“You rang, sir?”
He scarcely breathed the words. In every tone spoke1 the old servile humility2 of the creature in the presence of his creator the King. He might have said, “Sire.” His voice, his straight-set eyes, his bowed body, did say it.
His master continued the conversation with the two men without lifting his head. He merely flung the order with studied carelessness:
“Lights, Otto—the table only.”
The servant bowed low, pressed the electric switch, and softly left the room, walking backward as before royalty3.
The two men with Charles Waldron in his palatial4 house in New York passed the incident apparently5 without knowledge of its significance. An American-born boy of fourteen, seeing it twenty-five years ago, would have wondered where on earth the creature came from. Of one thing he would have been certain—this flunkey could not have been made in the United States of America. Within the past quarter of a century, however, the imported menial has become one of our institutions and he is the outward sign of a momentous6 change within the mind of the class who have ruled our society.
The crown-embossed electric lantern above the massive table in the center of the room flooded the gold and scarlet7 cloth with light.
Waldron with a quick gesture of command spoke sharply:
“Be seated, gentlemen.”
The two men instinctively8 brought their heels together and took seats within the circle of light. The master of the house paused a moment in deep thought before the stately Louis XIV window looking out on the broad waters of the Hudson.
His yacht, a huge ocean greyhound whose nose had scented9 the channels of every harbor of the world, lay at anchor in the stream along the heights of upper Manhattan, her keen prow10 bent11 seaward by the swift tide.
The strong face of the master of men was flushed with an inward fire. His gray eyes glowed. His jaws13 suddenly came together with decision. He turned from the window as if to join the two at the table and paused in his tracks studying the face of Meyer, the tall angular fellow who was evidently impatient at the delay.
Waldron had suddenly made up his mind to trust this man with a most important mission. And yet he disliked him. He was the type that must be used, but held with an iron hand—the modern enthusiast14 with scientific knowledge.
The smaller man, Mora, was easy—the nose of a ferret, coarse black cropped beard and thick sensuous15 lips. He could be managed—yes. He could be trusted—yes.
The other—he studied again—the strongly marked angular features, the large brilliant eyes, big nostrils16 and high forehead. He could be used for the first steps—it might be necessary to hang him later. All right, he would use him and then let him hang himself—suicide was common with his type.
Waldron smiled, quickly approached the table and took his seat. He nodded to Meyer and spoke suavely17:
“Your invention has been perfected?”
The deep lines about the thinker’s mouth twitched18. He suddenly thrust his hand in his pocket, drew out a box and placed it under the light.
“I have it with me.”
Mora bent close and Waldron watched keenly as Meyer opened the leathern case and exposed the new device which he had promised to perfect.
“Examine the mechanisms,” he said, passing it to Waldron. “It’s perfectly19 harmless at present. The clockwork inside is as delicate as a Swiss watch.”
The master of the house placed the smooth round surface to his ear, listened, laughed softly and passed it to Mora.
Meyer spoke with the certainty of positive knowledge, holding Waldron’s eye with a steady gaze.
“I guarantee to stop the trade of this money-grabbing nation with all belligerents20. I’ll sink a ship from inside her hold as slick as that torpedo21 ten days ago got the Lusitania—”
Waldron made no reply. His jaw12 merely closed tightly.
The throb22 of an automobile23 climbing the steep roadway from the river drive struck the window. Waldron rose, listened a moment, walked to the casement24 and looked out.
A tall, distinguished-looking man with deep-cut lines in his strong face, who moved with military precision, opened the door of the tonneau without waiting for the chauffeur25 and leaped out.
The flunkey in the hall was evidently expecting his arrival. Villard whispered to the servant who closed the door quickly and led the way to the library.
The new guest was evidently nervous in spite of his well drilled manners. In his right hand he gripped an extra edition of a New York sensational26 evening paper.
Villard himself brushed the flunkey aside and rapped on the library door. Waldron opened and closed it instantly on his entrance. There was no mistaking the fact that the newcomer bore an important message. His deep, cold, blue eyes glowed with excitement and his hand visibly trembled. He drew his host to the window, opened the crumpled27 copy of the paper and pointed28 to its huge head lines:
CONGRESSMAN29 VASSAR OF NEW YORK INTRODUCES BILL DEMANDING A GREAT NAVY AND A MILLION TRAINED MEN FOR DEFENSE30!
“This is a serious business”—Villard said curtly32.
Waldron smiled:
“Serious—yes—unless we know how to meet the crisis. I happen to know—”
“It can be defeated then?”
“It will be defeated,” was the quiet reply. “Many bills are introduced into our supreme33 law-making body, Villard—but few are passed. This is one that will die an early and easy death—”
“You are sure?”
“As that I’m living. Come—sit down.” Waldron moved toward the table and Villard quickly followed.
Waldron handed the paper to Meyer without comment and quietly watched him explode with excitement. Mora, too, was swept from his feet for the moment.
“It means—sir?” Meyer gasped34.
“That we will move a little more quickly—that is all,” Waldron answered.
The three men leaned close, each awaiting with evident deference35 the word of the master mind.
There was no mistaking the fact that one mind dominated the group. The high intellectual forehead of the man of millions marked him at once as a born leader and master of men. There was a consciousness of power in the poise36 of his big body and the slow movement of his piercing eyes that commanded attention and respect from his bitterest foe37.
“Of course, gentlemen,” he began calmly, “if we had in this country an intelligent and capable government we would be up against a serious situation. We have no such government. The alleged38 Democracy under which we live is the most asinine39 contrivance ever devised by theorists and dreamers. It never makes an important move until too late and then will certainly do the wrong thing in the moment of crisis. There is but one thing you can always depend on at every session of Congress. They will pass the bill dividing the Pork Barrel among the Congressional Districts. The average Congressman considers this his first duty—the rest is of but slight importance—”
Villard laughed heartily40. The two others joined feebly. They were not so sure of the situation. Their knowledge of Waldron’s power and the accuracy of his judgment41 was not so clear as the older man’s.
“Not only have we the most corrupt42 and incompetent43 government of all history,” Waldron went on, “but to add to its confusion and weakness we have lately thrust the duties of the ballot44 upon millions of hysterical45 women utterly46 unfitted for its responsibilities. It is an actual fact that the women now enfranchised47 in the Middle and Western states hold the balance of power—”
Villard suddenly leaped to his feet.
“And they will vote solidly against every programme of preparation!”
Waldron nodded.
“How fortunate at this moment!” Villard went on enthusiastically, “that the women rule American men. I begin to see the reason for your confidence. You will enlist48 of course the eloquent49 young leader who addressed the mob in union Square last week?”
“At once,” Waldron answered quickly. “Virginia Holland is one of the feminine gods at the moment. It’s amazing with what blind worship her disciples50 follow—”
“She’s a stunning51 young woman, sir!” Villard broke in gallantly52. “By Jove, she stirred me. You can’t neglect her—”
“I shall cultivate her at once,” was the quiet answer. “In the meantime, Meyer”—Waldron paused and held the enthusiast’s eye for an instant and went on rapidly—“we will forget the ships—”
Meyer frowned in surprise but had no time to answer before he received the curt31 order in an undertone.
“Wait for me—I’ve more important work for you.” Waldron rose and drew Villard and Mora aside.
Without ceremony he placed five yellow-backed one hundred dollar bills in Villard’s hands and a single one in Mora’s.
“We hold a great Peace rally to launch the popular movement against this bill to establish militarism in the United States. The classes who cherish varied53 theories of peace will join us. The Honorable Plato Barker is at the moment the leader of the peace yodelers. He is a professional lecturer who loves the sound of his own voice. He knows you, Villard, and prizes your opinions on Peace—”
Villard gave a dry little laugh.
“You will personally see the Honorable Plato and secure him as our principal speaker. And you, Mora, happen to know the Reverend A. Cuthbert Pike, D.D., President of the American Peace union. His church maintains some missionaries54 in your benighted55 native land. His office is at the Bible House. I want him to introduce the Honorable Plato Barker—”
Mora smiled and bowed, and the two hurried to execute their orders. Villard’s car was waiting. The master of the house took Meyer’s arm, led him to the corner of the library and for half an hour gave explicit56 instructions in low tones.
Before showing Meyer to the door another roll of bills was duly delivered for defraying the expenses of his important work. The enthusiast brought his heels together with a sharp click, saluted57 and hurried down the broad stairs. He declined the offer of an automobile. He didn’t like millionaires. He only used them.
Waldron watched him go with a curious smile, drew on his gloves and called for his hat and cane58.
The flunkey who hovered59 near obeyed the order with quick servility and stood watching his master go by the broad porte-cochère, wondering why the order had not been given him for the car.
Waldron signaled his night chauffeur, and the big limousine60 darted61 to the stoop. As the driver leaned out to receive his orders, Waldron spoke in low tones:
“To Miss Virginia Holland’s on Stuyvesant Square—”
The driver nodded and closed the door of the limousine. He had been there before.
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收听单词发音
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1
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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palatial
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| adj.宫殿般的，宏伟的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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prow
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| n.(飞机)机头，船头 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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15
sensuous
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| adj.激发美感的；感官的，感觉上的 | |
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16
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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17
suavely
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18
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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19
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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belligerents
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| n.交战的一方（指国家、集团或个人）( belligerent的名词复数 ) | |
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21
torpedo
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| n.水雷，地雷；v.用鱼雷破坏 | |
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22
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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23
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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24
casement
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| n.竖铰链窗；窗扉 | |
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25
chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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26
sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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27
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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28
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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Congressman
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| n.（美）国会议员 | |
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30
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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31
curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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34
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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35
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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36
poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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asinine
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| adj.愚蠢的 | |
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40
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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41
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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42
corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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43
incompetent
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| adj.无能力的，不能胜任的 | |
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44
ballot
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| n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票 | |
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45
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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47
enfranchised
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| v.给予选举权( enfranchise的过去式和过去分词 )；（从奴隶制中）解放 | |
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48
enlist
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| vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍 | |
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49
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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50
disciples
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| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
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51
stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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52
gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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53
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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54
missionaries
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| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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55
benighted
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| adj.蒙昧的 | |
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56
explicit
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| adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的 | |
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57
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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58
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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59
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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60
limousine
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| n.豪华轿车 | |
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61
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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