"I mean," interrupted the chairman, "of Government committees. Now, this one has been appointed by the Prime Minister himself, and I think I may say, without indiscretion that he has largely consulted me as to its composition. The--er--terms of reference will indicate to you that the subject of our deliberations is a delicate one, and that it will be necessary for us to remember that a grave responsibility rests upon us in the selection of our witnesses. In other words, Mr.
Tarleton"--the chairman leaned back in his seat and scrutinized his secretary--"we must, in the true interest of the nation--for of course that is the paramount consideration--be careful to avoid anything in the nature of disclosures which at this critical juncture might--er--undermine the--er--confidence which rightly is reposed in the Government. D"you follow me, Mr. Tarleton?"
The secretary hesitated for a moment.
"Do you mean, Sir Matthew, that we are not to accept evidence--"
"I mean, Mr. Tarleton, that we must discriminate in the selection of our witnesses before we decide to call them. You are aware, perhaps, that I am in the confidence of the Labour Party, and you will notice that Amongst the members of the committee there are three prominent Labour Members. Now you will understand that--er--er--while I have the greatest--er--respect for the views of these--er--er--gentlemen, there are limits to the influence I possess with them, and it is in the highest degree desirable that no witness should come before them who would be likely to prejudice in their eyes those who--er--indirectly perhaps have--er--a.s.sociations or connections--er--political or otherwise, in the highest quarters."
"But excuse me, Sir Matthew, I thought--"
"No "buts," Mr. Tarleton; no thoughts except on the lines indicated by me."
Oswald Tarleton withdrew from this preliminary interview with mingled feelings, but uppermost there was already vaguely forming itself in his mind a profound distrust, and still more a cordial dislike, of Sir Matthew Bale.
A recent and somewhat acrimonious debate in the House of Commons had Precipitated the formation of this committee, and had unduly hastened the selection of its members. Sir Matthew had been called in at short notice as being, in the opinion of the minister who had been under criticism, the most pliant chairman available.
The proceedings of the Committee were to be hurried on as much as possible. This much Tarleton had gathered from his departmental chief, and there was no doubt that he would have his hands full. He had had opportunity of gauging the political qualities of Sir Matthew Bale; at his next interview he was enabled to form an opinion of his administrative methods. He was again seated opposite the chairman, who leaned back in his chair with an air of indolent ease. Tarleton was pointing out to him the considerable difficulty there would be in staffing the committee owing to the demands upon the department through the War. There was also, he explained, the troublesome question of securing accommodation, for which there was no room at the Government Office. Sir Matthew loftily waved aside these difficulties.
"As to accommodation, Mr. Tarleton," he said, "just tell the Office of Works that it is the Prime Minister"s wish that I should have every facility, and as to staff, look at these." As he spoke he touched a bundle of papers which lay on the table. "You have choice enough there, Mr. Tarleton."
Tarleton had seen the papers; in fact, he had placed them on the table Himself after carefully going through them. They were applications from all sorts of individuals offering their voluntary services. There were letters from retired officers, judges, tea-planters, cowboys, fellows of the Universities--in fact, the usual heterogeneous collection with which those who have Government work to do are familiar since the War.
"It is very doubtful, Sir Matthew, whether any of these gentlemen would be suitable for this sort of work. You will, I am sure, understand that a certain training--"
"Oh, never mind the training, Mr. Tarleton. I"ll soon select somebody for you--let me have a look through them. Now, here"s one--this is the sort of man that I like; he telegraphs--he doesn"t write. A man with individuality--an original mind. Try him."
"Excuse me, Sir Matthew, have you noticed the name?"
Sir Matthew put on his eyegla.s.s and examined the telegram.
"Louis Klein," he read, "and a very good name too--what"s the matter with it?"
"D"you think it advisable, Sir Matthew, in the present state of public opinion--"
"Public opinion, Mr. Tarleton, means the Press, and that doesn"t concern _us_. The true interests of the nation are our concern, and in this case I see no reason whatever why, because this man"s name is Klein--As a matter of fact, when I was dining with a member of the Cabinet a few evenings ago, I met a most charming person called Schmerz, and, I have reason for knowing, a most loyal subject. Indeed, I understand that my friend the minister finds his advice most useful in certain cases. No, no, by all means send for this Mr. Klein--let"s have a look at him."
Mr. Klein arrived, and Oswald Tarleton was not favourably impressed by him. He had thick features and a generally unattractive appearance; he spoke, too, with an accent which Tarleton distrusted, although Klein a.s.sured him that he was a French Alsatian, and as proof thereof showed the secretary a letter from the French Emba.s.sy which vouched for his being a devoted citizen of the Republic. Sir Matthew entirely approved of him.
"Just the man we want, Mr. Tarleton. Make him a.s.sistant secretary.
That"ll flatter him--then ask anything you like of him and he"ll do it.
That"s my way."
Presently Klein was installed and Tarleton soon found him a most a.s.siduous and useful a.s.sistant. Without the loss of a moment he got into touch with various chiefs of subsidiary departments and obtained stenographers and typewriters, clerks and porters. Urged by Sir Matthew, he harried the Office of Works till they provided ample accommodation in a fine building in a central position; from H.M. Stationery Office he promptly ordered all sorts of indispensable supplies, and within an incredibly short time Sir Matthew found himself installed in sumptuous offices with a fine committee-room and everything in as perfect order as even he could desire. Tarleton was compelled to admit that Klein had proved to be an acquisition.
"What did I tell you?" cried Sir Matthew triumphantly. "Trust me to find the right man, Mr. Tarleton, trust me. I always believe in demanding the impossible and I generally get it. If you"re modest, you get left."
Tarleton could vouch for the truth of this observation, and he disliked the chairman more than ever.
In due course the committee held its first sitting. On Sir Matthew"s right sat Lord Milford, a wealthy peer of independent political opinions and great obtuseness, by whose social prestige Sir Matthew was greatly impressed; on his left Mr. Doubleday, the leader of the Labour Party in the House of Commons. Ranged on either side, according to their importance, sat the various other members of the committee.
Sir Matthew"s opening address, written for him by Tarleton, met with an Excellent reception, and the proceedings developed smoothly.
As the weeks pa.s.sed the work of the committee increased, especially that part of it which fell to the staff. Tarleton was worked off his legs. In committee Sir Matthew was indisputably an adroit chairman. He knew how to a.s.sert himself on occasion and play off the members against each other, and he showed the dexterity of a conjurer in manipulating evidence. But outside the committee-room, entirely absorbed by the decorative side of his position, he talked and talked from morning till evening. Beyond receiving important persons, he did nothing. He was as incapable of composing a letter as of making a speech, and Tarleton had to write both for him. He would arrive in the morning when Tarleton was trying to get on with urgent correspondence or to frame questions to be asked of witnesses, and so take up his unfortunate secretary"s time that it was almost impossible for him to get his work finished for the next meeting.
He made the most exacting demands upon his overworked staff, showing as little consideration for them as he did grasp of the ma.s.s of detail they had to get through between committee meetings. Indeed, had it not been for the industrious energy of Klein, who had relieved him of practically all the routine work, ordinary correspondence and office supervision, Tarleton had to admit to himself that it would have been beyond his power to carry on.
As the proceedings of the committee advanced, Sir Matthew"s opinion of his own importance increased, and Tarleton"s dislike of him grew into hatred. Gentle, una.s.suming, and sensitive, he had never so far encountered an individual like Sir Matthew Bale, who outraged all his finer feelings and susceptibilities a dozen times a day. And the secretary swore between his teeth that if he ever got the chance of tripping him up, once the committee was done with, he would take good care not to miss it.
Klein, on the other hand, grew in Tarleton"s esteem, and he felt he had done him an injustice, for which he was determined to atone if occasion offered.
The industry of the Alsatian was equalled by his perspicacity; he soon fathomed the intentions of the chairman and understood that the chief purpose of the committee was the exact opposite of that which its flowing terms of reference were intended to convey.
In a small room, as far as possible removed from the one in which the committee had their meetings, Klein sat like a mole delving into doc.u.ments and preparing the interim report for which the Government had been pressed in Parliament. Here, when the day was over and Sir Matthew had at last taken his departure, Tarleton would join him. It frequently happened that they did not finish their labours until nearly midnight.
On such occasions Tarleton would go to his club to dine, whilst Klein would make his way to some neighbouring restaurant, but after a time the two men seemed to draw nearer to each other, until one day Tarleton suggested that Klein should dine with him. Over a cigar in the club smoking-room, the secretary for the first time expressed himself freely to his colleague.
"I feel I ought to tell you, Klein, that at first I was foolish enough to feel a little--"
He broke off, hesitating to use a word which might hurt the other"s feelings.
"I know exactly what you mean, Tarleton, and I do not in the least blame you. You are probably not aware that many of us Alsatians have German names, but if you knew more of my life you would know what good cause I have for hating the Germans more than any Englishman can possibly hate them. Some day, perhaps, I shall have a chance of telling you."
Klein"s eyes flashed under their drooping lids. Tarleton warmed to him and began to talk about the committee and especially about the chairman.
"This has been a tremendous eye-opener to me, Klein," he said. "I must tell you that, in my innocence, I never imagined that the proceedings of a committee could be conducted in such a fashion. I must confess I do not understand the object of it."
Klein smiled significantly.
"I do," he remarked.
"What do you mean, Klein?"
"It is quite simple. There are things which the Government does not desire to be known, and that is why they selected a man like Bale for chairman. You see, Tarleton, we"re accustomed to that sort of thing in France."
"But we aren"t," remarked Tarleton, "and I think it"s--something ought to be done," he added.
"Something can be done," said Klein.
"How?"
"I suppose you"ve heard of Blum & Co.?"
The secretary stared at him. "No, I"ve never heard of them."