About half-past ten o'clock, as they were thus conversing1, Israel's acquaintance, the pretty chambermaid, rapped at the door, saying, with a titter, that a very rude gentleman in the passage of the court, desired to see Doctor Franklin.
"A very rude gentleman?" repeated the wise man in French, narrowly looking at the girl; "that means, a very fine gentleman who has just paid you some energetic compliment. But let him come up, my girl," he added patriarchially.
In a few moments, a swift coquettish step was heard, followed, as if in chase, by a sharp and manly4 one. The door opened. Israel was sitting so that, accidentally, his eye pierced the crevice5 made by the opening of the door, which, like a theatrical6 screen, stood for a moment between Doctor Franklin and the just entering visitor. And behind that screen, through the crack, Israel caught one momentary7 glimpse of a little bit of by-play between the pretty chambermaid and the stranger. The vivacious8 nymph appeared to have affectedly9 run from him on the stairs—doubtless in freakish return for some liberal advances—but had suffered herself to be overtaken at last ere too late; and on the instant Israel caught sight of her, was with an insincere air of rosy10 resentment11, receiving a roguish pinch on the arm, and a still more roguish salute12 on the cheek.
The next instant both disappeared from the range of the crevice; the girl departing whence she had come; the stranger—transiently invisible as he advanced behind the door—entering the room. When Israel now perceived him again, he seemed, while momentarily hidden, to have undergone a complete transformation13.
He was a rather small, elastic14, swarthy man, with an aspect as of a disinherited Indian Chief in European clothes. An unvanquishable enthusiasm, intensified15 to perfect sobriety, couched in his savage16, self-possessed eye. He was elegantly and somewhat extravagantly17 dressed as a civilian18; he carried himself with a rustic19, barbaric jauntiness20, strangely dashed with a superinduced touch of the Parisian salon21. His tawny22 cheek, like a date, spoke23 of the tropic, A wonderful atmosphere of proud friendlessness and scornful isolation24 invested him. Yet there was a bit of the poet as well as the outlaw25 in him, too. A cool solemnity of intrepidity26 sat on his lip. He looked like one who of purpose sought out harm's way. He looked like one who never had been, and never would be, a subordinate.
Israel thought to himself that seldom before had he seen such a being. Though dressed à-la-mode, he did not seem to be altogether civilized27.
So absorbed was our adventurer by the person of the stranger, that a few moments passed ere he began to be aware of the circumstance, that Dr. Franklin and this new visitor having saluted28 as old acquaintances, were now sitting in earnest conversation together.
"Do as you please; but I will not bide29 a suitor much longer," said the stranger in bitterness. "Congress gave me to understand that, upon my arrival here, I should be given immediate30 command of the Indien; and now, for no earthly reason that I can see, you Commissioners31 have presented her, fresh from the stocks at Amsterdam, to the King of France, and not to me. What does the King of France with such a frigate32? And what can I not do with her? Give me back the "Indien," and in less than one month, you shall hear glorious or fatal news of Paul Jones."
"Come, come, Captain," said Doctor Franklin, soothingly33, "tell me now, what would you do with her, if you had her?"
"I would teach the British that Paul Jones, though born in Britain, is no subject to the British King, but an untrammelled citizen and sailor of the universe; and I would teach them, too, that if they ruthlessly ravage34 the American coasts, their own coasts are vulnerable as New Holland's. Give me the Indien, and I will rain down on wicked England like fire on Sodom."
These words of bravado35 were not spoken in the tone of a bravo, but a prophet. Erect36 upon his chair, like an Iroquois, the speaker's look was like that of an unflickering torch.
His air seemed slightly to disturb the old sage3's philosophic37 repose38, who, while not seeking to disguise his admiration39 of the unmistakable spirit of the man, seemed but illy to relish40 his apparent measureless boasting.
As if both to change the subject a little, as well as put his visitor in better mood—though indeed it might have been but covertly41 to play with his enthusiasm—the man of wisdom now drew his chair confidentially42 nearer to the stranger's, and putting one hand in a very friendly, conciliatory way upon his visitor's knee, and rubbing it gently to and fro there, much as a lion-tamer might soothingly manipulate the aggravated43 king of beasts, said in a winning manner:—"Never mind at present, Captain, about the 'Indien' affair. Let that sleep a moment. See now, the Jersey44 privateers do us a great deal of mischief45 by intercepting46 our supplies. It has been mentioned to me, that if you had a small vessel47—say, even your present ship, the 'Amphitrite,'—then, by your singular bravery, you might render great service, by following those privateers where larger ships durst not venture their bottoms; or, if but supported by some frigates48 from Brest at a proper distance, might draw them out, so that the larger vessels49 could capture them."
"Decoy-duck to French frigates!—Very dignified50 office, truly!" hissed51 Paul in a fiery52 rage. "Doctor Franklin, whatever Paul Jones does for the cause of America, it must be done through unlimited53 orders: a separate, supreme54 command; no leader and no counsellor but himself. Have I not already by my services on the American coast shown that I am well worthy55 all this? Why then do you seek to degrade me below my previous level? I will mount, not sink. I live but for honor and glory. Give me, then, something honorable and glorious to do, and something famous to do it with. Give me the Indien"
The man of wisdom slowly shook his head. "Everything is lost through this shillyshallying timidity, called prudence," cried Paul Jones, starting to his feet; "to be effectual, war should be carried on like a monsoon56, one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim. But in vacillating councils, statesmen idle about like the cats'-paws in calms. My God, why was I not born a Czar!"
"A Nor'wester, rather. Come, come, Captain," added the sage, "sit down, we have a third person present, you see," pointing towards Israel, who sat rapt at the volcanic57 spirit of the stranger.
Paul slightly started, and turned inquiringly upon Israel, who, equally owing to Paul's own earnestness of discourse58 and Israel's motionless bearing, had thus far remained undiscovered.
"Never fear, Captain," said the sage, "this man is true blue, a secret courier, and an American born. He is an escaped prisoner of war."
"Ah, captured in a ship?" asked Paul eagerly; "what ship? None of mine! Paul Jones never was captured."
"No, sir, in the brigantine Washington, out of Boston," replied Israel; "we were cruising to cut off supplies to the English."
"Did your shipmates talk much of me?" demanded Paul, with a look as of a parading Sioux demanding homage59 to his gewgaws; "what did they say of Paul Jones?"
"I never heard the name before this evening," said Israel.
"What? Ah—brigantine Washington—let me see; that was before I had outwitted the Soleby frigate, fought the Milford, and captured the Mellish and the rest off Louisbergh. You were long before the news, my lad," he added, with a sort of compassionate60 air.
"Our friend here gave you a rather blunt answer," said the wise man, sagely61 mischievous62, and addressing Paul.
"Yes. And I like him for it. My man, will you go a cruise with Paul Jones? You fellows so blunt with the tongue, are apt to be sharp with the steel. Come, my lad, return with me to Brest. I go in a few days."
Fired by the contagious63 spirit of Paul, Israel, forgetting all about his previous desire to reach home, sparkled with response to the summons. But Doctor Franklin interrupted him.
"Our friend here," said he to the Captain, "is at present engaged for very different duty."
Much other conversation followed, during which Paul Jones again and again expressed his impatience64 at being unemployed65, and his resolution to accept of no employ unless it gave him supreme authority; while in answer to all this Dr. Franklin, not uninfluenced by the uncompromising spirit of his guest, and well knowing that however unpleasant a trait in conversation, or in the transaction of civil affairs, yet in war this very quality was invaluable66, as projectiles67 and combustibles, finally assured Paul, after many complimentary68 remarks, that he would immediately exert himself to the utmost to procure69 for him some enterprise which should come up to his merits.
"Thank you for your frankness," said Paul; "frank myself, I love to deal with a frank man. You, Doctor Franklin, are true and deep, and so you are frank."
"But how about our little scheme for new modelling ships-of-war?" said the Doctor, shifting the subject; "it will be a great thing for our infant navy, if we succeed. Since our last conversation on that subject, Captain, at odds72 and ends of time, I have thought over the matter, and have begun a little skeleton of the thing here, which I will show you. Whenever one has a new idea of anything mechanical, it is best to clothe it with a body as soon as possible. For you can't improve so well on ideas as you can on bodies."
With that, going to a little drawer, he produced a small basket, filled with a curious looking unfinished frame-work of wood, and several bits of wood unattached. It looked like a nursery basket containing broken odds and ends of playthings.
"Now look here, Captain, though the thing is but begun at present, yet there is enough to show that one idea at least of yours is not feasible."
Paul was all attention, as if having unbounded confidence in whatever the sage might suggest, while Israel looked on quite as interested as either, his heart swelling73 with the thought of being privy74 to the consultations75 of two such men; consultations, too, having ultimate reference to such momentous76 affairs as the freeing of nations.
"If," continued the Doctor, taking up some of the loose bits and piling them along on one side of the top of the frame, "if the better to shelter your crew in an engagement, you construct your rail in the manner proposed—as thus—then, by the excessive weight of the timber, you will too much interfere77 with the ship's centre of gravity. You will have that too high."
"Ballast in the hold in proportion," said Paul.
"Then you will sink the whole hull78 too low. But here, to have less smoke in time of battle, especially on the lower decks, you proposed a new sort of hatchway. But that won't do. See here now, I have invented certain ventilating pipes, they are to traverse the vessel thus"—laying some toilette pins along—"the current of air to enter here and be discharged there. What do you think of that? But now about the main things—fast sailing driving little to leeward79, and drawing little water. Look now at this keel. I whittled80 it only night before last, just before going to bed. Do you see now how"- -
At this crisis, a knock was heard at the door, and the chambermaid reappeared, announcing that two gentlemen were that moment crossing the court below to see Doctor Franklin.
"The Duke de Chartres, and Count D'Estang," said the Doctor; "they appointed for last night, but did not come. Captain, this has something indirectly81 to do with your affair. Through the Duke, Count D'Estang has spoken to the King about the secret expedition, the design of which you first threw out. Call early to-morrow, and I will inform you of the result."
With his tawny hand Paul pulled out his watch, a small, richly-jewelled lady's watch.
"It is so late, I will stay here to-night," he said; "is there a convenient room?"
"Quick," said the Doctor, "it might be ill-advised of you to be seen with me just now. Our friend here will let you share his chamber2. Quick, Israel, and show the Captain thither82."
As the door closed upon them in Israel's apartment, Doctor Franklin's door closed upon the Duke and the Count. Leaving the latter to their discussion of profound plans for the timely befriending of the American cause, and the crippling of the power of England on the seas, let us pass the night with Paul Jones and Israel in the neighboring room.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
conversing
|
|
| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
chamber
|
|
| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
sage
|
|
| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
manly
|
|
| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
crevice
|
|
| n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
theatrical
|
|
| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
momentary
|
|
| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
vivacious
|
|
| adj.活泼的，快活的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
affectedly
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
rosy
|
|
| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
resentment
|
|
| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
salute
|
|
| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
transformation
|
|
| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
elastic
|
|
| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
intensified
|
|
| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
extravagantly
|
|
| adv.挥霍无度地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
civilian
|
|
| adj.平民的，民用的，民众的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
rustic
|
|
| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
jauntiness
|
|
| n.心满意足；洋洋得意；高兴；活泼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
21
salon
|
|
| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
tawny
|
|
| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
isolation
|
|
| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
outlaw
|
|
| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
intrepidity
|
|
| n.大胆，刚勇；大胆的行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
civilized
|
|
| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
saluted
|
|
| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
bide
|
|
| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
commissioners
|
|
| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
frigate
|
|
| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
soothingly
|
|
| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
ravage
|
|
| vt.使...荒废，破坏...；n.破坏，掠夺，荒废 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
bravado
|
|
| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
erect
|
|
| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
philosophic
|
|
| adj.哲学的，贤明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
repose
|
|
| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
relish
|
|
| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
covertly
|
|
| adv.偷偷摸摸地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
confidentially
|
|
| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
aggravated
|
|
| 使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使更严重； 激怒； 使恼火 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
jersey
|
|
| n.运动衫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
mischief
|
|
| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
intercepting
|
|
| 截取（技术），截接 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
frigates
|
|
| n.快速军舰( frigate的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
vessels
|
|
| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
dignified
|
|
| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
hissed
|
|
| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
fiery
|
|
| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
unlimited
|
|
| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
monsoon
|
|
| n.季雨，季风，大雨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
volcanic
|
|
| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
discourse
|
|
| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
homage
|
|
| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
compassionate
|
|
| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
sagely
|
|
| adv. 贤能地，贤明地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
mischievous
|
|
| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
contagious
|
|
| adj.传染性的，有感染力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
impatience
|
|
| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
unemployed
|
|
| adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
invaluable
|
|
| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
projectiles
|
|
| n.抛射体( projectile的名词复数 )；（炮弹、子弹等）射弹，（火箭等）自动推进的武器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
complimentary
|
|
| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
procure
|
|
| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
sedately
|
|
| adv.镇静地，安详地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
lurking
|
|
| 潜在 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
odds
|
|
| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
swelling
|
|
| n.肿胀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
privy
|
|
| adj.私用的；隐密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
consultations
|
|
| n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
momentous
|
|
| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
interfere
|
|
| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
hull
|
|
| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
leeward
|
|
| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
whittled
|
|
| v.切，削（木头），使逐渐变小( whittle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
indirectly
|
|
| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
thither
|
|
| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |