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Frankly, although no one can fail to realise the immense importance of South America as a colonising centre, it is my honest opinion that the nation who scores most by my friend Selingman's plans, is not Germany but France. Think what it means to her. Instead of being a secondary Power, she will of her own might absolutely control the Mediterranean.
I want to do the work for her that's easiest and that comes to me. I am on Selingman's roll. What do you think he'll get from me? Nothing that isn't false, no information that won't mislead him, no facts save those I shall distort until they may seem so near the truth that he will build and count upon them. Every minute of my time will be spent to foil his schemes.
The lengthy reports of his Sheffield visit and speeches, of which the newspapers made great capital, an extraordinary impression of the same in Selingman's wonderful prose, and the caprice of a halfpenny paper, made Maraton suddenly the most talked about man in England. A notoriety which he would have done much to have avoided was forced upon him.
At Selingman's words, however, he nodded rapidly and seated himself more firmly upon his chair. It was apparent that although his face remained expressionless, he was gratified. "They notice nothing, these others," he remarked, with a little wave of the hand. "It is always the woman who counts. You are right, monsieur. She dances like a stick. She has good calves and she rolls her eyes.
"Never have I had so many journalists on my doorstep, even on that notorious Thursday when they thought that I was going to declare war. I really fancy, Maraton, that they are going to make a celebrity of you. Have you seen the papers?" "I have read Selingman's sketch," Maraton replied. "They say," Mr.
Selingman's face, however, remained expressionless. "Married already!" he commented. "Well, that is rather a surprise." "A surprise? To be frank, it terrifies me!" the Count cried. "Heaven knows what that woman could tell an Englishman, if she chose! And her manner I did not like it. The only reassuring thing about it was that she told me that her husband was one of your men."
She sank down into an easy-chair and covered her face with her hands. "I am answered," she murmured, "only I know now I was not made for these things. I love scheming, but I am a woman." Mr. Selingman's influence over his fellows had never been more marked than on that gloomiest of all afternoons.
I can't lie to you. I can't deceive you. I've tried these things, and I went away choking, I had to come back. You shall know the truth, even though you betray me. I am no man of Selingman's. I have taken his paltry money it went last night to a hospital. I am for England God knows it! the England of any government, England, however misguided or mistaken.
You will not move from early morning until you go to bed at night, without being watched. To prove what I say you see the man who is reading an evening paper under the gas-lamp there? Yes? He is one of Selingman's men. He is watching us now. More than once he has been at our side.
Selingman shook his head portentously. "Politics," he declared, "ah! in the abstract they are wonderful, but in the concrete they do not interest me. Maxendorf has come here, doubtless, with great schemes in his mind." "Schemes of friendship or of enmity?" Mr. Foley asked swiftly. Selingman's shoulders were hunched. "Who can tell? Who can tell the thoughts which his brain has conceived?
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