the new machiavelli-第75章

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Now　it　was　all　recalled。



〃Respectable　ladies　addicted　to　district　visiting　at　home　were　as　

bad　as　any　one；〃　said　Panmure。　　〃Glazebrook　told　me　of　oneflushed　

like　a　woman　at　a　bargain　sale；　he　saidand　when　he　pointed　out　to　

her　that　the　silk　she'd　got　was　bloodstained；　she　just　said；　'Oh；　

bother！'　and　threw　it　aside　and　went　back。　。　。　。〃



We　became　aware　that　Tarvrille's　butler　had　returned。　　We　tried　not　

to　seem　to　listen。



〃Beg　pardon；　m'lord；〃　he　said。　　〃The　house　IS　on　fire；　m'lord。〃



〃Upstairs；　m'lord。〃



〃Just　overhead；　m'lord。〃



〃The　maids　are　throwing　water；　m'lord；　and　I've　telephoned　FIRE。〃



〃No；　m'lord；　no　immediate　danger。〃



〃It's　all　right；〃　said　Tarvrille　to　the　table　generally。　　Go　on！　　

It's　not　a　general　conflagration；　and　the　fire　brigade　won't　be　five　

minutes。　　Don't　see　that　it's　our　affair。　　The　stuff's　insured。　　

They　say　old　Lady　Paskershortly　was　dreadful。　　Like　a　harpy。　　The　

Dowager　Empress　had　shown　her　some　little　things　of　hers。　　Pet　

thingshidden　away。　　Susan　went　straight　for　themused　to　take　an　

umbrella　for　the　silks。　　Born　shoplifter。〃



It　was　evident　he　didn't　want　his　dinner　spoilt；　and　we　played　up　

loyally。



〃This　is　recorded　history；〃　said　Wilkins；〃　practically。　　It　makes　

one　wonder　about　unrecorded　history。　　In　India；　for　example。〃



But　nobody　touched　that。



〃Thompson；〃　said　Tarvrille　to　the　imperturbable　butler；　and　

indicating　the　table　generally；　〃champagne。　　Champagne。　　Keep　it　

going。〃



〃M'lord；〃　and　Thompson　marshalled　his　assistants。



Some　man　I　didn't　know　began　to　remember　things　about　Mandalay。　　

〃It's　queer；〃　he　said；　〃how　people　break　out　at　times；〃　and　told　his　

story　of　an　army　doctor；　brave；　public…spirited；　and；　as　it　

happened；　deeply　religious；　who　was　caught　one　evening　by　the　

excitement　of　plunderingand　stole　and　hid；　twisted　the　wrist　of　a　

boy　until　it　broke；　and　was　afterwards　overcome　by　wild　remorse。



I　watched　Evesham　listening　intently。　　〃Strange；〃　he　said；　〃very　

strange。　　We　are　such　stuff　as　thieves　are　made　of。　　And　in　China；　

too；　they　murdered　peoplefor　the　sake　of　murdering。　　Apart；　so　to　

speak；　from　mercenary　considerations。　　I'm　afraid　there's　no　doubt　

of　it　in　certain　cases。　　No　doubt　at　all。　　Young　soldiers　fresh　from　

German　high　schools　and　English　homes！〃



〃Did　OUR　people？〃　asked　some　patriot。



〃Not　so　much。　　But　I'm　afraid　there　were　cases。　。　。　。　　Some　of　the　

Indian　troops　were　pretty　bad。〃



Gane　picked　up　the　tale　with　confirmations。



It　is　all　printed　in　the　vividest　way　as　a　picture　upon　my　memory；　

so　that　were　I　a　painter　I　think　I　could　give　the　deep　rich　browns　

and　warm　greys　beyond　the　brightly　lit　table；　the　various　

distinguished　faces；　strongly　illuminated；　interested　and　keen；　

above　the　black　and　white　of　evening　dress；　the　alert　menservants　

with　their　heavier；　clean…shaved　faces　indistinctly　seen　in　the　

dimness　behind。　　Then　this　was　coloured　emotionally　for　me　by　my　

aching　sense　of　loss　and　sacrifice；　and　by　the　chance　trend　of　our　

talk　to　the　breaches　and　unrealities　of　the　civilised　scheme。　　We　

seemed　a　little　transitory　circle　of　light　in　a　universe　of　darkness　

and　violence；　an　effect　to　which　the　diminishing　smell　of　burning　

rubber；　the　trampling　of　feet　overhead；　the　swish　of　water；　added　

enormously。　　Everybodyunless；　perhaps；　it　was　Eveshamdrank　

rather　carelessly　because　of　the　suppressed　excitement　of　our　

situation；　and　talked　the　louder　and　more　freely。



〃But　what　a　flimsy　thing　our　civilisation　is！〃　said　Evesham；　〃a　mere　

thin　net　of　habits　and　associations！〃



〃I　suppose　those　men　came　back；〃　said　Wilkins。



〃Lady　Paskershortly　did！〃　chuckled　Evesham。



〃How　do　they　fit　it　in　with　the　rest　of　their　lives？〃　　Wilkins　

speculated。　　〃I　suppose　there's　Pekin…stained　police　officers；　

Pekin…stained　J。　P。'strying　petty　pilferers　in　the　severest　

manner。〃　。　。　。



Then　for　a　time　things　became　preposterous。　　There　was　a　sudden　

cascade　of　water　by　the　fireplace；　and　then　absurdly　the　ceiling　

began　to　rain　upon　us；　first　at　this　point　and　then　that。　　〃My　new　

suit！〃　cried　some　one。　　〃Perrrrrr…up　pe…rr〃a　new　vertical　line　of　

blackened　water　would　establish　itself　and　form　a　spreading　pool　

upon　the　gleaming　cloth。　　The　men　nearest　would　arrange　catchment　

areas　of　plates　and　flower　bowls。　　〃Draw　up！〃　said　Tarvrille；　〃draw　

up。　　That's　the　bad　end　of　the　table！〃　　He　turned　to　the　

imperturbable　butler。　　〃Take　round　bath　towels；〃　he　said；　and　

presently　the　men　behind　us　were　offeringwith　inflexible　dignity

〃Port　wine；　Sir。　　Bath　towel；　Sir！〃　　Waulsort；　with　streaks　of　

blackened　water　on　his　forehead；　was　suddenly　reminded　of　a　wet　year　

when　he　had　followed　the　French　army　manoeuvres。　　An　animated　

dispute　sprang　up　between　him　and　Neal　about　the　relative　efficiency　

of　the　new　French　and　German　field　guns。　　Wrassleton　joined　in　and　a　

little　drunken　shrivelled　Oxford　don　of　some　sort　with　a　black…

splashed　shirt　front　who　presently　silenced　them　all　by　the　

immensity　and　particularity　of　his　knowledge　of　field　artillery。　　

Then　the　talk　drifted　to　Sedan　and　the　effect　of　dead　horses　upon　

drinking…water；　which　brought　Wrassleton　and　Weston　Massinghay　into　

a　dispute　of　great　vigour　and　emphasis。　　〃The　trouble　in　South　

Africa；〃　said　Weston　Massinghay；　〃wasn't　that　we　didn't　boil　our　

water。　　It　was　that　we　didn't　boil　our　men。　　The　Boers　drank　the　

same　stuff　we　did。　　THEY　didn't　get　dysentery。〃



That　argument　went　on　for　some　time。　　I　was　attacked　across　the　

table　by　a　man　named　Burshort　about　my　Endowment　of　Motherhood　

schemes；　but　in　the　gaps　of　that　debate　I　could　still　hear　Weston　

Massinghay　at　intervals　repeat　in　a　rather　thickened　voice：　〃THEY　

didn't　get　dysentery。〃



I　think　Evesham　went　early。　　The　rest　of　us　clustered　more　and　more　

closely　towards　the　drier　end　of　the　room；　the　table　was　pushed　

along；　and　the　area　beneath　the　extinguished　conflagration　abandoned　

to　a　tinkling；　splashing　company　of　pots　and　pans　and　bowls　and　

baths。　　Everybody　was　now　disposed　to　be　hilarious　and　noisy；　to　say　

startling　and　aggressive　things；　we　must　have　sounded　a　queer　

clamour　to　a　listener　in　the　next　room。　　The　devil　inspired　them　to　

begin　baiting　me。　　〃Ours　isn't　the　Tory　party　any　more；〃　said　

Burshort。　　〃Remington　has　made　it　the　Obstetric　Party。〃



〃That's　good！〃　said　Weston　Massinghay；　with　all　his　teeth　gleaming；　

〃I　shall　use　that　against　you　in　the　House！〃



〃I　shall　denounce　you　for　abusing　private　confidences　if　you　do；〃　

said　Tarvrille。



〃Remington　wants　us　to　give　up　launching　Dreadnoughts　and　launch　

babies　instead；〃　Burshort　urged。　　〃For　the　price　of　one　Dreadnought〃



The　little　shrivelled　don　who　had　been　omniscient　about　guns　joined　

in　the　baiting；　and　displayed　himself　a　venomous　creature。　　

Something　in　his　eyes　told　me　he　knew　Isabel　and　hated　me　for　it。　　

〃Love　and　fine　thinking；〃　he　began；　a　little　thickly；　and　knocking　

over　a　wine…glass　with　a　too　easy　gesture。　　〃Love　and　fine　thinking。　　

Two　things　don't　go　together。　　No　philosophy　worth　a　damn　ever　came　

out　of　excesses　of　love。　　Salt　Lake　CityPiggottAgAgapemone　

againno　works　to　matter。〃



Everybody　laughed。



〃Got　to　rec'nise　these　facts；〃　said　my　assailant。　　〃Love　and　fine　

think'n　pretty　phraseattractive。　　Suitable　for　p'litical　

dec'rations。　　Postcard；　Christmas；　gilt　lets；　in　a　wreath　of　white　

flow's。　　Not　oth'wise　valu'ble。〃



I　made　some　remark；　I　forget　what；　but　he　overbore　me。



Real　things　we　want　are　HateHate　and　COARSE　think'n。　　I　b'long　to　

the　school　of　Mrs。　F's　Aunt〃



〃What？〃　said　some　one；　intent。



〃In　'Little　Dorrit；'〃　explained　Tarvrille；　〃go　on！〃



〃Hate　a　fool；〃　said　my　assailant。



Tarvrille　glanced　at　me。　　I　smiled　to　conceal　the　loss　of　my　temper。



〃Hate；〃　said　the　little　man；　emphasising　his　point　with　a　clumsy　

fist。　　〃Hate's　the　driving　force。　　What's　m'rality？hate　of　rotten　

goings　on。　　What's　patriotism？hate　of　int'loping　foreigners。　　

What's　Radicalism？hate　of　lords。　　What's　Toryism？hate　of　

disturbance。　　It's　all　hatehate　from　top　to　bottom。　　Hate　of　a　

mess。　　Remington　owned　it　the　other　day；　said　he　hated　a　mu'll。　　

There　you　are！　　If　you　couldn't　get　hate　into　an　election；　damn　it　

（hic）　people　wou'n't　poll。　　Poll　for　love！no'　me！〃



He　paused；　but　before　any　one　could　speak　he　had　resumed。



〃Then　this　about　fine　thinking。　　Like　going　into　a　bear　pit　armed　

with　a　tagletalgenttalgent　galv'nometer。　　Like　going　to　fight　a　

mad　dog　with　Shasepear　and　the　Bible。　　Fine　thinkingwhat　we　want　

is　the　thickes'　thinking　we　can　get。　　Thinking　that　stands　up　alone。　　

Taf　Reform　means　work　for　all；　thassort　of　thing。〃



The　gentleman　from　Cambridge　paused。　　〃YOU　a　flag！〃　he　said。　　〃I'd　

as　soon　go　to　ba'ell　und'　wet　tissue　paper！〃



My　best　answer　on　the　spur　of　the　moment　was：



〃The　Japanese　did。〃　　Which　was　absurd。



I　went　on　to　some　other　reply；　I　forget　exactly　what；　and　the　talk　

of　the　whole　table　drew　round　me。　　It　was　an　extraordinary　

revelation　to　me。　　Every　one　was　unusually　careless　and　outspoken；　

and　it　was　amazing　how　manifestly　they　echoed　the　feeling　of　this　

old　Tory　spokesman。　　They　were　quite　friendly　to　me；　they　regarded　

me　and　the　BLUE　WEEKLY　as　valuable　party　assets　for　Toryism；　but　it　

was　clear　they　attached　no　more　importance　to　what　were　my　realities　

than　they　did　to　the　remarkable　therapeutic　claims　of　Mrs。　Eddy。　　

They　were　flushed　and　amused；　perhaps　they　went　a　little　too　far　in　

their　resolves　to　draw　me；　but　they　left　the　impression　on　my　mind　

of　men　irrevocably　set　upon　narrow　and　cynical　views　of　political　

life。　　For　them　the　political　struggle　was　a　game；　whose　counters　

were　human　hate　and　human　credulity；　their　real　aim　was　just　every　

one's　aim；　the　preservation　of　the　class　and　way　of　living　to　which　

their　lives　were　attuned。　　They　did　not　know　how　tired　I　was；　how　

exhausted　mentally　and　morally；　nor　how　cruel　their　convergent　

attack　on　me　chanced　to　be。　　But　my　temper　gave　way；　I　became　tart　

and　fierce；　perhaps　my　replies　were　a　trifle　absurd；　and　Tarvrille；　

with　that　quick　eye　and　sympathy　of　his；　came　to　the　rescue。　　Then　

for　a　time　I　sat　silent　and　drank　port　wine　while　the　others　talked。　　

The　disorder　of　the　room；　the　still　dripping　ceiling；　the　noise；　the　

displaced　ties　and　crumpled　shirts　of　my　companions；　jarred　on　my　

tormented　nerves。　。　。　。　



It　was　long　past　midnight　when　we　dispersed。　　I　remember　Tarvrille　

coming　with　me　into　the　hall；　and　then　suggesting　we　should　go　

upstairs　to　see　the　damage。　　A　manservant　carried　up　two　flickering　

candles　for　us。　　One　end　of　the　room　was　gutted；　curtains；　hangings；　

several　chairs　and　tables　were　completely　burnt；　the　panelling　was　

scorched　and　warped；　three　smashed　windows