the dust-第49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！



〃How　much？〃　repeated　Tetlow。

〃Three　thousand　a　month　right　awayat　the　least。〃

〃That's　a　big　sum；〃　said　Tetlow。

〃Yes；　for　a　man　used　to　dealing　in　small　figures。　But　in　reality　it's　a　moderate　income。〃

〃Few　large　families　spend　more。〃

〃Few　large　or　small　families　in　my　part　of　New　York　pinch　along　on　so　little。〃

〃What　has　happened　to　you？〃　said　Tetlow；　dropping　into　a　chair　and　folding　his　fat　hands　on　his　stomach。

〃Why？〃　asked　Norman。

〃It's　in　your　voicein　your　facein　your　cool　demand　for　a　big　income。〃

〃Let's　start　right；　old　man；〃　said　Norman。　　〃Don't　CALL　thirty…six　thousand　a　year　big　or　you'll　THINK　it　big。　And　if　you　think　it　big；　you　will　stay　little。〃

Tetlow　nodded。　　〃I'm　ready　to　grow；〃　said　he。　〃Now　what's　happened　to　you？〃

〃I've　got　married；〃　replied　Norman。

〃I　thought　so。　　To　MissHallowell？〃

〃To　Miss　Hallowell。　　So　my　way's　clear；　and　I'm　going　to　resume　the　march。〃

〃Yes？〃

〃I've　two　plans。　　Either　will　serve。　　The　first　is　yoursthe　one　you　partly　revealed　to　me　the　other　day。〃

〃Partly？〃　said　Tetlow。

〃Partly；〃　repeated　Norman；　laughing。　　〃I　know　you；　Billy；　and　that　means　I　know　you're　absolutely　incapable　of　plotting　as　big　a　scheme　as　you　suggested　to　me。　　It　came　either　from　Galloway　or　from　some　one　of　his　clique。〃

〃I　said　all　I'm　at　liberty　to　say；　Fred。〃

〃I　don't　wish　you　to　break　your　promise。　　All　I　want　to　know　is；　can　I　get　the　three　thousand　a　month　and　assurance　of　its　lasting　and　leading　to　something　bigger？〃

〃What　is　your　other　scheme？〃　said　Tetlow；　and　it　was　plain　to　the　shrewder　young　lawyer　that　the　less　shrewd　young　lawyer　wished　to　gain　time。

〃Simple　and　sure；〃　replied　Norman。　　〃We　will　buy　ten　shares　of　Universal　Fuel　Company　through　a　dummy　and　bring　suit　to　dissolve　it。　　I　looked　into　the　matter　for　Burroughs　once　when　he　was　after　the　Fosdick…　Langdon　group。　　Universal　Fuel　wouldn't　dare　defend　the　action　I　could　bring。　　We　could　get　what　we　pleased　for　our　ten　shares　to　let　up　on　the　suit。　　The　moment　their　lawyers　saw　the　papers　I'd　draw；　they'd　advise　it。〃

Tetlow　shook　his　large；　impressively　molded　head。　〃Shady；〃　said　he。　　〃Shady。〃

Norman　smiled　with　good…natured　patience。　　〃You　sound　like　Burroughs　or　Galloway　when　they　are　denouncing　a　man　for　trying　to　get　rich　by　the　same　methods　they　pursued。　　My　dear　Bill；　don't　be　one　of　those　lawyers　who　will　do　the　queer　work　for　a　client　but　not　for　themselves。　　There's　no　sense；　no　morality；　no　intelligent　hypocrisy　even；　in　that。　　We　didn't　create　the　commercial　morality　of　the　present　day。　　For　God's　sake；　let's　not　be　of　the　poor　fools　who　practice　it　but　get　none　of　its　benefits。〃

Tetlow　shifted　uneasily。　　〃I　don't　like　to　hear　that　sort　of　thing；〃　said　he；　apologetic　and　nervous。

〃Is　it　true？〃

〃Yes。　　Butdamn　it；　I　don't　like　to　hear　it。〃

〃That　is　to　say；　you're　willing　to　pay　the　price　of　remaining　small　and　obscure　just　for　the　pleasure　of　indulging　in　a　wretched　hypocrisy　of　a　self…deception。　Bill；　come　out　of　the　small　class。　　Whether　you　go　in　with　me　or　not；　come　out　of　the　class　of　understrappers。　What's　the　difference　between　the　big　men　and　their　little　followers？　　Why；　the　big　men　SEE。　　They　don't　deceive　themselves　with　the　cant　they　pour　out　for　the　benefit　of　the　ignorant　mob。〃

Tetlow　was　listening　like　a　pupil　to　a　teacher。　　That　was　always　his　attitude　toward　Norman。

〃The　big　men；〃　continued　Norman；　〃know　that　canting　is　necessarythat　one　must　always　profess　high　and　disinterested　motives；　and　so　on；　and　so　on。　But　they　don't　let　their　hypocritical　talk　influence　their　actions。　　How　is　it　with　the　little　fellows？　　Why；　they　believe　the　flapdoodle　the　leaders　talk。　　They　go　into　the　enterprise；　do　all　the　small　dirty　work；　lie　and　cheat　and　steal；　and　hand　over　the　proceeds　to　the　big　fellows；　for　the　sake　of　a　pat　on　the　back　and　a　noisy　‘Honest　fellow！　　Here　are　a　few　crumbs　for　you。'　　And　crumbs　are　all　that　a　weak；　silly；　hypocritical　fool　deserves。　Can　you　deny　it？〃

〃No　doubt　you're　right；　Fred；〃　conceded　Tetlow。　〃But　I'm　afraid　I　haven't　the　nerve。〃

〃Come　in　behind　me。　　I've　got　nerve　for　two　NOW！〃

At　that　triumphant　〃now〃　Tetlow　looked　curiously　at　his　friend。　　〃Yes；　IT　has　changed　youchanged　you　back　to　what　you　were。　　I　don't　understand。〃

〃It　isn't　necessary　that　you　understand；〃　rejoined　Norman。〃

〃Do　you　think　you　could　really　carry　through　that　scheme　you've　just　outlined？〃

〃I　see　it　fascinates　you。〃

〃I've　no　objection　to　rising　to　the　class　of　big　men；〃　said　Tetlow。　　〃But　aren't　you　letting　your　confidence　in　yourself　deceive　you？〃

〃Did　I　ever　let　it　deceive　me？〃

〃No；〃　confessed　Tetlow。　　〃I've　often　watched　you；　and　thought　you'd　fall　through　it；　or　stumble　at　least。　But　you　never　did。〃

〃And　shall　I　tell　you　why？　　Because　I　use　my　self…　confidence　and　my　hopefulness　and　all　my　optimistic　qualities　only　to　create　an　atmosphere　of　success。　　But　when　it　comes　to　planning　a　move　of　any　kind；　when　I　assemble　my　lieutenants　round　the　council　board　in　my　brain；　I　never　permit　a　single　cheerful　one　to　speak；　or　even　to　enter。　　It's　a　serious；　gloomy　circle　of　faces；　Bill。〃

Tetlow　nodded　reminiscently。　　〃Yes；　you　always　were　like　that；　Fred。〃

〃And　the　one　who　does　the　most　talking　at　my　council　is　the　gloomiest　of　all。　　He's　Lieutenant　Flaw…　picker。　　He　can't　see　any　hope　for　anything。　　He　sees　all　the　possibilities　of　failure。　　He　sees　all　the　chances　against　success。　　And　what's　the　result？　　Why；　when　the　council　rises　it　has　taken　out　of　the　plan　every　chance　of　mishap　that　my　intelligence　could　foresee　and　it　has　provided　not　one　but　several　safe　lines　of　orderly　retreat　in　case　success　proves　impossible。〃

Tetlow　gazed　at　Norman　in　worshipful　admiration。　〃What　a　brain！　　What　a　mind！〃　he　ejaculated。　〃And　to　think　that　YOU　could　be　upset　by　a　WOMAN！〃

Norman　leaned　back　in　his　chair　smiling　broadly。　〃Not　by　a　woman；〃　he　corrected。　　〃By　a　girlan　inexperienced　girl　of　twenty。〃

〃It　seems　incredible。〃

〃A　grain　of　dust；　dropped　into　a　watch　movement　in　just　the　right　placeyou　know　what　happens。〃

Tetlow　nodded。　　Then；　with　a　sharp；　anxious　look；　〃But　it's　all　over？〃

Norman　hesitated。　　〃I　believe　so；〃　he　said。

Tetlow　rose　and　rubbed　his　thighs。　　He　had　been　sitting　long　in　the　same　position；　and　he　was　now　stout　enough　to　suffer　from　fat　man's　cramp。　　〃Well；〃　said　he；　〃we　needn't　bother　about　that　Universal　Fuel　scheme　at　present。　　I　can　guarantee　you　the　three　thousand　dollars；　and　the　other　things。〃

Norman　shook　his　head。　　〃Not　enough；〃　he　said。

〃You　want　more　money？〃

〃No。　　But　I　will　not　work；　or　rather；　wait；　in　the　dark。　　Tell　your　principals　that　I　must　be　let　in。〃

Tetlow　hesitated；　walking　about　the　office。　　Finally　he　said；　〃Look　here；　Fredyou　think　I　deceived　you　the　other　dayposed　as　your　friend　when　in　reality　I　was　simply　acting　as　agent　for　people　who　wanted　you。〃

Norman　gave　Tetlow　a　look　that　made　him　redden　with　pleasure。　　〃No；　I　don't；　old　man；〃　said　he。　　〃I　know　you　recommended　meand　that　they　were　shy　of　me　because　of　the　way　I've　been　actingand　that　you　stood　sponsor　for　me。　　Isn't　that　right？〃

〃Something　like　that；〃　admitted　Tetlow。　　〃But　they　were　eager　to　get　you。　　It　was　only　a　question　of　trusting　you。　　I　was　able　to　do　you　a　good　turn　there。〃

〃And　I'll　make　a　rich　man；　and　a　famous　one；　of　you；〃　said　Norman。

〃Yes。　　I　believe　you　will；〃　cried　Tetlow；　tears　in　his　prominent　studious　eyes。　　〃I'll　see　those　people　in　a　day　or　two；　and　let　you　know。　　Do　you　need　money　right　away？　　Of　course　you　do。〃　　And　down　he　sat　and　drew　a　check　for　fifteen　hundred　dollars。

Norman　laughed　as　he　glanced　to　see　if　it　was　correctly　drawn。　　〃I'd　not　have　dared　return　to　my　bride　with　empty　pockets。　　That's　what　it　means　to　live　in　New　York。〃

Tetlow　grinned。　　〃A　sentimental　town；　isn't　it？　Especially　the　women。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　blame　them；〃　said　Norman。　　〃They　need　the　money；　and　the　only　way　they've　got　of　making　it　is　out　of　sentiment。　　And　you　must　admit　they　give　a　bully　good　quality；　if　the　payment　is　all　right。〃

Tetlow　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃I'm　glad　I　don't　need　them；〃　said　he。　　〃It　gives　me　the　creeps　to　see　them　gliding　about　with　their　beautiful　dresses　and　their　sweet；　soft　faces。〃

He　and　Norman　lunched　together　in　an　out…of…the　way　restaurant。　　After　a　busy　and　a　happy　afternoon；　Norman　returned　early　to　the　hotel。　　He　had　cashed　his　check。　　He　was　in　funds。　　He　would　give　her　another　and　more　thrilling　taste　of　the　joy　that　was　to　be　hers　through　himand　soon　she　would　be　giving　even　as　she　gotfor　he　would　teach　her　not　to　fear　love；　not　to　shrink　from　it；　but　to　rejoice　in　it　and　to　let　it　permeate　and　complete　all　her　charms。

He　ascended　to　the　apartment　and　knocked。　　There　was　no　answer。　　He　searched　in　vain　for　a　chamber…　maid　to　let　him　in。　　He　descended　to　the　office。　　〃Oh；　Mr。　Norman；〃　said　one　of　the　clerks。　　〃Your　wife　left　this　note　for　you。〃

Norman　took　it。　　〃She　went　out？〃

〃About　three　o'clockwith　a　young　gentleman　who　called　on　her。　　They　came　back　a　while　ago　and　she　left　the　note。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Norman。　　He　took　his　key；　went　up　to　the　apartment。　　Not　until　he　had　closed　and　locked　the　door　did　he　open　the　note。　　H