round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第30节
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done in the Council。〃
〃Pure formalities； nothing more。 By…the…way； the Macedonian
prisoners are all right。〃
〃Thank Goodness for that！ 〃
〃We adjourned all other business until we should have you with us
next week。 The question of a dissolution begins to press。 The reports
from the provinces are excellent。〃
The Foreign Minister moved impatiently and groaned。
〃We must really straighten up our foreign business a little；〃 said he。
〃I must get Novikoff's Note answered。 It is clever； but the fallacies are
obvious。 I wish； too； we could clear up the Afghan frontier。 This illness
is most exasperating。 There is so much to be done； but my brain is
clouded。 Sometimes I think it is the gout； and sometimes I put it down to
the colchicum。〃
〃What will our medical autocrat say？〃 laughed the Prime Minister。
〃You are so irreverent； Charles。 With a bishop one may feel at one's ease。
They are not beyond the reach of argument。 But a doctor with his
stethoscope and thermometer is a thing apart。 Your reading does not
impinge upon him。 He is serenely above you。 And then； of course； he
takes you at a disadvantage。 With health and strength one might cope
with him。 Have you read Hahnemann？ What are your views upon
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Hahnemann？〃
The invalid knew his illustrious colleague too well to follow him down
any of those by…paths of knowledge in which he delighted to wander。 To
his intensely shrewd and practical mind there was something repellent in
the waste of energy involved in a discussion upon the Early Church or the
twenty… seven principles of Mesmer。 It was his custom to slip past such
conversational openings with a quick step and an averted face。
〃I have hardly glanced at his writings；〃 said he。 〃By…the…way； I
suppose that there was no special departmental news？〃
〃Ah！ I had almost forgotten。 Yes； it was one of the things which I
had called to tell you。 Sir Algernon Jones has resigned at Tangier。
There is a vacancy there。〃
〃It had better be filled at once。 The longer delay the more
applicants。〃
〃Ah； patronage； patronage！〃 sighed the Prime Minister。 〃Every
vacancy makes one doubtful friend and a dozen very positive enemies。
Who so bitter as the disappointed place…seeker？ But you are right；
Charles。 Better fill it at once； especially as there is some little trouble in
Morocco。 I understand that the Duke of Tavistock would like the place
for his fourth son； Lord Arthur Sibthorpe。 We are under some obligation
to the Duke。〃
The Foreign Minister sat up eagerly。
〃My dear friend；〃 he said； 〃it is the very appointment which I should
have suggested。 Lord Arthur would be very much better in Tangier at
present than inin〃
〃Cavendish Square？〃 hazarded his chief； with a little arch query of his
eyebrows。
〃Well； let us say London。 He has manner and tact。 He was at
Constantinople in Norton's time。〃
〃Then he talks Arabic？〃
〃A smattering。 But his French is good。〃
〃Speaking of Arabic； Charles； have you dipped into Averroes？〃
〃No； I have not。 But the appointment would be an excellent one in
every way。 Would you have the great goodness to arrange the matter in
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my absence？〃
〃Certainly； Charles； certainly。 Is there anything else that I can do？〃
〃No。 I hope to be in the House by Monday。〃
〃I trust so。 We miss you at every turn。 The Times will try to make
mischief over that Grecian business。 A leader…writer is a terribly
irresponsible thing； Charles。 There is no method by which he may be
confuted； however preposterous his assertions。 Good…bye！ Read
Porson！ Goodbye！〃
He shook the invalid's hand； gave a jaunty wave of his broad…brimmed
hat； and darted out of the room with the same elasticity and energy with
which he had entered it。
The footman had already opened the great folding door to usher the
illustrious visitor to his carriage； when a lady stepped from the drawing…
room and touched him on the sleeve。 From behind the half… closed
portiere of stamped velvet a little pale face peeped out； half…curious； half…
frightened。
〃May I have one word？〃
〃Surely； Lady Clara。〃
〃I hope it is not intrusive。 I would not for the world overstep the
limits〃
〃My dear Lady Clara！〃 interrupted the Prime Minister； with a youthful
bow and wave。
〃Pray do not answer me if I go too far。 But I know that Lord Arthur
Sibthorpe has applied for Tangier。 Would it be a liberty if I asked you
what chance he has？〃
〃The post is filled up。〃
〃Oh！〃
In the foreground and background there was a disappointed face。
〃And Lord Arthur has it。〃
The Prime Minister chuckled over his little piece of roguery。
〃We have just decided it；〃 he continued。
〃Lord Arthur must go in a week。 I am delighted to perceive； Lady
Clara； that the appointment has your approval。 Tangier is a place of
extraordinary interest。 Catherine of Braganza and Colonel Kirke will
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occur to your memory。 Burton has written well upon Northern Africa。 I
dine at Windsor； so I am sure that you will excuse my leaving you。 I
trust that Lord Charles will be better。 He can hardly fail to be so with
such a nurse。〃
He bowed； waved； and was off down the steps to his brougham。 As
he drove away； Lady Clara could see that he was already deeply absorbed
in a paper…covered novel。
She pushed back the velvet curtains； and returned into the drawing…
room。 Her daughter stood in the sunlight by the window； tall； fragile； and
exquisite； her features and outline not unlike her mother's； but frailer；
softer； more delicate。 The golden light struck one half of her high…bred；
sensitive face； and glimmered upon her thickly…coiled flaxen hair； striking
a pinkish tint from her closely…cut costume of fawn…coloured cloth with its
dainty cinnamon ruchings。 One little soft frill of chiffon nestled round
her throat； from which the white； graceful neck and well…poised head shot
up like a lily amid moss。 Her thin white hands were pressed together；
and her blue eyes turned beseechingly upon her mother。
〃Silly girl！ Silly girl！〃 said the matron； answering that imploring
look。 She put her hands upon her daughter's sloping shoulders and drew
her towards her。 〃It is a very nice place for a short time。 It will be a
stepping stone。〃
〃But oh！ mamma； in a week！ Poor Arthur！〃
〃He will be happy。〃
〃What！ happy to part？〃
〃He need not part。 You shall go with him。〃
〃Oh！ mamma！〃
〃Yes； I say it。〃
〃Oh！ mamma； in a week？〃
〃Yes indeed。 A great deal may be done in a week。 I shall order your
trousseau to…day。〃
〃Oh！ you dear； sweet angel！ But I am so frightened！ And papa？
Oh！ dear； I am so frightened！〃
〃Your papa is a diplomatist； dear。〃
〃Yes； ma。〃
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〃But； between ourselves； he married a diplomatist too。 If he can
manage the British Empire； I think that I can manage him； Ida。 How
long have you been engaged； child？〃
〃Ten weeks； mamma。〃
〃Then it is quite time it came to a head。 Lord Arthur cannot leave
England without you。 You must go to Tangier as the Minister's wife。
