"He can't be sure what that would do. The others might go on and have their way just the same. It's hard to get a sane peace after a mad war."
Said the captain of artillery: "Are you aware that our people still have some of their gold reserve? They don't ask anybody to give them food, they ask merely to be allowed to buy it with their own money. And there's plenty of food in America, is there not?"
"So much that we don't know what to do with it. The government has agreed to take it from the farmers at fixed prices, but now there's no market. There are millions of pounds of pork that is going to spoil if it isn't used."
"But still our people can't spend their own money for it!"
"The French say they want that gold to restore their ruined cities with."
"Don't you know that we have offered to come and rebuild the cities with our own hands?"
"That's not so simple as it sounds, Kurt. The people here say that would throw their own workers out of jobs."
"Maybe so; and again maybe it would let them find out how decent our people are - how orderly and how hard-working."
The two strolled on, arguing. Lanny guessed that his friend was sounding him out; and presently Kurt said: "Suppose it became known to you that there were some Germans in Paris, working secretly to try to get this wicked blockade lifted - would that seem to you such a bad thing?"
"It would seem to me only natural."
"But you understand that in the eyes of military men they would be spies, and if they were discovered they would be shot?"
"I realized that as soon as I saw you. But I don't see what you can possibly accomplish here."
"Hasn't it occurred to you that you can accomplish something anywhere in the world if you have money?"
A light dawned on Lanny. So that was it! He had heard his father say many times that you could get anything you wanted in Paris if you had the price.
Kurt went on: "There are people here who won't let our babies have milk until they themselves have gold. And even then you can't trust them - for after they have got the gold they may betray you for more gold. You see, it's a complicated business; and if one happened to be in it, and to have a friend whom he loved, it would be an act of friendship to be silent. It might be extremely inconvenient to know about these matters."
Lanny didn't hesitate over that. He declared with warmth: "If that was all that was being done, Kurt, I should think that any true friend would be willing to know and to take a chance at helping. Certainly I would!"
VIII
The walk prolonged itself to several miles. Lanny decided that his duties at the conference could wait. His friend was questioning him as to persons who might be interested in helping to get the blockade of Germany lifted. There were two kinds whom a secret agent might wish to know: journalists and politicians who might be bought, and idealists and humanitarians who might be trusted to expend money for printing or other such activities. Lanny told about Alston and others of the staff - but they were doing all they could anyhow. He told about Herron, who was being called a Red because he wanted a truce with the Bolsheviks, and a pro-German because he didn't want the French to keep the Rhineland. He told about Mrs. Emily, who was kind and charitable, also influential; too bad that a German officer couldn't come to her home and be properly introduced and invited to set forth his case! Kurt hinted that perhaps she might be useful as a distributor of funds. It was hard to give much money without having the French police make note of the sudden increase of spending power of some group. But if a wealthy American lady were willing to furnish funds to help make known the plight of the starving babies of Germany . . . ?
Presently Lanny, racking his mind, mentioned another person who was an idealist and propagandist of a sort, however perverted. That was his uncle. "I never told you about him, because I've been taught to be ashamed of him. But it appears that he's a personage of a sort here in Paris." Kurt was interested and asked many questions. Just what were Jesse Blackless's ideas? What group did he belong to? Was he an honest man - and so on.
Lanny answered: "Really, I hardly know him at all. Most of my impressions have come from my father's calling him names. Robbie thinks his ideas come from the devil, and the fact that he really believes them only makes it worse."
"How much money has he?"
"He lives like a poor man, but he may give money away. I suppose he'd have to, believing as he does."
"Do you suppose I could trust him with my secret?"
"Oh, gosh!" Lanny was staggered. "I wouldn't dare to say, Kurt."
"Suppose I were to go to him and introduce myself as a musician from Switzerland, interested in his ideas: how do you suppose he'd receive me?"
"He'd probably guess that you were a police agent, and wouldn't trust you."
They walked on, while Kurt pondered. Finally he said: "I have to take a chance. Can you do this for me? Go to your uncle and tell him that you have a friend who is interested in pushing the demand for the lifting of the blockade throughout Europe. Tell him that I have money, but there are reasons why I do not wish to be known. Tell him that you know me to be a sincere man - you can say that, can't you?"
"Yes, surely."
"Tell him someone will come to his room at exactly midnight and tap on his door. When he opens it the person will say the word 'Jesse,' and he will answer the word 'Uncle,' and then a package will be put in his hands. He will be under pledge to spend the money in the quickest and best "way, for leaflets, posters, meetings, all that sort of thing. I'll watch, and if I see signs of his activity, I'll bring more money from time to time. Would you be willing to do that?"
"Yes," said Lanny, "I don't see why I shouldn't."
"You understand, both you and your uncle have my word that never under any circumstances will I name you to anyone."
"How much money will it be?"
"Ten thousand francs should be enough to start with. It will be in hundred-franc notes, so it can be spent without attracting attention. You will be able to see your uncle before midnight?"
"I don't know. I'll try."
"You know the park of captured cannon in the Place in front of the Crillon?"
"I see them every day."
"There is a big howitzer, directly at the corner as you enter the center lane of guns. It happens to be one that I had charge of; I know it by the marks where it was hit. It's directly across from the main entrance of the hotel, so you can't miss it."
"I think I know it."
"Can you be standing in front of it at exactly eleven tonight?"
"I guess so."
"If you lean against the gun, it means that your uncle says all right. If you walk up and down, it means that he says no, and the deal is off. If you're not there, it means that you haven't been able to find him, or that he wants more time before he gives his answer. In that case I'll look for you at the same hour tomorrow evening. Is that all clear?"
"Quite so. Isn't there any way I can get hold of you again?"
"Your mail at the hotel comes without censorship?"
"Oh, surely."
"I'll write you some time, a note in English, just saying, meet me at the same place. I'll sign an English name - shall we say Sam?"
"All right, Sam," said Lanny, with a grin. It promised to be great fun. Lanny's mother would be dancing tonight in behalf of charity, and Lanny would be conspiring in the same cause!
IX
The conspirator paid another call on his Uncle Jesse. This time no one answered his knock, so he poked a note under the door, saying he would return at seven. He had pressing duties, and the only time he could get free was by skipping his dinner; he bought a couple of bananas and ate them in the taxi, donating the dinner to the German babies. On his second call the uncle was waiting; Lanny, explaining that he had to attend a night session of one of the commissions, got down to business at once. "Uncle Jesse, do you agree that the blockade of Central Europe should be lifted?"
"I am an internationalist," replied the other. "I am opposed to every such interference with human liberty."
"You know people who are working to have it lifted - I mean they are writing and publishing and speaking in support of that demand, aren't they?"
"Yes; but what-?"
"I have a friend, who for important reasons cannot be named. It's enough that I know him intimately, and trust him. He feels about this blockade as you do, and it happens that he has a great deal of money. He asked me to suggest some way that he could put money into the hands of someone who would spend it for that purpose. I took the liberty of naming you."
"The devil you did!" said Uncle Jesse. "What then?"
"You realize that I don't know you very well - I haven't been allowed to. But I have the impression that you have real convictions, and wouldn't misapply funds that you accepted for such a cause."
"You have guessed correctly in that."
"No doubt you have friends who are trying to raise money for promoting your party, or whatever it is?"
"We get it by persuading poor workingmen to cut down on their food. We don't have rich people coming and dropping it into our laps."
"Well, this is one time it may happen - if you say the word."
"How much will it be?"
"The first payment will be ten thousand francs, in bank notes of small denominations."
"Jesus Christ!" said Uncle Jesse. Lanny had heard that these Reds were nearly all hostile to the accepted religion, but they still had one use for its founder.
"You have to pledge your word to spend it in the quickest and most effective way to promote a popular demand for the lifting of the blockade throughout Europe. If there are signs that you are spending it effectively, more will come - as much as you can handle."
"How will I get it?"
"Someone will knock on your door at midnight tonight. When you open the door the person will say 'Jesse,' and you will answer 'Uncle,' and a package will be put into your hands."
The painter sat eying his young nephew. "Look here, Lanny," said he. "The police and military are busy setting traps for people like me. Are you sure this isn't a scheme of some of the Crillon crowd?"
"I can't tell you whose scheme it is, but I assure you that the Crillon knows nothing about it, and neither do the police. They'll probably take notice as soon as you begin spending the money. That's a risk you have to run."
"Naturally," said Uncle Jesse, and pondered again. "I suppose," he remarked, "this is some of the 'German gold we read about in the reptile press."
"You mustn't ask any questions."
"I'm free to spend the money according to my own judgment?"
"For the purpose agreed upon, yes."
The painter thought some more. "Son, this is wartime. Have you thought what you're getting in for?"
"You take risks for what you believe, don't you?"
"Yes, but you're a youngster, and you happen to be my sister's son, and she's a good scout, even if her brains don't always work. This could get you into one hell of a mess."
"If you don't mention me, there's no way it can get out. Wild horses couldn't drag it out of my friend."
Again a pause; and the bald-headed painter smiled one of his crooked smiles. "Perhaps you read in the papers how Lenin was in Switzerland when the Russian Revolution broke out, and he wanted very much to get into Russia. The German government wanted him there and sent him through in a sealed train. They had their reasons for sending him and he had his reasons for going. His reasons won out."
Lanny got the point and smiled in his turn. The uncle thought for a while and then told him how, many years ago, there had been a big fuss in America over the fact that multimillionaires who had corrupted legislatures and courts were trying to win public favor by giving sums of money to colleges. It was called "tainted money," and there was a clamor that colleges should refuse such donations. One college professor, more robust than the rest of the tribe, had got up in a meeting and cried: "Bring on your tainted money!" The painter laughed and said: "That's me!"
30
Out of the Depths
I
ON the fourteenth of February the Supreme Council ratified the Covenant of the League of Nations at a stately ceremony; and immediately thereafter President Wilson took the night train for Brest, to return to Washington for the closing sessions of Congress. He and his purple-clad lady walked on red plush carpets spread all the way to the train, between rows of potted palms set out by a polite government. All official France attended to see him off; and thereafter it was as in a barn when the cat has departed and the mice come out to devour the stores of grain. The diplomats of the great states began helping themselves to German and Russian territory, and the reactionary newspapers of Paris declared with one voice that the foolish and Utopian League was already dead and that the problems of Europe were going to be settled on a "realistic" basis.
Professor Alston said that this was the voice of Clemenceau, who controlled a dozen newspapers of the capital and could change their policies by crooking his finger. Alston and his friends were greatly depressed. What was the use of meeting all day and most of the night, wrestling over questions of fair play and "self-determination," when it was evident that those who held the reins of power would not pay the least attention to anything you said? The French delegates now wore a cynical smile as they argued before the commissions; they had their assurance that their armies were going to hold the Rhineland and the Sarre, and that a series of buffer states were to be set up between Germany and Russia, all owing their existence to France, all financed with the savings of the French peasants, and munitioned by Zaharoff, alias Schneider-Creusot. France and Britain were going to divide Persia and Mesopotamia and Syria and make a deal for the oil and the laying of pipelines. Italy was to take the Adriatic, Japan was to take Shantung - all such matters were being settled among sensible men.
Lanny continued to attend sessions and listen to tedious discussions of imaginary boundary lines. His chief was called in to advise the American delegates on the commission which was trying to pacify the Italians and the Yugoslavs, who for a month or two had been taking pot-shots at one another. The revolting Yugoslav sailors had seized the Austrian war vessels, and the Italians wanted them, but the Yugoslav sailors wanted the Americans to take charge of them. The Italians were trying to seize Fiume, a city which hadn't been granted to them even in the secret treaty. They were like the man who said he wasn't greedy for land, he just wanted the land adjoining his own. They made a fuss, they interrupted proceedings, they blocked decisions on other questions - and how execrable was their accent when they tried to speak French!
A pathetic victim of this system of muddle was George D. Herron. He had been formally appointed a member of a delegation to travel to Prinkipo; but now President Wilson had set out for America without even taking the trouble to let him know that the project was dropped. The poor man, whose arthritis made moving about an ordeal, was left to spend his money and time holding preliminary consultations with various Russian groups in Paris; he would convince them one day and the French would unconvince them the next. The first hint he got that he had been laid on the shelf was when his friend Alston brought him a report that the President had appointed a mission which was already on its way to Moscow, to find out the situation and report.
