the lion and the unicorn-第19章
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money rise and fall； that outside the sun is shining； that human
beings are sick and suffering； that men are giving their lives
for an idea； for a sentiment； for a flag。 You are the money…
changers in the temple of this great republic and the day will
come； I pray to God； when you will be scourged and driven out
with whips。 Do you think you can form combines and deals that
will cheat you into heaven？ Can your 'trusts' save your souls
is 'Wall Street' the strait and narrow road to salvation？〃
The men about the table leaned back and stared at Arkwright in as
great amazement as though he had violently attempted an assault
upon their pockets； or had suddenly gone mad in their presence。
Some of them frowned； and others appeared not to have heard； and
others smiled grimly and waited for him to continue as though
they were spectators at a play。
The political leader broke the silence with a low aside to
Stanton。 〃Does the gentleman belong to the Salvation Army？〃 he
asked。
Arkwright whirled about and turned upon him fiercely。
〃Old gods give way to new gods；〃 he cried。 〃Here is your
brother。 I am speaking for him。 Do you ever think of him？ How
dare you sneer at me？〃 he cried。 〃You can crack your whip over
that man's head and turn him from what in his heart and
conscience he knows is right； you can crack your whip over the
men who call themselves free…born American citizens and who have
made you their bosssneer at them if you like； but you have no
collar on my neck。 If you are a leader； why don't you lead your
people to what is good and noble？ Why do you stop this man in
the work God sent him here to do？ You would make a party hack of
him； a political prostitute； something lower than the woman who
walks the streets。 She sells her bodythis man is selling his
soul。〃
He turned； trembling and quivering； and shook his finger above
the upturned face of the senator。
〃What have you done with your talents； Stanton？〃 he cried。 〃What
have you done with your talents？〃
The man in the overcoat struck the table before him with his
fist so that the glasses rang。
〃By God；〃 he laughed； 〃I call him a better speaker than Stanton！
Livingstone's right； he IS better than Stantonbut he lacks
Stanton's knack of making himself popular；〃 he added。 He looked
around the table inviting approbation with a smile； but no one
noticed him； nor spoke to break the silence。
Arkwright heard the words dully and felt that he was being
mocked。 He covered his face with his hands and stood breathing
brokenly； his body was still trembling with an excitement he
could not master。
Stanton rose from his chair and shook him by the shoulder。 〃Are
you mad； Arkwright？〃 he cried。 〃You have no right to insult my
guests or me。 Be calmcontrol yourself。〃
〃What does it matter what I say？〃 Arkwright went on desperately。
〃I am mad。 Yes； that is it； I am mad。 They have won and I have
lost； and it drove me beside myself。 I counted on you。 I knew
that no one else could let my people go。 But I'll not
trouble you again。 I wish you good…night； sir； and good…bye。 If
I have been unjust； you must forget it。〃
He turned sharply； but Stanton placed a detaining hand on his
shoulder。 〃Wait；〃 he commanded querulously； 〃where are you
going？ Will you； still？〃
Arkwright bowed his head。 〃Yes；〃 he answered。 〃I have but just
time now to catch our trainmy train； I mean。〃
He looked up at Stanton and taking his hand in both of his； drew
the man toward him。 All the wildness and intolerance in his
manner had passed； and as he raised his eyes they were full of a
firm resolve。
〃Come；〃 he said simply； 〃there is yet time。 Leave these people
behind you。 What can you answer when they ask what have you done
with your talents？〃
〃Good God； Arkwright；〃 the senator exclaimed angrily； pulling his
hand away； 〃don't talk like a hymn…book； and don't make another
scene。 What you ask is impossible。 Tell me what I can do to
help you in any other way； and〃
〃Come；〃 repeated the young man firmly。
〃The world may judge you by what you do to…night。〃
Stanton looked at the boy for a brief moment with a strained and
eager scrutiny； and then turned away abruptly and shook his head
in silence； and Arkwright passed around the table and on out of
the room。
A month later； as the Southern senator was passing through the
reading…room of the Union Club； Livingstone beckoned to him； and
handing him an afternoon paper pointed at a paragraph in silence。
The paragraph was dated Sagua la Grande； and read：
〃The body of Henry Arkwright； an American civil engineer； was
brought into Sagua to…day by a Spanish column。 It was found
lying in a road three miles beyond the line of forts。 Arkwright
was surprised by a guerilla force while attempting to make his
way to the insurgent camp； and on resisting was shot。 The body
has been handed over to the American consul for interment。 It is
badly mutilated。〃
Stanton lowered the paper and stood staring out of the window at
the falling snow and the cheery lights and bustling energy
of the avenue。
〃Poor fellow；〃 he said； 〃he wanted so much to help them。 And he
didn't accomplish anything； did he？〃
Livingstone stared at the older man and laughed shortly。
〃Well； I don't know；〃 he said。 〃He died。 Some of us only
live。〃
THE VAGRANT
His Excellency Sir Charles Greville； K。 C M。 G。； Governor of the
Windless Islands； stood upon the veranda of Government House
surveying the new day with critical and searching eyes。 Sir
Charles had been so long absolute monarch of the Windless Isles
that he had assumed unconsciously a mental attitude of suzerainty
over even the glittering waters of the Caribbean Sea； and the
coral reefs under the waters； and the rainbow skies that floated
above them。 But on this particular morning not even the critical
eye of the Governor could distinguish a single flaw in the
tropical landscape before him。
The lawn at his feet ran down to meet the dazzling waters of the
bay； the blue waters of the bay ran to meet a great stretch of
absinthe green； the green joined a fairy sky of pink and
gold and saffron。 Islands of coral floated on the sea of
absinthe； and derelict clouds of mother…of…pearl swung low above
them； starting from nowhere and going nowhere； but drifting
beautifully； like giant soap…bubbles of light and color。 Where
the lawn touched the waters of the bay the cocoanut…palms reached
their crooked lengths far up into the sunshine； and as the sea…
breeze stirred their fronds they filled the hot air with whispers
and murmurs like the fluttering of many fans。 Nature smiled
boldly upon the Governor； confident in her bountiful beauty； as
though she said； 〃Surely you cannot but be pleased with me to…
day。〃 And； as though in answer； the critical and searching
glance of Sir Charles relaxed。
The crunching of the gravel and the rattle of the sentry's musket
at salute recalled him to his high office and to the duties of
the morning。 He waved his hand； and； as though it were a wand；
the sentry moved again； making his way to the kitchen…garden； and
so around Government House and back to the lawn…tennis court；
maintaining in his solitary pilgrimage the dignity of her
Majesty's representative； as well as her Majesty's power
over the Windless Isles。
The Governor smiled slightly； with the ease of mind of one who
finds all things good。 Supreme authority； surroundings of
endless beauty； the respectful； even humble； deference of his
inferiors； and never even an occasional visit from a superior；
had in four years lowered him into a bed of ease and self…
satisfaction。 He was cut off from the world； and yet of it。
Each month there came； via Jamaica； the three weeks' old copy
of The Weekly Times； he subscribed to Mudie's Colonial Library；
and from the States he had imported an American lawn…mower； the
mechanism of which no one as yet understood。 Within his own
borders he had created a healthy； orderly seaport out of what had
been a sink of fever and a refuge for all the ne'er…do…wells and
fugitive revolutionists of Central America。
He knew； as he sat each evening on his veranda； look
