William Wordsworth, "Ode to Duty."
I
At eleven o'clock at night—by West European time—on Tuesday the fourth of August, a state of war was established between Great Britain and Germany.
Three-quarters of an hour later I stood on the steps of my uncle's house and said good-bye to Sir Roger Dainton. Our united eloquence had half-convinced him that it was merely vexatious to goad the Foreign Office at a moment when in all likelihood our Ambassadors in Berlin and Vienna were being handed their passports. Representations must henceforth be made through a neutral channel, and he left us with the intention of calling early next day at the American Embassy. My uncle's confidential opinion of father and daughter is uncomplimentary and irrelevant.
The facts in the case, as given me between the Club and Princes Gardens, were that Sonia had left England in April, a few days after our meeting at Covent Garden. Sir Roger was in the predicament of disliking the whole idea of the tour and being unable to say that a man who was good enough to be trusted for early financial advice was not also good enough to be trusted with a worldly young woman of eight-and-twenty. The Baroness Kohnstadt, nominal hostess of the party, might have her name coupled with that of Lord Pennington, but she was Sir Adolf's sister and had been at school with Lady Dainton in Dresden. Baronesses, moreover, are always Baronesses. Of the relations existing between Erckmann and Mrs. Welman, everything was suspected and nothing known. Webster's record was only blemished by a breach of promise case—which might have happened to anyone. Dainton shrugged his shoulders resignedly, and his daughter took silence for assent.
During May and June the party toured through France, Spain and Italy; in the middle of July a postcard announced that they had reached Bayreuth and that the Festival was in full swing. Then followed confusion.
1. Sonia had wired from Bayreuth asking for money to be sent her in Nürnberg.
2. Sir Roger had immediately remitted £30 by registered post.
3. Four days later, on presentation of the Austrian ultimatum to Servia, Sir Roger had telegraphed ordering Sonia to return home at once.
4. Two days afterwards a second telegram was received from Sonia, "Must have money wire Hotel de l'Europe Munich or post Hotel Continental Innspruck."
5. Her father had telegraphed another £30 to Munich, asking in addition where Sonia was going and what she was doing.
6. Sir Adolf had called on Dainton at the House of Commons late on August Bank Holiday to announce that:
(a) Sonia had lingered at Bayreuth, promising to follow as soon as Webster's car was in order.
(b) Webster, arriving alone, alleged that she was returning immediately to England.
(c) They had barely escaped into France before the declaration of war, and
(d) They hoped she had enjoyed a comfortable journey home.
I drove to Loring House after breakfast next day, put the facts on paper and fitted the date to each.
"That little swine Webster could throw some light on this," O'Rane muttered between his teeth as the three of us tried to read a connected story into the fragments.
"Well, let's get hold of him," said Loring. "He's probably in town. Mayhew saw him yesterday."