按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
By this manoeuvre she always was in his sight； and he could call
upon her to act as his guide and to explain what lay on either hand。
His delight and wonder in her grew daily。 He found that her mind
leaped instantly and with gratitude to whatever was most fair。 Just
out of reach of her pony's hoofs he pressed his own pony forward；
and she pointed out to him what in the tropic abundance about them
she found most beautiful。 Sometimes it was the tumbling waters of
a cataract； sometimes； high in the topmost branches of a ceiba…tree；
a gorgeous orchid； sometimes a shaft of sunshine as rigid as a
search…light； piercing the shadow of the jungle。 At first she would
turn in the saddle and call to him； but as each day they grew to know
each other better she need only point with her whip…hand and he would
answer； 〃Yes；〃 and each knew the other understood。
As a body； the exiles resented Everett。 They knew his purpose in
regard to the treaty； and for them he always must be the enemy。
Even though as a man they might like him； they could not forget
that his presence threatened their peace and safety。 Chester Ward
treated him with impeccable politeness； but； although his house
was the show…place of Camaguay； he never invited the American
minister to cross the threshold。 On account of Monica； Everett
regretted this and tried to keep the relations of her brother and
himself outwardly pleasant。 But Ward made it difficult。 To no
one was his manner effusive； and for Monica only he seemed to
hold any real feeling。 The two were alone in the world； he was
her only relative； and to the orphan he had been father and mother。
When she was a child he had bought her toys and dolls； now； had
the sisters permitted； he would have dressed her in imported frocks；
and with jewels killed her loveliness。 He seemed to understand
how to spend his money as little as did the gossips of Camaguay
understand from whence it came。
That Monica knew why her brother lived in Camaguay Everett was
uncertain。 She did not complain of living there； but she was not
at rest； and constantly she was asking Everett of foreign lands。
As Everett was homesick for them； he was most eloquent。
〃I should like to see them for myself；〃 said Monica； 〃but until my
brother's work here is finished we must wait。 And I am young；
and after a few years Europe will be just as old。 When my brother
leaves Amapala； he promises to take me wherever I ask to go： to
London； to Paris； to Rome。 So I read and read of them； books of
history； books about painting； books about the cathedrals。 But
the more I read the more I want to go at once； and that is disloyal。〃
〃Disloyal？〃 asked Everett。
〃To my brother；〃 explained Monica。 〃He does so much for me。
I should think only of his work。 That is all that really counts。
For the world is waiting to learn what he has discovered。 It is
like having a brother go in search of the North Pole。 You are
proud of what he is doing； but you want him back to keep him
to yourself。 Is that selfish？〃
Everett was a trained diplomat； but with his opinion of Chester Ward
he could not think of the answer。 Instead； he was thinking of Monica
in Europe； of taking her through the churches and galleries which she
had seen only in black and white。 He imagined himself at her side
facing the altar of some great cathedral； or some painting in the Louvre；
and watching her face lighten and the tears come to her eyes； as they
did now； when things that were beautiful hurt her。 Or he imagined her
rid of her half…mourning and accompanying him through a cyclonic
diplomatic career that carried them to Japan； China； Persia； to Berlin；
Paris； and London。 In these imaginings Monica appeared in pongee
and a sun…hat riding an elephant； in pearls and satin receiving
royalty； in tweed knickerbockers and a woollen jersey coasting
around the hairpin curve at Saint Moritz。
Of course he recognized that except as his wife Monica could not
accompany him to all these strange lands and high diplomatic posts。
And of course that was ridiculous。 He had made up his mind for
the success of what he called his career； that he was too young to
marry； but he was sure； should he propose to marry Monica； every
one would say he was too old。 And there was another consideration。
What of the brother？ Would his government send him to a foreign
post when his wife was the sister of a man they had just sent to the
penitentiary？
He could hear them say in London； 〃We know your first secretary；
but who is Mrs。 Everett？〃 And the American visitor would explain：
〃She is the sister of 'Inky Dink；' the forger。 He is bookkeeping
in Sing Sing。〃
Certainly it would be a handicap。 He tried to persuade himself
that Monica so entirely filled his thoughts because in Camaguay
there was no one else； it was a case of propinquity； her loneliness
and the fact that she lay under a shadow for which she was not to
blame appealed to his chivalry。 So； he told himself； in thinking of
Monica except as a charming companion； he was an ass。 And then；
arguing that in calling himself an ass he had shown his saneness
and impartiality； he felt justified in seeing her daily。
One morning Garland came to the legation to tell Everett that
Peabody was in danger of bringing about international
complications by having himself thrust into the cartel。
〃If he qualifies for this local jail；〃 said Garland； 〃you will have
a lot of trouble setting him free。 You'd better warn him it's
easier to keep out than to get out。〃
〃What has he been doing？〃 asked the minister。
〃Poaching on Ward's ruins；〃 said the consul。 〃He certainly is a
hustler。 He pretends to go to Copan； but really goes to Cobre。
Ward had him followed and threatened to have him arrested。
Peabody claims any tourist has a right to visit the ruins so long
as he does no excavating。 Ward accused him of exploring the place
by night and taking photographs by flash…light of the hieroglyphs。
He's put an armed guard at the ruins； and he told Peabody they are
to shoot on sight。 So Peabody went to Mendoza and said if anybody
took a shot at him he'd bring warships down here and blow Amapala
off the map。〃
〃A militant archaeologist；〃 said Everett； 〃is something new。 Peabody
is too enthusiastic。 He and his hieroglyphs are becoming a bore。〃
He sent for Peabody and told him unless he curbed his spirit his
minister could not promise to keep him out of a very damp and
dirty dungeon。
〃I am too enthusiastic；〃 Peabody admitted； 〃but to me this fellow
Ward is like a red flag to the bull。 His private graft is holding
up the whole scientific world。 He won't let us learn the truth；
and he's too ignorant to learn it himself。 Why； he told me Cobre
dated from 1578； when Palacio wrote of it to Philip the Second；
not knowing that in that very letter Palacio states that he found
Cobre in ruins。 Is it right a man as ignorant〃
Everett interrupted by levelling his finger。
〃You；〃 he commanded； 〃keep out of those ruins！ My dear professor；〃
he continued reproachfully； 〃you are a student； a man of peace。
Don't try to wage war on these Amapalans。 They're lawless； they're
unscrupulous。