the consul-第4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！


〃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　you　do？〃　she　whispered。

〃I　don't　know　what　I　shall　do；〃　said　Marshall　simply。　〃I　should
have　liked　to　have　resigned。　It's　a　prettier　finish。　After　forty
yearsto　be　dismissed　by　cable　isit's　a　poor　way　of　ending　it。〃

Miss　Cairns　rose　and　walked　to　the　door。　There　she　turned　and
looked　back。

〃I　am　sorry；〃　she　said。　And　both　understood　that　in　saying　no　more
than　that　she　had　best　shown　her　sympathy。

An　hour　later　the　sympathy　of　Admiral　Hardy　was　expressed　more
directly。

〃If　he　comes　on　board　my　ship；〃　roared　that　gentleman；　〃I'll　push
him　down　an　ammunition　hoist　and　break　his　damned　neck！〃

Marshall　laughed　delightedly。　The　loyalty　of　his　old　friend　was
never　so　welcome。

〃You'll　treat　him　with　every　courtesy；〃　he　said。　〃The　only
satisfaction　he　gets　out　of　this　is　to　see　that　he　has　hurt　me。　We
will　not　give　him　that　satisfaction。〃

But　Marshall　found　that　to　conceal　his　wound　was　more　difficult
than　he　had　anticipated。　When；　at　tea　time；　on　the　deck　of　the
war…ship；　he　again　met　Senator　Hanley　and　the　guests　of　the
SERAPIS；　he　could　not　forget　that　his　career　had　come　to　an　end。
There　was　much　to　remind　him　that　this　was　so。　He　was　made　aware　of
it　by　the　sad；　sympathetic　glances　of　the　women；　by　their　tactful
courtesies；　by　the　fact　that　Livingstone；　anxious　to　propitiate
Hanley；　treated　him　rudely；　by　the　sight　of　the　young　officers；
each　just　starting　upon　a　career　of　honor；　and　possible　glory；　as
his　career　ended　in　humiliation；　and　by　the　big　war…ship　herself；
that　recalled　certain　crises　when　he　had　only　to　press　a　button　and
war…ships　had　come　at　his　bidding。

At　five　o'clock　there　was　an　awkward　moment。　The　Royal　Mail　boat；
having　taken　on　her　cargo；　passed　out　of　the　harbor　on　her　way　to
Jamaica；　and　dipped　her　colors。　Senator　Hanley；　abandoned　to　his
fate；　observed　her　departure　in　silence。

Livingstone；　hovering　at　his　side；　asked　sympathetically：　〃Have
they　answered　your　cable；　sir？〃　〃They　have；〃　said　Hanley　gruffly。

〃Was　itwas　it　satisfactory？〃　pursued　the　diplomat。　〃It　WAS；〃　said
the　senator；　with　emphasis。

Far　from　discouraged；　Livingstone　continued　his　inquiries。

〃And　when；〃　he　asked　eagerly；　〃are　you　going　to　tell　him？〃

〃Now！〃　said　the　senator。

The　guests　were　leaving　the　ship。　When　all　were　seated　in　the
admiral's　steam　launch；　the　admiral　descended　the　accommodation
ladder　and　himself　picked　up　the　tiller　ropes。

〃Mr。　Marshall；〃　he　called；　〃when　I　bring　the　launch　broadside　to
the　ship　and　stop　her；　you　will　stand　ready　to　receive　the　consul's
salute。〃

Involuntarily；　Marshall　uttered　an　exclamation　of　protest。　He　had
forgotten　that　on　leaving　the　war…ship；　as　consul；　he　was　entitled
to　seven　guns。　Had　he　remembered；　he　would　have　insisted　that　the
ceremony　be　omitted。　He　knew　that　the　admiral　wished　to　show　his
loyalty；　knew　that　his　old　friend　was　now　paying　him　this　honor
only　as　a　rebuke　to　Hanley。　But　the　ceremony　was　no　longer　an
honor。　Hanley　had　made　of　it　a　mockery。　It　served　only　to　emphasize
what　had　been　taken　from　him。　But；　without　a　scene；　it　now　was　too
late　to　avoid　it。　The　first　of　the　seven　guns　had　roared　from　the
bow；　and；　as　often　he　had　stood　before；　as　never　he　would　so　stand
again；　Marshall　took　his　place　at　the　gangway　of　the　launch。　His
eyes　were　fixed　on　the　flag；　his　gray　head　was　uncovered；　his　hat
was　pressed　above　his　heart。

For　the　first　time　since　Hanley　had　left　the　consulate；　he　fell
into　sudden　terror　lest　he　might　give　way　to　his　emotions。
Indignant　at　the　thought；　he　held　himself　erect。　His　face　was　set
like　a　mask；　his　eyes　were　untroubled。　He　was　determined　they
should　not　see　that　he　was　suffering。

Another　gun　spat　out　a　burst　of　white　smoke；　a　stab　of　flame。　There
was　an　echoing　roar。　Another　and　another　followed。　Marshall　counted
seven；　and　then；　with　a　bow　to　the　admiral；　backed　from　the
gangway。

And　then　another　gun　shattered　the　hot；　heavy　silence。　Marshall；
confused；　embarrassed；　assuming　he　had　counted　wrong；　hastily
returned　to　his　place。　But　again　before　he　could　leave　it；　in
savage　haste　a　ninth　gun　roared　out　its　greeting。　He　could　not
still　be　mistaken。　He　turned　appealingly　to　his　friend。　The　eyes　of
the　admiral　were　fixed　upon　the　war…ship。　Again　a　gun　shattered　the
silence。　Was　it　a　jest？　Were　they　laughing　at　him？　Marshall　flushed
miserably。　He　gave　a　swift　glance　toward　the　others。　They　were
smiling。　Then　it　was　a　jest。　Behind　his　back；　something　of　which
they　all　were　cognizant　was　going　forward。　The　face　of　Livingstone
a