five tales-第14节

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〃You　know　I　never　smoke。　　Is　there　no　other　way？〃

〃Yes。　　Sell　stock　in　London；　bank　the　proceeds　there；　and　bring　me　six　thousand　pounds　in　notes。　　I'll　hold　'em　till　after　the　general　meeting。　　If　the　thing　doesn't　go　through；　I'll　hand　'em　back　to　you。〃

〃No；　I　like　that　even　less。〃

〃Rather　I　trusted　you；　eh！〃

〃No；　not　at　all；　Sylvanus；　not　at　all。　　But　it's　all　playing　round　the　law。〃

〃There's　no　law　to　prevent　you　doing　what　you　like　with　your　money。　What　I　do's　nothing　to　you。　　And　mind　you；　I'm　taking　nothing　from　itnot　a　mag。　　You　assist　the　widowed　and　the　fatherlessjust　your　line；　Joe！〃

〃What　a　fellow　you　are；　Sylvanus；　you　don't　seem　capable　of　taking　anything　seriously。〃

〃Care　killed　the　cat！〃

Left　alone　after　this　second　interview　he　had　thought：　'The　beggar'll　jump。'

And　the　beggar　had。　　That　settlement　was　drawn　and　only　awaited　signature。　　The　Board　to…day　had　decided　on　the　purchase；　and　all　that　remained　was　to　get　it　ratified　at　the　general　meeting。　　Let　him　but　get　that　over；　and　this　provision　for　his　grandchildren　made；　and　he　would　snap　his　fingers　at　Brownbee　and　his　crew…the　canting　humbugs！　　〃Hope　you　have　many　years　of　this　life　before　you！〃　　As　if　they　cared　for　anything　but　his　moneytheir　money　rather！　　And　becoming　conscious　of　the　length　of　his　reverie；　he　grasped　the　arms　of　his　chair；　heaved　at　his　own　bulk；　in　an　effort　to　rise；　growing　redder　and　redder　in　face　and　neck。　　It　was　one　of　the　hundred　things　his　doctor　had　told　him　not　to　do　for　fear　of　apoplexy；　the　humbug！　Why　didn't　Farney　or　one　of　those　young　fellows　come　and　help　him　up？　To　call　out　was　undignified。　　But　was　he　to　sit　there　all　night？　Three　times　he　failed；　and　after　each　failure　sat　motionless　again；　crimson　and　exhausted；　the　fourth　time　he　succeeded；　and　slowly　made　for　the　office。　　Passing　through；　he　stopped　and　said　in　his　extinct　voice：

〃You　young　gentlemen　had　forgotten　me。〃

〃Mr。　Farney　said　you　didn't　wish　to　be　disturbed；　sir。〃

〃Very　good　of　him。　　Give　me　my　hat　and　coat。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Thank　you。　　What　time　is　it？〃

〃Six　o'clock；　sir。〃

〃Tell　Mr。　Farney　to　come　and　see　me　tomorrow　at　noon；　about　my　speech　for　the　general　meeting。〃

〃Yes；　Sir。〃

〃Good…night　to　you。〃

〃Good…night；　Sir。〃

At　his　tortoise　gait　he　passed　between　the　office　stools　to　the　door；　opened　it　feebly；　and　slowly　vanished。

Shutting　the　door　behind　him；　a　clerk　said：

〃Poor　old　chairman！　　He's　on　his　last！〃

Another　answered：

〃Gosh！　　He's　a　tough　old　hulk。　　He'll　go　down　fightin'。〃




2

Issuing　from　the　offices　of　〃The　Island　Navigation　Company；〃　Sylvanus　Heythorp　moved　towards　the　corner　whence　he　always　took　tram　to　Sefton　Park。　　The　crowded　street　had　all　that　prosperous　air　of　catching　or　missing　something　which　characterises　the　town　where　London　and　New　York　and　Dublin　meet。　　Old　Heythorp　had　to　cross　to　the　far　side；　and　he　sallied　forth　without　regard　to　traffic。　　That　snail…like　passage　had　in　it　a　touch　of　the　sublime；　the　old　man　seemed　saying：　〃Knock　me　down　and　be　d…d　to　youI'm　not　going　to　hurry。〃　　His　life　was　saved　perhaps　ten　times　a　day　by　the　British　character　at　large；　compounded　of　phlegm　and　a　liking　to　take　something　under　its　protection。　　The　tram　conductors　on　that　line　were　especially　used　to　him；　never　failing　to　catch　him　under　the　arms　and　heave　him　like　a　sack　of　coals；　while　with　trembling　hands　he　pulled　hard　at　the　rail　and　strap。

〃All　right；　sir？〃

〃Thank　you。〃

He　moved　into　the　body　of　the　tram；　where　somebody　would　always　get　up　from　kindness　and　the　fear　that　he　might　sit　down　on　them；　and　there　he　stayed　motionless；　his　little　eyes　tight　closed。　　With　his　red　face；　tuft　of　white　hairs　above　his　square　cleft　block　of　shaven　chin；　and　his　big　high…crowned　bowler　hat；　which　yet　seemed　too　petty　for　his　head　with　its　thick　hairhe　looked　like　some　kind　of　an　idol　dug　up　and　decked　out　in　gear　a　size　too　small。

One　of　those　voices　of　young　men　from　public　schools　and　exchanges　where　things　are　bought　and　sold；　said：

〃How　de　do；　Mr。　Heythorp？〃

Old　Heythorp　opened　his　eyes。　　That　sleek　cub；　Joe　Pillin's　son！　What　a　young　pup…with　his　round　eyes；　and　his　round　cheeks；　and　his　little　moustache；　his　fur　coat；　his　spats；　his　diamond　pin！

〃How's　your　father？〃　　he　said。

〃Thanks；　rather　below　par；　worryin'　about　his　ships。　　Suppose　you　haven't　any　news　for　him；　sir？〃

Old　Heythorp　nodded。　　The　young　man　was　one　of　his　pet　abominations；　embodying　all　the　complacent；　little…headed　mediocrity　of　this　new　generation；　natty　fellows　all　turned　out　of　the　same　mould；　sippers　and　tasters；　chaps　without　drive　or　capacity；　without　even　vices；　and　he　did　not　intend　to　gratify　the　cub's　curiosity。

〃Come　to　my　house；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　give　you　a　note　for　him。〃

〃Tha…anks；　I'd　like　to　cheer　the　old　man　up。〃

The　old　man！　　Cheeky　brat！　　And　closing　his　eyes　he　relapsed　into　immobility。　　The　tram　wound　and　ground　its　upward　way；　and　he　mused。　When　he　was　that　cub's　agetwenty…eight　or　whatever　it　might　behe　had　done　most　things；　been　up　Vesuvius；　driven　four…in…hand；　lost　his　last　penny　on　the　Derby　and　won　it　back　on　the　Oaks；　known　all　the　dancers　and　operatic　stars　of　the　day；　fought　a　duel　with　a　Yankee　at　Dieppe　and　winged　him　for　saying　through　his　confounded　nose　that　Old　England　was　played　out；　been　a　controlling　voice　already　in　his　shipping　firm；　drunk　five　other　of　the　best　men　in　London　under　the　table；　broken　his　neck　steeple…chasing；　shot　a　burglar　in　the　legs；　been　nearly　drowned；　for　a　bet；　killed　snipe　in　Chelsea；　been　to　Court　for　his　sins；　stared　a　ghost　out　of　countenance；　and　travelled　with　a　lady　of　Spain。　　If　this　young　pup　had　done　the　last；　it　would　be　all　he　had；　and　yet；　no　doubt；　he　would　call　himself　a　〃spark。〃

The　conductor　touched　his　arm。

〃'Ere　you　are；　sir。〃

〃Thank　you。〃

He　lowered　himself　to　the　ground；　and　moved　in　the　bluish　darkness　towards　the　gate　of　his　daughter's　house。　　Bob　Pillin　walked　beside　him；　thinking：　'Poor　old　josser；　he　is　gettin'　a　back　number！'　　And　he　said：　〃I　should　have　thought　you　ought　to　drive；　sir。　　My　old　guv'nor　would　knock　up　at　once　if　he　went　about　at　night　like　this。〃

The　answer　rumbled　out　into　the　misty　air：

〃Your　father's　got　no　chest；　never　had。〃

Bob　Pillin　gave　vent　to　one　of　those　fat　cackles　which　come　so　readily　from　a　certain　type　of　man；　and　old　Heythorp　thought：

'Laughing　at　his　father！　　Parrot！'

They　had　reached　the　porch。

A　woman　with　dark　hair　and　a　thin；　straight　face　and　figure　was　arranging　some　flowers　in　the　hall。　　She　turned　and　said：

〃You　really　ought　not　to　be　so　late；　Father！　　It's　wicked　at　this　time　of　year。　　Who　is　itoh！　　Mr。　Pillin；　how　do　you　do？　　Have　you　had　tea？　　Won't　you　come　to　the　drawing…room；　or　do　you　want　to　see　my　father？〃

〃Tha…anks！　　I　believe　your　father〃　　And　he　thought：　'By　Jove！　the　old　chap　is　a　caution！'　　For　old　Heythorp　was　crossing　the　hall　without　having　paid　the　faintest　attention　to　his　daughter。　Murmuring　again：

〃Tha…anks　awfully；　he　wants　to　give　me　something；〃　he　followed。　　Miss　Heythorp　was　not　his　style　at　all；　he　had　a　kind　of　dread　of　that　thin　woman　who　looked　as　if　she　could　never　be　unbuttoned。　　They　said　she　was　a　great　churchgoer　and　all　that　sort　of　thing。

In　his　sanctum　old　Heythorp　had　moved　to　his　writing…table；　and　was　evidently　anxious　to　sit　down。

〃Shall　I　give　you　a　hand；　sir？〃

Receiving　a　shake　of　the　head；　Bob　Pillin　stood　by　the　fire　and　watched。　　The　old　〃sport〃　liked　to　paddle　his　own　canoe。　　Fancy　having　to　lower　yourself　into　a　chair　like　that！　　When　an　old　Johnny　got　to　such　a　state　it　was　really　a　mercy　when　he　snuffed　out；　and　made　way　for　younger　men。　　How　his　Companies　could　go　on　putting　up　with　such　a　fossil　for　chairman　was　a　marvel！　　The　fossil　rumbled　and　said　in　that　almost　inaudible　voice：

〃I　suppose　you're　beginning　to　look　forward　to　your　father's　shoes？〃

Bob　Pillin's　mouth　opened。　　The　voice　went　on：

〃Dibs　and　no　responsibility。　　Tell　him　from　me　to　drink　portadd　five　years　to　his　life。〃

To　this　unwarranted　attack　Bob　Pillin　made　no　answer　save　a　laugh；　he　perceived　that　a　manservant　had　entered　the　room。

〃A　Mrs。　Larne；　sir。　　Will　you　see　her？〃

At　this　announcement　the　old　man　seemed　to　try　and　start；　then　he　nodded；　and　held　out　the　note　he　had　written。　　Bob　Pillin　received　it　together　with　the　impression　of　a　murmur　which　sounded　like：　〃Scratch　a　poll；　Poll！〃　　and　passing　the　fine　figure　of　a　woman　in　a　fur　coat；　who　seemed　to　warm　the　air　as　she　went　by；　he　was　in　the　hall　again　before　he　perceived　that　he　had　left　his　hat。

A　young　and　pretty　girl　was　standing　on　the　bearskin　before　the　fire；　looking　at　him　with　round…eyed　innocence。　　He　thought：　'This　is　better；　I　mustn't　disturb　them　for　my　hat'；　and　approaching　the　fire；　said：

〃Jolly　cold；　isn't　it？〃

The　girl　smiled：　〃Yes…jolly。〃

He　noticed　that　she　had　a　large　bunch　of　violets　at　her　breast；　a　lot　of　fair　hair；　a　short　straight　nose；　and　round　blue…grey　eyes　very　frank　and　open。　　〃Er〃　he　said；　〃I've　left　my　hat　in　there。〃

〃What　larks！〃　　And　at　her　little　clear　laugh　something　moved　within　Bob　Pillin。

〃You　know　this　house　well？〃

She　shook　her　head。