第 17 节
作者:打倒一切      更新:2021-02-18 22:30      字数:9322
  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; looking across
  the bay; that in the world beyond the pink and gold sunset men
  were still panting; struggling; and starving; crises were rising
  and passing; strikes and panics; wars and the rumors of
  wars; swept from continent to continent; a plague crept through
  India; a filibuster with five hundred men at his back crossed an
  imaginary line and stirred the world from Cape Town to London;
  Emperors were crowned; the good Queen celebrated the longest
  reign; and a captain of artillery imprisoned in a swampy island
  in the South Atlantic caused two hemispheres to clamor for his
  rescue; and lit a race war that stretched from Algiers to the
  boulevards。
  And yet; at the Windless Isles; all these happenings seemed to
  Sir Charles like the morning's memory of a dream。  For these
  things never crossed the ring of the coral reefs; he saw them
  only as pictures in an illustrated paper a month old。  And he was
  pleased to find that this was so。  He was sufficient to himself;
  with his own responsibilities and socia