the lion and the unicorn-第24章
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fact did not show； and his waist was lost； but riding and tennis
would set that right。 He had means outside of his official
salary； and there was the title； such as it was。 Lady Greville
the wife of the birthday knight sounded as well as Lady Greville
the marchioness。 And Americans cared for these things。 He
doubted whether this particular American would do so； but he was
adding up all he had to offer； and that was one of the assets。
He was sure she would not be content to remain mistress of
the Windless Isles。 Nor； indeed； did he longer care to be master
there； now that he had inhaled this quick； stirring breath from
the outer world。 He would resign； and return and mix with the
world again。 He would enter Parliament； a man so well acquainted
as himself with the Gold Coast of Africa and with the trade of
the West Indies must always be of value in the Lower House。 This
value would be recognized； no doubt； and he would become at first
an Under…Secretary for the Colonies； and then； in time； Colonial
Secretary and a cabinet minister。 She would like that； he
thought。 And after that place had been reached； all things were
possible。 For years he had not dreamed such dreamsnot since he
had been a clerk in the Foreign Office。 They seemed just as
possible now as they had seemed real then； and just as near。 He
felt it was all absolutely in his own hands。
He descended to the dining…room with the air of a man who already
felt the cares of high responsibility upon his shoulders。 His
head was erect and his chest thrown forward。 He was ten
years younger； his manner was alert； assured； and gracious。 As
he passed through the halls he was impatient of the familiar
settings of Government House； they seemed to him like the
furnishings of a hotel where he had paid his bill； and where his
luggage was lying strapped for departure in the hallway。
In his library he saw on his table a number of papers lying open
waiting for his signature； the dog…tax among the others。 He
smiled to remember how important it had seemed to him in the
pastin that past of indolence and easy content。 Now he was on
fire to put this rekindled ambition to work； to tell the woman
who had lighted it that it was all from her and for her； that
without her he had existed； that now he had begun to live。
They had never found him so delighful｛sic｝ as he appeared that
night。 He was like a man on the eve of a holiday。 He made a
jest of his past efforts； he made them see； as he now saw it for
the first time； that side of the life of the Windless Isles which
was narrow and petty； even ridiculous。 He talked of big men in a
big way； he criticised； and expounded； and advanced his own
theories of government and the proper control of an empire。
Collier； who had returned from his unsuccessful search of the
plantations； shook his head。
〃It's a pity you are not in London now；〃 he said； sincerely。
〃They need some one there who has been on the spot。 They can't
direct the colonies from what they know of them in Whitehall。〃
Sir Charles fingered the dinner cloth nervously； and when he
spoke； fixed his eyes anxiously upon Miss Cameron。
〃Do you know；〃 he said； 〃I have been thinking of doing that very
thing； of resigning my post here and going back； entering
Parliament； and all the rest of it。〃
His declaration met with a unanimous chorus of delight。 Miss
Cameron nodded her head with eager approval。
〃Yes； if I were a man； that is where I should wish to be；〃 she
said； 〃at the heart of it。 Why； whatever you say in the House of
Commons is heard all over the world the next morning。〃
Sir Charles felt the blood tingle in his pulses。 He had not been
so stirred in years。 Her words ran to his head like wine。
Mr。 Collier raised his glass。
〃Here's to our next meeting；〃 he said； 〃on the terrace of the
House of Commons。〃
But Miss Cameron interrupted。 〃No； to the Colonial Secretary；〃
she amended。
〃Oh yes；〃 they assented； rising； and so drank his health； smiling
down upon him with kind； friendly glances and good…will。
〃To the Colonial Secretary；〃 they said。 Sir Charles clasped the
arms of his chair tightly with his hands； his eyes were half
closed； and his lips pressed into a grim； confident smile。 He
felt that a single word from her would make all that they
suggested possible。 If she cared for such things； they were
hers； he had them to give； they were ready lying at her feet。 He
knew that the power had always been with him； lying dormant in
his heart and brain。 It had only waited for the touch of the
Princess to wake it into life。
The American visitors were to sail for the mainland the next day；
but he had come to know them so well in the brief period of
their visit that he felt he dared speak to her that same night。
At least he could give her some word that would keep him in her
mind until they met again in London； or until she had considered
her answer。 He could not expect her to answer at once。 She
could take much time。 What else had he to do now but to wait for
her answer？ It was now all that made life。
Collier and his wife had left the veranda and had crossed the
lawn towards the water's edge。 The moonlight fell full upon them
with all the splendor of the tropics； and lit the night with a
brilliant； dazzling radiance。 From where Miss Cameron sat on the
veranda in the shadow； Sir Charles could see only the white
outline of her figure and the indolent movement of her fan。
Collier had left his wife and was returning slowly towards the
step。 Sir Charles felt that if he meant to speak he must speak
now； and quickly。 He rose and placed himself beside her in the
shadow； and the girl turned her head inquiringly and looked up at
him。
But on the instant the hush of the night was broken by a
sharp challenge； and the sound of men's voices raised in anger；
there was the noise of a struggle on the gravel； and from the
corner of the house the two sentries came running； dragging
between them a slight figure that fought and wrestled to be free。
Sir Charles exclaimed with indignant impatience； and turning；
strode quickly to the head of the steps。
〃What does this mean？〃 he demanded。 〃What are you doing with
that man？ Why did you bring him here？〃
As the soldiers straightened to attention； their prisoner ceased
to struggle； and stood with his head bent on his chest。 His
sombrero was pulled down low across his forehead。
〃He was crawling through the bushes； Sir Charles；〃 the soldier
panted； 〃watching that gentleman； sir；〃he nodded over his
shoulder towards Collier。 〃I challenged； and he jumped to run；
and we collared him。 He resisted； Sir Charles。〃
The mind of the Governor was concerned with other matters than
trespassers。
〃Well； take him to the barracks； then；〃 he said。 〃Report to
me in the morning。 That will do。〃
The prisoner wheeled eagerly； without further show of resistance；
and the soldiers closed in on him on either side。 But as the
three men moved away together； their faces； which had been in
shadow； were now turned towards Mr。 Collier； who was advancing
leisurely； and with silent footsteps； across the grass。 He met
them face to face； and as he did so the prisoner sprang back and
threw out his arms in front of him； with the gesture of a man who
entreats silence。 Mr。 Collier halted as though struck to stone；
and the two men confronted each other without moving。
〃Good God！〃 Mr。 Collier whispered。
He turned stiffly and slowly； as though in a trance； and beckoned
to his wife； who had followed him。
〃Alice！〃 he called。 He stepped backwards towards her； and taking
her hand in one of his； drew her towards the prisoner。 〃Here he
is！〃 he said。
They heard her cry 〃Henry！〃 with the fierceness of a call for
help； and saw her rush forward and stumble into the arms of
the prisoner； and their two heads were bent close together。
Collier ran up the steps and explained breathlessly。
〃And now；〃 he gasped； in conclusion； 〃what's to be done？ What's
he arrested for？ Is it bailable？ What？〃
〃Good heavens！〃 exclaimed Sir Charles； miserably。 〃It is my
fault entirely。 I assure you I had no idea。 How could
