登陆注册
4606600000011

第11章 Smith(2)

While under the domination of the former a man will shave, vote, pay taxes, give money to his family, buy subscription books and comport himself on the average plan. But let the central soul suddenly become dominant, and he may, in the twinkling of an eye, turn upon the partner of his joys with furious execration; he may change his politics while you could snap your fingers; he may deal out deadly insult to his dearest friend; he may get him, instanter, to a monastery or a dance hall; he may elope, or hang himself--or he may write a song or poem, or kiss his wife unasked, or give his funds to the search of a microbe. Then the peripheral soul will return;and we have our safe, sane citizen again. It is but the revolt of the Ego against Order; and its effect is to shake up the atoms only that they may settle where they belong.

Geddie's revulsion had been a mild one--no more than a swim in a summer sea after so inglorious an object as a drifting bottle.

And now he was himself again. Upon his desk, ready for the post, was a letter to his government tendering his resignation as consul, to be effective as soon as another could be appointed in his place.

For Bernard Brannigan, who never did things in a half-way manner, was to take Geddie at once for a partner in his very profitable and various enterprises; and Paula was happily engaged in plans for refurnishing and decorating the upper story of the Brannigan house.

The consul rose from his hammock when he saw the conspicuous stranger at this door.

"Keep your seat, old man," said the visitor, with an airy wave of his large hand. "My name's Smith; and I've come in a yacht. You are the consul--is that right? A big, cool guy on the beach directed me here.

Thought I'd pay my respects to the flag.""Sit down, said Geddie. "I've been admiring your craft ever since it came in sight. Looks like a fast sailer. What's her tonnage?""Search me!" said Smith. "I don't know what she weighs in at. But she's got a tidy gait. The ~Rambler~--that's her name--don't take the dust of anything afloat. This is my first trip on her. I'm taking a squint along this coast just to get an idea of the countries where the rubber and red pepper and revolutions come from. I had no idea there was so much scenery down here. Why, Central Park ain't in it with this neck of the woods. I'm from New York. They get monkeys, and coconuts, and parrots down here--is that right?""We have them all," said Geddie. "I'm quite sure that our fauna and flora would take a prize over Central Park.""Maybe they would," admitted Smith, cheerfully. "I haven't seen them yet. But I guess you've got us skinned on the animal and vegetation question. You don't have much travel here, do you?""Travel?" queried the consul. "I suppose you mean passengers on steamers. No; very few people land in Coralio. An investor now and then--tourists and sightseers generally go further down the coast to one of the larger towns where there is a harbor.""I see a ship out there loading up with bananas," said Smith. "Any passengers come on her?""That's the ~Karlesfin~," said the consul. "She's a tramp fruiter--made her last trip to New York, I believe. No; she brought no passengers. I saw her boat come ashore, and there was no one. About the only exciting recreation we have here is watching steamers when they arrive; and a passenger on one of them generally causes the whole town to turn out. If you are going to remain in Coralio a while, Mr. Smith, I'll be glad to take you around to meet some people. There are four or five American chaps that are good to know, besides the native high-fliers.""Thanks," said the yachtsman, "but I wouldn't put you the trouble.

I'd like to meet the guys you speak of, but I won't be here long enough to do much knocking around. That cool gent on the beach spoke of a doctor; can you tell me where to find him? The ~Rambler~ ain't quite as steady on her feet as a Broadway hotel; and a fellow gets a touch of seasickness now and then. Thought I'd strike the croaker for a handful of the little sugar pills, in case I need 'em.""You will be apt to find Doctor Gregg at the hotel," said the consul.

"You can see it from the door--it's that two-story building with the balcony, where the orange-trees are."The Hotel de los Extranjeros was a dreary hostelry, in great disuse both by strangers and friends. It stood at a corner of the Street of the Holy Sepulchre. A grove of small orange-trees crowded against one side of it, enclosed by a low, rock wall over which a tall man might easily step. The house was of plastered adobe, stained a hundred shades of color by the salt breeze and the sun. Upon its upper balcony opened a central door and two windows containing broad jalousies instead of sashes.

The lower floor communicated by two doorways with the narrow, rock-paved sidewalk. The ~pulperia~--or drinking shop--of the proprietess, Madama Timotea Ortiz, occupied the ground floor. On the bottles of brandy, ~anisada~, Scotch "smoke," and inexpensive wines behind the little counter the dust lay thick save where the fingers of infrequent customers had left irregular prints. The upper story contained four or five guest-rooms which were rarely put to their destined use. Sometimes a fruitgrower, riding in from his plantation to confer with his agent, would pass a melancholy night in the dismal upper story; sometimes a minor native official on some trifling government quest would have his pomp and majesty awed by Madama's sepulchral hospitality. But Madama sat behind her bar content, not desiring to quarrel with Fate. If any one required meat, drink or lodging at the Hotel de los Extranjeros they had but to come, and be served. ~Esta bueno~. If they came not, why, then, they came not. ~Esta bueno~.

As the exceptional yachtsman was making his way down the precarious sidewalk of the Street of the Holy Sepulchre, the solitary permanent guest of that decaying hotel sat at its door, enjoying the breeze from the sea.

同类推荐
  • NO NAME

    NO NAME

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 六十种曲琴心记

    六十种曲琴心记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Manon Lescaut

    Manon Lescaut

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 师子庄严王菩萨请问经

    师子庄严王菩萨请问经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 唐御史台精舍题名考

    唐御史台精舍题名考

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 穷人靠什么赚钱(经典珍藏版)

    穷人靠什么赚钱(经典珍藏版)

    穷人赚钱靠什么?穷人如何才能快速成为富人?这是每一个人都关心的问题,成功创富是他们的愿望,但只有愿望还不够,还要有勇敢地改变自己和积极主动的行动!
  • 我是猫

    我是猫

    日本“国民大师”夏目漱石成名处女作,对日本文学有着极深远的影响。对鲁迅影响力极大的小说。《我是猫》小说以一只猫的视角,观察并评述身为中学教师的主人苦沙弥和他的朋友们的日常生活,同时穿插了资本家邻居金田的女儿婚事等事件。小说中的猫语言幽默机智,妙语连珠,作者借其口嘲笑了明治社会知识分子空虚的精神世界,揭露了金田等资产阶级及其帮凶的势利、粗鄙、凶残的本性。全书构思灵巧,手法夸张,具有鲜明的艺术特色。
  • 有梦楼随笔(格致文库)

    有梦楼随笔(格致文库)

    本书所收录文章为之前发表在报纸、杂志的,有对异域电影的看法,有对中国影片的见解,更有对中国传媒的的认知。还有一部分内容主要是对过往之事的回忆,有对北大学习生涯的回顾,也有和朋友往事的记忆,另外,还有对“艺术”“义”的看法。
  • 阴阳眼之灵媒

    阴阳眼之灵媒

    主角简介:我叫印阳琰,听上去好像是“阴阳眼”。其实,我真的有阴阳眼,只是有时灵,有时不灵而已。职业:灵媒,但是性别为男!特点:自认为是绝色美男!但是在别人的眼中,只不过是一个记不住别人名字,经常会倒霉的吃货而已。
  • 蠢萌忠犬已邮递

    蠢萌忠犬已邮递

    [已完结!]【忠犬VS呆萌】他是霸道的大灰狼,却唯独对她像只忠犬一般。当她放学时,某只大灰狼便早早的在校门口等着了,用他的话来讲:“我要做韶笙的黑马骑士。”当她被人动手动脚,他二话不说就是暴打一顿:“请不要对韶笙动手动脚,否则我打的你手脚都不能动!”当大灰狼打完之后,某女很不客气的给他脑门来了一掌:“不可以欺负同学!”某男听令,立刻乖乖的臣服在她的脚边,温柔的像只小狗狗:“是!”【简介无力,请戳内容!】[读者群:137512821人太少!求热闹!]
  • 穿越东洋:小女子好无奈

    穿越东洋:小女子好无奈

    此女,很倒霉穿越了,很庆幸,穿后是个美人。很倒霉,穿成了东洋女人,很庆幸,人在自家领土上。很倒霉,被祖国同胞追着打,很庆幸,没有打死……总之,小女子好无奈,无奈的穿越,无奈的跨国倾城之恋……情节虚构,切勿模仿
  • 喜上眉头

    喜上眉头

    新书《如意事》正在连载 ———————— 大靖朝一夫一妻典范,被誉为佳话的帝后,死后齐齐重生了。这是一个重生的皇帝陛下想替小皇后择良配、拉红线,可拉着拉着却又拉回了自己身上的故事…… …… 正版读者订阅群:734187674
  • 当好孩子的引路人

    当好孩子的引路人

    《当好孩子的引路人:写给父母的教育枕边书》的最大受益者是以下的人群:刚刚面对教育问题的父母与老师;对孩子的教育一筹莫展的父母与老师:不能与孩子和谐相处的父母与老师;正在为孩子的某些问题焦虑的父母与老师;试图与孩子建立最亲密关系的父母与老师。
  • 三流剑客传奇

    三流剑客传奇

    武林纷乱,风起云涌,终究是一片乱世。
  • 当下的修行:要学会淡定

    当下的修行:要学会淡定

    本书从八个方面详尽地论述了如何学会淡定。淡定是一种示现于外的状态,淡定是一种一心不乱的心境。淡定是泰然处之,正确抉择。淡定是正视磨难、正视挫折。淡定是随遇而安,正视得失。淡定是谋定而动,正确地面对挑战。淡定学会面对压力,轻松生活。淡定是放下恩怨,正确地面对是非功过。淡定是淡泊宁静,看淡名利。  这个时代需要“淡定”。我们每个人都需要这种心态,才会在生活中处之泰然,不会过于浮躁而迷失自我、过于兴奋而忘乎所以、过于悲伤而痛不欲生。淡定不是平庸,它是一种生活态度,是一种人生境界,是智慧的不争,是宠辱不惊,是对简单生活的一种追求。