the man who knew too much-第26章

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rve　to　be　cursed；　and　are　cursed；　because　they　allowed　such　vermin　to　crawl　into　the　high　places　of　their　heroes　and　their　kings。　I　won't　dwell　on　the　idea　that　you're　Verner；　or　the　throttling　might　begin；　after　all。　Is　there　anyone　else　you　could　be？　Surely　you're　not　some　servant　of　the　other　rival　organization。　I　can't　believe　you're　Gryce；　the　agent；　and　yet　Gryce　had　a　spark　of　the　fanatic　in　his　eye；　too；　and　men　will　do　extraordinary　things　in　these　paltry　feuds　of　politics。　Or　if　not　the　servant；　is　it　the　。　。　。　No；　I　can't　believe　it　。　。　。　not　the　red　blood　of　manhood　and　liberty　。　。　。　not　the　democratic　ideal　。　。　。〃

He　sprang　up　in　excitement；　and　at　the　same　moment　a　growl　of　thunder　came　through　the　grating　beyond。　The　storm　had　broken；　and　with　it　a　new　light　broke　on　his　mind。　There　was　something　else　that　might　happen　in　a　moment。

〃Do　you　know　what　that　means？〃　he　cried。　〃It　means　that　God　himself　may　hold　a　candle　to　show　me　your　infernal　face。〃

Then　next　moment　came　a　crash　of　thunder；　but　before　the　thunder　a　white　light　had　filled　the　whole　room　for　a　single　split　second。

Fisher　had　seen　two　things　in　front　of　him。　One　was　the　black…and…white　pattern　of　the　iron　grating　against　the　sky；　the　other　was　the　face　in　the　corner。　It　was　the　face　of　his　brother。

Nothing　came　from　Horne　Fisher's　lips　except　a　Christian　name；　which　was　followed　by　a　silence　more　dreadful　than　the　dark。　At　last　the　other　figure　stirred　and　sprang　up；　and　the　voice　of　Harry　Fisher　was　heard　for　the　first　time　in　that　horrible　room。

〃You've　seen　me；　I　suppose；〃　he　said；　〃and　we　may　as　well　have　a　light　now。　You　could　have　turned　it　on　at　any　time；　if　you'd　found　the　switch。〃

He　pressed　a　button　in　the　wall　and　all　the　details　of　that　room　sprang　into　something　stronger　than　daylight。　Indeed；　the　details　were　so　unexpected　that　for　a　moment　they　turned　the　captive's　rocking　mind　from　the　last　personal　revelation。　The　room；　so　far　from　being　a　dungeon　cell；　was　more　like　a　drawing…room；　even　a　lady's　drawing…room；　except　for　some　boxes　of　　cigars　and　bottles　of　wine　that　were　stacked　with　　books　and　magazines　on　a　side　table。　A　second　glance　showed　him　that　the　more　masculine　fittings　were　quite　recent；　and　that　the　more　feminine　background　was　quite　old。　His　eye　caught　a　strip　of　faded　tapestry；　which　startled　him　into　speech；　to　the　momentary　oblivion　of　bigger　matters。

〃This　place　was　furnished　from　the　great　house；〃　he　said。

〃Yes；〃　replied　the　other；　〃and　I　think　you　know　why。〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

〃I　think　I　do；〃　said　Horne　Fisher；　〃and　before　I　go　on　to　more　extraordinary　things　I　will；　say　what　I　think。　Squire　Hawker　played　both　the　bigamist　and　the　bandit。　His　first　wife　was　not　dead　when　he　married　the　Jewess；　she　was　imprisoned　on　this　island。　She　bore　him　a　child　here；　who　now　haunts　his　birthplace　under　the　name　of　Long　Adam。　A　bankruptcy　company　promoter　named　Werner　discovered　the　secret　and　blackmailed　the　squire　into　surrendering　the　estate。　That's　all　quite　clear　and　very　easy。　　And　now　let　me　go　on　to　something　more　difficult。　And　that　is　for　you　to　explain　what　the　devil　you　are　doing　kidnaping　your　born　brother。

After　a　pause　Henry　Fisher　answered：

〃I　suppose　you　didn't　expect　to　see　me；〃　he　said。　〃But；　after　all；　what　could　you　expect？〃'

〃I'm　afraid　I　don't　follow；〃　said　Horne　Fisher。

〃I　mean　what　else　could　you　expect；　after　making　such　a　muck　of　it？〃　said　his　brother；　sulkily。　〃We　all　thought　you　were　so　clever。　How　could　we　know　you　were　going　to　bewell；　really；　such　a　rotten　failure？〃

〃This　is　rather　curious；〃　said　the　candidate；　frowning。　〃Without　vanity；　I　was　not　under　the　impression　that　my　candidature　was　a　failure。　All　the　big　meetings　were　successful　and　crowds　of　people　have　promised　me　votes。〃

〃I　should　jolly　well　think　they　had；〃　said'　Henry；　grimly。　〃You've　made　a　landslide　with　your　confounded　acres　and　a　cow；　and　Verner　can　hardly　get　a　vote　anywhere。　Oh；　it's　too　rotten　for　anything！〃

〃What　on　earth　do　you　mean？〃

〃Why；　you　lunatic；〃　cried　Henry；　in　tones　of　ringing　sincerity；　〃you　don't　suppose　you　were　meant　to　WIN　the　seat；　did　you？　Oh；　it's　too　childish！　I　tell　you　Verner's　got　to　get　in。　Of　course　he's　got　to　get　in。　He's　to　have　the　Exchequer　next　session；　and　there's　the　Egyptian　loan　and　Lord　knows　what　else。　We　only　wanted　you　to　split　the　Reform　vote　because　accidents　might　happen　after　Hughes　had　made　a　score　at　Barkington。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Fisher；　〃and　you；　I　think；　are　a　pillar　and　ornament　of　the　Reform　party。　As　you　say；　I　am　not　clever。〃

The　appeal　to　party　loyalty　fell　on　deaf　ears；　for　the　pillar　of　Reform　was　brooding　on　other　things。　At　last　he　said；　in　a　more　troubled　voice：

〃I　didn't　want　you　to　catch　me；　I　knew　it　would　be　a　shock。　But　I　tell　you　what；　you　never　would　have　caught　me　if　I　hadn't　come　here　myself；　to　see　they　didn't　ill　treat　you　and　to　make　sure　everything　was　as　comfortable　as　it　could　be。〃　There　was　even　a　sort　of　break　in　his　voice　as　he　added；　〃I　got　those　cigars　because　I　knew　you　liked　them。〃

Emotions　are　queer　things；　and　the　idiocy　of　this　concession　suddenly　softened　Horne　Fisher　like　an　unfathomable　pathos。

〃Never　mind；　old　chap；〃　he　said；　〃we'll　say　no　more　about　it。　I'll　admit　that　you're　really　as　kind…hearted　and　affectionate　a　scoundrel　and　hypocrite　as　ever　sold　himself　to　ruin　his　country。　There；　I　can't　say　handsomer　than　that。　Thank　you　for　the　cigars；　old　man。　I'll　have　one　if　you　don't　mind。〃

By　the　time　that　Horne　Fisher　had　ended　his　telling　of　this　story　to　Harold　March　they　had　come　out　into　one　of　the　public　parks　and　taken　a　seat　on　a　rise　of　ground　overlooking　wide　green　spaces　under　a　blue　and　empty　sky；　and　there　was　something　incongruous　in　the　words　with　which　the　narration　ended。

〃I　have　been　in　that　room　ever　since；〃　said　Horne　Fisher。　〃I　am　in　it　now。　I　won　the　election；　but　I　never　went　to　the　House。　My　life　has　been　a　life　in　that　little　room　on　that　lonely　island。　Plenty　of　books　and　cigars　and　luxuries；　plenty　of　knowledge　and　interest　and　information；　but　never　a　voice　out　of　that　tomb　to　reach　the　world　outside。　I　shall　probably　die　there。〃　And　he　smiled　as　he　looked　across　the　vast　green　park　to　the　gray　horizon。



VIII。　THE　VENGEANCE　OF　THE　STATUE

It　was　on　the　sunny　veranda　of　a　seaside　hotel；　overlooking　a　pattern　of　flower　beds　and　a　strip　of　blue　sea；　that　Horne　Fisher　and　Harold　March　had　their　final　explanation；　which　might　be　called　an　explosion。

Harold　March　had　come　to　the　little　table　and　sat　down　at　it　with　a　subdued　excitement　smoldering　in　his　somewhat　cloudy　and　dreamy　blue　eyes。　In　the　newspapers　which　he　tossed　from　him　on　to　the　table　there　was　enough　to　explain　some　if　not　all　of　his　emotion。　Public　affairs　in　every　department　had　reached　a　crisis。　The　government　which　had　stood　so　long　that　men　were　used　to　it；　as　they　are　used　to　a　hereditary　despotism；　had　begun　to　be　accused　Of　blunders　and　even　of　financial　abuses。　Some　said　that　the　experiment　of　attempting　to　establish　a　peasantry　in　the　west　of　England；　on　the　lines　of　an　early　fancy　of　Horne　Fisher's；　had　resulted　in　nothing　but　dangerous　quarrels　with　more　industrial　neighbors。　There　had　been　particular　complaints　of　the　ill　treatment　of　harmless　foreigners；　chiefly　Asiatics；　who　happened　to　be　employed　in　the　new　scientific　works　constructed　on　the　coast。　Indeed；　the　new　Power　which　had　arisen　in　Siberia；　backed　by　Japan　and　other　powerful　allies；　was　inclined　to　take　the　matter　up　in　the　interests　of　its　exiled　subjects；　and　there　had　been　wild　talk　about　ambassadors　and　ultimatums。　But　something　much　more　serious；　in　its　personal　interest　for　March　himself；　seemed　to　fill　his　meeting　with　his　friend　with　a　mixture　of　embarrassment　and　indignation。

Perhaps　it　increased　his　annoyance　that　there　was　a　certain　unusual　liveliness　about　the　usually　languid　figure　of　Fisher。　The　ordinary　image　of　him　in　March's　mind　was　that　of　a　pallid　and　bald…browed　gentleman；　who　seemed　to　be　　prematurely　old　as　well　as　prematurely　bald。　He　was　remembered　as　a　man　who　expressed　the　opinions　of　a　pessimist　in　the　language　of　a　lounger。　Even　now　March　could　not　be　certain　whether　the　change　was　merely　a　sort　of　masquerade　　of　sunshine；　or　that　effect　of　clear　colors　and　clean…cut　outlines　that　is　always　visible　on　the　parade　of　a　marine　resort；　relieved　against　the　blue　dado　of　the　sea。　But　Fisher　had　a　flower　in　his　buttonhole；　and　his　friend　could　have　sworn　he　carried　his　cane　with　something　almost　like　the　swagger　of　a　fighter。　With　such　clouds　gathering　over　England；　the　pessimist　seemed　to　be　the　only　man　who　carried　his　own　sunshine。

〃Look　here；〃　said　Harold　March；　abruptly；　〃you've　been　no　end　of　a　friend　to　me；　and　I　never　was　so　proud　of　a　friendship　before；　but　there's　something　I　must　get　off　my　chest。　The　more　I　found　out；　the　less　I　understood　how　y　ou　could　stand　it。　And　I　tell　you　I'm　going　to　stand　it　no　longer。〃

Horne　Fisher　gazed　across　at　him　gravely　and　attentively；　but　rather　as　if　he　were　a　long　way　off。

〃You　know　I　always　liked　you；〃　said　Fisher；　quietly；　〃but　I　also　respect　you；　which　is　not　always　the　same　thing。　You　may　possibly　guess　that　I　like　a　good　many　people　I　don't　respect。　Perhaps　it　is　my　tragedy；　perhaps　it　is　my　fault。　But　you　are　very　different；　and　I　promise　you　this：　that　I　will　never　try　to　keep　you　as　somebody　to　be　liked；　at　the　price　of　your　not　being　respected。〃

〃I　know　you　are　magnanimous；〃　said　March　after　a　silence；　〃and　yet　you　tolerate　and　perpetuate　everything　that　is　mean。〃　Then　after　another　silence　he　added：　〃Do　you　remember　when　we　first　met；　when　you　were　fishing　in　that　brook　in　the　affair　of　the　target？　And　do　you　remember　you　said　that；　after　all；　it　might　do　no　harm　if　I　could　blow　the　whole　tangle　of　this　society　to　hell　with　dynamite。〃

〃Yes；　and　what　of　that？〃　asked　Fisher。

〃Only　that　I'm　going　to　blow　it　to　hell　with　dynamite；〃　said　Harold　March；　〃and　I　think　it　right　to　give　you　fair　warning。　For　a　long　time　I　didn't　believe　things　were　as　bad　as　you　said　they　were。　But　I　never　felt　as　if　I　could　have　bottled　up　what　you　knew；　supposing　you　really　knew　it。　Well；　the　long　and　the　short　of　it　is　that　I've　got　a　conscience；　and　now；　at　last；　I've　also　got　a　chance。　I've　been　put　in　charge　of　a　big　independent　paper；　with　a　free　hand；　and　we're　going　to　open　a　cannonade　on　corruption。〃

〃That　will　beAttwood；　I　suppose；〃　said　Fisher；　reflectively。　〃Timber　merchant。　Knows　a　lot　about　China。〃

〃He　knows　a　lot　about　England；〃　said　March；　doggedly；　〃and　now　I　know　it；　too；　we're　not　going　to　hush　it　up　any　longer。　The　people　of　this　country　have　a　right　to　know　how　they're　ruledor；　rather；　ruined。　The　Chancellor　is　in　the　pocket　of　the　money　lenders　and　has　to　do　as　he　is　told；　otherwise　he's　bankrupt；　and　a　bad　sort　of　bankruptcy；　too；　with　nothing　but　cards　and　actresses　behind　it。　The　Prime　Minister　was　in　the　petrol…contract　business；　and　deep　in　it；　too。　The　Foreign　Minister　is　a　wreck　of　drink　and　drugs。　When　you　say　that　plainly　about　a　man　who　may　send　thousands　of　Englishmen　to　die　for　nothing；　you're　called　personal。　If　a　poor　engine　driver　gets　drunk　and　sends　thirty　or　forty　people　to　death；　nobody　complains　o