jg.thefirm-第15节

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　　〃In　a　few　hours。〃
　　〃A　few　hours。　You've　already　been　there　half　the　day。〃
　　〃That's　right；　and　I've　got　much　more　to　do。〃
　　〃But　it's　your　first　day。〃
　　〃You　wouldn't　believe　it　if　I　told　you。〃
　　〃Are　you　all　right？〃
　　〃I'm　fine。　I'll　be　home　later。〃
　　The　starting　engine　awakened　Dutch　Hendrix；　and　he　jumped　to　his　feet。　The　gate　opened　and　he　waited　by　it　as　the　last　car　left　the　lot。　It　stopped　next　to　him。
　　〃Evenin'；　Dutch；〃　Mitch　said。
　　〃You　just　now　leaving？〃
　　〃Yeah；　busy　day。〃
　　Dutch　flashed　his　light　at　his　wrist　and　checked　the　time。　Eleven…thirty。
　　〃Well；　be　careful；〃　Dutch　said。
　　〃Yeah。　See　you　in　a　few　hours。〃
　　The　BMW　turned　onto　Front　Street　and　raced　away　into　the　night。　A　few　hours；　thought　Dutch。　The　rookies　were　indeed　amazing。　Eighteen；　twenty　hours　a　day；　six　days　a　week。　Sometimes　seven。　They　all　planned　to　be　the　world's　greatest　lawyer　and　make　a　million　dollars　overnight。　Sometimes　they　worked　around　the　clock；　slept　at　their　desks。　He　had　seen　it　all。　But　they　couldn't　last。　The　human　body　was　not　meant　for　such　abuse。　After　about　six　months　they　lost　steam。　They　would　cut　back　to　fifteen　hours　a　day；　six　days　a　week。　Then　five　and　a　half。　Then　twelve　hours　a　day。
　　No　one　could　work　a　hundred　hours　a　week　for　more　than　six　months。
　　　
　　　7
　　ONE　secretary　dug　through　a　file　cabinet　in　search　of　something　Avery　needed　immediately。　The　other　secretary　stood　in　front　of　his　desk　with　a　steno　pad；　occasionally　writing　down　the　instructions　he　gave　when　he　stopped　yelling　into　the　receiver　of　his　phone　and　listened　to　whoever　was　on　the　other　end。　Three　red　lights　were　blinking　on　the　phone。　When　he　spoke　into　the　receiver　the　secretaries　spoke　sharply　to　each　other。　Mitch　walked　slowly　into　the　office　and　stood　by　the　door。
　　〃Quiet！〃　Avery　yelled　to　the　secretaries。
　　The　one　in　the　file　cabinet　slammed　the　drawer　and　went　to　the　next　file　cabinet；　where　she　bent　over　and　pulled　the　bottom　drawer。　Avery　snapped　his　fingers　at　the　other　one　and　pointed　at　his　desk　calendar。　He　hung　up　without　saying　goodbye。
　　〃What's　my　schedule　for　today？〃　he　asked　while　pulling　a　file　from　his　credenza。
　　〃Ten　A。M。　meeting　with　the　IRS　downtown。　One　P。M。　meeting　with　Nathan　Locke　on　the　Spinosa　file。　Three…thirty；　partners'　meeting。　Tomorrow　you're　in　tax　court　all　day；　and　you're　supposed　to　prepare　all　day　today。〃
　　〃Great。　Cancel　everything。　Check　the　flights　to　Houston　Saturday　afternoon　and　the　return　nights　Monday；　early　Monday。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃Mitch！　Where's　the　Capps　file？〃
　　〃On　my　desk。〃　；
　　〃How　much　have　you　done？〃
　　〃I've　read　through　most　of　it。〃
　　〃We　need　to　get　in　high　gear。　That　was　Sonny　Capps　on　the　phone。　He　wants　to　meet　Saturday　morning　in　Houston；　and　he　wants　a　rough　draft　of　the　limited　partnership　agreement。〃
　　Mitch　felt　a　nervous　pain　in　his　empty　stomach。　If　he　recalled　correctly；　the　agreement　was　a　hundred　and　forty…some　pages　long。
　　〃Just　a　rough　draft；〃　Avery　said　as　he　pointed　to　a　secretary。
　　〃No　problem；〃　Mitch　said　with　as　much　confidence　as　he　could　muster。　〃It　may　not　be　perfect；　but　I'll　have　a　rough　draft。〃
　　〃I　need　it　by　noon　Saturday；　as　perfect　as　possible。　I'll　get　one　of　my　secretaries　to　show　Nina　where　the　form　agreements　are　in　the　memory　bank。　That　will　save　some　dictation　and　typing。　I　know　this　is　unfair；　but　there's　nothing　fair　about　Sonny　Capps。　He's　very　demanding。　He　told　me　the　deal　must　close　in　twenty　days　or　it's　dead。　Everything　is　waiting　on　us。〃
　　〃I'll　get　it　done。〃
　　〃Good。　Let's　meet　at　eight　in　the　morning　to　see　where　we　are。〃
　　Avery　punched　one　of　the　blinking　lights　and　began　arguing　into　the　receiver。　Mitch　walked　to　his　office　and　looked　for　the　Capps　file　under　the　fifteen　notebooks。　Nina　stuck　her　head　in　the　door。
　　〃Oliver　Lambert　wants　to　see　you。〃
　　〃When？〃　Mitch　asked。
　　〃As　soon　as　you　can　get　there。〃
　　Mitch　looked　at　his　watch。　Three　hours　at　the　office　and　he　was　ready　to　call　it　a　day。　〃Can　it　wait？〃
　　〃I　don't　think　so。　Mr。　Lambert　doesn't　usually　wait　for　anybody。〃
　　〃I　see。〃
　　〃You'd　better　go。〃
　　〃What　does　he　want？〃
　　〃His　secretary　didn't　say。〃
　　He　put　on　his　coat；　straightened　his　tie　and　raced　upstairs　to　the　fourth　floor；　where　Mr。　Lambert's　secretary　was　waiting。　She　introduced　herself　and　informed　him　she　had　been　with　　for　thirty…one　years。　In　fact；　she　was　the　second　secretary　hired　by　Mr。　Anthony　Bendini　after　he　moved　to　Memphis。　Ida　Renfroe　was　her　name；　but　everyone　called　her　Mrs。　Ida。　She　showed　him　into　the　big　office　and　closed　the　door。
　　Oliver　Lambert　stood　behind　his　desk　and　removed　his　reading　glasses。　He　smiled　warmly　and　laid　his　pipe　in　the　brass　holder。　〃Good　morning；　Mitch；〃　he　said　softly；　as　if　time　meant　nothing。　〃Let's　sit　over　there。〃　He　waved　to　the　sofa。
　　〃Would　you　like　coffee？〃　Mr。　Lambert　asked。
　　〃No；　thanks。〃
　　Mitch　sank　into　the　couch　and　the　partner　sat　in　a　stiff　wing　chair；　two　feet　away　and　three　feet　higher。　Mitch　unbuttoned　his　coat　and　tried　to　relax。　He　crossed　his　legs　and　glanced　at　his　new　pair　of　Cole…Haans。　Two　hundred　bucks。　That　was　an　hour's　work　for　an　associate　at　this　money…printing　factory。　He　tried　to　relax。　But　he　could　feel　the　panic　in　Avery's　voice　and　see　the　desperation　in　his　eyes　when　he　held　the　phone　and　listened　to　this　Capps　fellow　on　the　other　end。　This；　his　second　full　day　on　the　job；　and　his　head　was　pounding　and　his　stomach　hurting。
　　Mr。　Lambert　smiled　downward　with　his　best　sincere　grandfatherly　smile。　It　was　time　for　a　lecture　of　some　sort。　He　wore　a　brilliant　white　shirt；　button…down；　all…cotton；　pinpoint；　with　a　small；　dark　silk　bow　tie　which　bestowed　upon　him　a　look　of　extreme　intelligence　and　wisdom。　As　always；　he　was　tanned　beyond　the　usual　midsummer　Memphis　scorched　bronzeness。　His　teeth　sparkled　like　diamonds。　A　sixty…year…old　model。
　　〃Just　a　couple　of　things；　Mitch；〃　he　said。　〃I　understand　you've　bee　quite　busy。〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；　quite。〃
　　〃Panic　is　a　way　of　life　in　a　major　law　firm；　and　clients　like　Sonny　Capps　can　cause　ulcers。　Our　clients　are　our　only　assets；　so　we　kill　ourselves　for　them。〃
　　Mitch　smiled　and　frowned　at　the　same　time。
　　〃Two　things；　Mitch。　First；　my　wife　and　I　want　you　and　Abby　to　have　dinner　with　us　Saturday。　We　dine　out　quite　often；　and　we　enjoy　having　our　friends　with　us。　I　am　somewhat　of　a　chef　myself；　and　I　appreciate　fine　food　and　drink。　We　usually　reserve　a　large　table　at　one　of　our　favorite　restaurants　in　town；　invite　our　friends　and　spend　the　evening　with　a　nine…course　meal　and　the　rarest　of　wines。　Will　you　and　Abby　be　free　on　Saturday？〃
　　〃Of　course。〃
　　〃Kendall　Mahan；　Wally　Hudson；　Lamar　Quin　and　their　wives　will　also　be　there。〃
　　〃We'd　be　delighted。〃
　　〃Good。　My　favorite　place　in　Memphis　is　Justine's。　It's　an　old　French　restaurant　with　exquisite　cuisine　and　an　impressive　wine　list。　Say　seven　Saturday？〃
　　〃We'll　be　there。〃
　　〃Second；　there's　something　we　need　to　discuss。　I'm　sure　you're　aware　of　it；　but　it's　worth　mentioning。　It's　very　important　to　us。　I　know　they　taught　you　at　Harvard　that　there　exists　a　confidential　relationship　between　yourself；　as　a　lawyer；　and　your　client。　It's　a　privileged　relationship　and　you　can　never　be　forced　to　divulge　anything　a　client　tells　you。　It's　strictly　confidential。　It's　a　violation　of　our　ethics　if　we　discuss　our　client's　business。　Now；　this　applies　to　every　lawyer；　but　at　this　firm　we　take　this　professional　relationship　very　seriously。　We　don't　discuss　a　client's　business　with　anyone。　Not　other　lawyers。　Not　spouses。　Sometimes；　not　even　each　other。　As　a　rule；　we　don't　talk　at　home；　and　our　wives　have　learned　not　to　ask。　The　less　you　say；　the　better　off　you　are。　Mr。　Bendini　was　a　great　believer　in　secrecy；　and　he　taught　us　well。　You　will　never　hear　a　member　of　this　firm　mention　even　so　much　as　a　client's　name　outside　this　building。　That's　how　serious　we　are。〃
　　Where's　he　going　with　this？　Mitch　asked　himself。　Any　second…year　law　student　could　give　this　speech。　〃I　understand　that；　Mr。　Lambert；　and　you　don't　have　to　worry　about　me。〃
　　〃　'Loose　tongues　lose　lawsuits。'　That　was　Mr。　Bendini's　motto；　and　he　applied　it　to　everything。　We　simply　do　not　discuss　our　client's　business　with　anyone；　and　that　includes　our　wives。　We're　very　quiet；　very　secretive；　and　we　like　it　that　way。　You'll　meet　other　lawyers　around　town　and　sooner　or　later　they'll　ask　something　about　our　firm；　or　about　a　client。　We　don't　talk；　understand？〃
　　〃Of　course；　Mr。　Lambert。〃
　　〃Good。　We're　very　proud　of　you；　Mitch。　You'll　make　a　great　lawyer。　And　a　very　rich　lawyer。　See　you　Saturday。〃
　　Mrs。　Ida　had　a　message　for　Mitch。　Mr。　Tolar　needed　him　at　once。　He　thanked　her　and　raced　down　the　stairs；　down　the　hallway；　past　his　office；　to　the　big　one　in　the　corner。　There　were　now　three　secretaries　digging　and　whispering　to　each　other　while　the　boss　yelled　into　the　telephone。　Mitch　found　a　safe　spot　in　a　chair　by　the　door　and　watched　the　circus。　The　women　pulled　files　and　notebooks　and　mumbled　in　strange　tongues　among　themselves。　Occasionally　Avery　would　snap　his　fingers　and　point　here　and　there　and　they　would　jump　like　scar