the lost road-第81部分

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am　all　he　has。　　And　there　is　this　besides。　　Were　I　to　marry；　of　all　the
men　in　the　world　it　would　be　harder　for　him　if　I　married　you。　　For　if
you　succeed　in　what　you　came　here　to　do；　the　law　will　punish　him；
and　he　will　know　it　was　through　you　he　was　punished。　　And　even
between　you　and　me　there　always　would　be　that　knowledge；　that
feeling。〃

〃That　is　not　fair；〃　cried　Everett。　　〃I　am　not　an　individual　fighting
less　fortunate　individuals。　　I　am　an　insignificant　wheel　in　a　great
machine。　　You　must　not　blame　me　because　I…〃

With　an　exclamation　the　girl　reproached　him。

〃Because　you　do　your　duty！〃　she　protested。　　〃Is　that　fair　to　me？
If　for　my　sake　or　my　brother　you　failed　in　your　duty；　if　you　were
less　vigilant；　less　eager；　even　though　we　suffer；　I　could　not
love　you。〃

Everett　sighed　happily。

〃As　long　as　you　love　me；〃　he　said；　〃neither　your　brother　nor　any
one　else　can　keep　us　apart。〃

〃My　brother；〃　said　the　girl；　as　though　she　were　pronouncing　a
sentence；　〃always　will　keep　us　apart；　and　I　will　always　love
you。〃

It　was　a　week　before　he　again　saw　her；　and　then　the　feeling　he
had　read　in　her　eyes　was　goneor　rigorously　concealed。　　Now　her
manner　was　that　of　a　friend；　of　a　young　girl　addressing　a　man
older　than　herself；　one　to　whom　she　looked　up　with　respect　and
liking；　but　with　no　sign　of　any　feeling　deeper　or　more　intimate。

It　upset　Everett　completely。　　When　he　pleaded　with　her；　she　asked：

〃Do　you　think　it　is　easy　for　me？　But〃　she　protested；　〃I　know　I
am　doing　right。　　I　am　doing　it　to　make　you　happy。〃

〃You　are　succeeding；〃　Everett　assured　her；　〃in　making　us　both
damned　miserable。〃

For　Everett；　in　the　second　month　of　his　stay　in　Amapala；　events
began　to　move　quickly。　　Following　the　example　of　two　of　his
predecessors；　the　Secretary　of　State　of　the　United　States　was
about　to　make　a　grand　tour　of　Central　America。　　He　came　on　a
mission　of　peace　and　brotherly　love；　to　foster　confidence　and
good…will；　and　it　was　secretly　hoped　that；　in　the　wake　of　his
escort　of　battle…ships；　trade　would　follow　fast。　　There　would
be　salutes　and　visits　of　ceremony；　speeches；　banquets；　reviews。
But　in　these　rejoicings　Amapala　would　have　no　part。

For；　so　Everett　was　informed　by　cable；　unless；　previous　to　the
visit　of　the　Secretary；　Amapala　fell　into　line　with　her　sister
republics　and　signed　a　treaty　of　extradition；　from　the　itinerary
of　the　great　man　Amapala　would　find　herself　pointedly　excluded。
It　would　be　a　humiliation。　　In　the　eyes　of　her　sister　republics　it
would　place　her　outside　the　pale。　　Everett　saw　that　in　his　hands
his　friend　the　Secretary　had　placed　a　powerful　weapon；　and　lost
no　time　in　using　it。　　He　caught　the　President　alone；　sitting　late　at
his　dinner；　surrounded　by　bottles；　and　read　to　him　the　Secretary's
ultimatum。　　General　Mendoza　did　not　at　once　surrender。　　Before　he
threw　over　the　men　who　fed　him　the　golden　eggs　that　made　him　rich；
and　for　whom　he　had　sworn　never　to　violate　the　right　of　sanctuary；
he　first；　for　fully　half　an　hour；　raged　and　swore。　　During　that　time；
while　Everett　sat　anxiously　expectant；　the　President　paced　and
repaced　the　length　of　the　dining…hall。　　When　to　relight　his　cigar；
or　to　gulp　brandy　from　a　tumbler；　he　halted　at　the　table；　his　great
bulk　loomed　large　in　the　flickering　candle…flames；　and　when　he
continued　his　march；　he　would　disappear　into　the　shadows；　and
only　his　scabbard　clanking　on　the　stone　floor　told　of　his　presence。
At　last　he　halted　and　shrugged　his　shoulders　so　that　the　tassels　of
his　epaulets　tossed　like　wheat。

〃You　drive　a　hard　bargain；　sir；〃　he　said。　　〃And　I　have　no　choice。
To…morrow　bring　the　treaty　and　I　will　sign。〃

Everett　at　once　produced　it　and　a　fountain　pen。

〃I　should　like　to　cable　to…night；〃　he　urged；　〃that　you　have　signed。
They　are　holding　back　the　public　announcement　of　the　Secretary's
route　until　hearing　from　Your　Excellency。　　This　is　only　tentative；〃
he　pointed　out；　〃the　Senate　must　ratify。　　But　our　Senate　will　ratify
it；　and　when　you　sign　now；　it　is　a　thing　accomplished。〃

Over　the　place　at　which　Everett　pointed；　the　pen　scratched　harshly；
and　then；　throwing　it　from　him；　the　President　sat　in　silence。　　With
eyes　inflamed　by　anger　and　brandy　he　regarded　the　treaty　venomously。
As　though　loath　to　let　it　go；　his　hands　played　with　it；　as　a　cat　plays
with　the　mouse　between　her　paws。　　Watching　him　breathlessly；
Everett　feared　the　end　was　not　yet。　　He　felt　a　depressing　premonition
that　if　ever　the　treaty　were　to　reach　Washington　he　best　had　snatch　it
and　run。　　Even　as　he　waited；　the　end　came。　　An　orderly；　appearing
suddenly　in　the　light　of　the　candles；　announced　the　arrival；　in　the
room　adjoining；　of　〃the　Colonel　Goddard　and　Senor　Mellen。〃　　They
desired　an　immediate　audience。　　Their　business　with　the　President
was　most　urgent。　　Whether　from　Washington　their　agents　had　warned
them；　whether　in　Camaguay　they　had　deciphered　the　cablegram　from
the　State　Department；　Everett　could　only　guess；　but　he　was　certain　the
cause　of　their　visit　was　the　treaty。　　That　Mendoza　also　believed　this
was　most　evident。

Into　the　darkness；　from　which　the　two　exiles　might　emerge；　he
peered　guiltily。　　With　an　oath　he　tore　the　treaty　in　half。　　Crushing
the　pieces　of　paper　into　a　ball；　he　threw　it　at　Everett's　feet。　　His
voice　rose　to　a　shriek。　　It　was　apparent　he　intended　his　words　to
carry　to　the　men　outside。　　Like　an　actor　on　a　stage　he　waved　his
arms。

〃That　is　my　answer！〃　he　shouted。　　〃Tell　your　Secretary　the　choice
he　offers　is　an　insult！　It　is　blackmail。　　We　will　not　sign　his　treaty。
We　do　not　desire　his　visit　to　our　country。〃　　Thrilled　by　his　own
bravado；　his　voice　rose　higher。　　〃Nor；〃　he　shouted；　〃do　we　desire
the　presence　of　his　representative。　　Your　usefulness　is　at　an　end。
You　will　receive　your　passports　in　the　morning。〃

As　he　might　discharge　a　cook；　he　waved　Everett　away。　　His　hand；
trembling　with　excitement；　closed　around　the　neck　of　the　brandy…
bottle。　　Everett　stooped　and　secured　the　treaty。　　On　his　return　to
Washington；　torn　and　rumpled　as　it　was；　it　would　be　his
justification。　　It　was　his　〃Exhibit　A。〃

As　he　approached　the　legation　he　saw　drawn　up　in　front　of　it　three
ponies　ready　saddled。　　For　an　instant　he　wondered　if　Mendoza
intended　further　to　insult　him；　if　he　planned　that　night　to　send
him　under　guard　to　the　coast。　　He　determined　hotly　sooner　than
submit　to　such　an　indignity　he　would　fortify　the　legation；　and
defend　himself。　　But　no　such　heroics　were　required　of　him。　　As　he
reached　the　door；　Garland；　with　an　exclamation　of　relief；　hailed
him；　and　Monica；　stepping　from　the　shadow；　laid　an　appealing
hand　upon　his　sleeve。

〃My　brother！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃The　guard　at　Cobre　has　just　sent
word　that　they　found　Peabody　prowling　in　the　ruins　and　fired　on
him。　　He　fired　back；　and　he　is　still　there　hiding。　　My　brother　and
others　have　gone　to　take　him。　　I　don't　know　what　may　happen　if　he
resists。　　Chester　is　armed；　and　he　is　furious；　he　is　beside　himself；
he　would　not　listen　to　me。　　But　he　must　listen　to　you。　　Will　you
go；〃　the　girl　begged；　〃and　speak　to　him；　speak　to　him；　I　mean；〃
she　added；　〃as　the　American　minister？〃

Everett　already　had　his　foot　in　the　stirrup。　　〃I'm　the　American　minister
only　until　to…morrow；〃　he　said。　　〃I've　got　my　walking…papers。　　But　I'll
do　all　I　can　to　stop　this　to…night。　　Garland；〃　he　asked；　〃will　you　take
Miss　Ward　home；　and　then　follow　me？〃

〃If　I　do　not　go　with　you；〃　said　Monica；　〃I　will　go　alone。〃

Her　tone　was　final。　　With　a　clatter　of　hoofs　that　woke　alarmed
echoes　in　the　sleeping　streets　the　three　horses　galloped　abreast
toward　Cobre。　　In　an　hour　they　left　the　main　trail　and　at　a　walk
picked　their　way　to　where　the　blocks　of　stone；　broken　columns；
and　crumbling　temples　of　the　half…buried　city　checked　the　jungle。

The　moon　made　it　possible　to　move　in　safety；　and　at　different
distances　the　lights　of　torches　told　them　the　man…hunt　still　was
in　progress。

〃Thank　God；〃　breathed　Monica；　〃we　are　in　time。〃

Everett　gave　the　ponies　in　care　of　one　of　the　guards。　　He　turned
to　Garland。

〃Catch　up　with　those　lights　ahead　of　us；〃　he　said；　〃and　we　will
join　this　party　to　the　right。　　If　you　find　Ward；　tell　him　I　forbid
him　taking　the　law　into　his　own　hands；　tell　him　I　will　protect
his　interests。　　If　you　meet　Peabody；　make　him　give　up　his　gun；
and　see　that　the　others　don't　harm　him！〃

Everett　and　the　girl　did　not　overtake　the　lights　they　had　seen
flashing　below　them。　　Before　they　were　within　hailing　distance；
that　searching　party　had　disappeared；　and　still　farther　away
other　torches　beckoned。

Stumbling　and　falling；　now　in　pursuit　of　one　will…o'…the…wisp；
now　of　another；　they　scrambled　forward。　　But　always　the　lights
eluded　them。　　From　their　exertions　and　the　moist　heat　they　were
breathless；　and　their　bodies　dripped　with　water。　　Panting；　they
halted　at　the　entrance　of　what　once　had　been　a　tomb。　　From　its
black　interior　came　a　damp　mist；　above　them；　alarmed　by　their
intrusion；　the　vampire　bats　whirled　blindly　in　circles。　　Monica；
who　by　day　possessed　some　slight　knowledge　of　the　ruins；　had；
in　the　moonlight；　lost　all　sense　of　direction。

〃We're　lost；〃　said　Monica；　in　a　low　tone。　　Unconsciously　both　were
speaking　in　wh