the consul-第5部分

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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？〃

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！〃






End