"No, more did I," replied Greatorex, speaking with his usual calm. "Now let us be reasonable and avoid indulging in mutual recriminations which irritate both parties. What do you want me to do?"
"Recall him at once," thundered Lord Saxham.
"One moment, if you please," said Greatorex quietly. "We have got to consider Guy"s views on this matter. I have here a confidential communication from a very trusted member of our Secret Service. He has warned Guy of his danger, put all the possibilities and probabilities before him, and Guy refuses to budge. In short, he declines to run away. What have you got to say to that?"
"Then I say he is a most infernal fool," cried Lord Saxham in his most explosive manner. Greatorex"s lip curled a little.
"Perhaps from your point of view. Shall I give you mine?"
"If you like," said Saxham sullenly. He was not so dense that he could not see what was in the other man"s mind.
"He is a very brave young Englishman of the true bulldog breed, who is going to stick to his post oblivious of the consequences. It is that breed that makes the British Empire what it is. Do you still want me to recall him?"
"Yes," spluttered the Earl. "I want him recalled. I don"t intend him to be done to death by a dirty Spanish anarchist."
Greatorex"s look was very disdainful.
"I will be on the wires all day with Stonehenge and Guy. If he consents to be recalled on any pretext, I will recall him. But please understand me, Saxham; he shall only be recalled with his own consent. I will go no further."
The tall, lean man stood up, and towered over the somewhat bl.u.s.tering Lord Saxham.
"You can recall him, whether he consents or not," cried the angry father, "if you choose."
"In this case I am not going to exercise my prerogative. It is no use arguing, Saxham. On this point my mind is made up. I will only add that I greatly admire your son"s att.i.tude. If he sticks to this business, he will have a great career before him."
"Unless he is murdered to-morrow," commented Saxham bitterly, as he walked out of the room.
The poor old Earl went back to Ticehurst Park in a very agitated frame of mind. Lady Mary was his favourite child, but Guy was his best beloved son. Ticehurst would inherit the lands and the t.i.tle, but for Ticehurst he had only a very mild liking.
Mary met him in the hall. She was only a little less perturbed than her father.
"What news?" she cried eagerly. "Have you induced Greatorex to recall him?"
Lord Saxham had to confess to failure. He went with her into the morning-room, and related at full length the details of his interview with Greatorex. That powerful personage was ready to fall in with his views--but the stumbling-block was Guy himself. If Guy stuck to his resolution not to seek safety in flight, Greatorex would not move.
Mary"s sweet eyes filled with tears. She had already abused Greatorex, but she was too just not to understand his att.i.tude. At the bottom of his heart, Greatorex approved of Guy"s resolution to stick to his post, whatever the consequences.
"I am sorry I said harsh things of Greatorex," she said in a broken voice. "Of course Guy himself could take no other course, and his chief admires his indomitable spirit. But, all the same, we must move heaven and earth to get him away."
The Earl sank wearily into a chair. Presently he began to cry and moan.
"Oh, my poor boy. To think I have exposed him to this danger by my ill-advised action."
Poor Lady Mary was on the verge of hysteria herself, but the senile grief of the old Earl made her strong and self-reliant. Her brain was working quickly. Could she not turn this moment to advantage?
"You are sorry for what you have done, father? You recognise that, but for your unfortunate intervention, Guy would never have gone to Spain."
"I know, I know," replied poor old Lord Saxham in quavering accents. "I would cut off my right hand if, by doing so, I could undo that morning"s work with Greatorex. I was very proud of it at the time."
Mary spoke very slowly, very calmly. "Guy has got in him the Rossett obstinacy, and, after all, he is only acting as a brave man should. We are less brave for him than he is for himself."
The Earl stretched out his shaking hands.
"Mary, will you write and implore him to let Greatorex recall him.
Greatorex has given me his promise to do so, if Guy consents."
Mary shook her head. "Guy is very fond of me, I know. In many things I could influence him, but not in this. It is no use your writing to him, you have less influence over him than I. If he would not listen to me, he will not listen to you."
"Then he is doomed." The poor old Earl"s head sank on his breast, and he surrendered himself to despair.
And now had come Mary"s great opportunity, and she took advantage of it.
She was no mean diplomatist at any time.
"I shall not move him, you will not move him. And you say you cannot move Greatorex. There is just one person in the world who might persuade him. I am not quite sure even about her."
Lord Saxham was very subdued, very penitent, but there was still some of the old Adam left in him. He answered quickly; the voice was still quavering, but there was in it a querulous note.
"You mean that--"
Lady Mary lifted a warning finger; she knew he was going to say "minx."
"Father, please, this is no time for old and foolish animosities. Guy"s life is at stake, through his n.o.ble, perhaps exaggerated, sense of honour. You and I are powerless to alter his determination. There is just a chance that Isobel will be more successful. Will you put your pride in your pocket and ask her to plead with him?"
It was a hard struggle, but in the end Lord Saxham"s affection for his son won. The old aristocrat gave in.
"Do what you like, Mary. I will consent to anything to get Guy back."
Mary moved swiftly to the writing-table. "I shall ask her and her father to come to us to-morrow for a visit with the view of your sanctioning her engagement to Guy. I shall ask her to wire their acceptance."
The Earl sat as in a dream, while she wrote; dimly he realised that events had taken a turn which he could not approve. But there was no other course left. Mary"s letter was brief.
"My Dearest Isobel,--My father has consented to approve your engagement to Guy. We shall both be delighted if you and General Clandon will pay us a visit. Please come to-morrow, if possible. In that case, send me a wire on receipt of this note.
"Yours affectionately,
"Mary Rossett."
Isobel received that letter next morning. She carried it to her father with shining eyes.
The General read it, and kissed her.
"Good news, indeed, my dear little girl. Lady Mary seems a witch, and able to work miracles."
"Oh, isn"t she a darling?" cried Isobel enthusiastically. "Shall I send the wire at once?" The wire was sent. Poor Isobel was a little distressed about the scantiness of her wardrobe. But she took heart of grace when she reflected that this was sure to be quite a private visit.
It was not likely there would be other guests on such an especially family occasion.
Lady Mary met them at the station. She kissed Isobel affectionately, and shook the General, who looked very aristocratic and dignified, warmly by the hand.
"How did you manage it, you darling?" whispered Isobel as they sat together in the car.