the lost road-第31部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

how　they　all　cried。　　It　made　the　appeal　of　the　violet　eyes　even　more
disturbing。
〃Don't　you　love　our　sailors？〃　begged　Monica。

Fearful　of　hurting　the　feelings　of　others；　she　added　hastily；
〃And；　of　course；　our　marines；　too。〃

Everett　assured　her　if　there　was　one　thing　that　meant　more　to　him
than　all　else；　it　was　an　American　bluejacket；　and　next　to　him　an
American　leatherneck。

It　took　a　long　time　to　arrange　the　details　of　the　Red　Cross
Society。　　In　spite　of　his　reputation　for　brilliancy；　it　seemed　to
Monica　Mr。　Everett　had　a　mind　that　plodded。　　For　his　benefit　it
was　necessary　several　times　to　repeat　the　most　simple　proposition。
She　was　sure　his　inability　to　fasten　his　attention　on　her　League
of　Mercy　was　because　his　brain　was　occupied　with　problems　of
state。　　It　made　her　feel　selfish　and　guilty。　　When　his　visitor
decided　that　to　explain　further　was　but　to　waste　his　valuable
time　and　had　made　her　third　effort　to　go；　Everett　went　with　her。
He　suggested　that　she　take　him　to　the　hospital　and　introduce　him
to　the　sisters。　　He　wanted　to　talk　to　them　about　the　Red　Cross
League。　　It　was　a　charming　walk。　　Every　one　lifted　his　hat　to
Monica；　the　beggars；　the　cab…drivers；　the　barefooted　policemen；
and　the　social　lights　of　Camaguay　on　the　sidewalks　in　front　of
the　cafes　rose　and　bowed。

〃It　is　like　walking　with　royalty！〃　exclaimed　Everett。

While　at　the　hospital　he　talked　to　the　Mother　Superiorhis　eyes
followed　Monica。　　As　she　moved　from　cot　to　cot　he　noted　how
the　younger　sisters　fluttered　happily　around　her；　like　bridesmaids
around　a　bride；　and　how　as　she　passed；　the　eyes　of　those　in　the
cots　followed　her　jealously；　and　after　she　had　spoken　with　them
smiled　in　content。

〃She　is　good；〃　the　Mother　Superior　was　saying；　〃and　her　brother；
too；　is　very　good。〃

Everett　had　forgotten　the　brother。　　With　a　start　he　lifted　his　eyes
and　found　the　Mother　Superior　regarding　him。

〃He　is　very　good；〃　she　repeated。　　〃For　us；　he　built　this　wing　of
the　hospital。　　It　was　his　money。　　We　should　be　very　sorry　if　any
harm　came　to　Mr。　Ward。　　Without　his　help　we　would　starve。〃　　She
smiled；　and　with　a　gesture　signified　the　sick。　　〃I　mean　they　would
starve；　they　would　die　of　disease　and　fever。〃　　The　woman　fixed
upon　him　grave；　inscrutable　eyes。　　〃Will　Your　Excellency
remember？〃　she　said。　　It　was　less　of　a　question　than　a　command。
〃Where　the　church　can　forgive〃　she　paused。

Like　a　real　diplomat　Everett　sought　refuge　in　mere　words。

〃The　church　is　all…powerful；　Mother；〃　he　said。　　〃Her　power　to
forgive　is　her　strongest　weapon。　　I　have　no　such　power。　　It　lies
beyond　my　authority。　　I　am　just　a　messenger…boy　carrying　the
wishes　of　the　government　of　one　country　to　the　government　of
another。〃

The　face　of　the　Mother　Superior　remained　grave；　but　undisturbed。

〃Then；　as　regards　our　Mr。　Ward；〃　she　said；　〃the　wishes　of　your
government　are〃

Again　she　paused；　again　it　was　less　of　a　question　than　a　command。
With　interest　Everett　gazed　at　the　whitewashed　ceiling。

〃I　have　not　yet；〃　he　said；　〃communicated　them　to　any　one。〃

That　night；　after　dinner　in　the　patio；　he　reported　to　Garland　the
words　of　the　Mother　Superior。

〃That　was　my　dream；　0　Prophet；〃　concluded　Everett；　〃you　who　can
read　this　land　of　lotus…eaters；　interpret！　What　does　it　mean？〃

〃It　only　means　what　I've　been　telling　you；〃　said　the　consul。　　〃It　means
that　if　you're　going　after　that　treaty；　you've　only　got　to　fight　the
Catholic　Church。　　That's　all　it　means！〃

Later　in　the　evening　Garland　said：　〃I　saw　you　this　morning　crossing
the　plaza　with　Monica。　　When　I　told　you　everybody　in　this　town
loved　her；　was　I　right？〃

〃Absolutely！〃　assented　Everett。　　〃But　why　didn't　you　tell　me　she
was　a　flapper？〃

〃I　don't　know　what　a　flapper　is；〃　promptly　retorted　Garland。　　〃And
if　I　did；　I　wouldn't　call　Monica　one。〃

〃A　flapper　is　a　very　charming　person；〃　protested　Everett。　　〃I　used
the　term　in　its　most　complimentary　sense。　　It　means　a　girl　between
fourteen　and　eighteen。　　It's　English　slang；　and　in　England　at　the
present　the　flapper　is　very　popular。　　She　is　driving　her　sophisticated
elder　sister；　who　has　been　out　two　or　three　seasons；　and　the　predatory
married　woman　to　the　wall。　　To　men　of　my　years　the　flapper　is　really
at　the　dangerous　age。〃

In　his　bamboo　chair　Garland　tossed　violently　and　snorted。

〃I　sized　you　up；〃　he　cried；　〃as　a　man　of　the　finest　perceptions。　　I　was
wrong。　　You　don't　appreciate　Monica！　Dangerous！　You　might　as
well　say　God's　sunshine　is　dangerous；　or　a　beautiful　flower　is
dangerous。〃

Everett　shook　his　head　at　the　other　man　reproachfully：

〃Did　you　ever　hear　of　a　sunstroke？〃　he　demanded。　　〃Don't　you　know
if　you　smell　certain　beautiful　flowers　you　die？　Can't　you　grasp　any
other　kind　of　danger　than　being　run　down　by　a　trolley…car？　Is　the
danger　of　losing　one's　peace　of　mind　nothing；　of　being　unfaithful
to　duty；　nothing！　Is〃

Garland　raised　his　arms。

〃Don't　shoot！〃　he　begged。　　〃I　apologize。　　You　do　appreciate　Monica。
You　have　your　consul's　permission　to　walk　with　her　again。〃

The　next　day　young　Professor　Peabody　called　and　presented　his
letters。　　He　was　a　forceful　young　man　to　whom　the　delays　of
diplomacy　did　not　appeal；　and　one　apparently　accustomed　to　riding
off　whatever　came　in　his　way。　　He　seemed　to　consider　any　one　who
opposed　him；　or　who　even　disagreed　with　his　conclusions；　as
offering　a　personal　affront。　　With　indignation　he　launched　into
his　grievance。

〃These　people；〃　he　declared；　〃are　dogs　in　the　manger；　and　Ward　is
the　worst　of　the　lot。　　He　knows　no　more　of　archaeology　than　a
congressman。　　The　man's　a　faker！　He　showed　me　a　spear…head　of
obsidian　and　called　it　flint；　and　he　said　the　Aztecs　borrowed　from
the　Mayas；　and　that　the　Toltecs　were　a　myth。　　And　he　got　the　Aztec
solar　calendar　mixed　with　the　Ahau。　　He's　as　ignorant　as　that。〃

〃I　can't　believe　it！〃　exclaimed　Everett。

〃You　may　laugh；〃　protested　the　professor；　〃but　the　ruins　of　Cobre
hold　secrets　the　students　of　two　continents　are　trying　to　solve。
They　hide　the　history　of　a　lost　race；　and　I　submit　it's　not　proper
one　man　should　keep　that　knowledge　from　the　world；　certainly
not　for　a　few　gold　armlets！〃

Everett　raised　his　eyes。

〃What　makes　you　say　that？〃'　he　demanded。

〃I've　been　kicking　my　heels　in　this　town　for　a　month；〃　Peabody
told　him；　〃and　I've　talked　to　the　people　here；　and　to　the　Harvard
expedition　at　Copan；　and　everybody　tells　me　this　fellow　has　found
treasure。〃　　The　archaeologist　exclaimed　with　indignation：　〃What's
gold；〃　he　snorted；　〃compared　to　the　discovery　of　a　lost　race？〃

〃I　applaud　your　point　of　view；〃　Everett　assured　him。　　〃I　am　to　see　the
President　tomorrow；　and　I　will　lay　the　matter　before　him。　　I'll　ask　him
to　give　you　a　look　in。〃

To　urge　his　treaty　of　extradition　was　the　reason　for　the　audience　with
the　President；　and　with　all　the　courtesy　that　a　bad　case　demanded
Mendoza　protested　against　it。　　He　pointed　out　that　governments
entered　into　treaties　only　when　the　ensuing　benefits　were　mutual。
For　Amapala　in　a　treaty　of　extradition　he　saw　no　benefit。　　Amapala
was　not　so　far　〃advanced〃　as　to　produce　defaulting　bank　presidents；
get…rich…quick　promoters；　counterfeiters；　and　thieving　cashiers。　　Her
fugitives　were　revolutionists　who　had　fought　and　lost；　and　every　one
was　glad　to　have　them　go；　and　no　one　wanted　them　back。

〃Or；〃　suggested　the　President；　〃suppose　I　am　turned　out　by　a
revolution；　and　I　seek　asylum　in　your　country？　My　enemies　desire
my　life。　　They　would　ask　for　my　extradition〃

〃If　the　offense　were　political；〃　Everett　corrected；　〃my　government
would　surrender　no　one。〃

〃But　my　enemies　would　charge　me　with　murder；〃　explained　the
President。　　〃Remember　Castro。　　And　by　the　terms　of　the　treaty　your
government　would　be　forced　to　surrender　me。　　And　I　am　shot　against
the　wall。〃　　The　President　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃That　treaty　would
not　be　nice　for　me！〃

〃Consider　the　matter　as　a　patriot；〃　said　the　diplomat。　　〃Is　it　good　that
the　criminals　of　my　country　should　make　their　home　in　yours？　When
you　are　so　fortunate　as　to　have　no　dishonest　men　of　your　own；　why
import　ours？　We　don't　seek　the　individual。　　We　want　to　punish　him
only　as　a　warning　to　others。　　And　we　want　the　money　he　takes　with
him。　　Often　it　is　the　savings　of　the　very　poor。〃

The　President　frowned。　　It　was　apparent　that　both　the　subject　and
Everett　bored　him。

〃I　name　no　names；〃　exclaimed　Mendoza；　〃but　to　those　who　come
here　we　owe　the　little　railroads　we　possess。　　They　develop　our　mines
and　our　coffee　plantations。　　In　time　they　will　make　this　country　very
modern；　very　rich。　　And　some　you　call　criminals　we　have　learned　to
love。　　Their　past　does　not　concern　us。　　We　shut　our　ears。　　We　do　not
spy。　　They　have　come　to　us　as　to　a　sanctuary；　and　so　long　as　they　claim
the　right　of　sanctuary；　I　will　not　violate　it。〃

As　Everett　emerged　from　the　cool；　dark　halls　of　the　palace　into
the　glare　of　the　plaza　he　was　scowling；　and　he　acknowledged　the
salute　of　the　palace　guard　as　though　those　gentlemen　had　offered
him　an　insult。

Garland　was　waiting　in　front　of　a　cafe　and　greeted　him　with　a
mocking　grin。

〃Congratulations；〃　he　shouted。

〃I　have　still　twenty…two　days；〃　said　Everett
。

The　arist