the financier-第51节

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d　by　anything　that　might　happen；　yet　she　could　not　be　sure。

Butler　led　the　way；　planting　his　big　feet　solemnly　on　the　steps　as　he　went　up。　　Aileen　followed　with　a　single　glance　at　herself　in　the　tall　pier…mirror　which　stood　in　the　hall；　realizing　at　once　how　charming　she　looked　and　how　uncertain　she　was　feeling　about　what　was　to　follow。　　What　could　her　father　want？　It　made　the　color　leave　her　cheeks　for　the　moment；　as　she　thought　what　he　might　want。

Butler　strolled　into　his　stuffy　room　and　sat　down　in　the　big　leather　chair；　disproportioned　to　everything　else　in　the　chamber；　but　which；　nevertheless；　accompanied　his　desk。　　Before　him；　against　the　light；　was　the　visitor's　chair；　in　which　he　liked　to　have　those　sit　whose　faces　he　was　anxious　to　study。　　When　Aileen　entered　he　motioned　her　to　it；　which　was　also　ominous　to　her；　and　said；　〃Sit　down　there。〃

She　took　the　seat；　not　knowing　what　to　make　of　his　procedure。　　On　the　instant　her　promise　to　Cowperwood　to　deny　everything；　whatever　happened；　came　back　to　her。　　If　her　father　was　about　to　attack　her　on　that　score；　he　would　get　no　satisfaction；　she　thought。　　She　owed　it　to　Frank。　　Her　pretty　face　strengthened　and　hardened　on　the　instant。　　Her　small；　white　teeth　set　themselves　in　two　even　rows；　and　her　father　saw　quite　plainly　that　she　was　consciously　bracing　herself　for　an　attack　of　some　kind。　　He　feared　by　this　that　she　was　guilty；　and　he　was　all　the　more　distressed；　ashamed；　outraged；　made　wholly　unhappy。　　He　fumbled　in　the　left…hand　pocket　of　his　coat　and　drew　forth　from　among　the　various　papers　the　fatal　communication　so　cheap　in　its　physical　texture。　　His　big　fingers　fumbled　almost　tremulously　as　he　fished　the　letter…sheet　out　of　the　small　envelope　and　unfolded　it　without　saying　a　word。　　Aileen　watched　his　face　and　his　hands；　wondering　what　it　could　be　that　he　had　here。　　He　handed　the　paper　over；　small　in　his　big　fist；　and　said；　〃Read　that。〃

Aileen　took　it；　and　for　a　second　was　relieved　to　be　able　to　lower　her　eyes　to　the　paper。　　Her　relief　vanished　in　a　second；　when　she　realized　how　in　a　moment　she　would　have　to　raise　them　again　and　look　him　in　the　face。

　　　　　DEAR　SIRThis　is　to　warn　you　that　your　daughter　　　　　　Aileen　is　running　around　with　a　man　that　she　shouldn't；　　　　　　Frank　A。　Cowperwood；　the　banker。　　If　you　don't　believe　　　　　　it；　watch　the　house　at　931　North　Tenth　Street。　　Then　you　　　　　　can　see　for　yourself。

In　spite　of　herself　the　color　fled　from　her　cheeks　instantly；　only　to　come　back　in　a　hot；　defiant　wave。

〃Why；　what　a　lie！〃　she　said；　lifting　her　eyes　to　her　father's。　〃To　think　that　any　one　should　write　such　a　thing　of　me！　How　dare　they！　I　think　it's　a　shame！〃

Old　Butler　looked　at　her　narrowly；　solemnly。　　He　was　not　deceived　to　any　extent　by　her　bravado。　　If　she　were　really　innocent；　he　knew　she　would　have　jumped　to　her　feet　in　her　defiant　way。　　Protest　would　have　been　written　all　over　her。　　As　it　was；　she　only　stared　haughtily。　　He　read　through　her　eager　defiance　to　the　guilty　truth。

〃How　do　ye　know；　daughter；　that　I　haven't　had　the　house　watched？〃　he　said；　quizzically。　　〃How　do　ye　know　that　ye　haven't　been　seen　goin'　in　there？〃

Only　Aileen's　solemn　promise　to　her　lover　could　have　saved　her　from　this　subtle　thrust。　　As　it　was；　she　paled　nervously；　but　she　saw　Frank　Cowperwood；　solemn　and　distinguished；　asking　her　what　she　would　say　if　she　were　caught。

〃It's　a　lie！〃　she　said；　catching　her　breath。　　〃I　wasn't　at　any　house　at　that　number；　and　no　one　saw　me　going　in　there。　　How　can　you　ask　me　that；　father？〃

In　spite　of　his　mixed　feelings　of　uncertainty　and　yet　unshakable　belief　that　his　daughter　was　guilty；　he　could　not　help　admiring　her　courageshe　was　so　defiant；　as　she　sat　there；　so　set　in　her　determination　to　lie　and　thus　defend　herself。　　Her　beauty　helped　her　in　his　mood；　raised　her　in　his　esteem。　　After　all；　what　could　you　do　with　a　woman　of　this　kind？　She　was　not　a　ten…year…old　girl　any　more；　as　in　a　way　he　sometimes　continued　to　fancy　her。

〃Ye　oughtn't　to　say　that　if　it　isn't　true；　Aileen；〃　he　said。　　〃Ye　oughtn't　to　lie。　　It's　against　your　faith。　　Why　would　anybody　write　a　letter　like　that　if　it　wasn't　so？〃

〃But　it's　not　so；〃　insisted　Aileen；　pretending　anger　and　outraged　feeling；　〃and　I　don't　think　you　have　any　right　to　sit　there　and　say　that　to　me。　　I　haven't　been　there；　and　I'm　not　running　around　with　Mr。　Cowperwood。　　Why；　I　hardly　know　the　man　except　in　a　social　way。〃

Butler　shook　his　head　solemnly。

〃It's　a　great　blow　to　me；　daughter。　　It's　a　great　blow　to　me；〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　willing　to　take　your　word　if　ye　say　so；　but　I　can't　help　thinkin'　what　a　sad　thing　it　would　be　if　ye　were　lyin'　to　me。　I　haven't　had　the　house　watched。　　I　only　got　this　this　mornin'。　And　what's　written　here　may　not　be　so。　　I　hope　it　isn't。　　But　we'll　not　say　any　more　about　that　now。　　If　there　is　anythin'　in　it；　and　ye　haven't　gone　too　far　yet　to　save　yourself；　I　want　ye　to　think　of　your　mother　and　your　sister　and　your　brothers；　and　be　a　good　girl。　　Think　of　the　church　ye　was　raised　in；　and　the　name　we've　got　to　stand　up　for　in　the　world。　　Why；　if　ye　were　doin'　anything　wrong；　and　the　people　of　Philadelphy　got　a　hold　of　it；　the　city；　big　as　it　is；　wouldn't　be　big　enough　to　hold　us。　　Your　brothers　have　got　a　reputation　to　make；　their　work　to　do　here。　You　and　your　sister　want　to　get　married　sometime。　　How　could　ye　expect　to　look　the　world　in　the　face　and　do　anythin'　at　all　if　ye　are　doin'　what　this　letter　says　ye　are；　and　it　was　told　about　ye？〃

The　old　man's　voice　was　thick　with　a　strange；　sad；　alien　emotion。　He　did　not　want　to　believe　that　his　daughter　was　guilty；　even　though　he　knew　she　was。　　He　did　not　want　to　face　what　he　considered　in　his　vigorous；　religious　way　to　be　his　duty；　that　of　reproaching　her　sternly。　　There　were　some　fathers　who　would　have　turned　her　out；　he　fancied。　　There　were　others　who　might　possibly　kill　Cowperwood　after　a　subtle　investigation。　　That　course　was　not　for　him。　　If　vengeance　he　was　to　have；　it　must　be　through　politics　and　finance　he　must　drive　him　out。　　But　as　for　doing　anything　desperate　in　connection　with　Aileen；　he　could　not　think　of　it。

〃Oh；　father；〃　returned　Aileen；　with　considerable　histrionic　ability　in　her　assumption　of　pettishness；　〃how　can　you　talk　like　this　when　you　know　I'm　not　guilty？　When　I　tell　you　so？〃

The　old　Irishman　saw　through　her　make…believe　with　profound　sadnessthe　feeling　that　one　of　his　dearest　hopes　had　been　shattered。　　He　had　expected　so　much　of　her　socially　and　matrimonially。　Why；　any　one　of　a　dozen　remarkable　young　men　might　have　married　her；　and　she　would　have　had　lovely　children　to　comfort　him　in　his　old　age。

〃Well；　we'll　not　talk　any　more　about　it　now；　daughter；〃　he　said；　wearily。　　〃Ye've　been　so　much　to　me　during　all　these　years　that　I　can　scarcely　belave　anythin'　wrong　of　ye。　　I　don't　want　to；　God　knows。　　Ye're　a　grown　woman；　though；　now；　and　if　ye　are　doin'　anythin'　wrong　I　don't　suppose　I　could　do　so　much　to　stop　ye。　　I　might　turn　ye　out；　of　course；　as　many　a　father　would；　but　I　wouldn't　like　to　do　anythin'　like　that。　　But　if　ye　are　doin'　anythin'　wrong〃　and　he　put　up　his　hand　to　stop　a　proposed　protest　on　the　part　of　Aileen〃remember；　I'm　certain　to　find　it　out　in　the　long　run；　and　Philadelphy　won't　be　big　enough　to　hold　me　and　the　man　that's　done　this　thing　to　me。　　I'll　get　him；〃　he　said；　getting　up　dramatically。　〃I'll　get　him；　and　when　I　do〃　He　turned　a　livid　face　to　the　wall；　and　Aileen　saw　clearly　that　Cowperwood；　in　addition　to　any　other　troubles　which　might　beset　him；　had　her　father　to　deal　with。　　Was　this　why　Frank　had　looked　so　sternly　at　her　the　night　before？

〃Why；　your　mother　would　die　of　a　broken　heart　if　she　thought　there　was　anybody　could　say　the　least　word　against　ye；〃　pursued　Butler；　in　a　shaken　voice。　　〃This　man　has　a　familya　wife　and　children；　Ye　oughtn't　to　want　to　do　anythin'　to　hurt　them。　　They'll　have　trouble　enough；　if　I'm　not　mistakenfacin'　what's　comin'　to　them　in　the　future；〃　and　Butler's　jaw　hardened　just　a　little。　　〃Ye're　a　beautiful　girl。　　Ye're　young。　　Ye　have　money。　　There's　dozens　of　young　men'd　be　proud　to　make　ye　their　wife。　　Whatever　ye　may　be　thinkin'　or　doin'；　don't　throw　away　your　life。　　Don't　destroy　your　immortal　soul。　　Don't　break　my　heart　entirely。〃

Aileen；　not　ungenerousfool　of　mingled　affection　and　passion　could　now　have　cried。　　She　pitied　her　father　from　her　heart；　but　her　allegiance　was　to　Cowperwood；　her　loyalty　unshaken。　　She　wanted　to　say　something；　to　protest　much　more；　but　she　knew　that　it　was　useless。　　Her　father　knew　that　she　was　lying。

〃Well；　there's　no　use　of　my　saying　anything　more；　father；〃　she　said；　getting　up。　　The　light　of　day　was　fading　in　the　windows。　The　downstairs　door　closed　with　a　light　slam；　indicating　that　one　of　the　boys　had　come　in。　　Her　proposed　trip　to　the　library　was　now　without　interest　to　her。　　〃You　won't　believe　me；　anyhow。　　I　tell　you；　though；　that　I'm　innocent　just　the　same。〃

Butler　lifted　his　big；　brown　hand　to　command　silence。　　She　saw　that　this　shameful　relationship；　as　far　as　her　father　was　concerned；　had　been　made　quite　clear；　and　that　this　trying　conference　was　now　at　an　end。　　She　turned　and　walked　shamefacedly　out。　　He　waited　until　he　heard　her　steps　fading　into　faint　nothings　down　the