my buried treasure(我的地下宝藏)-第10节
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〃I refuse；〃 he corrected； 〃to place the seal of this consulate on a lie。〃
There was a moment's pause。 Miss Cairns； unwilling to remain； and
unable to withdraw； clasped her hands unhappily and stared at the floor。
Livingstone exclaimed in indignant protest。 Hanley moved a step nearer
and； to emphasize what he said； tapped his knuckles on the desk。 With the
air of one confident of his advantage； he spoke slowly and softly。
〃Do you appreciate；〃 he asked； 〃that； while you may be of some
importance down here in this fever swamp； in Washington I am supposed
to carry some weight？ Do you appreciate that I am a senator from a State
that numbers four millions of people； and that you are preventing me from
serving those people？〃 Marshall inclined his head gravely and politely。
〃And I want you to appreciate；〃 he said； 〃that while I have no weight at
Washington； in this fever swamp I have the honor to represent eighty
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millions of people； and as long as that consular sign is over my door I
don't intend to prostitute it for YOU； or the President of the United States；
or any one of those eighty millions。〃
Of the two men； the first to lower his eyes was Hanley。 He laughed
shortly； and walked to the door。 There he turned； and indifferently； as
though the incident no longer interested him； drew out his watch。
〃Mr。 Marshall；〃 he said； 〃if the cable is working； I'll take your tin sign
away from you by sunset。〃
For one of Marshall's traditions； to such a speech there was no answer
save silence。 He bowed； and； apparently serene and undismayed； resumed
his seat。 From the contest； judging from the manner of each； it was
Marshall； not Hanley； who had emerged victorious。
But Miss Cairns was not deceived。 Under the unexpected blow；
Marshall had turned older。 His clear blue eyes had grown less alert； his
broad shoulders seemed to stoop。 In sympathy； her own eyes filled with
sudden tears。
〃What will you do？〃 she whispered。
〃I don't know what I shall do；〃 said Marshall simply。 〃I should have
liked to have resigned。 It's a prettier finish。 After forty yearsto be
dismissed by cable isit's a poor way of ending it。〃
Miss Cairns rose and walked to the door。 There she turned and looked
back。
〃I am sorry；〃 she said。 And both understood that in saying no more
than that she had best shown her sympathy。
An hour later the sympathy of Admiral Hardy was expressed more
directly。
〃If he comes on board my ship；〃 roared that gentleman； 〃I'll push him
down an ammunition hoist and break his damned neck！〃
Marshall laughed delightedly。 The loyalty of his old friend was never
so welcome。 〃You'll treat him with every courtesy；〃 he said。 〃The only
satisfaction he gets out of this is to see that he has hurt me。 We will not
give him that satisfaction。〃
But Marshall found that to conceal his wound was more difficult than
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he had anticipated。 When； at tea time； on the deck of the war…ship； he
again met Senator Hanley and the guests of the SERAPIS； he could not
forget that his career had come to an end。 There was much to remind him
that this was so。 He was made aware of it by the sad； sympathetic glances
of the women； by their tactful courtesies； by the fact that Livingstone；
anxious to propitiate Hanley； treated him rudely； by the sight of the young
officers； each just starting upon a career of honor； and possible glory； as
his career ended in humiliation； and by the big war…ship herself； that
recalled certain crises when he had only to press a button and war…ships
had come at his bidding。
At five o'clock there was an awkward moment。 The Royal Mail boat；
having taken on her cargo； passed out of the harbor on her way to Jamaica；
and dipped her colors。 Senator Hanley； abandoned to his fate； observed her
departure in silence。
Livingstone； hovering at his side； asked sympathetically： 〃Have they
answered your cable； sir？〃 〃They have；〃 said Hanley gruffly。
〃Was itwas it satisfactory？〃 pursued the diplomat。 〃It WAS；〃 said the
senator； with emphasis。
Far from discouraged； Livingstone continued his inquiries。
〃And when；〃 he asked eagerly； 〃are you going to tell him？〃
〃Now！〃 said the senator。
The guests were leaving the ship。 When all were seated in the
admiral's steam launch； the admiral descended the accommodation ladder
and himself picked up the tiller ropes。
〃Mr。 Marshall；〃 he called； 〃when I bring the launch broadside to the
ship and stop her； you will stand ready to receive the consul's salute。〃
Involuntarily； Marshall uttered an exclamation of protest。 He had
forgotten that on leaving the war…ship； as consul； he was entitled to seven
guns。 Had he remembered； he would have insisted that the ceremony be
omitted。 He knew that the admiral wished to show his loyalty； knew that
his old friend was now paying him this honor only as a rebuke to Hanley。
But the ceremony was no longer an honor。 Hanley had made of it a
mockery。 It served only to emphasize what had been taken from him。 But；
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without a scene； it now was too late to avoid it。 The first of the seven guns
had roared from the bow； and； as often he had stood before； as never he
would so stand again； Marshall took his place at the gangway of the
launch。 His eyes were fixed on the flag； his gray head was uncovered； his
hat was pressed above his heart。
For the first time since Hanley had left the consulate； he fell into
sudden terror lest he might give way to his emotions。 Indignant at the
thought； he held himself erect。 His face was set like a mask； his eyes were
untroubled。 He was determined they should not see that he was suffering。
Another gun spat out a burst of white smoke； a stab of flame。 There
was an echoing roar。 Another and another followed。 Marshall counted
seven； and then； with a bow to the admiral； backed from the gangway。
And then another gun shattered the hot； heavy silence。 Marshall；
confused； embarrassed； assuming he had counted wrong； hastily returned
to his place。 But again before he could leave it； in savage haste a ninth gun
roared out its greeting。 He could not still be mistaken。 He turned
appealingly to his friend。 The eyes of the admiral were fixed upon the war…
ship。 Again a gun shattered the silence。 Was it a jest？ Were they laughing
at him？ Marshall flushed miserably。 He gave a swift glance toward the
others。 They were smiling。 Then it was a jest。 Behind his back； something
of which they all were cognizant was going forward。 The face of
Livingstone alone betrayed a like bewilderment to his own。 But the others；
who knew； were mocking him。
For the thirteenth time a gun shook the brooding swamp land of Porto
Banos。 And then； and not until then； did the flag crawl slowly from the
mast…head。 Mary Cairns broke the tenseness by bursting into tears。 But
Marshall saw that every one else； save she and Livingstone； were still
smiling。 Even the bluejackets in charge of the launch were grinning at him。
He was beset by smiling faces。 And then from the war…ship； unchecked；
came； against all regulations； three long； splendid cheers。
Marshall felt his lips quivering； the warm tears forcing their way to his
eyes。 He turned beseechingly to his friend。 His voice trembled。
〃Charles；〃 he begged； 〃are they laughing at me？〃
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Eagerly； before the other would answer； Senator Hanley tossed his
cigar into the water and； scrambling forward； seized Marshall by the hand。
〃Mr。 Marshall；〃 he cried； 〃our President has great faith in Abraham
Lincoln's judgment of men。 And this salute means that this morning he
appointed you our new minister to The Hague。 I'm one of those politicians
who keeps his word。 I TOLD YOU I'd take your tin sign away from you
by sunset。 I've done it！〃
