beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第23章
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have crept into the editorial department； and perhaps a note of lassitude
not unnatural in the work of men who had returned from what had been
a fairly arduous journey。 The aforetime standard of excellence was
scarcely maintained； but at any rate the general lines of policy and
outlook were not departed from。 It was in the realm of foreign affairs
that a startling change took place。 Blunt； forcible； outspoken articles
appeared； couched in language which nearly turned the autumn
manoeuvres of six important Powers into mobilisations。 Whatever else
the DAILY INTELLIGENCER had learned in the East； it had not
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acquired the art of diplomatic ambiguity。 The man in the street enjoyed
the articles and bought the paper as he had never bought it before； the
men in Downing Street took a different view。 The Foreign Secretary；
hitherto accounted a rather reticent man； became positively garrulous
in the course of perpetually disavowing the sentiments expressed in the
DAILY INTELLIGENCER'S leaders； and then one day the Government
came to the conclusion that something definite and drastic must be
done。 A deputation； consisting of the Prime Minister； the Foreign
Secretary； four leading financiers； and a well…known Nonconformist
divine； made its way to the offices of the paper。 At the door leading to
the editorial department the way was barred by a nervous but defiant
office…boy。
〃 'You can't see the editor nor any of the staff；' he announced。
〃 'We insist on seeing the editor or some responsible person；' said the
Prime Minister； and the deputation forced its way in。 The boy had
spoken truly； there was no one to be seen。 In the whole suite of rooms
there was no sign of human life。
〃 'Where is the editor？' 'Or the foreign editor？' 'Or the chief
leader…writer？ Or anybody？'
〃In answer to the shower of questions the boy unlocked a drawer and
produced a strange…looking envelope； which bore a Khokand postmark；
and a date of some seven or eight months back。 It contained a scrap of
paper on which was written the following message：
〃 'Entire party captured by brigand tribe on homeward journey。
Quarter of million demanded as ransom； but would probably take less。
Inform Government； relations； and friends。'
〃There followed the signatures of the principal members of the
party and instructions as to how and where the money was to be paid。
〃The letter had been directed to the office…boy…in… charge； who had
quietly suppressed it。 No one is a hero to one's own office…boy； and he
evidently considered that a quarter of a million was an unwarrantable
outlay for such a doubtfully advantageous object as the repatriation of
an errant newspaper staff。 So he drew the editorial and other salaries；
forged what signatures were necessary； engaged new reporters； did what
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sub…editing he could； and made as much use as possible of the large
accumulation of special articles that was held in reserve for emergencies。
The articles on foreign affairs were entirely his own composition。
〃Of course the whole thing had to be kept as quiet as possible； an
interim staff； pledged to secrecy； was appointed to keep the paper going
till the pining captives could be sought out； ransomed； and brought home；
in twos and threes to escape notice； and gradually things were put back
on their old footing。 The articles on foreign affairs reverted to the
wonted traditions of the paper。〃
〃But；〃 interposed the nephew； 〃how on earth did the boy account to
the relatives all those months for the non…appearance … 〃
〃That；〃 said Sir Lulworth； 〃was the most brilliant stroke of all。 To
the wife or nearest relative of each of the missing men he forwarded a
letter； copying the handwriting of the supposed writer as well as he
could； and making excuses about vile pens and ink； in each letter he
told the same story； varying only the locality； to the effect that the writer；
alone of the whole party； was unable to tear himself away from the wild
liberty and allurements of Eastern life； and was going to spend several
months roaming in some selected region。 Many of the wives started off
immediately in pursuit of their errant husbands； and it took the
Government a considerable time and much trouble to reclaim them from
their fruitless quests along the banks of the Oxus； the Gobi Desert； the
Orenburg steppe； and other outlandish places。 One of them； I believe；
is still lost somewhere in the Tigris Valley。〃
〃And the boy？〃
〃Is still in journalism。〃
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THE BYZANTINE OMELETTE
SOPHIE CHATTEL…MONKHEIM was a Socialist by conviction
and a Chattel…Monkheim by marriage。 The particular member of that
wealthy family whom she had married was rich； even as his relatives
counted riches。 Sophie had very advanced and decided views as to the
distribution of money： it was a pleasing and fortunate circumstance that
she also had the money。 When she inveighed eloquently against the
evils of capitalism at drawing…room meetings and Fabian conferences
she was conscious of a comfortable feeling that the system； with all its
inequalities and iniquities； would probably last her time。 It is one of
the consolations of middle…aged reformers that the good they inculcate
must live after them if it is to live at all。
On a certain spring evening； somewhere towards the dinner…hour；
Sophie sat tranquilly between her mirror and her maid； undergoing the
process of having her hair built into an elaborate reflection of the
prevailing fashion。 She was hedged round with a great peace； the peace
of one who has attained a desired end with much effort and
perseverance； and who has found it still eminently desirable in its
attainment。 The Duke of Syria had consented to come beneath her roof
as a guest； was even now installed beneath her roof； and would shortly
be sitting at her dining…table。 As a good Socialist； Sophie
disapproved of social distinctions； and derided the idea of a princely
caste； but if there were to be these artificial gradations of rank and
dignity she was pleased and anxious to have an exalted specimen of an
exalted order included in her house…party。 She was broad…minded
enough to love the sinner while hating the sin … not that she entertained
any warm feeling of personal affection for the Duke of Syria； who was a
comparative stranger； but still； as Duke of Syria； he was very； very
welcome beneath her roof。 She could not have explained why； but no
one was likely to ask her for an explanation； and most hostesses envied
her。
〃You must surpass yourself to…night； Richardson；〃 she said
complacently to her maid； 〃I must be looking my very best。 We must
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all surpass ourselves。〃
The maid said nothing； but from the concentrated look in her eyes
and the deft play of her fingers it was evident that she was beset with the
ambition to surpass herself。
A knock came at the door； a quiet but peremptory knock； as of some
one who would not be denied。
〃Go and see who it is；〃 said Sophie； 〃it may be something about the
wine。〃
Richardson held a hurried conference with an invisible messenger at
the door； when she returned there was noticeable a curious listlessness in
place of her hitherto alert manner。
〃What is it？〃 asked Sophie。
〃The household servants have 'downed tools；' madame；〃 said
Richardson。
〃Downed tools！〃 exclaimed Sophie； 〃do you mean to say they've
gone on strike？〃
〃Yes； madame；〃 said Richardson； adding the information： 〃It's
Gaspare that the trouble is about。〃
〃Gaspare？〃 said Sophie wanderingly； 〃the emergency chef！ The
omelette specialist！〃
〃Yes； madame。 Before he became an omelette specialist he was a
valet； and he was one of the strike… breakers in the great strike at Lord
Grimford's two years ago。 As soon as the household staff here learned
that you had engaged him they resolved to ‘down tools' as a protest。
They haven't got any grievance against you personally； but they demand
that Gaspare should be immediately dismissed。〃
〃But；〃 protested Sophie； 〃he is the only man in England who
understands how to make a Byzantine omelette。 I engaged him
specially for the Duke of Syria's visit； and it would be impossible to
replace him at short notice。 I should have to send to Paris； and the
