my buried treasure(我的地下宝藏)-第6部分
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MY BURIED TREASURE
Colombian clerk； would rise and bow profoundly。
〃Any papers for me to sign； Jose？ 〃 the consul would ask。
〃Not to…day； Excellency； 〃the clerk would reply。 Then Jose would
return to writing a letter to his lady…love； not that there was any…thing to
tell her； but because writing on the official paper of the consulate gave him
importance in his eyes； and in hers。 And in the inner office the consul
would continue to gaze at the empty harbor； the empty coral reefs； the
empty； burning sky。
The little band of exiles were at second break fast when the wireless
man came in late to announce that a Red D。 boat and the island of Curacao
had both reported a hurricane coming north。 Also； that much concern was
felt for the safety of the yacht SERAPIS。 Three days before； in advance of
her coming； she had sent a wireless to Wilhelmstad； asking the captain of
the port to reserve a berth for her。 She expected to arrive the following
morning。 But for forty…eight hours nothing had been heard from her； and it
was believed she had been overhauled by the hurricane。 Owing to the
presence on board of Senator Hanley； the closest friend of the new
President； the man who had made him president； much concern was felt at
Washington。 To try to pick her up by wireless； the gun…boat NEWARK had
been ordered from Culebra； the cruiser RALEIGH； with Admiral Hardy on
board； from Colon。 It was possible she would seek shelter at Porto Banos。
The consul was ordered to report。
As Marshall wrote out his answer； the French consul exclaimed with
interest：
〃He is of importance； then； this senator？〃 he asked。 〃Is it that in your
country ships of war are at the service of a senator？〃
Aiken； the wireless operator； grinned derisively。
〃At the service of THIS senator； they are！〃 he answered。 〃They call
him the 'king…maker；' the man behind the throne。〃
〃But in your country；〃 protested the Frenchman； 〃there is no throne。 I
thought your president was elected by the people？〃
〃That's what the people think；〃 answered Aiken。 〃In God's country；〃 he
explained； 〃the trusts want a rich man in the Senate； with the same
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interests as their own； to represent them。 They chose Hanley。 He picked
out of the candidates for the presidency the man he thought would help the
interests。 He nominated him； and the people voted for him。 Hanley is what
we call a 'boss。' 〃
The Frenchman looked inquiringly at Marshall。
〃The position of the boss is the more dangerous；〃 said Marshall
gravely； 〃because it is unofficial； because there are no laws to curtail his
powers。 Men like Senator Hanley are a menace to good government。 They
see in public office only a reward for party workers。〃
〃That's right；〃 assented Aiken。 〃Your forty years' service； Mr。 Consul；
wouldn't count with Hanley。 If he wanted your job； he'd throw you out as
quick as he would a drunken cook。〃
Mr。 Marshall flushed painfully； and the French consul hastened to
interrupt。
〃Then； let us pray；〃 he exclaimed； with fervor； 〃that the hurricane has
sunk the SERAPIS； and all on board。〃
Two hours later； the SERAPIS； showing she had met the hurricane and
had come out second best； steamed into the harbor。
Her owner was young Herbert Livingstone； of Washington。 He once
had been in the diplomatic service； and； as minister to The Hague； wished
to return to it。 In order to bring this about he had subscribed liberally to the
party campaign fund。
With him； among other distinguished persons； was the all… powerful
Hanley。 The kidnapping of Hanley for the cruise； in itself； demonstrated
the ability of Livingstone as a diplomat。 It was the opinion of many that it
would surely lead to his appointment as a minister plenipotentiary。
Livingstone was of the same opinion。 He had not lived long in the nation's
capital without observing the value of propinquity。 How many men he
knew were now paymasters； and secretaries of legation； solely because
those high in the government met them daily at the Metropolitan Club； and
preferred them in almost any other place。 And if； after three weeks as his
guest on board what the newspapers called his floating palace； the senator
could refuse him even the prize； legation of Europe； there was no value in
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modest merit。 As yet； Livingstone had not hinted at his ambition。 There
was no need。 To a statesman of Hanley's astuteness； the largeness of
Livingstone's contribution to the campaign fund was self… explanatory。
After her wrestling…match with the hurricane； all those on board the
SERAPIS seemed to find in land； even in the swamp land of Porto Banos；
a compelling attraction。 Before the anchors hit the water； they were in the
launch。 On reaching shore； they made at once for the consulate。 There
were many cables they wished to start on their way by wireless； cables to
friends； to newspapers； to the government。
Jose； the Colombian clerk； appalled by the unprecedented invasion of
visitors； of visitors so distinguished； and Marshall； grateful for a chance to
serve his fellow… countrymen； and especially his countrywomen； were
ubiquitous； eager； indispensable。 At Jose's desk the great senator； rolling
his cigar between his teeth； was using； to Jose's ecstasy； Jose's own pen to
write a reassuring message to the White House。 At the consul's desk a
beautiful creature； all in lace and pearls； was struggling to compress the
very low opinion she held of a hurricane into ten words。 On his knee；
Henry Cairns； the banker； was inditing instructions to his Wall Street
office； and upon himself Livingstone had taken the responsibility of
replying to the inquiries heaped upon Marshall's desk； from many
newspapers。
It was just before sunset； and Marshall produced his tea things； and the
young person in pearls and lace； who was Miss Cairns； made tea for the
women； and the men mixed gin and limes with tepid water。 The consul
apologized for proposing a toast in which they could not join。 He begged
to drink to those who had escaped the perils of the sea。 Had they been his
oldest and nearest friends； his little speech could not have been more
heart…felt and sincere。 To his distress； it moved one of the ladies to tears；
and in embarrassment he turned to the men。
〃I regret there is no ice；〃 he said； 〃but you know the rule of the tropics；
as soon as a ship enters port； the ice… machine bursts。〃
〃I'll tell the steward to send you some； sir；〃 said Livingstone； 〃and as
long as we're here。〃
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The senator showed his concern。
〃As long as we're here？〃 he gasped。
〃Not over two days；〃 answered the owner nervously。 〃The chief says it
will take all of that to get her in shape。 As you ought to know； Senator； she
was pretty badly mauled。〃
The senator gazed blankly out of the window。 Beyond it lay the naked
coral reefs； the empty sky； and the ragged palms of Porto Banos。
Livingstone felt that his legation was slipping from him。
〃That wireless operator；〃 he continued hastily； 〃tells me there is a most
amusing place a few miles down the coast； Las Bocas； a sort of Coney
Island； where the government people go for the summer。 There's surf
bathing and roulette and cafes chantants。 He says there's some Spanish
dancers〃
The guests of the SERAPIS exclaimed with interest； the senator
smiled。 To Marshall the general enthusiasm over the thought of a ride on a
merry…go…round suggested that the friends of Mr。 Livingstone had found
their own society far from satisfying。
Greatly encouraged； Livingstone continued； with enthusiasm：
〃And that wireless man said；〃 he added； 〃that with the launch we can
get there in half an hour。 We might run down after dinner。〃 He turned to
Marshall。
〃Will you join us； Mr。 Consul？〃 he asked； 〃and dine with us； first？〃
Marshall accepted with genuine pleasure。 It had been many months
since he had sat at table with his own people。 But he shook his head
doubtfully。
〃I was wondering about Las Bocas；〃 he explained； 〃if your going there
might not get you in trouble at the next port。 With a yacht； I think it is
different； but Las Bocas is under quarantine〃
There was a chorus of exclamations。
〃It's not serious；〃 Marshall explained。 〃There was bubonic plague there；
or something like it。 You would be in no danger from that。 It is only that
you might be held up by the regulations。 Passenger steamers can't land any
one who has been there at any other port of the
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West Indies。 The English are especially strict。 The Royal Mail won't
even receive any one on board here without a certificate from the English
consul saying he has
