the dust-第38节

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The　old　man　looked　at　him　with　the　sincere　and　most　flattering　tribute　of　compelled　admiration。　　〃What　a　mind　you've　got；　Frederickand　what　courage！〃

〃You　accept　my　terms？〃

〃If　the　others　agreeand　I　think　they　will。〃

〃They　will；〃　said　Norman。

The　old　man　was　regarding　him　with　eyes　that　had　genuine　anxiety　in　them。　　〃Why　DO　you　do　it；　Fred？〃　he　said。

〃Because　I　wish　to　be　free；〃　replied　Norman。　　He　would　never　have　told　the　full　truth　to　that　incredulous　old　cynic　of　a　time…serverthe　truth　that　he　was　resigning　at　the　dictation　of　a　pride　which　forbade　him　to　involve　others　in　the　ruin　he；　in　his　madness；　was　bent　upon。

〃I　don't　mean；　why　do　you　resign；〃　said　Lockyer。　〃I　mean　the　otherthewoman。〃

Norman　laughed　harshly。

〃I've　seen　too　much　of　the　world　not　to　understand；〃　continued　Lockyer。　　〃The　measureless　power　of　woman　over　manespeciallypardon　me；　my　dear　Normanespecially　a　bad　woman！〃

〃The　measureless　power　of　a　man's　imagination　over　himself；〃　rejoined　Norman。　　〃Did　you　ever　see　or　hear　of　a　man　without　imagination　being　upset　by　a　woman？　　It's　in　here；　Mr。　Lockyer〃he　rapped　his　forehead〃altogether　in　here。〃

〃You　realize　that。　　Yet　you　go　onand　for　such　a　pardon　me；　my　boy；　for　saying　itfor　such　a　trifling　object。〃

〃What　does　‘trifling'　mean；　sir？〃　replied　the　young　man。　　〃What　is　trifling　and　what　is　important？　It　depends　upon　the　point　of　view。　　What　I　want　that　is　vital。　　What　I　do　not　wantthat　is　paltry。　It's　my　nature　to　go　for　what　I　happen　to　wantto　go　for　it　with　all　there　is　in　me。　　I　will　take　nothing　elsenothing　else。〃

There　was　in　his　eyes　the　glitter　called　insanity　the　glitter　that　reflects　the　state　of　mind　of　any　strong　man　when　possessed　of　one　of　those　fixed　ideas　that　are　the　idiosyncrasy　of　the　strong。　　It　would　have　been　impossible　for　Lockyer　to　be　possessed　in　that　way；　he　had　not　the　courage　nor　the　concentration　nor　the　inde…　pendence　of　soul；　like　most　men；　even　able　men；　he　dealt　only　in　the　conventional。　　Not　in　his　wildest　youth　could　he　have　wrecked　or　injured　himself　for　a　woman；　women；　for　him；　occupied　their　conventional　place　in　the　scheme　of　things；　and　had　no　allure　beyond　the　conventionally　proper　and　the　conventionally　improper　for；　be　it　remembered；　vice　has　its　beaten　track　no　less　than　virtue　and　most　of　the　vicious　are　as　tame　and　unimaginative　as　the　plodders　in　the　high　roads　of　propriety。　　Still；　Lockyer　had　associated　with　strong　men；　men　of　boundless　desires；　thus；　he　could　in　a　measure　sympathize　with　his　young　associate。　　What　a　pity　that　these　splendid　powers　should　be　perverted　from　the　ordinary　desires　of　strong　men！

Norman　rose；　to　end　the　interview。　　〃My　address　is　my　house。　　They　will　forwardif　I　go　away。〃

Lockyer　gave　him　a　hearty　handclasp；　made　a　few　phrases　about　good　wishes　and　the　like；　left　him　alone。　The　general　opinion　was　that　Norman　was　done　for。　But　Lockyer　could　not　see　it。　　He　had　seen　too　many　men　fall　only　to　rise　out　of　lowest　depths　to　greater　heights　than　they　had　fallen　from。　　And　Norman　was　only　thirty…seven。　　Perhaps　this　would　prove　to　be　merely　a　dip　in　a　securely　brilliant　career　and　not　a　fall　at　all。　　In　that　casewith　such　a　brain；　such　a　genius　for　the　lawlessness　of　the　law；　what　a　laughing　on　the　other　side　of　the　mouth　there　might　yet　be　among　young　Norman's　enemiesand　friends！

He　spent　most　of　the　next　few　daysthe　lunch　time；　the　late　afternoon；　finally　the　early　morning　hours　lurking　about　the　Equitable　Building；　in　which　were　the　offices　of　Pytchley　and　Culver。　　As　that　building　had　entrances　on　four　streets；　the　best　he　could　do　was　to　walk　round　and　round；　with　an　occasional　excursion　through　the　corridors　and　past　the　elevators。　　He　had　written　her；　asking　to　see　her；　he　had　got　no　answer。　He　ceased　to　wait　at　the　elevators　after　he　had　twice　narrowly　escaped　being　seen　by　Tetlow。　　He　was　indifferent　to　Tetlow；　except　as　meeting　him　might　make　it　harder　to　see　Dorothy。　　He　drank　hard。　　But　drink　never　affected　him　except　to　make　him　more　grimly　tenacious　in　whatever　he　had　deliberately　and　soberly　resolved。　　Drink　did　not　explainneither　wholly　nor　in　any　partthis　conduct　of　his。　　It；　and　the　more　erratic　vagaries　to　follow；　will　seem　incredible　conduct　for　a　man　of　Norman's　character　and　position　to　feeble　folk　with　their　feeble　desires；　their　dread　of　criticism　and　ridicule；　their　exaggerated　and　adoring　notions　of　the　master　men。　　In　fact；　it　was　the　natural　outcome　of　the　man's　naturearrogant；　contemptuous　of　his　fellowmen　and　of　their　opinions；　and；　like　all　the　master　men；　capable　of　such　concentration　upon　a　desire　that　he　would　adopt　any　means；　high　or　low；　dignified　or　the　reverse；　if　only　it　promised　to　further　his　end。　　Fred　Norman；　at　these　vulgar　vigils；　took　the　measure　of　his　own　self…abasement　to　a　hair's　breadth。　　But　he　kept　on；　with　the　fever　of　his　infatuation　burning　like　a　delirium；　burning　higher　and　deeper　with　each　baffled　day。

At　noon；　one　day；　as　he　swung　into　Broadway　from　Cedar　street；　he　ran　straight　into　Tetlow。　　It　was　raining　and　his　umbrella　caught　in　Tetlow's。　　It　was　a　ludicrous　situation；　but　there　was　no　answering　smile　in　his　former　friend's　eyes。　　Tetlow　glowered。

〃I've　heard　you　were　hanging　about；〃　he　said。　〃How　low　you　have　sunk！〃

Norman　laughed　in　his　face。　　〃Poor　Tetlow；〃　he　said。　　〃I　never　expected　to　see　you　develop　into　a　crusader。　　And　what　a　Don　Quixote　you　look。　　Cheer　up；　old　man。　　Don't　take　it　so　hard。〃

〃I　warn　you　to　keep　away　from　her；〃　said　Tetlow　in　subdued；　tense　tones；　his　fat　face　quivering　with　emotion。　　〃Hasn't　she　shown　you　plainly　that　she'll　have　nothing　to　do　with　you？〃

〃I　want　only　five　minutes'　talk　with　her；　Tetlow；〃　said　Norman；　dropping　into　an　almost　pleading　tone。　〃And　I　guarantee　I'll　say　nothing　you　wouldn't　approve；　if　you　heard。　　You　are　advising　her　badly。　　You　are　doing　her　an　injury。〃

〃I　am　protecting　her　from　a　scoundrel；〃　retorted　Tetlow。

〃She'll　not　thank　you　for　it；　when　she　finds　out　the　truth。〃

〃You　can　write　to　her。　　What　a　shallow　liar　you　are！〃

〃I　cannot　write　what　I　must　say；〃　said　Norman。　　It　had　never　been　difficult　for　him；　however　provoked；　to　keep　his　temperoutwardly。　　Tetlow's　insults　were　to　him　no　more　than　the　barkings　of　a　watch　dog；　and　one　not　at　all　dangerous；　but　only　amusing。　　〃I　must　see　her。　　If　you　are　her　friend；　and　not　merely　a　jealous；　disappointed　lover；　you'll　advise　her　to　see　me。〃

〃You　shall　not　see　her；　if　I　can　help　it；〃　cried　his　former　friend。　　〃And　if　you　persist　in　annoying　her〃

〃Don't　make　futile　threats；　Tetlow；〃　Norman　interrupted。　　〃You've　done　me　all　the　mischief　you　can　do。　I　see　you　hate　me　for　the　injuries　you've　done　me。　　That's　the　way　it　always　is。　　But　I　don't　hate　you。　　It　was　at　my　suggestion　that　the　Lockyer　firm　is　trying　to　get　you　back　as　a　partner。〃　　Then；　as　Tetlow　colored　〃Oh；　I　see　you're　accepting　their　offer。〃

〃If　I　had　thought〃

〃Nonsense。　　You're　not　a　fool。　　How　does　it　matter　whose　the　hand；　if　only　it's　a　helping　hand？　　And　you　may　be　sure　they'd　never　have　made　you　the　offer　if　they　didn't　need　you　badly。　　All　the　credit　I　claim　is　having　the　intelligence　to　enlighten　their　stupidity　with　the　right　suggestion。〃

In　spite　of　himself　Tetlow　was　falling　under　the　spell　of　Norman's　personality；　of　the　old　and　deep　admiration　the　lesser　man　had　for　the　greater。

〃Norman；〃　he　said；　〃how　can　you　be　such　a　com…　bination　of　bigness　and　petty　deviltry？　　You　are　a　monster　of　self…indulgence。　　It's　a　God's　mercy　there　aren't　more　men　with　your　selfishness　and　your　desires。〃

Norman　laughed　sardonically。　　〃The　difference　between　me　and　most　men；〃　said　he；　〃isn't　in　selfishness　or　in　desires；　but　in　courage。　　Courage；　Billythere's　what　most　of　you　lack。　　And　even　in　courage　I'm　not　alone。　　My　sort　fill　most　of　the　high　places。〃

Tetlow　looked　dismal　confession　of　a　fear　that　Norman　was　right。

〃Yes；〃　pursued　Norman；　〃in　this　country　there　are　enough　wolves　to　attend　to　pretty　nearly　all　the　sheep　though　it's　amazing　how　much　mutton　there　is。〃　　With　an　abrupt　shift　from　raillery；　〃You'll　help　me　with　her；　Billy？〃

〃Why　don't　you　let　her　alone；　Fred？〃　pleaded　Tetlow。　　〃It　isn't　worthy　of　youa　big　man　like　you。　　Let　her　alone；　Fred！the　poor　child；　trying　to　earn　her　own　living　in　an　honest　way。〃

〃Let　her　alone？　　Tetlow；　I　shall　never　let　her　alone　as　long　as　she　and　I　are　both　alive。〃

The　fat　man；　with　his　premature　wrinkles　and　his　solemn　air　of　law　books　that　look　venerable　though　fresh　from　the　press；　took　on　an　added　pastiness。　　〃Fredfor　God's　sake；　can't　you　love　her　in　a　noble　waya　way　worthy　of　you？〃

Norman　gave　him　a　penetrating　glance。　　〃Is　love　such　love　as　mineAND　yours〃　　There　Tetlow　flushed　guiltily〃is　it　ever　noble？whatever　that　means。　　No；　it's　humanhuman。　　But　I'm　not　trying　to　harm　her。　I　give　you　my　word。　。　。　。　　Will　you　help　meand　her？〃

Tetlow　hesitated。　　His　heavy　cheeks　quivered。　　〃I　don't　trust　you；〃　he　cried　violentlythe　violence　of　a　man　fighting　against　an　enemy　within。　　〃Don't　ever　speak　to　me　again。〃　　And　he　rushed　away　through　the　rain；　knocking　umbrellas　this　way　and　that。

About　noon　two　days　later；　as　Norman　was　making　one　of　his　excursions　past　the　Equitable　elevators；　h