the burning spear-第31章
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the freedom of the seas。 A Union Jack happened to be leaning against the
monument; and when she had at last finished; Mr。 Lavender seized it and
came forward to the edge。
〃Great tidings!〃 he said at once; waving the flag; and without more ado
plunged into an oration; which; so far as it went; must certainly
be ranked among his masterpieces。 〃Great tidings; Friends! I have
planted the grain of mustard seed or; in common parlance; have just come
from the meeting which has incepted the League of Nations; and it will be
my task this morning briefly to make known to you the principles which in
future must dominate the policy of the world。 Since it is for the closer
brotherhood of man and the reign of perpetual peace that we are
struggling; we must first secure the annihilation of our common enemies。
Those members of the human race whose infamies have largely placed them
beyond the pale must be eliminated once for all。〃
Loud cheers greeted this utterance; and stimulated by the sound Mr。
Lavender proceeded: 〃 What; however; must the civilized nations do when
at last they have clean sheets? In the first place; all petty prejudices
and provincial aspirations must be set aside; and though the world must
be firmly founded upon the principle of nationality it must also act as
one great people。 This; my fellow…countrymen; is no mere contradiction
in terms; for though in their new solidarities each nation will be
prouder of itself; and more jealous of its good name and independence
than ever; that will not prevent its' sacrificing its inalienable rights
for the good of the whole human nation of which it is a member。 Friends;
let me give you a simple illustration; which in a nutshell will make the
whole thing clear。 We; here in Britain; are justly proud and tenacious
of our sea powerin the words of the poet; 'We hold all the gates of the
water。' Now it is abundantly and convincingly plain that this reinforced
principle of nationality bids us to retain and increase them; while
internationalism bids us givethem up。〃
His audiencewhich had hitherto listened with open mouths; here closed
them; and a strident voice exclaimed:
〃Give it a name; gov'nor。 D'you say we ought to give up Gib?
This word pierced Mr。 Lavender; standing where he was; to the very
marrow; and he fell into such confusion of spirit that his words became
inaudible。
〃My God!〃 he thought; appalled; 〃is it possible that I have not got to
the bottom of this question?〃 And; turning his back on the audience; he
gazed in a sort of agony at the figure of Nelson towering into the sky
above him。 He was about to cry out piteously: 〃Countrymen; I know not
what I think。 Oh! I am unhappy!〃 when he inadvertently stepped back
over the edge of the plinth; and; still entangled in the flag; was picked
up by two policemen and placed in a dazed condition and a deserted spot
opposite the National Gallery。
It was while he was standing there; encircled by; pigeons and forgotten
by his fellow man; that there came to him a spiritual revelation。
〃Strange!〃 he thought; 〃I notice a certain inconsistency in myself; and
even in my utterances。 I am two men; one of whom is me and one not me;
and the one which is not me is the one which causes me to fall into the
arms of policemen and other troubles。 The one which is me loves these
pigeons; and desires to live quietly with my dog; not considering public
affairs; which; indeed; seem to be suited to persons of another sort。
Whence; then; comes the one which is not me? Can it be that it is
derived from the sayings and writings of others; and is but a spurious
spirit only meet to be outcast? Do I; to speak in the vernacular; care
any buttons whether we stick to Gibraltar or not so long as men do but
live in kindness? And if that is so; have I the right to say I do?
Ought I not; rather; to be true to my private self and leave the course
of public affairs to those who have louder voices and no private selves?〃
The thought was extremely painful; for it seemed to disclose to him grave
inconsistency in the recent management of his life。 And; thoroughly
mortified; he turned round with a view of entering the National Gallery
and soothing his spirit with art; when he was arrested by the placard
which covered it announcing which town had taken which sum of bonds。
This lighted up such a new vista of public utility that his brain would
certainly have caught fire again if one of the policemen who had
conducted him across the Square had not touched him on the arm; and said:
〃How are you now; sir?〃
〃I am pretty well; thank you; policeman;〃 replied Mr。 Lavender; 〃and
sorry that I occasioned so much disturbance。〃
〃Don't mention it; sir;〃 answered the policeman; 〃you came a nasty
crump。〃
〃Tell me;〃 said Mr。 Lavender; suddenly looking up into his face; 〃do you
consider that a man is justified in living a private life? For; as
regards my future; it is largely on your opinion that I shall act。〃
The policeman; whose solid face showed traces of astonishment; answered
slowly: 〃As a general thing; a man's private life don't bear lookin'
into; as you know; sir。〃
〃I have not lived one for some time;〃 said Mr。 Lavender。
〃Well;〃 remarked the policeman; 〃if you take my advice you won't try it
a…gain。 I should say you 'adn't the constitution。〃
〃I fear you do not catch my meaning;〃 returned Mr。 Lavender; whose whole
body was aching from his fall; 〃it is my public life which tries me。〃
〃Well; then; I should chuck it;〃 said the policeman。
〃Really?〃 murmured Mr。 Lavender eagerly 〃would you?〃
〃Why not?〃 said the …policeman。
So excited was Mr。 Lavender by this independent confirmation of his
sudden longing that he took out half a crown。
〃You will oblige me greatly;〃 he said; by accepting this as a token of my
gratitude。〃
〃Well; sir; I'll humour you;〃 answered the policeman; 〃though it was no
trouble; I'm sure; you're as light as a feather。 Goin' anywhere in
particular?〃 he added。
〃Yes;〃 said Mr。 Lavender; rather faintly; 〃the Tube Station。〃
〃Come along with me; then。〃
Mr。 Lavender went along; not sorry to have the protection of that
stalwart form; for his nerve was shaken; not so much by physical
suffering as by the revelation he had received。
〃If you'll take my tip; sir;〃 said the policeman; parting from him; 〃you
won't try no private life again; you don't look strong。〃
〃Thank you; policeman;〃 said Mr。 Lavender musingly; 〃it is kind of you to
take an interest in me。 Good…bye!〃
Safely seated in the Tube for Hampstead he continued the painful struggle
of his meditations。 〃If; indeed;〃 he thought; 〃as a public man I do more
harm than good; I am prepared to sacrifice all for my country's sake and
retire into private life。 But the policeman said that would be dangerous
for me。 What; then; is left? To live neither a public nor a private
life!〃
This thought; at once painful and heroic; began to take such hold of him
that he arrived at his house in a high fever of the brain。
XXI
AND ASCENDS TO PARADISE
Now when Mr。 Lavender once slept over an idea it became so strong that no
power on earth could prevent his putting it into execution; and all night
long he kept Blink awake by tramping up and down his bedroom and planning
the details of such a retirement as would meet his unfortunate case。 For
at once he perceived that to retire from both his lives without making
the whole world know of it would be tantamount to not retiring。 〃Only by
a public act;〃 he thought; 〃of so striking a character that nobody can
miss it can I bring the moral home to all public and private men。〃 And a
hundred schemes swarmed like ants in his brain。 Nor was it till the cock
crew that one adequate to this final occasion occurred to him。
〃It will want very careful handling;〃 he thought; 〃for otherwise I shall
be pre