“Much more likely to spill the ink,” retorted Eirene, gathering them up, and holding one in front of Maurice with a book to keep it steady. The room was dim and his eyes weak, and neither he nor Zoe had the faintest idea that the paper to which he had laboriously scrawled his name was not the letter to the stockbroker, but the promise demanded by the Princess.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE WAGES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
The situation at Therma was “serious” in the opinion of the most optimistic observers, “critical” in that of others. The Roumi troops were irritated beyond endurance, so said their apologists, by the action of the Admirals in saving the Hagiamavra insurgents from the punishment they merited, and were still further incensed by the importation of European soldiers to guard the Consulates. An indemnity had been demanded by the three “Liberal” powers for the damage to person and property sustained by their nationals during the rioting of which Zoe had spoken to Wylie, and since settlement was deferred in the old familiar way, it was thought well to act decisively, and seize the Therma quays. This was the last straw. The international force sent to take over the customs buildings was attacked by an armed mob, largely composed of Roumi soldiers, led by their officers. Not expecting serious opposition, and desirous of sparing Roumi susceptibilities as much as possible, the Consuls had sent only small detachments, and these were compelled to retreat down the quay, fired at from windows and roofs, and sustaining many casualties. The British destroyer lying in the harbour shelled the mob, and covered the embarkation of the survivors, but could not protect either the European or the Christian parts of the town. The fact that three of the great Powers were to some extent in sympathy with the malcontents made it impossible to arrange for a joint defence of the diplomatic quarter, and the British, Neustrian, and Magnagrecian Consulates were subjected to three separate sieges, in which the occupants suffered severely, until their Admirals, arriving in haste, landed parties to relieve them. When the sacred abodes of diplomacy were thus treated, it was clear that no consideration for the homes of ordinary Christians, whether Roumi subjects or foreigners, was to be expected. The rest of the city was given up to rapine of all kinds; the ravages of the massacres in the spring, which had been in process of being repaired, were renewed, and anarchy reigned. Jalal-ud-din Pasha, summoned by the Admirals to recall his soldiers to barracks, declared his inability to restrain them unless the foreign troops whose presence excited their ire were removed, and when this was indignantly refused, relapsed into a benevolent neutrality. But unfortunately for himself and his master, he had misread the situation. Outrages on Emathian Christians were one thing,—Europe had endured them with more or less equanimity for centuries; but to burn European officials in their houses and shoot down European troops was something very different. The insulted Powers hurried reinforcements to the spot (those of England were already on their way, thanks to Admiral Essiter’s appreciation of Wylie’s warning), and the Admirals were given full authority to deal with the state of affairs.
Nor was the vindication of the insulted dignity of Europe left entirely to the sword. The Ambassadors at Czarigrad, who had debated earnestly and fruitlessly for many months, labouring at a Sisyphean task with a patience and lack of success that were little less than pathetic, found a ray of light suddenly cast upon their path. The Neustrian and Scythian Ambassadors arrived at the scene of their discussions one morning in company,—a circumstance that in itself aroused comment, since the representatives of the friendly and allied nations had for some time been on opposite sides. The reconciliation was emphasised when the Neustrian Ambassador, acting under instruction from his Government, pointed out that the events now occurring at Therma showed how unlikely it was that the Hagiamavran leaders would receive fair treatment at Roumi hands, and proposed their immediate release. The Scythian Ambassador, similarly instructed from home, caused an immense sensation by seconding the suggestion, and it was carried. The Magnagrecian Ambassador was thereupon encouraged to bring forward the proposal, which had been shelved for so long, that Emathia should be constituted an autonomous principality, under the merely nominal suzerainty of Roum; but his Pannonian colleague, who had by this time recovered from the shock of finding himself deserted by Scythia, countered his plan with the suggestion that a Christian Governor-General, approved by the Powers, but responsible to Czarigrad, was all that was necessary. That this Christian Vali should be a Roumi subject was of course a foregone conclusion, and he believed that the Grand Seignior might be induced to reappoint M. Nestor Skopiadi, who had already proved himself so zealous and capable a ruler. This barefaced attempt to establish over again the hopeless state of things which had ended with Skopiadi Pasha’s flight from massacre in the spring was a little too much for the rest of the Ambassadors, and the gathering broke up without expressing any collective opinion, that its members might report to their respective Governments the alternative proposals submitted to it.
But at least the lives of the insurgent leaders were safe. The tidings was brought to Skandalo by the Magniloquent’s steam pinnace, carrying Admiral Essiter’s flag-lieutenant, who was charged with despatches for the Magnagrecian commander at Ephestilo. He brought also the Admiral’s own suggestion that he should offer to take Zoe to Ephestilo with him, in case she might like to carry the news to Wylie herself, and she accepted the invitation joyfully. While she was getting ready, Eirene was summoned from the sick-room by the news that the Princess Dowager of Dardania was inquiring for her. The creditor had come to demand the payment of the bond, and Eirene took the fateful paper from its hiding-place inside the bodice of her dress, and went to face her.
“I felt that I must come and bring my congratulations in person,” said the Princess, in a tone loud enough to be heard by the flag-lieutenant in the next room. “Well, have I kept my promise?” she asked, in a lowered voice.
“You are very good, madame,” said Eirene loudly. “Yes, and I will keep mine,” she added, almost in a whisper.
The Princess took the paper from her hand, and without ceremony opened and read it. “Good!” she said lightly. “This is quite satisfactory. Prince Theophanis is fully aware of the nature of what he has signed, of course?”
“You know he is not!” said Eirene indignantly.
“Ah, well, sooner or later he will be. Good-bye, dear friend. So glad to have had just this glimpse of you!”