the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第21章
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THE LION AND THE UNICORN
to persevere。 He considered new arguments and framed new appeals；
and one moment blamed himself bitterly for having foolishly discouraged
the statesman by too vivid pictures of the horrors he might encounter； and
the next； questioned if he had not been too practical and so failed because
he had not made the terrible need of immediate help his sole argument。
Every hour wasted in delay meant； as he knew； the sacrifice of many lives；
and there were other； more sordid and more practical； reasons for speedy
action。 For his supply of money was running low and there was now
barely enough remaining to carry him through the month of travel he had
planned to take at Stanton's side。 What would happen to him when that
momentous trip was over was of no consequence。 He would have done
the work as far as his small share in it lay； he would have set in motion a
great power that was to move Congress and the people of the United
States to action。 If he could but do that； what became of him counted for
nothing。
But at the end of the week his fears and misgivings were scattered
gloriously and a single line from the senator set his heart leaping and
brought him to his knees in gratitude and thanksgiving。 On returning one
afternoon to the mean lodging into which he had moved to save his money；
he found a telegram from Stanton and he tore it open trembling between
hope and fear。
〃Have arranged to leave for Tampa with you Monday； at midnight〃 it
read。 〃Call for me at ten o'clock same evening。STANTON。〃
Arkwright read the message three times。 There was a heavy；
suffocating pressure at his heart as though it had ceased beating。 He sank
back limply upon the edge of his bed and clutching the piece of paper in
his two hands spoke the words aloud triumphantly as though to assure
himself that they were true。 Then a flood of unspeakable relief； of
happiness and gratitude； swept over him； and he turned and slipped to the
floor； burying his face in the pillow； and wept out his thanks upon his
knees。
A man so deeply immersed in public affairs as was Stanton and with
such a multiplicity of personal interests； could not prepare to absent
himself for a month without his intention becoming known； and on the day
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when he was to start for Tampa the morning newspapers proclaimed the
fact that he was about to visit Cuba。 They gave to his mission all the
importance and display that Arkwright had foretold。 Some of the
newspapers stated that he was going as a special commissioner of the
President to study and report； others that he was acting in behalf of the
Cuban legation in Washington and had plenipotentiary powers。
Opposition organs suggested that he was acting in the interests of the
sugar trust； and his own particular organ declared that it was his intention
to free Cuba at the risk of his own freedom； safety； and even life。
The Spanish minister in Washington sent a cable for publication to
Madrid； stating that a distinguished American statesman was about to visit
Cuba； to investigate； and； later； to deny the truth of the disgraceful libels
published concerning the Spanish officials on the island by the papers of
the United States。 At the same time he cabled in cipher to the captain…
general in Havana to see that the distinguished statesman was closely
spied upon from the moment of his arrival until his departure； and to place
on the 〃suspect〃 list all Americans and Cubans who ventured to give him
any information。
The afternoon papers enlarged on the importance of the visit and on
the good that would surely come of it。 They told that Senator Stanton
had refused to be interviewed or to disclose the object of his journey。
But it was enough； they said； that some one in authority was at last to seek
out the truth； and added that no one would be listened to with greater
respect than would the Southern senator。 On this all the editorial writers
were agreed。
The day passed drearily for Arkwright。 Early in the morning he
packed his valise and paid his landlord； and for the remainder of the day
walked the streets or sat in the hotel corridor waiting impatiently for each
fresh edition of the papers。 In them he read the signs of the great
upheaval of popular feeling that was to restore peace and health and plenty
to the island for which he had given his last three years of energy and life。
He was trembling with excitement； as well as with the cold； when at
ten o'clock precisely he stood at Senator Stanton's door。 He had forgotten
to eat his dinner； and the warmth of the dimly lit hall and the odor of rich
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food which was wafted from an inner room touched his senses with
tantalizing comfort。
〃The senator says you are to come this way； sir；〃 the servant directed。
He took Arkwright's valise from his hand and parted the heavy curtains
that hid the dining…room； and Arkwright stepped in between them and then
stopped in some embarrassment。 He found himself in the presence of a
number of gentlemen seated at a long dinner…table； who turned their heads
as he entered and peered at him through the smoke that floated in light
layers above the white cloth。 The dinner had been served； but the
senator's guests still sat with their chairs pushed back from a table lighted
by candles under yellow shades； and covered with beautiful flowers and
with bottles of varied sizes in stands of quaint and intricate design。
Senator Stanton's tall figure showed dimly through the smoke； and his
deep voice hailed Arkwright cheerily from the farther end of the room。
〃This way； Mr。 Arkwright；〃 he said。 〃I have a chair waiting for you
here。〃 He grasped Arkwright's hand warmly and pulled him into the
vacant place at his side。 An elderly gentleman on Arkwright's other side
moved to make more room for him and shoved a liqueur glass toward him
with a friendly nod and pointed at an open box of cigars。 He was a fine…
looking man； and Arkwright noticed that he was regarding him with a
glance of the keenest interest。 All of those at the table were men of twice
Arkwright's age； except Livingstone； whom he recognized and who
nodded to him pleasantly and at the same time gave an order to a servant；
pointing at Arkwright as he did so。 Some of the gentlemen wore their
business suits； and one opposite Arkwright was still in his overcoat； and
held his hat in his hand。 These latter seemed to have arrived after the
dinner had begun； for they formed a second line back of those who had
places at the table； they all seemed to know one anothe
