the cruise of the jasper b.-第36部分

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promise　you　this：　if　I　should　change　my　mind　and　decide　to　become

a　member　of　any　aristocracy　at　all；　it　will　be　the　English

aristocracy。〃



The　Duke　thanked　Cleggett　for　the　compliment；　and　Cleggett

thought　he　had　heard　the　end　of　it。



He　was；　therefore；　surprised；　a　few　weeks　later；　as　he　was

conversing　with　the　King　at　Buckingham　Palace；　when　His　Majesty

himself；　laying　his　hand　familiarly　on　Cleggett's　shoulder；

renewed　the　petition　in　person。　　It　is　hard　to　refuse　things

continually　without　seeming　unappreciative。　　In　fact；　Cleggett

felt　trapped；　if　the　truth　must　be　known；　he　was　a　little　angry。



〃Come；　come；　Cleggett；〃　said　the　King；　〃lay　aside　your　prejudices

and　oblige　me。　　After　all；　it　is　not　the　sort　of　thing　I　run

about　offering　to　every　American　in　London！〃



〃Your　Majesty；〃　said　Cleggett；　politely　but　with　a　note　of

firmness　and　finality　in　his　voice；　〃since　you　mention　the　word

American　you　force　me　to　speak　plainly。　　I　would　not　willingly

wound　your　sensibilities　in　any　particular；　butpardon　me　if　I

am　directyou　have　been　very　persistent。　　I　AM　an　American；　your

Majesty；　and　I　consider　the　honor　of　being　an　American　citizen

far　above　any　that　it　is　within　your　power　to　bestow。　　If　I　have

not　mentioned　this　before；　it　was　because　I　did　not　wish　to　hurt

you。　　I　hope　our　friendship　will　not　cease；　but　I　must　tell　you

flatly　that　I　desire　to　hear　no　more　of　this。　　You　will　oblige　me

by　not　mentioning　it　again；　Your　Majesty。〃



The　King　begged　Cleggett's　pardon　with　a　becoming　sincerity；　and

was　about　to　withdraw。　　Cleggett；　who　liked　him　immensely；　was

sudden　smitten　with　a　regret　that　it　had　been　so　impossible　to

oblige　him。



〃Your　Majesty；〃　he　cried　impulsively；　〃I　BEG　of　you　not　to　get

the　idea　that　there　is　anything　personal　in　this　refusal。〃



〃I　respect　principle；〃　said　the　King　gravely。　　But　he　WAS　hurt

and　could　not　help　showing　it；　and　he　was　a　little　stiff。



〃We　will　compromise；〃　said　Cleggett；　with　a　flash　of　inspiration。



〃I　will　let　you　have　my　second　son；　Athos　Cleggett。　　You　may　make

him　Earl　of　Claiborne；　if　you　choose。　　After　all；　HE　is　half

English！〃



〃That　is　like　your　generosity；　Cleggett；〃　said　the　King；　smiling；

and　giving　Cleggett　his　hand。











End