The Baroness Helena von Ritz looked him full in the face and only gravely shook her head. "I regret matters should be so much at fault,"
said she.
"Then let me explain," resumed Pakenham, almost angrily. "I will state--unofficially, of course--that the promises of Mr. Van Zandt were that her Majesty might expect an early end of the talk of the annexation of Texas to the United States. The greater power of England upon land or sea would a.s.sure that weak Republic of a great and enlightened ally--in his belief."
"An ally!" broke out Mr. Calhoun. "And a doc.u.ment sent to that effect by the attache of Texas!" He smiled coldly. "Two things seem very apparent, Mr. President. First, that this gentle lady stands high in the respect of England"s ministry. Second, that Mr. Van Zandt, if all this were true, ought to stand very low in ours. I would say all this and much more, even were it a state utterance, to stand upon the records of this nation!"
"Sir," interrupted Mr. Tyler, swiftly turning to Mr. Calhoun, "_may I not ask you that it be left as a state utterance?_"
Mr. Calhoun bowed with the old-time grace habitual to him, his hand upon his heart, but he made no answer. The real reason might have been read in the mottled face of Pakenham, now all the colors of the rainbow, as he looked from one to the other.
"Mr. Calhoun," continued the president, "you know that the office of our secretary of state is vacant. There is no one living would serve in that office more wisely than yourself, no one more in accordance with my own views as to these very questions which are before us. Since it has come to that point, I offer you now that office, and do so officially. I ask your answer."
The face of England"s minister now for the first time went colorless. He knew what this meant.
As for John Calhoun, he played with both of them as a cat would with a mouse, sneeringly superior. His answer was couched in terms suited to his own purposes. "This dignity, Mr. President," said he, bowing deeply again, "so unexpected, so onerous, so responsible, is one which at least needs time for proper consideration. I must crave opportunity for reflection and for pondering. In my surprise at your sudden request, I find no proper answer ready."
Here, then, seemed an opportunity for delay, which Mr. Pakenham was swift to grasp. He arose and bowed to Mr. Tyler. "I am sure that Mr.
Calhoun will require some days at least for the framing of his answer to an invitation so grave as this."
"I shall require at least some moments," said Mr. Calhoun, smiling.
"That _Ma.r.s.eillaise_ of "44, Mr. President, says _Fifty-four Forty or Fight_. That means "the Rio Grande or fight," as well."
A short silence fell upon us all. Mr. Tyler half rose and half frowned as he noticed Mr. Pakenham shuffling as though he would depart.
"It shall be, of course, as you suggest," said the president to Pakenham. "There is no record of any of this. But the answer of Mr.
Calhoun, which I await and now demand, is one which will go upon the records of this country soon enough, I fancy. I ask you, then, to hear what Mr. Calhoun replies."
Ah, it was well arranged and handsomely staged, this little comedy, and done for the benefit of England, after all! I almost might have believed that Mr. Calhoun had rehea.r.s.ed this with the president. Certainly, the latter knew perfectly well what his answer was to be. Mr. Calhoun himself made that deliberately plain, when presently he arose.
"I have had some certain moments for reflection, Mr. President," said he, "and I have from the first moment of this surprising offer on your part been humbly sensible of the honor offered so old and so unfit a man.
"Sir, my own record, thank G.o.d, is clear. I have stood for the South. I stand now for Texas. I believe in her and her future. She belongs to us, as I have steadfastly insisted at all hours and in all places. She will widen the southern vote in Congress, that is true. She will be for slavery. That also is true. I myself have stood for slavery, but I am yet more devoted to democracy and to America than I am to the South and to slavery. So will Texas be. I know what Texas means. She means for us also Oregon. She means more than that. She means also a democracy spreading across this entire continent. My att.i.tude in that regard has been always clear. I have not sought to change it. Sir, if I take this office which you offer, I do so with the avowed and expressed purpose of bringing Texas into this Union, in full view of any and all consequences. I shall offer her a treaty of annexation _at once!_ I shall urge annexation at every hour, in every place, in all ways within my means, and in full view of the consequences!" He looked now gravely and keenly at the English plenipotentiary.
"That is well understood, Mr. Calhoun," began Mr. Tyler. "Your views are in full accord with my own."
Pakenham looked from the one to the other, from the thin, vulpine face to the thin, leonine one. The pity Mr. Tyler felt for the old man"s visible weakness showed on his face as he spoke.
"What, then, is the answer of John Calhoun to this latest call of his country?"
That answer is one which is in our history.
"John Calhoun accepts!" said my master, loud and clear.
CHAPTER IX
A KETTLE OF FISH
Few disputes exist which have not had their origin in women--_Juvenal_.
I saw the heavy face of Mr. Pakenham go pale, saw the face of the Baroness von Ritz flash with a swift resolution, saw the eyes of Mr.
Calhoun and Mr. Tyler meet in firmness. An instant later, Mr. Tyler rose and bowed our dismissal. Our little play was done. Which of us knew all the motives that had lain behind its setting?
Mr. Pakenham drew apart and engaged in earnest speech with the lady who had accompanied him; so that meantime I myself found opportunity for a word with Mr. Calhoun.
"Now," said I, "the fat certainly is all in the fire!"
"What fat, my son?" asked Calhoun serenely; "and what fire?"
"At least"--and I grinned covertly, I fear--"it seems all over between my lady and her protector there. She turned traitor just when he had most need of her! Tell me, what argument did you use with her last night?"
Mr. Calhoun took snuff.
"You don"t know women, my son, and you don"t know men, either." The thin white skin about his eyes wrinkled.
"Certainly, I don"t know what arts may have been employed in Mr.
Calhoun"s office at half-past two this morning." I smiled frankly now at my chief, and he relaxed in turn.
"We had a most pleasant visit of an hour. A delightful woman, a charming woman, and one of intellect as well. I appealed to her heart, her brain, her purse, and she laughed, for the most part. Yet she argued, too, and seemed to have some interest--as you see proved now. Ah, I wish I could have had the other two great motives to add to my appeal!"
"Meaning--?"
"Love--and curiosity! With those added, I could have won her over; for believe me, she is none too firmly anch.o.r.ed to England. I am sure of that, though it leaves me still puzzled. If you think her personal hold on yonder gentleman will be lessened, you err," he added, in a low voice. "I consider it sure that he is bent on her as much as he is on England. See, she has him back in hand already! I would she were _our_ friend!"
"Is she not?" I asked suddenly.
"We two may answer that one day," said Calhoun enigmatically.
Now I offered to Mr. Calhoun the note I had received from his page.
"This journey to-night," I began; "can I not be excused from making that? There is a very special reason."
"What can it be?" asked Calhoun, frowning.
"I am to be married to-night, sir," said I, calmly as I could.
It was Calhoun"s turn now to be surprised. "_Married?_ Zounds! boy, what do you mean? There is no time to waste."
"I do not hold it quite wasted, sir," said I with dignity. "Miss Elisabeth Churchill and I for a long time--"
"Miss Elisabeth! So the wind is there, eh? My daughter"s friend. I know her very well, of course. Very well done, indeed, for you. But there can be no wedding to-night."
I looked at him in amazement. He was as absorbed as though he felt empowered to settle that matter for me. A moment later, seeing Mr.
Pakenham taking his leave, he stepped to the side of the baroness. I saw him and that mysterious lady fall into a conversation as grave as that which had but now been ended. I guessed, rather than reasoned, that in some mysterious way I came into their talk. But presently both approached me.
"Mr. Trist," said Mr. Calhoun, "I beg you to hand the Baroness von Ritz to her carriage, which will wait at the avenue." We were then standing near the door at the head of the steps.