beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第31章
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had been excusably inaccessible in Central Asia。 The sulky；
overworked office…boy； who was the one connecting link between the
editorial brain and the business departments of the paper； sardonically
explained the new aloofness as the 'Yarkand manner。' Most of the
reporters and sub…editors seemed to have been dismissed in autocratic
fashion since their return and new ones engaged by letter； to these the
editor and his immediate associates remained an unseen presence；
issuing its instructions solely through the medium of curt typewritten
notes。 Something mystic and Tibetan and forbidden had replaced the
human bustle and democratic simplicity of pre…migration days； and the
same experience was encountered by those who made social overtures
to the returned wanderers。 The most brilliant hostess of Twentieth
Century London flung the pearl of her hospitality into the unresponsive
trough of the editorial letter…box； it seemed as if nothing short of a
Royal command would drag the hermit…souled REVENANTS from their
self…imposed seclusion。 People began to talk unkindly of the effect of
high altitudes and Eastern atmosphere on minds and temperaments
unused to such luxuries。 The Yarkand manner was not popular。〃
〃And the contents of the paper；〃 said the nephew； 〃did they show the
influence of the new style？〃
〃Ah！〃 said Sir Lulworth； 〃that was the exciting thing。 In home
affairs； social questions； and the ordinary events of the day not much
change was noticeable。 A certain Oriental carelessness seemed to
have crept into the editorial department； and perhaps a note of lassitude
not unnatural in the work of men who had returned from what had been
a fairly arduous journey。 The aforetime standard of excellence was
scarcely maintained； but at any rate the general lines of policy and
outlook were not departed from。 It was in the realm of foreign affairs
that a startling change took place。 Blunt； forcible； outspoken articles
appeared； couched in language which nearly turned the autumn
manoeuvres of six important Powers into mobilisations。 Whatever else
the DAILY INTELLIGENCER had learned in the East； it had not
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acquired the art of diplomatic ambiguity。 The man in the street enjoyed
the articles and bought the paper as he had never bought it before； the
men in Downing Street took a different view。 The Foreign Secretary；
hitherto accounted a rather reticent man； became positively garrulous
in the course of perpetually disavowing the sentiments expressed in the
DAILY INTELLIGENCER'S leaders； and then one day the Government
came to the conclusion that something definite and drastic must be
done。 A deputation； consisting of the Prime Minister； the Foreign
Secretary； four leading financiers； and a well…known Nonconformist
divine； made its way to the offices of the paper。 At the door leading to
the editorial department the way was barred by a nervous but defiant
office…boy。
〃 'You can't see the editor nor any of the staff；' he announced。
〃 'We insist on seeing the editor or some responsible person；' said the
Prime Minister； and the deputation forced its way in。 The boy had
spoken truly； there was no one to be seen。 In the whole suite of rooms
there was no sign of human life。
〃 'Where is the editor？' 'Or the foreign editor？' 'Or the chief
leader…writer？ Or anybody？'
〃In answer to the shower of questions the boy unlocked a drawer and
produced a strange…looking envelope； which bore a Khokand postmark；
and a date of some seven or eight months back。 It contained a scrap of
paper on which was written the following message：
〃 'Entire party captured by brigand tribe on homeward journey。
Quarter of million demanded as ransom； but would probably take less。
Inform Government； relations； and friends。'
〃There followed the signatures of the principal members of the
party and instructions as to how and where the money was to be paid。
〃The letter had been directed to the office…boy…in… charge； who had
quietly suppressed it。 No one is a hero to one's own office…boy； and he
evidently considered that a quarter of a million was an unwarrantable
outlay for such a doubtfully advantageous object as the repatriation of
an errant newspaper staff。 So he drew the editorial and other salaries；
forged what signatures were necessary； engaged new reporters； did what
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sub…editing he could； and made as much use as possible of the large
accumulation of special articles that was held in reserve for emergencies。
The articles on foreign affairs were entirely his own composition。
〃Of course the whole thing had to be kept as quiet as possible； an
interim staff； pledged to secrecy； was appointed to keep the paper going
till the pining captives could be sought out； ransomed； and brought home；
in twos and threes to escape notice； and gradually things were put back
on their old footing。 The articles on foreign affairs reverted to the
wonted traditions of the paper。〃
〃But；〃 interposed the nephew； 〃how on earth did the boy account to
the relatives all those months for the non…appearance … 〃
〃That；〃 said Sir Lulworth； 〃was the most brilliant stroke of all。 To
the wife or nearest relative of each of the missing men he forwarded a
letter； copying the handwriting of the supposed writer as well as he
could； and making excuses about vile pens and ink； in each letter he
told the same story； varying only the locality； to the effect that the writer；
alone of the whole party； was unable to tear himself away from the wild
liberty and allurements of Eastern life； and was going to spend several
months roaming in some selected region。 Many of the wives started off
immediately in pursuit of their errant husbands； and it took the
Government a considerable time and much trouble to reclaim them from
their fruitless quests along the banks of the Oxus； the Gobi Desert； the
Orenburg steppe； and other outlandish places。 One of them； I believe；
is still lost somewhere in the Tigris Valley。〃
〃And the boy？〃
〃Is still in journalism。〃
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