"Three," said St. Clair impressively, "made to order according to regulations on file in the Quartermaster's Department. Each absolutely correct. "Without too great a show of eagerness he inquired: "Like to see them?"Without too great a show of eagerness Billy assured him that he would.
"I got to telephone first," he added, "but by the time you get your trunk open I'll join you in your room."In the cafe, over the telephone, Billy addressed himself to the field-marshal in charge of the cable office. When Billy gave his name, the voice of that dignitary became violently agitated.
"Monsieur Barlow," he demanded, " do you know that the war- ship for which you cabled your Secretary of State makes herself to arrive?"At the other end of the 'phone, although restrained by the confines of the booth, Billy danced joyously. But his voice was stern.
"Naturally," he replied. "Where is she now?"
An hour before, so the field-marshal informed him, the battle-ship LOUISIANA had been sighted and by telegraph reported. She was approaching under forced draft. At any moment she might anchor in the outer harbor. Of this President Ham had been informed. He was grieved, indignant; he was also at a loss to understand.
"It is very simple," explained Billy. "She probably was somewhere in the Windward Passage. When the Secretary got my message he cabled Guantanamo, and Guantanamo wired the war- ship nearest Port-au-Prince.""President Poussevain, warned the field marshal, "is greatly disturbed.""Tell him not to worry," said Billy. "Tell him when the bombardment begins I will see that the palace is outside the zone of fire."As Billy entered the room of St. Clair his eyes shone with a strange light. His manner, which toward a man of his repute St.
Clair had considered a little too casual, was now enthusiastic, almost affectionate.
"My dear St. Clair," cried Billy, "I'VE FIXED IT! But, until I was SURE, I didn't want to raise your hopes!""Hopes of what?" demanded the actor.
"An audience with the president!" cried Billy. "I've just called him up and he says I'm to bring you to the palace at once. He's heard of you, of course, and he's very pleased to meet you. I told him about 'The Man Behind the Gun,' and he says you must come in your makeup as 'Lieutenant Hardy, U.S.A.,' just as he'll see you on the screen."Mr. St. Clair stammered delightedly.
"In uniform," he protested; "won't that be----""White, special full dress," insisted Billy. "Medals, side- arms, full-dress belt, and gloves. What a press story! 'The King of the Movies Meets the President of Hayti!' Of course, he's only an ignorant negro, but on Broadway they don't know that; and it will sound fine!" St. Clair coughed nervously.
"DON'T forget," he stammered, "I can't speak French, or understand it, either."The eyes of Billy became as innocent as those of a china doll.
"Then I'll interpret," he said. "And, oh, yes," he added, "he's sending two of the palace soldiers to act as an escort- sort of guard of honor!"The King of the Movies chuckled excitedly.
"Fine!" he exclaimed. "You ARE a brick!"
With trembling fingers he began to shed his outer garments.
To hide his own agitation Billy walked to the window and turned his back. Night had fallen and the electric lights, that once had been his care, sprang into life. Billy looked at his watch. It was seven o'clock. The window gave upon the harbor, and a mile from shore he saw the cargo lights of the PRINZ DER NEDERLANDEN, and slowly approaching, as though feeling for her berth, a great battle-ship.
When Billy turned from the window his voice was apparently undisturbed.
"We've got to hurry," he said. "The LOUISIANA is standing in.
She'll soon be sending a launch for you. We've just time to drive to the palace and back before the launch gets here."From his mind President Ham had dismissed all thoughts of the war-ship that had been sighted and that now had come to anchor. For the moment he was otherwise concerned. Fate could not harm him; he was about to dine.
But, for the first time in the history of his administration, that solemn ceremony was rudely halted. An excited aide, trembling at his own temerity, burst upon the president's solitary state.
In the anteroom, he announced, an officer from the battle- ship LOUISIANA demanded instant audience.
For a moment, transfixed in amazement, anger, and alarm President Ham remained seated. Such a visit, uninvited, was against all tradition; it was an affront, an insult. But that it was against all precedent argued some serious necessity. He decided it would be best to receive the officer. Besides, to continue his dinner was now out of the question. Both appetite and digestion had fled from him.
In the anteroom Billy was whispering final instructions to St.
Clair.
"Whatever happens," he begged, "don't LAUGH! Don't even smile politely! He's very ignorant, you see, and he's sensitive. When he meets foreigners and can't understand their language, he's always afraid if they laugh that he's made a break and that they're laughing at HIM. So, be solemn; look grave; look haughty!""I got you!" assented St. Clair. " I'm to 'register' pride.""Exactly!" said Billy. "The more pride you register, the better for us."Inwardly cold with alarm, outwardly frigidly polite, Billy presented "Lieutenant Hardy." He had come, Billy explained, in answer to the call for help sent by himself to the Secretary of State, which by wireless had been communicated to the LOUISIANA.
Lieutenant Hardy begged him to say to the president that he was desolate at having to approach His Excellency so unceremoniously.
But His Excellency, having threatened the life of an American citizen, the captain, of the LOUISIANA was forced to act quickly.
