The chief directors of the counteracting7 movement, General Hartwell, the woman-hater, and Sir Robert Herrick, wise in counsel and learned in law, were in constant conference. They met daily, and their conferences and study of reports often lasted far into the night.
The outcome of their labours was to be seen in the creation of an association, which Linton had mentioned to Zenobia. It embodied9 both men and women, who styled themselves, as a bond of union, the Friends of the Ph?nix. The general aim of this association was to re-establish man in his proper position in the State, and the particular aim to bring about the restoration of the long-lost leader, Wilson Renshaw.
[Pg 165]
The last mentioned feature of the programme, though at first received with natural incredulity, presently acted with magical effect in quickening public interest; and when secret, but authoritative10, assurances were forthcoming that Renshaw still lived, had been released by the Mahdi, and was about to return to England, vast numbers speedily enrolled11 themselves as Friends of the Ph?nix. The great strength of the movement lay in the voluntary enlistment12 of hosts of disciplined men. The Police, the regular Army, and the Territorials13, furnished many thousands of recruits.
The old Household troops followed General Hartwell almost to a man; the Corps14 of Commissionaires followed suit. These men, in turn, rendered excellent, because unsuspected, service as propagandists among the humbler classes of the civil population. Evidences of disgust and discontent with the aggressive dominion15 of Woman were found on every side.
The time was almost ripe. It looked as if but a match were needed to produce a vast and far-reaching conflagration16; and the main problem that exercised the minds of General Hartwell and Sir Robert was how, when the moment came, to use the ready instruments of revolt without incurring17 the risk of bloodshed and the development of civil war. Every possible precaution was taken. The Friends of the Ph?nix pursued their plans with the utmost secrecy18, it being realised that, in order that the projected coup19 d'état might succeed, it was essential that it should take the Kellick faction20 completely by surprise.
Finally, it was decided21 to seize the occasion of a banquet in the City, at which it was known that the Vice-President would make an oratorical22 bid for a new mandate23 from the nation. This banquet, post[Pg 166]poned from time to time in consequence of events at Dover and the President's illness, was to take place shortly after Mr. Jardine's funeral. It was announced that reasons of State and public convenience rendered further delay impossible; "Reasons of State" meant the interests of the Kellick faction; "Public convenience" had reference to the opening of a new London railway tube.
An extension of the old Tube from the Post Office, via Gresham Street, to the Guildhall, had long been a cherished scheme of the City Fathers. The old approach through King Street and Cheapside to the head-quarters of the Corporation was only suitable for use in fine weather. But whatever changes and chances had befallen London during the first forty years of the twentieth century, British weather had developed but little alteration24, and certainly no improvement. That State processions and civic25 functions should be spoilt by drizzle26, rain, or fog, as so frequently had happened to pageants27 of the past, was felt to be not merely inconvenient28, but quite uncalled for. The new alternative route presented many advantages. Celebrities29 and non-celebrities bound for the City on great occasions would be enabled to enter a special train at the West End, and could come to the surface in Guildhall Yard. The feast of oratory30 and the flow of champagne31 might thus be attained32 without the disadvantage of a preliminary journey through the rain-swept streets of the murky33 city. In like manner the members and officers of the corporation would enjoy similar immunity34 whenever official occasion required them to go westward35.
The feminine note in politics had something to do with the project; for woman, advanced woman, in her hours of ease and finery did not like to have her feathers and laces spoilt by London smuts and[Pg 167] drizzle; and woman, of course, had become very much in evidence in the City of London. Facetious36 persons went so far as to say that the City Fathers had been superseded37 by the City Mothers, and further justified38 their views by treating the male minority as indistinguishable from a set of old women. The arrival of Woman as a member of County Councils and other public bodies, not to say in Parliament itself, long ago had rendered it practically certain that the conservatism of the City must ultimately yield to the onslaughts of the sex. In the fulness of time a woman took her place on the Bench as Chief Magistrate39 of the City of London. A wondering world was called upon, for the first time, to do honour to a Lady Mayoress, who shone with no reflected light. She herself was the Sun of the City firmament40. Lord Mayor for some years there was none.
The Lady Mayoress who held office at the critical period that had now arrived was a devoted41 ally of the Vice-President, and bent42 on advancing in every possible way the authority and interests of her sex. To this end the Corporation, which had largely subsidised the new branch tube, had solicitously43 waited the opportunity to entertain the acting8 representative of government in honour of the occasion. On the day of the banquet, the principal City streets presented their normal appearance to the eyes of all ordinary observers. The Vice-President and her supporters were to travel to the Guildhall by the new route. There was no occasion, therefore, for decoration, or for the special services of the military, or even of the police. Nevertheless, large numbers of uniformed men might have been observed moving through the side streets in small parties. In the neighbourhood of the General Post Office and of the Guildhall these numbers rapidly increased as the hour appointed for[Pg 168] the function drew near. At the same time there were similar musters44 in the immediate45 vicinity of the Houses of Parliament, the War Office, the Admiralty, and other public offices.
There was no apparent connection between these various groups, but in reality they were acting in complete unison46. They had the same password—"the Ph?nix"—and were directed from one and the same centre. In a word, one and all, these men were Friends of the Ph?nix.
Towards afternoon, when Londoners began to look for the early editions of the evening papers, which were expected to contain a summarised report of the Vice-President's speech in the City, extraordinary rumours47 began to spread throughout the Capital; and in the Clubs, the restaurants, the railway stations, and in the streets groups of men and women engaged in eager and excited discussion. The impatience48 of the public became uncontrollable. Crowds besieged49 the news-vendors' shops, and clamoured at the railway bookstalls. Even the newspaper offices were invaded, and when, at length, copies of the evening journals were available, hosts of people struggled fiercely to secure them. Scenes of extraordinary tumult50 were witnessed. The newsboys, tearing through the streets on their bicycles, were waylaid51. Men fought and scrambled52 for copies of the papers, and as placard after placard appeared, public excitement was augmented53 until it reached the verge54 of frenzy55.
A COUP D'éTAT.
RENSHAW RETURNS.
Wild cheers and shouts broke out when lines like these were read by gaping57 multitudes. People came[Pg 169] hurrying to their doors and windows; drivers of cabs and omnibuses stopped their vehicles, staring, laughing, shouting, questioning, and adding to the general babel and bewilderment. The streets were blocked. The news ran through the town like flame, evoking58 everywhere unbounded enthusiasm and the wildest joy. The climax59 was reached when overhead were heard the wind-harps of a fleet of air-ships. Fifty or sixty of the official craft had been repaired and brought into the service of the Ph?nix. Sweeping60 over every district of London, they scattered61 tens of thousands of cards bearing Renshaw's portrait, and containing the same three-lined announcement that figured on the placards of the leading newspapers. At the same time, throughout the populous62 provincial63 centres, as well as in the Capital, similar cards in enormous numbers passed from hand to hand, and were scattered lavishly64 in every public place.
But it was at Whitehall that the interest and excitement culminated65. For there, riding through the streets, bare-headed and gravely acknowledging the plaudits of an enormous concourse, Renshaw himself was seen, passing on his way to the House of Commons, supported by General Hartwell and Sir Robert Herrick, and escorted by a jubilant army of the Friends of the Ph?nix. The Friends already were in possession of all the Public Departments. Officials who withstood them or protested were quietly but summarily displaced.
Everywhere the plan of campaign had worked like clockwork and without a hitch66; and nowhere was the bloodless revolution more complete than in the City itself. The Vice-President's expected speech had not been reported because it was never uttered. The Friends of the Ph?nix, in strong force, had taken pos[Pg 170]session of the Post Office Station of the new Tube directly the train carrying the City's distinguished67 guests had passed into the tunnel. At the same moment, another body of the Friends had seized the Guildhall terminus. Only those in the secret knew of what was happening in the depths of the earth. The City went about its business, the banquet waited, but no guests arrived. At both ends of the avenue the approaches to the Tube were completely blocked. The force available to maintain the blockade was more than sufficient. A handful of resolute68 men could easily have prevented access to or from the level of the streets. The lifts, by preconcerted signal, had been disconnected; the narrow winding69 staircases from the subterranean70 stations were effectually blocked. No violence was used; none was necessary. Behind the barriers at the top and at the bottom of the staircases stood resolute men, determined71 and trustworthy Friends of the Ph?nix, who turned a deaf ear to all appeals and protests. No one was allowed to go down; no one was permitted to come up. Questions, clamour, threats from the imprisoned72 Vice-President and her party availed nothing. It was necessary to isolate73 certain people for a certain time, and isolated74 they were.
Meanwhile, London learnt about the great and new situation. The Friends of the Ph?nix carried out welcome change, and the nation got a firm grip on the to the letter the plans of their leaders, and Wilson Renshaw, saved from all perils75, acclaimed76 throughout the Capital, was triumphantly77 restored to a position of power from which no enemy or rival could displace him.
But he had a message for the nation, and for all nations, and the speech in which he delivered it thrilled the white man's world. He warned the[Pg 171] peoples of Europe and America of a coming conflict, which would dwarf78 to insignificance79 all the international struggles, however stupendous, hitherto known to history. The white peoples, he declared, must abandon their mutual80 rivalries81 and ambitions. The sexes in civilised countries must check their suicidal competition for supremacy. Each and all must prepare, with united and unbroken front, to face the common foe82. They were threatened with annihilation. Not so long ago the British nation alone had embraced 360 millions of the coloured races of the globe. Vast numbers of these had passed under other sceptres; but the change had only served to accelerate the rising of the dominated natives, who, far and wide, had learned to realise the overwhelming strength with which the weight of numbers had endowed them. No longer would the Black Man submit to their absolute dominion. No longer would the Yellow and the Tawny83 accept as their predestined masters the little band of pale-faced rulers by whom they had so long been held in subjection. The revolt was imminent84. The Mahdi had proclaimed a holy war. The Crescent would be in the van, and North and South, and East and West, the coloured races would rise against, and seek to overwhelm, the recreant85 children of the Cross.
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1
warden
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| n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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adherents
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| n.支持者，拥护者( adherent的名词复数 )；党羽；徒子徒孙 | |
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wrest
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| n.扭，拧，猛夺；v.夺取，猛扭，歪曲 | |
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paramount
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| a.最重要的，最高权力的 | |
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6
supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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7
counteracting
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| 对抗，抵消( counteract的现在分词 ) | |
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8
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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embodied
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| v.表现( embody的过去式和过去分词 )；象征；包括；包含 | |
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10
authoritative
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| adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的 | |
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11
enrolled
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| adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起 | |
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12
enlistment
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| n.应征入伍，获得，取得 | |
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13
territorials
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| n.（常大写）地方自卫队士兵( territorial的名词复数 ) | |
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corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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15
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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16
conflagration
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| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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17
incurring
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| 遭受，招致，引起( incur的现在分词 ) | |
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18
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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19
coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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faction
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| n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争 | |
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21
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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oratorical
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| adj.演说的，雄辩的 | |
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23
mandate
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| n.托管地；命令，指示 | |
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24
alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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25
civic
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| adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的 | |
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26
drizzle
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| v.下毛毛雨；n.毛毛雨，蒙蒙细雨 | |
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pageants
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| n.盛装的游行( pageant的名词复数 )；穿古代服装的游行；再现历史场景的娱乐活动；盛会 | |
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inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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celebrities
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| n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉 | |
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30
oratory
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| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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31
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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32
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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33
murky
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| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
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immunity
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| n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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facetious
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| adj.轻浮的，好开玩笑的 | |
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superseded
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| [医]被代替的，废弃的 | |
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38
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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39
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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40
firmament
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| n.苍穹；最高层 | |
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41
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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42
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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43
solicitously
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| adv.热心地，热切地 | |
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44
musters
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的第三人称单数 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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45
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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46
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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47
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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48
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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49
besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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51
waylaid
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| v.拦截，拦路( waylay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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53
Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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54
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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55
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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56
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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57
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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58
evoking
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| 产生，引起，唤起( evoke的现在分词 ) | |
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59
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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60
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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61
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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62
populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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63
provincial
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| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
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64
lavishly
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| adv.慷慨地，大方地 | |
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65
culminated
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| v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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67
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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68
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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69
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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70
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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71
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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72
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
isolate
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| vt.使孤立，隔离 | |
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74
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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75
perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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76
acclaimed
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| adj.受人欢迎的 | |
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77
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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78
dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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79
insignificance
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| n.不重要；无价值；无意义 | |
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80
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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81
rivalries
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| n.敌对，竞争，对抗( rivalry的名词复数 ) | |
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82
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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83
tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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84
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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85
recreant
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| n.懦夫；adj.胆怯的 | |
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