IX
Two days later I dined at one of the great Bonapartist houses. I waslate, and as the guests were about to go to dinner, our hostess said,"Let me present you to a fellow countrywoman, M. Greville of theAmerican Legation--Mme. Bellegarde." I was so taken aback that I couldhardly find words to speak to her until we sat down together atdinner. She, too, was equally agitated. I talked awhile to myleft-hand neighbor, but presently her adjoining table companion spoketo her and being thus set free, I said to Mme. Bellegarde in English,speaking low:
"You are my countrywoman, and are, as I know, in trouble. What is it?After we met I learned your name, but I have been prudent enough torefrain from calling."
She said: "Yes; you are right. I am in trouble, and of my own making.In my distress that awful night I did not want to give my name to astranger, and now to recognize in my companion one of our own legationis really a piece of great good fortune. We cannot talk here. I may beable to be of service to the legation--to my country, but we dare nottalk here. What I have to say is long. You must not call on me, but wemust meet. Come to the masked ball at the palace to-morrow--no, notyou. Some one who is not of the legation--some one you can trust. Itis a masquerade as you must know. I shall wear a mask--a black dominowith a red rose on one sleeve, a white one on the other. Let yourfriend say, 'Lincoln.' I shall answer, 'America.' But do let him becareful."
I said, "Yes; I will arrange it."
"Oh, thank you. Talk now of something else."
I said, "Yes, in a moment." It occurred to me that I might use Merton."My friend will be in our army uniform, an entirely unsuspected man.How pretty those flowers are!"
I found her charming, a widow, and if I might judge from her jewels,one at ease in regard to money. Before we left, after dinner, I had afew minutes more of talk with her in the drawing-room. She was freefrom the look of care I had observed when presented.
"Good-by," I said, as we parted, "and be assured that you havefriends."
"Oh, thank you!" she murmured. "But I am involving others in mydifficulties. I wish I had never done it. Good night." I went home,curious and perplexed.
Early in the morning of the next day I went to the rooms of our firstsecretary. In reply to my request, he said he had two cards for theball at my disposal, and would arrange matters with the master ofceremonies. I accepted one card for Merton, and went away well pleasedand regretful that I found it better, as she had done, to leave thissingular errand to another.
I made haste to call on Merton, and finding him in, related myfortunate meeting with Mme. Bellegarde, and told him what she expectedus to do. He was much pleased, and I happy in finding for our purposea man whom no one was likely to watch. I urged him, however, to becautious, and went away, arranging that he should call on me after theball, even though his visit might be far on in the night. I was toocurious and too anxious to wait longer.
It was after three in the morning when he aroused me from the nap intowhich I had fallen.
"By George!" he cried, "she is a delightful and a brave woman. I toldyou so; but, good heavens! she is in a sad scrape."
"Well, what is it? Has she robbed the Bank of France?"
"Worse. I told you it was some diplomatic tangle. I was right. It is abig one."
"For Heaven's sake, go on!"
"She is beautiful."
"Of course; I know that. But what happened?"
"I said she was beautiful."
"Yes, twice, and you have never seen her face."
"No, but you told me so. However, I went early and waited about thedoor until she came in. I kept her in sight. It wasn't easy. Ahalf-hour later I got my chance. She had been left by her last partnernear a small picture-gallery, and was chatting with an old lady. Isaid, 'It is my dance, I believe.' She rose at once. As we moved awayI whispered, 'Lincoln,' and on her replying, 'America,' she guided methrough the gallery and at last into a small conservatory and behindsome orange-trees. No one was near. 'One moment,' she said; 'even hereI am not free.' I saw no evidence of her being watched, but she was, Ifancied, in an agony of apprehension. As I mentioned my name and triedto reassure her, she let fall her black domino saying, 'Quick, push itunder that sofa!' She wore beneath it a pearl-colored silk domino,and, of course, was still masked."
"By George!" said I, "a woman of resources. How clever that was!"
Merton went on: "Then we sat down, I saying: 'Be cool, and don'thurry. You are entirely secure.' She did go on, and what a story! Shesaid:
"'On the night before I involved Mr Greville in trouble, I went to anevening party at Count le Moyne's. I was never there before, or onlyto call on the countess, and at that time talked a few minutes withthe count. They have been here hardly more than a month. When Iarrived there was a great crush in the hall and on the stair. As Iwaited to get rid of my wraps the count came through the crowd andpassed me. He had, I suppose, been belated at the Foreign Office. Heseemed to be in haste and went behind a screen and into a room on theside of the hall. A little later the music up-stairs ceased. I heardcries of fire. People rushed down the stairway screaming. There was ajam in the hall and a terrible crush at the outer doors. A curtain hadbeen blown across a console and taken fire; that was all, but thealarm and confusion were dreadful. Women fainted. One or two men madebrutal efforts to escape. I have a temperament which leaves me prettycool in real danger. There was none but what the terror of thesepeople created. I was hustled about and, with others, driven againstthe Chinese screen which covered the doorway of the count's office. Isaid he had entered it--yes, I told you that. As the alarm grew, itmust have reached him, for he came out and had to use violence to pushthe screen away so as to let him pass. The tumult was at its height ashe went by me crying, '_Mon Dieu!_' He ran along a back passageway anddisappeared. There were other women near, but I was so placed as to beable to slip behind the screen he had pushed away. I am afraid that herecognized me. As I thus took refuge in the doorway the screen wascrushed against it, and I was caught. Of course I was excited, but Iwas cool compared with the people outside. I tried the door behind meand felt it open. Then I saw that I was in the count's private office.On the table a lamp was burning. As I was crossing the room to try aside-door entrance into the garden, I caught sight of a large paperenvelop on the table. I could not help seeing the largely writteninscription. I paused. In an instant I realized that I was in anenemy's country and had a quick sense of anger as I read: "_ForeignOffice. Confidential. Recognition of the Confederate States. Noteremarks by his Majesty the Emperor. Make full digest at once. Hasterequired! Drouyn de Lhuys._" I stood still. For a moment, believe me,I forgot the fire--everything. I suppose the devil was at my side.'
"'A good devil,' said I.
"She said: 'Oh, please not to laugh. It was terrible. If you had livedin France these two years you would know. I have been all summer inthe utmost distress about my country. I have been insulted and mockedbecause of our failures. Women can be very cruel. The desirability ofFrance and England acknowledging the Confederacy was almost dailymatter of talk among the people I met. Here before me, in my power,was information sure to be valuable to our legation--to my country. Ilittle dreamed of its importance. I did not reflect. I acted onimpulse. I seized the big envelop and drew my cloak around me. Thepackage was bulky and heavy.'"
"Good heavens! Merton," said I, "She stole it!"
"Stole it! Nonsense! It was war--glorious."
I shook my head in disapproval, and had at once a vast longing to seeour worried and anxious envoys profit by the beautiful thief'soutrageous robbery.
Merton continued: "I will go on to state it as well as I can in herown words. She said: 'I stood a moment in doubt, but the noise in thehall increased. The screen was driven in fragments against the door. Imight be caught at any moment. That would mean ruin. I tried the sidedoor. It was not locked, and in a moment I found myself outside, inthe garden. I went around to the front of the house, and in a minuteor two secured a cabriolet and was driven home. Then my worst troublesbegan.
I had acted on impulse. It was wrong. I was a thief. Was it notwrong? Oh, I know it was wicked! To think, sir, that I should havedone such a thing!'
"When she spoke out in this way," said Merton, "I saw that if we wereto help her, it was essential that we should know whether she wasbecoming irresolute. To test her I said: 'But, madame, you could havegiven it back to the count next day. You may be sure he would neverhave told; and now, poor man, he is in a terrible scrape, and thatunlucky Foreign Office! It is not yet too late. Why not return thepapers?'
"For a moment I felt ashamed, because even before I made this effortto see if it was worth while to take the grave risks which I sawbefore us, I knew that she was sobbing."
"It was worth while. But what," I asked, "did she say?" If Merton hadsaid that she was weakening, I should have felt some relief and moredisappointment.
He asked in turn, "What do you think she said?"
For my part, I could only reply that it was a question of character,but that while she might feel regret and express her penitence inwords, a woman who had done what she had done would never express itin acts.
Merton said, "Thank you," which seemed to me a rather odd reply. Herose as he spoke and for a moment walked about in silence, and thensaid: "By George! Greville, I felt as if I had insulted her. You thinkI was right--it is quite a relief." He spoke with an amount of emotionwhich appeared to me uncalled for.
"Yes, of course you were right; but what did she say?"
"'Say?' She said: 'I am not a child, sir. I did what I know to bewrong. I did it for no personal advantage. I am punished when I thinkof myself as a thief. I have already suffered otherwise. I do notcare. I did it for my country, as--as you kill men for it. I shallabide by what I did and may God forgive me! But if you are ashamed--ifyou are shocked--if you think--oh, if you fear to assist me, you willat least consider what I have said as a confidence.' She stood up asshe answered me, and spoke out with entire absence of care about beingoverheard. Ah, but I wanted to see that masked face! I said twice asshe spoke: 'Be careful. You mistake me.' She took not the least noticeof my caution. Then at last I said: 'Pray sit down. It was--it isclear, madame, that all concerned or who may concern themselves, withthis matter must feel absolute security that there will be no weaknessanywhere. After what you have said, and with entire trust in you, weshall at all risks see this thing through.' She said, 'Thank you,'and did sit down.
"Then I went on: 'I want to ask you a question or two. Did the countrecognize you?'
"'I was not sure at the time, but he must have at least suspected me,for he called next day at an unusually early hour, insisted on seeingme, and frankly told me that on the night before, during the fire, adocument had been stolen from his table. He had remembered me as nearto the office. Did I know anything about it? I said, "How could I?" Iwas dreadfully scared, but I replied that I had certainly gone throughhis office and had left both doors open. Then he said, "It is toograve a matter for equivocation, and I ask, Did you take it?" I said Iwas insulted, and upon this he lost his temper and threatened allmanner of consequences.'