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！
〃But our government has never yet had such jobs to manage。 We have never yet made a demand from a foreign power that we have not believed just。 Intrigue is unpardonable in American diplomacy； for it is gratuitous； a man need not resort to it； unless his own taste inclines him that way。 It is an honourable distinction of our government； AS A GOVERNMENT； that it has never committed a single act of injustice against any other power； either by open force； or underhand manoeuvres。 We have been wronged sometimes； and omitted to demand justice as firmly as we might have done； but there is； probably； no other government among the great powers of Christendom； that has been so free from OFFENSIVE guilt； during the last sixty years； as that of this country。〃
｛This was； of course； before the Mexican…American War； which the Cooper family viewed with considerable misgivings。 James Fenimore Cooper was incensed that the United States did not pursue with greater vigor American claims against France for damages caused to American shipping during the Napoleonic wars｝
It was evident that Mr。 Stryker was not in the least convinced by Harry's defence of honest diplomacy。
〃The ladies must find great fault with Washington diplomacy；〃 he added； turning to Mrs。 Creighton and Elinor： 〃they are never employed； not a single fair American has ever figured among les belles diplomats of European saloons； I believe。〃
〃Perhaps the ladies in this country would not condescend to be employed；〃 said Elinor。
〃Don't say so； Miss Wyllys！〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Creighton； laughing； 〃I should delight in having some delicate mission to manage： when Mr。 Stryker gets into the cabinet； he may send me as special envoy to any country where I can find a French milliner。〃
〃You had better go to Russia with Mr。 Henley and Mr。 Hazlehurst； I have not the least doubt but they would find your finesse of great service；〃 said the gentleman。 Mrs。 Creighton blushed； and Harry coloured； too。
〃The very idea of such an ally would frighten Mr。 Henley out of his wits；〃 said the lady； recovering herself； 〃he is an incorrigible old bachelor； that； you must allow； is a great fault of his； Mr。 Hazlehurst。〃
〃If he be incorrigible；〃 said Harry。
〃But that is not clear；〃 said Mr。 Stryker to the lady； 〃he is a great admirer of yours。〃
〃Come； a truce to diplomacy； Josephine； I am going to beg Miss Wyllys for a song；〃 said Ellsworth。
Elinor sang very readily； and very sweetly； the Swiss airs sounded charmingly among the hills； and she was accompanied by Mary Van Alstyne； while Charlie； with the two Hazlehursts； made up a respectable second for several songs。
Some gathering clouds at length warned the party to turn inn…ward again。
〃It is to be hoped the shower won't reach us； for your sake； ladies；〃 said Robert Hazlehurst。
〃I hope not； for the sake of my bibi！〃 said Mrs。 Creighton。 〃It is the prettiest little hat I have had these three years； it would be distressing to have it spoilt before it has lost its freshness。〃
｛〃bibi〃 = a stylish hat of the 1830s｝
〃There is no danger； marm；〃 said one of the boatmen； with a good…natured gravity； that made Mrs。 Creighton smile。 〃Them 'ere kind of clouds often goes over the lake； without coming up this way。〃
And so it proved； the party reached the hotel safely； all agreeing that they had had a very pleasant day； and were not at all more tired than was desirable after such an excursion。
CHAPTER X。 ｛XXXIII｝
〃。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 Sebastian are you？ If spirits can assume both form and suit； You come to fright us！〃 SHAKSPEARE。 ｛sic｝
｛William Shakespeare； 〃Twelfh Night〃； V。i。221； 235…236｝
ON their return to Saratoga； the Wyllyses and Hazlehursts found startling intelligence awaiting them。 Letters had just arrived for Harry； for Mrs。 Stanley； and for Mr。 Wyllys； all of a similar nature； and all of a character that was astounding to those who received them。 They could scarcely credit their senses as they read the fact； that the executors of the late John William Stanley； Esquire； were called upon to account for all past proceedings； to William Stanley； his son and heir。 Hazlehurst was also summoned to resign that portion of the property of which he had taken possession two years since； when he had reached the age of twenty…five。
The letters were all written by Mr。 Clapp； Charlie Hubbard's brother…in…law； who announced himself as the attorney of William Stanley； Esquire。
〃Here are the letters addressed to myself；〃 said Mrs。 Stanley； who had immediately sent for Mr。 Wyllys and Hazlehurst； as soon as they returned from Lake George： she had not yet recovered from the first agitation caused by this extraordinary disclosure。 〃This is the letter purporting to come from my husband's son； and this is from the lawyer；〃 she added； extending both to Hazlehurst。 Harry read them aloud。 The first ran as follows：
〃MADAM：
〃I have not the honour of being acquainted with you； as my late father was not married to you when I went to sea； not long before his death。 But I make no doubt that you will not refuse me my rights； now that I step forward to demand them； after leaving others to enjoy them for nearly eighteen years。 Things look different to a man near forty； and to a young chap of twenty； I have been thinking of claiming my property for some time； but was told by lawyers that there was too many difficulties in the way； owing partly to my own fault； partly to the fault of others。 As long as I was a youngster； I didn't care for anything but having my own wayI snapped my fingers at all the world； but now I am tired of a sea…faring life； and have had hardships enough for one man： since there is a handsome property mine； by right； I am resolved to claim it； through thick and thin。 I have left off the bottle； and intend to do my best to be respectable for the rest of my days。 I make no doubt but we shall be able to come to some agreement； nor would I object to a compromise for the past； though my lawyers advise me to make no such offer。 I shall be pleased； Madam； to pay my respects to you； that we may settle our affairs at a personal meeting； if it suits you to do so。
〃Your obedient servant； and step…son；
〃WILLIAM STANLEY。〃
〃Can that be my husband's son！〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Stanley； in an agitated voice； as Harry finished reading the letter； and handed it to Mr。 Wyllys。
〃It will take more than this to convince me；〃 said Mr。 Wyllys； who had been listening attentively。 The handwriting was then carefully examined by Mrs。 Stanley and Mr。 Wyllys； and both were compelled to admit that it was at least a good imitation of that of William Stanley。
〃A most extraordinary proceeding in either case！〃 exclaimed Harry； pacing the room。
Mr。 Clapp's letter was then read： it began with the following words：
〃MADAM：
〃I regret that I am compelled by the interests of my client； Mr。 William Stanley； Esquire； to address a lady I respect so highly； upon a subject that must necessarily prove distressing to her； in many different ways。〃
Then followed a brief statement of his first acquaintance with Mr。 Stanley； his refusing to have anything to do with the affair； his subsequent conviction that the ragged sailor was the individual he represented himself to be； his reluctance to proceed； &c。； &c。 But since he was now convinced； by the strongest proofs； of the justice of Mr。 Stanley's demand； and had at length undertaken to assist him with his advice； he was； therefore； compelled by duty to give the regular legal notice； that Mrs。 Stanley； as executrix； would be required to account for her proceedings since her husband's death。 His client； he said； would much prefer an amicable arrangement； but； if necessary； would proceed to law immediately。 He wished to know what course Mrs。 Stanley was disposed to take； as his client's steps would necessarily be guided by her own； and those of Mr。 Wyllys and Mr。 Hazlehurst。 He concluded with a civil hope that the case might be privately adjusted。
〃Clapp all over；〃 said Harry； as he finished reading the letter。
〃A most bare…faced imposition； depend upon it！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Wyllys； with strong indignation。
Mrs。 Stanley was listening with anxious eagerness for the opinion of the two ge