Wallace Intervenes Read Free Page B

he left school he had been thrown constantly in the society of girls, most of them his sister’s friends. He had got on very well with them; had more than once imagined himself in love, only to find out that there was a disease that frequently gripped young men called infatuation.This fact was pointed out to him by the girls themselves, who being very modern in their ideas, were extremely sensible. Now he was asked to become infatuated, or at least pretend to be infatuated, with an experienced, worldly-wise woman. The questions that bothered him were: Could he do it, and gain her interest and sympathy? Could he succeed without her seeing through the deception? He recognised the wisdom of Sir Leonard in selecting him for the part. He knew himself to be good-looking and attractive to members of the opposite sex – there was no nonsensical or mock modesty in the composition of Foster – in addition his circle of friends was acquainted with his amorous affairs, and would, therefore, not be surprised at another. It would be rather distasteful to make love to a woman with the purpose of worming important secrets from her, but a Secret Service man cannot regard his feelings or those of others when duty bids otherwise. Unpleasant functions make part of the price one has to pay for serving one’s country in such a capacity. The disturbing thought occurred to him that he might find the young baroness distinctly attractive and, despite all his efforts to the contrary, actually fall in love with her. He had no illusions on the score that he was impressionable. To betray the woman one loved seemed a desperately low-down thing to do. He resolved to be on his guard from the very first, and avoid falling in love with her if he possibly could. But what difference would that make? It was his business to get her to fall in love with him, or at least become fond of him, wasn’t it? As low-down to disclose the secrets of a woman who had conceived an affection for one, and therefore trusted one, as to betray the woman one loved; more so in fact. Such reflections caused a little frown to appear on his ingenuous face; he shrugged his shoulders rather painfully. Perhaps for the first time he was realising something of the unsavoury side of Secret Service life. His instinctsrebelled against accomplishing anything by underhanded means, but it never occurred to him to attempt to back out; he would go through with his job to the bitter end no matter what it cost him personally. As a Secret Service man he had no right to personal feelings, and perhaps he comforted himself with the thought that nothing can be underhand that is performed in the service of country.
    He arrived at Lady Ashington’s stately home to find himself in the midst of some very famous people. His host and hostess greeted him charmingly, saying a few words to him before turning to welcome other guests, and leaving him free to wander about at will. He found several acquaintances, and entered into conversation with them, but all the time his eyes were searching, trying to catch a glimpse of the woman with whom he was to become infatuated. He saw no one quite resembling the description he had been given, and he did not mention her to any of his friends. Sooner or later, he knew, Mrs Manvers-Buller would arrive and pilot him to the baroness. She had appeared once from out of the throng, had smiled and nodded, but had passed on, which suggested that the baroness had not yet come or the time was not ripe for the introduction. Foster was a little intrigued by the position occupied by Mrs Manvers-Buller in the affair. He knew that she was a great friend of Sir Leonard and Lady Wallace, but he did not know that she had more than once been of much assistance to the Chief of the Secret Service; that she was, in fact, a kind of honorary member of the department. A great traveller, with an intimate knowledge of and acquaintance with some of the greatest diplomats in the world, she had, on