round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第29节
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had sent a masterly statement upon the subject； and it was the pet ambition
of our Minister to answer it in a worthy fashion。 Then there was the
blockade of Crete； and the British fleet lying off Cape Matapan； waiting
for instructions which might change the course of European history。 And
there were those three unfortunate Macedonian tourists； whose friends
were momentarily expecting to receive their ears or their fingers in default
of the exorbitant ransom which had been demanded。 They must be
plucked out of those mountains； by force or by diplomacy； or an outraged
public would vent its wrath upon Downing Street。 All these questions
pressed for a solution； and yet here was the Foreign Minister of England；
planted in an arm…chair； with his whole thoughts and attention riveted
upon the ball of his right toe！ It was humiliatinghorribly humiliating！
His reason revolted at it。 He had been a respecter of himself； a respecter
of his own will； but what sort of a machine was it which could be utterly
thrown out of gear by a little piece of inflamed gristle？ He groaned and
writhed among his cushions。
But； after all； was it quite impossible that he should go down to the
House？ Perhaps the doctor was exaggerating the situation。 There was a
Cabinet Council that day。 He glanced at his watch。 It must be nearly
over by now。 But at least he might perhaps venture to drive down as far
as Westminster。 He pushed back the little round table with its bristle of
medicine…bottles； and levering himself up with a hand upon either arm of
the chair； he clutched a thick oak stick and hobbled slowly across the room。
For a moment as he moved； his energy of mind and body seemed to return
to him。 The British fleet should sail from Matapan。 Pressure should be
brought to bear upon the Turks。 The Greeks should be shownOw！ In
an instant the Mediterranean was blotted out； and nothing remained but
that huge； undeniable； intrusive； red…hot toe。 He staggered to the window
and rested his left hand upon the ledge； while he propped himself upon his
stick with his right。 Outside lay the bright； cool； square garden； a few
well…dressed passers…by； and a single； neatly… appointed carriage； which
was driving away from his own door。 His quick eye caught the coat…of…
arms on the panel； and his lips set for a moment and his bushy eyebrows
gathered ominously with a deep furrow between them。 He hobbled back
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to his seat and struck the gong which stood upon the table。
〃Your mistress！〃 said he as the serving…man entered。
It was clear that it was impossible to think of going to the House。
The shooting up his leg warned him that his doctor had not overestimated
the situation。 But he had a little mental worry now which had for the
moment eclipsed his physical ailments。 He tapped the ground
impatiently with his stick until the door of the dressing…room swung open；
and a tall； elegant lady of rather more than middle age swept into the
chamber。 Her hair was touched with grey； but her calm； sweet face had
all the freshness of youth； and her gown of green shot plush； with a sparkle
of gold passementerie at her bosom and shoulders； showed off the lines of
her fine figure to their best advantage。
〃You sent for me； Charles？〃
〃Whose carriage was that which drove away just now？〃
〃Oh； you've been up！〃 she cried； shaking an admonitory forefinger。
〃What an old dear it is！ How can you be so rash？ What am I to say to
Sir William when he comes？ You know that he gives up his cases when
they are insubordinate。〃
〃In this instance the case may give him up；〃 said the Minister；
peevishly； 〃but I must beg； Clara； that you will answer my question。〃
〃Oh！ the carriage！ It must have been Lord Arthur Sibthorpe's。〃
〃I saw the three chevrons upon the panel；〃 muttered the invalid。
His lady had pulled herself a little straighter and opened her large blue
eyes。
〃Then why ask？〃 she said。 〃One might almost think； Charles； that
you were laying a trap！ Did you expect that I should deceive you？ You
have not had your lithia powder。〃
〃For Heaven's sake； leave it alone！ I asked because I was surprised
that Lord Arthur should call here。 I should have fancied； Clara； that I had
made myself sufficiently clear on that point。 Who received him？〃
〃I did。 That is； I and Ida。〃
〃I will not have him brought into contact with Ida。 I do not approve
of it。 The matter has gone too far already。〃
Lady Clara seated herself on a velvet…topped footstool； and bent her
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stately figure over the Minister's hand； which she patted softly between
her own。
〃Now you have said it； Charles；〃 said she。 〃It has gone too farI give
you my word； dear； that I never suspected it until it was past all mending。
I may be to blameno doubt I am； but it was all so sudden。 The tail end
of the season and a week at Lord Donnythorne's。 That was all。 But oh！
Charlie； she loves him so； and she is our only one！ How can we make
her miserable？〃
〃Tut； tut！〃 cried the Minister impatiently； slapping on the plush arm of
his chair。 〃This is too much。 I tell you； Clara； I give you my word； that
all my official duties； all the affairs of this great empire； do not give me
the trouble that Ida does。〃
〃But she is our only one； Charles。〃
〃The more reason that she should not make a mesalliance。〃
〃Mesalliance； Charles！ Lord Arthur Sibthorpe； son of the Duke of
Tavistock； with a pedigree from the Heptarchy。 Debrett takes them right
back to Morcar； Earl of Northumberland。〃
The Minister shrugged his shoulders。
〃Lord Arthur is the fourth son of the poorest duke in England；〃 said he。
〃He has neither prospects nor profession。〃
〃But； oh！ Charlie； you could find him both。〃
〃I do not like him。 I do not care for the connection。〃
〃But consider Ida！ You know how frail her health is。 Her whole
soul is set upon him。 You would not have the heart； Charles； to separate
them？〃
There was a tap at the door。 Lady Clara swept towards it and threw it
open。
〃Yes； Thomas？〃
〃If you please； my lady； the Prime Minister is below。〃
〃Show him up； Thomas。〃
〃Now； Charlie； you must not excite yourself over public matters。 Be
very good and cool and reasonable； like a darling。 I am sure that I may
trust you。〃
She threw her light shawl round the invalid's shoulders； and slipped
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away into the bed…room as the great man was ushered in at the door of the
dressing…room。
〃My dear Charles；〃 said he cordially； stepping into the room with all
the boyish briskness for which he was famous； 〃I trust that you find
yourself a little better。 Almost ready for harness； eh？ We miss you
sadly； both in the House and in the Council。 Quite a storm brewing over
this Grecian business。 The Times took a nasty line this morning。〃
〃So I saw；〃 said the invalid； smiling up at his chief。 〃Well； well； we
must let them see that the country is not entirely ruled from Printing
House Square yet。 We must keep our own course without faltering。〃
〃Certainly； Charles； most undoubtedly；〃 assented the Prime Minister；
with his hands in his pockets。
〃It was so kind of you to call。 I am all impatience to know what was
done in the Council。〃
〃Pure formalities； nothing more。 By…the…way； the Macedonian
prisoners a
