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！
That night； after dinner in the patio； he reported to Garland the
words of the Mother Superior。
〃That was my dream； 0 Prophet；〃 concluded Everett； 〃you who can
read this land of lotus…eaters； interpret！ What does it mean？〃
〃It only means what I've been telling you；〃 said the consul。 〃It means
that if you're going after that treaty； you've only got to fight the
Catholic Church。 That's all it means！〃
Later in the evening Garland said： 〃I saw you this morning crossing
the plaza with Monica。 When I told you everybody in this town
loved her； was I right？〃
〃Absolutely！〃 assented Everett。 〃But why didn't you tell me she
was a flapper？〃
〃I don't know what a flapper is；〃 promptly retorted Garland。 〃And
if I did； I wouldn't call Monica one。〃
〃A flapper is a very charming person；〃 protested Everett。 〃I used
the term in its most complimentary sense。 It means a girl between
fourteen and eighteen。 It's English slang； and in England at the
present the flapper is very popular。 She is driving her sophisticated
elder sister； who has been out two or three seasons； and the predatory
married woman to the wall。 To men of my years the flapper is really
at the dangerous age。〃
In his bamboo chair Garland tossed violently and snorted。
〃I sized you up；〃 he cried； 〃as a man of the finest perceptions。 I was
wrong。 You don't appreciate Monica！ Dangerous！ You might as
well say God's sunshine is dangerous； or a beautiful flower is
dangerous。〃
Everett shook his head at the other man reproachfully：
〃Did you ever hear of a sunstroke？〃 he demanded。 〃Don't you know
if you smell certain beautiful flowers you die？ Can't you grasp any
other kind of danger than being run down by a trolley…car？ Is the
danger of losing one's peace of mind nothing； of being unfaithful
to duty； nothing！ Is〃
Garland raised his arms。
〃Don't shoot！〃 he begged。 〃I apologize。 You do appreciate Monica。
You have your consul's permission to walk with her again。〃
The next day young Professor Peabody called and presented his
letters。 He was a forceful young man to whom the delays of
diplomacy did not appeal； and one apparently accustomed to riding
off whatever came in his way。 He seemed to consider any one who
opposed him； or who even disagreed with his conclusions； as
offering a personal affront。 With indignation he launched into
his grievance。
〃These people；〃 he declared； 〃are dogs in the manger； and Ward is
the worst of the lot。 He knows no more of archaeology than a
congressman。 The man's a faker！ He showed me a spear…head of
obsidian and called it flint； and he said the Aztecs borrowed from
the Mayas； and that the Toltecs were a myth。 And he got the Aztec
solar calendar mixed with the Ahau。 He's as ignorant as that。〃
〃I can't believe it！〃 exclaimed Everett。
〃You may laugh；〃 protested the professor； 〃but the ruins of Cobre
hold secrets the students of two continents are trying to solve。
They hide the history of a lost race； and I submit it's not proper
one man should keep that knowledge from the world； certainly
not for a few gold armlets！〃
Everett raised his eyes。
〃What makes you say that？〃' he demanded。
〃I've been kicking my heels in this town for a month；〃 Peabody
told him； 〃and I've talked to the people here； and to the Harvard
expedition at Copan； and everybody tells me this fellow has found
treasure。〃 The archaeologist exclaimed with indignation： 〃What's
gold；〃 he snorted； 〃compared to the discovery of a lost race？〃
〃I applaud your point of view；〃 Everett assured him。 〃I am to see the
President tomorrow； and I will lay the matter before him。 I'll ask him
to give you a look in。〃
To urge his treaty of extradition was the reason for the audience with
the President； and with all the courtesy that a bad case demanded
Mendoza protested against it。 He pointed out that governments
entered into treaties only when the ensuing benefits were mutual。
For Amapala in a treaty of extradition he saw no benefit。 Amapala
was not so far 〃advanced〃 as to produce defaulting bank presidents；
get…rich…quick promoters； counterfeiters； and thieving cashiers。 Her
fugitives were revolutionists who had fought and lost； and every one
was glad to have them go； and no one wanted them back。
〃Or；〃 suggested the President； 〃suppose I am turned out by a
revolution； and I seek asylum in your country？ My enemies desire
my life。 They would ask for my extradition〃
〃If the offense were political；〃 Everett corrected； 〃my government
would surrender no one。〃
〃But my enemies would charge me with murder；〃 explained the
President。 〃Remember Castro。 And by the terms of the treaty your
government would be forced to surrender me。 And I am shot against
the wall。〃 The President shrugged his shoulders。 〃That treaty would
not be nice for me！〃
〃Consider the matter as a patriot；〃 said the diplomat。 〃Is it good that
the criminals of my country should make their home in yours？ When
you are so fortunate as to have no dishonest men of your own； why
import ours？ We don't seek the individual。 We want to punish him
only as a warning to others。 And we want the money he takes with
him。 Often it is the savings of the very poor。〃
The President frowned。 It was apparent that both the subject and
Everett bored him。
〃I name no names；〃 exclaimed Mendoza； 〃but to those who come
here we owe the little railroads we possess。 They develop our mines
and our coffee plantations。 In time they will make this country very
modern； very rich。 And some you call criminals we have learned to
love。 Their past does not concern us。 We shut our ears。 We do not
spy。 They have come to us as to a sanctuary； and so long as they claim
the right of sanctuary； I will not violate it。〃
As Everett emerged from the cool； dark halls of the palace into
the glare of the plaza he was scowling； and he acknowledged the
salute of the palace guard as though those gentlemen had offered
him an insult。
Garland was waiting in front of a cafe and greeted him with a
mocking grin。
〃Congratulations；〃 he shouted。
〃I have still twenty…two days；〃 said Everett
。
The aristocracy of Camaguay invited the new minister to formal
dinners of eighteen courses； and to picnics less formal。 These
latter Everett greatly enjoyed； because while Monica Ward was too
young to attend the state dinners； she was exactly the proper age
for the all…day excursions to the waterfalls； the coffee plantations；
and the asphalt lakes。 The native belles of Camaguay took no
pleasure in riding farther afield than the military parade…ground。
Climbing a trail so steep that you viewed the sky between the ears
of your pony； or where with both hands you forced a way through
hanging vines and creepers； did not appeal。 But to Monica； with
the seat and balance of a cowboy； riding astride； with her leg straight
and the ball of her foot just feeling the stirrup； these expeditions were
the happiest moments in her exile。 So were they to Everett； and that
on the trail one could ride only in single file was a most poignant
regret。 In the column the place of honor was next to whoever rode
at the head； but Everett relinquish