the cost-第33节

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！


　agents　were　forced　to　do　in　carrying　out　his　orders；　so　Herron　kept　peace　with　a　far　more　sensitive　conscience　by　never　permitting　it　to　look　in　upon　his　mind　or　out　through　his　eyes。

〃Frightful！　　Frightful！〃　he　exclaimed；　after　a　long　pause　in　which　his　immured　and　blindfold　conscience　decided　that　he　could　afford　to　support　Fanshaw。　　〃I　knew　he　was　a　rascal　in　businessbut　THIS！〃

There　was　genuine　emotion　in　his　voice　and　in　his　mind。　　He　was　strict　to　puritanic　primness　in　his　ideals　of　feminine　morality；　nor　had　he　been　relaxed　by　having　a　handsome　wife；　looking　scarce　a　day　over　thirty　behind　her　veil　or　in　artificial　light；　and　fond　of　gathering　about　her　young　men　who　treated　him　as　if　he　were　old　and　〃didn't　count。〃

〃You　are　certain；　Fanshaw？〃

〃I　tell　you；　he　hinted　it　himself；〃　replied　Fanshaw。　　〃And　instantly　my　eyes　were　opened　to　scores　of　damning　confirmations。〃　　He　struck　his　forehead　with　his　open　hand。　　〃How　blind　I've　been！〃　he　exclaimed。

Herron　shook　his　head　sympathetically　and　hastened　on　to　business。

〃WE　can't　handle　your　case；〃　he　said。　　〃But　Best　and　Sharpless；　on　the　floor　above；　are　reliable。　　And　I'll　be　glad　to　help　you　with　advice。　　I　feel　that　this　is　the　beginning　of　Dumont's　end。　　I　knew　such　insolent　wickedness　could　not　have　a　long　course。〃

Fanshaw　drew　Herron　on　to　tell　the　story　of　his　wrongsthe　〃swindling。〃　　Before　it　was　ended　Fanshaw　saw　that　he　had　found　a　man　who　hated　Dumont　malignantly　and　was　thirsting　for　vengeance。　　This　encouraged　him　to　unfold　his　financial　difficulties。　　Herron　listened　sympathetically；　asked　ingeniously　illuminating　questions；　and　in　the　end　agreed　to　tide　him　over。　　He　had　assured　himself　that　Fanshaw　had　simply　undertaken　too　large　an　enterprise；　the　advance　would　be　well　secured；　he　would　make　the　loan　in　such　a　way　that　he　would　get　a　sure　profit；　and　would　also　bind　Fanshaw　firmly　to　him　without　binding　himself　to　Fanshaw。　　Besides〃It　wouldn't　do　for　him　to　go　to　the　wall　just　now。〃

Arm　in　arm　they　went　up　to　Best　and　Sharpless'　to　take　the　first　steps　in　the　suit。　　Together　they　went　down…town　to　relieve　Fanshaw　of　the　pressure　of　the　too　heavy　burden　of　copper　stocks；　then　up　to　their　club　where　he　assisted　Fanshaw　in　composing　the　breaking…off　letter　to　Leonora。



XXII。

STORMS　IN　THE　WEST。


While　the　Fanshaw…Herron　storm　was　slowly　gathering　in　Dumont's　eastern　horizon；　two　others　equally　black　were　lifting　in　the　west。

In　the　two　months　between　Scarborough's　election　and　his　inauguration；　the　great　monopolies　thriving　under　the　protection　of　the　state's　corrupted　statute…book　and　corrupted　officials　followed　the　lead　of　their　leader；　Dumont's　National　Woolens　Company；　in　making　sweeping　but　stealthy　changes　in　their　prices；　wages；　methods　and　even　in　their　legal　status。　　They　hoped　thus　to　enable　their　Legislature　plausibly　to　resist　Scarborough's　demand　for　a　revision　of　the　lawswhy　revise　when　the　cry　of　monopoly　had　been　shown　to　be　a　false　issue　raised　by　a　demagogue　to　discredit　the　tried　leaders　of　the　party　and　to　aggrandize　himself？　　And；　when　Scarborough　had　been　thoroughly　〃exposed；〃　business　could　be　resumed　gradually。

But　Scarborough　had　the　better　brain；　and　had　character　as　well。　　He　easily　upset　their　program　and　pressed　their　Legislature　so　hard　that　it　was　kept　in　line　only　by　pouring　out　money　like　water。　　This　became　a　public　scandal　which　made　him　stronger　than　ever　and　also　made　it　seem　difficult　or　impossible　for　the　monopolies　to　get　a　corruptible　Legislature　at　the　next　election。　　At　last　the　people　had　in　their　service　a　lawyer　equal　in　ability　to　the　best　the　monopolies　could　buy；　and　one　who　understood　human　nature　and　political　machinery　to　boot。

Dumont　began　to　respect　Scarborough　profoundlynot　for　his　character；　which　made　him　impregnable　with　the　people；　but　for　his　intellect；　which　showed　him　how　to　convince　the　people　of　his　character　and　to　keep　them　convinced。　　When　Merriweather　came　on　〃to　take　his　beating〃　from　his　employer　he　said　among　other　things　deprecatory：　　〃Scarborough's　a　dreamer。　　His　head's　among　the　clouds。〃　　Dumont　retorted：　　〃Yes；　but　his　feet　are　on　the　groundtoo　damned　firmly　to　suit　me。〃　　And　after　a　moment's　thought；　he　added：　　〃What　a　shame　for　such　a　brain　to　go　to　waste！　　Why；　he　could　make　millions。〃

He　felt　that　Gladys　was　probably　his　best　remaining　card。　　She　had　been　in　Indianapolis　visiting　the　whole　of　February；　Scarborough's　second　month　as　governor；　and　had　gone　on　to　her　brother　in　New　York　with　a　glowing　report　of　her　progress　with　Scarborough's　sister　Arabella；　now　a　widow　and　at　her　own　invitation　living　with　him　in　Indianapolis　to　relieve　him　of　the　social　duties　of　his　office。　　She　was　a　dozen　years　more　the　Arabella　who　had　roused　her　father's　wrath　by　her　plans　for　educating　her　brother　〃like　a　gentleman〃；　and　Olivia　and　Fred　were　irritated　and　even　alarmed　by　her　anything　but　helpful　peculiaritiesthough　Scarborough　seemed　cheerful　and　indifferent　enough　about　them。

It　was　a　temperamental　impossibility　for　Dumont　to　believe　that　Scarborough　could　really　be　sincere　in　a　course　which　was　obviously　unprofitable。　　Therefore　he　attached　even　more　importance　to　Arabella's　cordiality　than　did　Gladys　herself。　　And；　when　the　Legislature　adjourned　and　Scarborough　returned　to　Saint　X　for　a　brief　stay；　Dumont　sent　Gladys　post…haste　back　to　the　Eyriethat　is；　she　instantly　and　eagerly　acted　upon　his　hint。

A　few　evenings　after　her　return；　she　and　Pauline　were　on　the　south　veranda　alone　in　the　starlight。　　She　was　in　low　spirits　and　presently　began　to　rail　against　her　lot。

〃Don't　be　absurd；〃　said　Pauline。　　〃You've　no　right　to　complain。　　You　have　everythingand　you'refree！〃

That　word　〃free〃　was　often　on　Pauline's　lips　in　those　days。　　And　a　close　observer　might　have　been　struck　by　the　tone　in　which　she　uttered　it。　　Not　the　careless　tone　of　those　who　have　never　had　or　have　never　lost　freedom；　but　the　lingering；　longing　tone　of　those　who　have　had　it；　and　have　learned　to　value　it　through　long　years　without　it。

〃Yeseverything！〃　replied　Gladys；　bitterly。　　〃Everything　except　the　one　thing　I　want。〃

Pauline　did　not　help　her；　but　she　was　at　the　stage　of　suppressed　feeling　where　desire　to　confide　is　stronger　than　pride。

〃The　one　thing　I　want；〃　she　repeated。　　〃Pauline；　I　used　to　think　I'd　never　care　much　for　any　man；　except　to　like　it　for　him　to　like　me。　　Men　have　always　been　a　sort　of　amusementand　the　oftener　the　man　changed；　the　better　the　fun。　　I've　known　for　several　years　that　I　simply　must　marry；　but　I've　refused　to　face　it。　　It　seemed　to　me　I　was　fated　to　wander　the　earth；　homeless；　begging　from　door　to　door　for　leave　to　come　in　and　rest　a　while。〃

〃You　know　perfectly　well；　Gladys；　that　this　is　your　home。〃

〃Of　coursein　a　sense。　　It's　as　much　my　home　as　another　woman's　house　could　be。　　But〃with　a　little　sob〃I've　seen　my　mate　and　I　want　to　begin　my　nest。〃

They　were　side　by　side　on　a　wide；　wicker　sofa。　　Pauline　made　an　impulsive　move　to　put　her　arm　round　Gladys；　then　drew　away　and　clasped　her　hands　tightly　in　her　lap。

Gladys　was　crying；　sobbing；　brokenly　apologizing　for　it〃I'm　a　little　idiotbut　I　can't　help　itI　haven't　any　pride　lefta　woman　never　does　have；　really；　when　she's　in　loveoh；　Pauline；　do　you　think　he　cares　at　all　for　me？〃　　And　after　a　pause　she　went　on；　too　absorbed　in　herself　to　observe　Pauline　or　to　wonder　at　her　silence：　　〃Sometimes　I　think　he　does。　　Again　I　fear　thatthat　he　doesn't。　　And　latelywhy　doesn't　he　come　here　any　more？〃

〃You　know　how　busy　he　is；〃　said　Pauline；　in　a　voice　so　strained　that　Gladys　ought　to　have　noticed　it。

〃But　it　isn't　thatI'm　sure　it　isn't。　　No；　it　has　something　to　do　with　me。　　It　means　either　that　he　doesn't　care　for　me　or　thatthat　he　does　care　and　is　fighting　against　it。　　Oh；　I　don't　know　what　to　think。〃　　Then；　after　a　pause：　　〃How　I　hate　being　a　woman！　　If　I　were　a　man　I　could　find　out　the　truthsettle　it　one　way　or　the　other。　　But　I　must　sit　dumb　and　wait；　and　wait；　and　wait！　　You　don't　know　how　I　love　him；〃　she　said　brokenly；　burying　her　face　in　the　ends　of　the　soft　white　shawl　that　was　flung　about　her　bare　shoulders。　　〃I　can't　help　ithe's　the　besthe　makes　all　the　others　look　and　talk　like　cheap　imitations。　　He's　the　best；　and　a　woman　can't　help　wanting　the　best。〃

Pauline　rose　and　leaned　against　the　railingshe　could　evade　the　truth　no　longer。　　Gladys　was　in　love　with　Scarborough；　was　at　last　caught　in　her　own　toils；　would　go　on　entangling　herself　deeper　and　deeper；　abandoning　herself　more　and　more　to　a　hopeless　love；　unless

〃What　would　you　do；　Pauline？〃　pleaded　Gladys。　　〃There　must　be　some　reason　why　he　doesn't　speak。　　It　isn't　fair　to　meit　isn't　fair！　　I　could　stand　anythingeven　giving　him　upbetter　than　this　uncertainty。　　It'sit's　breaking　my　heartI　who　thought　I　didn't　have　a　heart。〃

〃No；　it　isn't　fair；〃　said　Pauline；　to　herself　rather　than　to　Gladys。

〃I　suppose　you　don't　sympathize　with　me；〃　Gladys　went　on。　　〃I　know　you　don't　like　him。　　I've　noticed　how　strained　and　distant　you　are　toward　each　other。　　And　you　seem　to　avoid　each　other。　　And　he'll　never　talk　of　you　to　me。　　Did　you　have　some　sort　of　misunderstanding　at　college？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Pauline；　slowly。　　〃Aa　misunderstandi