my buried treasure(我的地下宝藏)-第8节
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at the expense of the taxpayers。 He was willing to pay for it。 And then；
with 〃ex…Minister〃 on his visiting cards； and a sense of duty well
performed； for the rest of his life he could join the other expatriates in
Paris。
Just before dinner； the cruiser RALEIGH having discovered the
whereabouts of the SERAPIS by wireless； entered the harbor； and Admiral
Hardy came to the yacht to call upon the senator； in whose behalf he had
been scouring the Caribbean Seas。 Having paid his respects to that
personage； the admiral fell boisterously upon Marshall。
The two old gentlemen were friends of many years。 They had met；
officially and unofficially； in many strange parts of the world。 To each the
chance reunion was a piece of tremendous good fortune。 And throughout
dinner the guests of Livingstone； already bored with each other； found in
them and their talk of former days new and delightful entertainment。 So
much so that when； Marshall having assured them that the local quarantine
regulations did not extend to a yacht； the men departed for Las Bocas； the
women insisted that he and admiral remain behind。
It was for Marshall a wondrous evening。 To foregather with his old
friend whom he had known since Hardy was a mad midshipman； to sit at
the feet of his own charming countrywomen； to listen to their soft；
modulated laughter； to note how quickly they saw that to him the evening
was a great event； and with what tact each contributed to make it the more
memorable； all served to wipe out the months of bitter loneliness； the
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MY BURIED TREASURE
stigma of failure； the sense of undeserved neglect。 In the moonlight； on the
cool quarter… deck； they sat； in a half…circle； each of the two friends telling
tales out of school； tales of which the other was the hero or the victim；
〃inside〃 stories of great occasions； ceremonies； bombardments；
unrecorded 〃shirt…sleeve〃 diplomacy。
Hardy had helped to open the Suez Canal。 Marshall had assisted the
Queen of Madagascar to escape from the French invaders。 On the Barbary
Coast Hardy had chased pirates。 In Edinburgh Marshall had played chess
with Carlyle。 He had seen Paris in mourning in the days of the siege； Paris
in terror in the days of the Commune； he had known Garibaldi； Gambetta；
the younger Dumas； the creator of Pickwick。
〃Do you remember that time in Tangier；〃 the admiral urged； when I
was a midshipman； and got into the bashaw's harem？〃
〃Do you remember how I got you out？ Marshall replied grimly。
〃And；〃 demanded Hardy； 〃do you remember when Adelina Patti paid a
visit to the KEARSARGE at Marseilles in '65George Dewey was our
second officerand you were bowing and backing away from her； and you
backed into an open hatch； and she said 'my French isn't up to it' what was
it she said？〃
〃I didn't hear it；〃 said Marshall； 〃I was too far down the hatch。〃
〃Do you mean the old KEARSARGE？〃 asked Mrs。 Cairns。 〃Were you
in the service then； Mr。 Marshall？ 〃
With loyal pride in his friend； the admiral answered for him：
〃He was our consul…general at Marseilles！〃
There was an uncomfortable moment。 Even those denied imagination
could not escape the contrast； could see in their mind's eye the great
harbor of Marseilles； crowded with the shipping of the world； surrounding
it the beautiful city； the rival of Paris to the north； and on the battleship the
young consul…general making his bow to the young Empress of Song。 And
now； before their actual eyes； they saw the village of Porto Banos； a black
streak in the night； a row of mud shacks； at the end of the wharf a single
lantern yellow in the clear moonlight。
Later in the evening Miss Cairns led the admiral to one side。
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MY BURIED TREASURE
〃Admiral；〃 she began eagerly； 〃tell me about your friend。 Why is he
here？ Why don't they give him a place worthy of him？ I've seen many of
our representatives abroad； and I know we cannot afford to waste men like
that。〃 The girl exclaimed indignantly： 〃 He's one of the most interesting
men I've ever met！ He's lived everywhere； known every one。 He's a
distinguished man； a cultivated man； even I can see he knows his work；
that he's a diplomat； born； trained； that he's〃 The admiral interrupted
with a growl。
〃You don't have to tell ME about Henry；〃 he protested。 〃I've known
Henry twenty…five years。 If Henry got his deserts；〃 he exclaimed hotly； 〃he
wouldn't be a consul on this coral reef； he'd be a minister in Europe。 Look
at me！ We're the same age。 We started together。 When Lincoln sent him to
Morocco as consul； he signed my commission as a midshipman。 Now I'm
an admiral。 Henry has twice my brains and he's been a consul… general；
and he's HERE； back at the foot of the ladder！〃
〃Why？〃 demanded the girl。
〃Because the navy is a service and the consular service isn't a service。
Men like Senator Hanley use it to pay their debts。 While Henry's been
serving his country abroad； he's lost his friends； lost his 'pull。' Those
politicians up at Washington have no use for him。 They don't consider that
a consul like Henry can make a million dollars for his countrymen。 He can
keep them from shipping goods where there's no market； show them
where there is a market。〃 The admiral snorted contemptuously。 〃You don't
have to tell ME the value of a good consul。 But those politicians don't
consider that。 They only see that he has a job worth a few hundred dollars；
and they want it； and if he hasn't other politicians to protect him； they'll
take it。〃 The girl raised her head。
〃Why don't you speak to the senator？〃 she asked。 〃Tell him you've
known him for years； that〃
〃Glad to do it！〃 exclaimed the admiral heartily。 〃 It won't be the first
time。 But Henry mustn't know。 He's too confoundedly touchy。 He hates the
IDEA of influence； hates men like Hanley； who abuse it。 If he thought
anything was given to him except on his merits； he wouldn't take it。〃
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MY BURIED TREASURE
〃Then we won't tell him； 〃 said the girl。 For a moment she hesitated。
〃If I spoke to Mr。 Hanley；〃 she asked； 〃told him what I learned to…night
of Mr。 Marshall； 〃would it have any effect？〃
〃Don't know how it will affect Hanley； said the sailor； 〃but if you
asked me to make anybody a consul…general； I'd make him an
ambassador。〃
Later in the evening Hanley and Livingstone were seated alone on
deck。 The visit to Las Bocas had not proved amusing； but； much to
Livingstone's relief； his honored guest was now in good…humor。 He took
his cigar from his lips； only to sip at a long cool drink。 He was in a mood
flatteringly confidential and communicative。
〃People have the strangest idea of what I can do for them；〃 he laughed。
It was his pose to pretend he was without authority。 〃They believe I've
only to wave a wand； and get them anything they want。 I thought I'd be
safe from them on board a yacht。〃
Livingstone； in ignorance of what was coming； squirmed
apprehensively。
〃But it seems；〃 the senator went on； 〃 I'm at the mercy of a conspiracy。
The women folk want me to do something for this fellow Marshall。 If they
had their way； they'd send him to the Court of St。 James。 And old Hardy；
too； tackled me about him。 So did Miss 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。
