the lost road-第37章
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more precious than gold。〃
A few moments later Professor Peabody took his leave； and it was
not until he had turned the corner of the Calle Morazan that he
halted and； like a man emerging from water； drew a deep breath。
〃Gee！〃 muttered the distinguished archeologist； 〃that was a close
call！〃
One or two women had loved Everett； and after five weeks； in
which almost daily he had seen Monica； he knew she cared for him。
This discovery made him entirely happy and filled him with dismay。
It was a complication he had not foreseen。 It left him at the parting
of two ways； one of which he must choose。 For his career he was
willing to renounce marriage； but now that Monica loved him； even
though he had consciously not tried to make her love him； had he
the right to renounce it for her also？ He knew that the difference
between Monica and his career lay in the fact that he loved Monica
and was in love with his career。 Which should he surrender？ Of this
he thought long and deeply； until one night； without thinking at all；
he chose。
Colonel Goddard had given a dance； and； as all invited were
Americans； the etiquette was less formal than at the gatherings
of the Amapalans。 For one thing； the minister and Monica were
able to sit on the veranda overlooking the garden without his
having to fight a duel in the morning。
It was not the moonlight； or the music； or the palms that made
Everett speak。 It was simply the knowledge that it was written；
that it had to be。 And he heard himself； without prelude or
introduction； talking easily and assuredly of the life they would
lead as man and wife。 From this dream Monica woke him。 The
violet eyes were smiling at him through tears。
〃When you came；〃 said the girl； 〃and I loved you； I thought that
was the greatest happiness。 Now that I know you love me I ask
nothing more。 And I can bear it。〃
Everett felt as though an icy finger had moved swiftly down his
spine。 He pretended not to understand。
〃Bear what？〃 he demanded roughly。
〃That I cannot marry you；〃 said the girl。 〃Even had you not asked
me； in loving you I would have been happy。 Now that I know you
thought of me as your wife； I am proud。 I am grateful。 And the
obstacle〃
Everett laughed scornfully。
〃There is no obstacle。〃
Monica shook her head。 Unafraid； she looked into his eyes； her
own filled with her love for him。
〃Don't make it harder；〃 she said。 〃My brother is hiding from the
law。 What he did I don't know。 When it happened I was at the
convent； and he did not send for me until he had reached Amapala。
I never asked why we came； but were I to marry you； with your name
and your position； every one else would ask。 And the scandal would
follow you； wherever you went it would follow； it would put an end
to your career。〃
His career； now that Monica urged it as her rival； seemed to
Everett particularly trivial。
〃I don't know what your brother did either；〃 he said。 〃His sins
are on his own head。 They're not on yours； nor on mine。 I don't
judge him； neither do I intend to let him spoil my happiness。 Now
that I have found you I will never let you go。〃
Sadly Monica shook her head and smiled。
〃When you leave here；〃 she said； 〃for some new post； you won't
forget me； but you'll be grateful that I let you go alone； that I was
not a drag on you。 When you go back to your great people and
your proud and beautiful princesses； all this will seem a strange
dream； and you will be glad you are awakeand free。〃
〃The idea of marrying you； Monica；〃 said Everett； 〃is not new。 It did
not occur to me only since we moved out here into the moonlight。
Since I first saw you I've thought of you； and only of you。 I've
thought of you with me in every corner of the globe； as my wife；
my sweetheart； my partner； riding through jungles as we ride here；
sitting opposite me at our own table； putting the proud and beautiful
princesses at their ease。 And in all places； at all moments； you make
all other women tawdry and absurd。 And I don't think you are the
most wonderful person I ever met because I love you； but I love you
because you are the most wonderful person I ever met。〃
〃I am young；〃 said Monica； 〃but since I began to love you I am
very old。 And I see clearly that it cannot be。〃
〃Dear heart；〃 cried Everett； 〃that is quite morbid。 What the
devil do I care what your brother has done！ I am not marrying
your brother。〃
For a long time； leaning forward with her elbows on her knees and
her face buried in her hands； the girl sat silent。 It was as though she
were praying。 Everett knew it was not of him； but of her brother；
she was thinking； and his heart ached for her。 For him to cut the
brother out of his life was not difficult； what it meant to her he
could guess。
When the girl raised her eyes they were eloquent with distress。
〃He has been so good to me；〃 she said； 〃always so gentle。 He has
been mother and father to me。 He is the first person I can remember。
When I was a child he put me to bed； he dressed me； and comforted
me。 When we became rich there was nothing he did not wish to give
me。 I cannot leave him。 He needs me more than ever I needed him。 I
am all he has。 And there is this besides。 Were I to marry； of all the
men in the world it would be harder for him if I married you。 For if
you succeed in what you came here to do； the law will punish him；
and he will know it was through you he was punished。 And even
between you and me there always would be that knowledge； that
feeling。〃
〃That is not fair；〃 cried Everett。 〃I am not an individual fighting
less fortunate individuals。 I am an insignificant wheel in a great
machine。 You must not blame me because I…〃
With an exclamation the girl reproached him。
〃Because you do your duty！〃 she protested。 〃Is that fair to me？
If for my sake or my brother you failed in your duty； if you were
less vigilant； less eager； even though we suffer； I could not
love you。〃
Everett sighed happily。
〃As long as you love me；〃 he said； 〃neither your brother nor any
one else can keep us apart。〃
〃My brother；〃 said the girl； as though she were pronouncing a
sentence； 〃always will keep us apart； and I will always love
you。〃
It was a week before he again saw her； and then the feeling he
had read in her eyes was goneor rigorously concealed。 Now her
manner was that of a friend； of a young girl addressing a man
older than herself； one to whom she looked up with respect and
liking； but with no sign of any feeling deeper or more intimate。
It upset Everett completely。 When he pleaded with her； she asked：
〃Do you think it is easy for me？ But〃 she protested； 〃I know I
am doing right。 I am doing it to make you happy。〃
〃You are succeeding；〃 Everett assured her； 〃in making us both
damned miserable。〃
For Everett； in the second month of his stay in Amapala； events
began to move quickly。 Following the example of two of his
predecessors； the Secretary of State of the United States was
about to make a grand tour of Central America。 He came on a
mission of peace and brotherly love； to foster confidence and
good…will； and it was secretly hoped that； in the wake of his
escort of battle…ships； trade would follow fast。 There would
be salutes and visits of ceremony； speeches； banquets； reviews。
But in these rejoicings Amapala would have no part。
For； so Everett was informed by cable； unless； previous to the
visit of the Secretary； Amapala fell into line with her sister
republics and signed a treaty of extradition； from the itinerary
of the great man Amapala would find herself pointedly excluded。
It would be a humiliation。 In the eyes of her sister republics it
would place her outside the pale。 Everett saw that in his hands
his friend the Secretary had placed a powerful weapon； and lost
no time in using it。 He caught the President alone； sitting late at
his dinner； surrounded by bottles； and read to him the Secretary's
ultimatum。 General Mendoza did not at once surrender。 Before he
threw over the men who fed him the golden eggs that made him rich；
and for whom he had sworn never to violate the right of sanctuary；
he first； for fully half an ho
