the lion and the unicorn-第19节

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came　suddenly　the　sharp　report　of　a　saluting　gun　and　the　rush　of
falling　anchor…chains。　　There　was　still　a　week　to　pass　before　the
mail…steamer　should　arrive；　and　H。　M。　S。　　Partridge　had
departed　for　Nassau。　　Besides　these　ships；　no　other　vessel　had
skirted　the　buoys　of　the　bay　in　eight　long　smiling　months。　　Mr。
Clarges；　the　secretary；　with　an　effort　to　appear　calm；　and　the
orderly；　suffocated　with　the　news；　entered　through　separate　doors
at　the　same　instant。

The　secretary　filed　his　report　first。　　〃A　yacht's　just　anchored
in　the　bay；　Sir　Charles；〃　he　said。

The　orderly's　face　fell。　　He　looked　aggrieved。　　〃An　American
yacht；〃　he　corrected。

〃And　much　larger　than　the　Partridge；〃　continued　the　secretary。

The　orderly　took　a　hasty　glance　back　over　his　shoulder。　　〃She　has
her　launch　lowered　already；　sir；〃　he　said。

Outside　the　whir　of　the　lawn…mower　continued　undisturbed。　　Sir
Charles　reached　for　his　marine…glass；　and　the　three　men　hurried
to　the　veranda。

〃It　looks　like　a　man…of…war；〃　said　Sir　Charles。　　〃No；〃　he　added；
adjusting　the　binocular；　〃she's　a　yacht。　　She　flies　the　New　York
Yacht　Club　pennantnow　she's　showing　the　owner's　absent　pennant。

He　must　have　left　in　the　launch。　　He's　coming　ashore　now。〃

〃He　seems　in　a　bit　of　a　hurry；〃　growled　Mr。　Clarges。

〃Those　Americans　always〃　murmured　Sir　Charles　from　behind　the
binocular。　　He　did　not　quite　know　that　he　enjoyed　this　sudden
onslaught　upon　the　privacy　of　his　harbor　and　port。

It　was　in　itself　annoying；　and　he　was　further　annoyed　to　find
that　it　could　in　the　least　degree　disturb　his　poise。

The　launch　was　growing　instantly　larger；　like　an　express　train
approaching　a　station　at　full　speed；　her　flags　flew　out　as　flat
as　pieces　of　painted　tin；　her　bits　of　brass…work　flashed　like
fire。　　Already　the　ends　of　the　wharves　were　white　with　groups　of
natives。

〃You　might　think　he　was　going　to　ram　the　town；〃　suggested　the
secretary。

〃Oh；　I　say；〃　he　exclaimed；　in　remonstrance；　〃he's　making　in　for
your　private　wharf。〃

The　Governor　was　rearranging　the　focus　of　the　glass　with　nervous
fingers。　　〃I　believe；〃　he　said；　〃noyesupon　my　word；　there
arethere　are　ladies　in　that　launch！〃

〃Ladies；　sir！〃　　The　secretary　threw　a　hasty　glance　at　the
binocular；　but　it　was　in　immediate　use。

The　clatter　of　the　lawn…mower　ceased　suddenly；　and　the　relief　of
its　silence　caused　the　Governor　to　lower　his　eyes。　　He　saw　the
lawn…mower　lying　prostrate　on　the　grass。　　The　vagrant　had
vanished。

There　was　a　sharp　tinkle　of　bells；　and　the　launch　slipped　up　to
the　wharf　and　halted　as　softly　as　a　bicycle。　　A　man　in　a
yachting…suit　jumped　from　her；　and　making　some　laughing
speech　to　the　two　women　in　the　stern；　walked　briskly　across　the
lawn；　taking　a　letter　from　his　pocket　as　he　came。　　Sir　Charles
awaited　him　gravely；　the　occupants　of　the　launch　had　seen　him；
and　it　was　too　late　to　retreat。

〃Sir　Charles　Greville；　I　believe；〃　said　the　yachtsman。　　He　bowed；
and　ran　lightly　up　the　steps。　　〃I　am　Mr。　Robert　Collier；　from　New
York；〃　he　said。　　〃I　have　a　letter　to　you　from　your　ambassador　at
Washington。　　If　you'll　pardon　me；　I'll　present　it　in　person。　　I
had　meant　to　leave　it；　but　seeing　you〃　　He　paused；　and　gave　the
letter　in　his　hand　to　Sir　Charles；　who　waved　him　towards　his
library。

Sir　Charles　scowled　at　the　letter　through　his　monocle；　and　then
shook　hands　with　his　visitor。　　〃I　am　very　glad　to　see　you；　Mr。
Collier；〃　he　said。　　〃He　says　here　you　are　preparing　a　book　on　our
colonies　in　the　West　Indies。〃　　He　tapped　the　letter　with　his
monocle。　　〃I　am　sure　I　shall　be　most　happy　to　assist　you　with　any
information　in　my　power。〃

〃Well；　I　am　writing　a　bookyes；〃　Mr。　Collier　observed；
doubtfully；　〃but　it's　a　logbook。　　This　trip　I　am　on　pleasure
bent；　and　I　also　wish　to　consult　with　you　on　a　personal　matter。　
However；　that　can　wait。〃　　He　glanced　out　of　the　windows　to　where
the　launch　lay　in　the　sun。　　〃My　wife　came　ashore　with　me；　Sir
Charles；〃　he　said；　〃so　that　in　case　there　was　a　Lady　Greville；
Mrs。　Collier　could　call　on　her；　and　we　could　ask　if　you　would
waive　etiquette　and　do　us　the　honor　to　dine　with　us　to…night　on
the　yachtthat　is；　if　you　are　not　engaged。〃

Sir　Charles　smiled。　　〃There　is　no　Lady　Greville；〃　he　said；　〃and　I
personally　do　not　think　I　am　engaged　elsewhere。〃　　He　paused　in
thought；　as　though　to　make　quite　sure　he　was　not。　　〃No；〃　he
added；　〃I　have　no　other　engagement。　　I　will　come　with　pleasure。〃

Sir　Charles　rose　and　clapped　his　hands　for　the　orderly。　
〃Possibly　the　ladies　will　come　up　to　the　veranda？〃　he　asked。　　〃I
cannot　allow　them　to　remain　at　the　end　of　my　wharf。〃　　He　turned；
and　gave　directions　to　the　orderly　to　bring　limes　and　bottles　of
soda　and　ice；　and　led　the　way　across　the　lawn。

Mrs。　Collier　and　her　friend　had　not　explored　the　grounds　of
Government　House　for　over　ten　minutes　before　Sir　Charles　felt
that　many　years　ago　he　had　personally　arranged　their　visit；　that
he　had　known　them　for　even　a　longer　time；　and　that；　now　that　they
had　finally　arrived；　they　must　never　depart。

To　them　there　was　apparently　nothing　on　his　domain　which　did　not
thrill　with　delightful　interest。　　They　were　as　eager　as　two
children　at　a　pantomime；　and　as　unconscious。　　As　a　rule；　Sir
Charles　had　found　it　rather　difficult　to　meet　the　women　of　his
colony　on　a　path　which　they　were　capable　of　treading
intelligently。　　In　fairness　to　them；　he　had　always　sought　out
some　topic　in　which　they　could　take　an　equal　partsomething
connected　with　the　conduct　of　children；　or　the　better　ventilation
of　the　new　school…house　and　chapel。　　But　these　new…comers　did　not
require　him　to　select　topics　of　conversation；　they　did　not　even
wait　for　him　to　finish　those　which　he　himself　introduced。　　They
flitted　from　one　end　of　the　garden　to　the　other　with　the
eagerness　of　two　midshipmen　on　shore　leave；　and　they　found
something　to　enjoy　in　what　seemed　to　the　Governor　the　most
commonplace　of　things。　　The　Zouave　uniform　of　the　sentry；　the　old
Spanish　cannon　converted　into　peaceful　gate…posts；　the　aviary
with　its　screaming　paroquets；　the　botanical　station；　and　even　the
ice…machine　were　all　objects　of　delight。

On　the　other　hand；　the　interior　of　the　famous　palace；　which　had
been　sent　out　complete　from　London；　and　which　was　wont　to　fill
the　wives　of　the　colonials　with　awe　or　to　reduce　them　to
whispers；　for　some　reason　failed　of　its　effect。　　But　they　said
they　〃loved〃　the　large　gold　V。　R。's　on　the　back　of　the
Councillors'　chairs；　and　they　exclaimed　aloud　over　the　red
leather　despatch…boxes　and　the　great　seal　of　the　colony；　and　the
mysterious　envelopes　marked　〃On　her　Majesty's　service。〃

〃Isn't　it　too　exciting；　Florence？〃　demanded　Mrs。　Collier。　　〃This
is　the　table　where　Sir　Charles　sits　and　writes　letters'　on　her
Majesty's　service；'　and　presses　these　buttons；　and　war…ships
spring　up　in　perfect　shoals。　　Oh；　Robert；〃　she　sighed；　〃I　do　wish
you　had　been　a　Governor！〃

The　young　lady　called　Florence　stood　looking　down　into　the　great
arm…chair　in　front　of　the　Governor's　table。

〃May　I？〃　she　asked。　　She　slid　fearlessly　in　between　the　oak　arms
of　the　chair　and　smiled　about　her。　　Afterwards　Sir　Charles
remembered　her　as　she　appeared　at　that　moment　with　the　red
leather　of　the　chair　behind　her；　with　her　gloved　hands　resting　on
the　carved　oak；　and　her　head　on　one　side；　smiling　up　at　him。　　She
gazed　with　large　eyes　at　the　blue　linen　envelopes；　the　stiff
documents　in　red　tape；　the　tray　of　black　sand；　and　the　goose…
quill　pens。

〃I　am　now　the　Countess　Zika；〃　she　announced；　〃no；　I　am　Diana　of
the　Crossways；　and　I　mean　to　discover　a　state　secret　and　sell　it
to　the　Daily　Telegraph。　　Sir　Charles；〃　she　demanded；　〃if　I
press　this　electric　button　is　war　declared　anywhere；　or　what
happens？〃

〃That　second　button；〃　said　Sir　Charles；　after　deliberate
scrutiny；　〃is　the　one　which　communicates　with　the　pantry。〃

The　Governor　would　not　consider　their　returning　to　the　yacht　for
luncheon。

〃You　might　decide　to　steam　away　as　suddenly　as　you　came；〃　he
said；　gallantly；　〃and　I　cannot　take　that　chance。　　This　is
Bachelor's　Hall；　so　you　must　pardon　my　people　if　things　do　not　go
very　smoothly。〃　　He　himself　led　them　to　the　great　guest…chamber；
where　there　had　not　been　a　guest　for　many　years；　and　he　noticed；
as　though　for　the　first　time；　that　the　halls　through　which　they
passed　were　bare；　and　that　the　floor　was　littered　with　unpacked
boxes　and　gun…cases。　　He　also　observed　for　the　first　time　that
maps　of　the　colony；　with　the　coffee…plantations　and　mahogany　belt
marked　in　different　inks；　were　not　perhaps　so　decorative　as
pictures　and　mirrors　and　family　portraits。　　And　he　could　have
wished　that　the　native　servants　had　not　stared　so　admiringly　at
the　guests；　nor　directed　each　other　in　such　aggressive　whispers。　
On　those　other　occasions；　when　the　wives　of　the　Councillors　came
to　the　semi…annual　dinners；　the　native　servants　had　seemed
adequate　to　all　that　was　required　of　them。　　He　recollected　with　a
flush　that　in　the　town　these　semi…annual　dinners　were　described
as　banquets。　　He　wondered　if　to　these　visitors　from　the
outside　world　it　was　all　equally　provincial。

But　their　enjoyment　was　apparently　unfeigned　and　generous。　　It
was　evident　that　they