The Mystery of the Lost Dauphin Part 18

exclaimed Louis Pierre.

"He has betrayed and tortured the innocent," said Soliviac solemnly.

"He brought my brother to the scaffold" cried Giacinto.

"He sought the death of my father," said Amelie.

Then, in chorus, they cried:

"He must die!"

Silence followed. The captain poured out another gla.s.s of punch. Amelie and Rene drew apart from the group and engaged in a lover's colloquy.

The three Carbonari talked animatedly of the accomplishment of their plans. When, later, Amelie turned her eyes in search of her father and failed to find him, she concluded he had gone to rest or that he chose to protest by his absence against the general sentiment regarding Volpetti.

Meanwhile, Naundorff was staggering along the vessel's deck, as she tossed roughly, in the direction of the bound spy, who lay near a heap of cordage where he had been deposited by his captors. His handsome face was contracted with rage, which increased as he saw the watch-maker approach. He believed that his last hour had arrived. Naundorff bent over him, saying in a low voice:

"I have come to set you free."

Volpetti's eyes flashed amazement.

"Listen!" said his liberator, cutting the cords with his pen knife. "I forgive you that G.o.d may forgive me. Your life has been a series of iniquities. You have made me suffer so greatly that I have almost doubted the existence of G.o.d. When you are free, change your mode of life. Here you will surely be killed. Cast yourself overboard, for you may be rescued by some other vessel. Do not stir yet. Be very quiet."

He had already freed Volpetti's hands. He now cut the cords binding his legs and feet. The spy muttered:

"Harebrained imbecile!"

During this critical moment his past life rose before him. _He_ change?

Impossible! He was a spy by nature. When a school boy, he had spied upon and delivered up his playfellows. While a novice in the monastery, he had spied upon his brothers. Turned out of the monastery by the Revolution, he had spied upon the revolutionists. His education and inclinations fitted him for the life, and the present atmosphere was auspicious, or 'twas the golden age of the secret police. The true history of that epoch will never be written because certain knaves carried it with them to the grave. When Volpetti entered the ranks of the secret police, he displayed signal talent. According to a remark made at the time by a prominent official, he was not only the eyes and ears but also the arm of the government. The swift eye of Vidocq early discerned the wonderful gifts of this king among spies: his art in ingratiating himself into the good graces of his employers; his genius at disguises and every species of simulation; his alertness in forming intimacies with the familiars of those who were his predestined victims.

In short, he was a born spy and his machinations were labors of love. He was furnished money, agents and whatever other auxiliaries he demanded.

His astuteness had discovered countless plots, effected the capture of a mult.i.tude of conspirators, among these General Doyenne, who suicided in prison, rather than submit to the ignominy of picket torture.

No need to say that in the heart of Volpetti there was no room for grat.i.tude or remorse. He held goodness to be weakness, and forgiveness imbecility. That Naundorff should forgive the many years of persecution suffered at his hands, was to him incomprehensible. Why, the tracking of Naundorff had been his specialty for half a lifetime, his supreme t.i.tle to glory. He viewed him now with Satanic disdain as he loosed his bonds.

Volpetti's only G.o.ds were Destiny and Fatality. Since leaving London, Fatality had seemed to be in the atmosphere. When earlier he was carried on deck, bound and gagged, he had in a rage called himself a fool for being trapped. But now Fatality seemed to be on the side of Naundorff and Volpetti reflected:

"This man has been overtaken a thousand times. He is a bright mark for the arrows of Fate."

Naundorff, meanwhile, repeated the regal formula of pardon;

"_I forgive you that G.o.d, who is over you and me and all men, may extend to me his mercy,--G.o.d who sees us and to whom your evil deeds are known as well as the moment in which his hand will reduce you to naught_. I forgive you because it is my destiny to forgive and to expiate, and I am ready to fulfil it; but I warn you to tempt Providence no longer."

Volpetti felt his limbs free and his blood resume its normal circulation. He commenced to remove his clothes, Naundorff, meanwhile, concealing him. Crawling to the edge of the vessel, he leaped into the water and the deck guard sang out, "Man overboard!"

Chapter VII

THE REVELATION

This cry always throws crew and pa.s.sengers into wild excitement, all of whom now appeared as if by magic on deck. The fog was beginning to break but the water still dashed madly against the sides of the vessel. In the general confusion no one asked how the accident had occurred, but the mate beckoned the captain aside and whispered:

"'Tis the prisoner who is overboard and that pa.s.senger," pointing toward Naundorff, "unloosed him. I did not interfere because I did not realize what he was about."

Muttering a curse, Soliviac approached Naundorff.

"What do you mean, Monsieur? In the devil's name, how have you dared to set the prisoner free? Pernies, are you sure that this gentleman--Well, however that be, bind him securely. Now, c.o.c.k your guns, and if that scoundrel swims near us, send him to the bottom with a bullet through his head."

The sailors leaned over the edge, seeking to distinguish the floating body among the waves which rose more and more furiously. The wind, increasing with the fury of the waves, swept away the clouds and the surface of the sea gleamed almost white. One of the Breton sailors, a kind of wild-cat fellow, with green eyes which saw by night, cried out that a man was floating near the vessel, whereupon four bullets were sent in that direction. Two youths, by name Yvon and Hoel, lowered a canoe and were after the fugitive within ten minutes.

Naundorff, guarded, almost a prisoner, calmly awaited results. Rene and Amelie stood near him for the purpose of defending him, were it necessary, but they could not conceal their terror and anger at the spy's escape.

"You have undone us, father," said Amelie.

"We struggle vainly," said Rene. "If that man saves his life, may the sea swallow the rest of us, for we should have a fate more terrible than death. No country of earth could afford a refuge. To what end have I recovered the doc.u.ments? I, a de Breze, a Giac, performing the office of a common murderer!"

Naundorff remained silent. Just then there rang out from the watchman a cry: "Ship to the larboard."

The encounter with another vessel is always an important occurrence at sea. At that period the memory was fresh of combats with corsairs, English, French, and Spanish. But the proximity of this ship was a consideration of greater than ordinary gravity, for it signified the probable salvation of the fugitive, whose body now gleamed on the surface.

Soliviac growled:

"I wager that the rascal will be picked up."

Then the ship hove in sight like a black bird, now skimming, now flying, now keeling. She was a schooner somewhat larger than the Polipheme. She could be perfectly discerned, for the night had become clear. The floating man cried out and she slackened speed and flung out a cable.

The sailors were about to fire. Soliviac restrained them saying, that they would surely miss their aim and alarm the other vessel. Impotent and raging, the Knights of Liberty beheld the spy's salvation as his nude body gleamed against the schooner's dark side.

"He is saved!" they almost wailed.

"He is receiving a welcome!" growled the sailors as they turned menacingly upon Naundorff, Soliviac the most infuriated of the group.

Clutching the watch-maker by the collar, he roared:

"Who are you to liberate prisoners aboard my vessel? Are you that villain's accomplice? Well, by G.o.d, you shall suffer the fate reserved for him."

"He deserves it," cried Giacinto. "This man, a stranger to us has been entrusted with our secret. This serves us right for letting others meddle in our business."

Amelie flung herself before her father and de Breze stood beside her.

Soliviac motioned to certain sailors and they immediately overpowered Rene, tho he struggled hard to free himself.

Up to this time Naundorff had remained silent, but, fearing the consequences to his friend, he advanced, saying:

"Captain, release the Marquis. I shall explain my action. I beg to be heard in the cabin, with only these gentlemen as witnesses," motioning towards the Carbonari. The captain ordered Rene's release and the party descended the stairway, Soliviac following Naundorff. On reaching the cabin, Louis Pierre and Giacinto stood on each side of the captain, as tho forming a court.

"You are," said Soliviac, addressing Naundorff, "a culprit. On my vessel, I administer justice and hold myself accountable only to G.o.d.

You have const.i.tuted yourself the accomplice of a man condemned to death. As you have set him free, 'tis only justice that you should take his place, for his freedom means the death of the rest of us. But before pa.s.sing sentence, I shall listen to your defence."

"Permit me to say--" interposed Rene, but Soliviac interrupted with firmness: