the lion and the unicorn-第1章

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The　Lion　and　the　Unicorn

by　Richard　Harding　Davis




IN　MEMORY　OF　MANY　HOT　DAYS　AND　SOME　HOT　CORNERS
THIS　BOOK　IS　DEDICATED　TO
LT。…COL。　ARTHUR　H。　LEE；　R。A。
British　Military　Attache　with　the　United　States　Army




Contents

THE　LION　AND　THE　UNICORN

ON　THE　FEVER　SHIP

THE　MAN　WITH　ONE　TALENT

THE　VAGRANT

THE　LAST　RIDE　TOGETHER




THE　LION　AND　THE　UNICORN

Prentiss　had　a　long　lease　on　the　house；　and　because　it　stood　in
Jermyn　Street　the　upper　floors　were；　as　a　matter　of　course；
turned　into　lodgings　for　single　gentlemen；　and　because　Prentiss
was　a　Florist　to　the　Queen；　he　placed　a　lion　and　unicorn　over　his
flowershop；　just　in　front　of　the　middle　window　on　the　first
floor。　　By　stretching　a　little；　each　of　them　could　see　into　the
window　just　beyond　him；　and　could　hear　all　that　was　said　inside；
and　such　things　as　they　saw　and　heard　during　the　reign　of　Captain
Carrington；　who　moved　in　at　the　same　time　they　did！　　By　day　the
table　in　the　centre　of　the　room　was　covered　with　maps；　and　the
Captain　sat　with　a　box　of　pins；　with　different…colored　flags
wrapped　around　them；　and　amused　himself　by　sticking　them　in　the
maps　and　measuring　the　spaces　in　between；　swearing　meanwhile　to
himself。　　It　was　a　selfish　amusement；　but　it　appeared　to　be　the
Captain's　only　intellectual　pursuit；　for　at　night；　the　maps　were
rolled　up；　and　a　green　cloth　was　spread　across　the　table；　and
there　was　much　company　and　popping　of　soda…bottles；　and　little
heaps　of　gold　and　silver　were　moved　this　way　and　that　across　the
cloth。　　The　smoke　drifted　out　of　the　open　windows；　and　the
laughter　of　the　Captain's　guests　rang　out　loudly　in　the　empty
street；　so　that　the　policeman　halted　and　raised　his　eyes
reprovingly　to　the　lighted　windows；　and　cabmen　drew　up　beneath
them　and　lay　in　wait；　dozing　on　their　folded　arms；　for　the
Captain's　guests　to　depart。　　The　Lion　and　the　Unicorn　were　rather
ashamed　of　the　scandal　of　it；　and　they　were　glad　when；　one　day；
the　Captain　went　away　with　his　tin　boxes　and　gun…cases　piled　high
on　a　four…wheeler。

Prentiss　stood　on　the　sidewalk　and　said：　　〃I　wish　you　good　luck；
sir。〃　　And　the　Captain　said：　　〃I'm　coming　back　a　Major；
Prentiss。〃　　But　he　never　came　back。　　And　one　daythe　Lion
remembered　the　day　very　well；　for　on　that　same　day　the
newsboys　ran　up　and　down　Jermyn　Street　shouting　out　the　news　of
〃a　'orrible　disaster〃　to　the　British　arms。　　It　was　then　that　a
young　lady　came　to　the　door　in　a　hansom；　and　Prentiss　went　out　to
meet　her　and　led　her　upstairs。　　They　heard　him　unlock　the
Captain's　door　and　say；　〃This　is　his　room；　miss；〃　and　after　he
had　gone　they　watched　her　standing　quite　still　by　the　centre
table。　　She　stood　there　for　a　very　long　time　looking　slowly　about
her；　and　then　she　took　a　photograph　of　the　Captain　from　the　frame
on　the　mantel　and　slipped　it　into　her　pocket；　and　when　she　went
out　again　her　veil　was　down；　and　she　was　crying。　　She　must　have
given　Prentiss　as　much　as　a　sovereign；　for　he　called　her　〃Your
ladyship；〃　which　he　never　did　under　a　sovereign。

And　she　drove　off；　and　they　never　saw　her　again　either；　nor　could
they　hear　the　address　she　gave　the　cabman。　　But　it　was　somewhere
up　St。　John's　Wood　way。

After　that　the　rooms　were　empty　for　some　months；　and　the　Lion　and
the　Unicorn　were　forced　to　amuse　themselves　with　the　beautiful
ladies　and　smart…looking　men　who　came　to　Prentiss　to　buy
flowers　and　〃buttonholes；〃　and　the　little　round　baskets　of
strawberries；　and　even　the　peaches　at　three　shillings　each；　which
looked　so　tempting　as　they　lay　in　the　window；　wrapped　up　in
cotton…wool；　like　jewels　of　great　price。

Then　Philip　Carroll；　the　American　gentleman；　came；　and　they　heard
Prentiss　telling　him　that　those　rooms　had　always　let　for　five
guineas　a　week；　which　they　knew　was　not　true；　but　they　also　knew
that　in　the　economy　of　nations　there　must　always　be　a　higher
price　for　the　rich　American；　or　else　why　was　he　given　that
strange　accent；　except　to　betray　him　into　the　hands　of　the　London
shopkeeper；　and　the　London　cabby？

The　American　walked　to　the　window　toward　the　west；　which　was　the
window　nearest　the　Lion；　and　looked　out　into　the　graveyard　of　St。
James's　Church；　that　stretched　between　their　street　and
Piccadilly。

〃You're　lucky　in　having　a　bit　of　green　to　look　out　on；〃　he　said
to　Prentiss。　　〃I'll　take　these　roomsat　five　guineas。　　That's
more　than　they're　worth；　you　know；　but　as　I　know　it；　too；　your
conscience　needn't　trouble　you。〃

Then　his　eyes　fell　on　the　Lion；　and　he　nodded　to　him　gravely。　
〃How　do　you　do？〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　coming　to　live　with　you　for　a
little　time。　　I　have　read　about　you　and　your　friends　over　there。　
It　is　a　hazard　of　new　fortunes　with　me；　your　Majesty；　so　be　kind
to　me；　and　if　I　win；　I　will　put　a　new　coat　of　paint　on　your
shield　and　gild　you　all　over　again。〃

Prentiss　smiled　obsequiously　at　the　American's　pleasantry；　but
the　new　lodger　only　stared　at　him。

〃He　seemed　a　social　gentleman；〃　said　the　Unicorn；　that　night；
when　the　Lion　and　he　were　talking　it　over。　　〃Now　the　Captain；　the
whole　time　he　was　here；　never　gave　us　so　much　as　a　look。　　This
one　says　he　has　read　of　us。〃

〃And　why　not？〃　growled　the　Lion。　　〃I　hope　Prentiss　heard　what　he
said　of　our　needing　a　new　layer　of　gilt。　　It's　disgraceful。　　You
can　see　that　Lion　over　Scarlett's；　the　butcher；　as　far　as　Regent
Street；　and　Scarlett　is　only　one　of　Salisbury's　creations。　　He
received　his　Letters…Patent　only　two　years　back。　　We　date　from
Palmerston。〃

The　lodger　came　up　the　street　just　at　that　moment；　and　stopped
and　looked　up　at　the　Lion　and　the　Unicorn　from　the　sidewalk；
before　he　opened　the　door　with　his　night…key。　　They　heard　him
enter　the　room　and　feel　on　the　mantel　for　his　pipe；　and　a　moment
later　he　appeared　at　the　Lion's　window　and　leaned　on　the　sill；
looking　down　into　the　street　below　and　blowing　whiffs　of　smoke　up
into　the　warm　night…air。

It　was　a　night　in　June；　and　the　pavements　were　dry　under　foot　and
the　streets　were　filled　with　well…dressed　people；　going　home　from
the　play；　and　with　groups　of　men　in　black　and　white；　making　their
way　to　supper　at　the　clubs。　　Hansoms　of　inky…black；　with　shining
lamps　inside　and　out；　dashed　noiselessly　past　on　mysterious
errands；　chasing　close　on　each　other's　heels　on　a　mad　race；　each
to　its　separate　goal。　　From　the　cross　streets　rose　the　noises　of
early　night；　the　rumble　of　the　'buses；　the　creaking　of　their
brakes；　as　they　unlocked；　the　cries　of　the　〃extras；〃　and　the
merging　of　thousands　of　human　voices　in　a　dull　murmur。　　The　great
world　of　London　was　closing　its　shutters　for　the　night；　and
putting　out　the　lights；　and　the　new　lodger　from　across　the　sea
listened　to　it　with　his　heart　beating　quickly；　and　laughed　to
stifle　the　touch　of　fear　and　homesickness　that　rose　in　him。

〃I　have　seen　a　great　play　to…night；〃　he　said　to　the　Lion；　〃nobly
played　by　great　players。　　What　will　they　care　for　my　poor　wares？　
I　see　that　I　have　been　over…bold。　　But　we　cannot　go　back　nownot
yet。〃

He　knocked　the　ashes　out　of　his　pipe；　and　nodded　〃good…night〃　to
the　great　world　beyond　his　window。　　〃What　fortunes　lie　with　ye；
ye　lights　of　London　town？〃　he　quoted；　smiling。　　And　they　heard
him　close　the　door　of　his　bedroom；　and　lock　it　for　the　night。

The　next　morning　he　bought　many　geraniums　from　Prentiss　and
placed　them　along　the　broad　cornice　that　stretched　across　the
front　of　the　house　over　the　shop　window。　　The　flowers　made　a　band
of　scarlet　on　either　side　of　the　Lion　as　brilliant　as　a　Tommy's
jacket。

〃I　am　trying　to　propitiate　the　British　Lion　by　placing　flowers
before　his　altar；〃　the　American　said　that　morning　to　a
visitor。

〃The　British　public　you　mean；〃　said　the　visitor；　〃they　are　each
likely　to　tear　you　to　pieces。〃

〃Yes；　I　have　heard　that　the　pit　on　the　first　night　of　a　bad　play
is　something　awful；〃　hazarded　the　American。

〃Wait　and　see；〃　said　the　visitor。

〃Thank　you；〃　said　the　American；　meekly。

Every　one　who　came　to　the　first　floor　front　talked　about　a　play。　
It　seemed　to　be　something　of　great　moment　to　the　American。　　It
was　only　a　bundle　of　leaves　printed　in　red　and　black　inks　and
bound　in　brown　paper　covers。　　There　were　two　of　them；　and　the
American　called　them　by　different　names：　one　was　his　comedy　and
one　was　his　tragedy。

〃They　are　both　likely　to　be　tragedies；〃　the　Lion　heard　one　of　the
visitors　say　to　another；　as　they　drove　away　together。　　〃Our　young
friend　takes　it　too　seriously。〃

The　American　spent　most　of　his　time　by　his　desk　at　the　window
writing　on　little　blue　pads　and　tearing　up　what　he　wrote；　or　in
reading　over　one　of　the　plays　to　himself　in　a　loud　voice。　　In
time　the　number　of　his　visitors　increased；　and　to　some　of　these
he　would　read　his　play；　and　after　they　had　left　him　he　was
either　depressed　and　silent　or　excited　and　jubilant。　　The　Lion
could　always　tell　when　he　was　happy　because　then　he　would　go　to
the　side　table　and　pour　himself　out　a　drink　and　say；　〃Here's　to
me；〃　but　when　he　was　depressed　he　would　stand　holding　the　glass
in　his　hand；　and　finally　pour　the　liquor　back　into　the　bottle
again　and　say；　〃What's　the　use　of　that？〃

After　he　had　been　in　London　a　month　he　wrote　less　and　was　more
frequently　abroad；　sallying　forth　in　beautiful　raiment；　and
coming　home　by　daylight。

And　he　gave　suppers　too；　but　they　were　less　noisy　than　the
Captain's　had　been；　and　the　women　who　came　to　them　were　much　more
beautiful；　and　their　voices　when　they　spoke　were　sweet　and　low。　
Sometimes　one　of　the　women　sang；　and　the　men　sat　in　silence　while
the　people　in　the　street　below　stopped　to　listen；　and　would　say；
〃Why；　that　is　So…and…So　singing；〃　and　the　Lion　and　the　Unicorn
wondered　how　they　could　know　who　it　was　when　they　could　not　see
her。

The　lodger's　visitors　came　to　see　him　at　all　hours。　　They
seemed　to　regard　his　rooms　as　a　club；　where　they　could　always
come　for　a　bite　to　eat　or　to　write　notes；　and　others　treated　it
like　a　lawyer's　office　and　asked　advice　on　all　manner　of　strange
subjects。　　Sometimes　the　visitor　wanted　to　know　whether　the
American　thought　she　ought　to　take　L？0　a　week　and　go　on　tour；　or
stay　in　town　and　try　to　live　on　L？；　or　whether　she　should　paint
landscapes　that　would　not　sell；　or　racehorses　that　would；　or
whether　Reggie　really　loved　her　and　whether　she　really　loved
Reggie；　or　whether　the　new　part　in　the　piece　at　the　Court　was
better　than　the　old　part　at　Terry's；　and　wasn't　she　getting　too
old　to　play　〃ingenues〃　anyway。

The　lodger　seemed　to　be　a　general　adviser；　and　smoked　and
listened　with　grave　consideration；　and　the　Unicorn　thought　his
judgment　was　most　sympathetic　and　sensible。

Of　all　the　beautiful　ladies　who　came　to　call　on　the　lodger　the
one　the　Unicorn　liked　the　best　was　the　one　who　wanted　to　know
whether　she　loved　Reggie　and　whether　Reggie　loved　her。　　She
discussed　this　so　interestingly　while　she　consumed　tea　and
thin　slices　of　bread　that　the　Unicorn　almost　lost　his　balance　in
leaning　forward　to　listen。　　Her　name　was　Marion　Cavendish　and　it
was　written　over　many　photographs　which　stood　in　silver　frames　in
the　lodger's　rooms。　　She　used　to　make　the　tea　herself；　while　the
lodger　sat　and　smoked；　and　she　had　a　fascinating　way　of　doubling
the　thin　slices　of　bread　into　long　strips　and　ni