round the red lamp(红灯四周)-第32章
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picking at the coverlet。
〃You see you have kept your appointment after all；〃 said Lord Sannox。
And at that Douglas Stone began to laugh。 He laughed long and
loudly。 But Lord Sannox did not laugh now。 Something like fear
sharpened and hardened his features。 He walked from the room； and he
walked on tiptoe。 The old woman was waiting outside。
〃Attend to your mistress when she awakes；〃 said Lord Sannox。
Then he went down to the street。 The cab was at the door； and the
driver raised his hand to his hat。
〃John；〃 said Lord Sannox； 〃you will take the doctor home first。 He
will want leading downstairs； I think。 Tell his butler that he has been
taken ill at a case。〃
〃Very good； sir。〃
〃Then you can take Lady Sannox home。〃
〃And how about yourself； sir？〃
〃Oh； my address for the next few months will be Hotel di Roma；
Venice。 Just see that the letters are sent on。 And tell Stevens to exhibit
all the purple chrysanthemums next Monday and to wire me the result。〃
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A QUESTION OF DIPLOMACY。
The Foreign Minister was down with the gout。 For a week he had
been confined to the house； and he had missed two Cabinet Councils at a
time when the pressure upon his department was severe。 It is true that he
had an excellent undersecretary and an admirable staff； but the Minister
was a man of such ripe experience and of such proven sagacity that things
halted in his absence。 When his firm hand was at the wheel the great
ship of State rode easily and smoothly upon her way； when it was
removed she yawed and staggered until twelve British editors rose up in
their omniscience and traced out twelve several courses； each of which
was the sole and only path to safety。 Then it was that the Opposition said
vain things； and that the harassed Prime Minister prayed for his absent
colleague。
The Foreign Minister sat in his dressing…room in the great house in
Cavendish Square。 It was May； and the square garden shot up like a veil
of green in front of his window； but； in spite of the sunshine； a fire
crackled and sputtered in the grate of the sick…room。 In a deep…red plush
armchair sat the great statesman； his head leaning back upon a silken
pillow； one foot stretched forward and supported upon a padded rest。 His
deeply…lined； finely…chiselled face and slow…moving； heavily… pouched
eyes were turned upwards towards the carved and painted ceiling； with
that inscrutable expression which had been the despair and the admiration
of his Continental colleagues upon the occasion of the famous Congress
when he had made his first appearance in the arena of European
diplomacy。 Yet at the present moment his capacity for hiding his
emotions had for the instant failed him； for about the lines of his strong；
straight mouth and the puckers of his broad； overhanging forehead； there
were sufficient indications of the restlessness and impatience which
consumed him。
And indeed there was enough to make a man chafe； for he had much to
think of and yet was bereft of the power of thought。 There was； for
example； that question of the Dobrutscha and the navigation of the mouths
of the Danube which was ripe for settlement。 The Russian Chancellor
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had sent a masterly statement upon the subject； and it was the pet ambition
of our Minister to answer it in a worthy fashion。 Then there was the
blockade of Crete； and the British fleet lying off Cape Matapan； waiting
for instructions which might change the course of European history。 And
there were those three unfortunate Macedonian tourists； whose friends
were momentarily expecting to receive their ears or their fingers in default
of the exorbitant ransom which had been demanded。 They must be
plucked out of those mountains； by force or by diplomacy； or an outraged
public would vent its wrath upon Downing Street。 All these questions
pressed for a solution； and yet here was the Foreign Minister of England；
planted in an arm…chair； with his whole thoughts and attention riveted
upon the ball of his right toe！ It was humiliatinghorribly humiliating！
His reason revolted at it。 He had been a respecter of himself； a respecter
of his own will； but what sort of a machine was it which could be utterly
thrown out of gear by a little piece of inflamed gristle？ He groaned and
writhed among his cushions。
But； after all； was it quite impossible that he should go down to the
House？ Perhaps the doctor was exaggerating the situation。 There was a
Cabinet Council that day。 He glanced at his watch。 It must be nearly
over by now。 But at least he might perhaps venture to drive down as far
as Westminster。 He pushed back the little round table with its bristle of
medicine…bottles； and levering himself up with a hand upon either arm of
the chair； he clutched a thick oak stick and hobbled slowly across the room。
For a moment as he moved； his energy of mind and body seemed to return
to him。 The British fleet should sail from Matapan。 Pressure should be
brought to bear upon the Turks。 The Greeks should be shownOw！ In
an instant the Mediterranean was blotted out； and nothing remained but
that huge； undeniable； intrusive； red…hot toe。 He staggered to the window
and rested his left hand upon the ledge； while he propped himself upon his
stick with his right。 Outside lay the bright； cool； square garden； a few
well…dressed passers…by； and a single； neatly… appointed carriage； which
was driving away from his own door。 His quick eye caught the coat…of…
arms on the panel； and his lips set for a moment and his bushy eyebrows
gathered ominously with a deep furrow between them。 He hobbled back
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to his seat and struck the gong which stood upon the table。
〃Your mistress！〃 said he as the serving…man entered。
It was clear that it was impossible to think of going to the House。
The shooting up his leg warned him that his doctor had not overestimated
the situation。 But he had a little mental worry now which had for the
moment eclipsed his physical ailments。 He tapped the ground
impatiently with his stick until the door of the dressing…room swung open；
and a tall； elegant lady of rather more than middle age swept into the
chamber。 Her hair was touched with grey； but her calm； sweet face had
all the freshness of youth； and her gown of green shot plush； with a sparkle
of gold passementerie at her bosom and shoulders； showed off the lines of
her fine figure to their best advantage。
〃You se
