the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第25章
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THE LION AND THE UNICORN
leisurely occupation； and one that promised no change； and he was
content。
As it was Thursday； the Council met that morning； and some questions
of moment to the colony were to be brought up for consideration。 The
question of the dog…tax was one which perplexed Sir Charles most
particularly。 The two Councillors elected by the people and the three
appointed by the crown had disagreed as to this tax。 Of the five hundred
British subjects at the seaport； all but ten were owners of dogs； and it had
occurred to Sassoon； the chemist； that a tax of half…a…crown a year on each
of these dogs would meet the expense of extending the oyster…shell road to
the new cricket…grounds。 To this Snellgrove； who held the contract for
the narrow…gauge railroad； agreed； but the three crown Councillors
opposed the tax vigorously； on the ground that as scavengers alone the
dogs were a boon to the colony and should be encouraged。 The fact that
each of these gentlemen owned not only one； but several dogs of high
pedigree made their position one of great delicacy。
There was no way by which the Governor could test the popular will
in the matter； except through his secretary； Mr。 Clarges； who； at the
cricket…match between the local eleven and the officers and crew of H。 M。
S。 Partridge； had been informed by the other owners of several fox…
terriers that； in their opinion； the tax was a piece of 〃condemned tommy…
rot。〃 From this the Governor judged that it would not prove a popular
measure。 As he paced the veranda； drawing deliberately on his cigar； and
considering to which party he should give the weight of his final support；
his thoughts were disturbed by the approach of a stranger； who advanced
along the gravel walk； guarded on either side by one of the local
constabulary。 The stranger was young and of poor appearance。 His
bare feet were bound in a pair of the rope sandals worn by the natives； his
clothing was of torn and soiled drill； and he fanned his face nonchalantly
with a sombrero of battered and shapeless felt。
Sir Charles halted in his walk； and holding his cigar behind his back；
addressed himself to the sergeant。
〃A vagrant？〃 he asked。
The words seemed to bear some amusing significance to the stranger；
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for his face lit instantly with a sweet and charming smile； and while he
turned to hear the sergeant's reply； he regarded him with a kindly and
affectionate interest。
〃Yes； your Excellency。〃
The Governor turned to the prisoner。
〃Do you know the law of this colony regarding vagrants？〃
〃I do not；〃 the young man answered。 His tone was politely curious；
and suggested that he would like to be further informed as to the local
peculiarities of a foreign country。
〃After two weeks' residence；〃 the Governor recited； impressively； 〃all
able…bodied persons who will not work are put to work or deported。
Have you made any effort to find work？〃
Again the young man smiled charmingly。 He shook his head and
laughed。 〃Oh dear no；〃 he said。
The laugh struck the Governor as impertinent。
〃Then you must leave by the next mail…steamer； if you have any
money to pay your passage； or； if you have no money； you must go to
work on the roads。 Have you any money？〃
〃If I had； I wouldn'tbe a vagrant；〃 the young man answered。 His
voice was low and singularly sweet。 It seemed to suit the indolence of
his attitude and the lazy； inconsequent smile。 〃I called on our consular
agent here；〃 he continued； leisurely； 〃to write a letter home for money； but
he was disgracefully drunk； so I used his official note…paper to write to the
State Department about him； instead。〃
The Governor's deepest interest was aroused。 The American consular
agent was one of the severest trials he was forced to endure。
〃You are not a British subject； then？ Ah； I seeanderyour
representative was unable to assist you？〃
〃He was drunk；〃 the young man repeated； placidly。 〃He has been
drunk ever since I have been here； particularly in the mornings。〃
He halted； as though the subject had lost interest for him； and gazed
pleasantly at the sunny bay and up at the moving palms。
〃Then；〃 said the Governor； as though he had not been interrupted； 〃as
you have no means of support； you will help support the colony until you
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can earn money to leave it。 That will do； sergeant。〃
The young man placed his hat upon his head and turned to move away；
but at the first step he swayed suddenly and caught at the negro's shoulder；
clasping his other hand across his eyes。 The sergeant held him by the
waist； and looked up at the Governor with some embarrassment。
〃The young gentleman has not been well； Sir Charles；〃 he said；
apologetically。
The stranger straightened himself up and smiled vaguely。 〃I'm all
right；〃 he murmured。 〃Sun's too hot。〃
〃Sit down；〃 said the Governor。
He observed the stranger more closely。 He noticed now that beneath
the tan his face was delicate and finely cut； and that his yellow hair clung
closely to a well…formed head。
〃He seems faint。 Has he had anything to eat？〃 asked the Governor。
The sergeant grinned guiltily。 〃Yes； Sir Charles； we've been feeding
him at the barracks。 It's fever； sir。〃
Sir Charles was not unacquainted with fallen gentlemen； 〃beach…
combers；〃 〃remittance men；〃 and vagrants who had known better days；
and there had been something winning in this vagrant's smile； and；
moreover； he had reported that thorn in his flesh； the consular agent； to the
proper authorities。
He conceived an interest in a young man who； though with naked feet；
did not hesitate to correspond with his Minister of Foreign Affairs。
〃How long have you been ill？〃 he asked。
The young man looked up from where he had sunk on the steps； and
roused himself with a shrug。 〃It doesn't matter；〃 he said。 〃I've had a
touch of Chagres ever since I was on the Isthmus。 I was at work there on
the railroad。〃
〃Did you come here from Colon？〃
〃No； I worked up the Pacific side。 I was clerking with Rossner
Brothers at Amapala for a while； because I speak a little German； and then
I footed it over to Puerto Cortez and got a job with the lottery people。
They gave me twenty dollars a month gold for rolling the tickets； and I put
it all in the drawing； and won as much as ten。〃 He laughed； and sitting
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erect； drew from his pocket a roll of thin green papers。 〃These are for the
next drawing
