the lost road-第26章

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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　relinquished　this　position　in　favor　of　Monica。
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