Read Ebook: A senhora Rattazzi by Castelo Branco Camilo

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Ebook has 178 lines and 13413 words, and 4 pages

"Yes. In the pocket of the coat stolen by Margate was a document confided to me temporarily by the woman in question."

"Ah, I see."

"With it in the pocket, moreover, was a letter written to me by the woman when she sent me the document for inspection," Senator Barclay continued. "I received it only early last evening. I was to have returned it this morning. It was most important that I should have done so. The gravity of the situation, Carter, can hardly be imagined."

"Because of the nature of the document?" Nick questioned.

"That is one reason," was the reply. "The document relates to a secret compact between several European powers and in a measure has a bearing upon their relations with this country."

"I see," Nick nodded.

"It bears the signatures of no less than five foreign ambassadors now in Washington, all of whom are pledged to secrecy in regard to the matter. None would believe for a moment that this compact is even suspected by any American statesman or diplomat, and much less that the existence of the document mentioned is positively known."

"I follow you."

"The discovery of the fact might precipitate complications of a very grave and threatening nature," Senator Barclay added. "I can safely assert, however, that I am the only American who, with one exception, knows anything about the document--aside from the knave into whose hands it has fallen."

"Let me know the exact facts," said Nick. "Who is the one exception who knows about the document?"

"The woman I have mentioned."

"How did you learn about it?"

"The woman informed me."

"How did she become informed?"

Senator Barclay hesitated for a moment, gazing intently at the earnest face of the famous detective.

"I am going to confide in you, Nick, as I would in no other man on earth," he said impressively. "The woman whose name I will presently mention is the wife of one of the European ambassadors whose signatures are on the document. He is without exception the most influential and illustrious diplomat now in this country."

"You must refer, then, to Sir Edward Deland."

"Yes."

"I have met him," said Nick. "He was married here only a year ago. His wife, who is many years younger than he, was a wealthy American girl."

"From which," said Senator Barclay; "has evolved the terrible situation in which we now are placed."

"You and Lady Deland?"

"Yes."

"Explain," said Nick. "I don't quite get you."

Senator Barclay proceeded to do so. Drawing forward in his chair, he said, even more gravely:

"Something like ten days ago, Nick, for no other reason than that I had apprehended something of the kind, I began to suspect the frame-up of the secret compact mentioned, and that a document to that effect already existed. Naturally, of course, I knew that Sir Edward Deland would be one of the chief figures in it."

"Quite likely, of course," bowed Nick.

"I had occasion three days ago to visit the Deland residence in company with my daughter, who long has been an intimate friend of Lady Deland. I found an opportunity to hint to the latter that she perhaps knew something of the matter I had on my mind, and that it would become a true-blue American girl to confidentially inform me of anything that might possibly be a menace to our country."

"I see," Nick remarked, suppressing an inclination to criticize. "What did she say to that?"

"Somewhat to my surprise, though I have always been very friendly with Lady Deland and her parents, a fact which perhaps led me to make such a suggestion to her--somewhat to my surprise, I repeat, she immediately admitted that such a compact had been made, that she had overheard her husband discussing it with other diplomats, and that the document bearing upon the matter then was in the library safe."

"What followed?"

"Lady Deland hastened to add that the compact, of the nature of which she was partly informed, was in no sense a menace to this country," Senator Barclay continued. "I told her I could not believe that, and that she really must be mistaken. We discussed the matter very earnestly for some time, and she then declared, with much feeling, that the very best service she could do me and her country would be to let me read the document, in order to convince me of my error and so avert the troubles that might otherwise result from it."

"That was hardly loyal to her husband," said Nick.

"Lady Deland did not so regard it," replied Senator Barclay. "She argued that she could not serve him better than to dispel my suspicions and set him right in my opinion. Bear in mind that she has known me from childhood, with absolute confidence in me. She would have no greater faith in her own father."

"I can appreciate that, senator, as far as it goes."

"I do not feel that it was quite right to sanction her suggestion," Senator Barclay allowed. "I knew, in fact, that it was quite wrong. I reasoned, on the other hand, however, that it would be of vast relief and advantage to me to positively verify her assertions. The temptation was one I really could not resist."

"You allowed her to show you the document?" said Nick inquiringly.

"Not at that time," Senator Barclay replied. "It then was impossible for her to have done so secretly. Sir Edward Deland was at home, talking with my daughter and another lady in the conservatory."

"And you alone with Lady Deland, of course, during your discussion."

"Yes, on the side veranda."

"What did you decide to do?"

"Lady Deland decided for me. She said that Sir Edward was going to New York yesterday morning for two or three days, also that she knew the combination of the safe and in what compartment the document had been placed."

"H'm, I see."

"There is no need to picture the situation," Nick interposed. "If is about as bad as it could be, senator, for you and Lady Deland."

"Bad doesn't express it," groaned the statesman. "It is horrible--horrible!"

"I will do all in my power to pull you out of the affair," Nick assured him. "Tell me, now, whether the document is of the nature you had feared. Is this secret compact in any way a menace to this country?"

"No, thank God, it is not," Senator Barclay said fervently. "I am relieved to that extent, at least."

"All that really is involved in the lost document, then, is the exposure that threatens you and Lady Deland."

"Is that not enough?"

"Quite enough, Senator Barclay, and then some," Nick admitted. "You said, I think, that she sent you a letter with the document."

"Yes."

"No, indeed. Both were brought here by her butler, Hawley, who was entirety ignorant of what the package contained."

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