hr.thecarpetbaggers-第77节

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　We　both　laughed　and　drank　to　it。　〃There's　a　few　changes　on　the　plane　I　wanted　to　talk　to　you　about　before　the　test　tomorrow；〃　he　said。
　Just　then；　McAllister　came　into　the　bedroom。　〃It's　almost　six　o'clock；　Jonas；〃　he　said。　〃How　long　do　you　think　we　can　keep　them　waiting？　Dan　just　spoke　to　David　Woolf。　He　says　Norman　is　threatening　to　walk　out。〃
　〃I'll　be　with　you　as　soon　as　I　get　my　pants　on。〃　The　telephone　rang　while　I　was　buttoning　my　shirt。　〃Get　it　for　me；　will　you？〃
　〃What　about　the　changes？〃　Forrester　asked；　while　Mac　was　picking　up　the　phone。
　〃Get　out　to　the　field　and　work　them　out　with　Morrissey。〃
　〃It's　Los　Angeles；〃　McAllister　said；　covering　the　mouthpiece　with　his　hand。　〃We　haven't　much　time。〃
　I　looked　at　him　for　a　moment。　〃Tell　them　I　just　left　for　a　meeting。　That　they　can　reach　me　at　the　Norman　offices　in　about　two　hours。〃
　
　4
　
　IT　WAS　JUST　STARTING　TO　TURN　COOL　AND　THE　GIRLS　were　ing　out　of　their　apartments　along　Park　Avenue；　dressed　in　their　summer　clothes；　their　fur　stoles　draped　casually　over　their　shoulders。
　Over　on　Sixth　Avenue；　the　girls　were　ing　out；　too。　But　these　girls　weren't　getting　into　cabs；　they　were　hurrying　toward　the　subways　and　disappearing　into　those　gaping　maws；　glad　to　be　done　with　their　day's　work。
　New　York　had　a　curious　twisted　form　of　vitality　that　belied　the　general　air　of　depression　that　hung　over　the　country。　Building　was　going　on　here　despite　the　moans　and　groans　of　Wall　Street　…　office　buildings　and　expensive　apartments。　If　all　the　money　was　supposed　to　be　gone；　how　e　so　many　expensive　whores　were　still　living　in　the　best　places？　It　wasn't　gone。　It　had　just　gone　into　hiding；　burrowing　into　the　ground　like　a　mole；　only　to　emerge　when　risks　were　less　and　profits　greater。
　On　Sixth　Avenue；　the　signs　hung　dejectedly　in　front　of　the　employment　agencies。　The　blackboards　with　their　white　chalk　job　listings　were　already　beginning　to　look　tired；　and　the　two…dollar　chippies　were　already　beginning　their　dark　sky　patrol。
　One　of　them；　standing　on　the　fringe　of　the　crowd；　turned　to　look　at　me　as　I　came　by。　Her　eyes　were　large　and　tired　and　weary　and　wise。　I　caught　her　whisper　from　almost　motionless　lips。　〃You'll　be　the　first　today；　honey。　How　about　starting　the　day　right？〃
　I　grinned　at　her　and　she　took　it　for　a　sign　of　encouragement。　She　came　toward　me。　〃Just　a　deuce；〃　she　whispered　quickly；　〃and　I'll　teach　you　things　you　never　learned　in　school。〃
　I　stopped；　still　smiling。　〃I'll　bet　you　would。〃
　Mac　and　Dan　had　walked　a　few　steps　farther　on。　Mac　turned　back　to　me；　an　annoyed　look　on　his　face。　The　woman　flashed　a　quick　glance　at　them；　then　back　at　me。　〃Tell　your　friends　I'll　make　a　special　price　for　all　of　you。　Five　bucks。〃
　I　dug　into　my　pocket　and　came　up　with　a　dollar；　which　I　pressed　into　her　hand。　〃Some　other　time。　But　I　don't　think　my　teachers　would　approve。〃
　She　looked　down　at　the　dollar。　A　glint　of　humor　came　into　her　dark；　tired　eyes。　〃It's　guys　like　you　spoil　a　girl　and　make　it　tough　for　her　to　go　to　work。〃
　She　ducked　into　a　cafeteria　across　the　street　as　we　turned　into　the　lobby　of　the　new　RCA　Building　in　Rockefeller　Center。
　I　was　still　smiling　when　we　walked　into　the　board　room。　Norman　sat　at　the　head　of　the　long　table；　David　Woolf　on　his　right　and　a　man　whom　I　had　met　at　the　studio　…　Ernest　Hawley；　the　treasurer　…　on　his　left。　Down　the　table　sat　our　nominees；　the　two　brokerage　men；　a　banker　and　an　accountant。
　Dan　and　Mac　took　seats　on　opposite　sides　of　the　table；　leaving　the　seat　at　the　end　open　for　me。　I　started　to　sit　down。
　Bernie　got　to　his　feet。　〃Just　a　minute；　Cord；〃　he　said。　〃This　meeting　is　for　directors　only。〃　He　glowered　at　me。　〃Before　I'd　sit　at　the　same　table　with　you；　I'd　leave　myself。〃
　I　pulled　a　package　of　cigarettes　from　my　pocket　and　lit　one。　〃Then　leave；〃　I　said　quietly。　〃You　won't　have　anything　to　do　around　here　after　this　meeting　anyway。〃
　〃Gentlemen；　gentlemen；〃　McAllister　said　quickly。　〃This　is　no　way　to　conduct　an　important　meeting。　We　have　many　grave　problems　concerning　the　future　of　this　pany　to　consider。　We'll　settle　none　of　them　in　an　atmosphere　of　distrust。〃
　〃Distrust！〃　Bernie　yelled。　〃You　expect　me　to　trust　him？　After　the　way　he　stole　my　pany　from　me　behind　my　own　back！〃
　〃The　stock　was　for　sale　on　the　open　market　and　I　bought　it。〃
　〃At　what　price？〃　he　shouted。　〃First　he　forces　down　the　market；　then　he　buys　up　the　stock。　Below　value　he　gets　it。　He　don't　care　how　bad　he　makes　the　pany　look　while　he's　doing　it。　Then　he　es　to　me　and　expects　me　to　sell　my　stock　at　the　same　depressed　price　he　paid　the　others。〃
　I　smiled　to　myself。　The　trading　was　on。　The　old　man　figured　the　best　way　to　get　what　he　wanted　was　by　attacking　me。　Already；　the　propriety　of　my　presence　at　the　meeting　had　been　forgotten。　〃The　price　I　offered　was　twice　what　I　paid　on　the　open　market。〃
　〃You　made　the　market。〃
　〃I　wasn't　running　the　pany；〃　I　retorted。　〃You　were…and　for　the　last　six　years；　running　it　at　a　loss。〃
　He　strode　around　the　table。　〃And　you　could　do　better？〃
　〃If　I　didn't　think　so；　I　wouldn't　be　putting　up　better　than　seven　million　dollars。〃
　His　eyes　stared　into　mine　angrily　for　a　moment；　then　he　walked　back　to　his　chair　and　sat　down。　He　picked　up　a　pencil　and　tapped　it　on　the　table　in　front　of　him。　〃The　regular　meeting　of　the　board　of　directors　of　the　Norman　Picture　pany；　Incorporated；　is　hereby　called　to　order；〃　he　said　in　a　quieter　tone　of　voice。　He　looked　over　at　his　nephew。　〃David；　you　will　act　as　secretary　until　we　appoint　a　new　one。〃
　The　old　man　continued。　〃A　quorum　is　present；　and　also　present　by　invitation　is　Mr。　Jonas　Cord。　Make　a　note　of　that；　David。　Mr。　Cord　is　present　by　invitation　of　certain　of　the　directors　but　over　the　objection　of　the　President。〃
　He　stared　at　me；　waiting　for　me　to　react　to　his　statement。　I　sat　there　impassively。
　〃We　will　now　proceed　to　the　first　order　of　business；　which　is　the　election　of　officers　of　the　pany　for　the　ing　year。〃
　I　nodded　to　McAllister。　〃Mr。　President；〃　he　said；　〃may　I　suggest　that　we　postpone　the　election　of　officers　until　after　you　and　Mr。　Cord　have　pleted　discussions　regarding　the　sale　of　your　stock？〃
　〃What　makes　you　think　I'm　interested　in　selling　my　stock？〃　Bernie　asked。　〃My　faith　in　the　future　of　this　pany　remains　as　strong　as　ever。　I've　made　plans　to　insure　the　successful　operation　of　this　pany　and　if　you　fellows　think　you　can　stop　me；　I'll　throw　you　into　a　proxy　fight　like　you　never　saw　before。〃
　Even　McAllister　had　to　smile　at　that。　What　would　he　fight　with？　We　were　voting　forty…one　per　cent　of　the　stock　already。　〃If　the　President's　concern　for　the　future　of　this　pany　were　as　sincere　as　ours；〃　McAllister　said　politely；　〃surely　he　would　see　the　damage　that　could　be　done　by　starting　a　proxy　fight　he　couldn't　possibly　win。〃
　A　look　of　cunning　came　over　Bernie's　face。　〃I'm　not　such　a　fool　as　you　think；〃　he　said。　〃I've　been　busy　all　afternoon。　I　got　pledges　from　enough　stockholders　to　give　me　control　if　I　fight。　I　should　live　so　long　as　to　give　up　my　own　pany　…　the　pany　that　I　built　with　the　sweat　of　my　brow　…　to　Cord　so　he　can　donate　more　money　to　his　friends　the　Nazis。〃　He　slammed　his　fist　dramatically　down　on　the　table。　〃No；　not　even　if　he　gave　me　seven　million　dollars　for　my　stock　alone。〃
　I　got　to　my　feet；　tight…lipped　and　angry。　〃I'd　like　to　ask　Mr。　Norman　what　he　would　do　with　the　seven　million　dollars　if　I　did　give　it　to　him。　Would　he　donate　it　to　the　Jewish　Relief　Fund？〃
　〃It's　no　business　of　Mr。　Cord's　what　I　do　with　my　money；〃　he　shouted　down　the　table　at　me。　〃I'm　not　a　rich　man　like　he　is。　All　I　got　is　a　few　shares　of　my　own　pany。〃
　I　smiled。　〃Mr。　Norman；　would　you　like　me　to　read　to　the　board　a　list　of　your　liquid　assets　and　holdings；　both　in　your　name　and　your　wife's？〃
　Bernie　looked　confused。　〃List？〃　he　asked。　〃What　list？〃
　I　looked　at　McAllister。　He　handed　me　a　sheet　of　paper　from　his　brief　case。　I　began　to　read　from　it。　〃Deposits　in　the　name　of　May　Norman：　Security　National　Bank；　Boston　…　one　million；　four　hundred　thousand；　Bank　of　Manhattan　pany；　New　York　…　two　million；　one　hundred　thousand；　Pioneer　National　Trust　pany；　Los　Angeles　…　seven　hundred　thousand；　Lehman　Brothers；　New　York　…　three　million；　one　hundred　and　fifty　thousand；　plus　other　minor　accounts　throughout　the　country　amounting　to　six　or　seven　hundred　thousand　more。　In　addition　to　that；　Mrs。　Norman　owns　one　thousand　acres　of　prime　real　estate　in　Westwood；　near　Beverly　Hills；　conservatively　valued　at　two　thousand　dollars　an　acre。〃
　Bernie　stared　at　me。　〃Where　did　you　get　that　list？〃
　〃Never　mind　where　I　got　it。〃
　The　old　man　turned　to　his　nephew。　〃See；　David；〃　he　said　in　a　loud　voice；　〃see　what　a　good　wife　can　save　from　her　house　money。〃
　If　he　wasn't　such　a　thief；　I'd　have　laughed。　But　a　look　at　his　nephew's　face　showed　that　the　boy　hadn't　known　about　those　particular　assets。　Something　told　me　David　was　in　for　further　disillusionment。
　The　old　man　turned　back　to　me。　〃So　my　wife　put　away　a　few　dollars。　That　gives　you　the　right　to　rob　me？〃
　〃During　the　past　six　years；　while　your　pany　was　losing　about　eleven　million　dollars；　it　seems　strange　to　me　that　your　wife　should　be　depositing　about　a　million　dollars　a　year　in　her　various　accounts。〃