登陆注册
4606600000019

第19章 Cupid's Exile Number Two(2)

Geddie came down to the consulate to explain the duties and workings of the office. He and Keogh tried to interest the new consul in their description of the work that his government expected him to perform.

"It's all right," said Johnnie from the hammock that he had set up as the official reclining place. "If anything turns up that has to be done I'll let you fellows do it. You can't expect a Democrat to work during his first term of holding office.""You might look over these headings," suggested Geddie, "of the different lines of exports you will have to keep account of. The fruit is classified; and there are the valuable woods, coffee, rubber--""That last account sounds all right," interrupted Mr. Atwood. "Sounds as if it could be stretched. I want to buy a new flag, a monkey, a guitar and a barrel of pineapples. Will the rubber account stretch over 'em?""That's merely statistics," said Geddie, smiling. "The expense account is what you want. It is supposed to have a slight elasticity.

The 'stationery' items are sometimes carelessly audited by the State Department.""We're wasting our time," said Keogh. "This man was born to hold office. He penetrates to the root of the art at one step of his eagle eye. The true genius of government shows its hand in every word of his speech.""I didn't take this job with any intention of working," explained Johnny, lazily. "I wanted to go somewhere in the world where they didn't talk about farms. There are none here, are there?""Not the kind you are acquainted with," answered the ex-consul.

"There is no such art here as agriculture. There never was a plow or a reaper within the boundaries of Anchuria.""This is the country for me," murmured the consul, and immediately he fell asleep.

The cheerful tintypist pursued his intimacy with Johnny in spite of open charges that he did so to obtain a preemption on a seat in that coveted spot, the rear gallery of the consulate. But whether his designs were selfish or purely friendly, Keogh achieved that desirable privilege. Few were the nights on which the two could not be found reposing there in the sea breeze, with their heels on the railing, and the cigars and brandy conveniently near.

One evening they sat thus, mainly silent, for their talk had dwindled before the stilling influence of an unusual night.

There was a great, full moon; and the sea mother-of-pearl. Almost every sound was hushed, for the air was but faintly stirring; and the town lay panting, waiting for the night to cool. Offshore lay the fruit steamer ~Andador~, of the Vesuvius line, full-laden and scheduled to sail at six in the morning. There were no loiterers on the beach. So bright was the moonlight that the two men could see the small pebbles shining on the beach where the gentle surf wetted them.

Then down the coast, tacking close to shore, slowly swam a little sloop, white-winged like some snowy sea fowl. Its course lay within twenty points of the wind's eye; so it veered in and out again in long, slow strokes like the movements of a graceful skater.

Again the tactics of its crew brought it close in shore, this time nearly opposite the consulate; and then there blew from the sloop clear and surprising notes as if from a horn of elfland. A fairy bugle it might have been, sweet and silvery and unexpected, playing with spirit the familiar air of "Home, Sweet Home."It was a scene set for the land of the lotus. The authority of the sea and the tropics, the mystery that attends unknown sails, and the prestige of drifting music on moonlit waters gave it an anodynous charm. Johnny Atwood felt it, and thought of Dalesburg; but as soon as Keogh's mind had arrived at a theory concerning the peripatetic solo he sprang to the railing, and his ear-rending yawp fractured the silence of Coralio like a cannon shot.

"Mel-lin-ger a-hoy!"

The sloop was now on its outward tack; but from it came a clear, answering hail:

"Good-bye, Billy... go-ing home--bye!"

The ~Andador~ was the sloop's destination. No doubt some passenger with a sailing permit from some up-the-coast point had come down in this sloop to catch the regular fruit steamer on its return trip.

Like a coquettish pigeon the little boat tacked on its eccentric way until at last its white sail was lost to sight against the larger bulk of the fruiter's side.

"That's old H. P. Mellinger," explained Keogh, dropping back into his chair. "He's going back to New York. He was a private secretary of the late hot-foot president of this grocery and fruit stand that they call a country. His job's over now; and I guess old Mellinger is glad.""Why does he disappear to music, like Zo-zo, the magic queen?" asked Johnny. "Just to show 'em that he doesn't care?""That noise you heard is a phonograph," said Keogh. "I sold him that. Mellinger had a graft in this country that was the only thing of its kind in the world. The tooting machine saved it for him once, and he always carried it around with him afterward.""Tell me about it," demanded Johnny, betraying interest.

"I'm no disseminator of narratives," said Keogh. "I can use language for purposes of speech; but when I attempt a discourse the words come out as they will, and they may make sense when they strike the atmosphere, or they may not.""I want to hear about the graft," persisted Johnny, "You've got no right to refuse. I've told you all about every man, woman and hitching post in Dalesburg.""You shall hear it," said Keogh. "I said my instincts of narrative were perplexed. Don't you believe it. It's an art I've acquired along with many other of the graces and sciences."

同类推荐
  • 论语点睛补注

    论语点睛补注

    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。
  • 佛说阿耨颰经

    佛说阿耨颰经

    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。
  • 大目乾连冥间救母变文并图

    大目乾连冥间救母变文并图

    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。
  • 北风扬沙录

    北风扬沙录

    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。
  • 律要后集

    律要后集

    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
  • 股神:沃伦·巴菲特的股票投资忠告

    股神:沃伦·巴菲特的股票投资忠告

    沃伦·巴菲特是当今股票市场最著名的投资大师,他在股市中创造了永不破灭的神话,成为全世界投资人仰慕的财富之神。他从小就极具投资意识,11岁的巴菲特购买了平生第一张股票。1947年,巴菲特进入宾夕法尼亚大学攻读财务和商业管理。两年后,巴菲特考入哥伦比亚大学金融系,拜师于著名投资理论学家本杰明·格雷厄姆。在格雷厄姆门下,巴菲特如鱼得水。1956年,他回到家乡创办“巴菲特有限公司”。1964年,巴菲特的个人财富达至400万美元,而此时他掌管的资金已高达2200万美元。
  • 中华神秘文化:相术文化

    中华神秘文化:相术文化

    生死有命,富贵在天。富贵之骨,不遇贫贱之苦;贫贱之相,不遇富贵之乐。世间之人各有其察性、聪愚、寿夭,乃至贵贱、吉凶、祸福的差异,并有其相应的特征。“故知命之工,察骨体之正,睹富贵贫财,犹人见盘孟之器,知所设用也。”让我们一道进入相术的神秘世界,披石拣金,去芜取菁。
  • 绅士法则 淑女定律

    绅士法则 淑女定律

    《绅士法则淑女定律》在综合众多案例的基础上,提出了“绅士法则,淑女定律”这一思维模式,并从多个不同的角度进行深入阐释以丰富实用的案例为线索,帮助家长们科学地培养自己的孩子,为孩子未来拥有好前程奠定坚实的基础。
  • 至尊宠魅之第一魔妃

    至尊宠魅之第一魔妃

    她曾笑傲特工界,任务完成率百分之百,却在最后一次任务落入阴谋而亡。她曾为天才,冠绝玄灵大陆,天纵无双,却被挚友背叛陷入绝境爆体而亡。两生两世,皆死于非命,死不瞑目。这一世,她逆天重生,带着铭刻在灵魂深处的记忆和仇恨。头顶废柴名号,受尽奚落屈辱,但终有一日,她会化身为黑暗中的利刃,用敌人的鲜血,祭奠自己的前世。片段一夜色迷人,温泉中雾气氤氲。一男一女正“坦诚”相对,“赤诚”相见。君卿染盯着突然从水中钻出的男人,眉峰一挑,沾染在玉臂上的水珠结成一柄锋利的冰刃,架在男子光滑的颈子上。“染儿,你要谋杀亲夫吗?”某男无视君卿染杀人的眼神,上扬的凤眸流转着蛊惑光芒,墨色的长发散在身侧,结实的肌肉在月色晕染下踱上了一层光。低沉动听的声音蕴含着难以言喻的情愫,明明调侃的语调,却说得如此深情。君卿染微微一愣,下一刻却跌入一个炙热的怀抱。邪异而魅惑的声音声声入耳:“染儿,你是我的!”片段二“君卿染,你就不怕君家主脉的追杀吗?”君家旁系家主捂着淌血的伤口,目光充血的望着面前脚踏着残肢碎臂,面带微笑的少女。“怕!?”君卿染挑眉,嘴角勾起邪肆的笑,“我就怕他们不来找我。”一语落,翻手握枪,凌厉的玄力倾泻而出,毫不留情的刺穿了面前男人的咽喉。九天之上,君卿染手握长枪,冷眸漠然凝望着被巨火吞噬的君家,地面上的鲜血一片片的就像冥界河畔绽放的曼莎珠华。“君家,这,不过是一点利息。”
  • 新民说

    新民说

    《梁启超:新民说》以1936年上海中华书局出的《新民说》为原本,结合编者搜集甄选研究《新民说》问世百年来的影响的学术论文集、社会舆论关于梁启超于中国启蒙思想史上的贡献,依据全书20节文字,在体例上精心设计了发表背景、社会反响、原文赏析、今日看点四个栏目,以求在保留梁任公“笔端常带感情”、催人奋进、令人热血沸腾的文字韵味的同时,帮助大家更好的理解和消化这些跨过百年,仍然具有强劲生命力、具有现实指导意义的宝贵文化遗产。《新民说》揭示了这样一个道理:中国社会要实现近代化,首先应当实现中国人的近代化。
  • 我家老公是重生哒

    我家老公是重生哒

    “先生,太太今天逛珠宝店的时候被柜台小姐嘲笑了,说她是乡巴佬买不起。”第二天,那家珠宝店更名了,顾染成了老板。“boss,夫人今天参加舞会被人搭讪了,那人自称是W市的首富之子。”没过多久,W市的首富易主,换成了别人。他是Z国最年轻的权贵,声名显赫。他也是M国最传奇的伯爵,手握三大财团,财大气粗。他俊美无双的容貌,更是令所有女人为之疯狂。然而,这样的他,偏偏对一个名叫顾染的小女人爱不释手,宠溺入骨——
  • 我的“反派”夫君

    我的“反派”夫君

    少女叶蓁蓁被好友推荐了一款古风江湖恋爱游戏——《霸道反派爱上我》,在下载游戏时她不小心睡着,莫名进入到这个游戏中……刚进入游戏就误食了反派美男子纪然之救治妹妹的最好药引,又因为“看到反派美男子就迈不动腿”的奇葩游戏设定,叶蓁蓁只好跟随纪然之回到玄影阁……纪然之并不是心狠手辣的江湖恶人,两人互生情愫,然而——江湖多波折,真情待考验!叶蓁蓁通过搞笑的系统君知道了游戏中的一生也仅是现实中的片刻,她不愿从游戏中出来,宁愿先做完这一生的一场梦……
  • 双重奏

    双重奏

    以自助餐为主的大厅内,屋顶中央的水晶灯饰造型高贵典雅,发出明亮又柔和的光,映着餐桌上的美食鲜嫩的色泽大厅内很宽敞,来宾却不多,门口的签名簿上显示的只有二十一人。这二十一个人都很年轻。他们有的三三两两地聚在一起聊天,有的拿着酒杯闲庭信步,有的——站在阴暗的角落里咬牙切齿。“给我一杯水。”时骏从酒吧要了第三杯水,返回到角落里继续咬牙切齿。半月前,时妈妈严令他去参加一场集体相亲。时骏想了各种理由推脱,怎奈母亲的战斗能力值强过他数倍,几次交锋下来,均以惨败收场。
  • 缘定七界

    缘定七界

    缘由天定;爱有心生;诺言是何依据?话由口出;意由念定;为何如此执着!仰望苍穹;回眸大地;人生毫不称意!岁月沧桑;颠沛流离;只为心有所依……在广阔无边的大陆的上面并非只有一个汉王朝的存在,分别东北方的汉王朝。西南方的韩王朝。西北方的欧阳王朝。还有就是东南方的紫叶王朝。
  • 澄空民间中医学精髓论

    澄空民间中医学精髓论

    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。