my buried treasure-第7部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


Cairns。

And　then　Marshall　himself　got　me　behind　the　wheel…house；　and　I
thought　he　was　going　to　tell　me　how　good　he　was；　too　I　But　he
didn't。〃

As　though　the　joke　were　on　himself；　the　senator　laughed
appreciatively。

〃Told　me；　instead；　that　Hardy　ought　to　be　a　vice…admiral。〃

Livingstone；　also；　laughed；　with　the　satisfied　air　of　one　who
cannot　be　tricked。

〃They　fixed　it　up　between　them；〃　he　explained；　〃　each　was　to　put　in
a　good　word　for　the　other。〃　He　nodded　eagerly。　〃That's　what　I
think。〃

There　were　moments　during　the　cruise　when　Senator　Hanley　would　have
found　relief　in　dropping　his　host　overboard。　With　mock　deference；
the　older　man　inclined　his　head。

〃That's　what　you　think；　is　it？〃　he　asked。　〃Livingstone；〃　he　added；
〃you　certainly　are　a　great　judge　of　men！〃

The　next　morning；　old　man　Marshall　woke　with　a　lightness　at　his
heart　that　had　been　long　absent。　For　a　moment；　conscious　only　that
he　was　happy；　he　lay　between　sleep　and　waking；　frowning　up　at　his
canopy　of　mosquito　net；　trying　to　realize　what　change　had　come　to
him。　Then　he　remembered。　His　old　friend　had　returned。　New　friends
had　come　into　his　life　and　welcomed　him　kindly。　He　was　no　longer
lonely。　As　eager　as　a　boy；　he　ran　to　the　window。　He　had　not　been
dreaming。　In　the　harbor　lay　the　pretty　yacht；　the　stately；
white…hulled　war…　ship。　The　flag　that　drooped　from　the　stern　of
each　caused　his　throat　to　tighten；　brought　warm　tears　to　his　eyes；
fresh　resolve　to　his　discouraged；　troubled　spirit。　When　he　knelt
beside　his　bed；　his　heart　poured　out　his　thanks　in　gratitude　and
gladness。

While　he　was　dressing；　a　blue…jacket　brought　a　note　from　the
admiral。　It　invited　him　to　tea　on　board　the　war…ship；　with　the
guests　of　the　SERAPIS。　His　old　friend　added　that　he　was　coming　to
lunch　with　his　consul；　and　wanted　time　reserved　for　a　long　talk。
The　consul　agreed　gladly。　He　was　in　holiday　humor。　The　day　promised
to　repeat　the　good　moments　of　the　night　previous。

At　nine　o'clock；　through　the　open　door　of　the　consulate；　Marshall
saw　Aiken；　the　wireless　operator；　signaling　from　the　wharf
excitedly　to　the　yacht；　and　a　boat　leave　the　ship　and　return。
Almost　immediately　the　launch；　carrying　several　passengers；　again
made　the　trip　shoreward。

Half　an　hour　later；　Senator　Hanley；　Miss　Cairns；　and　Livingstone
came　up　the　waterfront；　and　entering　the　consulate；　seated
themselves　around　Marshall's　desk。　Livingstone　was　sunk　in
melancholy。　The　senator；　on。　the　contrary；　was　smiling　broadly。　His
manner　was　one　of　distinct　relief。　He　greeted　the　consul　with
hearty　good…humor。

〃I'm　ordered　home！〃　he　announced　gleefully。　Then；　remembering　the
presence　of　Livingstone；　he　hastened　to　add：　〃I　needn't　say　how
sorry　I　am　to　give　up　my　yachting　trip；　but　orders　are　orders。　The
President；〃　he　explained　to　Marshall；　〃　cables　me　this　morning　to
come　back　and　take　my　coat　off。〃　The　prospect；　as　a　change　from
playing　bridge　on　a　pleasure　boat；　seemed　far　from　depressing　him。

〃Those　filibusters　in　the　Senate；〃　he　continued　genially；　〃are
making　trouble　again。　They　think　they've　got　me　out　of　the　way　for
another　month；　but　they'll　find　they're　wrong。　When　that　bill　comes
up；　they'll　find　me　at　the　old　stand　and　ready　for　business！〃
Marshall　did　not　attempt　to　conceal　his　personal　disappointment。

〃I　am　so　sorry　you　are　leaving；〃　he　said；　〃selfishly　sorry；　I　mean。
I'd　hoped　you　all　would　be　here　for　several　days。〃　He　looked
inquiringly　toward　Livingstone。

〃I　understood　the　SERAPIS　was　disabled；〃　he　explained。

〃She　is；〃　answered　Hanley。　〃So's　the　RALEIGH。　At　a　pinch；　the
admiral　might　have　stretched　the　regulations　and　carried　me　to
Jamaica；　but　the　RALEIGH's　engines　are　knocked　about　too。　I've　GOT
to　reach　Kingston　Thursday。　The　German　boat　leaves　there　Thursday
for　New　York。　At　first　it　looked　as　though　I　couldn't　do　it；　but　we
find　that　the　Royal　Mail　is　due　to…　day；　and　she　can　get　to
Kingston　Wednesday　night。　It's　a　great　piece　of　luck。　I　wouldn't
bother　you　with　my　troubles；　〃the　senator　explained　pleasantly；
〃but　the　agent　of　the　Royal　Mail　here　won't　sell　me　a　ticket　until
you've　put　your　seal　to　this。〃　He　extended　a　piece　of　printed
paper。

As　Hanley　had　been　talking；　the　face　of　the　consul　had　grown　grave。
He　accepted　the　paper；　but　did　not　look　at　it。　Instead；　he　regarded
the　senator　with　troubled　eyes。　When　he　spoke；　his　tone　was　one　of
genuine　concern。

〃It　is　most　unfortunate；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　am　afraid　the　ROYAL　MAIL
will　not　take　you　on　board。　Because　of　Las　Bocas；〃　he　explained。
〃If　we　had　only　known！〃　he　added　remorsefully。　〃It　is　MOST
unfortunate。〃

〃Because　of　Las　Bocas？〃　echoed　Hanley。

〃You　don't　mean　they'll　refuse　to　take　me　to　Jamaica　because　I
spent　half　an　hour　at　the　end　of　a　wharf　listening　to　a　squeaky
gramophone？〃

〃The　trouble；〃　explained　Marshall；　〃is　this：　if　they　carried　you；
all　the　other　passengers　would　be　held　in　quarantine　for　ten　days；
and　there　are　fines　to　pay；　and　there　would　be　difficulties　over
the　mails。　But；〃　he　added　hopefully；　〃maybe　the　regulations　have
been　altered。　I　will　see　her　captain；　and　tell　him〃

〃See　her　captain！〃　objected　Hanley。　〃Why　see　the　captain？　He
doesn't　know　I've　been　to　that　place。　Why　tell　him？　All　I　need　is
a　clean　bill　of　health　from　you。　That's　all　HE　wants。　You　have　only
to　sign　that　paper。〃　Marshall　regarded　the　senator　with　surprise。

〃But　I　can't；〃　he　said。

〃You　can't？　Why　not？〃

〃Because　it　certifies　to　the　fact　that　you　have　not　visited　Las
Bocas。　Unfortunately；　you　have　visited　Las　Bocas。〃

The　senator　had　been　walking　up　and　down　the　room。　Now　he　seated
himself；　and　stared　at　Marshall　curiously。

〃It's　like　this；　Mr。　Marshall；〃　he　began　quietly。　〃The　President
desires　my　presence　in　Washington；　thinks　I　can　be　of　some　use　to
him　there　in　helping　carry　out　certain　party　measuresmeasures　to
which　he　pledged　himself　before　his　election。　Down　here；　a　British
steamship　line　has　laid　down　local　rules　which；　in　my　case　anyway；
are　ridiculous。　The　question　is；　are　you　going　to　be　bound　by　the
red　tape　of　a　ha'penny　British　colony；　or　by　your　oath　to　the
President　of　the　United　States？〃

The　sophistry　amused　Marshall。　He　smiled　good…naturedly　and　shook
his　head。

〃I'm　afraid；　Senator；〃　he　said；　〃that　way　of　putting　it　is　hardly
fair。　Unfortunately；　the　question　is　one　of　fact。　I　will　explain　to
the　captain〃

〃You　will　explain　nothing　to　the　captain！〃　interrupted　Hanley。
〃This　is　a　matter　which　concerns　no　one　but　our　two　selves。　I　am
not　asking　favors　of　steamboat　captains。　I　am　asking　an　American
consul　to　assist　an　American　citizen　in　trouble；　and；　〃he　added；
with　heavy　sarcasm；　〃incidentally；　to　carry　out　the　wishes　of　his
President。〃

Marshall　regarded　the　senator　with　an　expression　of　both　surprise
and　disbelief。

〃Are　you　asking　me　to　put　my　name　to　what　is　not　so？〃　he　said。　〃Are
you　serious？〃

〃That　paper；　Mr。　Marshall；〃　returned　Hanley　steadily；　〃is　a　mere
form；　a　piece　of　red　tape。　There's　no　more　danger　of　my　carrying
the　plague　to　Jamaica　than　of　my　carrying　a　dynamite　bomb。　You　KNOW
that。〃

〃I　DO　know　that；〃　assented　Marshall　heartily。〃I　appreciate　your
position；　and　I　regret　it　exceedingly。　You　are　the　innocent　victim
of　a　regulation　which　is　a　wise　regulation；　but　which　is　most
unfair　to　you。　My　own　position；〃　he　added；　〃is　not　important；　but
you　can　believe　me；　it　is　not　easy。　It　is　certainly　no　pleasure　for
me　to　be　unable　to　help　you。〃

Hanley　was　leaning　forward；　his　hands　on　his　knees；　his　eyes
watching　Marshall　closely。　〃Then　you　refuse？〃　he　said。　〃Why？〃

Marshall　regarded　the　senator　steadily。　His　manner　was　untroubled。
The　look　he　turned　upon　Hanley　was　one　of　grave　disapproval。

〃You　know　why；〃　he　answered　quietly。　〃It　is　impossible。〃

In　sudden　anger　Hanley　rose。　Marshall；　who　had　been　seated　behind
his　desk；　also　rose。　For　a　moment；　in　silence；　the　two　men
confronted　each　other。　Then　Hanley　spoke；　his　tone　was　harsh　and
threatening。

〃Then　I　am　to　understand；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃that　you　refuse　to　carry
out　the　wishes　of　a　United　States　Senator　and　of　the　President　of
the　United　States？〃

In　front　of　Marshall；　on　his　desk；　was　the　little　iron　stamp　of　the
consulate。　Protectingly；　almost　caressingly；　he　laid　his　hand　upon
it。

〃I　refuse；〃　he　corrected；　〃to　place　the　seal　of　this　consulate　on
a　lie。〃

There　was　a　moment's　pause。　Miss　Cairns；　unwilling　to　remain；　and
unable　to　withdraw；　clasped　her　hands　unhappily　and　stared　at　the
floor。　Livingstone　exclaimed　in　indignant　protest。　Hanley　moved　a
step　nearer　and；　to　emphasize　what　he　said；　tapped　his　knuckles　on
the　desk。　With　the　air　of　one　confident　of　his　advantage；　he　spoke
slowly　and　softly。

〃Do　you　appreciate；〃　he　asked；　〃that；　while　you　may　be　of　some
importance　down　here　in　this　fever　swamp；　in　Washington　I　am
supposed　to　carry　some　weight？　Do　you　appreciate　that　I　am　a
senator　from　a　State　that　numbers　four　millions　of　people；　and　that
you　are　preventing　me　from　serving　those　people？〃
　Marshall　inclined　his　head　gravely　and　politely。
　〃And　I　want　you　to　appreciate；〃　he　said；　〃that　while　I　have　no
weight　at　Washington；　in　this　fever　swamp　I　have　the　honor　to
represent　eighty　millions　of　people；　and　as　long　as　that　consular
sign　is　over　my　door　I　don't　intend　to　prostitute　it　for　YOU；　or
the　President　of　the　United　States；　or　any　one　of　those　eighty
millions。〃


Of　the　two　men；　the　first　to　lower　his　eyes　was　Hanley。　He　laughed
shortly；　and　walked　to　the　door。　There　he　turned；　and
indifferently；　as　though　the　incident　no　longer　interested　him；
drew　out　his　watch。

〃Mr。　Marshall；〃　he　said；　〃if　the　cable　is　working；　I'll　take　your
tin　sign　away　from　you　by　sunset。〃

For　one　of　Marshall's　traditions；　to　such　a　speech　there　was　no
answer　save　silence。　He　bowed；　and；　apparently　serene　and
undismayed；　resumed　his　seat。　From　the　contest；　judging　from　the
manner　of　each；　it　was　Marshall；　not　Hanley；　who　had　emerged
victorious。

But　Miss　Cairns　was　not　deceived。　Under　the　unexpected　blow；
Marshall　had　turned　older。　His　clear　blue　eyes　had　grown　less
alert；　his　broad　shoulders　seemed　to　stoop。　In　sympathy；　her　own
eyes　filled　with　sudden　tears。

〃What　will　y