"Impossible!" he gasped. And, with reproach, he repeated: "I do not know you, sir! I do not know you!"At that moment, towering above the crush, appeared the tall figure of Senator Seward. The rich man of the New World and the rich man of Europe knew each other only by sight. But, upon seeing Sam in earnest converse with the great banker, the senator believed that without appearing to seek it he might through Sam effect a meeting. With a hearty slap on the shoulder he greeted his fellow countryman.
"Halloo, Sam!" he cried genially. "You walking home with me?"Sam did not even turn his head.
"No!" he snapped. "I'm busy. Go 'way!"
Crimson, the senator disappeared. Baron Haussmann regarded the young stranger with amazed interest.
"You know him!" he protested. "He called you Sam!""Know him?" cried Sam impatiently. "I've got to know him! He's going to be my father-in-law."The fingers of the rich man clutched the folded paper as the claws of a parrot cling to the bars of his cage. He let his sable coat slip into the hands of a servant; he turned back toward the marble staircase.
"Come!" he commanded.
Sam led him to the secluded corner Polly and he had left vacant and told his story.
"So, it is evident," concluded Sam, "that each night some one in the service of the Times dined at Pavoni's, and that his hat was the same sort of hat as the one worn by Hertz; and each night, inside the lining of his hat, Hertz hid the report of that day's proceedings. And when the Times man left the restaurant he exchanged hats with Hertz. But to-night--I got Hertz's hat and with it the treaty!"In perplexity the blue eyes of the little great man frowned.
"It is a remarkable story," he said.
"You mean you don't believe me!" retorted Sam. "If I had financial standing--if I had credit--if I were not a stranger-you would not hesitate."
Baron Haussmann neither agreed nor contradicted. He made a polite and deprecatory gesture. Still in doubt, he stared at the piece of white paper. Still deep in thought, he twisted and creased between his fingers the Treaty of London!
Returning with the duchess from supper, Polly caught sight of Sam and, with a happy laugh, ran toward him. Seeing he was not alone, she halted and waved her hand.
"Don't forget!" she called. "At eleven!"
She made a sweet and lovely picture. Sam rose and bowed.
"I'll be there at ten," he answered.
With his mild blue eyes the baron followed Polly until she had disappeared. Then he turned and smiled at Sam.
"Permit me," he said, "to offer you my felicitations. Your young lady is very beautiful and very good." Sam bowed his head. "If she trusts you," murmured the baron, "I think I can trust you too.""How wonderful is credit!" exclaimed Sam. "I was just saying so to my landlady. If you have only cash you spend it and nothing remains. But with credit you can--""How much," interrupted the banker, "do you want for this?"Sam returned briskly to the business of the moment.
"To be your partner," he said--"to get half of what you make out of it."The astonished eyes of the baron were large with wonder. Again he reproved Sam.
"What I shall make out of it?" he demanded incredulously. "Do you know how much I shall make out of it?""I cannot even guess," said Sam; "but I want half."The baron smiled tolerantly.
"And how," he asked, "could you possibly know what I give you is really half?"In his turn, Sam made a deprecatory gesture.
"Your credit," said Sam, "is good!"
That morning, after the walk in St. James's Park, when Sam returned with Polly to Claridge's, they encountered her father in the hall.
Mindful of the affront of the night before, he greeted Sam only with a scowl.
"Senator," cried Sam happily, "you must be the first to hear the news!
Polly and I are going into partnership. We are to be married."This time Senator Seward did not trouble himself even to tell Sam he was an ass. He merely grinned cynically.
"Is that all your news?" he demanded with sarcasm.
"No," said Sam--"I am going into partnership with Baron Haussmann too!"