“Mr. Neeland, I am very glad to see you. I know you by name and reputation already. There were some excellent pictures by you in the latest number of the Midweek Magazine.”
“I’m so glad you liked them, Captain West.”
“Yes, I did. There was a breeze in them—a gaiety. And such a fetching girl you drew for your heroine!”
“You think so! It’s rather interesting. I met a young girl once—she comes from up-state where I come from. There was a peculiar1 and rather subtle attraction about her face. So I altered the features of the study I was making from my model, and put in hers as I remembered them.”
“She must be beautiful, Mr. Neeland.”
“It hadn’t struck me so until I drew her from memory. And there’s more to the story. I never met her but twice in my life—the second time under exceedingly dramatic circumstances. And now I’m crossing the Atlantic at a day’s notice to oblige her. It’s an amusing story, isn’t it?”
“Mr. Neeland, I think it is going to be what you call a ‘continued’ story.”
“No. Oh, no. It ought to be, considering its 217elements. But it isn’t. There’s no further romance in it, Captain West.”
The captain’s smile was pleasant but sceptical.
They seated themselves, Neeland declining an invitation to supper, and the captain asking his indulgence if he talked while eating.
“Mr. Neeland,” he said, “I’m about to talk rather frankly2 with you. I have had several messages by wireless3 today from British sources, concerning you.”
Neeland, surprised, said nothing. Captain West finished his bite of supper; the steward4 removed the dishes and went out, closing the door. The captain glanced at the box which Neeland had set on the floor by his chair.
“May I ask,” he said, “why you brought your suitcase with you?”
“It’s valuable.”
The captain’s keen eyes were on his.
“Why are you followed by spies?” he asked.
Neeland reddened.
“Yes,” continued the captain of the Volhynia, “my Government instructs me, by wireless, to offer you any aid and protection you may desire. I am informed that you carry papers of military importance to a certain foreign nation with which neither England nor France are on what might be called cordial terms. I am told it is likely that agents of this foreign country have followed you aboard my ship for the purpose of robbing you of these papers. Now, Mr. Neeland, what do you know about this business?”
“Very little,” said Neeland.
“Have you had any trouble?”
“Oh, yes.”
The captain smiled:218
“Yes, wriggled is the literal word.”
“Then you do not think that you require any protection from me?”
“Perhaps I do. I’ve been a singularly innocent and lucky ass6. It’s merely chance that my papers have not been stolen, even before I started in quest of them.”
“Have you been troubled aboard my ship?”
Neeland waved his hand carelessly:
“Nothing to speak of, thank you.”
“If you have any charge to make––”
“Oh, no.”
The captain regarded him intently:
“Let me tell you something,” he said. “Since we sailed, have you noticed the bulletins posted containing our wireless news?”
“Yes, I’ve read them.”
“Did they interest you?”
“Yes. You mean that row between Austria and Servia over the Archduke’s murder?”
“I mean exactly that, Mr. Neeland. And now I am going to tell you something else. Tonight I had a radio message which I shall not post on the bulletins for various reasons. But I shall tell you under the seal of confidence.”
“I give you my word of honour,” said Neeland quietly.
“I accept it, Mr. Neeland. And this is what has happened: Austria has decided7 on an ultimatum8 to Servia. And probably will send it.”
They remained silent for a moment, then the captain continued:
“Why should we deceive ourselves? This is the most serious thing that has happened since the Hohenzollern 219incident which brought on the Franco-Prussian War.”
Neeland nodded.
“You see?” insisted the captain. “Suppose the humiliation9 is too severe for Servia to endure? Suppose she refuses the Austrian terms? Suppose Austria mobilises against her? What remains10 for Russia to do except to mobilise? And, if Russia does that, what is going to happen in Germany? And then, instantly and automatically, what will follow in France?” His mouth tightened11 grimly. “England,” he said, “is the ally of France. Ask yourself, Mr. Neeland, what are the prospects12 of this deadly combination and deadlier situation.”
After a few moments the young man looked up from his brown study:
“Ask it.”
“Then, of what interest are Turkish forts to any of the various allied14 nations—to the Triple Entente15 or the Triple Alliance?”
“Turkish fortifications?”
“Yes—plans for them.”
The captain glanced instinctively16 at the box beside Neeland’s chair, but his features remained incurious.
“Turkey is supposed to be the ally of Germany,” he said.
“I’ve heard so. I know that the Turkish army is under German officers. But—if war should happen, is it likely that this ramshackle nation which was fought to a standstill by the Balkan Alliance only a few months ago would be likely to take active sides?”
“Mr. Neeland, it is not only likely, it is absolutely certain.”220
“You believe Germany would count on her?”
“There is not a doubt of it. Enver Pasha holds the country in his right hand; Enver Pasha is the Kaiser’s jackal.”
“But Turkey is a beaten, discredited17 nation. She has no modern guns. Her fleet is rusting18 in the Bosporus.”
“The Dardanelles bristle19 with Krupp cannon20, Mr. Neeland, manned by German gunners. Von der Goltz Pasha has made of a brave people a splendid army. As for ships, the ironclads and gunboats off Seraglio Point are rusting at anchor, as you say; but there are today enough German and Austrian armored ships within running distance of the Dardanelles to make for Turkey a powerful defensive21 squadron. Didn’t you know any of these facts?”
“No.”
“Well, they are facts.... You see, Mr. Neeland, we English sailors of the merchant marine22 are also part of the naval23 reserve. And we are supposed to know these things.”
Neeland was silent.
“Mr. Neeland,” he said, “in case of war between the various powers of Europe as aligned24 today, where do you imagine your sympathy would lie—and the sympathies of America?”
“Both with France and England,” said Neeland bluntly.
“You think so?”
“Yes, I do—unless they are the aggressors.”
The captain nodded:
“I feel rather that way myself. I feel very sure of the friendliness25 of your country. Because of course we—France and England—never would dream of attacking 221the Central Powers unless first assailed26.” He smiled, nodded toward the box on the floor: “Don’t you think, Mr. Neeland, that it might be safer to entrust27 those—that box, I mean—to the captain of the Royal Mail steamer, Volhynia?”
“Yes, I do,” said Neeland quietly.
“And—about these spies. Do you happen to entertain any particular suspicions concerning any of the passengers on my ship?” urged the captain.
“Indeed, I entertain lively suspicions, and even a few certainties,” replied the young fellow, laughing.
“You appear to enjoy the affair?”
“I do. I’ve never had such a good time. I’m not going to spoil it by suggesting that you lock up anybody, either.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” said the captain seriously.
“But I do. They’re friends of mine. They’ve given me the time of my life. A dirty trick I’d be serving myself as well as them if I came to you and preferred charges against them!”
“Yes, thank God!” returned the young fellow, unable to control his laughter. “And I’ll bet there isn’t a drop in you, Captain West.”
“Not a drop, thank G—I’m sorry!—I ask your pardon, Mr. Neeland!” added the captain, very red in the face.
But Neeland laughed so hard that, after a moment, the red died out in the captain’s face and a faint grin came into it.222
So they shook hands and said good night; and Neeland went away, leaving his box on the floor of the captain’s cabin as certain of its inviolability as he was of the Bank of England.
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1
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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wireless
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| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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ultimatum
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| n.最后通牒 | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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germane
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| adj.关系密切的，恰当的 | |
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allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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entente
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| n.协定；有协定关系的各国 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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discredited
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| 不足信的，不名誉的 | |
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rusting
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| n.生锈v.（使）生锈( rust的现在分词 ) | |
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bristle
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| v.（毛发）直立，气势汹汹，发怒；n.硬毛发 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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aligned
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| adj.对齐的，均衡的 | |
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friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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entrust
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| v.信赖，信托，交托 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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