a far country-第33节

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〃I　think　so；〃　replied　Mr。　Watling；　smiling　at　me。　　〃The　bill　was　his　own
idea。〃

The　railroad　attorney　wheeled　about　in　his　chair　and　looked　at　me；　looked
around　me；　would　better　express　it；　with　his　indefinite；　encompassing　yet
inclusive　glance。　　I　had　riveted　his　attention。　　And　from　henceforth；　I
knew；　I　should　enter　into　his　calculations。　　He　had　made　for　me　a
compartment　in　his　mind。

〃His　own　idea！〃　he　repeated。

〃I　merely　suggested　it；〃　I　was　putting　in；　when　he　cut　me　short。

〃Aren't　you　the　son　of　Matthew　Paret？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。

He　gave　me　a　queer　glance；　the　significance　of　which　I　left　untranslated。
My　excitement　was　too　great　to　analyze　what　he　meant　by　this　mention　of
my　father。。。。

When　we　reached　the　sidewalk　my　chief　gave　me　a　few　parting　instructions。

〃I　need　scarcely　say；　Hugh；〃　he　added；　〃that　your　presence　in　the　capital
should　not　be　advertised　as　connected　with　thislegislation。　　They　will
probably　attribute　it　to　us　in　the　end；　but　if　you're　reasonably　careful；
they'll　never　be　able　to　prove　it。　　And　there's　no　use　in　putting　our
cards　on　the　table　at　the　beginning。〃

〃No　indeed；　sir！〃　I　agreed。

He　took　my　hand　and　pressed　it。

〃Good　luck；〃　he　said。　　〃I　know　you'll　get　along　all　right。〃






A　FAR　COUNTRY

By　Winston　Churchill



BOOK　2。

X。

This　was　not　my　first　visit　to　the　state　capital。　　Indeed；　some　of　that
recondite　knowledge；　in　which　I　took　a　pride；　had　been　gained　on　the
occasions　of　my　previous　visits。　　Rising　and　dressing　early；　I　beheld　out
of　the　car　window　the　broad；　shallow　river　glinting　in　the　morning
sunlight；　the　dome　of　the　state　house　against　the　blue　of　the　sky。　　Even
at　that　early　hour　groups　of　the　gentlemen　who　made　our　laws　were
scattered　about　the　lobby　of　the　Potts　House；　standing　or　seated　within
easy　reach　of　the　gaily　coloured　cuspidors　that　protected　the　marble
floor：　heavy…jawed　workers　from　the　cities　mingled　with　moon…faced　but
astute　countrymen　who　manipulated　votes　amongst　farms　and　villages；　fat
or　cadaverous；　Irish；　German　or　American；　all　bore　in　common　a　certain
indefinable　stamp。　　Having　eaten　my　breakfast　in　a　large　dining…room　that
resounded　with　the　clatter　of　dishes；　I　directed　my　steps　to　the
apartment　occupied　from　year　to　year　by　Colonel　Paul　Barney；
generalissimo　of　the　Railroad　on　the　legislative　battlefield；a　position
that　demanded　a　certain　uniqueness　of　genius。

〃How　do　you　do；　sir；〃　he　said；　in　a　guarded　but　courteous　tone　as　he
opened　the　door。　　I　entered　to　confront　a　group　of　three　or　four　figures；
silent　and　rather　hostile；　seated　in　a　haze　of　tobacco　smoke　around　a
marble…topped　table。　　On　it　reposed　a　Bible；　attached　to　a　chain。

〃You　probably　don't　remember　me；　Colonel；〃　I　said。　　〃My　name　is　Pared；
and　I'm　associated　with　the　firm　of　Watling；　Fowndes；　and　Ripon。〃

His　air　of　marginality；heightened　by　a　grey　moustache　and　goatee　a　la
Napoleon　Third；vanished　instantly；　he　became　hospitable；　ingratiating。

〃Whywhy　certainly；　you　were　down　heah　with　Mr。　Fowndes　two　years　ago。〃
The　Colonel　spoke　with　a　slight　Southern　accent。　　〃To　be　sure；　sir。　　I've
had　the　honour　of　meeting　your　father。　　Mr。　Norris；　of　North　Haven；　meet
Mr。　Paretone　of　our　rising　lawyers。。。〃　　I　shook　hands　with　them　all　and
sat　down。　　Opening　his　long　coat；　Colonel　Varney　revealed　two　rows　of
cigars；　suggesting　cartridges　in　a　belt。　　These　he　proceeded　to　hand　out
as　he　talked。　　〃I'm　glad　to　see　you　here；　Mr。　Paret。　　You　must　stay
awhile；　and　become　acquainted　with　the　men　whoahemare　shaping　the
destinies　of　a　great　state。　　It　would　give　me　pleasure　to　escort　you
about。〃

I　thanked　him。　　I　had　learned　enough　to　realize　how　important　are　the
amenities　in　politics　and　business。　　The　Colonel　did　most　of　the
conversing；　he　could　not　have　filled　with　efficiency　and　ease　the
important　post　that　was　his　had　it　not　been　for　the　endless　fund　of
humorous　anecdotes　at　his　disposal。　　One　by　one　the　visitors　left；　each
assuring　me　of　his　personal　regard：　the　Colonel　closed　the　door；　softly；
turning　the　key　in　the　lock；　there　was　a　sly　look　in　his　black　eyes　as　he
took　a　chair　in　proximity　to　mine。

〃Well；　Mr。　Paret；〃　he　asked　softly；　〃what's　up？〃

Without　further　ado　I　handed　him　Mr。　Gorse's　letter；　and　another　Mr。
Watling　had　given　me　for　him；　which　contained　a　copy　of　the　bill。　　He
read　these；　laid　them　on　the　table；　glancing　at　me　again；　stroking　his
goatee　the　while。　　He　chuckled。

〃By　gum！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃I　take　off　my　hat　to　Theodore　Watling；　always
did。〃　　He　became　contemplative。　　〃It　can　be　done；　Mr。　Paret；　but　it's
going　to　take　some　careful　driving；　sir；　some　reaching　out　and　flicking
'em　when　they　r'ar　and　buck。　　Paul　Varney's　never　been　stumped　yet。　　Just
as　soon　as　this　is　introduced　we'll　have　Gates　and　Armstrong　down　here
they're　the　Ribblevale　attorneys；　aren't　they？　　I　thought　so；and　the
best　legal　talent　they　can　hire。　　And　they'll　round　up　all　the
disgruntled　fellows；　you　know；that　ain't　friendly　to　the　Railroad。
We've　got　to　do　it　quick；　Mr。　Paret。　　Gorse　gave　you　a　letter　to　the
Governor；　didn't　he？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。

〃Well；　come　along。　　I'll　pass　the　word　around　among　the　boys；　just　to　let
'em　know　what　to　expect。〃　　His　eyes　glittered　again。　　〃I've　been
following　this　Ribblevale　business；〃　he　added；　〃and　I　understand　Leonard
Dickinson's　all　ready　to　reorganize　that　company；　when　the　time　comes。
He　ought　to　let　me　in　for　a　little；　on　the　ground　floor。〃

I　did　not　venture　to　make　any　promises　for　Mr。　Dickinson。

〃I　reckon　it's　just　as　well　if　you　were　to　meet　me　at　the　Governor's
office；〃　the　Colonel　added　reflectively；　and　the　hint　was　not　lost　on　me。
〃It's　better　not　to　let　'em　find　out　any　sooner　than　they　have　to　where
this　thing　comes　from；you　understand。〃　　He　looked　at　his　watch。　　〃How
would　nine　o'clock　do？　　I'll　be　there；　with　Trulease；　when　you　come；by
accident；　you　understand。　　Of　course　he'll　be　reasonable；　but　when　they
get　to　be　governors　they　have　little　notions；　you　know；　and　you've　got　to
indulge　'em；　flatter　'em　a　little。　　It　doesn't　hurt；　for　when　they　get
their　backs　up　it　only　makes　more　trouble。〃

He　put　on　a　soft；　black　felt　hat；　and　departed　noiselessly。。。

At　nine　o'clock　I　arrived　at　the　State　House　and　was　ushered　into　a　great
square　room　overlooking　the　park。　　The　Governor　was　seated　at　a　desk
under　an　elaborate　chandelier；　and　sure　enough；　Colonel　Varney　was　there
beside　him；　making　barely　perceptible　signals。

〃It　is　a　pleasure　to　make　your　acquaintance；　Mr。　Paret；〃　said　Mr。
Trulease。　　〃Your　name　is　a　familiar　one　in　your　city；　sir。　　And　I　gather
from　your　card　that　you　are　associated　with　my　good　friend；　Theodore
Watling。〃

I　acknowledged　it。　　I　was　not　a　little　impressed　by　the　perfect　blend　of
cordiality；　democratic　simplicity　and　impressiveness　Mr。　Trulease　had
achieved。　　For　he　had　managed；　in　the　course　of　a　long　political　career；
to　combine　in　exact　proportions　these　elements　which；　in　the　public　mind；
should　up　the　personality　of　a　chief　executive。　　Momentarily　he　overcame
the　feeling　of　superiority　with　which　I　had　entered　his　presence；
neutralized　the　sense　I　had　of　being　associated　now　with　the　higher
powers　which　had　put　him　where　he　was。　　For　I　knew　all　about　his
〃record。〃

〃You're　acquainted　with　Colonel　Varney？〃　he　inquired。

〃Yes；　Governor；　I've　met　the　Colonel；〃　I　said。

〃Well；　I　suppose　your　firm　is　getting　its　share　of　business　these　days；〃
Mr。　Trulease　observed。　　I　acknowledged　it　was；　and　after　discussing　for　a
few　moments　the　remarkable　growth　of　my　native　city　the　Governor　tapped
on　his　desk　and　inquired　what　he　could　do　for　me。　　I　produced　the　letter
from　the　attorney　for　the　Railroad。　　The　Governor　read　it　gravely。

〃Ah；〃　he　said；　〃from　Mr。　Gorse。〃　　A　copy　of　the　proposed　bill　was
enclosed；　and　the　Governor　read　that　also；　hemmed　and　hawed　a　little；
turned　and　handed　it　to　Colonel　Varney；　who　was　sitting　with　a　detached
air；　smoking　contemplatively；　a　vacant　expression　on　his　face。　　〃What　do
you　think　of　this；　Colonel？〃

Whereupon　the　Colonel　tore　himself　away　from　his　reflections。

〃What's　that；　Governor？〃

〃Mr。　Gorse　has　called　my　attention　to　what　seems　to　him　a　flaw　in　our
statutes；　an　inability　to　obtain　testimony　from　corporations　whose　books
are　elsewhere；　and　who　may　thus　evade；　he　says；　to　a　certain　extent；　the
sovereign　will　of　our　state。〃

The　Colonel　took　the　paper　with　an　admirable　air　of　surprise；　adjusted
his　glasses；　and　became　absorbed　in　reading；　clearing　his　throat　once　or
twice　and　emitting　an　exclamation。

〃Well；　if　you　ask　me；　Governor；〃　he　said；　at　length；　〃all　I　can　say　is
that　I　am　astonished　somebody　didn't　think　of　this　simple　remedy　before
now。　　Many　times；　sir；　have　I　seen　justice　defeated　because　we　had　no
such　legislation　as　this。〃

He　handed　it　back。　　The　Governor　studied　it　once　more；　and　coughed。

〃Does　the　penalty；〃　he　inquired；　〃seem　to　you　a　little　severe？〃

〃No；　sir；〃　replied　the　Colonel；　emphatically。　　〃Perhaps　it　is　because　I
am　anxious；　as　a　citizen；　to　see　an　evil　abated。　　I　have　had　an　intimate
knowledge　of　legislation；　sir；　for　more　than　twenty　years　in　this　state；
and　in　all　that　time　I