"Chase always was a firebrand!" exclaimed young Mr. Paca; "some day, he will ignite the magazine on which he is sitting, and blow himself up."
"And the quicker he does it the better," suggested Mr. Hammond. "Chase has ability, but he does not use it for good."
"That is what gives me no patience with him," said Mr. Worthington. "He plays to the rabble4—a queer trait for the son of a clergyman of the Church of England."
"It is all for effect," said Mr. Paca; "to get[Pg 25] clients, to get prominence5; down in his heart he has the same view as we have."
"That's it," said Mr. Cole, who was a bit the worse for liquor. "The fellow isn't honest."
"Who is not honest?" asked a medium-sized, heavy-set man of twenty-five, who had entered the room unnoticed.
"You!" returned Cole. "You don't believe what you say; you are playing to the rabble."
"I do not argue with a drunken man, much less quarrel with one," he said. "Do any of you other gentlemen endorse7 his words?"
"Not as spoken," said Mr. Paca; "but what we did say, is that we do not endorse your course as an official. You are the Public Prosecutor9, and we do not approve of the way you use your office.—That we said, and that we stand behind."
"I am very sorry if I have not pleased you," said Chase, indifferently, taking a chair beside Paca; "I understand that a public official is a free subject for criticism, and the public may impugn10 his motives11 and his judgment—with that I find no fault."
"You said I was drunk," exclaimed Cole.
"Did I?" said Chase. "Well, you're not—you're not. I was mistaken. I apologize."
"It's granted," said Cole. "Have a drink with me.—Everybody have a drink with me. Here, [Pg 26]Sparrow—where the devil's the fellow—take the gentlemen's orders.—Ah! sir," as a stranger appeared in the doorway12, "come in; we're just going to have a drink. What will you have?"
"Permit me to decline," he said; "I was looking for some one."
"Your pardon, sir," said Mr. Paca, stepping forward; "are you not Sir Edward Parkington?"
"I am," he said; "at your service."
Mr. Paca extended his hand. "Permit me to introduce myself. I am William Paca; this is Mr. Hammond, and Mr. Worthington, and Mr. Cole, and Mr. Chase."
"What is your order, sir?" Cole persisted.
"A little rum and water, if you won't excuse me."
"I won't excuse you.—I won't excuse anybody," Cole averred16. "Sparrow, some rum and water for Sir Edward Parkington, and make haste."
"Are you here for any time?" inquired Mr. Hammond.
"I should say that I am," replied Parkington. "If the hospitality I have received to-day is any test, you will not be quit of me for a year."
"You honor us," said Mr. Paca.
"No, I do not; I simply appreciate you. We have not got a more charming man, in London,[Pg 27] than your Mr. Dulany; while as for your Governor, he is a true officer of his Majesty17."
"We have never had so popular a Governor. He is a natural leader," said Mr. Worthington. "And now, that he has bought Whitehall, and erected18 a spacious19 mansion20 overlooking the Bay, he has become one of us. The only pity is that we have not been able to provide him with a wife."
"Not for want of charming women, I warrant."
"No, not on that account—Annapolis will yield to none in the beauty of her daughters. It is said there is an old wound that rankles21 still."
"An old wound! got in England?"
"No, got in Maryland, the very day he landed at the dock, from the good ship 'Mollie.' It is common rumor22, and I violate no confidence by telling. There came with him, as secretary, one John Ridout—now, the Honorable John Ridout. He was met at the wharf23 by the Honorable Benjamin Tasker, President of the Council and acting24 Governor, who had with him his grandchild, Mary Ogle—then a mere25 slip of a girl of fourteen, but giving promise of rare beauty in the future. It is said, the Governor and John Ridout both fell in love that day, while they walked up Green Street, and along the Spa to the Tasker residence. Five years later, she chose the secretary, and gave the Governor nay26."
"And Ridout remained the Governor's secretary?" Parkington asked.
[Pg 28]
"There showed the measure of the man. He is, to-day, the Commissary-General of the Province, and member of his Excellency's Council, and no one is so close to Governor Sharpe as is he."
"A pretty enough story," said Parkington; "do you think it is true?"
"We have no doubt of it."
"Well," observed Parkington, "one warms to him marvelously easy. What ailed27 the lady, that she chose the subaltern when she could have had the master?"
Mr. Paca laughed. "Women are a law unto themselves!" he said; "and Ridout is marvelously handsome and nearer her own age." A gurgle, ending in a prolonged snore, came from the chair beside him. "Ah! Cole slumbers28. We shall hear from him no more to-night."
Presently, the talk veered29 over to politics. Notice of the Stamp Act being repealed30 had come to the Colony a month before, and had been made the occasion for an ardent31 demonstration32, though, as a matter of fact, it had been a dead statute33 and unenforcible, in Maryland, from the moment of its passage. An act, once it is off the books, may be condemned34 in most disloyal language, and no offense35 be given, even if it were the pet measure of a sovereign. But George the Third was a stubborn monarch36, and no sooner was the Stamp Act null and void, than a new hobby was his, and one that[Pg 29] required no legislation to support it. And Samuel Chase, with a fine ignoring of the proprieties37, soon hit upon it.
"I understand," said he, "that recently an application for land, beyond the Allegheny Mountains, was refused by the Board of Trade, in London."
Parkington was silent. Paca and Hammond both tried to change the conversation, but Chase would not have it.
"The Board of Trade will find itself ignored," he said. "There will not be any applications. The people will simply settle, and, when they are settled, nothing but a royal army will move them off; and when a royal army invades this country, for such a purpose, it means war."
With that, the rest broke in. Mr. Paca declared Chase spoke8 for himself alone, and Mr. Hammond that he was anticipating trouble; but Sir Edward Parkington surveyed Chase with a tolerant smile, and waved the matter aside.
"Do not concern yourself to soften38 the views the gentleman has just expressed," he said. "They give me no offense. I am a loyal subject of his Majesty, but I think that the quicker we free America, the better for both America and England. You will leave us some day, as the child leaves the parent when it reaches maturity39; the only question is, when that time comes. I take it, that Mr. Chase is not trying to be offensive, and, if no offense be[Pg 30] intended, none is given." He arose. "If any of you are going in the direction of Reynolds' Tavern40, I shall be glad for your company."
Mr. Paca and Mr. Worthington attended him as far as Saint Anne's, where they parted; the two former going to their homes, on Prince George Street, while Parkington continued around the Circle to the tavern.
"Send a mug of ale to my room," he said, to the man in the ordinary....
The fellow lighted the candles, put the drink on the table, and, after a moment's wait, withdrew.
Parkington unbuckled his long rapier and flung it on the bed. Then he seated himself and took a sip41 of the ale, stretched out his slender legs, and laughed.
"Verily, the game is easier than I thought!" he soliloquized. "The real Parkington could not have played it better; I think I shall enjoy my visit to Annapolis. 'You are an unmitigated scoundrel, sir,' said my esteemed42 father. 'I have paid your debts for the last time; I shall give you passage to America, and one hundred pounds. Never let me look upon your face again—and, if there be a shred43 of decency44 about you, you will change your name. The De Lysles are done with you forever; have the goodness to be done with them.'" He took another sip at the ale, and laughed again. "Behold45! my name is changed. I am Sir Edward [Pg 31]Parkington, now—and Baltimore himself vouches46 for me. It was a lucky storm that sent the crazy 'Sally' to the bottom, and every one to the devil, save only me; but it was a luckier fortune that washed the real Sir Edward Parkington and me on the beach together, with him dead and me alive—and the letters on his person. 'There is no one in the Colony who knows me,' he had said, that very day. So, presto47! Behold Sir Edward Parkington risen, and me dead.... It would be devilish awkward, if there is some one in the Colony who knows me—but that is in the future." He drew out a copy of Lord Baltimore's letter to his Excellency. "'Bespeak48 your most courteous49 attention and regard. Extend him all the hospitality in your power.' I was shipwrecked; I lost everything but the clothes on my back, and the letters, which were wrapped in oilskin, in my pocket. Therefore, I think the Governor's hospitality will have to be pressed for a loan. What, with him and Mr. Dulany, and a certain natural ability of my own at the card-table, I should be able to live very comfortably, here, for a year, at least. This Annapolis is a neat enough town—I was astonished at it; and they seem to do things reasonably well. The Coffee-house is quite the equal of any we have in London, and the Governor's mansion and Mr. Dulany's, near-by, are excellent.... This suit of clothes, I got in Saint Mary's, will answer until Pinkney can replace my wardrobe—lost when the ship went down!" He[Pg 32] chuckled50, softly, to himself. "And the fellow is not half bad; his styles are six months behind the fashion, but that is a small matter, when every one is wearing them.... Altogether, I think Sir Edward Parkington will have a pleasant year—at least, he is going to enjoy it while it lasts. After that, the deluge51."
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1
libelous
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| adj.败坏名誉的，诽谤性的 | |
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controversy
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| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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prominence
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| n.突出；显著；杰出；重要 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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endorse
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| vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意 | |
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8
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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prosecutor
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| n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人 | |
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impugn
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| v.指责，对…表示怀疑 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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12
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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13
casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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17
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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18
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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rankles
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| v.（使）痛苦不已，（使）怨恨不已( rankle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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ailed
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| v.生病( ail的过去式和过去分词 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
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slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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veered
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| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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30
repealed
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| 撤销，废除( repeal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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32
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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statute
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| n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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35
offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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proprieties
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| n.礼仪，礼节；礼貌( propriety的名词复数 )；规矩；正当；合适 | |
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38
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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maturity
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| n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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41
sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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42
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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43
shred
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| v.撕成碎片，变成碎片；n.碎布条，细片，些少 | |
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44
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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45
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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vouches
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| v.保证( vouch的第三人称单数 )；担保；确定；确定地说 | |
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47
presto
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| adv.急速地；n.急板乐段；adj.急板的 | |
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48
bespeak
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| v.预定；预先请求 | |
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49
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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50
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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