The San Francisco call., 1904-03-06


nothing to offer in exchange.
Monsieur Otto recovered his senses
presently, and we took counsel of what
we should do.
1T is useless to go on, Alphonse.'
said he. This Englishman will laugh
at me when ask him to sign
'Courage!' cried; and then. sud
den thought coming into my head,
How do we know that the English will
have news of this? Perhaps they may
sign the treaty before they know of it.
Monsieur Otto sprang from the sofa
and flung himself into my arms.
"'Alphonse. he cried, you have
saved me. Why should they know
about it? Our news has come from
Toulon to Paris, and thence straight
TO London. Theirs will come by sea
through the StraitA of Gibraltar. At
this moment IT is unlikely that any one
in Paris knows Of it, save only Talley-
rand and the First Consul. If we keep
our secret we may still get our treaty
signed
horrible uncertainty in which we spent
the day. Never, never shall forget
those slow hours during which we sat
together, starting at every distant
shout, lest it should be the first sign
OF the rejoicing which this news would
cause in London, Monsieur Otto
passed from youth to age in a day AS
for me, find it easier to so out and
meet danger than to wait for it. 1 set
forth, therefore, toward evening /
wandered here and wandered there. 1
was In the fencing rooms of Monsieur
Angelo and in the salon-d -de-boxe OF
Monsieur Jackson and in the club of
Brooks and in the lobby of the Cham
Der OF Deputies, but nowhere cid hear
any news. Still, it was possible that
Milford Hawkesbury had received
it himself just as we had. , He
lived in Harley street, and there it was
that the treaty was toabe finally signed
that night at s. entreated Monsieur
Otto to drink two glasses Of Burgundy
before he went, for I feared lest his
haggard face and trembling hands
should rouse suspicion in the English
Minister
We'll, we went round together in one
Of the embassy's carriages, about a 80.
Monsieur Otto went in alone; but pres
emily, on excuse of getting his port
folio, he came out again, with his
cheeks flushed with Joy, to tell me that
all was well.
He knows nothing he whispered
'Ah, il the next half hour were Overt
Give me sign when it is settled
said I.
For what reason?
Because until then no messenger
shall interrupt you. 1 give you my
prollise-I, Alphonse Lacour.'
He clasped my hand in both his. I
shall make an excuse to move one of
the candles on to the table in the win
dow saiG he, and hurried into the
house, while 1 was left waiting beside
the carriage.
We'll, If we could but secure our
selves from interruption for single
half-hour the day would be our own.
I had hardly begun to form my plans
when I saw the lights of carriage
coming swiftly from the direction of
Oxford street. All, if it should be the
messenger! What could 1 do? was
prepared to kill him-yes, even to kill
him, rather than at this last moment
allow our work to be undone. .hou-
sands die to make a glorious war. Why
should not one die to make a glorious
peace? What though they hurried me
to the scaffold? 1 should have sacri-
feed myself for my country. I had a
little curved Turkish knife strapped to
my waist. My hand was on the hilt
of 1T when the carriage which had
alarmed me ratified safely past me.
But another might come. 1 must
be prepared. Above all, 1 must not
compromise the embassy. 1 ordered
our carriage to move on, and I engaged
what you call a hackney coach. Then
spoke to the driver, and gave him
guinea. He understood that it was a
special service. Z
You shall have another guinea If
you do what you are told said L.
All right, master said he, turning
his slow ewes upon me without a trace
OF excitement or curiosity.
IL 1 enter your coach with another
gentleman, you will drive up and down
Harley street and take no orders from
any one but me. When I get out you
will carry the other gentleman to
Walters Club. in Bruton street
All right, MASTER said he, again.
SO I stood outside Milford Hawkes.
bury's house, and you can think how
often my eyes went up to that window
IN the hope of seeing the candle twinkle
in t. Five minutes passed, and another
hve. Oh, how slowly they crept along!
paced up and down, slapping my
hands to keep them warm, and still
straining my ears. And then suddenly
out Of the dull hum of the traffic down
in Oxford street 1 heard a sound de-
tach itself and eroxu louder o,l7 lo,,5o-