billy and the big stick-第5章

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〃Whoever　heard　of　Cardinal　Richelieu；〃　he　protested；　〃in　a　navy
uniform？〃

〃Begin！〃　begged　Billy。

〃What'll　I　do　with　my　cap？〃　whispered　St。　Clair。

In　an　ecstasy　of　alarm　Billy　danced　from　foot　to　foot。　〃I'll　hold
your　cap；〃　he　cried。　〃Go　on！〃

St。　Clair　gave　his　cap　of　gold　braid　to　Billy　and　shifted　his
〃full…dress〃　sword…belt。　Not　without　concern　did　President　Ham
observe　these　preparations。　For　the　fraction　of　a　second；　in　alarm；
his　eyes　glanced　to　the　exits。　He　found　that　the　officers　of　his
staff　completely　filled　them。　Their　presence　gave　him　confidence
and　his　eyes　returned　to　Lieutenant　Hardy。

That　gentleman　heaved　a　deep　sigh。　Dejectedly；　his　head　fell
forward　until　his　chin　rested　upon　his　chest。　Much　to　the　relief　of
the　president；　it　appeared　evident　that　Lieutenant　Hardy　was　about
to　accede　to　his　command　and　apologize。　St。　Clair　groaned　heavily。

〃Ay；　is　it　so？〃　he　muttered。　His　voice　was　deep；　resonant；
vibrating　like　a　bell。　His　eyes　no　longer　suggested　apology。　They
were　strange；　flashing；　the　eyes　of　a　religious　fanatic；　and
balefully　they　were　fixed　upon　President　Ham。

〃Then　wakes　the　power；〃　the　deep　voice　rumbled；　〃that　in　the　age　of
iron　burst　forth　to　curb　the　great　and　raise　the　low。〃　He　flung　out
his　left　arm　and　pointed　it　at　Billy。

〃Mark　where　she　stands！〃　he　commanded。

With　a　sweeping；　protecting　gesture　he　drew　around　Billy　an
imaginary　circle。　The　pantomime　was　only　too　clear。　To　the　aged
negro；　who　feared　neither　God　nor　man；　but　only　voodoo；　there　was
in　the　voice　and　gesture　that　which　caused　his　blood　to　chill。

〃Around　her　form；〃　shrieked　St。　Clair；　〃I　draw　the　awful　circle　of
our　solemn　church！　Set　but　one　foot　within　that　holy　ground　and　on
thy　head〃　Like　a　semaphore　the　left　arm　dropped；　and　the　right
arm；　with　the　fore…finger　pointed；　shot　out　at　President　Ham。　〃Yea；
though　it　wore　a　CROWN　I　launch　the　CURSE　OF　ROME！〃

No　one　moved。　No　one　spoke。　What　terrible　threat　had　hit　him
President　Ham　could　not　guess。　He　did　not　ask。　Stiffly；　like　a　man
in　a　trance；　he　turned　to　the　rusty　iron　safe　behind　his　chair　and
spun　the　handle。　When　again　he　faced　them　he　held　a　long　envelope
which　he　presented　to　Billy。

〃There　are　the　ten　thousand　francs；〃　he　said。　〃Ask　him　if　he　is
satisfied；　and　demand　that　he　go　at　once！〃

Billy　turned　to　St。　Clair。

〃He　says；〃　translated　Billy；　〃he's　very　much　obliged　and　hopes　we
will　come　again。　Now；〃　commanded　Billy；　〃bow　low　and　go　out　facing
him。　We　don't　want　him　to　shoot　us　in　the　back！〃

Bowing　to　the　president；　the　actor　threw　at　Billy　a　glance　full　of
indignation。　〃Was　I　as　BAD　as　that？　〃　he　demanded。

On　schedule　time　Billy　drove　up　to　the　Hotel　Ducrot　and
relinquished　St。　Clair　to　the　ensign　in　charge　of　the　launch　from
the　LOUISIANA。　At　sight　of　St。　Clair　in　the　regalia　of　a　superior
officer；　that　young　gentleman　showed　his　surprise。

〃I've　been　giving　a　'command'　performance　for　the　president；〃
explained　the　actor　modestly。　〃I　recited　for　him；　and；　though　I
spoke　in　English；　I　think　I　made　quite　a　hit。〃

〃You　certainly；〃　Billy　assured　him　gratefully；　〃made　a　terrible　hit
with　me。〃

As　the　moving…picture　actors；　escorted　by　the　ensign；　followed
their　trunks　to　the　launch；　Billy　looked　after　them　with　a　feeling
of　great　loneliness。　He　was　aware　that　from　the　palace　his　carriage
had　been　followed；　that　drawn　in　a　cordon　around　the　hotel　negro
policemen　covertly　observed　him。　That　President　Ham　still　hoped　to
recover　his　lost　prestige　and　his　lost　money　was　only　too　evident。

It　was　just　five　minutes　to　eight。

Billy　ran　to　his　room；　and　with　his　suit…case　in　his　hand　slipped
down　the　back　stairs　and　into　the　garden。　Cautiously　he　made　his
way　to　the　gate　in　the　wall；　and　in　the　street　outside　found　Claire
awaiting　him。

With　a　cry　of　relief　she　clasped　his　arm。

〃You　are　safe！〃　she　cried。　〃I　was　so　frightened　for　you。　That
President　Ham；　he　is　a　beast；　an　ogre！〃　Her　voice　sank　to　a
whisper。　〃And　for　myself　also　I　have　been　frightened。　The　police；
they　are　at　each　corner。　They　watch　the　hotel。　They　watch　ME！　Why？
What　do　they　want？〃

〃They　want　something　of　mine；〃　said　Billy。　〃But　I　can't　tell　you
what　it　is　until　I'm　sure　it　is　mine。　Is　the　boat　at　the　wharf？〃

〃All　is　arranged；〃　Claire　assured　him。　〃The　boatmen　are　our
friends；　they　will　take　us　safely　to　the　steamer。〃

With　a　sigh　of　relief　Billy　lifted　her　valise　and　his　own；　but　he
did　not　move　forward。　Anxiously　Claire　pulled　at　his　sleeve。

〃Come！〃　she　begged。　〃For　what　it　is　that　you　wait？

It　was　just　eight　o'clock。

Billy　was　looking　up　at　the　single　electric　light　bulb　that　lit　the
narrow　street；　and　following　the　direction　of　his　eyes；　Claire　saw
the　light　grow　dim；　saw　the　tiny　wires　grow　red；　and　disappear。
From　over　all　the　city　came　shouts；　and　cries　of　consternation
oaths；　and　laughter；　and　then　darkness。

〃I　was　waiting　for　THIS！〃　cried　Billy。

With　the　delight　of　a　mischievous　child　Claire　laughed　aloud。

〃You…you　did　it！〃　she　accused。

〃I　did！〃　said　Billy。　〃And　now…we　must　run　like　the　devil！〃

The　PRINZ　DER　NEDERLANDEN　was　drawing　slowly　out　of　the　harbor。
Shoulder　to　shoulder　Claire　and　Billy　leaned　upon　the　rail。　On　the
wharfs　of　Port…au…Prince　they　saw　lanterns　tossing　and　candles
twinkling；　saw　the　LOUISIANA；　blazing　like　a　Christmas…tree；
steaming　majestically　south；　in　each　other's　eyes　saw　that　all　was
well。

From　his　pocket　Billy　drew　a　long　envelope。

〃I　can　now　with　certainty；〃　said　Billy；　〃state　that　this　is
mine…OURS。〃

He　opened　the　envelope；　and　while　Claire　gazed　upon　many
mille…franc　notes　Billy　told　how　he　had　retrieved　them。

〃But　what　danger！〃　cried　Claire。　〃'In　time　Ham　would　have　paid。
Your　president　at　Washington　would　have　made　him　pay。　Why　take　such
risks？　You　had　but　to　wait！〃

Billy　smiled　contentedly。

〃Dear　one！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃the　policy　of　watchful　waiting　is　safer；
but　the　Big　Stick　acts　quicker　and　gets　results！〃





End