the man who knew too much-第15章

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〃The　Prime　Minister　hasn't　brought　a　valet；　he's　brought　a　secretary　instead；〃　observed　Fisher。　〃Devilish　inferior　job。　Didn't　I　hear　that　Harker　was　down　here？〃

〃He's　over　there　on　the　landing　stage；〃　replied　the　duke；　indifferently；　and　resumed　the　study　of　the　Morning　Post。

Fisher　made　his　way　beyond　the　last　green　wall　of　the　garden　on　to　a　sort　of　towing　path　looking　on　the　river　and　a　wooden　island　opposite。　There；　indeed；　he　saw　a　lean；　dark　figure　with　a　stoop　almost　like　that　of　a　vulture；　a　posture　well　known　in　the　law　courts　as　that　of　Sir　John　Harker；　the　Attorney…General。　His　face　was　lined　with　headwork；　for　alone　among　the　three　idlers　in　the　garden　he　was　a　man　who　had　made　his　own　way；　and　round　his　bald　brow　and　hollow　temples　clung　dull　red　hair；　quite　flat；　like　plates　of　copper。

〃I　haven't　seen　my　host　yet；〃　said　Horne　Fisher；　in　a　slightly　more　serious　tone　than　he　had　used　to　the　others；　〃but　I　suppose　I　shall　meet　him　at　dinner。〃

〃You　can　see　him　now；　but　you　can't　meet　him；〃　answered　Harker。

He　nodded　his　head　toward　one　end　of　the　island　opposite；　and；　looking　steadily　in　the　same　direction；　the　other　guest　could　see　the　dome　of　a　bald　head　and　the　top　of　a　fishing　rod；　both　equally　motionless；　rising　out　of　the　tall　undergrowth　against　the　background　of　the　stream　beyond。　The　fisherman　seemed　to　be　seated　against　the　stump　of　a　tree　and　facing　toward　the　other　bank；　so　that　his　face　could　not　be　seen；　but　the　shape　of　his　head　was　unmistakable。

〃He　doesn't　like　to　be　disturbed　when　he's　fishing；〃　continued　Harker。　〃It's　a　sort　of　fad　of　his　to　eat　nothing　but　fish；　and　he's　very　proud　of　catching　his　own。　Of　course　he's　all　for　simplicity；　like　so　many　of　these　millionaires。　He　likes　to　come　in　saying　he's　worked　for　his　daily　bread　like　a　laborer。〃

〃Does　he　explain　how　he　blows　all　the　glass　and　stuffs　all　the　upholstery；〃　asked　Fisher；　〃and　makes　all　the　silver　forks；　and　grows　all　the　grapes　and　peaches；　and　designs　all　the　patterns　on　the　carpets？　I've　always　heard　he　was　a　busy　man。〃

〃I　don't　think　he　mentioned　it；〃　answered　the　lawyer。　〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this　social　satire？〃

〃Well；　I　am　a　trifle　tired；〃　said　Fisher；　〃of　the　Simple　Life　and　the　Strenuous　Life　as　lived　by　our　little　set。　We're　all　really　dependent　in　nearly　everything；　and　we　all　make　a　fuss　about　being　independent　in　something。　The　Prime　Minister　prides　himself　on　doing　without　a　chauffeur；　but　he　can't　do　without　a　factotum　and　Jack…of…all…trades；　and　poor　old　Bunker　has　to　play　the　part　of　a　universal　genius；　which　God　knows　he　was　never　meant　for。　The　duke　prides　himself　on　doing　without　a　valet；　but；　for　all　that；　he　must　give　a　lot　of　people　an　infernal　lot　of　trouble　to　collect　such　extraordinary　old　clothes　as　he　wears。　He　must　have　them　looked　up　in　the　British　Museum　or　excavated　out　of　the　tombs。　That　white　hat　alone　must　require　a　sort　of　expedition　fitted　out　to　find　it；　like　the　North　Pole。　And　here　we　have　old　Hook　pretending　to　produce　his　own　fish　when　he　couldn't　produce　his　own　fish　knives　or　fish　forks　to　eat　it　with。　He　may　be　simple　about　simple　things　like　food；　but　you　bet　he's　luxurious　about　luxurious　things；　especially　little　things。　I　don't　include　you；　you've　worked　too　hard　to　enjoy　playing　at　work。〃

〃I　sometimes　think；〃　said　Harker；　〃that　you　conceal　a　horrid　secret　of　being　useful　sometimes。　Haven't　you　come　down　here　to　see　Number　One　before　he　goes　on　to　Birmingham？〃

Horne　Fisher　answered；　in　a　lower　voice：　〃Yes；　and　I　hope　to　be　lucky　enough　to　catch　him　before　dinner。　He's　got　to　see　Sir　Isaac　about　something　just　afterward。〃

〃Hullo！〃　exclaimed　Harker。　〃Sir　Isaac's　finished　his　fishing。　I　know　he　prides　himself　on　getting　up　at　sunrise　and　going　in　at　sunset。〃

The　old　man　on　the　island　had　indeed　risen　to　his　feet；　facing　round　and　showing　a　bush　of　gray　beard　with　rather　small；　sunken　features；　but　fierce　eyebrows　and　keen；　choleric　eyes。　Carefully　carrying　his　fishing　tackle；　he　was　already　making　his　way　back　to　the　mainland　across　a　bridge　of　flat　stepping…stones　a　little　way　down　the　shallow　stream；　then　he　veered　round；　coming　toward　his　guests　and　civilly　saluting　them。　There　were　several　fish　in　his　basket　and　he　was　in　a　good　temper。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　acknowledging　Fisher's　polite　expression　of　surprise；　〃I　get　up　before　anybody　else　in　the　house；　I　think。　The　early　bird　catches　the　worm。〃

〃Unfortunately；〃　said　Harker；　〃it　is　the　early　fish　that　catches　the　worm。〃

〃But　the　early　man　catches　the　fish；〃　replied　the　old　man；　gruffly。

〃But　from　what　I　hear；　Sir　Isaac；　you　are　the　late　man；　too；〃　interposed　Fisher。　〃You　must　do　with　very　little　sleep。〃

〃I　never　had　much　time　for　sleeping；〃　answered　Hook；　〃and　I　shall　have　to　be　the　late　man　to…night；　anyhow。　The　Prime　Minister　wants　to　have　a　talk；　he　tells　me；　and；　all　things　considered；　I　think　we'd　better　be　dressing　for　dinner。〃

Dinner　passed　off　that　evening　without　a　word　of　politics　and　little　enough　but　ceremonial　trifles。　The　Prime　Minister；　Lord　Merivale；　who　was　a　long；　slim　man　with　curly　gray　hair；　was　gravely　complimentary　to　his　host　about　his　success　as　a　fisherman　and　the　skill　and　patience　he　displayed；　the　conversation　flowed　like　the　shallow　stream　through　the　stepping…stones。

〃It　wants　patience　to　wait　for　them；　no　doubt；〃　said　Sir　Isaac；　〃and　skill　to　play　them；　but　I'm　generally　pretty　lucky　at　it。〃

〃Does　a　big　fish　ever　break　the　line　and　get　away？〃　inquired　the　politician；　with　respectful　interest。

〃Not　the　sort　of　line　I　use；〃　answered　Hook；　with　satisfaction。　〃I　rather　specialize　in　tackle；　as　a　matter　of　fact。　If　he　were　strong　enough　to　do　that；　he'd　be　strong　enough　to　pull　me　into　the　river。〃

〃A　great　loss　to　the　community；〃　said　the　Prime　Minister；　bowing。

Fisher　had　listened　to　all　these　futilities　with　inward　impatience；　waiting　for　his　own　opportunity；　and　when　the　host　rose　he　sprang　to　his　feet　with　an　alertness　he　rarely　showed。　He　managed　to　catch　Lord　Merivale　before　Sir　Isaac　bore　him　off　for　the　final　interview。　He　had　only　a　few　words　to　say；　but　he　wanted　to　get　them　said。

He　said；　in　a　low　voice　as　he　opened　the　door　for　the　Premier；　〃I　have　seen　Montmirail；　he　says　that　unless　we　protest　immediately　on　behalf　of　Denmark；　Sweden　will　certainly　seize　the　ports。〃

Lord　Merivale　nodded。　〃I'm　just　going　to　hear　what　Hook　has　to　say　about　it；〃　he　said。

〃I　imagine；〃　said　Fisher；　with　a　faint　smile；　〃that　there　is　very　little　doubt　what　he　will　say　about　it。〃

Merivale　did　not　answer；　but　lounged　gracefully　toward　the　library；　whither　his　host　had　already　preceded　him。　The　rest　drifted　toward　the　billiard　room；　Fisher　merely　remarking　to　the　lawyer：　〃They　won't　be　long。　We　know　they're　practically　in　agreement。〃

〃Hook　entirely　supports　the　Prime　Minister；〃　assented　Harker。

〃Or　the　Prime　Minister　entirely　supports　Hook；〃　said　Horne　Fisher；　and　began　idly　to　knock　the　balls　about　on　the　billiard　table。

Horne　Fisher　came　down　next　morning　in　a　late　and　leisurely　fashion；　as　was　his　reprehensible　habit；　he　had　evidently　no　appetite　for　catching　worms。　But　the　other　guests　seemed　to　have　felt　a　similar　indifference；　and　they　helped　themselves　to　breakfast　from　the　sideboard　at　intervals　during　the　hours　verging　upon　lunch。　So　that　it　was　not　many　hours　later　when　the　first　sensation　of　that　strange　day　came　upon　them。　It　came　in　the　form　of　a　young　man　with　light　hair　and　a　candid　expression；　who　came　sculling　down　the　river　and　disembarked　at　the　landing　stage。　It　was；　in　fact；　no　other　than　Mr。　Harold　March；　whose　journey　had　begun　far　away　up　the　river　in　the　earliest　hours　of　that　day。　He　arrived　late　in　the　afternoon；　having　stopped　for　tea　in　a　large　riverside　town；　and　he　had　a　pink　evening　paper　sticking　out　of　his　pocket。　He　fell　on　the　riverside　garden　like　a　quiet　and　well…behaved　thunderbolt；　but　he　was　a　thunderbolt　without　knowing　it。

The　first　exchange　of　salutations　and　introductions　was　commonplace　enough；　and　consisted；　indeed；　of　the　inevitable　repetition　of　excuses　for　the　eccentric　seclusion　of　the　host。　He　had　gone　fishing　again；　of　course；　and　must　not　be　disturbed　till　the　appointed　hour；　though　he　sat　within　a　stone's　throw　of　where　they　stood。

〃You　see　it's　his　only　hobby；〃　observed　Harker；　apologetically；　〃and；　after　all；　it's　his　own　house；　and　he's　very　hospitable　in　other　ways。〃

〃I'm　rather　afraid；〃　said　Fisher；　in　a　lower　voice；　〃that　it's　becoming　more　of　a　mania　than　a　hobby。　I　know　how　it　is　when　a　man　of　that　age　begins　to　collect　things；　if　it's　only　collecting　those　rotten　little　river　fish。　You　remember　Talbot's　uncle　with　his　toothpicks；　and　poor　old　Buzzy　and　the　waste　of　cigar　ashes。　Hook　has　done　a　lot　of　big　things　in　his　timethe　great　deal　in　the　Swedish　timber　trade　and　the　Peace　Conference　at　Chicagobut　I　doubt　whether　he　cares　now　for　any　of　those　big　things　as　he　cares　for　those　little　fish。〃

〃Oh；　come；　come；〃　protested　the　Attorney…General。　〃You'll　make　Mr。　March　think　he　has　come　to　call　on　a　lunatic。　Believe　me；　Hook　only　does　it　for　fun；　like　any　other　sport；　only　he's　of　the　kind　that　takes　his　fun　sadly。　But　I　bet　if　there　were　big　news　about　timber　or　shipping；　he　would　drop　his　fun　and　his　fish　all　right。〃

〃Well；　I　wonder；〃　said　Horne　Fisher；　looking　sleepily　at　the　island　in　the　river。

〃By　the　way；　is　there　any　news　of　anything？〃　asked　Harker　of　Harold　March。　〃I　see　you've　got　an　evening　paper；　one　of　those　enterprising　evening　papers　that　come　out　in　the　morning。〃

〃The　beginning　of　Lord　Merivale's　Birmingham　speech；〃　replied　March；　handing　him　the　paper。　〃It's　only　a　paragraph；　but　it　seems　to　me　rather　good。〃

Harker　took　the　paper；　flapped　and　refolded　it；　and　looked　at　the　〃Stop　Press〃　news。　It　was；　as　March　had　said；　only　a　paragraph。　But　it　was　a　paragraph　that　had　a　peculiar　effect　on　Sir　John　Harker。　His　lowering　brows　lifted　with　a　flicker　and　his　eyes　blinked；　and　for　a　moment　his　leathery　jaw　was　loosened。　He　looked　in　some　odd　fashion　like　a　very　old　man。　Then；　hardening　his　voice　and　handing　the　paper　to　Fisher　without　a　tremor；　he　simply　said：

〃Well；　here's　a　chance　for　the　bet。　You've　got　your　big　news　to　disturb　the　old　man's　fishing。〃

Horne　Fisher　was　looking　at　the　paper；　and　over　his　more　languid　and　less　expressive　features　a　change　also　seemed　to　pass。　Even　that　little　paragraph　had　two　or　three　large　headlines；　and　his　eye　encountered；　〃Sensational　Warning　to　Sweden；〃　and；　〃We　Shall　Protest。〃

〃What　the　devil〃　he　said；　and　his　words　softened　first　to　a　whisper　and　then　a　whistle。

〃We　must　tell　old　Hook　at　once；　or　he'll　never　forgive　us；〃　said　Harker。　〃He'll　probably　want　to　see　Number　One　instantly；　though　it　may　be　too　late　now。　I'm　going　across　to　him　at　once。　I　bet　I'll　make　him　forget　his　fish；　anyhow。〃　And；　turning　his　back；　he　made　his　way　hurriedly　along　the　riverside　to　the　causeway　of　flat　stones。

March　was　staring　at　Fisher；　in　amazement　at　the　effect　his　pink　paper　had　produced。

〃What　does　it　all　mean？〃　he　cried。　〃I　always　supposed　we　should　protest　in　defense　of　the　Danish　ports；　for　their　sakes　and　our　own。　What　is　all　this　botheration　about　Sir　Isaac　and　the　rest　of　you？　Do　you　think　it　bad　news？〃