The Portland daily press., 1898-03-23
Chapter 1.
A STATE SECRET.

| 49,
from Berlin, Deedes?'
:Captain Hammerton has not yet ar
rived, answered.
ELEVEN O'Clock Tut, tut. Every
moments delay means greater risk" and
the Earl of Warnham, Her Majesty s
Principal Secretary of State Tor Foreign
Affairs, strobe up and down his private
room with his hat still on, impatiently
swapping his bony fingers in agitation
quite unusual to him.
"Hammerton wired from Berlin yester-
day when on the point of leaving, ~ 1 OBJ
served, taking telegram from the table
before me.
"In cipher?"
"Yes."
''No accident is reported in the papers,
1 suppose?"
Nothing in the 'Times,' % replied.
"Strange, worry strange, that he should
be so long overdue, the Earl said, at last
casting himself into his padded chair, AID
lounging back, his hands thrust deep into
his pockets, as he stared thoughtfully into
space.
| I resumed my writing puzzled at the
cause of the chiefs excited demeanor,
lbut few moments later sharp footsteps
sounded outside in the corridor, followed
| by loud rapptng, and there entered the
messenger, clad in his heavy fur-lined
travelling coat, Ealthough July morning,
and carrying well worn leather de-
spatoh-box, which he placed upon my
table.
"Late, Hammerton. Very late, -
snapped the Earl, glancing at his watch.
"Theres dense fog in the Channel,
your Lordship, and we were compelled
to come across dead slow the whole dis
tance. I've driven straight from the
station the Captain answered good
humouredly. looking SO spruce and we'll.
groomed that few would credit that he
had been travelling for nearly twenty
four hours.
$50 and rest. You must return to-
night" his Lordship said testify.
"At seven thirty?'
eyes, at my house in Berkeley Square. >,
Then, taking up the receipt L had
signed for the dispatch box, the messen-
ger. to whom journey to Constantine
pie or ST. Petersburg was about as
fatiguing as a ride on the Underground
Railway is to ordinary persons, walked
jsuntily OUT Wishing US both goo d-day.
When the door had closed Lord Warn
ham quickly opened the outer case with
his key and drew forth second box Fcov-
cred with red morocco and securely
sealed. This he also opened, and after
lrummaging for some moments among a
quantity of papers exclaimed, in tone
of satisfaction:
"Ahl Here it is. Goodl Seals not
tampered with
Withdrawing from the box large
official envelope, doubly secured with the
seal of the British Embassy at Berlin and
endorsed by Sir Philip Enden, our Am
bassador, he walked hastily to one OF the
long windows overlooking the paved
courtyard of the Foreign Office, and for
some moments closely sorutinized both
seals and signature.
"Did you fear that the papers might
have been examined in transit?' l in
quired of my grave faced chief, in sur
prise.
s'No, Decides, no. Not at all, +" he an
swered returning to his table, cutting
open the envelope and giving a rapid
glance at it's contents to assure himself
that it was the same document he had
sent to the German capital week before.
"Hammerton is trustworthy, and while
dispatches are in his care / have no fear.
The only apprehension had was that
an attempt might possibly have been
made to ascertain the nature OF this
treaty. the great statesman added, in
dicatiag the document beneath his hand.
1.-The result would be detrimental" l
hazarded.
i Detrimental he cried. eff the
clauses of this secret defensive alliance
became known to our enemies war would
be inevitable. Russia and France would
combine against US, and the whole of the
Powers would become embroiled within
q week. Exposure of these secret nego-
tiations would be absolutely disastrous.
It would, verify believe, mean irretrleva-
BILE ruin to highlands prestige and
power
He uttered the ominous words slowly
and distinctly, then carefully refolding
the precfoustioculnent, with its string of
spragly signatures, he placed it in anoth-
er envelope, scaling it with his own
private seal.
The great statesman, the greatest For
eign Minister of his time, upon whose
tact, Judgment and forethought the peace
and prosperity OF England mainly de-
pended, was tall and thin, with scanty
white hair, a pale, refined face slightly
wizeued by age, deep -sunken steely eyes,
shaggy brows, a sharp straight nose, and
a breadth of forehead indicating indomi-
table perseverance and an iron will. His
reputation as brilliant orator and shrewd
and skilful diplomat was a household
word throughout the civilized world,
whilst in our own land confidence always
increased when he was at the head OF
Foreign Affairs. AS his confidential
private secretary L, Geofrey Decides, had
daily opportunities Of observing how con-
soientiously he served his Sovereign and
his country, ana how amazing was his
capacity for work. With him duty was
always of paramount consideration; he
worked night and day to sustain Eng
lands honour and welfare, for times with
out number 1 had gone to his great
gloomy house in Berkeley Square in the
middle of the night and reused him from
= la - n ot%opd te, 77-yppt diana tchpa