CHAPTER XII.
On reaching the steamboat pier I was introduced to the porter, ashock-headed, stupid-looking creature, whom I forthwith questionedeagerly; but elicited only vague and, I felt sure, misleading replies.The conductor assisted at my interview, stimulating and encouragingthe man to speak, and overdid it, as I thought. I strongly suspectedthat this new evidence had been produced in order to bleed me further.Had he really seen this English lady? Would he describe her appearanceto me, and that of her companion? Was she tall or short? Well dressed,handsome, or the reverse? What was her companion like? Tall or short?How dressed, and did he suppose her condition to be that of a ladylike the other, equal in rank, or an inferior?
The answers I got were not encouraging. Ladies? Of course they wereladies, both of them. Dressed? In the very latest fashion. They werevery distinguished people.
"Were they carrying anything, either of them?" I inquired.
"Yes, when I saw them first they had much baggage. It was for thatthey summoned me. Handbags, _sacs de nuit_, rugs, wrappers,bonnet-boxes, many things, like all travellers."
"And you noticed nothing big, no parcel for which they wereparticularly concerned?"
"They were anxious about everything, and worried me about everything,but about no one thing especially that I can remember."
This did not tally with my own observation and the extreme care takenof the child in the woman's arms. I began to believe that my friendwas a humbug and could tell me nothing of his own knowledge.
"What time was it?" I went on.
"Some hours ago. I did not look at the clock."
"But you know by the steamers that arrive. You men must know which aredue, and when they pass through."
"Come, come, Antoine," broke in the conductor, determined to give hima lead, "you must know that; there are not so many. It would be about2 P.M., wouldn't it, when the express boat comes from Vevey andBouveret?"
"Yes, I make no doubt of that," said the man, with a gleam ofintelligence upon his stolid face.
"And the ladies went on board it, you say? Yes? You are sure?"
"It must have been so; I certainly carried their traps on board."
"Now, are you quite positive it was the two o'clock going that way,and not the quarter past two returning from Geneva?" I had my Bradshawhandy, and was following the time-table with my fingers.
"The 2.15?" The gleam of light went out entirely from his stolid face."I have an idea you are right, sir. You see the two boats come in sonear each other and lie at the same pier. I could easily make amistake between them."
"It is my firm belief," I said, utterly disgusted with the fellow, "myfirm belief that you have made a mistake all through. You never sawthe ladies at all, either of you." I turned upon the conductor with afierce scowl. "You are a rank humbug; you have taken my money underfalse pretences. I've a precious good mind to report you to yoursuperiors, and insist upon your refunding the money. You've swindledme out of it, thief and liar that you are."
"Come, come, don't speak so freely. My superiors will always listenfirst to one of their own employes, and it will be awkward if I chargeyou with obstructing an official and making false charges againsthim."
Mine is a hasty temper; I am constrained to confess to a fault whichoften stood in my way especially in my particular business. Theconductor's insolence irritated me beyond measure, and coming as itdid on the top of bitter disappointment I was driven into a deplorableaccess of rage, which I shall always regret. Without another word Irushed at him, caught him by the throat, and shook him violently,throwing him to the ground and beating his head upon it savagely.
Help must have come to him very speedily and to good purpose, for Isoon found myself in custody, two colossal gendarmes holding me tighton each side. I was quickly removed like any malefactor to the lock-upin the town above, and was thus for the moment effectively precludedfrom continuing my pursuit.
Law and order are not to be lightly trifled with in Switzerland, leastof all in the Canton de Vaud. I had been taken in the very act ofcommitting a savage assault upon an official in the execution of hisduty, which is true to the extent that every Swiss official conceivesit to be his duty to outrage the feelings and tyrannize overinoffensive strangers.
The police of Lausanne showed me little consideration. I was notpermitted to answer the charge against me, but was at once consignedto a cell, having been first searched and despoiled of all mypossessions. Among them was my knife and a pocket revolver I generallycarried, also my purse, my wallet with all my private papers, and myhandbag. Both wallet and handbag were locked; they demanded the keys,thinking I had them hidden on my person, but I said they could findthem for themselves, the truth being the locks were on a patent planand could be opened with the fingers by any one who knew. This secretI chose to retain.
When alone in my gloomy prison, with leisure to reflect more calmly onmy painful position, I realized what an ass I had been, and I ventedmy wrath chiefly on myself. But it was idle to repine. My object nowwas to go free again at the earliest possible moment, and I cast aboutto see how I might best compass it.
At first I was very humble, very apologetic. I acknowledged my error,and promised to do anything in my power to indemnify my victim. Ioffered him any money in reason, I would pay any sum they might fix,pay down on the nail and give my bond for the rest.
My gaolers scouted the proposal indignantly. Did I think justice wasto be bought in Switzerland? It was the law I had outraged, not anindividual merely. Besides--money is all powerful in this venalcountry--how could I pay, a poor devil like me, the necessary price?what could I produce in cash on the nail? My bond would not be worththe paper it was written on.
No, no, there was no chance for me; nothing could save me. I must gobefore the correctional police and pay in person for my offence. Imight expect to be punished summarily, to be sent to gaol, to be laidby the heels for a month or two, perhaps more. Such a brutal assaultas mine would be avenged handsomely.
Now I changed my tactics. I began to bluster. I was a British subjectand claimed to be treated with proper respect. I appealed to theBritish Consul; I insisted upon seeing him. When they laughed at me,saying that he would not interfere with the course of justice onbehalf of such an unknown vagabond, I told them roundly that I wastravelling under the special protection of the British Minister forForeign Affairs, the illustrious Marquis of Lansdowne. Let them bringme my wallet. I would show them my passport bearing the Royal Arms andthe signature of one of H.M. Secretaries of State. All of us in theemploy of Messrs. Becke invariably carried Foreign Office passports asthe best credentials we could produce if we were caught in any tightplace.
The greeting of so great a personage to his trusty and well belovedLudovic Tiler had a very marked effect upon my captors. It wasenhanced by the sight of a parcel of crisp Bank of England notes lyingsnugly in the pocket of the wallet, which I had opened, but withoutbetraying the secret of the spring. When I extracted a couple offivers and handed them to the chief gaoler, begging him to do the bestfor my comfort, the situation changed considerably, but no hopes wereheld out for my immediate release. I was promised dinner from arestaurant hard by, and was permitted to send a brief telegram toFalfani, to the effect that I was detained at Lausanne by unforeseencircumstances, but no more. Then bedding was brought in, on which,after a night in the train, I managed to sleep soundly enough untilquite late next morning.
I had summoned Eugene Falloon to my assistance, and he was permittedto visit me quite early, soon after the prison had opened. He wasprompt and practical, and proceeded to perform the commissions I gavehim with all despatch. I charged him first to telegraph to England, toour office, briefly stating my quandary, begging them to commend me tosome one in Lausanne or Geneva, for Becke's have friends andcorrespondents in every city of the world. He was then to call uponthe British Consul, producing my passport in proof of my claim uponhim as a British subject in distress, and if necessary secure me legaladvice. I had been warned that I m
ight expect to be examined that veryday, but that several were likely to elapse before the final disposalof my case.
All that forenoon, and quite late into the next day, I was leftbrooding and chafing at my misfortune, self-inflicted I will confess,but not the less irksome to bear. I had almost persuaded myself that Ishould be left to languish here quite friendless and forgotten, whenthe luck turned suddenly, and daylight broke in to disperse my gloomyforebodings. Several visitors came, claiming to see me, and werepresently admitted in turn. First came the Consul, and with him anintelligent Swiss advocate, who declared he would soon put mattersright. It would only be a question of a fine, and binding me over togood behaviour on bail. Could I find bail? That was the only question.And while we still discussed it we found amongst the callers arespectable and well-to-do watchmaker from Geneva, who had beenentreated (no doubt from Becke's) to do all that was needful on mybehalf. I might be of good cheer; there was no reasonable doubt butthat I should be released, but hardly before next day.
A second night in durance was not much to my taste, but I bore it withas much resignation as I could command; and when next morning Iappeared before the Court, I paid my fine of one hundred francs withhearty good-will. I assured my bail, the friendly watchmaker, that heneed not have the smallest fear I should again commit myself.