按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to a yacht； the men departed for Las Bocas； the women insisted that
he and admiral remain behind。
It was for Marshall a wondrous evening。 To foregather with his old
friend whom he had known since Hardy was a mad midshipman； to sit
at the feet of his own charming countrywomen； to listen to their
soft； modulated laughter； to note how quickly they saw that to him
the evening was a great event； and with what tact each contributed
to make it the more memorable； all served to wipe out the months of
bitter loneliness； the stigma of failure； the sense of undeserved
neglect。 In the moonlight； on the cool quarter… deck； they sat； in
a half…circle； each of the two friends telling tales out of school；
tales of which the other was the hero or the victim； 〃inside〃
stories of great occasions； ceremonies； bombardments； unrecorded
〃shirt…sleeve〃 diplomacy。
Hardy had helped to open the Suez Canal。 Marshall had assisted the
Queen of Madagascar to escape from the French invaders。 On the
Barbary Coast Hardy had chased pirates。 In Edinburgh Marshall had
played chess with Carlyle。 He had seen Paris in mourning in the
days of the siege； Paris in terror in the days of the Commune； he
had known Garibaldi； Gambetta； the younger Dumas； the creator of
Pickwick。
〃Do you remember that time in Tangier；〃 the admiral urged； when I
was a midshipman； and got into the bashaw's harem？〃
〃Do you remember how I got you out？ Marshall replied grimly。
〃And；〃 demanded Hardy； 〃do you remember when Adelina Patti paid a
visit to the KEARSARGE at Marseilles in '65George Dewey was our
second officerand you were bowing and backing away from her； and
you backed into an open hatch； and she said 'my French isn't up to
it' what was it she said？〃
〃I didn't hear it；〃 said Marshall； 〃I was too far down the hatch。〃
〃Do you mean the old KEARSARGE？〃 asked Mrs。 Cairns。 〃Were you in
the service then； Mr。 Marshall？ 〃
With loyal pride in his friend； the admiral answered for him：
〃He was our consul…general at Marseilles！〃
There was an uncomfortable moment。 Even those denied imagination
could not escape the contrast； could see in their mind's eye the
great harbor of Marseilles； crowded with the shipping of the world；
surrounding it the beautiful city； the rival of Paris to the north；
and on the battleship the young consul…general making his bow to
the young Empress of Song。 And now； before their actual eyes； they
saw the village of Porto Banos； a black streak in the night； a row
of mud shacks； at the end of the wharf a single lantern yellow in
the clear moonlight。
Later in the evening Miss Cairns led the admiral to one side。
〃Admiral；〃 she began eagerly； 〃tell me about your friend。 Why is he
here？ Why don't they give him a place worthy of him？ I've seen many
of our representatives abroad； and I know we cannot afford to waste
men like that。〃 The girl exclaimed indignantly： 〃 He's one of the
most interesting men I've ever met！ He's lived everywhere； known
every one。 He's a distinguished man； a cultivated man； even I can
see he knows his work； that he's a diplomat； born； trained； that
he's〃 The admiral interrupted with a growl。
〃You don't have to tell ME about Henry；〃 he protested。 〃I've known
Henry twenty…five years。 If Henry got his deserts；〃 he exclaimed
hotly； 〃he wouldn't be a consul on this coral reef； he'd be a
minister in Europe。 Look at me！ We're the same age。 We started
together。 When Lincoln sent him to Morocco as consul； he signed my
commission as a midshipman。 Now I'm an admiral。 Henry has twice my
brains and he's been a consul… general； and he's HERE； back at the
foot of the ladder！〃
〃Why？〃 demanded the girl。
〃Because the navy is a service and the consular service isn't a
service。 Men like Senator Hanley use it to pay their debts。 While
Henry's been serving his country abroad； he's lost his friends；
lost his 'pull。' Those politicians up at Washington have no use for
him。 They don't consider that a consul like Henry can make a
million dollars for his countrymen。 He can keep them from shipping
goods where there's no market； show them where there is a market。〃
The admiral snorted contemptuously。 〃You don't have to tell ME the
value of a good consul。 But those politicians don't consider that。
They only see that he has a job worth a few hundred dollars； and
they want it； and if he hasn't other politicians to protect him；
they'll take it。〃 The girl raised her head。
〃Why don't you speak to the senator？〃 she asked。 〃Tell him you've
known him for years； that〃
〃Glad to do it！〃 exclaimed the admiral heartily。 〃 It won't be the
first time。 But Henry mustn't know。 He's too confoundedly touchy。
He hates the IDEA of influence； hates men like Hanley； who abuse
it。 If he thought anything was given to him except on his merits；
he wouldn't take it。〃
〃Then we won't tell him； 〃 said the girl。 For a moment she
hesitated。
〃If I spoke to Mr。 Hanley；〃 she asked； 〃told him what I learned
to…night of Mr。 Marshall； 〃would it have any effect？〃
〃Don't know how it will affect Hanley； said the sailor； 〃but if you
asked me to make anybody a consul…general； I'd make him an
ambassador。〃
Later in the evening Hanley and Livingstone were seated alone on
deck。 The visit to Las Bocas had not proved amusing； but； much to
Livingstone's relief； his honored guest was now in good…humor。 He
took his cigar from his lips； only to sip at a long cool drink。 He
was in a mood flatteringly confidential and communicative。
〃People have the strangest idea of what I can do for them；〃 he
laughed。 It was his pose to pretend he was without authority。 〃They
believe I've only to wave a wand； and get them anything they want。
I thought I'd be safe from them on board a yacht。〃
Livingstone； in ignorance of what was coming； squirmed
apprehensively。
〃But it seems；〃 the senator went on； 〃 I'm at the mercy of a
conspiracy。 The women folk want me to do something for this fellow
Marshall。 If they had their way； they'd send him to the Court of
St。 James。 And old Hardy； too； tackled me about him。 So did Miss
Cairns。
And then Marshall himself got me behind the wheel…house； and I
thought he was going to tell me how good he was； too I But he
didn't。〃
As though the joke were on himself； the senator laughed
appreciatively。
〃Told me； instead； that Hardy ought to be a vice…admiral。〃
Livingstone； also； laughed； with the satisfied air of one who
cannot be tricked。
〃They fixed it up between them；〃 he explained； 〃 each was to put in
a good word for the other。〃 He nodded eagerly。 〃That's what I
think。〃
There were moments during the cruise when Senator Hanley would have
found relief in dropping his host overboard。 With mock deference；
the older man inclined his head。
〃That's what you think； is it？〃 he asked。 〃Livingstone；〃 he added；
〃you certainly are a great judge of men！〃
The next morning； old man Marshall woke with a lightness at his
heart that had been long absent。 For a moment； conscious only that
he was happy； he lay between sleep and waking； frowning up at his
canopy of mosquito net； trying to realize what change had come to
him。 Then he remembered。 His old friend had returned。 New friends
had come into his life and welcomed him kindly。 He was no longer
lonely。 As eager as a boy； he ran to the window。 He had not been
dreaming。 In the harbor lay the pretty yacht； the stately；
white…hulled war… ship。 The flag that drooped from the stern of
each caused his throat to tighten； brought warm tears to his eyes；
fresh resolve to his discouraged； troubled spirit。 When he knelt
beside his bed； his heart poured out his thanks in gratitude and
gladness。
While he was dressing； a blue…jacket brought a note from the
admiral。 It invited him to tea on board the war…ship； with the
guests of the SERAPIS。 His old friend added that he was coming to
lunch with his consul； and wanted time reserved for a long talk。
The consul agreed gladly。 He was in holiday humor。 The day promised
to repeat the good moments of the night previous。
At nine o'clock； through the open door of the consulate； Marshall
saw Aiken； the wireless operator； signaling from the wharf
excitedly to the yacht； and a boat leave the ship and return。
Almost immediately the launch； carrying several passengers； again
made the trip shoreward。
Half an hour later； Senator Hanley； Miss Cairns； and Livingstone
came up the waterfront； and entering the consulate； seated
themselves around Marshall's desk。 Livingstone was sunk in
melancholy。 The senator； on。 the contrary； was smiling broadly。 His
manner was one of distinct relief。 He greeted the consul with
hearty good…humor。
〃I'm ordered home！〃 he announced gleefully。 Then； remembering the
presence of Livingstone； he hastened to add： 〃I needn't say how
sorry I am to give up my yachting trip； but orders are orders。 The
President；〃 he explained to Marshall； 〃 cables me this morning to
come back and take my coat off。〃 The prospect； as a change from
playing bridge on a pleasure boat； seemed far from depressing him。
〃Those filibusters in the Senate；〃 he continued genially； 〃are
making trouble again。 They think they've got me out of the way for
another month； but they'll