按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
that between Claire and the widower a marriage had been 〃arranged；〃
the clerks in the foreign commission houses and the agents of the
steamship lines drowned their sorrow in rum and ran the house flags
to half…staff。 Paillard himself took the proposed alliance calmly。
He was not an impetuous suitor。 With Widow Ducrot he agreed that
Claire was still too young to marry； and to himself kept the fact
that to remarry he was in no haste。 In his mind doubts still
lingered。 With a wife； young enough to be one of his children；
disorganizing； the routine of his villa； would it be any more
comfortable than he now found it？ Would his eldest daughter and her
stepmother dwell together in harmony？ The eldest daughter had
assured him that so far as she was concerned they would not； and；
after all； in marrying a girl； no matter how charming； without a
dot； and the daughter of a boarding…house keeper； no matter how
respectable； was he not disposing of himself too cheaply？ These
doubts assailed Papa Paillard； these speculations were in his mind。
And while he speculated Billy acted。
〃I know that in France；〃 Billy assured Claire； 〃marriages are
arranged by the parents； but in my country they are arranged in
heaven。 And who are we to disregard the edicts of heaven？ Ages and
ages ago； before the flood； before Napoleon； even before old
Paillard with his four children； it was arranged in heaven that you
were to marry me。 So； what little plans your good mother may make
don't cut enough ice to cool a green mint。 Now； we can't try to get
married here；〃 continued Billy； 〃without your mother and Paillard
knowing it。 In this town as many people have to sign the marriage；
contract as signed our Declaration of Independence： all the civil
authorities； all the clergy； all the relatives； if every man in the
telephone book isn't a witness； the marriage doesn't 'take。' So； we
must elope！〃
Having been brought up in a convent； where she was taught to obey
her mother and forbidden to think of marriage； Claire was naturally
delighted with the idea of an elopement。
〃To where will we elope to？〃 she demanded。 Her English； as she
learned it from Billy； was sometimes confusing。
〃To New York；〃 said Billy。 〃On the voyage there I will put you in
charge of the stewardess and the captain； and there isn't a captain
on the Royal Dutch or the Atlas that hasn't known you since you
were a baby。 And as soon as we dock we'll drive straight to the
city hall for a license and the mayor himself will marry us。 Then
I'll get back my old job from the Wilmot folks and we'll live happy
ever after！〃
〃In New York； also；〃 asked Claire proudly； 〃are you directeur of
the electric lights？〃
〃On Broadway alone；〃 Billy explained reprovingly； 〃there is one
sign that uses more bulbs than there are in the whole of Hayti！〃
〃New York is a large town！〃 exclaimed Claire。
〃It's a large sign；〃 corrected Billy。 〃But；〃 he pointed out； 〃with
no money we'll never see it。 So to…morrow I'm going to make a
social call on Grandpa Ham and demand my ten thousand francs。〃
Claire grasped his arm。
〃Be careful；〃 she pleaded。 〃Remember the chicken soup。 If he offers
you the champagne； refuse it！〃
〃He won't offer me the champagne；〃 Billy assured her。 〃It won't be
that kind of a call。〃
Billy left the Cafe Ducrot and made his way to the water… front。 He
was expecting some electrical supplies by the PRINZ DER
NEDERLANDEN； and she had already come to anchor。
He was late； and save for a group of his countrymen； who with the
customs officials were having troubles of their own； the customs
shed was all but deserted。 Billy saw his freight cleared and was
going away when one of those in trouble signalled for assistance。
He was a good…looking young man in a Panama hat and his manner
seemed to take it for granted that Billy knew who he was。 〃They
want us to pay duty on our trunks；〃 he explained； 〃and we want to
leave them in bond。 We'll be here only until to…night； when we're
going on down the coast to Santo Domingo。 But we don't speak
French； and we can't make them understand that。〃
〃You don't need to speak any language to give a man ten dollars；〃
said Billy。
〃Oh！〃 exclaimed the man in the Panama。 〃I was afraid if I tried
that they might arrest us。〃
〃They may arrest you if you don't；〃 said Billy。 Acting both as
interpreter and disbursing agent； Billy satisfied the demands of
his fellow employees of the government； and his fellow countrymen
he directed to the Hotel Ducrot。
As some one was sure to take their money； he thought it might as
well go to his mother…in…law elect。 The young man in the Panama
expressed the deepest gratitude； and Billy； assuring him he would
see him later； continued to the power…house； still wondering where
he had seen him before。
At the power…house he found seated at his desk a large； bearded
stranger whose derby hat and ready…to…wear clothes showed that he
also had but just arrived on the PRINZ DER NEDERLANDEN。
〃You William Barlow？〃 demanded the stranger。 〃I understand you been
threatening； unless you get your pay raised； to commit sabotage on
these works？〃
〃Who the devil are you？〃 inquired Billy。
The stranger produced an impressive…looking document covered with
seals。
〃Contract with the president；〃 he said。 I've taken over your job。
You better get out quiet；〃 he advised； 〃as they've given me a squad
of nigger policemen to see that you do。〃
〃Are you aware that these works are the property of the Wilmot
Company？〃 asked Billy； 〃and that if anything went wrong here they'd
hold you responsible？〃 The stranger smiled complacently。
〃I've run plants；〃 he said； 〃that make these lights look like a
stable lantern on a foggy night。〃
〃In that case；〃 assented Billy； 〃should anything happen； you'll
know exactly what to do； and I can leave you in charge without
feeling the least anxiety。〃
〃That's just what you can do；〃 the stranger agreed heartily；〃 and
you can't do it too quick！〃 From the desk he took Billy's favorite
pipe and loaded it from Billy's tobacco…jar。 But when Billy had
reached the door he called to him。 〃Before you go； son；〃 he said
〃you might give me a tip about this climate。 I never been in the
tropics。 It's kind of unhealthy； ain't it？〃
His expression was one of concern。
〃If you hope to keep alive；〃 began Billy； 〃there are two things to
avoid〃 The stranger laughed knowingly。
〃I got you！〃 he interrupted。 〃You're going to tell me to cut out
wine and women。〃
〃I was going to tell you； 〃 said Billy； 〃to cut out hoping to
collect any wages and to avoid every kind of soup。〃
From the power…house Billy went direct to the palace。 His anxiety
was great。 Now that Claire had consented to leave Hayti； the loss
of his position did not distress him。 But the possible loss of his
back pay would be a catastrophe。 He had hardly enough money to take
them both to New York； and after they arrived none with which to
keep them alive。 Before the Wilmot Company could find a place for
him a month might pass； and during that month they might starve。 If
he went alone and arranged for Claire to follow； he might lose her。
Her mother might marry her to Paillard； Clair