the lost road-第88章
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Guantanamo；〃 urged Everett； 〃if you want one I'll cable for it。〃
Monica laughed softly。 It was good to hear nonsense spoken。 The
Amapalans had never learned it； and her brother said just what he
meant and no more。
〃Our sailors were here once；〃 Monica volunteered。 She wanted
Mr。 Everett to know he was not entirely cut off from the world。
〃During the revolution；〃 she explained。 〃We were so glad to see
them； they made us all feel nearer home。 They set up our flag in
the plaza； and the color…guard let me photograph it； with them
guarding it。 And when they marched away the archbishop stood
on the cathedral steps and blessed them； and we rode out along the
trail to where it comes to the jungle。 And then we waved good…by；
and they cheered us。 We all cried。〃
For a moment； quite unconsciously； Monica gave an imitation of
how they all cried。 It made the appeal of the violet eyes even more
disturbing。
〃Don't you love our sailors？〃 begged Monica。
Fearful of hurting the feelings of others； she added hastily；
〃And； of course； our marines； too。〃
Everett assured her if there was one thing that meant more to him
than all else； it was an American bluejacket； and next to him an
American leatherneck。
It took a long time to arrange the details of the Red Cross
Society。 In spite of his reputation for brilliancy； it seemed to
Monica Mr。 Everett had a mind that plodded。 For his benefit it
was necessary several times to repeat the most simple proposition。
She was sure his inability to fasten his attention on her League
of Mercy was because his brain was occupied with problems of
state。 It made her feel selfish and guilty。 When his visitor
decided that to explain further was but to waste his valuable
time and had made her third effort to go； Everett went with her。
He suggested that she take him to the hospital and introduce him
to the sisters。 He wanted to talk to them about the Red Cross
League。 It was a charming walk。 Every one lifted his hat to
Monica； the beggars； the cab…drivers； the barefooted policemen；
and the social lights of Camaguay on the sidewalks in front of
the cafes rose and bowed。
〃It is like walking with royalty！〃 exclaimed Everett。
While at the hospital he talked to the Mother Superiorhis eyes
followed Monica。 As she moved from cot to cot he noted how
the younger sisters fluttered happily around her； like bridesmaids
around a bride； and how as she passed； the eyes of those in the
cots followed her jealously； and after she had spoken with them
smiled in content。
〃She is good；〃 the Mother Superior was saying； 〃and her brother；
too； is very good。〃
Everett had forgotten the brother。 With a start he lifted his eyes
and found the Mother Superior regarding him。
〃He is very good；〃 she repeated。 〃For us； he built this wing of
the hospital。 It was his money。 We should be very sorry if any
harm came to Mr。 Ward。 Without his help we would starve。〃 She
smiled； and with a gesture signified the sick。 〃I mean they would
starve； they would die of disease and fever。〃 The woman fixed
upon him grave； inscrutable eyes。 〃Will Your Excellency
remember？〃 she said。 It was less of a question than a command。
〃Where the church can forgive〃 she paused。
Like a real diplomat Everett sought refuge in mere words。
〃The church is all…powerful； Mother；〃 he said。 〃Her power to
forgive is her strongest weapon。 I have no such power。 It lies
beyond my authority。 I am just a messenger…boy carrying the
wishes of the government of one country to the government of
another。〃
The face of the Mother Superior remained grave； but undisturbed。
〃Then； as regards our Mr。 Ward；〃 she said； 〃the wishes of your
government are〃
Again she paused； again it was less of a question than a command。
With interest Everett gazed at the whitewashed ceiling。
〃I have not yet；〃 he said； 〃communicated them to any one。〃
That night； after dinner in the patio； he reported to Garland the
words of the Mother Superior。
〃That was my dream； 0 Prophet；〃 concluded Everett； 〃you who can
read this land of lotus…eaters； interpret！ What does it mean？〃
〃It only means what I've been telling you；〃 said the consul。 〃It means
that if you're going after that treaty； you've only got to fight the
Catholic Church。 That's all it means！〃
Later in the evening Garland said： 〃I saw you this morning crossing
the plaza with Monica。 When I told you everybody in this town
loved her； was I right？〃
〃Absolutely！〃 assented Everett。 〃But why didn't you tell me she
was a flapper？〃
〃I don't know what a flapper is；〃 promptly retorted Garland。 〃And
if I did； I wouldn't call Monica one。〃
〃A flapper is a very charming person；〃 protested Everett。 〃I used
the term in its most complimentary sense。 It means a girl between
fourteen and eighteen。 It's English slang； and in England at the
present the flapper is very popular。 She is driving her sophisticated
elder sister； who has been out two or three seasons； and the predatory
married woman to the wall。 To men of my years the flapper is really
at the dangerous age。〃
In his bamboo chair Garland tossed violently and snorted。
〃I sized you up；〃 he cried； 〃as a man of the finest perceptions。 I was
wrong。 You don't appreciate Monica！ Dangerous！ You might as
well say God's sunshine is dangerous； or a beautiful flower is
dangerous。〃
Everett shook his head at the other man reproachfully：
〃Did you ever hear of a sunstroke？〃 he demanded。 〃Don't you know
if you smell certain beautiful flowers you die？ Can't you grasp any
other kind of danger than being run down by a trolley…car？ Is the
danger of losing one's peace of mind nothing； of being unfaithful
to duty； nothing！ Is〃
Garland raised his arms。
〃Don't shoot！〃 he begged。 〃I apologize。 You do appreciate Monica。
You have your consul's permission to walk with her again。〃
The next day young Professor Peabody called and presented his
letters。 He was a forceful young man to whom the delays of
diplomacy did not appeal； and one apparently accustomed to riding
off whatever came in his way。 He seemed to consider any one who
opposed him； or who even disagreed with his conclusions； as
offering a personal affront。 With indignation he launched into
his grievance。
〃These people；〃 he declared； 〃are dogs in the manger； and Ward is
the worst of the lot。 He knows no more of archaeology than a
congressman。 The man's a faker！ He showed me a spear…head of
obsidian and called it flint； and he said the Aztecs borrowed from
the Mayas； and that the Toltecs were a myth。 And he got the Aztec
solar calendar mixed with the Ahau。 He's as ignorant as that。〃
〃I can't believe it！〃 exclaimed Everett。
〃You may laugh；〃 protested the professor； 〃but the ruins of Cobre
hold secrets the students of two continents are trying to solve。
They hide the history of a lost race； and I submit it's not proper
one man should keep that knowledge from the world； certainly
not for a few gold armlets！〃
Everett raised his eyes。
〃What makes you say that？〃' he demanded。
〃I've been kicking my heels in this town for a month；〃 Peabody
told him； 〃and I've talked to the people here； and to the Harvard
expedition at Copan； and everybody tells me this fellow has found
treasure。〃 The archaeologist exclaimed with indignation： 〃What's
gold；〃 he snorted； 〃compared to the discovery of a lost race？〃
〃I applaud your point of view；〃 Everett assured him。 〃I am to see the
President tomorrow； and I will lay the matter before him。 I'll ask him
to give you a look in。〃
To urge his treaty of extradition was the reason for the audience with
the President； and with all the courtesy that a bad case demanded
Mendoza protested against it。 He pointed out that governments
entered into treaties only when the ensuing benefits were mutual。
For Amapala in a treaty of extradition he saw no benefit。 Amapala
was not so far 〃advanced〃 as to produce defaulting bank presidents；
get…rich…quick promoters； counterfeiters； and thieving cashiers。 Her
fugitives were revolutionists who had fought and lost； and every one
was glad to have them go； and no one wanted them back。
〃Or；〃 suggested the Pres
