按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
rule by force； struggling always against the accumulated hatred of years？ Alsace and Lorraine have taught her her lesson。 It is not French territory she wants。 Russia has far more to give。 Russia and England between them can pay an indemnity which will make Germany rich beyond the dreams of avarice。 Form your party； Monsieur Guillot； spread your tidings in any way that seems fit to you； only until the hour comes； guard that document as you would your soul。 Its possession would mean death to you as it would to me。〃
Monsieur Guillot took the document and buttoned it up in his inside pocket。
〃Supposing I succeed；〃 he said quietly； 〃what of your country then？〃
〃My country will make peace；〃 Granet replied。
〃It will be a peace that will cost us much； but nothing more than we deserve。 For generations the war has been the perfectly obvious and apparent sequence of European events。 It threw its warning shadow across our path for years； and our statesmen deliberately turned their heads the other way or walked blindfolded。 Not only our statesmen； mind； but our people； our English people。 Our young men shirked their duty； our philosophers and essayists shirked theirs。 We prated of peace and conventions； and we knew very well that we were living in times when human nature and red blood were still the controlling elements。 We watched Germany arm and prepare。 We turned for comfort towards our fellow sinners； America； and we prattled about conventions and arbitration； and hundred other silly abstractions。 A father can watch the punishment of his child； Monsieur Guillot。 Believe me； there are many other Englishmen besides me who will fell a melancholy satisfaction in the chastisement of their country； many who are more English； even； than I。〃
Monsieur Guillot passed away from the personal side of the matter。 Already his mind was travelling swiftly along the avenues of his own future greatness。
〃This is the chance which comes to few men；〃 he muttered。 〃There is Dejane； Gardine； Debonnot； Senn； besides my own followers。 My own journal； too！ It is a great campaign； this which I shall start。〃
Granet rose to his feet。
〃After to…day I breathe more freely；〃 he confessed。 〃There have been enemies pressing closely around me； I have walked in fear。 To…day I am a free man。 Take care； monsieur。 Take care especially whilst you are in England。〃
Monsieur Guillot extended his hand。
〃My young friend；〃 he said； 〃in the years to come you and I shall perhaps meet in our wonderful Paris； and if I may not tell the world so； I shall yet feel； as we look upon her greatness； that you and I together have saved France。 Adieu！〃
Granet made his way along the empty corridor； rang for the lift and descended into the hall。 A smile was upon his lips。 The torch at last was kindled！ In the hall of the hotel he came across a group of assembling guests just starting for the luncheon room。 A tall； familiar figure stepped for a moment on one side。 His heart gave a little jump。 Geraldine held out her pearl…gloved hand。
〃Captain Granet；〃 she said； 〃I wanted to tell you something。〃
〃Yes？〃 he answered breathlessly。
She glanced towards where the little group of people were already on their way to the stairs。
〃I must not stay for a second； she continued； dropping her voice； 〃but I wanted to tell youI am no longer engaged to Major Thomson。 Goodbye！〃
A rush of words trembled upon his lips but she was gone。 He watched her slim； graceful figure as she passed swiftly along the vestibule and joined her friends。 He even heard her little laugh as she greeted one of the men who had waited for her。
〃Decidedly；〃 Granet said to himself triumphantly as he turned towards the door； 〃this is my day！〃
CHAPTER XIV
Monsieur Guillot was a man of emotional temperament。 For more than an hour after Granet had left him； he paced up and down his little room； stood before the high windows which overlooked the Thames； raised his hands above his head and gazed with flashing eyes into the futuresuch a future！ All his life he had been a schemer； his eyes turned towards the big things； yet with himself always occupying the one glorified place in the centre of the arena。 He was； in one sense of the word； a patriot； but it was the meanest and smallest sense。 There was no great France for him in which his was not the commanding figure。 In every dream of that wonderful future； of a more splendid and triumphant France； he saw himself on the pinnacle of fame； himself acclaimed by millions the strong great man； the liberator。 France outside himself lived only as a phantasy。 And now at last his chance had come。 The minutes passed unnoticed as he built his way up into the future。 He was shrewd and calculating； he took note of the pitfalls he must avoid。 One by one he decided upon the men whom gradually and cautiously he would draw into his confidence。 Finally he saw the whole scheme complete； the bomb…shell thrown； France hysterically casting laurels upon the man who had brought her unexpected peace。
The door…bell rang。 He answered it a little impatiently。 A slim； fashionably dressed young Frenchman stood there； whose face was vaguely familiar to him。
〃Monsieur Guillot？〃 the newcomer inquired politely。
Guillot bowed。 The young man handed him a card。
〃I am the Baron D'Evignon；〃 he announced； 〃second secretary at the Embassy here。〃
Monsieur Guillot held the card and looked at his visitor。 He was very puzzled。 Some dim sense of foreboding was beginning to steal in upon him。
〃Be so kind as to come in； Monsieur le Baron；〃 he invited。 〃Will you not be seated and explain to me to what I am indebted for this honour？ You do not； by any chance； mistake me for another？ I am Monsieur Guillot； lately； alas！ Of Lille。〃
The Baron smiled ever so slightly as he waved away the chair。
〃There is no mistake； Monsieur Guillot；〃 he said。 〃I come to you with a message from my Chief。 He would be greatly honoured if you would accompany me to the Embassy。 He wishes a few minutes' conversation with you。〃
〃With me？〃 Monsieur Guillot echoed incredulously。 〃But there is some mistake。〃
〃No mistake； I assure you；〃 the young man insisted。
Monsieur Guillot drew back a little into the room。
〃But what have I to do with the Ambassador； or with diplomatic matters of any sort？〃 he protested。 〃I am here on business； to see what can be saved from the wreck of my affairs。 Monsieur the Ambassador is mistaking me for another。〃
The Baron shook his head。
〃There is no mistake； my dear sir；〃 he insisted。 〃We all recognise；〃 he added； with a bow； 〃the necessities which force the most famous of us to live sometimes in the shadow of anonymity。 If the Chief could find little to say to Monsieur Guillot of Lille； he will； I am sure； be very interested in a short conversation with Monsieur Henri Pailleton。〃
There was a brief； tense silence。 The man who had called him self Guillot was transformed。 The dreams which had uplifted him a few minutes ago； had passed。 He was living very much in the presentan ugly and foreboding present。 The veins stood out upon his forehead and upon the back of his hands； his teeth gleamed un