The Secret of the Silver Car Part 38

"But I am speaking of private speeches," Trent said smiling.

"What were you doing that you came to drive him?"

"Acting as chauffeur," Trent replied. "I stored many interesting facts in my brain during that four hour ride."

"Of course," Castoon said turning to his chief, "you do not believe this sir?"

"I can only say that Baron Adolf's printed speeches, a copy of which you sent me, did not interest me greatly. I am much more eager to hear what he said in private."

"First of all," Castoon said, "may I ask why it was this young man went to the trouble of acting as chauffeur. It may be, of course, that it is his profession."

"That's interesting," Colonel Langley commented, "Why did he go there at all?"

"I went," said Anthony Trent, "because Lord Rosecarrel, who knows Count Michael and mistrusts him, asked me to go. He had an idea that I might be useful. I went and I think I can a.s.sure him I have succeeded in what he desired me to do."

Lord Rosecarrel breathed a sigh of relief. So, after all, this mysterious American had freed him from bondage.

Mr. Llewellyn Morgan looked at his friend reproachfully.

"And to have kept it from me," he said.

"The credit belongs to Mr. Trent and not to me," said Lord Rosecarrel.

"To give merely a hint and have it followed to successful conclusion by another is not the lot of many. For my part I can never cease to feel under obligation to him."

"What we have heard," said the premier, "is under the seal of the most absolute secrecy." He turned to Castoon. "I am sorry for the news you have heard but it was not a matter of surprise to me. I have long heard unpleasing rumours as to the baron's sympathies. You understand that he must not be apprised in any way of this?"

"Certainly sir," Castoon returned stiffly. "I can hardly see the necessity of reminding me of it."

When the meeting had broken up Anthony Trent was amazed to see Colonel Langley's outstretched hand.

"I must apologize," he said frankly, "I did not know that you were working for my chief or that he regarded you so highly. You shoot I suppose?"

"Crazy over it," Anthony Trent admitted.

"I wish you would be one of the guns next September the first. My place is at Dereham Old Hall in Norfolk. You have never been to that part of the world I imagine?"

Anthony Trent looked at the tall colonel and understood.

"Never," he said, "but I shall be delighted to come."

Maitland remained after the others left. It was necessary that the premier should endorse his conduct with his own chief. British destroyers are not designed as pa.s.senger boats.

"Of course you are going to make your headquarters with us?" Lord Rosecarrel said and pointed to his waiting limousine.

"I think not," Trent returned. He had not forgotten that when he planned to go to Castle Radna he gave his word that he would seek no reward. To go back to Grosvenor Place would seem as though he had forgotten this.

"But I insist," the earl said.

"You are asking me to put myself in torment," he returned.

"Fiddlesticks!" the other cried, "How youth exaggerates."

Anthony Trent felt it was weak of him but he climbed into the car. The thought of seeing Daphne again was intoxicating. He was grateful that there was silence during the five minute ride.

The butler informed his master that Lady Daphne had come in and was now in bed.

"Did she know I was here?" Trent asked him.

"No, sir," said the man, "I did not see her ladys.h.i.+p."

The earl pushed a silver cigarette box over the table of his library.

"I don't want to talk of politics," he said, "until tomorrow."

"Nor I," Trent answered and pa.s.sed the draft of the treaty to the other.

The earl held it in his fingers until the flame reached them. The paper was now ashes and a memory.

"Anthony Trent," said the earl, "No matter what you have done or what things have conspired to make your life unfortunate, you are a chivalrous gentleman. Let me smoke in silence for a little. My heart is too full for speech."

"Now," he said later, "Let me tell you about Arthur. He is splendid. He is my own lad again. The years that the locusts have eaten are still blotted from him. He has confidence in himself. He is marrying one of the dearest of girls next month. You are back in time. It is no secret that you are to be his best man."

"That's good news indeed," Trent said heartily.

"It has made me very happy," the earl said slowly, "and incidentally made me examine my conduct rather more severely than I had ever thought of doing."

"I'm afraid I don't see what you mean sir," the younger man said during the long pause.

"I will tell you. Here was the girl. Young, beautiful, of a great family. She had everything to offer and my son loved her. Here was the problem. Had I the right to let her marry him when there lay behind him those misspent years? I wondered whether I was not bound to tell her father of what he had done. It was true he was not responsible but nevertheless he had done them. In the end I persuaded myself that where love existed as it did between my son and the woman he is to marry, pasts counted for little."

Anthony Trent looked at him for a long time in silence.

"Had you any especial reason for telling me this?" he asked.

Lord Rosecarrel smiled.

"I am tired and must sleep," he said, "and my wits may be wool-gathering; but you know me well enough, I hope, to be sure that I have my reasons for making confidences."

"I am afraid to say what I think," stammered Anthony Trent.

"Then put it off until tomorrow," the earl laughed, "Go and sleep, my dear boy, even though it may be in torment. We breakfast rather later here than in the country. I don't suppose Daphne will be down until ten.

We keep such late hours."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN