my buried treasure(我的地下宝藏)-第9节
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There were moments during the cruise when Senator Hanley would
have found relief in dropping his host overboard。 With mock deference；
the older man inclined his head。
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〃That's what you think； is it？〃 he asked。 〃Livingstone；〃 he added； 〃you
certainly are a great judge of men！〃
The next morning； old man Marshall woke with a lightness at his heart
that had been long absent。 For a moment； conscious only that he was
happy； he lay between sleep and waking； frowning up at his canopy of
mosquito net； trying to realize what change had come to him。 Then he
remembered。 His old friend had returned。 New friends had come into his
life and welcomed him kindly。 He was no longer lonely。 As eager as a boy；
he ran to the window。 He had not been dreaming。 In the harbor lay the
pretty yacht； the stately； white…hulled war… ship。 The flag that drooped
from the stern of each caused his throat to tighten； brought warm tears to
his eyes； fresh resolve to his discouraged； troubled spirit。 When he knelt
beside his bed； his heart poured out his thanks in gratitude and gladness。
While he was dressing； a blue…jacket brought a note from the admiral。
It invited him to tea on board the war…ship； with the guests of the
SERAPIS。 His old friend added that he was coming to lunch with his
consul； and wanted time reserved for a long talk。 The consul agreed gladly。
He was in holiday humor。 The day promised to repeat the good moments
of the night previous。
At nine o'clock； through the open door of the consulate； Marshall saw
Aiken； the wireless operator； signaling from the wharf excitedly to the
yacht； and a boat leave the ship and return。 Almost immediately the launch；
carrying several passengers； again made the trip shoreward。
Half an hour later； Senator Hanley； Miss Cairns； and Livingstone came
up the waterfront； and entering the consulate； seated themselves around
Marshall's desk。 Livingstone was sunk in melancholy。 The senator； on。 the
contrary； was smiling broadly。 His manner was one of distinct relief。 He
greeted the consul with hearty good…humor。
〃I'm ordered home！〃 he announced gleefully。 Then； remembering the
presence of Livingstone； he hastened to add： 〃I needn't say how sorry I am
to give up my yachting trip； but orders are orders。 The President；〃 he
explained to Marshall； 〃 cables me this morning to come back and take my
coat off。〃 The prospect； as a change from playing bridge on a pleasure
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boat； seemed far from depressing him。
〃Those filibusters in the Senate；〃 he continued genially； 〃are making
trouble again。 They think they've got me out of the way for another month；
but they'll find they're wrong。 When that bill comes up； they'll find me at
the old stand and ready for business！〃 Marshall did not attempt to conceal
his personal disappointment。
〃I am so sorry you are leaving；〃 he said； 〃selfishly sorry； I mean。 I'd
hoped you all would be here for several days。〃 He looked inquiringly
toward Livingstone。
〃I understood the SERAPIS was disabled；〃 he explained。
〃She is；〃 answered Hanley。 〃So's the RALEIGH。 At a pinch； the
admiral might have stretched the regulations and carried me to Jamaica；
but the RALEIGH's engines are knocked about too。 I've GOT to reach
Kingston Thursday。 The German boat leaves there Thursday for New York。
At first it looked as though I couldn't do it； but we find that the Royal Mail
is due to… day； and she can get to Kingston Wednesday night。 It's a great
piece of luck。 I wouldn't bother you with my troubles； 〃the senator
explained pleasantly； 〃but the agent of the Royal Mail here won't sell me a
ticket until you've put your seal to this。〃 He extended a piece of printed
paper。
As Hanley had been talking； the face of the consul had grown grave。
He accepted the paper； but did not look at it。 Instead； he regarded the
senator with troubled eyes。 When he spoke； his tone was one of genuine
concern。
〃It is most unfortunate；〃 he said。 〃But I am afraid the ROYAL MAIL
will not take you on board。 Because of Las Bocas；〃 he explained。 〃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
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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；
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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 consulat
