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第19节

the lion and the unicorn-第19节

小说: the lion and the unicorn 字数: 每页4000字

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came suddenly the sharp report of a saluting gun and the rush of
falling anchor…chains。  There was still a week to pass before the
mail…steamer should arrive; and H。 M。 S。  Partridge had
departed for Nassau。  Besides these ships; no other vessel had
skirted the buoys of the bay in eight long smiling months。  Mr。
Clarges; the secretary; with an effort to appear calm; and the
orderly; suffocated with the news; entered through separate doors
at the same instant。

The secretary filed his report first。  〃A yacht's just anchored
in the bay; Sir Charles;〃 he said。

The orderly's face fell。  He looked aggrieved。  〃An American
yacht;〃 he corrected。

〃And much larger than the Partridge;〃 continued the secretary。

The orderly took a hasty glance back over his shoulder。  〃She has
her launch lowered already; sir;〃 he said。

Outside the whir of the lawn…mower continued undisturbed。  Sir
Charles reached for his marine…glass; and the three men hurried
to the veranda。

〃It looks like a man…of…war;〃 said Sir Charles。  〃No;〃 he added;
adjusting the binocular; 〃she's a yacht。  She flies the New York
Yacht Club pennantnow she's showing the owner's absent pennant。

He must have left in the launch。  He's coming ashore now。〃

〃He seems in a bit of a hurry;〃 growled Mr。 Clarges。

〃Those Americans always〃 murmured Sir Charles from behind the
binocular。  He did not quite know that he enjoyed this sudden
onslaught upon the privacy of his harbor and port。

It was in itself annoying; and he was further annoyed to find
that it could in the least degree disturb his poise。

The launch was growing instantly larger; like an express train
approaching a station at full speed; her flags flew out as flat
as pieces of painted tin; her bits of brass…work flashed like
fire。  Already the ends of the wharves were white with groups of
natives。

〃You might think he was going to ram the town;〃 suggested the
secretary。

〃Oh; I say;〃 he exclaimed; in remonstrance; 〃he's making in for
your private wharf。〃

The Governor was rearranging the focus of the glass with nervous
fingers。  〃I believe;〃 he said; 〃noyesupon my word; there
arethere are ladies in that launch!〃

〃Ladies; sir!〃  The secretary threw a hasty glance at the
binocular; but it was in immediate use。

The clatter of the lawn…mower ceased suddenly; and the relief of
its silence caused the Governor to lower his eyes。  He saw the
lawn…mower lying prostrate on the grass。  The vagrant had
vanished。

There was a sharp tinkle of bells; and the launch slipped up to
the wharf and halted as softly as a bicycle。  A man in a
yachting…suit jumped from her; and making some laughing
speech to the two women in the stern; walked briskly across the
lawn; taking a letter from his pocket as he came。  Sir Charles
awaited him gravely; the occupants of the launch had seen him;
and it was too late to retreat。

〃Sir Charles Greville; I believe;〃 said the yachtsman。  He bowed;
and ran lightly up the steps。  〃I am Mr。 Robert Collier; from New
York;〃 he said。  〃I have a letter to you from your ambassador at
Washington。  If you'll pardon me; I'll present it in person。  I
had meant to leave it; but seeing you〃  He paused; and gave the
letter in his hand to Sir Charles; who waved him towards his
library。

Sir Charles scowled at the letter through his monocle; and then
shook hands with his visitor。  〃I am very glad to see you; Mr。
Collier;〃 he said。  〃He says here you are preparing a book on our
colonies in the West Indies。〃  He tapped the letter with his
monocle。  〃I am sure I shall be most happy to assist you with any
information in my power。〃

〃Well; I am writing a bookyes;〃 Mr。 Collier observed;
doubtfully; 〃but it's a logbook。  This trip I am on pleasure
bent; and I also wish to consult with you on a personal matter。 
However; that can wait。〃  He glanced out of the windows to where
the launch lay in the sun。  〃My wife came ashore with me; Sir
Charles;〃 he said; 〃so that in case there was a Lady Greville;
Mrs。 Collier could call on her; and we could ask if you would
waive etiquette and do us the honor to dine with us to…night on
the yachtthat is; if you are not engaged。〃

Sir Charles smiled。  〃There is no Lady Greville;〃 he said; 〃and I
personally do not think I am engaged elsewhere。〃  He paused in
thought; as though to make quite sure he was not。  〃No;〃 he
added; 〃I have no other engagement。  I will come with pleasure。〃

Sir Charles rose and clapped his hands for the orderly。 
〃Possibly the ladies will come up to the veranda?〃 he asked。  〃I
cannot allow them to remain at the end of my wharf。〃  He turned;
and gave directions to the orderly to bring limes and bottles of
soda and ice; and led the way across the lawn。

Mrs。 Collier and her friend had not explored the grounds of
Government House for over ten minutes before Sir Charles felt
that many years ago he had personally arranged their visit; that
he had known them for even a longer time; and that; now that they
had finally arrived; they must never depart。

To them there was apparently nothing on his domain which did not
thrill with delightful interest。  They were as eager as two
children at a pantomime; and as unconscious。  As a rule; Sir
Charles had found it rather difficult to meet the women of his
colony on a path which they were capable of treading
intelligently。  In fairness to them; he had always sought out
some topic in which they could take an equal partsomething
connected with the conduct of children; or the better ventilation
of the new school…house and chapel。  But these new…comers did not
require him to select topics of conversation; they did not even
wait for him to finish those which he himself introduced。  They
flitted from one end of the garden to the other with the
eagerness of two midshipmen on shore leave; and they found
something to enjoy in what seemed to the Governor the most
commonplace of things。  The Zouave uniform of the sentry; the old
Spanish cannon converted into peaceful gate…posts; the aviary
with its screaming paroquets; the botanical station; and even the
ice…machine were all objects of delight。

On the other hand; the interior of the famous palace; which had
been sent out complete from London; and which was wont to fill
the wives of the colonials with awe or to reduce them to
whispers; for some reason failed of its effect。  But they said
they 〃loved〃 the large gold V。 R。's on the back of the
Councillors' chairs; and they exclaimed aloud over the red
leather despatch…boxes and the great seal of the colony; and the
mysterious envelopes marked 〃On her Majesty's service。〃

〃Isn't it too exciting; Florence?〃 demanded Mrs。 Collier。  〃This
is the table where Sir Charles sits and writes letters' on her
Majesty's service;' and presses these buttons; and war…ships
spring up in perfect shoals。  Oh; Robert;〃 she sighed; 〃I do wish
you had been a Governor!〃

The young lady called Florence stood looking down into the great
arm…chair in front of the Governor's table。

〃May I?〃 she asked。  She slid fearlessly in between the oak arms
of the chair and smiled about her。  Afterwards Sir Charles
remembered her as she appeared at that moment with the red
leather of the chair behind her; with her gloved hands resting on
the carved oak; and her head on one side; smiling up at him。  She
gazed with large eyes at the blue linen envelopes; the stiff
documents in red tape; the tray of black sand; and the goose…
quill pens。

〃I am now the Countess Zika;〃 she announced; 〃no; I am Diana of
the Crossways; and I mean to discover a state secret and sell it
to the Daily Telegraph。  Sir Charles;〃 she demanded; 〃if I
press this electric button is war declared anywhere; or what
happens?〃

〃That second button;〃 said Sir Charles; after deliberate
scrutiny; 〃is the one which communicates with the pantry。〃

The Governor would not consider their returning to the yacht for
luncheon。

〃You might decide to steam away as suddenly as you came;〃 he
said; gallantly; 〃and I cannot take that chance。  This is
Bachelor's Hall; so you must pardon my people if things do not go
very smoothly。〃  He himself led them to the great guest…chamber;
where there had not been a guest for many years; and he noticed;
as though for the first time; that the halls through which they
passed were bare; and that the floor was littered with unpacked
boxes and gun…cases。  He also observed for the first time that
maps of the colony; with the coffee…plantations and mahogany belt
marked in different inks; were not perhaps so decorative as
pictures and mirrors and family portraits。  And he could have
wished that the native servants had not stared so admiringly at
the guests; nor directed each other in such aggressive whispers。 
On those other occasions; when the wives of the Councillors came
to the semi…annual dinners; the native servants had seemed
adequate to all that was required of them。  He recollected with a
flush that in the town these semi…annual dinners were described
as banquets。  He wondered if to these visitors from the
outside world it was all equally provincial。

But their enjoyment was apparently unfeigned and generous。  It
was evident that they 

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