A Cabinet Secret : Chapter 2

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Chapter two of a Cabinet Secret by Guy Boothby this
LibriVox recording is in the public domain reading by mant Perard,
Chapter two. My arrangements were completed, and in spite of
de Belleville's entreaty that I should remain for at least

(00:23):
another day, I was adamant in my determination to leave
Paris for England that night. In view of the existing
state of affairs there, it would be a truism to
say that there was much to be done before the
assembling of Parliament. It behooved us all we knew to
put our shoulders to the wheel and to do the

(00:43):
utmost to help our country in her hour of need. Accordingly,
the appointed moment found me at the railway station, whither
my servant had preceded me. Williams is the best courier
as well as the best servant in existence. And when
I reached the platform, it was to find my compartment

(01:04):
reserved for me, my books and papers spread out to
my hand, my cap and traveling rug in readiness, and
the faithful man himself on guard at the door. It
only wanted three minutes to starting time, and already the
various functionaries were busying themselves with intending passengers. It looks

(01:25):
as if we shall have a full train, Williams, I said,
as I stood at the door gazing down the platform.
Let us hope we shall have a good crossing. The
weather report is favorable, sir, he replied. I returned to
the other end of the carriage to look for my
cigar case, and was in the act of cutting a

(01:46):
weed when I heard William's voice raised, as if in expostulation.
I must beg your pardon, sir. He was saying in
his curious French that no experience ever makes any better
or any worse. But this is a reserved compartment. But

(02:07):
my good fellow, there is no more room in the train,
said a voice I instantly recognized. Pray speak to your master,
and I am sure he will not deny our request.
I walked to the door where this conversation was being
carried on to discover the lady and the two men
who have already figured so prominently in my narrative. Standing

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upon the platform. I am afraid we are taking an
unwarrantable liberty in asking such a favor from you, the
elder man began, But by our carelessness we are placed
in a dilemma. We omitted to secure our compartment, and
now the train is so full that we cannot procure seats.
It is most necessary for us to cross to London

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to night. And unless you will go so far out
of your way as to permit us to share your
carriage with you, I fear we must remain behind. The
train is about to start, even now, though I had
no desire for their company, courtesy forbade that I should
insist upon my rights. Nothing remained for it. Therefore, but

(03:13):
for me to submit with as much graciousness as I
could assume. Pray step in, I said, it is the
fault of the railway authorities, who should provide sufficient accommodation
for travelers. May I ask which she to prefer? Madame,
with an expression of her thanks, she chose the corner

(03:34):
at the further end of the compartment, and opposite the
corner Williams had prepared for me. Her companions followed her,
and a moment later the train moved slowly out of
the station, and our journey had commenced. That journey will
be remembered by two of our number, at least so
long as they can recollect anything I am not going

(03:57):
to pretend that I felt at my ease for the
first part of it. Far from it. I fancy the
Countess must have noticed this, for she did not address
me for some time, vouchsafing me an opportunity of becoming
accustomed to the novelty of the situation. Then, feeling that
it was incumbent on me to do the honors of

(04:20):
the compartment, I offered her her choice of papers. She
chose one, and when she had opened it, assured me
that I was at liberty to smoke, should I care
to do so. Her companions had also made themselves at home,
so that by the time our train ran through Alissirnoi,
we might have been said to have been on comparatively

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intimate terms with each other. I have an idea that
my father and I had the pleasure of meeting an
old friend of yours lately, said the Countess, when the
station to which I have just referred was a thing
of the past, and we were beating on towards the sea. Really,

(05:03):
I replied, with some little astonishment, pray, who might that
friend be? The Duke of Rotherhithe. She returned, and as
she said it, she neatly folded the paper she had
been reading and laid it on the seat beside her.
A friend of mine, indeed, I answered, I fancied, however,

(05:24):
that he was yachting in the Mediterranean. Exactly he was.
We met him quite by chance in Constantinople, and, finding
that we were anxious to reach Naples as quickly as possible,
he offered to convey this thither in his yacht. I
remember that he spoke most kindly of you, the dear fellow,

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I replied, We were at school together, and afterwards at
the Varsity. So easily impressed is the human mind by
former associations that the mere fact that the Countess de
Banezza and her father had lately been the guests of
my old friend Rotherhithe was sufficient to make me treat
them in an entirely different fashion to what I had

(06:09):
hitherto done. Until that time, I had rather prided myself
upon being a somewhat skeptical man of the world. But
now I was giving splendid proofs of my peculiar susceptibility.
There was, however, a grain of suspicion still lingering about me.
I accordingly proceeded to indirectly question her concerning my friend,

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and as I noticed that she answered without hesitation or
any attempt at concealment, my doubts faded away until they
vanished altogether. We talked of the Princess Barrobador, with the
familiarity of old friends. Rotherhithe antipathy to those whom he
described as foreigners, afforded us conversation for another five minutes,

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while the malapropisms, if I may coin a word of
his head Steward, were sufficient to carry us through two
more stations without a single break in the conversation. We
discussed the various ports of the Mediterranean, ran up to
Assoan in a dahabilla, and afterwards made a pilgrimage to

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Sinai together. The Countess was a witty conversationalist, and as
I discovered, a close observer of all that went on
around her. Her father and cousin, beyond putting in a
word now and again, scarcely spoke, but seemed absorbed in
their books and papers. At last we reached Calais and

(07:37):
it became necessary for us to leave the train. It
was a beautiful evening. The sea was as smooth as glass,
while there was not enough whend to stir the pennant
on the steamer's masthead. I am sure we cannot thank
you enough for permitting us to share your carriage, said
the Countess, as we left the train and prepared to
go on board the steamer. Had it not been for

(08:01):
your kindness, I fear we should still be in Paris
instead of being well on our way to England. I
returned something appropriate to this remark. Then, side by side
we boarded the steamer. Since you have been yachting with
the Duke of Rotherhithe, I said, when we had gained
the deck, it is only fair to suppose that you

(08:23):
are a good sailor. Countess, Oh yes, she answered with
a little laugh. I am an excellent sailor. But forgive
my asking the question, how did you become aware of
my identity? I happened to hear your name at the
hotel this morning, I replied. It was told me after
I had restored the bangle you so nearly lost. At

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this moment, her father put in an appearance and caused
a diversion by inquiring after the safety of her jewel case,
which it appeared, stood in continual danger of being lost.
A few seconds later, the boat was under way and
we had said good bye to French soil. As we

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left the place of embarkation, it seemed to me that
my companion gave a little sigh, and, noticing that it
was followed by a slight shiver, I inquired whether she
felt cold. She replied in the negative, though at the
same time she drew her furs a little closer round her.
I wonder whether certain places affect you as they do me,

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she said, when the French port lay well astern and
we were heading for the White Cliffs of England. It
is strange that I never leave Calais without undergoing a
decided feeling of depression. I don't know why it should be,
so it is a fact. Nevertheless, I hope it is

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not the thought of visiting England that causes it, I replied,
with an attempt at jocularity. You have visited our country before,
of course, very often, she answered. We have many friends
in England, in the list of whom I hope you
will permit me some day to number myself. I continued,

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with an eagerness that was not at all usual with me.
I shall be very pleased, she returned, quietly, and then
looked away across the still water to where a French
pilot cutter lay becalmed, half a mile or so away.
An hour later we reached Dover. Just as we were

(10:32):
entering the harbor, the Countess's father approached me and thanked
me effusively for my kindness in permitting them to share
my carriage from Paris. But you must not let my generosity,
such as it is, cease there, I replied, I hope
you will also share my carriage to London. That is
to say, if the Countess is not already too tired

(10:55):
of my society. It would be ungenerous to say so
if if I were. She answered with a smile. But
if you on your side, do not feel that we
have trespassed too far already, I am sure we shall
be only too glad to accept your kind offer. The
custom authorities having been satisfied as to the innocence of

(11:17):
our baggage, we took our seats in the carriage, which
had been reserved for me. My indispensable Williams made his
appearance with an armful of papers, and then we started
upon the last stage of our journey. When I had
handed the Countess a copy of the Globe. I selected
a pall mall for myself and turned to the page

(11:39):
containing the latest war news. From what I found there,
there could be no doubt that the situation was hourly
increasing in danger. There were complications on every side, and
the position was not rendered easier by the fact that
a certain number of prominent politicians were endeavoring to make
capital out of the difficulties of the god govern I

(12:01):
suppose there can now be no doubt as to the
probability of war, said count Riefenberg, looking up from his
paper as he spoke. None whatever I should say, I answered.
If the papers are to be believed, the clouds are
blacker and heavier than they have yet been. I fear
the storm must burst ere long. The Countess did not

(12:25):
take any part in our conversation, but I fancied that
she was listening. Not feeling any desire to continue the
discussion with the younger man, I returned to my paper,
leaving him to follow my example. A few minutes later,
the Countess put down her glove and sat looking out
upon the country through which we were passing. I see

(12:48):
they have captured another notorious anarchist in Naples, I said,
after we had been sitting in silence for some minutes.
So far as can be gathered from the report given here,
the arrest is likely to prove important in more respects
than one. Indeed, said the Countess, looking steadily at me
as she spoke, the police are certainly becoming more expeditious

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in the matter of arrests. The only difficulty they experience
is the finding of any substantial crime against their victims
when they have brought about their capture. Pray, who is
this particular man? An individual rejoicing in the romantic name
of Luigi Ferrera, I answered, it appears that they have

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been endeavoring to lay their hands upon him for some
time past. Until now, however, he has managed to slip
through their fingers. Poor fellow, said the Countess, still in
the same even voice. I hope it will not prejudice
you against me, but I cannot help feeling a little

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sympathy for people, however misguided they may be, who imperil
their own safety for the sake of bringing about what
they consider the ultimate happiness of others. Then, as though
the matter no longer interested her, she returned to the
perusal of her paper, her cousin had all this time

(14:13):
been drumming with his fingers in an impatient manner. So
I thought upon the glass of the window beside which
he sat. For my own part, I scarcely knew what
to make of this young man. Though he did not
show it openly, I could not help thinking that he
was jealous of the attention I was paying his fair cousin.
As the idea crossed my mind, I remembered the previous afternoon,

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when I had sat in the portico of the hotel,
speculating as to the nationality and lives of the people
about me. How little I had thought then that twenty
four hours later would find me seated with them in
an English railway carriage discussing the fortune of another man,
with whom neither I nor they, for the matter of that,

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at least, so I then supposed, had even the remotest connection.
It was not until we were approaching the end of
our journey that I spoke to my visa Vie concerning
her stay in London. We shall, in all probability remain
in London for some three or four months, She said,

(15:20):
I hope, if you can spare the time, that you
will call upon me. I have taken Wiltshire House by
the way, and shall be most pleased to see you.
I must confess that our announcement caused me a considerable
amount of surprise. All things considered, it was rather a
strange coincidence, for only that morning I had received a

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letter from my sister Ethewyn, who, as you are doubtless aware,
is the Countess of Browarden, in which occurred that the
following significant passage Ethelwyne, I might here remark, is somewhat
given to the florid style. Existence is now altogether a blank.

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The dream of my life. Wiltshire House has vanished. Some
rich foreigner has taken it, and in consequence George, my
brother in law, and I have quarreled desperately. He declares
it is a good thing. It is let as he
couldn't think of it. He moreover averse that it would

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cost a king's ransom to keep up. Nevertheless, I shall
detest the foreigner, whoever she or he may be. I
can scarcely say how I derived the impression, But until
that moment I had not supposed my fair friend to
be the possessor of any great wealth. It was the

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more surprising therefore to hear that she was not only
a rich woman, but also that she was to be
the temporary mistress of one of the most beautiful and
expensive dwellings in the metropolis. Needless to say, I did
not let her become aware of the surprise she had
given me, but contented myself with thanking her and expressing

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the hope that shortly I should be able to do
myself the honor of calling upon her. You won't allow
your public duties to make you forget your promise to
come and see me, I hope, said the Countess, as
we shook hands. You may be quite sure that I
shall not, I replied. Then. Au revoir, and many thanks

(17:31):
for the kindness you have shown us. It has given
me the greatest possible pleasure, I answered, And as I
said it, I had a guilty remembrance of my uncharitable
feelings that morning, when I had discovered that my prophecy
was destined to be disturbed. Yet so pleasantly had the

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time passed that I felt as if I had known
the Countess for years instead of ours. When I reached
my house, it was the find everything just as I
had left it, a cheerful fire blazed in my study.
The latest evening papers lay cut and folded upon a
table beside my favorite chair. A subdued light shone above

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the table in the dining room adjoining, and everything denoted
the care and comfort which a master possessing good servants
has a right to expect. Having removed the stains of
travel and changed my attire, I sat down to dinner. Afterwards,
spent an hour skimming my correspondence, then developed the time.

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I ordered a cab and drove to my favorite club.
Though I had only been absent from England a short
time and had not been further than Paris, I discovered
that I had a vast amount of news to hear.
Men imparted their information to me as if I had
that day returned from Central Africa or the Australian Bush.

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Young Ponsford, the member for Benfat, for which place his
father had sat before him, was good enough to give
me his views on the crisis. His complaint was that
no one would listen to him, and in consequence he
was only too glad to find some one who required
bringing up to date that I happened to be a

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cabinet minister, as well as an old friend made no
sort of difference. By jove, I envy you, he said,
as he lit a fresh cigar. I can tell you,
if you play your cards carefully, you'll be no end
of us well over this business. Why on earth couldn't
I have had such an opportunity For the simple reason

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that you know too much, my boy, said a man
in the guards who happened to be sitting near Haven't
you heard that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
They know Manderville's safe on a secret, so they gave
him the job. What's the use of a secret unless
there's some mystery about it? By the way, talking of mysteries,

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what's this about Wiltshire House? Somebody tells me that it
has been let to the prettiest woman in Europe. Do
any of you know anything about her? Ponceford was as
well informed upon this as upon all other subjects, of course,
he replied, The news is as old as the hills.

(20:24):
I heard it from Bill Kingsbury, who was in the
ancient shop or office whatever they call it, when the
business was being arranged. But it's all nonsense about her
being the prettiest woman in Europe. Hailed from Jamaica. I
believe has to owned curly hair and to just one
touch of the tarbrush. Ponceford seems to know all about her,

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said another man. He always is well informed, however, upon
any matter, whatever it may be. If there's going to
be a war, the House ought devote a sum sufficient
to send him out in order that he may keep
the authorities posted on the progress of affairs. You've missed
your vocation, Ponceford. You'd make an ideal war correspondent. Too

(21:10):
much imagination, said the man in the guards. Military matters
must be taken seriously. But nobody has answered my question yet.
Who is this lady who has taken wheelchair House? I
have already told you, said Ponceford sulkily. I never came
across such a set of unbelievers, elderly colored and of

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West Indian origin, said the guardsman. It doesn't sound well.
I could stand it no longer. For goodness sake, I
put in, don't go about the town spreading that report.
I assure you Ponsford is as usual altogether out of it.
How do you know that, asked Ponceford suspiciously. Because I

(22:00):
happen to have had the good fortune to travel with
the lady from Paris to day, I replied, with just
that little touch of satisfaction. The position warranted, and you
kept quiet about it, said another man. Well you are
a reticent beggar, I must say, don't you know this

(22:21):
has been one of the mysteries of the town. My goodness, man,
you shan't escape from this room until you have told
us all about her. Who is she? What is she?
What is her name? How much money? Has she? Above all?
Is she pretty? She is the Countess de Venezza, I

(22:41):
replied Italian, I should say rich, since she has taken
Wiltshire House. And as for her personal appearance, well, when
you see her you will be able to judge of
that for yourselves. Excellent, said the guardsman. I prefer Manderville's
report to yours. Ponceford. Is she married a widow? I fancy,

(23:06):
I replied, still better. If she is kind to me,
I will make her reputation and wiltri how shall be
the smartest caravan surrey in London? Not shooting in your wood? Manderville?
I hope. I wish to goodness you men wouldn't spend
your time so much in inventing new slang, I answered,

(23:29):
But some of you seem to have nothing else to do.
Now that I have satisfied your curiosity, I shall go
home to bed. The early bird catches the early news.
In these days one lives for the morning papers. Ponsford
saw another opportunity. Talking of morning papers, he began, but

(23:51):
before he had finished the sentence, I had left the room.
Being tired. When I reached home, I went straight to bed.
Remembering my experience of the previous night, I was determined
that this one should make up for it. To my disappointment, however,
I discovered that tired, though I was, sleep would not
visit my eyelids. I was as wide awake when I

(24:14):
had been two hours in bed as I was when
I entered my room. Once more, as on the previous night,
I was haunted with the remembrance of the Countess's eyes.
Do what I could, I could not get them out
of my mind. Tired at last of tumbling and tossing,
and thoroughly angry with myself and the world in general,

(24:35):
I rose, donned a dressing gown and went into the
small study that adjoins my bedroom. The fire was not
quite extinguished, and with some little coaxing I was able
to induce it to burn again. Taking a book, I
drew up my chair, seated myself in it, and tried
to read. I must have done so to some purpose,

(24:56):
for after a time I fell asleep pass It may
have been due to the fact that I had had
no rest on the previous night, and that my mind
was naturally much occupied with the gravity of England's situation
and the part I had to play in the coming strife.
At any rate, my dreams were not only vivid but

(25:18):
decidedly alarming. I tripped that I was in a transport
en route to the cape, and that the vessel struck
a rock and sank. With all the troops on board,
there was no time to get out the boats, and
in company with some hundreds of others, I was precipitated
into the water. While we were still struggling with the waves,

(25:40):
a lifeboat made her appearance, and, to my intense astonishment,
standing in the bows was no less a person than
the Countess de Vanazza. What was stranger still, she carried
in her hand a heavy spear or harpoon, with which,
whenever a drowning man approached the boat, she stamped him
in the back. Laughing as she did so. Then, by

(26:03):
means of that wonderful mechanical ingenuity with which the theaters
of the Land of Dreams are furnished, the scene changed
to a lonely plain at the foot of a rugged
mountain range. A battle had been fought upon it, and
the dead and wounded still lay where they had fallen.
So real did it appear to me that, when I

(26:24):
recognized here and there the faces of friends, I found
myself wondering what I should say to their loved ones
when I returned to England. Suddenly, in the weird light,
for the moon was shining above the mountain peaks, there
appeared from among the rocks on the further side of
the plain a woman whose face I instantly recognized. With

(26:46):
stealthy steps, she left her hiding place and descended to
where the woundedly thickest. In her hand, she carried the
same spear that I remembered in my previous dream, and
with it she stabbed every man who remained alive. So
terrible was the expression upon her face as she did so,
that I turned away from her in loathing and disgust.

(27:09):
When I looked again, she was bending over the body
of a man who still lived, but who was bleeding
from a deep wound in his side. Picture my consternation
when I discovered that he was none other than the
guardsman who had been so persistent in his inquiries that
night concerning her. As I watched for I was unable

(27:29):
to move hand or foot to save him. A low
moan escaped his lips, followed by an appeal for water.
With the same expression of fiendish rage upon her face
that I had noticed before. She raised the spear and
was about to plunge it into his breast, when with
a cry, I awoke to find the sun streaming into

(27:52):
the room and my respectable Williams standing before me. Good
gracious Williams, how you startled? I said, What on earth
am I doing here? Ah? I remember I could not sleep,
so I came in to get a book. I suppose
I must have fallen asleep over it. What news is

(28:12):
there this morning? There was an air of mystery about
Williams that I knew. Heralded the announcement of some extraordinary information. Yes, sir,
he said, there is some important news. The papers do
say that war is declared. End of Chapter two