It was well for Clif’s peace of mind and comfort that this was true, and he inwardly rejoiced thereat.
The city was in an uproar3. All Lisbon seemed to be hunting for the fugitive4 and hoping against hope that he had escaped from the river.
The large reward was not the sole cause of this feverish5 activity. The people far and wide respected and loved their ruler and they thirsted more for the assassin’s blood than for the fortune his body represented.
The streets and plazas6 were filled with excited groups discussing the event. Platoons of mounted police and companies of soldiers kept the air ringing with the tread of galloping7 hoofs8.
“It takes something like an attack on the king to stir up these people,” said Joy. He added, with a sigh: “Isn’t it enough to make a peaceful man sorrow to see so much strife9 and contention10 and—and pomp of war? Woe11!—woe!”
“Oh, shut up, you fraud,” laughed Clif. “There isn’t a plebe in the academy, nor a cadet, who likes fighting more than you do. You would rather fight than eat.”
The two cadets spent some time looking about the city, then they engaged a carriage and ordered the driver to take them to the suburb in which lived the Windoms.
“This has been a day of events, chum,” remarked Clif as he leaned back in the vehicle. “Who would ever take that blooming ‘haw’ Englishman to be an anarchist12, and one of the very worst type, too. Why, I guyed him for half an hour this morning and thought all the time he was a fool.”
“He was a fool,” replied Joy, grimly.
“Yes, otherwise he would never have tried such a preposterous13 trick. I wonder if he came here to make the attempt on Dom Carlos’ life?”
“Like as not. I read in a paper the other day that considerable activity existed in anarchistic14 circles. Sort[Pg 268] of getting ready to slay15 a few monarchs16, I suppose. They drove a lot of ’em from Paris and London. Perhaps this J. Chesire-Cheshire Cate was one of them.”
“No doubt,” yawned Clif, stretching his arms.
“D’ye think he was drowned?”
“Yes. He remained under water too long. Small loss to the community at large. I guess Miss Windom won’t wear mourning. She couldn’t bear the sight of him.”
“I don’t blame her. Was he a friend of the old man?”
“No. Merely a business acquaintance, I believe. Said he was looking for a certain-sized pearl to finish a necklace. Mr. Windom is a collector of pearls, you know. He has a fortune in them.”
Joy sighed.
“Wonder if the pearls go with the girl,” he sighed.
“Let’s talk on some sensible subject,” retorted Clif, shortly.
The house was situated19 in the center of an extensive park, well-kept, and shaded by fine old trees. There was a small lodge20 at the gate, presided over by an elderly native, who admitted the cadets with every mark of respect.
Juanita and her girl friend were awaiting them when they reached the house, and the cordial welcome the two lads received made them very happy.
Shortly before tea, Mr. Windom arrived from business. His greeting of Clif was characteristic of the man whose sole hobby in life was the collection of rare and valuable pearls.
“I am proud to know you, sir,” he exclaimed, wringing22 the lad’s hand. “Proud to know that you are a guest under my roof to-night. The whole city—the whole world, in fact—is ringing with your name. It was great, it was magnificent! It was a deed worthy23 of an American.
“But you are wanted at the palace, my dear boy. The king has sent messenger after messenger to the Monongahela in search of you. The old ship is fairly surrounded by steamers and tugs24 and small craft bearing bands of music and visitors. They call for you in vain. How can you remain in my poor house while the whole city is eager to see you.”
“If it is all the same to you, sir,” laughed Clif, “I’d much rather remain here.”
He glanced slyly at Juanita, and was gratified to see a soft, rosy25 flush overspread her fair cheeks.
Kindly-hearted Mr. Windom seemed greatly pleased at Faraday’s diplomatic answer, and carried both boys off to look at his pearls, which were kept in a small iron box in one corner of his private room.
After duly praising the really magnificent collection, some of which were almost priceless in value, Clif and Joy returned to the girls.
Three very pleasant hours were spent after tea, then the stern rules of naval26 discipline which had decreed that the ship must be gained before midnight, caused the two cadets to announce their departure.
Juanita and her friend were left at the house, but Mr. Windom hospitably27 started to see his guests to the gate.
“It is not often we have the honor of entertaining the rescuer of a ruling monarch17, Mr. Faraday,” he smiled, as they walked down the tiled path. “So I must make the most of it.”
“I wish the king hadn’t come on board to be rescued, sir,” laughed Clif. “Especially in a country where so much—— Gorry!”
He stopped and placed both hands to his head. His cap had fallen to the ground, together with a large twig28 from a tree under which they had just passed.
“What is the matter?” asked Mr. Windom, hastily. “Are you hurt?”
“No. It startled me, that’s all,” replied Clif. “It was just a branch, rotten, I suppose.”
He picked up his cap and the twig, the latter more out of curiosity than anything else, and walked on after his companions.
“I must have those branches clipped again,” said Mr. Windom. “I did not know the trees were in such condition.”
Cordial farewells were exchanged at the gate, and the two cadets entered a carriage which had been ordered for that hour.
“I must be getting nervous,” laughed Clif as they rolled away from the villa. He held up the twig and added:
“When I jump on being struck by such as this, it is time——”
He ceased speaking abruptly29, and uttered a low whistle. The carriage was passing close to a street lamp at that moment, and the light fell full upon the object in his hand.
“Do you see the end of this bit of wood?” replied Clif.
“Yes.”
“Well, it’s broken sharp and clean.”
“What of it.”
“This twig is not rotten, chum. Neither did it break of its own weight.”
“Then you think——” he began.
“There was some one up that tree,” finished Clif, impressively. “And he was there for no good.”
“Driver, let us out,” he added to the coachman.
The latter promptly33 drew up his horses and received his fare without a word of comment. He was too much accustomed to the vagaries34 of passengers in general to feel surprised.
A minute later Clif and Joy were hurriedly making their way back to the Windom villa.
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1
pedestrians
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| n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 ) | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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plazas
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| n.（尤指西班牙语城镇的）露天广场( plaza的名词复数 )；购物中心 | |
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7
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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contention
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| n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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anarchist
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| n.无政府主义者 | |
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preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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anarchistic
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| 无政府主义的 | |
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slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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monarchs
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| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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tugs
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| n.猛拉( tug的名词复数 )；猛拖；拖船v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的第三人称单数 ) | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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hospitably
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| 亲切地，招待周到地，善于款待地 | |
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twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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lanky
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| adj.瘦长的 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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vagaries
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| n.奇想( vagary的名词复数 )；异想天开；异常行为；难以预测的情况 | |
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