the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第23节
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right；〃 he murmured。 〃Sun's too hot。〃
〃Sit down；〃 said the Governor。
He observed the stranger more closely。 He noticed now that beneath
the tan his face was delicate and finely cut； and that his yellow hair clung
closely to a well…formed head。
〃He seems faint。 Has he had anything to eat？〃 asked the Governor。
The sergeant grinned guiltily。 〃Yes； Sir Charles； we've been feeding
him at the barracks。 It's fever； sir。〃
Sir Charles was not unacquainted with fallen gentlemen； 〃beach…
combers；〃 〃remittance men；〃 and vagrants who had known better days；
and there had been something winning in this vagrant's smile； and；
moreover； he had reported that thorn in his flesh； the consular agent； to the
proper authorities。
He conceived an interest in a young man who； though with naked feet；
did not hesitate to correspond with his Minister of Foreign Affairs。
〃How long have you been ill？〃 he asked。
The young man looked up from where he had sunk on the steps； and
roused himself with a shrug。 〃It doesn't matter；〃 he said。 〃I've had a
touch of Chagres ever since I was on the Isthmus。 I was at work there on
the railroad。〃
〃Did you come here from Colon？〃
〃No； I worked up the Pacific side。 I was clerking with Rossner
Brothers at Amapala for a while； because I speak a little German； and then
I footed it over to Puerto Cortez and got a job with the lottery people。
They gave me twenty dollars a month gold for rolling the tickets； and I put
it all in the drawing； and won as much as ten。〃 He laughed； and sitting
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erect； drew from his pocket a roll of thin green papers。 〃These are for the
next drawing；〃 he said。 〃Have some？〃 he added。 He held them towards
the negro sergeant； who； under the eye of the Governor； resisted； and then
spread the tickets on his knee like a hand at cards。 〃I stand to win a lot
with these；〃 he said； with a cheerful sigh。 〃You see； until the list's
published I'm prospectively worth twenty thousand dollars。 And；〃 he
added； 〃I break stones in the sun。〃 He rose unsteadily； and saluted the
Governor with a nod。 〃Good…morning； sir；〃 he said； 〃and thank you。〃
〃Wait；〃 Sir Charles commanded。 A new form of punishment had
suggested itself； in which justice was tempered with mercy。 〃Can you
work one of your American lawn…mowers？〃 he asked。
The young man laughed delightedly。 〃I never tried；〃 he said； 〃but
I've seen it done。〃
〃If you've been ill； it would be murder to put you on the shell road。〃
The Governor's dignity relaxed into a smile。 〃I don't desire international
complications；〃 he said。 〃Sergeant； take thishimto the kitchen； and
tell Corporal Mallon to give him that American lawn…mowing machine。
Possibly he may understand its mechanism。 Mallon only cuts holes in
the turf with it。〃 And he waved his hand in dismissal； and as the three
men moved away he buried himself again in the perplexities of the dog…
tax。
Ten minutes later the deliberations of the Council were disturbed by a
loud and persistent rattle； like the whir of a Maxim gun； which proved； on
investigation； to arise from the American lawn… mower。 The vagrant was
propelling it triumphantly across the lawn； and gazing down at it with the
same fond pride with which a nursemaid leans over the perambulator to
observe her lusty and gurgling charge。
The Councillors had departed； Sir Charles was thinking of breakfast；
the Maxim…like lawn…mower still irritated the silent hush of midday； when
from the waters of the inner harbor there 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。
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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！〃
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〃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
