登陆注册
15451100000047

第47章 THE BURIED TREASURE OF COBRE(5)

Fearful of hurting the feelings of others, she added hastily, "And, of course, our marines, too."Everett assured her if there was one thing that meant more to him than all else, it was an American bluejacket, and next to him an American leatherneck.

It took a long time to arrange the details of the Red Cross Society. In spite of his reputation for brilliancy, it seemed to Monica Mr. Everett had a mind that plodded. For his benefit it was necessary several times to repeat the most simple proposition.

She was sure his inability to fasten his attention on her League of Mercy was because his brain was occupied with problems of state. It made her feel selfish and guilty. When his visitor decided that to explain further was but to waste his valuable time and had made her third effort to go, Everett went with her.

He suggested that she take him to the hospital and introduce him to the sisters. He wanted to talk to them about the Red Cross League. It was a charming walk. Every one lifted his hat to Monica; the beggars, the cab-drivers, the barefooted policemen, and the social lights of Camaguay on the sidewalks in front of the cafes rose and bowed.

"It is like walking with royalty!" exclaimed Everett.

While at the hospital he talked to the Mother Superior--his eyes followed Monica. As she moved from cot to cot he noted how the younger sisters fluttered happily around her, like bridesmaids around a bride, and how as she passed, the eyes of those in the cots followed her jealously, and after she had spoken with them smiled in content.

"She is good," the Mother Superior was saying, "and her brother, too, is very good."Everett had forgotten the brother. With a start he lifted his eyes and found the Mother Superior regarding him.

"He is very good," she repeated. "For us, he built this wing of the hospital. It was his money. We should be very sorry if any harm came to Mr. Ward. Without his help we would starve." She smiled, and with a gesture signified the sick. "I mean they would starve; they would die of disease and fever." The woman fixed upon him grave, inscrutable eyes. "Will Your Excellency remember?" she said. It was less of a question than a command.

"Where the church can forgive--" she paused.

Like a real diplomat Everett sought refuge in mere words.

"The church is all-powerful, Mother," he said. "Her power to forgive is her strongest weapon. I have no such power. It lies beyond my authority. I am just a messenger-boy carrying the wishes of the government of one country to the government of another."The face of the Mother Superior remained grave, but undisturbed.

"Then, as regards our Mr. Ward," she said, "the wishes of your government are--"Again she paused; again it was less of a question than a command.

With interest Everett gazed at the whitewashed ceiling.

"I have not yet," he said, "communicated them to any one."That night, after dinner in the patio, he reported to Garland the words of the Mother Superior.

"That was my dream, 0 Prophet," concluded Everett; "you who can read this land of lotus-eaters, interpret! What does it mean?""It only means what I've been telling you," said the consul. "It means that if you're going after that treaty, you've only got to fight the Catholic Church. That's all it means!"Later in the evening Garland said: "I saw you this morning crossing the plaza with Monica. When I told you everybody in this town loved her, was I right?""Absolutely!" assented Everett. "But why didn't you tell me she was a flapper?""I don't know what a flapper is," promptly retorted Garland. "And if I did, I wouldn't call Monica one.""A flapper is a very charming person," protested Everett. "I used the term in its most complimentary sense. It means a girl between fourteen and eighteen. It's English slang, and in England at the present the flapper is very popular. She is driving her sophisticated elder sister, who has been out two or three seasons, and the predatory married woman to the wall. To men of my years the flapper is really at the dangerous age."In his bamboo chair Garland tossed violently and snorted.

"I sized you up," he cried, "as a man of the finest perceptions. I was wrong. You don't appreciate Monica! Dangerous! You might as well say God's sunshine is dangerous, or a beautiful flower is dangerous."Everett shook his head at the other man reproachfully:

"Did you ever hear of a sunstroke?" he demanded. "Don't you know if you smell certain beautiful flowers you die? Can't you grasp any other kind of danger than being run down by a trolley-car? Is the danger of losing one's peace of mind nothing, of being unfaithful to duty, nothing! Is--"Garland raised his arms.

"Don't shoot!" he begged. "I apologize. You do appreciate Monica.

You have your consul's permission to walk with her again."The next day young Professor Peabody called and presented his letters. He was a forceful young man to whom the delays of diplomacy did not appeal, and one apparently accustomed to riding off whatever came in his way. He seemed to consider any one who opposed him, or who even disagreed with his conclusions, as offering a personal affront. With indignation he launched into his grievance.

"These people," he declared, "are dogs in the manger, and Ward is the worst of the lot. He knows no more of archaeology than a congressman. The man's a faker! He showed me a spear-head of obsidian and called it flint; and he said the Aztecs borrowed from the Mayas, and that the Toltecs were a myth. And he got the Aztec solar calendar mixed with the Ahau. He's as ignorant as that.""I can't believe it!" exclaimed Everett.

"You may laugh," protested the professor, "but the ruins of Cobre hold secrets the students of two continents are trying to solve.

They hide the history of a lost race, and I submit it's not proper one man should keep that knowledge from the world, certainly not for a few gold armlets!"Everett raised his eyes.

"What makes you say that?"' he demanded.

同类推荐
  • NEWS FROM NOWHERE

    NEWS FROM NOWHERE

    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。
  • 後鑒錄

    後鑒錄

    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。
  • 大悲经

    大悲经

    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。
  • 天演论

    天演论

    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。
  • 饮流斋说瓷

    饮流斋说瓷

    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。
热门推荐
  • 冰山总裁PK麻辣女神

    冰山总裁PK麻辣女神

    她,江天儿是明星天后;他,闫雷宇是商界权贵。小三插足,她与他之间划分了一个不可逾越的鸿沟。为了愈合情感的创伤,她全身心投入工作当中,遇到如天使一般的狄恩关心他,呵护她,她曾几何时有那么一丝丝的心动,他却又追她而来,她犹豫彷徨,又在此时,江天儿被卷入了洪家争产风波……
  • 隋汤

    隋汤

    开皇二十年,隋炀帝立为太子。四年后,修葺寝宫,开运河。四年后,弑父戏母,逍遥车。即入乱世,便要持三尺青锋,立不世功。倒要看看。这隋唐,演绎的是到底谁的笔墨。又是谁,马鞭一指,畅饮的,便是整碗隋汤。
  • 奥特N计划

    奥特N计划

    我们写这部小说的目的,是还原一个真实的、完整的奥特N计划,还原一个因为缩水而后天畸形的奈克瑟斯。
  • 异界重生:终成正果之废柴要翻天

    异界重生:终成正果之废柴要翻天

    前世,林澈本是紫宸国不受宠的七公主。冷宫、和亲、被爱人抛弃这些倒霉事情统统发生在她身上。然而,一眨眼间穿越到这异界,命运又和自己开了个玩笑,林澈沦为林府不受宠的废柴草包四小姐。不但没有实力,还容貌残缺,仿佛生来就是任人宰割的对象。姐姐不疼、爹爹不爱的林澈却在最落魄的时候遇到了此生最重要的人。“丫头,本王第一眼看到你,就认定你了。”收神兽、捡圣器、打怪兽,武力和灵力节节攀升。封印解除的那一刻,她变成真命天女,一顾倾人国。再回首,一路走来,他一直在那里。
  • 彼岸誓言

    彼岸誓言

    我一直在寻找一位女子,她一直在奈何桥上唱着彼岸花歌……繁华尘世,云泥人海,两望鹊桥渡。弹指生死,几轮朝暮,三涂黄昏处。花开叶落,红白两色,痴情难留住。叶落做土,花开几簇,渺渺泪无数。奈何桥头,孟婆劝饮,几生无回顾。哭笑沧桑,黄泉相随,佛禅苦难度。阿鼻魄落,七情魂在,迷津怎醒悟。轮回愁楚,幽冥难醉,独步无归路……她在奈何桥上轻轻地哼唱着这首歌……那天,他和她许下誓言。而他们却已不像儿时那个模样。是儿时誓言今日续,还是儿时誓言今日断。是分是和,取决于对方手中......『男主女主身心干净,这是凛蝶的第二本文文,欢迎跳坑!第一章可以不看,就是把简介写具体了点。』
  • 马贼王

    马贼王

    漫漫江湖路,悠悠马贼行;银戟照赤兔,飒沓如流星。长戈扶弱旅,千里抹中亭;纵死心骨存,谁言太玄经。======================
  • 报告女帝,尊上又醋了

    报告女帝,尊上又醋了

    一朝身死,重生为人,沦为废物。堂堂昆仑圣女,随九幽圣体而生,通九幽之灵,居然被人称之为废物?那就让本废物好好地让你们开开眼界!等等,这系统是什么回事?完成任务有奖励,听起来不错,可……任务是什么鬼?勾搭那个什么变态尊上?要脸么!某尊上:“系统都这样设定了,阿月,你就不要害羞了,有事咱们床上说。”“秦楚!你丫的,是不是动过我的系统!”
  • 大般若经第二会

    大般若经第二会

    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。
  • 神奇的动物世界

    神奇的动物世界

    揭开未解之谜的神秘面纱,探索扑朔迷离的科学疑云;让你身临其境,保受益无穷。书中还有不少观察和实践的设计,青少年读者们可以亲自动手,提高自己的实践能力。对于广大青少年学习、掌握科学知识也是不可多得的良师益友。
  • 毒医战妃:倾城召唤师

    毒医战妃:倾城召唤师

    她,是一位身怀异宝的鬼医杀手他,是美如冠玉的腹黑战神皇叔异世穿越,她成为了一个人人皆知的无用废材,睁开第一眼时,她身边有许多妖异的曼珠沙华。不会召唤兽宠?神兽,魔兽争先争宠。没女一枚?不,姿色可以倾城倾国所谓,人不犯我,我不犯人,人若犯我,我必诛之。段一:“紫非冥,我的婚礼被——你——搅——了”某女怒吼到“小野猫,我跟你说说过的,别人娶你,必杀之,别人与你订婚呢,必杀之,只有本王,才可以配你,所以,本王是来抢婚的”紫非冥搂着千子沫就离开了,留下了遍地尸体段二:“皇叔,大事不好了”侍卫弹颤着说,“怎么了”紫非冥有些不在意,“王妃,,,王妃把黄金换成银票了”“这么点小事,还要来跟本王汇报吗?”