the vision spendid(美景)-第21节
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YOU。 But after this election？ Your whole future's not tied up with fool
reformers； is it？ Say； what's the matter with you havin' a talk with P。 C。？〃
〃Oh； I'll talk with him。 P。 C。 and I are good friends。〃
〃When can you see him？ Why not to…night？〃
〃No hurry； is there？〃 James paused an instant before he added： 〃I'm
going to The Brakes this afternoon on a social call。 If Frome happens to be
at home we might talk then。 So far as making a direct appointment with
him； I wouldn't care to do that until the senatorial election is decided。 You
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understand that I pledge myself to nothing。〃
〃That's right；〃 agreed Big Tim。 〃It don't do any harm to hear both sides
of a proposition。 I guess that cousin o' yours kind of hypnotized you。 He's
got more fool schemes for redeemin' this state。 Far as I can see it don't
need any redeemin'。 It's loaded to the rails with prosperity and clippin' off
its sixty miles an hour。 I say； let well enough alone。 Where youse keep
your matches； Mr。 Farnum？ Thanks！ Well； talk it over with P。 C。 I reckon
you can get together。 So long； me boy。〃
Not until he was safe in the street did the big boss of Verden allow his
satisfaction expression。
〃We've got him！ We've got the boob hooked！〃 he told himself
exultantly。
A little man standing behind a showcase was watching him tensely。
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CHAPTER 9
〃Man is for woman made； And woman made for man As the spur is for
the jade； As the scabbard for the blade； As for liquor is the can； So man's
for woman made； And woman made for man。〃
THE HERO STUDIES THE MONA LISA SMILE IN ITS PROPER
SETTING。 INCIDENTALLY； HE MEETS AN EMPIRE BUILDER
Since James was not courting observation he took as inconspicuous a
way as possible to The Brakes。 He was irritably conscious of the
incongruity of his elaborate afternoon dress with the habits of democratic
Verden； which had been too busy 〃boosting〃 itself into a great city； or at
least one in the making； to have found time to establish as yet a leisure
class。
Leaving the car at the entrance to Lakeview Park； he cut across it by
sinuous byways where madronas and alders isolated him from the twilit
green of the open lawn。 Though it was still early the soft winter dusk of
the Pacific Northwest was beginning to render objects indistinct。 This
perhaps may have been the reason he failed to notice the skulking figure
among the trees that dogged him to his destination。
James laughed at himself for the exaggerated precaution he took to
cover a perfectly defensible action。 Why shouldn't he visit at the house of
P。 C。 Frome？ Entirely clear as to his right； he yet preferred his call not to
become a matter of public gossip。 For he did not need to be told that there
would be ugly rumors if it should get out that Big Tim had called at his
office for a conference and he had subsequently been seen going to The
Brakes。 Dunderheads not broad enough to separate social from political
intercourse would be quick to talk unpleasantly about it。
Deflecting from the path into a carriage driveway； he came through a
woody hollow to the rear of The Brakes。 The grounds were spacious；
rolling toward the road beyond in a falling sweep of wellkept lawn。 He
skirted the green till he came to a 〃raveled walk that zig…zagged up
through the grass； leaving to the left the rough fern…clad bluff that gave the
place its name。
The man who let him in had apparently received his instructions； for
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he led Farnum to a rather small room in the rear of the big house。 Its single
occupant was reclining luxuriantly among a number of pillows on a
lounge。 From her lips a tiny spiral of smoke rose like incense to the ceiling。
James was conscious of a little ripple of surprise as he looked down upon
the copper crown of splendid hair above which rested the thin nimbus of
smoke。 He had expected a less intimate reception。
But the astonishment had been sponged from his face before Valencia
Van Tyle rose and came forward； cigarette in hand。
〃You did find time。〃
〃Was it likely I wouldn't？〃
〃How should I know？〃 her little shrug seemed to say with an
indifference that bordered on insolence。
James was piqued。 After all then she had not opened to him the door to
her friendship。 She was merely amusing herself with him as a provincial
_pis aller。_
Perhaps she saw his disappointment； for she added with a touch of
warmth： 〃I'm glad you came。 Truth is； I'm bored to death of myself。〃
〃Then I ought to be welcome； for if I don't exorcise the devils of ennui
you can now blame me。〃
〃I shall。 Try that big chair； and one of these Egyptians。〃
He helped himself to a cigarette and lit up as casually as if he had been
in the habit of smoking in the lounging rooms of the ladies he knew。 She
watched him sink lazily into the chair and let his glance go wandering
over the room。 In his face she read the indolent sense of pleasure he found
in sharing so intimately this sanctum of her more personal life。
The room was a bit barbaric in its warmth of color； as barbaric as was
the young woman herself in spite of her super…civilization。 The walls； done
in an old rose； were gilded and festooned to meet a ceiling almost Venetian
in its scheme of decoration。 Pink predominated in the brocaded tapestries
and in the rugs； and the furniture was a luxurious modern compromise
with the Louis Quinze。 There were flowers in profusionhis gaze fell
upon the American Beauties he had sent an hour or two agoand a
disorder of popular magazines and French novels。 Farnum did not need to
be told that the room was as much an exotic as its mistress。
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〃You think？〃 her amused voice demanded when his eyes came back to
her。 〃that the room seems made especially for you。〃
She volunteered information。 〃My uncle gave me a free hand to
arrange and decorate it。〃
As he looked at her； smoking daintily in the fling of the fire glow；
every inch the pampered heiress of the ages； his blood quickened to an
appreciation of the sensuous charm of sex she breathed forth so
indifferently。 The clinging crepe…de…chine except in public she did not
pretend even to a conventional mourning for the scamp whose name she
bore lent accent to her soft； rounded curves； and the slow； regular rise and
fall of her breathing beneath the filmy lace promised a perfect fullness of
bust and throat。 He was keenly responsive to the physical allure of sex；
and Valencia Van Tyle was endowed with more than her share of magnetic
aura。
〃You have expressed yourself。 It's like you；〃 he said with finality。
Her tawny eyes met his confident appraisal ironically。 〃Indeed！ You
know then what I am like？〃
〃One uses his eyes； and such brains as heaven has granted him；〃 he
ventured lightly。
〃And what am I like？〃 she asked indolently。
〃I'm hoping to know that better soonI merely guess now。〃
〃They say all women are egoistsand some men。〃 She breathed her
soft inscrutable ripple of laughter。 〃Let me hasten to confess； and crave a
picture of myself。〃
〃But the subject deserves an artist；〃 he parried。
〃He's afraid；〃 she murmured to the fire。 〃He makes and unmakes
senatorsthis Warwick； but he's afraid of a girl。〃
James lit a fresh cigarette in smiling silence。
〃He has met me oncetwiceno； three times；〃 she meditated aloud。
〃But he knows what I'm like。 He boasts of his divination and when one
puts him to the test he repudiates。〃
〃All I should have claimed is that I know I don't know what you are
like。〃
〃Which is
