It was impossible to tell the nationality of the one man lounging along the street. He seemed profoundly buried in his own thoughts. Dark as his skin was, and black as was his beard, there was something about him which negatived the idea that he was a Spaniard. His rolling walk suggested the sailor’s life.
As he passed the building with the long French windows, the tinkle5 of a guitar roused his attention, and he stepped inside the front door and glanced furtively6 at the few men who lounged about the tables which dotted the long room. Passing by several empty tables and chairs, the stranger seated himself in the corner of the room on the side further from the street, near a window which opened on a neglected garden. A tropical vine thrust its branches against what had once been a wood and glass partition which formed the end of the room, the branches and leaves twining in and out among the broken panes7 of the window.
Some of the occupants of the room had glanced indifferently at the stranger on his entrance, but his haggard, unshaven face and worn clothing did not arouse their curiosity, and they again turned their attention to their wine.
The stranger, after contemplating9 the view from the window for some moments, leaned back in his chair, thrust his hands in his pockets, and stretched his long legs under the table; then indolently studied his surroundings. The room reeked10 with tobacco smoke and the odor of spirits. The scene reminded him of Port Said. Not quite as many nationalities were represented in Colon as haunt the entrance to the Suez Canal, but the low chatter11 of tongues which greeted his ears was polyglot12. The men in the room were types of the born ne’er-do-well. Lazy, shiftless, they had drifted to Colon, thinking to pick up whatever spoils came their way during the construction of the Panama Canal. Drinking and gambling13, gambling and drinking—the sum total of their lives. The stranger’s lips curved in a sardonic14 smile, and he crooned softly:
Ship me somewheres east of Suez, where the best is like
the worst,
Where there aren’t no Ten Commandments an’ a man can
raise a thirst.
His smile deepened as he caught the scowl15 of a Spaniard sitting near him. His glance traveled on, and, as he studied the flushed, sodden16 faces, a sudden horror of himself and his surroundings shook him. He passed a nervous hand over his damp forehead. Why had his memory played him so scurvy17 a trick? The past few years were not pleasant to contemplate18, and the future even less so. He half started from his chair, then sank back and summoned the mozo. Quickly he gave his order in fluent Spanish, and waited impatiently for the man’s return. He had been fortunate at the gaming table the night before, and could purchase a moment’s respite19 from the torments20 of an elusive21 memory. Memory, in whose wondrous22 train follow the joys of childhood, parents and home! The stranger’s strong hand trembled as he stroked his beard. Why was he an outcast? For him alone there were no childhood and no home; his thinking life began as a full-grown man. Was there to be no awakening23?
In a few moments the mozo returned, and placed a glass and bottle of liquor before him. The stranger hastily filled and drank. As the stimulant24 crept through his veins25, a feeling of physical contentment replaced all other sensations, and, lighting26 a cigar, he was slowly sinking once more into reverie when from behind the partition he heard a voice:
“No names, please.”
The words, spoken clearly in English, startled him from his abstraction, and he glanced through the vine and, himself unseen, saw two men sitting at a table. They had apparently28 entered the patio29 from another part of the house.
“Quite right, I approve your caution.” The words were also in English, but with a strong foreign accent, and the speaker, a man of middle age and fine physique, laid some papers on the table before them. “Where is the Senator this evening?”
“He accompanied several members of the Congressional party to inspect the plant of the Quartermaster and Subsistence Departments, and on his return will dine with Major Reynolds and several other officers at the hotel.”
“I see.” The foreigner drummed impatiently on the table. “You were late in keeping your appointment.”
“I had the devil’s own time in finding this dive,” returned the younger man, and, as he moved his chair half around, the inquisitive30 stranger, peeping through the leaves of the vine, obtained a view of the speaker’s boyish face. The weak mouth was partly hidden by a short black mustache; the features were well cut, and by some would have been called handsome.
The older man gave vent31 to a half-smothered chuckle32. “Goethals and Gorgas have reformed the Canal Zone, and the local government is trying to do the same with Panama, but, por Dios, drinking and gambling continue unnoticed in Colon,” he said, dryly. “I find a room in this house most convenient during my short visits here. No ‘gringo’,” he sneered33, “dare show his face in this room.”
The stranger settled down in his chair, which was wedged into the corner formed by the wall of the room and the wood and glass partition, until his head was screened from the two speakers by the thick foliage34 of the vine. The Spaniard and the Jamaican, who had occupied the table nearest him, had gone, and the few men who still lingered over their wine at the farther end of the room paid no attention to him. He could listen without being observed.
“So you believe the people of Panama are already dissatisfied with their president?” inquired the younger man, whom the listener judged to be an American.
“I do,” came the firm reply. “And but for the presence of los tiranos del norte here there would have been already a pronunciamiento.”
“Then you think the time is ripe for carrying out your scheme?”
His companion nodded without speaking, and tugged35 at his gray imperial. “If it is done at all it must be soon,” he said, finally. “American rule is not too popular here, and now is the time to act. And I pray God I shall be spared to see the fruits of the labor36 de los cochinos sucios reaped by another nation,” he spoke27 with intense bitterness.
“And that nation?” questioned the other.
“Is better left unmentioned.”
“You do not love my countrymen,” exclaimed the American, as he drew out his cigarette case and passed it to his companion, who waved it away impatiently.
“Say rather—hate,” was the terse37 reply. “But I do not look on you as one of that nationality. Your mother was my dearly loved cousin, and Colombia boasts no prouder name than the one she bore before she married your father. By the love you bear her memory I entreat38 you to assist me in this undertaking39.”
“I have promised,” said the American gruffly. “I hear that Colombia intends accepting the ten million dollars offered by the United States for certain islands near Panama.”
“Never!” The Colombian spoke with emphasis. “Our hatred40 lies too deep for that; it cannot be placated41 by an offer of ‘conscience money,’ no matter how great the sum.”
“The more fools you,” muttered the American, sotto voce.
“The revolt of Panama was followed by an insurrection in Colombia,” continued the other, “and the Government was overthrown42. The American newspapers gave us a few paragraphs at the time—they did not mention that nearly one hundred thousand people were killed; that the horrors of civil war were augmented43 by pillage44 and murder. I was at the front with the troops, and, in my absence from home, my wife and child were murdered by some insurrectos. I tell you,” he struck the table a resounding45 blow with his clenched46 fist, “there is no Colombian living who would not gladly see the United States humiliated47.”
“It is easy to see that the people in Panama are jealous of the success of the Americans,” commented the young man.
“Naturally; the United States has always advanced at the price of Latin-America.”
“How so?”
“Study your history. When the Thirteen Original States branched out, first came the ‘Louisiana Purchase,’ land originally settled by the French; then Florida, first settled by the Spanish, was bought by the United States. Later still, Texas seceded48 from Mexico, settled also by the Spanish; then came the Mexican War, and Latin-America lost the territory now known as New Mexico, Arizona, and California.”
“Seems to me it would have been better if Colombia had accepted the original offer of the United States for the Panama Canal Zone.”
“Why so? The United States only offered a beggarly ten million. By waiting a year the French concession49 would have expired, and the Colombian Government would have received the sixty million which the United States eventually paid the French Company.”
“Instead of which you got nothing,” remarked the American dryly, “and lost Panama into the bargain.”
“Through underhand methods,” began the other hotly, then checked himself. “Enough of the past. Have you a message for me?”
For reply the young man drew out an envelope from an inside pocket and handed it to his companion, who opened it and read the communication in silence.
“Good,” he said finally, tearing the note into infinitesimal pieces and carefully putting them in his leather wallet, from which he first took several letters. “Give this to the Ambassador immediately on your return, and this—” he hesitated for a second—“give at once to our mutual50 friend.”
The American took the papers and placed them securely in an inside pocket. “Is that all?” he inquired.
“No.” The Colombian drew out a small chamois bag whose contents emitted a slight jingling51 noise as he handed it to his companion. “You may find this useful. No thanks are necessary, dear boy,” laying his hand on the American’s shoulder as the latter commenced speaking. “The death of my wife and child has deprived me of near relatives except you, and I propose to make you my heir.” Then, to change the subject, he added quickly, “Is there no way to induce the Senator to use his influence with Congress and the Administration for disarmament, and the curtailing52 of building more battleships?”
The American laughed disagreeably. “I think it may be done—in time.”
The Colombian’s face brightened. “Splendid! If we can stop his fervid53 speeches in behalf of a larger standing54 army and navy, we will have accomplished55 much. But how do you expect to alter his attitude?”
“Through a woman,” the American’s lips parted in an amused smile. “There’s no fool like an old fool, and the Senator is no exception to the rule.”
The eavesdropper59 on the other side of the partition, who had caught most of the conversation, moved ever so slightly to stretch his cramped60 limbs, and then pulled out his handkerchief and mopped his heated face. As he did so a small slip of paper dropped, unseen by him, from his pocket to the floor. A large black cat came softly over to him and he lifted the animal up and placed her on the table before him. He stroked the purring feline61 and listened intently to catch the conversation which drifted to him through the vine-covered broken window panes. Apparently the two men were preparing to leave.
“Does the Senator really think to marry?” asked the Colombian, as he picked up his hat.
“I judge so. He is obviously very much infatuated with the girl’s unusual type of beauty. And, believe me, she thoroughly62 understands the art of managing men.”
“Indeed? Who is the girl?”
“The young daughter of the famous Irish actress, Nora Fitzgerald. Senator Carew....”
Crash—the bottle and glass smashed in pieces. The eavesdropper never stopped to see the damage he had done, but with incredible swiftness and stealth was out of the room and down the street before the irate63 proprietor64 had reached the deserted65 table.
“Que hay?” inquired the Colombian of the proprietor. He and the American had rushed into the room and over to the window by which the eavesdropper had been sitting.
“A drunken Spaniard knocked the bottle and glass from the table, and cleared out without paying the damage,” explained the proprietor in Spanish, as he signed to the mozo to sweep up the mess.
“What’s that in your hand?”
“A card, Señor, which I have just picked up from the floor.”
“Let me have it.”
The American looked over his companion’s shoulder as the latter adjusted his eyeglasses and held up the visiting card so that both could see its contents. With staring eyes and faces gone white they read the engraved66 inscription67:
MR. JAMES CAREW
MARYLAND.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
carrion
|
|
| n.腐肉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
colon
|
|
| n.冒号，结肠，直肠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
pretentious
|
|
| adj.自命不凡的，自负的，炫耀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
tinkle
|
|
| vi.叮当作响；n.叮当声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
furtively
|
|
| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
panes
|
|
| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
con
|
|
| n.反对的观点，反对者，反对票，肺病；vt.精读，学习，默记；adv.反对地，从反面；adj.欺诈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
contemplating
|
|
| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
reeked
|
|
| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的过去式和过去分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
chatter
|
|
| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
polyglot
|
|
| adj.通晓数种语言的；n.通晓多种语言的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
gambling
|
|
| n.赌博；投机 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
sardonic
|
|
| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
scowl
|
|
| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
sodden
|
|
| adj.浑身湿透的；v.使浸透；使呆头呆脑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
scurvy
|
|
| adj.下流的，卑鄙的，无礼的；n.坏血病 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
contemplate
|
|
| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
respite
|
|
| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
torments
|
|
| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
elusive
|
|
| adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
wondrous
|
|
| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
awakening
|
|
| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
stimulant
|
|
| n.刺激物，兴奋剂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
veins
|
|
| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
lighting
|
|
| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
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： |
|
|
|
|
28
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
patio
|
|
| n.庭院，平台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
inquisitive
|
|
| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
vent
|
|
| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
chuckle
|
|
| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
sneered
|
|
| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
foliage
|
|
| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
tugged
|
|
| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
labor
|
|
| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
terse
|
|
| adj.(说话，文笔)精炼的，简明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
entreat
|
|
| v.恳求，恳请 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
undertaking
|
|
| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
placated
|
|
| v.安抚，抚慰，使平静( placate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
overthrown
|
|
| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
Augmented
|
|
| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
pillage
|
|
| v.抢劫；掠夺；n.抢劫，掠夺；掠夺物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
resounding
|
|
| adj. 响亮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
clenched
|
|
| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
humiliated
|
|
| 感到羞愧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
seceded
|
|
| v.脱离，退出( secede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
concession
|
|
| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
mutual
|
|
| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
jingling
|
|
| 叮当声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
curtailing
|
|
| v.截断，缩短( curtail的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
fervid
|
|
| adj.热情的；炽热的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
eyebrows
|
|
| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
emulates
|
|
| v.与…竞争( emulate的第三人称单数 )；努力赶上；计算机程序等仿真；模仿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
clam
|
|
| n.蛤，蛤肉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
eavesdropper
|
|
| 偷听者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
cramped
|
|
| a.狭窄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
feline
|
|
| adj.猫科的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
irate
|
|
| adj.发怒的，生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
proprietor
|
|
| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
engraved
|
|
| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
inscription
|
|
| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |