-ing beggar, isn't he?" "I expect the poor young man is upset about lus chief," Susan remarked. "What did he want, Grant?" "Wanted to speak to me," was the indifferent reply. "He's going to wait until after we've finished our three sets," "You're going to get some part of what's coming to you." Susan laughed. "You took his dancing companion awav last night. Why don't you get a, girl of your own ?" " "I'm afraid I'm not popular with the sex," Grant confessed humbly. "That's yonr fault. A nicely-brought up girl always likes a well-behaved man. Now get up to the net, and remember we've money on this set. Serve!" The tennis courts presented a gay scene as the afternoon wore on. The sun was shining and everyone seemed inspired by the soft exhilaration of tlie air, the beauty of the glittering blue sea below, and , the mountains behind. With characteristic patience, Count It ash—sometimes called Sammy—sat on his solitary bench and waited —-a solemn, ghoul-like figure, on the outskirts of gaiety. At the conclusion of their set. Grant, after be had received the congratulations of his partner, went over and seated himself bv his side.

"What do you wish to say to nv\. Count. Itash ?"

"I offer apologies, but I am in some trouble," the young man explained 'earnestly. "It wncuns thn lady 'vita whom you talked last night.'

"Mademoiselle Cleo?' t - "The young lady who is' so-cnliejiH" Itash assented. "She has beeti my companion for some time here in Monte Carlo. I will now be very truthful. I have tak&u a fancy to another girl. Such things happen." "I can't exactly see how this concerns me.'" "It is in this way. Cleo is very angry. She knows that" I am in the Diplomatic Service —that I occupy a confidential ana important position down here. She makes a pretence of having obtained possession of secret information concerning the affairs over which I watch, and she threatens to make u:!f of it."

"Well?" "But I have never confided in, her, not one word! We Japanese do not talk. We Carry our secrets in <t«ir. brain." "Then if you have told her nothing what are you afraid of?"' Grant asked. "I have told her nothing," Itash repeated vehemently, "nor can I think of a single written 'line of a compromising nature which could, possibly have come into her possession. Yet lam disturbed in my mind. Cleo is a strange being. She has the gift r.t speaking the truth. Xofc all people have it. When she speaks a thing, one's heart feels that it is true. So when she tells mo that there are secrets of mine which have come within her knowledge, lam afraid. She came to you last night, and she talked to you earnestlv. I ask you, sir, did she tell you anything o? those affairs confided to me, the disclosures of -which could amount in any way to a breach of faith?" "Not a word. To be quite frank, I don't know what you're talking about." "Mr. Slattery, sir," he confessed, "I . am in great distress of mind and body.; The death of my chief last night was terrible, and all the tima I cannot asclipa from this load of anxiety which weighs upon me." ' ■ ,V "Use. a little common sense, Grant, advised. "If you know that you hava told her nothing, if you know that you have committed none. of your secrets, whatever they may, be, to paper, she is only 'trading upon year fears, furthermore, if she had secrets why should she bring them to me? I am the last person . in the world likelv to be interested." "I see. You are nfct in tie Diplomatic Service, Mr. Slattery ?" "In my younger days I was secretary afcv Berlin and London for a short time, Grant told him. "When I came into my money, however, I chucked it." "Then she told you nothing V "Nothing at all." "Nor did she give you the impression that she had anything to tell?" "She gave me nc. impression at all, except that she was suffering from an acuta fit of jealousy." Itash rose slowly to his feet. He held out his hand. • "I apologise humbly, Mr. Slattery," he said. "I see that I have been very foolish. Thank you for listening to me. I will go rfow." "You arc not going to play?" "It would not be reverent. In a week or two, perhaps, it I He made his way toward the gate. "Have von promised ;iO' : let hirtv liava his girl back again ?" Susan asked Grant, as lie returned "tocher"-Side. , ■ ■ "I have assured him that I am not a serious rival for her favours," lie repined. "The young man seems comforted." Got your hands pretty full, as it is, haven't you \ "Look' here," Grant said severely, "Kindly remember that I have just steered'you to victory on the tennis courts, and in a day or two, if you behave yourself, I will be able to take you for a cruise in the 'Grey Lady.' 1 Incidentally, I should be glad "if you would bear in mind the fact that I am a great many years your senior. A little more respect, please! Now, come along, and I'll give you a lift down to the club for tea." "Thank you! I thought of going with Bobby." "You may have thought of it, but you are coming with me," "Rather a bully, aren't you? she observed cool Iv. *VPcrhnps I d better. Bobby gets so affectionate in those little voitures —thinks one needs steadying ad the time, You're above that sort ot thing, aren't you ?" t> "The springs of my Lolls-Bovcc — lie began. . ~ ~ "Oh. bother the springs of your liojlsEoyce!" she interrupted. "I'm coming with you because I want to get to the Club quicklv and because I like your car." "A millionaire," Grant complained, gloomily, "is tolerated only for his possessions.' K : "They're generally the 'best things about a millionaire," Susan declared. She jumped out and ran lightly up the steps. Grant backed his car to the pavement, and was in the act of following her when the blue-liveried commissionaire, hat in hand, accosted him mysteriously. "A young lady asked me to give you this, as soon as you arrived, Mr. Grant Slattery," he avmoifticed, presenting a twisted-up half-sheet of paper. "The youug person knew your name, sir." Grant thrust the note into his waistcoat pocket. He felt a cuiions conviction as to its source. On the opposite side of the way Itash was leaning over the wall, ap-" patently watching the shipping. "v''f (To bo continued daily.)