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  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 theBaroness von Ritz flash with a swift resolution, saw the eyes of Mr.Calhoun and Mr. Tyler meet in firmness. An instant later, Mr. Tyler roseand bowed our dismissal. Our little play was done. Which of us knew allthe motives that had lain behind its setting?

  Mr. Pakenham drew apart and engaged in earnest speech with the lady whohad accompanied him; so that meantime I myself found opportunity for aword 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 betweenmy lady and her protector there. She turned traitor just when he hadmost need of her! Tell me, what argument did you use with her lastnight?"

  Mr. Calhoun took snuff.

  "You don't know women, my son, and you don't know men, either." The thinwhite 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 atmy chief, and he relaxed in turn.

  "We had a most pleasant visit of an hour. A delightful woman, a charmingwoman, 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, andseemed to have some interest--as you see proved now. Ah, I wish I couldhave had the other two great motives to add to my appeal!"

  "Meaning--?"

  "Love--and curiosity! With those added, I could have won her over; forbelieve me, she is none too firmly anchored to England. I am sure ofthat, though it leaves me still puzzled. If you think her personal holdon yonder gentleman will be lessened, you err," he added, in a lowvoice. "I consider it sure that he is bent on her as much as he is onEngland. 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 makingthat? 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, whatdo you mean? There is no time to waste."

  "I do not hold it quite wasted, sir," said I with dignity. "MissElisabeth Churchill and I for a long time--"

  "Miss Elisabeth! So the wind is there, eh? My daughter's friend. I knowher very well, of course. Very well done, indeed, for you. But there canbe no wedding to-night."

  I looked at him in amazement. He was as absorbed as though he feltempowered to settle that matter for me. A moment later, seeing Mr.Pakenham taking his leave, he stepped to the side of the baroness. I sawhim and that mysterious lady fall into a conversation as grave as thatwhich had but now been ended. I guessed, rather than reasoned, that insome mysterious way I came into their talk. But presently bothapproached me.

  "Mr. Trist," said Mr. Calhoun, "I beg you to hand the Baroness von Ritzto her carriage, which will wait at the avenue." We were then standingnear the door at the head of the steps.

  "I see my friend Mr. Polk approaching," he continued, "and I would liketo have a word or so with him."

  We three walked in company down the steps and a short distance along thewalk, until presently we faced the gentleman whose approach had beennoted. We paused in a little group under the shade of an avenue tree,and the gentlemen removed their hats as Mr. Calhoun made a somewhatformal introduction.

  At that time, of course, James K. Polk, of Tennessee, was not thenational figure he was soon to become at the Baltimore convention. Hewas known best as Speaker of the House for some time, and as a manexperienced in western politics, a friend of Jackson, who stillcontrolled a large wing of the disaffected; the Democratic party thenbeing scarce more than a league of warring cliques. Although oncegovernor of Tennessee, it still was an honor for Mr. Polk to be soughtout by Senator John Calhoun, sometime vice-president, sometime cabinetmember in different capacities. He showed this as he uncovered. A rathershort man, and thin, well-built enough, and of extremely serious mien,he scarce could have been as wise as he looked, any more than Mr.Daniel Webster; yet he was good example of conventional politics,platitudes and all.

  "They have adjourned at the House, then?" said Calhoun.

  "Yes, and adjourned a bear pit at that," answered the gentleman fromTennessee. "Mr. Tyler has asked me to come across town to meet him. Doyou happen to know where he is now?"

  "He was here a few moments ago, Governor. We were but escorting thislady to her carriage, as she claims fatigue from late hours at the balllast night."

  "Surely so radiant a presence," said Mr. Polk gallantly, "means that sheleft the ball at an early hour."

  "Quite so," replied that somewhat uncertain lady demurely. "Early hoursand a good conscience are advised by my physicians."

  "My dear lady, Time owns his own defeat in you," Mr. Polk assured her,his eyes sufficiently admiring.

  "Such pretty speeches as these gentlemen of America make!" was her gayreply. "Is it not so, Mr. Secretary?" She smiled up at Calhoun's seriousface.

  Polk was possessed of a political nose which rarely failed him. "_Mr.Secretary?_" he exclaimed, turning to Calhoun.

  The latter bowed. "I have just accepted the place lately filled by Mr.Upshur," was his comment.

  A slow color rose in the Tennesseean's face as he held out his hand. "Icongratulate you, Mr. Secretary," said he. "Now at last we shall see anend of indecision and boasting pretense."

  "Excellent things to end, Governor Polk!" said Calhoun gravely.

  "I am but an humble adviser," rejoined the man from Tennessee; "butassuredly I must hasten to congratulate Mr. Tyler. I have no doubt thatthis means Texas. Of course, my dear Madam, we talk riddles in yourpresence?"

  "Quite riddles, although I remain interested," she answered. I saw hercool eyes take in his figure, measuring him calmly for her mentaltablets, as I could believe was her wont. "But I find myself indeedsomewhat fatigued," she continued, "and since these are matters of whichI am ignorant--"

  "Of course, Madam," said Mr. Calhoun. "We crave your pardon. Mr.Trist--"

  So now I took the lady's sunshade from her hand, and we two, makingadieux, passed down the shaded walk toward the avenue.

  "You are a good cavalier," she said to me. "I find you not so fat as Mr.Pakenham, nor so thin as Mr. Calhoun. My faith, could you have seen thatgentleman this morning in a wrapper--and in a red worsted nightcap!"

  "But what did you determine?" I asked her suddenly. "What has my chiefsaid to cause you to fail poor Mr. Pakenham as you did? I pitied thepoor man, in such a grueling, and wholly without warning!"

  "Monsieur is droll," she replied evasively. "As though I had changed! Iwill say this much: I think Sir Richard will care more for Mexico andless for Mexicans after this! But you do not tell me when you are comingto see me, to bring back my little shoe. Its mate has arrived by specialmessenger, but the pair remains still broken. Do you come to-night--thisafternoon?"

  "I wish that I might," said I.

  "Why be churlish with me?" she demanded. "Did I not call at your requestupon a gentleman in a red nightcap at two in the morning? And for yoursake--and the sake of sport--did I not almost promise him many things?Come now, am I not to see you and explain all that; and hear you explainall this?" She made a little _moue_ at me.

  "It would be my delight, Madam, but there are two reasons--"

  "One, then."

  "I am going to Montreal to-night, for one."

  She gave me a swift glance, which I could not understand.

  "So?" she said. "Why so soon?"

  "Orde
rs," said I briefly. "But perhaps I may not obey orders for once.There is another reason."

  "And that one?"

  "I am to be married at six."

  I turned to enjoy her consternation. Indeed, there was an alternatewhite and red passed across her face! But at once she was in hand.

  "And you allowed me to become your devoted slave," she said, "even tothe extent of calling upon a man in a red nightcap; and then, even upona morning like this, when the birds sing so sweetly and the littleflowers show pink and white--now you cast down my most sacred feelings!"

  The mockery in her tone was perfect. I scarce had paused to note it. Iwas absorbed in one thought--of Elisabeth. Where one fire burns high andclear upon the altar of the heart, there is small room for any other.

  "I might have told you," said I at Last, "but I did not myself know ituntil this morning."

  "My faith, this country!" she exclaimed with genuine surprise. "Whatextraordinary things it does! I have just seen history made between thelightings of a cigarette, as it were. Now comes this man and announcesthat since midnight he has met and won the lady who is to rule hisheart, and that he is to marry her at six!"

  "Then congratulate me!" I demanded.

  "Ah," she said, suddenly absorbed; "it was that tall girl! Yes, yes, Isee, I see! I understand! So then! Yes!"

  "But still you have not congratulated me."

  "Ah, Monsieur," she answered lightly, "one woman never congratulates aman when he has won another! What of my own heart? Fie! Fie!" Yet shehad curious color in her face.

  "I do not credit myself with such fatal charms," said I. "Rather saywhat of my little clasp there. I promised that to the tall girl, as youknow."

  "And might I not wear it for an hour?"

  "I shall give you a dozen better some time," said I; "but to-night--"

  "And my slipper? I said I must have that back, because I can not hopalong with but one shoe all my life."

  "That you shall have as soon as I can get to my rooms at Brown's Hotelyonder. A messenger shall bring it to you at once. Time will indeed beshort for me. First, the slipper for Madam. Then the license for myself.Then the minister. Then a friend. Then a carriage. Five miles toElmhurst, and the train for the North starts at eight. Indeed, as yousay, the methods of this country are sometimes hurried. Madam, can notyou use your wits in a cause so worthy as mine?"

  I could not at the time understand the swift change of her features."One woman's wits against another's!" she flashed at me. "As forthat"--She made a swift motion to her throat. "Here is the trinket. Tellthe tall lady it is my present to you. Tell her I may send her a weddingpresent--when the wedding really is to happen. Of course, you do notmean what you have said about being married in such haste?"

  "Every word of it," I answered. "And at her own home. 'Tis no runawaymatch; I have the consent of her father."

  "But you said you had her consent only an hour ago. Ah, this is betterthan a play!"

  "It is true," said I, "there has not been time to inform MissChurchill's family of my need for haste. I shall attend to that when Iarrive. The lady has seen the note from Mr. Calhoun ordering me toMontreal."

  "To Montreal? How curious!" she mused. "But what did Mr. Calhoun say tothis marriage?"

  "He forbade the banns."

  "But Monsieur will take her before him in a sack--and he will forbidyou, I am sure, to condemn that lady to a life in a cabin, to a couch ofhusks, to a lord who would crush her arms and command her--"

  I flushed as she reminded me of my own speech, and there came no answerbut the one which I imagine is the verdict of all lovers. "She is thedearest girl in the world," I declared.

  "Has she fortune?"

  "I do not know."

  "Have you fortune?"

  "God knows, no!"

  "You have but love-and this country?"

  "That is all."

  "It is enough," said she, sighing. "Dear God, it is enough! Butthen"-she turned to me suddenly--"I don't think you will be married sosoon, after all. Wait."

  "That is what Mr. Pakenham wanted Mr. Calhoun to do," I smiled.

  "But Mr. Pakenham is not a woman."

  "Ah, then you also forbid our banns?"

  "If you challenge me," she retorted, "I shall do my worst."

  "Then do your worst!" I said. "All of you do your joint worst. You cannot shake the faith of Elisabeth Churchill in me, nor mine in her. Oh,yes, by all means do your worst!"

  "Very well," she said, with a catch of her breath. "At least we bothsaid--'on guard!'

  "I wish I could ask you to attend at our wedding," I concluded, as hercarriage approached the curb; "but it is safe to say that not evenfriends of the family will be present, and of those not all the familywill be friends."

  She did not seem to see her carriage as it paused, although she preparedto enter when I opened the door. Her look, absorbed, general, seemedrather to take in the sweep of the wide grounds, the green of the youngspringtime, the bursting of the new white blossoms, the blue of the sky,the loom of the distant capitol dome--all the crude promise of our youngand tawdry capital, still in the making of a world city. Her eyes passedto me and searched my face without looking into my eyes, as though Imade part of her study. What sat on her face was perplexity, wonder,amazement, and something else, I know not what. Something of her perfectpoise and confidence, her quality as woman of the world, seemed to dropaway. A strange and childlike quality came into her face, a pathosunlike anything I had seen there before. She took my hand mechanically.

  "Of course," said she, as though she spoke to herself, "it can not be.But, dear God! would it not be enough?"

  I did not understand her speech. I stood and watched her carriage as itwhirled away. Thinking of my great need for haste, mechanically Ilooked at my watch. It was one o'clock. Then I reflected that it was ateleven of the night previous that I had first met the Baroness von Ritz.Our acquaintance had therefore lasted some fourteen hours.