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第17章

the pursuit of the house-boat-第17章

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 and yon in a most erratic fashion; striking where they were least expected; as those of you who keep in touch with the outer world must be fully aware。  Now; actuated by their usual broad and liberal motives; the men of Hades wish to meet the views of you ladies to just that extent that your views are based upon a wise selection; in turn based upon experience; and they have come to me and in so many words have said; 'Mr。 Kidd; we wish the women of Hades to see the world。  We want them to be satisfied。  We do not like this constantly increasing spirit of unrest。  We; who have seen all the life that we care to see; do not ourselves feel equal to the task of showing them about。  We will pay you liberally if you will take our House…boat; which they have always been anxious to enter; and personally conduct our beloved ones to Paris; London; and elsewhere。  Let them see as much of life as they can stand。  Accord them every privilege。  Spare no expense; only bring them back again to us safe and sound。'  These were their words; ladies。  I asked them why they didn't come along themselves; saying that even if they were tired of it all; they should make some personal sacrifice to your comfort; and they answered; reasonably and well; that they would be only too glad to do so; but that they feared they might unconsciously seem to exert a repressing influence upon you。  'We want them to feel absolutely free; Captain Kidd;' said they; 'and if we are along they may not feel so。'  The answer was convincing; ladies; and I accepted the commission。〃

〃But we knew nothing of all this;〃 interposed Elizabeth。  〃The subject was not broached to us by our husbands; brothers; fiances; or fathers。  My brother; Sir Walter Raleigh〃

Cleopatra chuckled。  〃Brother!  Brother's good;〃 she said。

〃Well; that's what he is;〃 retorted Elizabeth; quickly。  〃I promised to be a sister to him; and I'm going to keep my word。  That's the kind of a queen I am。  I was about to remark;〃 Elizabeth added; turning to the captain; 〃that my brother; Sir Walter Raleigh; never even hinted at any such plan; and usually he asked my advice in matters of so great importance。〃

〃That is easily accounted for; madame;〃 retorted Kidd。  〃Sir Walter intended this as a little surprise for you; that is all。  The arrangements were all placed in his hands; and it was he who bound us all to secrecy。  None of the ladies were to be informed of it。〃

〃It does not sound altogether plausible;〃 interposed Portia。  〃If you ladies do not object; I should like to cross…examine thisah gentleman。〃

Kidd paled visibly。  He was not prepared for any such trial; however; he put as good a face on the matter as he could; and announced his willingness to answer any questions that he might be asked。

〃Shall we put him under oath?〃 asked Cleopatra。

〃As you please; ladies;〃 said the pirate。  〃A pirate's word is as good as his bond; but I'll take an oath if you choosea half…dozen of 'em; if need be。〃

〃I fancy we can get along without that;〃 said Portia。  〃Now; Captain Kidd; who first proposed this plan?〃

〃Socrates;〃 said Kidd; unblushingly with a sly glance at Xanthippe。

〃What?〃 cried Xanthippe。  〃My husband propose anything that would contribute to my pleasure or intellectual advancement?  Bah!  Your story is transparently false at the outset。〃

〃Nevertheless;〃 said Kidd; 〃the scheme was proposed by Socrates。  He said a trip of that kind for Xanthippe would be very restful and health…giving。〃

〃For me?〃 cried Xanthippe; sceptically。

〃No; madame; for him;〃 retorted Kidd。

〃Ahho…ho!  That's the way of it; eh?〃 said Xanthippe; flushing to the roots of her hair。  〃Very likely。  Youahyou will excuse my doubting your word; Captain Kidd; a moment since。  I withdraw my remark; and in order to make fullest reparation; I beg to assure these ladies that I am now perfectly convinced that you are telling the truth。  That last observation is just like my husband; and when I get back home again; if I ever do; wellha; ha!we'll have a merry time; that's all。〃

〃And what wasahBassanio's connection with this affair?〃 added Portia; hesitatingly。

〃He was not informed of it;〃 said Kidd; archly。  〃I am not acquainted with Bassanio; my lady; but I overheard Sir Walter enjoining upon the others the absolute necessity of keeping the whole affair from Bassanio; because he was afraid he would not consent to it。 'Bassanio has a most beautiful wife; gentlemen;' said Sir Walter; 'and he wouldn't think of parting with her under any circumstances; therefore let us keep our intentions a secret from him。'  I did not hear whom the gentleman married; madame; but the others; Prince Hamlet; the Duke of Buckingham; and Louis the Fourteenth; all agreed that Mrs。 Bassanio was too beautiful a person to be separated from; and that it was better; therefore; to keep Bassanio in the dark as to their little enterprise until it was too late for him to interfere。〃

A pink glow of pleasure suffused the lovely countenance of the cross… examiner; and it did not require a very sharp eye to see that the wily Kidd had completely won her over to his side。  On the other hand; Elizabeth's brow became as corrugated as her ruff; and the spirit of the pirate shivered to the core as he turned and gazed upon that glowering face。

〃Sir Walter agreed to that; did he?〃 snapped Elizabeth。  〃And yet he was willing to part withahhis sister。〃

〃Well; your Majesty;〃 began Kidd; hesitatingly; 〃you see it was this way:  Sir Waltererdid say that; butahheahbut he added that he of course merely judgederthis man Bassanio's feelings by his own in parting from his sister〃

〃Did he say sister?〃 cried Elizabeth。

〃Wellnonot in those words;〃 shuffled Kidd; perceiving quickly wherein his error lay; 〃butahI jumped at the conclusion; seeing his intense enthusiasm for the lady's beauty anderintellectual qualities; that he referred to you; and it is from yourself that I have gained my knowledge as to the fraternal; not to say sororal; relationship that exists between you。〃

〃That man's a diplomat from Diplomaville!〃 muttered Sir Henry Morgan; who; with Abeuchapeta and Conrad; was listening at the port without。

〃He is that;〃 said Abeuchapeta; 〃but he can't last much longer。  He's perspiring like a pitcher of ice…water on a hot day; and a spirit of his size and volatile nature can't stand much of that without evaporating。  If you will observe him closely you will see that his left arm already has vanished into thin air。〃

〃By Jove!〃 whispered Conrad; 〃that's a fact!  If they don't let up on him he'll vanish。  He's getting excessively tenuous about the top of his head。〃

All of which was only too true。  Subjected to a scrutiny which he had little expected; the deceitful ambassador of the thieving band was rapidly dissipating; and; as those without had so fearsomely noted; was in imminent danger of complete sublimation; which; in the case of one possessed of so little elementary purity; meant nothing short of annihilation。  Fortunately for Kidd; however; his wonderful tact had stemmed the tide of suspicion。  Elizabeth was satisfied with his explanation; and in the minds of at least three of the most influential ladies on board; Portia; Xanthippe; and Elizabeth; he had become a creature worthy of credence; which meant that he had nothing more to fear。

〃I am prepared; your Majesty;〃 said Elizabeth; addressing Cleopatra; 〃to accept from this time on the gentleman's word。  The little that he has already told us is hall…marked with truth。  I should like to ask; however; one more question; and that is how our gentleman friends expected to embark us upon this voyage without letting us into the secret?〃

〃Oh; as for that;〃 replied Kidd; with a deep…drawn sigh of relief; for he too had noticed the gradual evaporation of his arm and the incipient etherization of his cranium〃as for that; it was simple enough。  There was to have been a day set apart for ladies' day at the club; and when you were all on board we were quietly to weigh anchor and start。  The fact that you had anticipated the day; of your own volition; was telephoned by my scouts to me at my headquarters; and that news was by me transmitted by messenger to Sir Walter at Charon's Glen Island; where 

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