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But it was one of the disabilities of the fulfillment of his vow, that he
could not leave England until many things had been done, and when
he spoke his tone was apologetic.
“My hands are tied for a while. I have no choice, Mildred, or I
would not hesitate to go at once. If you wish, the yacht shall be got
ready and you can take your sister with you for company until I can
join you.”
“You are very good, but I don’t think that I am very keen on going.
After all it would have been rather dull—just you and I,” she
answered coldly.
Lady Ethel took the baby back to the nurse and a few moments
later Drake excused himself with the plea that he would finish his
unpacking.
“Why have you brought that man to live with us?” Lady Mildred
asked when she was alone with her husband.
“I like him,” Gaunt answered emphatically.
“Yes. But that is not an answer to my question.”
“Have you any objection? If so, I can very quickly alter the
arrangement.”
“No. I don’t wish that. You have the right to ask any friend you wish
to your house.”
“If you dislike the idea, I will——”
“No—no. You misunderstand me,” she interrupted him hastily. “I
was only thinking that it was a little strange that you should make a
clergyman a member of our family. I have never noticed that you
were religiously inclined,” she wound up drily.
“Mildred, dear, will you be patient with me? It is my intention to
make a great change in my life, and I want your help and sympathy.”
A look of surprise swept over her face.
“Surely you haven’t lost all your money, or anything dreadful of
that kind?” she cried.
“No. But even if I had, you would be quite safe. Your settlement
was a quarter of a million, and that can never be touched,” he
answered grimly.
“May I ask the reason of the change you propose?”
“First of all, I shall give up business in the City. As soon as
possible I shall retire from all the companies in which I am interested,
and shall invest my capital in gilt edged securities that are easily
realized. But a great deal of this capital I intend to use, and it is
probable that in a few months’ time I shall be only a moderately
wealthy man.”
Lady Mildred had listened with eager attention, and was evidently
very puzzled by the announcement.
“It is certain that you can do as you like with your money. As you
say, I and the child are provided for by the settlement,” she remarked
frigidly.
Gaunt was silent and there was a hesitating look in his eyes for he
was wondering if it were possible to tell his wife of the vow that he
had made; but it was certain that she would not understand, and so
the idea was quickly abandoned.
“Mildred, I had hoped that we were going to be better friends,” he
said impulsively.
“Is that possible, John? I think we are a model couple for I cannot
remember that we have ever quarrelled,” she answered nervously.
“I wish that you cared for me sufficiently—to quarrel. I sometimes
wonder if you suspect how much I love you. A few days ago—when
you were so ill—I imagined that, that you loved me even as I love
you.”
“My dear, I am afraid that you are growing sentimental. Really,
John, you are full of surprises. Of course I love you.”
Their eyes met, and his were filled with so great a passion that she
grew afraid and rose quickly.
“I am very tired, and the doctor said that I must not overdo it. I
think I will retire,” she said hastily.
Gaunt proffered his arm and together they walked in silence to her
room, at the door of which she dismissed him with a smile. He went
to the library, and sat down to think over what had taken place. It
was certain that Lady Mildred had been hurt by his refusal to set off
on the yacht at once, and he cursed the necessity of refusal, but
there was no alternative if he was to keep faith.
These last few days had revealed to him some of the difficulties
that lay before him, and for the moment he was dismayed, but it was
typical of the man that there was not even a temptation to turn aside
from the course that he had mapped out.
His reverie was interrupted by the entrance of Drake and Lady
Ethel, both of whom were in the best of spirits, for they were chatting
together gaily and it seemed to Gaunt that the man whom he now
called his father confessor was enjoying himself thoroughly.
“Mr. Drake, I will play you a hundred up,” said Lady Ethel.
“I can’t play billiards,” Drake replied ruefully.
“Then it’s time you learned and I will teach you.”
“I shall be delighted,” he answered.
Gaunt looked after him, and then called out.
“Drake, I want to have a long chat after dinner, so please don’t
make any promise to amuse this young lady,” he said drily.
A slight flush came to Drake’s face as he answered quietly.
“I shall be at your service, Mr. Gaunt.”
And Lady Ethel threw him a glance that was full of mischief.
CHAPTER IX
D URING the last two weeks Gaunt had been working hard in the
City and had made arrangements for relinquishing his active life.
Tempting propositions had been brought to him but they had been
firmly refused, and the general impression was that he had made
sufficient money to satisfy even his requirements and was about to
retire.
There was no attempt to disguise from himself that the chief
matter with which he must deal was the Congo, and he brought all
his intellect to bear on the problem before him. But the difficulties
seemed well-nigh insurmountable.
Now that he knew his position, it was characteristic that he would
not discuss the matter with Drake until he could see daylight. The
suggestion that he should speak at the meeting was distasteful in the
extreme, but finally he decided that refusal was impossible.
When he faced the thousands of tense faces he was calm and
collected.
“Have I your Grace’s permission to speak?” he asked of the
Archbishop.
The latter rose and cleared his throat.
“My lords, ladies and gentlemen. Most of you know the name of
John Gaunt, and I feel sure that you will be interested in one who
must have unique knowledge of the subject we are discussing,” he
said, and resumed his seat.
“I thank your Grace, and promise that I will detain you for but a few
moments. I have listened attentively to all that you have said and I
tell you that the condition of affairs in the Congo has not been
exaggerated. I do not intend to shock you with horrors, but with my
own eyes I have seen men, women and even children murdered in
cold blood, maimed and tortured.”
He paused, for a hoarse murmur had arisen so that it was a few
minutes before he could continue.
“I admit that I myself have made money through labor which has
been procured by these means. My wealth is founded on the ‘red
rubber’ which has come from the Congo. I tell you this so that you
shall know I am quite honest in what I am about to say, for I shall
speak against my own pecuniary interests. You have been
discussing the effects of the annexation of the Congo by the Belgian
government, and some of you have expressed the hope that matters
may be improved thereby.”
He paused, and the silence was intense.
“Your hopes are doomed to disappointment. There can be no
improvement in the conditions, for any improvement would
necessitate the abandonment of the slavery which exists. I said
slavery—but it is hardly the right word, for in modern history slavery
has not meant work forced by the fear of death or torture. Wherever
the late King held active sway, there the country was laid waste by
the sword, and rubber was produced not with any idea of the future
but solely for immediate gold. The abandonment of the present
system can only be accomplished by the abandonment of the Congo
by the Belgians. That they will not do unless compelled by superior
force. Their present budget anticipates a profit of nearly a million
pounds. If the land and produce of the soil be returned to the rightful
owners—the natives—then, instead of a profit, there would
necessarily be a heavy deficit. When the Congo budget provides for
a deficit and not a huge profit, then and not till then will you know
that the natives are about to receive fair treatment. That will occur
only when the country has been drained dry. If you hear that a
portion of the country has been opened to the foreigner, you will
know that that portion is worthless, for the population will either have
been killed or have fled from the fear of death, and the produce will
have been exhausted.”
This statement made a profound impression, and all anxiously
waited for Gaunt to continue.
“You are seeking the amelioration of the natives. To accomplish
this you must remove the present officials. There must be no half
measures and I am convinced that no amount of talk will have the
slightest effect. Actions and not words are required, and it is for you
to see that England does more than talk. A single gunboat at the
mouth of the river would affect a change, while diplomatic
representations will be swept aside as has been done in the past.
Surely England is strong enough to act alone—or is it fear of
Germany that ties her hands? If this be the case, it is not the spirit
that won our empire, and as a race we are doomed. Let there be no
more hesitation, let each of you use his influence and bring pressure
to bear upon our government.”
“We have already done everything in our power,” a bishop
interrupted vehemently.
“Then I fear that the reform of the Congo is impossible. But let us
make an effort. I am a rich man—rich, largely through the Congo—
but, if money is necessary, I am prepared to spend every penny
piece of it on this work. More than that, I now publicly announce that
from this moment I am the enemy of the governors of the Congo.
Any ability that I possess shall be used to affect reform.”
There was a murmur which developed into loud cheers, and there
was a look of defiance in Gaunt’s eyes as he listened.
“My lords, I feel that I owe you some personal explanation. You
must have viewed my appearance here with mingled feelings, for I
am aware that I am looked upon as one of the strongest supporters
of the present régime. You all know the name of Edward Drake, who
has done such good work in the East End of London, and I refer you
to him should you have any doubt as to the honesty of my intentions.
It is owing to his influence that I am here to-night.”
Gaunt paused for a moment and the Archbishop rose to his feet.
“I am sure that we have listened to Mr. Gaunt’s statement with
profound interest. From one point alone what he has said is
invaluable. His evidence will remove every shadow of doubt as to the
atrocities that have been and are taking place in the Congo. I must
own frankly that I looked always upon him as one of our bitterest
enemies. I have been ashamed to think that an Englishman could
have profited by cruelty and torture. Surely God must have brought
him here to-night. We must all admire the courage with which he has
spoken. It was no light thing to face us and frankly admit the sins of
the past, and I honor him for what he has done. He has taken the
only course open to a Christian, for he has promised to do his utmost
to right the wrongs in which he has been a participator. Before Mr.
Gaunt resumes his seat, I should like to ask him one question.
Naturally he is in touch with the rulers of the Congo—would it not be
possible for him to use his influence with them, to bring pressure to
bear upon them that they should govern the natives equitably?”
The Archbishop resumed his seat and Gaunt continued:
“No personal influence or pressure would effect any change.
There is only one effective weapon—force. The position of England
has caused a good deal of cynical amusement in the Congo. The
British government would only move if so great a feeling were
aroused in this country that they dared not do otherwise. Much has
been done in recent years by meetings and writings in the press; but
the Congo is so far away that the truth has never been driven home.
The question of Tariff Reform or Free Trade can rouse fierce
passions, for the principle touches our pocket; but that thousands of
human beings should suffer torture—that is a thing to read and be
harrowed about—but a cup-tie is of much more immediate
importance. Perhaps I am unjust to my fellow countrymen, for at
times they have been aroused to white fury by the story of
oppression and murder. Witness the Armenian atrocities. But then
there was a great man with a silver tongue who could move a nation
by his words. And the only chance for the people of the Congo is that
such a man should rise again and tear from us our complacency.
Make the British people understand that they have been cleverly
swindled. The late King played the confidence trick upon America
and the great powers of Europe. He deliberately hoodwinked them
with his tongue in his cheek. But King Leopold was a master ‘crook.’
He was a born diplomat of the most unscrupulous type; and to his
dying day he was a match for every foreign secretary that crossed