the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第19节
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back limply upon the edge of his bed and clutching the piece of paper in
his two hands spoke the words aloud triumphantly as though to assure
himself that they were true。 Then a flood of unspeakable relief； of
happiness and gratitude； swept over him； and he turned and slipped to the
floor； burying his face in the pillow； and wept out his thanks upon his
knees。
A man so deeply immersed in public affairs as was Stanton and with
such a multiplicity of personal interests； could not prepare to absent
himself for a month without his intention becoming known； and on the day
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when he was to start for Tampa the morning newspapers proclaimed the
fact that he was about to visit Cuba。 They gave to his mission all the
importance and display that Arkwright had foretold。 Some of the
newspapers stated that he was going as a special commissioner of the
President to study and report； others that he was acting in behalf of the
Cuban legation in Washington and had plenipotentiary powers。
Opposition organs suggested that he was acting in the interests of the
sugar trust； and his own particular organ declared that it was his intention
to free Cuba at the risk of his own freedom； safety； and even life。
The Spanish minister in Washington sent a cable for publication to
Madrid； stating that a distinguished American statesman was about to visit
Cuba； to investigate； and； later； to deny the truth of the disgraceful libels
published concerning the Spanish officials on the island by the papers of
the United States。 At the same time he cabled in cipher to the captain…
general in Havana to see that the distinguished statesman was closely
spied upon from the moment of his arrival until his departure； and to place
on the 〃suspect〃 list all Americans and Cubans who ventured to give him
any information。
The afternoon papers enlarged on the importance of the visit and on
the good that would surely come of it。 They told that Senator Stanton
had refused to be interviewed or to disclose the object of his journey。
But it was enough； they said； that some one in authority was at last to seek
out the truth； and added that no one would be listened to with greater
respect than would the Southern senator。 On this all the editorial writers
were agreed。
The day passed drearily for Arkwright。 Early in the morning he
packed his valise and paid his landlord； and for the remainder of the day
walked the streets or sat in the hotel corridor waiting impatiently for each
fresh edition of the papers。 In them he read the signs of the great
upheaval of popular feeling that was to restore peace and health and plenty
to the island for which he had given his last three years of energy and life。
He was trembling with excitement； as well as with the cold； when at
ten o'clock precisely he stood at Senator Stanton's door。 He had forgotten
to eat his dinner； and the warmth of the dimly lit hall and the odor of rich
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food which was wafted from an inner room touched his senses with
tantalizing comfort。
〃The senator says you are to come this way； sir；〃 the servant directed。
He took Arkwright's valise from his hand and parted the heavy curtains
that hid the dining…room； and Arkwright stepped in between them and then
stopped in some embarrassment。 He found himself in the presence of a
number of gentlemen seated at a long dinner…table； who turned their heads
as he entered and peered at him through the smoke that floated in light
layers above the white cloth。 The dinner had been served； but the
senator's guests still sat with their chairs pushed back from a table lighted
by candles under yellow shades； and covered with beautiful flowers and
with bottles of varied sizes in stands of quaint and intricate design。
Senator Stanton's tall figure showed dimly through the smoke； and his
deep voice hailed Arkwright cheerily from the farther end of the room。
〃This way； Mr。 Arkwright；〃 he said。 〃I have a chair waiting for you
here。〃 He grasped Arkwright's hand warmly and pulled him into the
vacant place at his side。 An elderly gentleman on Arkwright's other side
moved to make more room for him and shoved a liqueur glass toward him
with a friendly nod and pointed at an open box of cigars。 He was a fine…
looking man； and Arkwright noticed that he was regarding him with a
glance of the keenest interest。 All of those at the table were men of twice
Arkwright's age； except Livingstone； whom he recognized and who
nodded to him pleasantly and at the same time gave an order to a servant；
pointing at Arkwright as he did so。 Some of the gentlemen wore their
business suits； and one opposite Arkwright was still in his overcoat； and
held his hat in his hand。 These latter seemed to have arrived after the
dinner had begun； for they formed a second line back of those who had
places at the table； they all seemed to know one another and were talking
with much vivacity and interest。
Stanton did not attempt to introduce Arkwright to his guests
individually； but said： 〃Gentlemen； this is Mr。 Arkwright； of whom I
have been telling you； the young gentleman who has done such
magnificent work for the cause of Cuba。〃 Those who caught Arkwright's
eye nodded to him； and others raised their glasses at him； but with a smile
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that he could not understand。 It was as though they all knew something
concerning him of which he was ignorant。 He noted that the faces of
some were strangely familiar； and he decided that he must have seen their
portraits in the public prints。 After he had introduced Arkwright； the
senator drew his chair slightly away from him and turned in what seemed
embarrassment to the man on his other side。 The elderly gentleman next
to Arkwright filled his glass； a servant placed a small cup of coffee at his
elbow； and he lit a cigar and looked about him。
〃You must find this weather very trying after the tropics；〃 his neighbor
said。
Arkwright assented cordially。 The brandy was flowing through his
veins and warming him； he forgot that he was hungry； and the kind；
interested glances of those about him set him at his ease。 It was a
propitious start； he thought； a pleasant leave…taking for the senator and
himself； full of good will and good wishes。
He turned toward Stanton and waited until he had ceased speaking。
〃The papers have begun well； haven't they？〃 he asked； eagerly。
He had spoken in a low voice； almost in a whisper； but those about the
table seemed to have heard him； for there was silence instantly and when
he glanced up he saw the eyes of all turned upon him and he noticed on
their faces the same smile he had seen there when he entered。
〃Yes；〃 Stanton answered constrainedly。 〃Yes； I〃 he lowered his
voice； but the silence still continued。 Stanton had his eyes fixed on the
table； but now he frowned and half rose from his chair。
〃I want to speak with you； Arkwright；〃 he said。 〃Suppose we go into
the next room。 I'll be back in a moment；〃 he added； nodding to the
others。
But the man on his right removed his cigar from his lips and said in an
undertone； 〃No； sit down； stay where you are；〃 and the elderly gentleman
at Arkwright's side laid his hand detainingly on his arm。 〃Oh； you won't
take Mr。 Arkwright away from us； Stanton？〃 he asked； smiling。
Stanton shrugged his shoulders
