the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第17章
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that I would disturb values； that the business interests of the country would
suffer。 I'm under obligations to most of them； they have advised me in
financial matters； and they threatenedthey threatened to make it
unpleasant for me。〃 His voice hardened and he drew in his breath
quickly； and laughed。 〃You wouldn't understand if I were to tell you。
It's rather involved。 And after all； they may be right； agitation may be
bad for the country。 And your party leader after all is your party leader；
isn't he； and if he says 'no' what are you to do？ My sympathies are just as
keen for these poor women and children as ever； but as these men say；
'charity begins at home；' and we mustn't do anything to bring on war prices
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again； or to send stocks tumbling about our heads； must we？〃 He leaned
back in his chair again and sighed。 〃Sympathy is an expensive luxury； I
find；〃 he added。
Arkwright rose stiffly and pushed Stanton away from him with his
hand。 He moved like a man coming out of a dream。
〃Don't talk to me like that；〃 he said in a low voice。 The noise about
the table ended on the instant； but Arkwright did not notice that it had
ceased。 〃You know I don't understand that；〃 he went on； 〃what does it
matter to me！〃 He put his hand up to the side of his face and held it there；
looking down at Stanton。 He had the dull； heavy look in his eyes of a
man who has just come through an operation under some heavy drug。
〃'Wall Street；' 'trusts；' 'party leaders；'〃 he repeated； 〃what are they to me？
The words don't reach me； they have lost their meaning； it is a language I
have forgotten； thank God！〃 he added。 He turned and moved his eyes
around the table； scanning the faces of the men before him。
〃Yes； you are twelve to one；〃 he said at last； still speaking dully and in
a low voice； as though he were talking to himself。 〃You have won a
noble victory； gentlemen。 I congratulate you。 But I do not blame you；
we are all selfish and self…seeking。 I thought I was working only for
Cuba； but I was working for myself； just as you are。 I wanted to feel that
it was I who had helped to bring relief to that plague…spot； that it was
through my efforts the help had come。 Yes； if he had done as I asked； I
suppose I would have taken the credit。〃
He swayed slightly； and to steady himself caught at the back of his
chair。 But at the same moment his eyes glowed fiercely and he held
himself erect again。 He pointed with his finger at the circle of great men
who sat looking up at him in curious silence。
〃You are like a ring of gamblers around a gaming table；〃 he cried
wildly； 〃who see nothing but the green cloth and the wheel and the piles of
money before them； who forget in watching the money rise and fall； that
outside the sun is shining； that human beings are sick and suffering； that
men are giving their lives for an idea； for a sentiment； for a flag。 You are
the money… changers in the temple of this great republic and the day will
come； I pray to God； when you will be scourged and driven out with whips。
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Do you think you can form combines and deals that will cheat you into
heaven？ Can your 'trusts' save your souls is 'Wall Street' the strait and
narrow road to salvation？〃
The men about the table leaned back and stared at Arkwright in as
great amazement as though he had violently attempted an assault upon
their pockets； or had suddenly gone mad in their presence。 Some of them
frowned； and others appeared not to have heard； and others smiled grimly
and waited for him to continue as though they were spectators at a play。
The political leader broke the silence with a low aside to Stanton。
〃Does the gentleman belong to the Salvation Army？〃 he asked。
Arkwright whirled about and turned upon him fiercely。
〃Old gods give way to new gods；〃 he cried。 〃Here is your brother。 I
am speaking for him。 Do you ever think of him？ How dare you sneer
at me？〃 he cried。 〃You can crack your whip over that man's head and
turn him from what in his heart and conscience he knows is right； you can
crack your whip over the men who call themselves free…born American
citizens and who have made you their bosssneer at them if you like； but
you have no collar on my neck。 If you are a leader； why don't you lead
your people to what is good and noble？ Why do you stop this man in the
work God sent him here to do？ You would make a party hack of him； a
political prostitute； something lower than the woman who walks the streets。
She sells her bodythis man is selling his soul。〃
He turned； trembling and quivering； and shook his finger above the
upturned face of the senator。
〃What have you done with your talents； Stanton？〃 he cried。 〃What
have you done with your talents？〃
The man in the overcoat struck the table before him with his fist so
that the glasses rang。
〃By God；〃 he laughed； 〃I call him a better speaker than Stanton！
Livingstone's right； he IS better than Stantonbut he lacks Stanton's knack
of making himself popular；〃 he added。 He looked around the table
inviting approbation with a smile； but no one noticed him； nor spoke to
break the silence。
Arkwright heard the words dully and felt that he was being mocked。
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He covered his face with his hands and stood breathing brokenly； his body
was still trembling with an excitement he could not master。
Stanton rose from his chair and shook him by the shoulder。 〃Are you
mad； Arkwright？〃 he cried。 〃You have no right to insult my guests or me。
Be calmcontrol yourself。〃
〃What does it matter what I say？〃 Arkwright went on desperately。 〃I
am mad。 Yes； that is it； I am mad。 They have won and I have lost； and
it drove me beside myself。 I counted on you。 I knew that no one else
could let my people go。 But I'll not trouble you again。 I wish you
good…night； sir； and good…bye。 If I have been unjust； you must forget it。〃
He turned sharply； but Stanton placed a detaining hand on his shoulder。
〃Wait；〃 he commanded querulously； 〃where are you going？ Will you；
still？〃
Arkwright bowed his head。 〃Yes；〃 he answered。 〃I have but just
time now to catch our trainmy train； I mean。〃
He looked up at Stanton and taking his hand in both of his； drew the
man toward him。 All the wildness and intolerance in his manner had
passed； and as he raised his eyes they were full of a firm resolve。
〃Come；〃 he said simply； 〃there is yet time。 Leave these people
behind you。 What can you answer when they ask what have you done
with your talents？〃
〃Good God； Arkwright；〃 the senator exclaimed angrily； pulling his
hand away； 〃don't talk like a hymn…book； and don't make another scene。
What you ask is impossible。 Tell me what I can do to help you in any
other way； and〃
〃Come；〃 repeated the young man firmly。
〃The world may judge you by what you do to…night。〃
Stanton looked at the boy for a brief moment with a strained and eager
scrutiny； and then turned away abruptly and shook his head in silence； and
Arkwright passed around the table and on out of the room。
A month later； as the Southern senator was passing through the
reading…room of the Union Club； Livingstone beckoned to him； and
handing him an afternoon paper pointed at a paragraph in silence。
The paragraph was dated Sagua la Grande； and read：
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〃The body of Henry Arkwright； an American civil engineer； was
brought into Sagua to…day by a Spanish column。 It was found lying in a
road three miles beyond the line of forts。 Arkwright was surprised by a
guerilla force while attempting to make his way to the insurgent camp； and
on resisting was shot。 The body has been handed over to the American
consul for interment。 It is badly mutilated。〃
Stanton lowered the paper and stood staring out of the window at the
falling snow and the cheery lights and bustling energy of the avenue。
〃Poor fellow；〃 he said； 〃he wanted so much to help them。 And he
didn't accomplish anything； did he？〃
Livingstone stared at the older man and laughed shortly。
〃Well； I don't know；〃 he said。 〃He died。 Some of us only live。〃
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THE VAGRANT
His Excellency Sir Charles Greville； K。 C M。 G。； Governor of the
Windless Islands； stood upon the veranda of Government House surveying
the new day with critical and searching eyes。 Sir Charles had been so
long absolute monarch of the Windless Isles that he had assumed
unconsciously a mental attitude of suzerainty over even the glittering
waters of the Caribbean Sea； and the coral reefs under the waters； and the
rainbow skies that floated above them。 But on this particular morning
not even the critical eye of the Governor could distinguish a single flaw in
the tropical landscape before him。
The lawn at his feet ran do
