my buried treasure(我的地下宝藏)-第7节
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With him； among other distinguished persons； was the all… powerful
Hanley。 The kidnapping of Hanley for the cruise； in itself； demonstrated
the ability of Livingstone as a diplomat。 It was the opinion of many that it
would surely lead to his appointment as a minister plenipotentiary。
Livingstone was of the same opinion。 He had not lived long in the nation's
capital without observing the value of propinquity。 How many men he
knew were now paymasters； and secretaries of legation； solely because
those high in the government met them daily at the Metropolitan Club； and
preferred them in almost any other place。 And if； after three weeks as his
guest on board what the newspapers called his floating palace； the senator
could refuse him even the prize； legation of Europe； there was no value in
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modest merit。 As yet； Livingstone had not hinted at his ambition。 There
was no need。 To a statesman of Hanley's astuteness； the largeness of
Livingstone's contribution to the campaign fund was self… explanatory。
After her wrestling…match with the hurricane； all those on board the
SERAPIS seemed to find in land； even in the swamp land of Porto Banos；
a compelling attraction。 Before the anchors hit the water； they were in the
launch。 On reaching shore； they made at once for the consulate。 There
were many cables they wished to start on their way by wireless； cables to
friends； to newspapers； to the government。
Jose； the Colombian clerk； appalled by the unprecedented invasion of
visitors； of visitors so distinguished； and Marshall； grateful for a chance to
serve his fellow… countrymen； and especially his countrywomen； were
ubiquitous； eager； indispensable。 At Jose's desk the great senator； rolling
his cigar between his teeth； was using； to Jose's ecstasy； Jose's own pen to
write a reassuring message to the White House。 At the consul's desk a
beautiful creature； all in lace and pearls； was struggling to compress the
very low opinion she held of a hurricane into ten words。 On his knee；
Henry Cairns； the banker； was inditing instructions to his Wall Street
office； and upon himself Livingstone had taken the responsibility of
replying to the inquiries heaped upon Marshall's desk； from many
newspapers。
It was just before sunset； and Marshall produced his tea things； and the
young person in pearls and lace； who was Miss Cairns； made tea for the
women； and the men mixed gin and limes with tepid water。 The consul
apologized for proposing a toast in which they could not join。 He begged
to drink to those who had escaped the perils of the sea。 Had they been his
oldest and nearest friends； his little speech could not have been more
heart…felt and sincere。 To his distress； it moved one of the ladies to tears；
and in embarrassment he turned to the men。
〃I regret there is no ice；〃 he said； 〃but you know the rule of the tropics；
as soon as a ship enters port； the ice… machine bursts。〃
〃I'll tell the steward to send you some； sir；〃 said Livingstone； 〃and as
long as we're here。〃
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The senator showed his concern。
〃As long as we're here？〃 he gasped。
〃Not over two days；〃 answered the owner nervously。 〃The chief says it
will take all of that to get her in shape。 As you ought to know； Senator； she
was pretty badly mauled。〃
The senator gazed blankly out of the window。 Beyond it lay the naked
coral reefs； the empty sky； and the ragged palms of Porto Banos。
Livingstone felt that his legation was slipping from him。
〃That wireless operator；〃 he continued hastily； 〃tells me there is a most
amusing place a few miles down the coast； Las Bocas； a sort of Coney
Island； where the government people go for the summer。 There's surf
bathing and roulette and cafes chantants。 He says there's some Spanish
dancers〃
The guests of the SERAPIS exclaimed with interest； the senator
smiled。 To Marshall the general enthusiasm over the thought of a ride on a
merry…go…round suggested that the friends of Mr。 Livingstone had found
their own society far from satisfying。
Greatly encouraged； Livingstone continued； with enthusiasm：
〃And that wireless man said；〃 he added； 〃that with the launch we can
get there in half an hour。 We might run down after dinner。〃 He turned to
Marshall。
〃Will you join us； Mr。 Consul？〃 he asked； 〃and dine with us； first？〃
Marshall accepted with genuine pleasure。 It had been many months
since he had sat at table with his own people。 But he shook his head
doubtfully。
〃I was wondering about Las Bocas；〃 he explained； 〃if your going there
might not get you in trouble at the next port。 With a yacht； I think it is
different； but Las Bocas is under quarantine〃
There was a chorus of exclamations。
〃It's not serious；〃 Marshall explained。 〃There was bubonic plague there；
or something like it。 You would be in no danger from that。 It is only that
you might be held up by the regulations。 Passenger steamers can't land any
one who has been there at any other port of the
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West Indies。 The English are especially strict。 The Royal Mail won't
even receive any one on board here without a certificate from the English
consul saying he has not visited Las Bocas。 For an American they would
require the same guarantee from me。 But I don't think the regulations
extend to yachts。 I will inquire。 I don't wish to deprive you of any of the
many pleasures of Porto Banos；〃 he added； smiling； 〃but if you were
refused a landing at your next port I would blame myself。〃
〃It's all right；〃 declared Livingstone decidedly。 〃It's just as you say；
yachts and warships are exempt。 Besides； I carry my own doctor； and if he
won't give us a clean bill of health； I'll make him walk the plank。 At eight；
then； at dinner。 I'll send the cutter for you。 I can't give you a salute； Mr。
Consul； but you shall have all the side boys I can muster。〃
Those from the yacht parted from their consul in the most friendly
spirit。
〃I think he's charming！〃 exclaimed Miss Cairns。 〃And did you notice
his novels？ They were in every language。 It must be terribly lonely down
here； for a man like that。〃
〃He's the first of our consuls we've met on this trip；〃 growled her
father； 〃that we've caught sober。〃
〃Sober！〃 exclaimed his wife indignantly。
〃He's one of the Marshalls of Vermont。 I asked him。〃
〃I wonder；〃 mused Hanley； 〃how much the place is worth？ Hamilton；
one of the new senators； has been deviling the life out of me to send his
son somewhere。 Says if he stays in Washington he'll disgrace the family。 I
should think this place would drive any man to drink himself to death in
three months； and young Hamilton； from what I've seen of him； ought to
be able to do it in a week。 That would leave the place open for the next
man。〃
〃There's a postmaster in my State thinks he carried it。〃 The senator
smiled grimly。 〃He has consumption； and wants us to give him a
consulship in the tropics。 I'll tell him I've seen Porto Banos； and that it's
just the place for him。〃
The senator's pleasantry was not well received。 But Miss Cairns alone
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had the temerity to speak of what the others were thinking。
〃What would become of Mr。 Marshall？〃 she asked。 The senator smiled
tolerantly。
〃I don't know that I was thinking of Mr。 Marshall；〃 he said。 〃I can't
recall anything he has done for this administration。 You see； Miss Cairns；〃
he explained； in the tone of one addressing a small child； 〃Marshall has
been abroad now for forty years； at the expense of the taxpayers。 Some of
us think men who have lived that long on their fellow…countrymen had
better come home and get to work。〃
Livingstone nodded solemnly in assent。 He did not wish a post abroad
at the expense of the taxpayers。 He was willing t
