The Titanic Plan (50 page)

“
No Catholic is to commit such an act,” del Valle stated.

“
But for a soldier,” Archie answered firmly, “under the right circumstances, it is the only act to commit. To die with purpose and honor is noble.”

“
I must disagree with you, Major.”

“
Of course you must, your Eminence. You are a priest.”

“
And you are a soldier.”

“
That I am,” Archie said, as if reminding himself of that fact. “I am a soldier.”

CHAPTER 54

G
eorge Vanderbilt sensed that something was not right. He was dining with John Astor in the drawing room of Astor’s penthouse suite. Astor looked healthy enough – his face had color and his eyes were clear. He was not the quivering ghost of a man Vanderbilt met at the
Grand Central Terminal
several months earlier. Still, something was not right. “I take it your trip to Rome was comfortable,” Astor asked stiffly while taking a sip of his white wine.

“
Very comfortable. Thank you for asking, John.” Vanderbilt sipped his own wine. “I believe Guggenheim will be arriving today,” Vanderbilt said, trying to veer the conversation to the business at hand.

“
Is he bringing that singer with him? She’ll be a distraction.”

“
You have Madeleine with you,” Vanderbilt said casually.

But Astor didn’t take it casually at all. “Are you comparing Madeleine to some whore Guggenheim picked up in a dance hall?”

“
Not at all, John. I’m just saying several men are traveling with their wives.”

“
Or mistresses,” Astor interjected with a sneer.

“
You shouldn’t be so cynical,” Vanderbilt said, trying to lighten the mood. “I know for a fact that Isador Straus is not with a mistress. He’s with his wife Ida and they’ve been together for almost fifty years.” Vanderbilt raised his wine glass to sooth Astor’s sourness. “May you and Madeleine enjoy the same love and marital bliss the Straus’ have had for all these long years.”

“
They’re Jews. Jews stay married even if they hate each other.”

“
But Isador and Ida adore each other,” Vanderbilt said. “Like you and Madeleine.”

“
Yes,” Astor said. “In fact, I adore Madeleine more than ever.”

“
Of course you do. She’s your bride and you’re devoted to her.”

“
Especially now, since she is carrying my child.”

Vanderbilt suppressed a surprised gasp and wondered why Astor was so indifferent delivering such happy news. “John, that’s wonderful. Congratulations, you’re going to be a father again.”

“
Yes,” Astor said. “And because of Madeleine’s condition and her delicate constitution, we have decided to return to America.”

“
That makes all the sense in the world.”

“
Immediately.”

Vanderbilt held his tongue, sensing that this could be the source of Astor’s sourness. “What do you mean, ‘immediately?’”

“
Tomorrow. The next day. As soon as possible.”

“
But John, you can’t. We’ve set up this meeting.”

“
Don’t tell me I can’t!” Astor barked. “We’ll just have to set it up for some other time.”

Vanderbilt grabbed the edge of his chair’s armrests and squeezed them to squelch his anger. “Jack,” he started tautly, “we’ve invited some of the most prominent men in America to come all the way to Rome to join us in our project and you’re going to tell them the meeting is off because your pregnant little wife can’t remain another week?”

Astor’s face flushed red. He tilted his head back and looked down at Vanderbilt. “No, dear boy,” Astor said, his nostrils flaring. “
You’re
going to tell them.”

Vanderbilt shot up from his chair and hovered over Astor. “You can’t…”

“
Of course I can,” Astor cut him off, and then began speaking to Vanderbilt like a master speaking to a servant. “This is
my
project. It started with me. I designed it. I can do anything I want. And if you believe that I give a fig about any of those other men, remember, I am the richest of them all. I don’t need this project, I don’t need those men and I certainly don’t need the money. Not like you, George. You think I don’t know? You’re desperate for this project to happen because you need money. Without it you’re broke. Well, the careless managing of your finances is not my concern. Considering the way you talked about Madeleine, I should cut you out right now so you can’t sponge off me any longer.” Astor took a slice of salami from an antipasti tray and chewed it slowly. The spewing of vitriol seemed to calm him. “But I won’t, George, I won’t cut you off. I do like this project very much so I’m going to be generous with you. I’m going to allow you to resolve things. And if you can solve this little difficulty, well then, you deserve the money that will come to you. So, take care of it, George, and let me know that everything has been worked out. Now, if you don’t mind, I have to attend to Madeleine. I believe you have some phone calls to make.” Astor daintily wiped his hands with a napkin then rose and stepped out of the drawing room, leaving Vanderbilt standing in the middle of the room, alone.

Vanderbilt stalked out of Astor’s suite, fuming. He wanted to scream and needed to vent his frustration to someone who could understand his rage. He tromped up one flight of stairs to the fifth floor and marched to a door at the end of the hallway. He rapped hard with his knuckles. Nothing. He banged again, more out of frustration than anything else. Just as he was about to turn away, a voice rumbled from behind the door, “Who is it?”

“
George Vanderbilt,” he said, trying to regain his poise.

There was some shuffling on the other side then the lock unlatched and the door swung open. Standing in the doorway was J. Pierpont Morgan, clad only in a loose terrycloth robe that revealed more than an ample bit of Morgan’s cascading flesh.

“
I disturbed you,” Vanderbilt said. “I’ll come back another time.”

Morgan noticed Vanderbilt’s agitated state. “Nonsense. Come on in, George.” Morgan took Vanderbilt’s arm and led him into the sitting room. It had a view over all of Rome, which was still engulfed in a miasma of lingering haze. “Have a seat,” Morgan said, pulling up a chair opposite Vanderbilt. “What’s on your mind?”

“
Astor,” Vanderbilt blurted. “You were right, Mr. Morgan. He’s simply impossible. An unremitting, unreliable, excuse the expression, jackass. He’s lazy, he’s autocratic, and ever since that spoiled little teenage brat has become his wife, he doesn’t care about anything or anyone else. He’s become her lapdog. And now she’s pregnant and insists they return to the States immediately.”

“
Don’t say I didn’t warn you. The fact that he’s distracted might not be a bad thing. It will give you more opportunity to run the meeting.”

“
He wants to cancel the meeting! They want to be on the first ship home and damn us all! It doesn’t matter that we invited all those gentlemen to Rome. He’s going to turn around and abandon them. And he asked me to clean up the mess. He wants me to somehow make things right when nothing is right! I’m done. I’m going to call the whole thing off.”

Morgan stroked his chin calmly. “Calling the whole thing off now is a little extreme, don’t you think? Especially considering how far you’ve taken it.”

“
I don’t see any other choice. I can’t work with Astor any longer.”

“
But I like your project, George. I believe everything you’ve said about it is true – it will revitalize business and is the most important project of the 20th Century. I believe your plan could accomplish everything you’ve set out for it.”

“
Not with Astor.”

“
Who says Astor has to be involved?”

“
It’s his project. He won’t relinquish control.”

Morgan’s eyes narrowed. “Things change,” Morgan said in a soft, steely voice. “That’s the nature of business. Things change.” Morgan tugged his robe closed around his belly, shut his eyes and leaned back in the chair. His mouth dropped open and he became lost in thought. A minute went by. Then two. Morgan didn’t move a muscle. Vanderbilt began wondering if Morgan hadn’t died right in the middle of their conversation. But just then Morgan rubbed his pitted nose. “I have an idea...” Morgan said, still looking up at the ceiling “…an idea that can solve all of the problems. And it’s perfect. Absolutely perfect.” He leveled his head. His blue eyes were ablaze. “Do you understand, George?”

“
I’m not sure I do, Mr. Morgan.”

“
Of course not,” Morgan smiled. “What if I told you that the unions had agreed to allow this project to go forward if certain amenities were given to them? Hmmm? What would you say?”

“
I’d say that would be a major development, Mr. Morgan.”

“
Yes, it is a major development. And now Astor wants to subvert everything and that’s the best thing that could have happened. It’s as if the planets were struggling to align and Astor, by acting in a selfish, stupid way, is nudging everything into place. It’s all crystal clear,” Morgan asserted, his voice strong and steady. It was the voice of a banker, but filled with something different – there was a spark of zealous inspiration behind it. Vanderbilt had never seen Morgan so fired with passion. “It’s been like this throughout my life, George. Divergent things fall into place and a clear path is revealed. I’m a religious man. I believe in God and he has often shown me a way even when there was no apparent way perceptible. Now God is showing me a way with this project. And when the Lord directs me to take a certain road, to carry through with certain actions, I don’t ask questions, I just follow his orders. And I believe he is directing me – directing us – to put our country on solid footing with we businessmen leading the way. Astor’s belligerence will allow us to remove the excess debris so there is a clear path for us to succeed. Are you onboard with me, George?”

“
Of course I am, Mr. Morgan,” Vanderbilt said, unsure what he was onboard to.

“
It’s a big step we’ll be taking,” Morgan said. “But a necessary one if this project is to succeed. So…” Morgan tapped his fingers on his armrest, “…we must have that meeting and it must take place with the men who have traveled here.”

“
What about Astor?”

“
Him, too. He must not only be there, but he has to be in charge.” Morgan smiled a strange, enigmatic smile. “That’s what he really wants, right?”

* * *

“
Hello?” Archie said, answering the phone in his room.

“
Major Butt. It’s George Vanderbilt. How are you?”

“
I’m well. Thank you, Mr. Vanderbilt.”

“
I read in the newspapers that you have already arrived in Rome.”

“
Yes, some 10 days ago. I was going to get in touch with you or Mr. Astor about the details for that meeting.”

“
That’s why I’m calling,” Vanderbilt said. “A complication has risen. John Astor’s wife is with child.”

“
That’s wonderful. Congratulations are in order for Colonel Astor.”

“
Yes, but this happy news has necessitated a change in plans. It seems it’s imperative that Astor’s wife return to the United States immediately for health reasons and Astor feels it’s necessary that he return with her. That complicates our plans for the meeting we are to begin next week.”

“
Yes, it would seem to throw a wrench into things if Astor has to return home.”

“
Fortunately, Mr. Morgan has come up with a solution that we hope could satisfy everyone’s needs. It would necessitate some changes in travel plans though.”

“
Do tell, Mr. Vanderbilt.”

“
Well…Mr. Morgan has proposed that we move the meeting to his White Star ship that sails for America next week. Mr. Morgan says it will give us the seclusion needed for the meetings and allow us to focus on the work. Anyway, Mr. Morgan has been gracious enough to make sure there are staterooms available for all of us so that we could do business in the most comfortable circumstances. Most everyone I’ve informed has said they will make it. I would hope you would be able to be onboard with us.”