CHAPTER II
ARTHUR DORWARD'S "SCOOP"
"What's wrong, old man?" Bellamy asked quickly.
Dorward from a side table had seized the bottle of whiskey and asiphon, and was mixing himself a drink with trembling fingers. Hetossed it off before he spoke a word. Then he turned around andfaced his companion. "Bellamy," he ordered, "lock the door."
Bellamy obeyed. He had no doubt now but that Dorward had lost hishead in the Chancellor's presence--had made some absurd attempt togain the knowledge which they both craved, and had failed.
"Bellamy," Dorward exclaimed, speaking hoarsely and still a littleout of breath, "I guess I've had the biggest slice of luck that wasever dealt out to a human being. If only I can get safe out ofthis city, I tell you I've got the greatest scoop that living manever handled."
"You don't mean that--"
Dorward wiped his forehead and interrupted.
"It's the most amazing thing that ever happened," he declared, "butI've got it here in my pocket, got it in black and white, in theChancellor's own handwriting."
"Got what?"
"Why, what you and I, an hour ago, would have given a million for,"Dorward replied.
Bellamy's expression was one of blank but wondering incredulity.
"You can't mean this, Dorward!" he exclaimed. "You may havesomething--just what the Chancellor wants you to print. You'renot supposing for an instant that you've got the whole truth?"
Dorward's smile was the smile of certainty, his face that of aconqueror.
"Here in my pocket," he declared, striking his chest, "in theChancellor's own handwriting. I tell you I've got the originalverbatim copy of everything that passed and was resolved upon thisafternoon between the Czar of Russia, the Emperor of Austria andthe Emperor of Germany. I've got it word for word as the Chancellortook it down. I've got their decision. I've got their severalundertakings."
Bellamy for a moment was stricken dumb. He looked toward the doorand back into his friend's face aglow with triumph. Then his powerof speech returned.
"Do you mean to say that you stole it?"
Dorward struck the table with his fist.
"Not I! I tell you that the Chancellor gave it to me, gave it tome with his own hands, willingly,--pressed it upon me. No, don'tscoff!" he went on quickly. "Listen! This is a genuine thing.The Chancellor's mad. He was lying in a fit when I left the Palace.It will be in all the evening papers. You will hear the boysshouting it in the streets within a few minutes. Don't interruptand I'll tell you the whole truth. You can believe me or not, asyou like. It makes no odds. I arrived punctually and was shown upinto the anteroom. Even from there I could hear loud voices in theinner chamber and I knew that something was up. Presently a littlefellow came out to me--a dark-bearded chap with gold-rimmed glasses.He was very polite, introduced himself as the Chancellor's physician,regretted exceedingly that the Chancellor was unwell and could seeno one,--the excitement and hard work of the last few days hadknocked him out. Well, I stood there arguing as pleasantly as Icould about it, and then all of a sudden the door of the inner roomwas thrown open. The Chancellor himself stood on the threshold.There was no doubt about his being ill; his face was as pale asparchment, his eyes were simply wild, and his hair was all ruffledas though he had been standing upon his head. He began to talk tothe physician in German. I didn't understand him until he began toswear,--then it was wonderful! In the end he brushed them allaway and, taking me by the arm, led me right into the inner room.For a long time he went on jabbering away half to himself, and Iwas wondering how on earth to bring the conversation round to thethings I wanted to know about. Then, all of a sudden, he turned tome and seemed to remember who I was and what I wanted. 'Ah!' hesaid, 'you are Dorward, the American journalist. I remember you now.Lock the door.' I obeyed him pretty quick, for I had noticed theywere mighty uneasy outside, and I was afraid they'd be disturbingus every moment. 'Come and sit down,' he ordered. I did so atonce. 'You're a sensible fellow,' he declared. 'To-day every oneis worrying me. They think that I am not well. It is foolish. Iam quite well. Who would not be well on such a day as this?' Itold him that I had never seen him looking better in my life, andhe nodded and seemed pleased. 'You have come to hear the truthabout the meeting of my master with the Czar and the Emperor ofGermany?' he asked. 'That's so,' I told him. 'America's morethan a little interested in these things, and I want to know whatto tell her.' Then he leaned across the table. 'My young friend,'he said, 'I like you. You are straightforward. You speak plainlyand you do not worry me. It is good. You shall tell your countrywhat it is that we have planned, what the things are that arecoming. Yours is a great and wise country. When they know thetruth, they will remember that Europe is a long way off and thatthe things which happen there are really no concern of theirs.''You are right,' I assured him,--'dead right. Treat us openly,that's all we ask.' 'Shall I not do that, my young friend?' heanswered. 'Now look, I give you this.' He fumbled through all hispockets and at last he drew out a long envelope, sealed at both endswith black sealing wax on which was printed a coat of arms with twotigers facing each other. He looked toward the door cautiously, andthere was just that gleam in his eyes which madmen always have.'Here it is,' he whispered, 'written with my own hand. This willtell you exactly what passed this afternoon. It will tell you ourplans. It will tell you of the share which my master and the othertwo are taking. Button it up safely,' he said, 'and, whatever youdo, do not let them know outside that you have got it. Betweenyou and me,' he went on, leaning across the table, 'something seemsto have happened to them all to-day. There's my old doctor there.He is worrying all the time, but he himself is not well. I can seeit whenever he comes near me.' I nodded as though I understood andthe Chancellor tapped his forehead and grinned. Then I got up ascasually as I could, for I was terribly afraid that he wouldn't letme go. We shook hands, and I tell you his fingers were like piecesof burning coal. Just as I was moving, some one knocked at thedoor. Then he began to storm again, kicked his chair over, threw apaperweight at the window, and talked such nonsense that I couldn'tfollow him. I unlocked the door myself and found the doctor there.I contrived to look as frightened as possible. 'His Highness is notwell enough to talk to me,' I whispered. 'You had better look afterhim.' I heard a shout behind and a heavy fall. Then I closed thedoor and slipped away as quietly as I could--and here I am."
Bellamy drew a long breath.
"My God, but this is wonderful!" he muttered. "How long is itsince you left the Palace?"
"About ten minutes or a quarter of an hour," Dorward answered.
"They'll find it out at once," declared the other. "They'll missthe paper. Perhaps he'll tell them himself that he has given it toyou. Don't let us run any risks, Dorward. Tear it open. Let usknow the truth, at any rate. If you have to part with the document,we can remember its contents. Out with it, man, quick! They maybe here at any moment."
Dorward drew a few steps back. Then he shook his head.
"I guess not," he said firmly.
Bellamy regarded his friend in blank and uncomprehending amazement.
"What do you mean?" he exclaimed. "You're not going to keep it toyourself? You know what it means to me--to England?"
"Your old country can look after herself pretty well," Dorwarddeclared. "Anyhow, she'll have to take her chance. I am not hereas a philanthropist. I am an American journalist, and I'll part tonobody with the biggest thing that's ever come into any man's bands."
Bellamy, with a tremendous effort, maintained his self-control.
"What are you going to do with it?" he asked quickly. "I tell youI'm off out of the country to-night," Dorward declared. "I shallhead for England. Pearce is there himself, and I tell you it willbe just the greatest day of my life when I put this packet in hishand. We'll make New York hum, I can promise you, and Europe too."
Bellamy's manner was perfectly quiet--too quiet to be altogethernatural. His hand was
straying towards his pocket.
"Dorward," he said, speaking rapidly, and keeping his back to thedoor, "you don't realize what you're up against. This sort of thingis new to you. You haven't a dog's chance of leaving Vienna alivewith that in your pocket. If you trust yourself in the OrientExpress to-night, you'll never be allowed to cross the frontier.By this time they know that the packet is missing; they know, too,that you are the only man who could have it, whether the Chancellorhas told them the truth or not. Open it at once so that we get somegood out of it. Then we'll go round to the Embassy. We can slipout by the back way, perhaps. Remember I have spent my life in theservice, and I tell you that there's no other place in the citywhere your life is worth a snap of the fingers but at your Embassyor mine. Open the packet, man."
"I think not," Dorward answered firmly. "I am an American citizen.I have broken no laws and done no one any harm. If there's anyslaughtering about, I guess they'll hesitate before they begin withArthur Dorward.... Don't be a fool, man!"
He took a quick step backward,--he was looking into the muzzle ofBellamy's revolver.
"Dorward," the latter exclaimed, "I can't help it! Yours is onlya personal ambition--I stand for my country. Share the knowledgeof that packet with me or I shall shoot."
"Then shoot and be d--d to you!" Dorward declared fiercely. "Thisis my show, not yours. You and your country can go to--"
He broke off without finishing his sentence. There was a thunderousknocking at the door. The two men looked at one another for amoment, speechless. Then Bellamy, with a smothered oath, replacedthe revolver in his pocket.
"You've thrown away our chance," he said bitterly.
The knocking was repeated. When Bellamy with a shrug of theshoulders answered the summons, three men in plain clothes entered.They saluted Bellamy, but their eyes were traveling around the room.
"We are seeking Herr Dorward, the American journalist!" one exclaimed."He was here but a moment ago."
Bellamy pointed to the inner door. He had had too much experiencein such matters to attempt any prevarication. The three men crossedthe room quickly and Bellamy followed in the rear. He heard a cryof disappointment from the foremost as he opened the door. The innerroom was empty!