The Devil's Cocktail (34 page)

In the midst of the excited exclamations that greeted Sir Leonard's remarks, he turned to Rainer.

‘Can I have that bath, Rainer?' he said. ‘I should like to attend the supper party, you promised us, as myself.'

‘Come along now, Sir Leonard,' said Rainer.

‘By the way, sir,' said Shannon, ‘I cabled my report to you tonight.'

‘That's all right,' said the Chief. ‘I left a note for Major Brien to hand it to the Prime Minister as soon as it arrived.'

He and Rainer excused themselves, and left the room.

‘By Jove!' exclaimed Hugh, with a broad grin on his face and eyes sparkling with delight. ‘By Jove!'

‘Say, Hugh,' said Miles, rising from the floor, ‘this is sure the third greatest day of my life.'

‘What were the first and second, Oscar?' asked Joan.

‘The second greatest day was when I discovered you loved me, little girl,' said the American. ‘The first and greatest of all days hasn't arrived yet, but I guess it will soon. And that will be the day we are married.'

‘You darling!' whispered Joan.

‘“There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood leads on to fortune”,' said Cousins.

Hugh had seated himself close to Helen Rainer and was talking earnestly to her. Suddenly she smiled and nodded very shyly, a heightened colour in her cheeks. Mrs Rainer noticed the glance her daughter gave to Hugh and her eyes opened wide, but a look of pleased surprise came into her face. Cousins also seemed to find something significant in the attitudes of Miss Rainer and Hugh.

‘“Here will I dwell, for Heaven is in these lips And all is dross that is not Helena”,' quoted the little man.

‘Shut up, Cousins!' growled Hugh.

Cousins shut up.

A great sensation shook the world during the course of the next few days, when it became known by means of the press of Great Britain, the United States and France, how Russia, Germany and their many satellites had conspired to plunge the world once again into a terrible war, and that the three nations had sent a joint ultimatum to those bloodthirsty countries demanding the instant demobilisation of all warlike forces and dismantling of all aircraft except those built for commercial purposes. At the same time a mighty British fleet sailed up the Baltic, another combined British and French fleet patrolled the North Sea and the British Mediterranean squadron entered the Dardanelles and, sailing across the Sea of Marmora, anchored close to Constantinople.

The German inhabitants of the Rhine woke up one morning to find a great British and French army almost encamped at their doors, the army in India was mobilised and stood ready in the Punjab and the North-West Province and also in Bengal. Persian ports were surprised at the appearance of British cruisers, and a great American
fleet was known to be halfway across the Pacific on its way to China.

Excitement knew no bounds when it was officially reported that the agents of the aggressive powers had actually been arrested whilst holding a meeting in Lahore, and that amongst them was Bukharin himself – the Soviet Minister for Foreign Affairs. British newspapers came out with a verbatim report of the proceedings, and a great storm of indignation spread throughout France, Italy, and the
English-
s
peaking
countries. A rush of able-bodied men for enlistment took place in Great Britain and the Dominions, an almost unprecedented wave of patriotism came over the Empire, and there was such an intensity of feeling against Communism that the British, Colonial, and American representatives of that doctrine went in danger of their lives, or, at least, of very rough handling, and therefore conceived it wiser to disappear from view.

The world throbbed with suspense for two days, extraordinary rumours were afloat one minute and contradicted the next, a situation of extreme gravity arose on the money markets, business was at a standstill – everyone waited for the first shot that would plunge creation into a war more terrible than the last. Then there came a terse official statement, which sent the world hysterical with joy, which made strong men run about the streets laughing childishly, and crying the news to each other as they went.

Russia and Germany with their many dupes had climbed down. The ultimatum was accepted without reservation.

At once, Great Britain, the United States, the British Dominions, France, Italy, Belgium – all the powers loyal to the gospel of peace and goodwill – were
en fête
. Armistice Day of 1918 was quite overshadowed by the joy of this wonderful day of all days. London went mad with delight, a wonderful crowd gathered before Buckingham Palace and demonstrated its loyalty to the throne as
never before. New York, Paris, Brussels, Rome were no whit behind in displaying their enthusiasm.

International commissions were appointed to see that the terms of the ultimatum were thoroughly carried out. They did their work completely and well, and until they reported ‘All's well', the three great nations, which had acted with such firm and dramatic suddenness, remained under arms.

Bolshevism had received a blow from which it would probably never recover.

Hugh Shannon, Oscar Miles and Cousins were received by the British Cabinet, and the Prime Minister thanked them on behalf of the Empire for their great services. His Majesty the King commanded their presence at the Palace, where he himself expressed his gratitude to them and honoured them with the decorations they so thoroughly deserved. In spite of attempts to keep their identity secret they soon became known and time after time were almost mobbed by enthusiastic crowds. As Cousins remarked, their use as secret agents was entirely destroyed, but he and Shannon were given posts which would keep them at home for the future.

The French Government invited them to Paris where they were given a truly royal welcome and fêted in magnificent style, and the United States, not to be outdone, demanded their presence and would take no refusal.

Before they went, however, a pleasing ceremony took place in London, and that was a double wedding between Joan and Miles, and Helen Rainer and Hugh. Every effort was made to keep the event secret, but somehow it leaked out, and when the happy couples left the church, they were greeted by a vast crowd which lined the whole route to Sir Leonard Wallace's house – where the reception took place – and cheered them to the echo.

Many notabilities were present at the reception, and not the least amongst them was the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab, Sir Reginald Scott.

Soon after the wedding, both couples left for the United States attended by Cousins. The warm-hearted people of the great American Republic outdid even England and France in the magnificence` of their welcome, with a little extra enthusiasm for Oscar Miles and his shy little bride, whose beauty and sweetness instantly charmed them, and whom they took to their hearts as only the people of the United States can.

Miles found himself appointed as Chief of the Intelligence Department in succession to a predecessor, who in his great delight at the exploits of his junior, had voluntarily resigned to make way for him.

As Cousins remarked, hoping that the shades of Dryden would forgive him:

‘Heaven that but once was prodigal before,

To Oscar gave so much, she could not give him more.'

 

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A
LEXANDER
W
ILSON
was a writer, spy and secret service officer. He served in the First World War before moving to India to teach as a Professor of English Literature and eventually became Principal of Islamia College at the University of Punjab in Lahore. He began writing spy novels whilst in India and he enjoyed great success in the 1930s with reviews in the
Telegraph, Observer
and the
Times Literary Supplement
amongst others. Wilson also worked as an intelligence agent and his characters are based on his own fascinating and largely unknown career in the Secret Intelligence Service. He passed away in 1963.

The Mystery of Tunnel 51

The Devil's Cocktail

Wallace of the Secret Service

Get Wallace!

His Excellency, Governor Wallace

Microbes of Power

Wallace at Bay

Wallace Intervenes

Chronicles of the Secret Service