"I think, Monsieur le Président," he said stiffly, "that this discussion had better be postponed until after I have had an opportunity of communicating with my Imperial master. I must confess, sir, that your attitude is a complete surprise to me."
"As you will, sir," the President answered. "I am perhaps more a man of affairs than a diplomatist, and I have spoken to you with less reserve than is altogether customary. But I shall never believe that diplomacy which chooses the dark and tortuous ways of intrigue and misrepresentation is best calculated to uphold and strengthen the destinies of a great nation. I wish you good morning, gentlemen!"
For forty-eight hours the war fever raged, and the pendulum swung backwards and forwards. The cables between Berlin and St. Petersburg were never idle. There was a rumor, amongst those behind the scenes, of an enormous bribe offered to France in return for her neutrality alone. Its instantaneous and scornful refusal practically brought the crisis to an end. The German hosts melted away, and the Baltic Fleet passed on. St. Petersburg accepted the British demands, and a commission of arbitration was appointed. Henri de Bergillac read out the news from the morning paper, and yawned.
"_C'est fini--l'affaire Poynton!_" he remarked. "You can get ready as soon as you like, Guy. I am going to take you into Paris to your sister!"
"Heavens!" he exclaimed, "I forgot that there were still explanations to make. Fill your abominable pipe, _mon ami_, and think that to-morrow or the next day you may be in your beloved England. Think how well we have guarded you here when a dozen men were loose in Paris who would have killed you on sight. Remember that in the underground history of England you will be known always as the man who saved his country. I shouldn't wonder in the least if you weren't decorated when you get home. Think of all these things--hard!"
"You never killed any one. The duel was a fake. You were--not exactly sober. That was entirely our fault, and we had to invent some plan to induce you to come into hiding peacefully. _Voilà tout!_ It is forgiven?"
"Rather!" he exclaimed. "What an ass I must have seemed, asking that old Johnny for a pardon."