第 30 节
作者:津夏      更新:2021-04-30 15:57      字数:9322
  done in the Council。〃
  〃Pure     formalities;     nothing    more。      By…the…way;        the   Macedonian
  prisoners are all right。〃
  〃Thank Goodness for that! 〃
  〃We   adjourned   all   other   business   until   we   should   have   you   with   us
  next week。       The question of a dissolution begins to press。               The reports
  from the provinces are excellent。〃
  The Foreign Minister moved impatiently and groaned。
  〃We   must   really  straighten   up   our   foreign   business   a   little;〃   said   he。
  〃I must get Novikoff's Note answered。               It is clever; but the fallacies are
  obvious。      I wish; too; we could clear up the Afghan frontier。              This illness
  is   most   exasperating。      There   is   so   much   to   be   done;   but   my   brain   is
  clouded。      Sometimes I think it is the gout; and sometimes I put it down to
  the colchicum。〃
  〃What   will   our   medical   autocrat   say?〃   laughed   the   Prime   Minister。
  〃You are so irreverent; Charles。          With a bishop one may feel at one's ease。
  They     are  not   beyond     the  reach    of  argument。     But     a  doctor   with   his
  stethoscope   and   thermometer   is   a   thing   apart。       Your   reading   does   not
  impinge upon him。          He is serenely above you。           And then; of course; he
  takes   you   at   a   disadvantage。    With   health   and   strength   one   might   cope
  with    him。    Have     you   read   Hahnemann?         What     are  your    views    upon
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  Hahnemann?〃
  The invalid knew his illustrious colleague too well to follow him down
  any of those by…paths of knowledge in which he delighted to wander。                   To
  his intensely shrewd and practical mind there was something repellent in
  the waste of energy involved in a discussion upon the Early Church or the
  twenty… seven principles of Mesmer。            It was his custom to slip past such
  conversational openings with a quick step and an averted face。
  〃I   have   hardly   glanced    at  his  writings;〃    said  he。   〃By…the…way;     I
  suppose that there was no special departmental news?〃
  〃Ah!    I had almost forgotten。        Yes; it was one of the things which I
  had    called   to  tell  you。  Sir   Algernon     Jones   has   resigned   at  Tangier。
  There is a vacancy there。〃
  〃It   had   better   be   filled  at  once。     The    longer    delay   the   more
  applicants。〃
  〃Ah;    patronage;    patronage!〃     sighed    the  Prime    Minister。     〃Every
  vacancy   makes   one   doubtful   friend   and   a   dozen   very   positive   enemies。
  Who     so   bitter  as  the  disappointed     place…seeker?     But    you   are   right;
  Charles。     Better fill it at once; especially as there is some little trouble in
  Morocco。      I understand that the Duke of Tavistock would like the place
  for his fourth son; Lord Arthur Sibthorpe。           We are under some obligation
  to the Duke。〃
  The Foreign Minister sat up eagerly。
  〃My dear friend;〃 he said; 〃it is the very appointment which I should
  have   suggested。     Lord Arthur   would   be   very   much   better   in   Tangier   at
  present than inin〃
  〃Cavendish Square?〃 hazarded his chief; with a little arch query of his
  eyebrows。
  〃Well;    let  us  say  London。     He    has  manner     and   tact。  He    was   at
  Constantinople in Norton's time。〃
  〃Then he talks Arabic?〃
  〃A smattering。      But his French is good。〃
  〃Speaking of Arabic; Charles; have you dipped into Averroes?〃
  〃No; I have not。       But the appointment would be an excellent one in
  every way。      Would you have the great goodness to arrange the matter in
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  my absence?〃
  〃Certainly; Charles; certainly。        Is there anything else that I can do?〃
  〃No。     I hope to be in the House by Monday。〃
  〃I trust so。    We miss you at every turn。          The Times will try to make
  mischief     over    that  Grecian     business。     A    leader…writer     is  a  terribly
  irresponsible   thing;   Charles。      There   is   no   method   by   which   he   may   be
  confuted;      however     preposterous      his   assertions。     Good…bye!         Read
  Porson!      Goodbye!〃
  He shook the invalid's hand; gave a jaunty wave of his broad…brimmed
  hat; and darted out of the room with the same elasticity and energy with
  which he had entered it。
  The  footman   had   already  opened   the  great   folding door   to usher  the
  illustrious visitor to his carriage; when a lady stepped from the drawing…
  room   and     touched    him   on   the  sleeve。    From   behind      the  half…  closed
  portiere of stamped velvet a little pale face peeped out; half…curious; half…
  frightened。
  〃May I have one word?〃
  〃Surely; Lady Clara。〃
  〃I   hope   it   is   not   intrusive。 I   would   not   for   the   world   overstep   the
  limits〃
  〃My dear Lady Clara!〃 interrupted the Prime Minister; with a youthful
  bow and wave。
  〃Pray do not answer me if I go too far。            But I know that Lord Arthur
  Sibthorpe has applied for Tangier。            Would it be a liberty if I asked you
  what chance he has?〃
  〃The post is filled up。〃
  〃Oh!〃
  In the foreground and background there was a disappointed face。
  〃And Lord Arthur has it。〃
  The Prime Minister chuckled over his little piece of roguery。
  〃We have just decided it;〃 he continued。
  〃Lord Arthur   must   go   in   a   week。    I   am  delighted   to   perceive;   Lady
  Clara;   that   the   appointment   has   your   approval。      Tangier   is   a   place   of
  extraordinary   interest。      Catherine   of   Braganza   and   Colonel   Kirke   will
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  occur to your memory。          Burton has written well upon Northern Africa。               I
  dine   at   Windsor;   so   I   am   sure   that   you   will   excuse   my   leaving   you。 I
  trust that   Lord   Charles  will be   better。     He   can   hardly  fail   to   be   so   with
  such a nurse。〃
  He bowed; waved; and was off down the steps to his brougham。                       As
  he drove away; Lady Clara could see that he was already deeply absorbed
  in a paper…covered novel。
  She   pushed   back   the   velvet   curtains;   and   returned   into   the   drawing…
  room。     Her daughter stood in the sunlight by the window; tall; fragile; and
  exquisite;   her   features   and   outline   not   unlike   her   mother's;   but   frailer;
  softer; more delicate。        The golden light struck one half of her high…bred;
  sensitive face; and glimmered upon her thickly…coiled flaxen hair; striking
  a pinkish tint from her closely…cut costume of fawn…coloured cloth with its
  dainty  cinnamon   ruchings。         One   little   soft   frill   of   chiffon   nestled   round
  her throat; from which the white; graceful neck and well…poised head shot
  up   like   a   lily   amid   moss。 Her   thin   white   hands   were   pressed   together;
  and her blue eyes turned beseechingly upon her mother。
  〃Silly   girl!   Silly   girl!〃   said   the   matron;   answering    that   imploring
  look。    She put her hands upon her daughter's sloping shoulders and drew
  her towards her。       〃It is a very nice place for a   short time。          It will be a
  stepping stone。〃
  〃But oh! mamma; in a week!            Poor Arthur!〃
  〃He will be happy。〃
  〃What! happy to part?〃
  〃He need not part。       You shall go with him。〃
  〃Oh! mamma!〃
  〃Yes; I say it。〃
  〃Oh! mamma; in a week?〃
  〃Yes indeed。      A great deal may be done in a week。             I shall order your
  trousseau to…day。〃
  〃Oh!   you   dear;   sweet   angel!    But   I   am   so   frightened!   And   papa?
  Oh! dear; I am so frightened!〃
  〃Your papa is a diplomatist; dear。〃
  〃Yes; ma。〃
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  〃But;   between      ourselves;   he   married   a   diplomatist   too。     If   he   can
  manage   the   British   Empire;   I   think   that   I   can   manage   him;   Ida。   How
  long have you been engaged; child?〃
  〃Ten weeks; mamma。〃
  〃Then   it   is   quite   time   it   came   to   a   head。 Lord Arthur   cannot   leave
  England   without   you。       You   must   go   to   Tangier   as   the   Minister's   wife。