08 - Cabinet Secret by Guy Boothby

The Cabinet Secret is a thrilling spy novel set during the Boer Wars. Full of intrigue, deception, and daring escapes, it follows secret agents navigating the treacherous world of international politics and espionage.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter seven. The state of mind into which England was
plunged by the news of the disappearance of the commander
in chief cannot be fittingly described by a pen so
weak as mine. It is not that we had lost
anything of our former courage, or that we had resigned

(00:21):
all hope of coming out victors in the struggle. We
were as resolved as ever to carry this war through
to the bitter end. Yet the news clanged like a
death knell upon a thousand hearts. Of my own feelings,
I will not speak that expressed by the nation voices

(00:41):
my own. I was sad. How sad few can guess.
But despite my sorrow, I declared that the war must
go on, that the end should be reached. And now
to turn to a brighter subject. On the Tuesday before
the day I was to dine at Wiltshire House, I

(01:02):
have a good fortune to receive a visit from an
old friend. He was none other than the Duke of Rotherhithe,
the gentleman who had been obliging enough to convey the
Countess de Vanazza and her father from Constantinople to Naples
on a certain memorable occasion, and who was known to
entertain a great admiration for her. Having had a somewhat

(01:26):
busy morning, I did not reach home until after two o'clock.
I had scarcely sat down to lunch before Thompson. My
butler informed me that the Duke of Rotherheide was anxious
to see me. My dear fellow, this is friendly of you,
I said, as we shook hands a few moments later.
You are just in time for lunch. I have only

(01:49):
this minute commenced. You couldn't offer me anything better, he replied,
I have eaten nothing all the morning. By jove, how
good it is to see your face again, old man,
And what a swell you have become. To be sure,
since I saw you last cabinet minister, and I don't
know what else besides, you'll be premier before you're done.

(02:14):
Not quite so high as that, I answered. I have
my ambitions, I will admit, but I am afraid that
the premiership is scarcely the one that will be likely
to be realized. One thing was quite certain. Rotherhithe was
in the most excellent spirits. His honest, manly face was

(02:35):
wreathed in smiles, and had an artist been present, he
might have used it for the personification of happiness. Throughout
the meal, he laughed and joked, continually, recalled old days,
old escapades long since forgotten on my side, and vowed
that we were both of us growing younger instead of older.

(02:58):
That there was something unusual about it. All I could
plainly see. But what that something was I had not
then the least idea. My suspicions, however, were aroused very
soon by the way, I said, when we had finished lunch,
let me tell you that I have lately had the

(03:19):
pleasure to be of some service to an old friend
of yours, an old friend of mine. He said, with
what I could not help thinking was pretended surprise. Who
is the friend the Countess de Vanezza, I replied, the
lady whose wealth and beauty have made her such a
prominent figure in London society of late. She told me

(03:43):
that she had been yachting with you in the Mediterranean
and spoke quite feelingly of your kindness to herself and
her father. Do you mean to tell me that you
don't recollect her? Recollect her? Of course I do, he said,
still with the same sheepish look upon his face. Oh yes,

(04:05):
I remember her well enough, and so you've been kind
to her? Have you here? He laughed in a foolish
fashion to himself. Humph, I said to myself, surely he
cannot have been idiotic enough to have I stopped myself abruptly.
I knew very well that I should hear all the
news he had to tell. Quite soon enough, at last,

(04:29):
Thompson and the men left the room, and an expression
of great solemnity, took possession of my friend's countenance. What
was more, he drew his chair a little closer to mine.
My dear old fellow, he said, laying his hand on
my arm. We have been friends many years. In point
of fact, I don't know of a man whose good

(04:51):
wishes I should so thoroughly appreciate. By jove, old fellow,
I am the happiest being in the world, so happy
and fat that I'm dashed. If I know whether I
am standing on my head or my heels, let me
reassure you, then, I said, dryly, you are standing on
your heels at the present moment. Confound your silly jokes,

(05:16):
he said angrily. Any one but a cabinet minister would
have seen that I was speaking metaphorically. Now I want
to tell you that if you are going to be confidential,
I replied, let us adjourn to the smoking room. I
shall give you much better attention over a cigar, and
you will doubtless prove more eloquent. We accordingly adjourned to

(05:39):
the room in question, where I produced a box of cigars,
furnished the dew with the light, and then, when we
had seated ourselves, bade him commence his tale. I have
often noticed that when a man who is anxious to
be communicative is invited to begin his confidences, he finds
that his stream of loquest has dried up. It was

(06:02):
so in Rotherhide's case. He hummed, and howed, gazed very
steadily at the ceiling for some seconds, and finally rose
from his chair and began to pace the room. You
may remember he began, in the tone of a man
addressing a public meeting, that you and several other of
my friends have continually endeavored to impress upon me that

(06:25):
it is my bound in duty, not only to myself,
but to the name I bear, to marry and settle down.
You can't grumble. Therefore, if I take you at your word,
you couldn't do better, I said reflectively, examining the ash
of my cigar as I spoke, there is only one

(06:46):
objection to the scheme, so far as I can see objection,
he cried, firing up as usual. What sort of objection
can there be to such a thing. It is just possible.
You may marry the girl, I said quietly. You must
admit that that would be a very decided one. I

(07:07):
am not likely to be such an idiot, he returned.
What is more, I am not about to marry a girl.
I was becoming more and more convinced that my suspicions
were correct. In that case, the objection is removed, I said,
And now let me offer you my heartiest congratulations. I

(07:28):
sincerely hope you may be happy. But hang it all,
you haven't asked me yet who the lady is. You
might have done that if I wanted to waste time,
I might very well have done it, I replied. There
is no need, however, seeing that I already know who
she is the deuce you do, then? Who is she?

(07:52):
The Countess David Ezza, I answered, shaking the ash of
my cigar into the tree beside me. I had my
suspicion at lunch, and you afterwards confirm them. I presume
I am correct, quite correct, he said, in a tone
of relief. And by jove, don't you think I am

(08:13):
a lucky man? Isn't she simply beautiful? I offered no
reply to the first question. On the second point, however,
I was fortunate enough to be in a position to
reassure him. Whatever else she might be or might not be,
the Countess was certainly very beautiful. I shall have her

(08:34):
painted by Collier, he continued, or another of those partest fellows.
She will be in black velvet, holding the folds of
a curtain in her hand, and I'll hang it in
the gallery at the old place, with all the other
family pictures round her. There will not be another there
to equal her. In my own heart, I wondered what

(08:55):
those stately old ladies in frills and brocades would say
to the newcomer. I did not mention the fact, however,
to rather hide in his present condition, he was ready
to take offense at anything, at least where she was concerned.
And when will the wedding take place, I inquired, And

(09:16):
where I can't quite say, he replied. There's such a
lot to be settled. First, to see, I want her
to let it be in London. But so far she
hasn't given me a definite answer. And her respected father,
what has he to say upon the subject. Oh, he's
pleased enough. I had a telegram from him this morning.

(09:39):
Between ourselves. I think foreigners ever do it a bit,
don't you. They certainly express their feelings somewhat more warmly
than we usually do. I said, as if in explanation
of my own conduct. But in this case one feels
justified in launching out a little might I ask how

(10:00):
how long you have known the lady? I put the
question listlessly, seeing that the chance of my learning a
little of her past history was a poor one. Oh,
I have known her a long time, he answered vaguely.
We were together in Cairo and Algiers and other places.
What a fellow you are to be sure to ask questions?

(10:23):
Does it mean that you think? He stopped and glared
at me? But I sit and down, my dear fellow,
I think nothing at all, except that the Countess is
a most charming lady, and that you will doubtless live
a most happy life together. I am sure, I hope
you may. He looked at me queerly for a moment

(10:44):
and then brought his hand down with a whack upon
my shoulder. By jove, do you know I believe you
have been in love with her yourself? He said, Now
own up, It is very possible, I answered, feeling that
my only safe delay in answering as I did. I
have been in love with her ever since I have

(11:06):
known her, and with all due respect to you, I
shall remain so after she has become her grace, the
Duchess of Rotherhithe. If you are jealous, you will have
to forbid me the house. He laughed uproariously, his confidence
quite restored by my candor. Then, with an assurance that

(11:26):
I had better not let him catch me flirting with her,
he informed me that it was time for him to
be off, as he had promised to call at Wiltshire
House that afternoon. One last question, I said, as we
walked towards the door, and I mean it seriously, What
does cousin Conrad say to the arrangement? I don't know

(11:50):
what he says in the least, and what is more,
I don't care, he replied, an angry look coming into
his face. Between ourselves, George, I don't like that, young fellow.
I shall take care once I am married that he
doesn't enter my doors. I think you would be wise,
I said, and there the matter dropped. When he had gone,

(12:15):
I sat myself down to consider the situation. It displeased
me for more reasons than one Rotherhithe was my old friend,
I was exceedingly fond of him, and I had no
desire that his married life should prove a failure. Yet
what reason had I for supposing that it would. It
is true I had seen a good deal of the

(12:35):
Countess lately, but not sufficient to be able to declare
that I knew her intimately. She was a beautiful woman
and excellent hostess, the possessor of great wealth, and though
beyond her father I knew nothing of her family, evidently
a gentle blood. This much was in her favor. Yet

(12:55):
there were other things which rankled in my memory, and
which had I inspired to the honor of her hand,
I should have wanted explained to me. How was it
that no one had ever heard of her before she
appeared to dazzle all London. Was count Riefenberg really her cousin?
Who was that mysterious foreigner who had plainly been threatening

(13:18):
her on the morning that I had met her in
the park. And last, but not least, what was the
real story of that old tramp's entrance into Wiltshire House
on the night of the supposed burglary. The most alarming question,
and the most difficult of all to decide, was whether
it was my duty to say anything to Rotherhithe upon

(13:39):
the subject. He was, in the main an easy going,
happy go lucky fellow, not overburdened with brains, but in
every other respect a high minded English gentleman. Yet I
knew him well enough to feel sure that in a
case like this he would have been the first to
resent and looked at from his own light quite rightly too,

(14:04):
any aspersion that might be thrown upon the character the
woman he loved. That he was in love with her,
there could be no sort of doubt. One had only
to look into his face to see it. But I
was also fond of him, and if I knew there
were anything hidden from him which he ought to know,

(14:26):
was it not my duty as his friend to risk
his anger and the possible rupture of our friendship in
order to make him acquainted with it. For the remainder
of the day I debated this question seriously with myself.
But try, how I would, I was quite unable to
arrive at a satisfactory decision regarding it this much, However,

(14:48):
I did do common politeness demanded it of me. I
sat down and wrote a note of congratulation to the Countess.
Though I knew in my heart it was a somewhat
traitorous proceeding. Yet when the note had been despatched, I
must confess I felt easier in my mind. A twinge

(15:08):
of conscience, however, still remained to plague me. If only
I had not taken the walk that night, or if
only I had been too late to see the old
man enter the house, I should have been able to
regard the whole affair, if not with pleasure, at least
with a measure of equanimity. Now, however, it was otherwise.

(15:30):
Next morning, a charming little note arrived from the Countess,
thanking me for my good wishes and referring to herself
as one of the most fortunate women in the world.
As a letter, it was delightful as an expression of
the writer's true feelings. Well, I was not quite so
satisfied as to its genuineness. Charming, though the lady undeniably

(15:52):
was and sympathetic to an eminent degree. I found it
extremely difficult to imagine her in love, if, by chance
she wore so. However, Rotherhithe was certainly the last man
whom it would have been with the news of his
engagement had caused quite a stir, even at that time

(16:12):
of almost daily sensations in the fashionable world. In consequence
of it, however, those who had hitherto been inclined to
hold a little aloof from her, as one of whose
antecedents were not sufficiently well known to warrant the intimacy,
Now that the Duke had, so to speak, stood sponsor

(16:35):
for her, were prepared to admit her into their inmost circle.
As for Rotherhithe, he conducted himself like an amiable lunatic,
frequented Wiltshire House to an extent that almost bordered on
the indecent, and was making plans for the future with
the impetuous recklessness of the fifteen year old schoolboy. His

(16:56):
beautiful home in the Midlands was to be prepared for occupation.
A new yacht was to be built that would be
the finest of her kind, while Rotherhide House in London
was to be refurnished and decorated throughout altogether. As somebody said,
the Duke's love affair would be likely to prove the

(17:16):
costliest hobby he had indulged in since his majority. But
as I have said before, if he desired to marry
the Countess and was convinced that his happiness lay in
that direction, it was no business of mine to contradict him.
From the tone I have adopted in speaking of this matter,

(17:37):
it may be surmised that I was jealous of Rotherhide's success.
Allow me to assure you most emphatically that such was
not the case. I am quite prepared to admit that
I admired the Countess as not only a beautiful but
also an exceedingly clever woman, as I have once or
twice remarked. However, I am a confirmed bachelor, and I

(18:00):
do not think it would be in the power of
the fairest daughter of Eve to induce me to change
my state. It was in this frame of mind that
I entered the portals of Wiltshire House on the evening
of the Countess's dinner. In some ways my interests had
departed from it. I was merely a looker on at

(18:21):
a game which was being extremely well played, and knowing
something of the rules by which it is governed, I
was able to appreciate the importance of the various moves,
while being in no way dependent upon their skill. The Countess,
looking like the queen of beauty, received me in the
drawing room. Rotherhide had already arrived, and, as was plainly

(18:44):
to be seen, was ensconced on the summit of happiness.
I am glad you should be the first to arrive,
she said, as if her fiancee counted for nothing. And
while I have the opportunity, I must thank you once
more for your charming letter and for the kindly sentiments
it expressed. It was awfully noose of you. By Jove,

(19:08):
put in the Duke, and then added, with boyish naivete
Manderville always knows how to do and say the right thing.
He's a past master of tact I happened to be
looking at the Countess's face as he said it. And if,
as I feel sure I did I read it correctly,
it spoke volumes. She does not care about him and adam,

(19:32):
I said to myself, and then I added, if that's so,
God help my poor old friend. A few moments later,
when we were nearly at the end of our stock
of commonplaces, the other guests arrived. So far as they
were concerned, the dinner was likely to prove a success.
Besides the Countess Rotherhyde and myself, there was Lady Deiesberd, who,

(19:58):
besides being one of the prettiest women in England, is
also one of the wittiest. Desford himself, who had just
returned from the Pemiers, and who, while being one of
the geographical lions of the day, was also a well
informed man of the world. Montague Wordley, the dramatist, whose

(20:20):
wit was a puzzle even to himself, and pretty Missus
van Houten, the American actress, famous alike for her beauty
and her talent. These with Lady Susan Pedthorpe, whose powers
are too well known to need description, completed the list.
The honor of escorting our hostess and to dinner was

(20:40):
given to me, while Rotherhithe gave his arm to Lady Desford.
The latter's husband took Lady Susan wordly Missus van Hoten
to attempt. A description of the meal to which we
sat down would be impossible. Let it suffice that it
was unique in every sense of the word. Looking back

(21:01):
over a period of more years than I care to
think about, I am unable to recall one entertainment that
in any way equaled it. The whole thing was original
from end to end. The earth seemed to have been
ransacked for our delectation. The ones were of the choicest vintages,
and the waiting was all that could be desired by reason,

(21:25):
I suppose of what followed later. Every detail of the
entertainment is indelibly impressed upon my memory. I can recall
the smallest items connected with it, the Countess's southern beauty,
rather High's jovial countenance, Missus van Houten's rippling laugh, the
perfect modulation of Lady Susan's voice, even the glitter of

(21:47):
a splendid sapphire on one of Lady Desford's shapely fingers,
or as deeply engraved upon my memory as if it
were but yesterday. One thing I must confess surprise me,
while at the same time it added to my pleasure,
That was the absence of our hostess's cousin Riefenberg. Unable

(22:09):
to account for it, I was later on induced to
inquire after him. He has gone into the country, she replied.
He has heard of some shooting that would appear to
be perfection, and he has gone to prove it. Conrad
is rapidly becoming anglicized. Consequently, discovering a fine day, he

(22:31):
inquires what he shall kill. I put in that pleasant illusion.
I fear is fast passing away, said Desford from across
the table. With the abolition of bull baiting, badger drawing,
cock fighting in similar sports, the old order has changed.
Fox hunting is deteriorating before the steady advance of barbed wire.

(22:56):
Deer hunting is declared to be an inhuman sport, while
pigeon shooting is fast becoming a purely mechanical performance played
with an inverted saucer and a spring. The conversation drifted
into another channel, and after that nothing more was said
about the count voun Riefenberg's absence. Personally, I could not

(23:20):
help feeling sure that the reason the Countess had advanced
to account for it was far from being the correct one.
As I have said elsewhere, I had long ago arrived
at the conclusion that the young man entertained a more
than cousinly regard for the lady. His absence from the dinner, therefore,
was merely an arrangement to ensure his not meeting his

(23:42):
more successful rival. The engagement, by this time was known
throughout London, so that I was only voicing a popular sentiment.
At dessert, when I proposed the health and happiness of
the affianced pair, the Countess murmured her thanks, while rotherhithe
declared that it was jolly good of us to wish

(24:04):
them luck, and, by way of adding to the general cheerfulness,
hoped that we should all be as friendly after his
marriage as we had been before that. The ladies left
the room. Half an hour later we joined them in
the drawing room, where I was fortunate enough to be
able to induce the Countess to play to us. She

(24:24):
complied without hesitation, and, if the truth must be told,
her music was to me the greatest pleasure I received
that evening. As I listened to her, I could not
help recalling that memorable afternoon when she had played to
me before. After she had finished, a famous musician then
in London, and whom she had induced to come to

(24:46):
her house, played to us superbly. To me. However, his
performance was insipidity itself compared with that to which I
had just listened. At a quarter to twelve, the various
carriages were announced and the guests departed, until only Rather
High than I were left. Well, Sir George, said the Countess,

(25:10):
as she stood before the fireplace, one dainty hand up
on the mantelpiece, at a pretty foot resting upon the
brass bar of the fender. I hope I have succeeded
in demonstrating to you the fact that, even at the
close of the nineteenth century, it is possible to be
original in one of the most prosaic actions of life.

(25:32):
You have certainly given us a delightful proof, I answered.
When my turn arrives, I fear I shall find it
difficult to equal, much less to eclipse your effort. I
thought nothing was impossible to a cabinet minister put in
Rather High, who had of course been informed of our rivalry.

(25:54):
We shall look forward to saying what you can do.
I fear you will be disappointed and the result, I replied,
and now I must be going good night, Countess. When
I say that you have equipsed even yourself to night,
I cannot pay you a greater compliment. Praise from Sir
George Manderville is praise, indeed, she quoted demurely, and then

(26:19):
she added, with a gracious kindness, good night. I held
out my hand to Rotherhithe, but he did not take it.
Look here, George, he said, if you are willing to
walk home, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll come
with you. Brahams are not much in my line. If
we walk, we can smoke us a guard together. I

(26:42):
would far rather have gone home by myself, but it
was impossible to put Rotherhithe off. I accordingly consented, though
I knew very well that what the result would be.
Being anxious to leave them alone for a moment, I
strolled into the hall, were Rotherhithe presently joined me. We
donned our hats and coats and set off my shadow,

(27:06):
picking me up at the foot of the steps according
to custom, well old fellow, said Rotherhithe, slipping his arm
through mine after we had turned the corner. What do
you think of her? Isn't she simply perfect? Don't you
think I'm the luckiest fellow on earth? Three questions in
one breath, I said, how on earth do you expect

(27:29):
me to answer them. Of course you're a lucky fellow,
and of course we all envy you your happiness. Then,
with an air of seriousness, I continued, I suppose, Rotherhithe,
you are quite convinced that she is the one woman
in the world for you. Convinced, he replied, with a

(27:51):
short laugh at the absurdity of the question. Of course,
I am convinced. Why, my dear old Chap, if I
were to hunt the whole world over, I shouldn't find
her equal. You've no idea how good she is. What's more,
do you know she's the soul of caution. She's got

(28:11):
what I lack, the business instinct. Indeed, I said with
this side of the Countess's character had never been revealed
to me. So she is business like? Is she? I
should think she is? Why when I spoke to her
of what I thought of doing at Rotherhipe house, that
is to say, of pulling a lot of it down,

(28:34):
you know, and rebuilding it, to say nothing of redecorating
and refurnishing it throughout, she wouldn't hear of it. Wait,
she said, and let us see how we like it.
It will be quite time enough when we have been
married a few years to think of making changes in
what has served so long. A very sensible remark, too,

(28:58):
I replied, I am glad she is not going to
lead you into useless expenditure. It's no business of mine,
I know. But that colette of diamonds must have cost
a fortune thirty thousand pounds, he answered, But it's worth
every penny of it to see it round her neck.

(29:18):
She is passionately fond of diamonds. They are the only
stones she cares for. Decidedly, I began to think that
Countess was a business woman. Had I aspired to the
honor of her hand, she would perforce have had to
be content with a single string of pearls. Colettes of
diamonds costing thirty thousand pounds are the peculiar guests of

(29:42):
millionaires now, ratherhipe, I knew while a rich man was
far from being overburdened with money. I wished that he
had not done it, though why I should have done it? So?
It would have puzzled me to say. When we reached
my house, I invited him to accompany me inside. You

(30:03):
would not hear of it, however, No, he said, I'll
be getting home now, late hours don't agree with me.
But before we part, old friend, there's one thing I
want to say to you. I'm going to make a
rather big settlement on my wife, that is to be,
and I want to know if you have any objection

(30:23):
to my putting you down as one of the trustees.
If you could manage it, I should be more than
grateful to you should anything happen to me. There is
nobody else I know who would look after her interests
so well, I scarcely knew what answer to make. The
proposal was one that did not commend itself to me

(30:45):
for several reasons. But what objection could I raise to it?
I was his friend, and presumably hers also, it would
be only natural that he should ask me, and in
the ordinary court things, it would be only natural that
I should accept. For some vague reason. However, events seem

(31:07):
to be moving outside the ordinary course of things, so
I determined not to give him an answer. Then don't
disappoint me. There's a good fellow, He went on. You
can have no idea what importance I attached to your
acceptance of the position. Let me have until tomorrow morning
to decide. I replied, It is not my habit as

(31:30):
you are aware to do anything in a hurry, and
I should like to think it over before giving my consent.
There are many things to be considered. You may be sure, however,
that if I can possibly convince myself that I shall
be really serving your interest and hers by acceding to
your request, that I shall do so. If I did

(31:53):
not think so, I should ask you to find some
one else at once, and trust to where old friendship
to make you believe that I am right, very good.
Then we will leave it like that, and you shall
give me an answer tomorrow. And now good night, George.
You may not think so, but this has been the

(32:14):
happiest evening of my life. Here we shook hands. Let
us hope. I said that this is only the beginning
of your happiness. You will possess a wife of whom
you are sure to be proud, You have rank, wealth
and innumerable friends. What more could any man desire? Good Night?

(32:36):
He waved his hand to me in farewell, and then
set off down the street. When he had disappeared, I
beckoned my shadow to me and bade him good night also.
Then I, in my turn, retired from the world, not
feeling in the humor for bed. I went to my study, and,
contrary to my usual habit lit another cigar. I head

(32:59):
of a right idea of papers to look through, so
I seated myself in a comfortable chair and set to
work to peruse them. It was a useless endeavor, however,
for try how I would to rivet my attention upon them.
I found my thoughts reverting continually to the entertainment I
had been present at that evening for more than an hour.

(33:22):
I remained in my study. Then, feeling that I should
be better in bed, I went upstairs. I had scarcely
reached my dressing room, however, before the sound of a
bell reached my ears. A few minutes later, there was
a tap upon the door, and Williams entered with a note.
I took it from him and looked first at the

(33:42):
address and then at the back. Greatly, to my surprise,
I found that it was from Rotherhide, to whom I
had said good bye, and the pavement outside the house
an hour or so before, the Countess ran as follows,
Dear George, something terrible has happened. For the sake of
our old friendship. I implore you to come to me

(34:03):
at once. I am sending my carriage to put you.
For Heaven's sake, don't delay a moment longer than you
can help ever, your friend Rotherhithe, What on earth could
be the matter? I asked myself. Had the Countess changed
her mind? Or had Rotherhithe met with an accident? Not
knowing what might be asked of me, I changed my

(34:26):
dress clothes for a morning suit as quickly as possible,
informed Williams of the fact that I was going to
Rotherhithe house, and then descended the stairs. A browm with
servants in the well known Rotherhithe livery was drawn up
beside the pavement, and in it I took my place.
The door was then closed and we set off. End

(34:51):
of Chapter seven