CHAPTER VII
When Mercia retired to her private apartment she hardly knew whither she was going. At first she entered her usual sitting-room, then suddenly she made a turn and rushed into her bedchamber where making sure there could be no interruption she gave vent to the sorrow and indignation that filled her breast, in a passionate flood of tears. For even the twentieth-century woman was not illachrymable, being in this respect pretty much the same as the most remote of her feminine ancestors.
In a few moments, however, she recovered herself, and began to consider her situation, or rather her loss of situation, for she had inconsiderately thrown it up in the heat of her anger with the Emperor. Not for an instant did the thought cross her mind of withdrawing her resignation, or of making any attempt at reconciliation with the monarch, whose utterly heartless and cowardly conduct filled her with intense contempt, and disgust. As soon as the tumult of her feelings had subsided she returned to her sitting-room and wrote out her letter of resignation, wherein she explained in modest yet dignified terms her reasons for taking this step; expressing at the same time the terrible sacrifice it was costing her in thus throwing up a position which was so specially adapted to her sympathies and pursuits, and of which there was no hope of obtaining an adequate substitute elsewhere.
When the letter was completed she remembered Geometrus and wishful to satisfy him by making him fully acquainted with her movements she put it through the copying press with a view of showing him its contents; then ringing for a messenger it was despatched through the post without delay, that it might be received in due order by the head of the governmental department.
Having gone thus far she began to feel more settled in her mind, satisfied insomuch that she felt she had done the right thing in resigning a position which exposed her to the importunities of a patron who had proved as unprincipled in purpose as he was sensual in inclinations. Then she began to torment herself with the reflection that she had not proved such an icewoman as she had previously imagined herself to be. ‘Yes,’ she owned to herself, ‘there was a moment when the power of his passion moved me, and I could have yielded to the seduction of the senses, pictured by him as the essence of love, until I remembered there was a barrier that might not be moved; no, not for the allurements of a century of deliciousness would I defraud another of one iota of the affection which was sworn for all time to be hers.
‘I have refused, perhaps, the crown of an Empress to take the lowly condition of a poor scholar out of place; but I have remained true to myself, and to my sex, and before all things have kept my heart and hands clean: I have earned the approval of my conscience, and my night-pillow is not made restless with the self-torture of knowing I had inflicted an endless misery on another, and that other made like unto myself; with all the capacities of suffering, having to drink daily of life’s bitterest mortifications.
‘But what a deadly traitor I have narrowly escaped—what a contemptible monster he has proved himself, to thus turn on me like an adder!’
His threat of having her indicted for high treason gave her, however, no uneasiness, for it only inspired her with the utmost scorn. She dismissed it from her mind as having been on his part merely the outcome of ungovernable anger at being exposed before his enemy, as Sadbag undauntedly owned himself to be. How a man could express the most profound attachment for her at one moment, and seek her destruction at the next, seemed to her pure mind so monstrous and wholly unnatural that its possibility in her case was altogether out of the question.
That Felicitas would actually go the lengths of formally making such an infamous accusation she could not bring herself to believe. Thus she sat deeply pondering over the situation for at least two hours, unheeding the passage of time in which startling doings were taking place in the outside world, when she was interrupted by a double announcement, dinner, and the advent of Sadbag.
‘In a brown study, I see!’ exclaimed the old man as he entered the apartment, ‘can I be of any use to thee?’
‘Thrice welcome,’ she answered quickly; ‘this solitude is unbearable: I was longing for some sympathising friend in whose ears I could pour forth my trouble.’
‘Thou art in a queer quandary, certainly,’ quoth Sadbag in gentle tones, which were not wanting in sly humour, ‘nevertheless, there will be somebody in a bigger by to-morrow morning.’
‘To whom dost thou refer?’
‘To Felicitas of course: the Emperor shall learn ere another twenty-four hours the opinion of the nation anent profligacy.’
‘What hast thou done in this matter, Master Sadbag,’ said Mercia anxiously, ‘pray tell me, for only an hour ago I sent in my resignation?’
‘Sent thy resignation!’ repeated Sadbag, ‘why Mistress Mercia, there’s no occasion for that! It is the Figure Head Felicitas who should resign; for having no worthy occupation to fill his time he must needs get into mischief; in much the same manner as those empty-headed puppies who dawdle about the squares feasting their eyes on every comely woman who is on her way home from her office, or business. Down with the monarchy, I say, if this be all it is good for! Indeed, we have had enough of it. Look at the centuries of oppression that Russia has gone through! The country knew no real freedom until she shook off the thraldom of despotism and all its concomitant tyrannies.’
‘Yes,’ replied Mercia earnestly, ‘Russia has attained the joys of a Constitutional Monarchy through rivers of human blood; devastating floods of fire, and seas of darkest misery: is it indeed worth the cost of such terrible sacrifices?’
‘No great victory has ever been achieved save at infinite sacrifice. True, it was a mighty one, but the result is worthy of it. The struggle was long and severe; but greater severities have been put an end to—the cruelties of oppression wrought upon millions of helpless beings, which were accentuated by the conditions of civilisation and enlightenment that surrounded them.’
‘Civilisation and enlightenment are of no avail unless the heart be true, and the conscience good. If the moral nature be at fault what avails the enlightenment of ages?’ observed Mercia thoughtfully.
‘The occurrences of to-day is a case in point,’ continued Sadbag; ‘in all history have we a parallel instance of meanness, cruelty, and downright dishonesty as this experience with the Emperor? But I have come to give thee good tidings—I think I have settled him. To-morrow the whole world will ring of his doings. His hypocrisy, his deceit, and his cowardice will make him the object of detestation to all. The four quarters of the earth have got the story word for word, and we shall see what comes of it.’
‘Sadbag, what hast thou done?’ demanded Mercia with eyes of fire and cheek of flame.
‘Fear nothing, sweet lady, thy fair fame hath been kept guarded and unsullied by me. Not a word is given of which thou needest be ashamed. In this recital thou art truly pictured; gentle, modest, and unsuspecting up to the point where knowledge is forced upon thee, and the deceiver shows his hand. Then, the art of the seducer utterly fails in its purpose, for thine irreproachable virtue shielded thee as a coat of armour; thy sense of honour to thy fellow-woman was as a wall of defence to thy shoulders, for thou didst refuse the most tempting blandishments rather than blight the happiness of a wife; albeit thou wert offered the crown of an Empress as the reward of thy dishonour. But what of thy letter of resignation; I wish I had seen it beforehand; for the Emperor makes a bitter enemy, and will revile thee soundly to his ministers?’
‘I think I have made myself pretty clear,’ replied Mercia, who had considerably calmed down by this time; ‘here is a copy of my letter; read it.’
‘Good!’ exclaimed Sadbag as soon as he had finished perusing the document; ‘this is fine! Canst thou trust it with me for one night and I will return it to-morrow morning without fail?’
‘Seeing thou hast done so much already,’ returned Mercia in a weary tone of voice, ‘there can be no harm in giving it thee to make what use thou mayest choose. But, listen, here comes Geometrus—I will invite him to dine with us, and we three will discuss the matter together.’
At the next moment Geometrus had entered the apartment, and startled the two with the look of painful concern on his countenance.
‘Why so glum, my friend?’ cried Sadbag cheerily; ‘this is but a passing cloud which will be carried away presently by the fair breezes of public opinion. No one can hurt thee, or Mercia: I cannot say so much for myself, for indeed I have meddled considerably in this business, and nobody knows how it will turn out for me. But ye twain are innocent victims, and have naught to fear in this advanced period of the world’s history. Truth and justice should prevail in the dawn of the twenty-first century, if ever it is to prevail at all on this earth. Ah, I wonder if anything approaching perfection can ever be reached here!’
‘Our present day littérateurs,’ observed Mercia, ‘felicitate themselves that we are in the enjoyment of such an advanced civilisation as the world has never seen in the past, or possible to attain in the future. But thou, Sadbag, seest much to improve in the political arena, and I see much to be discovered in the world of Nature. We have still to learn how to rule the elements. As yet, the winds and the storms, and the waters, are our masters. The time will arrive when these shall be our servants to come and go at our will. The rains it is true now water the earth at our desire, but soon the winds shall be dispersed by our art, and the heaving waves of the ocean shall be made subservient to our will; not by the wand of the sorcerer, but by the hand of that more wonderful magician—Science. When man has made Nature to obey his behests then that extraordinary time shall have arrived that the prophets dreamed of in the far off ages, which they symbolised by the metaphor of the lion and the lamb lying side by side. This, indeed, is the true millennium for which all may ardently pray; for it is the earth-glory awaiting the planet-dwellers of our sun’s system, yea, of every star system throughout the whole of the vast universe.’
Mercia paused, and looked at her friends, as if inquiring if she might proceed.
‘Go on,’ said Sadbag, ‘we delight to listen to thee.’
‘Ah, it is all very wonderful! The field of science possesses still untrodden paths: mystery upon mystery are yet to be made clear; the hidden secrets of psychology are still in darkness; we know not of what stuff we are made. What is soul—what is mind? We cannot definitely define them: we know only the manner in which these express themselves to our physical nature: the spiritual is wrapped in impenetrable mystery. How is it that one man utters the truths of a prophet, and another can hardly be made to understand what is going on before his eyes? Of course it is a difference in brain-power, the physiologist tells us, but how is it that a more or less quantity of grey brain-substance can give inspiration, knowledge, genius, power, imagination, and even prescience? Who can answer that? When this question is solved then is the chief millennium reached.’
‘Let me have a word now,’ said Sadbag, whose eyes glistened with the enthusiasm that inspired him for the moment; ‘when the insignia of Royalty is done away with; when kings are a luxury of the past, and Emperors are persons of bygone history; when liberty and equality are recognised everywhere; when exorbitant taxes are no longer levied on the poor; when society recognises the duty of honesty and purity towards each other, and the golden rule is abided by, then is the millennium! Each of us has his goal, his ideal; this is my ideal, and this is the religion I would have preached by the expounders of faiths, and of doctrines. Scientific discoveries are being made step by step, first this experiment, and then that. One man finds a glint of light, and theorises on it, and he passes away, and another takes it up and examines it further, and presently discovers a wider field of vision, and he has dreams of its utilisation, but they end there; and a third, having had an excellent foundation to start with, finishes by discovering how to apply the knowledge to useful purposes, and gains the reward; for the first sowed, and the last reaped; and he will give his name to the invention, and will be hailed as the great genius, the true discoverer.’
‘Yes,’ observed Mercia in reply to her guest, as seated at table she dispensed her hospitalities with thoughtful care, ‘they are all links in one great chain, one following the other in due order, displaying a complete system, which is governed by fixed laws, that may not be transgressed without penalty. But, say, Geometrus,’ uttered Mercia anxiously, ‘how has it fared with thee—why art thou so melancholy?’
‘I cannot help it,’ he answered, sighing deeply the while; ‘a great misfortune is overshadowing the three of us.’
Mercia regarded him earnestly. ‘What is it?’ she asked.
‘The Emperor’s threat, I’ll be bound!’ growled out Sadbag.
‘The same,’ answered Geometrus gloomily; ‘I have just come from Divesdale, the Minister of Finance, who was having converse with the Emperor upon the subject, and he tells me Felicitas is bent upon punishing us, yea, the whole three—even Mercia is not to be spared.’
‘Yea, rather he is working the punishment that’s to fall on his own pate!’ laughed Sadbag contemptuously. ‘When the proper time comes I possess indisputable proof to show in open court of the truth of my statement, which will place that of Mercia beyond doubt also; and thou, Geometrus, being only an accessory in the affair, and not a chief actor, when we are cleared thou wilt be also. Be assured this bogus prosecution will be promptly stopped unless we insist on its full development.’
‘And where wilt thou obtain all this convincing evidence? There’s naught but our bare word to support our statements: the highest potentate of the realm and the policeman can never swear falsely?’ remarked Mercia, cynically, who was awakening to the gravity of the situation.
‘We shall be arrested to-morrow, at latest,’ interpolated the young man, ‘the warrants are being made out at this moment.’
‘Capital!’ shouted the elder man, slapping his knee exultingly, ‘I wouldn’t miss the scene at the trial for a kingdom!’
‘Oh, Sadbag, thou art horrid!’ cried Mercia deprecatingly, ‘I shall never survive the disgrace of it!’
‘Say, rather, thou wilt be too shy to survive the honour of it! Mercia, mark me, the day of thy trial will be the dawn of thy glory. Truth will triumph this time, notwithstanding the world’s wickedness. The words of our ancient Solomon shall be verified—“A virtuous woman is as a crown to her husband,” et cetera;’ and Sadbag looked slily at Geometrus, for an irrepressible humour was ever bubbling up within him.
‘But I haven’t a husband,’ murmured Mercia, blushingly, ‘so how can I thus adorn him?’
‘The man and the opportunity are awaiting thee: the one at thy elbow, the other looming near,’ explained Sadbag archly.
It was Geometrus’s turn to blush now, which he did most becomingly,—‘If Sadbag means me,’ he faltered out, ‘I would fain be the man, I confess; but where is the opportunity? It seems to me that it was never so distant as at present, and it was at all times too far to give hope.’
‘Modesty doth well become youth, but it is ill-placed in cases of the heart. He that is daring gains the goal, but the fainthearted gives up the race. It is true ye twain are in a predicament, having lost your appointments, but you are no worse off than if this misfortune had never befallen you, for marriage would have brought a like result. I propose,’ Sadbag proceeded to say, ‘that thou Geometrus shalt ask Divesdale for the appointment of Head of the Royal College of Natural Science, where thou wilt have power to appoint all its various professors, and lecturers. As astronomy is one of the principal subjects taught, give Mercia the post of Chief Astronomical Lecturer, which carries no bar to marriage. Now isn’t that plan most excellent! I flatter myself it is a capital thought!’
‘It’s splendid, yet it possesses a fault!’ exclaimed Geometrus, whose spirits began to rise at the bright prospect held before him; ‘could not Mercia ask Divesdale for the appointment of Principal, and give me the subordinate position of Professor?’
‘Whichever way you two choose to put it,’ replied Sadbag merrily; ‘after all, when I come to consider it I believe Mercia would stand the better chance with the minister; the nation at large, too, would be more satisfied, as she hath renown and much goodwill of the people.’
‘I feel as if I were already installed, and am longing to award places of honour to all my friends,’ broke in Mercia sweetly. ‘What post, dear Sadbag, can I give thee? Political Expounder, or Professor of Economics? Name the article and it shall be forthcoming; for I fain would testify my gratitude for the honest goodwill thou dost show me.’
‘I want naught for myself,’ replied the old man with a comic shake of the head, ‘but I have a grand-daughter ready to leave school whom I would wish to enter the said College as a student. It would much oblige me if thou wouldst examine her and judge for which science she is best fitted. She must select one subject and bottom it thoroughly; I think chemistry to be the most preferable.’
‘Chemistry!’ repeated Mercia smiling, ‘why my dear sir, that’s a very big order, for it possesses several important branches, each one a study of itself. One should be selected, and then there’s a possibility of imparting something useful to thy grand-daughter. Nowadays no one has a chance of success if he attempt too much—this is the day of the Specialist!’
‘It isn’t every day one has a chance of a good talk with a lady of such renown as thee, so I will benefit myself by taking the opportunity,’ remarked Sadbag in a tone of great content; ‘I have a grandson also, what shall I do with him?’
‘How old is he?’ inquired Geometrus, who thought it was time to put in an oar.
‘Sixteen, and as comely a youth as ever was seen. But he has no liking for abstruse studies, and it is little use sending him to college with his sister. Can you suggest something that is likely to prove agreeable to his cast of mind?’
‘Article him to a marble manufacturer,’ replied Geometrus eagerly; ‘it is the grandest trade going. We want marbles and granites for every building, nowadays; we cannot obtain enough of them. There is plenty of scope for further invention, for instance, porphyry has not yet been successfully imitated but in appearance only, for it is too brittle for any purpose necessitating strength and durability. A new “Stone Age” is dawning, for not a brick will be used save in the cottage of the poorest. Our large towns and cities will present greater beauty than classic Italy saw in its best days; for they will be filled with splendid halls and residences built apparently of various rare and costly marbles, designed in high artistic form and stately structure. What a wonderful age we are coming to, when the distant sands of Sahara are brought to our shores and reconverted to their original solidity! It is like a fairy tale of ancient days this transformation of the crumbled rock of ages to the original compactness of solid blocks of glittering stone. Who is the sorcerer of the modern time? The Geological-Chemist.
‘Diamond making is as nothing compared with this useful manufacture, for it converts the ugliness of cheap brick buildings into the beauties of palaces. Even the sea sand on our own shores are cleansed and united with chemically prepared material, and made to form a hard and impenetrable silicious stone, more enduring than what it was in its pristine solidity.’
Sadbag looked serious as Geometrus dilated on the usefulness of Geologic-chemistry; then he remarked—‘I imagined that chemistry had attained its limits, and further improvements in manufactures impossible, almost, but I see with your eyes, Geometrus, and quite understand that the world is still in its infancy, although it believes it is acquainted with everything already.’
‘So they thought a hundred years ago!’ observed Geometrus laughingly; ‘the people of that time actually imagined they had scaled the extreme heights of knowledge and there was nothing left to learn. But hark!’ he exclaimed in an excited undertone, ‘there’s a ring at the great door—who comes at this hour? Is it the warrants, I wonder! It is. There are the police,’ continued he as he rose and looked through the window, ‘and the police-van ready to accommodate us! Oh, Mercia is it possible that thou must suffer this degradation?’
‘She shall not!’ exclaimed Sadbag vehemently, ‘as long as there’s a breath left in this body of mine. My first thought was to fly,’ he continued hurriedly, ‘on account of this copy of her letter which I was about sending to the Press for publication; but I will hide it in this vase instead, and get my solicitor to fetch it away afterwards; for I will now stand my ground for Mercia’s sake. She shall be conveyed to prison in her own carriage, or not at all, there’s no law to hinder that, I warrant. We three shall all go together, but I would have preferred my liberty a little longer for I have much to do before getting my incarceration.’
‘Hide behind the screen again!’ whispered Mercia, ‘no one knows thou art here; it is easy enough to do; and thou canst report upon the manner in which I am treated, if need be—dost understand?’
‘Perfectly, I will do it, and come out if I see necessary,’ agreed the old man with a roguish beam in his eyes, while he slipped behind in a twinkle. He had no sooner disappeared than the constables entered the apartment, which they did in a somewhat hesitating manner. Evidently, they did not at all relish their work, for the inmates of the Observatory, as well as the place itself inspired them with respect.
‘Why this intrusion on a lady in her private apartment?’ demanded Geometrus haughtily; for he considered they ought to have remained in the entrance hall, until their errand was explained.
‘What is your wish?’ inquired Mercia in quiet tones.
‘Mistress, I have brought with me a document, an ugly document, truly, to show a lady, and to such a one as thou it is indeed vexatious to have the handling of it. Nevertheless, it has been entrusted to me, and obedience is the first great principle of all order. Therefore, very unwillingly, I confess, I call upon thee in the Emperor’s name to surrender thyself—here is my authority,’ and he held out the warrant for her perusal, still keeping his hold of it. When she had finished, she stood for a moment thinking, whereupon he stepped forward to lead her away, when Mercia falling back a little, drew herself up haughtily, and exclaimed—‘Touch me not, fellow, I will leave this house of mine own accord when I am fully prepared for my journey, for I must attire myself suitably before going into the night air, also my carriage must be made ready for me.’
‘We have brought the ordinary police-van by special order of the Emperor, we dare not let any other be used,’ interpolated another officer, for there were three of them.
‘The police-van for me!’ repeated Mercia indignantly, ‘and by the Emperor’s orders too! What has the Emperor to do with the administration of the law? I refuse to obey such an order.’
‘And rightly so,’ interjected Geometrus hotly, then turning with furious face upon the constables, he added—‘This lady goes with you in her own carriage, or not at all.’
‘What is that to thee?’ returned the sergeant of police sharply, ‘a pretty person to lay down conditions to us, and dictate how we are to perform our duty, seeing thou art in the same boat thyself. Here is the warrant for thy apprehension; and get thee ready quickly.’
‘If you touch her, any of you, against her will, I will strike him dead with my electric dagger!’ shouted Geometrus, who was beside himself with anger.
‘There are more daggers than thine, young man,’ exclaimed one of the men roughly, as he rushed towards Geometrus with his handcuffs opened ready to clasp them in an instant; but Geometrus was too quick for him, and tripping the constable with his foot, the latter staggered to the ground awkwardly, while the handcuffs were dashed out of his grasp with a deft blow from Geometrus. Then the other two constables springing to the aid of their fellow took hold of Geometrus, one at either side, and a desperate struggle was about to commence, but at this juncture out rushed Sadbag from his hiding place exclaiming—‘Why all this bubbery, ye idiots, what matters it what sort of vehicle you use for their conveyance so that you get your prisoners safe in quod? That is enough for you! Let the lady go as she will, and no more nonsense about it, otherwise I will make it pretty hot, both for you and your masters, afterwards.’
‘Now this is mighty convenient!’ said the sergeant dryly, for he held the warrant for Sadbag as well; ‘we want thee also, my good fellow, and thou hast saved us much trouble by popping out to lecture us; thou couldst not repress thy speechifying instincts, even to save thy liberty! I arrest thee, Joseph Sadbag, in the name of the Emperor Felicitas! Here is my authority,’ and he pulled out of his side pocket the document for Sadbag’s perusal.
‘Oh, I know all about it,’ answered the old man testily, ‘I am willing enough to become thy prisoner only let it be done quietly and decently, for the Emperor will have sufficient to answer for without adding further insult to this lady. He has already done that which will disgust every decent minded person in his realms.’
‘Let him take charge of his own business; ’tis his affair, and I will perform mine,’ replied the sergeant doggedly.
‘You might come to a compromise,’ pleaded Sadbag in insinuating tones, ‘I have saved you heaps of labour, trouble and exertion in lying in wait, and watching for me all over London by unexpectedly dropping myself into your hands. Show your gratitude, my friends, by letting Mistress Mercia take her seat in her own carriage, and one of your constables may accompany her, while this gentleman and myself will go in the police-van, with the remaining two of you, and we will pass our word of honour not to overpower you, and seek to escape. Now are you satisfied?’
‘Very well,’ agreed the sergeant gruffly, ‘we will take the offer—only make haste!’
‘It is quite dark outside, Geometrus,’ observed the old man, ‘no one will be any the wiser as to who are the occupants of the van: I don’t much matter it myself—nevertheless, I will sue the Government for damage to my reputation, for this act will accentuate the situation.’
‘I care not for myself one whit,’ returned the younger man in a pained tone; ‘but I am heartily glad thou hast succeeded in saving Mercia such an unnecessary disgrace.’
‘I hope we shan’t be kept a month of Sundays in our cells, for I am simply dying to make my dénouement in court,’ whispered Sadbag to his friend, as he nimbly tripped down the broad staircase that led to the entrance hall, with the policemen following at their heels.
‘For the life of me I can’t imagine what thou art driving at—what the deuce is thy dénouement?’ inquired Geometrus impatiently.
‘Qui vivra verra!’ laughed Sadbag lightly; ‘“He that lives longest sees most;” I mean to create a diversion in court.’
‘A diversion!’ repeated the young man in dismay.
‘Well, maybe that’s not exactly the word for it; I am not a flowery phraser: I mean to create an impression that may prove a diversion, or a lesson, an example, a warning, a farce, a terror, a maxim, a moral, a proverb, a motto; a subject for comic cuts, for high art paintings; for pulpit sermons, stump orators, parsons, preachers, and petticoats to moralise on; ’twill be a lesson to perjurers, profligates, and hypocrites, generally; and at the finish each will say to his neighbour—What a capital dodge, I wonder no one ever thought of doing that before!’ and the old fellow rubbed his hands in high glee, at the thought of his plan, the success of which he felt would amply repay him for all the inconveniences of his most inopportune confinement.
By this time Mercia’s carriage was in readiness, for it only required a few minutes’ attention to put it in working order, and soon the quartette, each under the influence of his own emotions, watched the light barouche roll quickly along the smooth macadamised roadway, for only heavy trams and waggons used the rails with which the principal streets and roads were provided, lighter vehicles not requiring such aids to locomotion.
‘Farewell, my Mercia,’ the young man had whispered in her ear, just before turning on the force; for the driver had taken the steering gear; ‘be strong and of good hope, Sadbag is our saviour, we have nought to fear with his clear head and true heart to help us.’
‘Surely the gods will help their own sister!’ exclaimed Sadbag gallantly, as he raised his hat in making a last adieu. ‘Wait till the lucky bag is presented thee for a dip, and thou wilt see what a prize comes to thy hand!’