the pursuit of the house-boat-第15节

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a　position　of　this　nature。　　In　my　whole　career　I　never　experienced　but　one　irresistible　impulse　to　make　a　public　address　of　any　length；　and　that　was　upon　that　unhappy　occasion　to　which　the　greatest　and　grandest　of　my　great…grandmothers　has　alluded；　and　that　only　as　the　chain　by　which　I　was　suspended　in　mid…air　tightened　about　my　vocal　chords。　　At　that　moment　I　could　have　talked　impromptu　for　a　year；　so　fast　and　numerously　did　thoughts　of　the　uttermost　import　surge　upward　into　my　brain；　but　circumstances　over　which　I　had　no　control　prevented　the　utterance　of　those　thoughts；　and　that　speech　is　therefore　lost　to　the　world。〃

〃He　has　the　gift　of　continuity；〃　observed　Madame　Recamier。

〃Ought　to　be　in　the　United　States　Senate；〃　smiled　Elizabeth。

〃I　wish　I　could　make　up　my　mind　as　to　whether　he　is　outrageously　handsome　or　desperately　ugly；〃　remarked　Helen　of　Troy。　　〃He　fascinates　me；　but　whether　it　is　the　fascination　of　liking　or　of　horror　I　can't　tell；　and　it's　quite　important。〃

〃Ladies；〃　resumed　the　captain；　his　uneasiness　increasing　as　he　came　to　the　point；　〃I　am　but　the　agent　of　your　respective　husbands；　fiances；　and　other　masculine　guardians。　　The　gentlemen　who　were　previously　the　tenants　of　this　club…house　have　delegated　to　me　the　important；　and　I　may　add　highly　agreeable；　task　of　showing　you　the　world。　　They　have　noted　of　late　years　the　growth　of　that　feeling　of　unrest　which　is　becoming　every　day　more　and　more　conspicuous　in　feminine　circles　in　all　parts　of　the　universeon　the　earth；　where　women　are　clamoring　to　vote；　and　to　be　allowed　to　go　out　late　at　night　without　an　escort；　in　Hades；　where；　as　you　are　no　doubt　aware；　the　management　of　the　government　has　fallen　almost　wholly　into　the　hands　of　the　Furies；　and　even　in　the　halls　of　Jupiter　himself；　where；　I　am　credibly　informed；　Juno　has　been　taking　private　lessons　in　the　art　of　hurling　thunderboltsinformation　which　the　extraordinary　quality　of　recent　electrical　storms　on　the　earth　would　seem　to　confirm。　　Thunderbolts　of　late　years　have　been　cast　hither　and　yon　in　a　most　erratic　fashion；　striking　where　they　were　least　expected；　as　those　of　you　who　keep　in　touch　with　the　outer　world　must　be　fully　aware。　　Now；　actuated　by　their　usual　broad　and　liberal　motives；　the　men　of　Hades　wish　to　meet　the　views　of　you　ladies　to　just　that　extent　that　your　views　are　based　upon　a　wise　selection；　in　turn　based　upon　experience；　and　they　have　come　to　me　and　in　so　many　words　have　said；　'Mr。　Kidd；　we　wish　the　women　of　Hades　to　see　the　world。　　We　want　them　to　be　satisfied。　　We　do　not　like　this　constantly　increasing　spirit　of　unrest。　　We；　who　have　seen　all　the　life　that　we　care　to　see；　do　not　ourselves　feel　equal　to　the　task　of　showing　them　about。　　We　will　pay　you　liberally　if　you　will　take　our　House…boat；　which　they　have　always　been　anxious　to　enter；　and　personally　conduct　our　beloved　ones　to　Paris；　London；　and　elsewhere。　　Let　them　see　as　much　of　life　as　they　can　stand。　　Accord　them　every　privilege。　　Spare　no　expense；　only　bring　them　back　again　to　us　safe　and　sound。'　　These　were　their　words；　ladies。　　I　asked　them　why　they　didn't　come　along　themselves；　saying　that　even　if　they　were　tired　of　it　all；　they　should　make　some　personal　sacrifice　to　your　comfort；　and　they　answered；　reasonably　and　well；　that　they　would　be　only　too　glad　to　do　so；　but　that　they　feared　they　might　unconsciously　seem　to　exert　a　repressing　influence　upon　you。　　'We　want　them　to　feel　absolutely　free；　Captain　Kidd；'　said　they；　'and　if　we　are　along　they　may　not　feel　so。'　　The　answer　was　convincing；　ladies；　and　I　accepted　the　commission。〃

〃But　we　knew　nothing　of　all　this；〃　interposed　Elizabeth。　　〃The　subject　was　not　broached　to　us　by　our　husbands；　brothers；　fiances；　or　fathers。　　My　brother；　Sir　Walter　Raleigh〃

Cleopatra　chuckled。　　〃Brother！　　Brother's　good；〃　she　said。

〃Well；　that's　what　he　is；〃　retorted　Elizabeth；　quickly。　　〃I　promised　to　be　a　sister　to　him；　and　I'm　going　to　keep　my　word。　　That's　the　kind　of　a　queen　I　am。　　I　was　about　to　remark；〃　Elizabeth　added；　turning　to　the　captain；　〃that　my　brother；　Sir　Walter　Raleigh；　never　even　hinted　at　any　such　plan；　and　usually　he　asked　my　advice　in　matters　of　so　great　importance。〃

〃That　is　easily　accounted　for；　madame；〃　retorted　Kidd。　　〃Sir　Walter　intended　this　as　a　little　surprise　for　you；　that　is　all。　　The　arrangements　were　all　placed　in　his　hands；　and　it　was　he　who　bound　us　all　to　secrecy。　　None　of　the　ladies　were　to　be　informed　of　it。〃

〃It　does　not　sound　altogether　plausible；〃　interposed　Portia。　　〃If　you　ladies　do　not　object；　I　should　like　to　cross…examine　thisah　gentleman。〃

Kidd　paled　visibly。　　He　was　not　prepared　for　any　such　trial；　however；　he　put　as　good　a　face　on　the　matter　as　he　could；　and　announced　his　willingness　to　answer　any　questions　that　he　might　be　asked。

〃Shall　we　put　him　under　oath？〃　asked　Cleopatra。

〃As　you　please；　ladies；〃　said　the　pirate。　　〃A　pirate's　word　is　as　good　as　his　bond；　but　I'll　take　an　oath　if　you　choosea　half…dozen　of　'em；　if　need　be。〃

〃I　fancy　we　can　get　along　without　that；〃　said　Portia。　　〃Now；　Captain　Kidd；　who　first　proposed　this　plan？〃

〃Socrates；〃　said　Kidd；　unblushingly　with　a　sly　glance　at　Xanthippe。

〃What？〃　cried　Xanthippe。　　〃My　husband　propose　anything　that　would　contribute　to　my　pleasure　or　intellectual　advancement？　　Bah！　　Your　story　is　transparently　false　at　the　outset。〃

〃Nevertheless；〃　said　Kidd；　〃the　scheme　was　proposed　by　Socrates。　　He　said　a　trip　of　that　kind　for　Xanthippe　would　be　very　restful　and　health…giving。〃

〃For　me？〃　cried　Xanthippe；　sceptically。

〃No；　madame；　for　him；〃　retorted　Kidd。

〃Ahho…ho！　　That's　the　way　of　it；　eh？〃　said　Xanthippe；　flushing　to　the　roots　of　her　hair。　　〃Very　likely。　　Youahyou　will　excuse　my　doubting　your　word；　Captain　Kidd；　a　moment　since。　　I　withdraw　my　remark；　and　in　order　to　make　fullest　reparation；　I　beg　to　assure　these　ladies　that　I　am　now　perfectly　convinced　that　you　are　telling　the　truth。　　That　last　observation　is　just　like　my　husband；　and　when　I　get　back　home　again；　if　I　ever　do；　wellha；　ha！we'll　have　a　merry　time；　that's　all。〃

〃And　what　wasahBassanio's　connection　with　this　affair？〃　added　Portia；　hesitatingly。

〃He　was　not　informed　of　it；〃　said　Kidd；　archly。　　〃I　am　not　acquainted　with　Bassanio；　my　lady；　but　I　overheard　Sir　Walter　enjoining　upon　the　others　the　absolute　necessity　of　keeping　the　whole　affair　from　Bassanio；　because　he　was　afraid　he　would　not　consent　to　it。　'Bassanio　has　a　most　beautiful　wife；　gentlemen；'　said　Sir　Walter；　'and　he　wouldn't　think　of　parting　with　her　under　any　circumstances；　therefore　let　us　keep　our　intentions　a　secret　from　him。'　　I　did　not　hear　whom　the　gentleman　married；　madame；　but　the　others；　Prince　Hamlet；　the　Duke　of　Buckingham；　and　Louis　the　Fourteenth；　all　agreed　that　Mrs。　Bassanio　was　too　beautiful　a　person　to　be　separated　from；　and　that　it　was　better；　therefore；　to　keep　Bassanio　in　the　dark　as　to　their　little　enterprise　until　it　was　too　late　for　him　to　interfere。〃

A　pink　glow　of　pleasure　suffused　the　lovely　countenance　of　the　cross…　examiner；　and　it　did　not　require　a　very　sharp　eye　to　see　that　the　wily　Kidd　had　completely　won　her　over　to　his　side。　　On　the　other　hand；　Elizabeth's　brow　became　as　corrugated　as　her　ruff；　and　the　spirit　of　the　pirate　shivered　to　the　core　as　he　turned　and　gazed　upon　that　glowering　face。

〃Sir　Walter　agreed　to　that；　did　he？〃　snapped　Elizabeth。　　〃And　yet　he　was　willing　to　part　withahhis　sister。〃

〃Well；　your　Majesty；〃　began　Kidd；　hesitatingly；　〃you　see　it　was　this　way：　　Sir　Waltererdid　say　that；　butahheahbut　he　added　that　he　of　course　merely　judgederthis　man　Bassanio's　feelings　by　his　own　in　parting　from　his　sister〃

〃Did　he　say　sister？〃　cried　Elizabeth。

〃Wellnonot　in　those　words；〃　shuffled　Kidd；　perceiving　quickly　wherein　his　error　lay；　〃butahI　jumped　at　the　conclusion；　seeing　his　intense　enthusiasm　for　the　lady's　beauty　anderintellectual　qualities；　that　he　referred　to　you；　and　it　is　from　yourself　that　I　have　gained　my　knowledge　as　to　the　fraternal；　not　to　say　sororal；　relationship　that　exists　between　you。〃

〃That　man's　a　diplomat　from　Diplomaville！〃　muttered　Sir　Henry　Morgan；　who；　with　Abeuchapeta　and　Conrad；　was　listening　at　the　port　without。

〃He　is　that；〃　said　Abeuchapeta；　〃but　he　can't　last　much　longer。　　He's　perspiring　like　a　pitcher　of　ice…water　on　a　hot　day；　and　a　spirit　of　his　size　and　volatile　nature　can't　stand　much　of　that　without　evaporating。　　If　you　will　observe　him　closely　you　will　see　that　his　left　arm　already　has　vanished　into　thin　air。〃

〃By　Jove！〃　whispered　Conrad；　〃that's　a　fact！　　If　they　don't　let　up　on　him　he'll　vanish。　　He's　getting　excessively　tenuous　about　the　top　of　his　head。〃

All　of　which　was　only　too　true。　　Subjected　to　a　scrutiny　which　he　had　little　expected；　the　deceitful　ambassador　of　the　thieving　band　was　rapidly　dissipating；　and；　as　those　without　had　so　fearsomely　noted；　was　in　imminent　danger　of　complete　sublimation；　which；　in　the　case　of　one　possessed　of　so　little　elementary　purity；　meant　nothing　short　of　annihilation。　　Fortunately　for　Kidd；　however；　his　wonderful　tact　had　stemmed　the　tide　of　suspicion。　　Elizabeth　was　satisfied　with　his　explanation；　and　in　the　minds　of　at　least　three　of　the　most　influential　ladies　on　board；　Portia；　Xanthippe；　and