the cost-第43节

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f　together　to　renew　the　combat；　either　he　would　die　outright　or　he　would　abandon　himself　to　the　appetite　which　had　just　shown　itself　dangerously　near　to　being　the　strongest　of　the　several　passions　ruling　him。

When　Culver　passed　to　the　Herron　coterie　and　the　Fanning…Smiths　and　Great　Lakes　and　Gulf；　Dumont　was　still　motionlesshe　was　now　estimating　the　strength　and　the　weaknesses　of　the　enemy；　and　miscalculation　would　be　fatal。　　At　the　end　of　three…quarters　of　an　hour　Culver　stopped　the　steady；　swift　flow　of　his　report〃That's　all　the　important　facts。　　There's　a　lot　more　but　it　would　be　largely　repetition。〃

Dumont　looked　at　him　with　an　expression　that　made　him　proud。　　〃Thanks；　Culver。　　At　the　next　annual　meeting　we'll　elect　you　to　Giddings'　place。　　Please　go　back　down…town　and〃　　He　rapidly　indicated　half　a　dozen　points　which　Culver　had　failed　to　see　and　investigatethe　best　subordinate　has　not　the　master's　eye；　if　he　had；　he　would　not　be　a　subordinate。

Dumont　waved　his　hand　in　dismissal　and　settled　himself　to　sleep。　　When　Culver　began　to　stammer　thanks　for　the　promised　promotion；　he　frowned。

〃Don't　bother　me　with　that　sort　of　stuff。　　The　job's　yours　because　you've　earned　it。　　It'll　be　yours　as　long　as　you　can　hold　it　downor　until　you　earn　a　better　one。　　And　you'll　be　loyal　as　Giddings　wasjust　as　long　as　it's　to　your　interest　and　not　a　second　longer。　　Otherwise　you'd　be　a　fool；　and　I'd　not　have　you　about　me。　　Be　off！〃

He　slept　an　hour　and　a　half；　then　Pauline　brought　him　a　cup　of　beef　extract〃A　very　small　cup；〃　he　grumbled　good…humoredly。　　〃And　a　very　weak；　watery　mess　in　it。〃

As　he　lay　propped　in　his　bed　drinking　itslowly　to　make　it　last　the　longerPauline　sat　looking　at　him。　　His　hands　had　been　fat　and　puffy；　she　was　filled　with　pity　as　she　watched　the　almost　scrawny　hand　holding　the　cup　to　his　lips；　there　were　hollows　between　the　tendons；　and　the　wrist　was　gaunt。　　Her　gaze　wandered　to　his　face　and　rested　there；　in　sympathy　and　tenderness。　　The　ravages　of　the　fever　had　been　frightfulhollows　where　the　swollen；　sensual　cheeks　had　been；　the　neck　caved　in　behind　and　under　the　jaw…bones；　loose　skin　hanging　in　wattles；　deeply…set　eyes；　a　pinched　look　about　the　nostrils　and　the　corners　of　the　mouth。　　He　was　homely；　ugly　even；　except　the　noble　curve　of　head　and　profile；　not　a　trace　of　his　former　good　looksbut　at　least　that　swinish；　fleshy；　fleshly　expression　was　gone。

A　physical　wreck；　battered；　torn；　dismantled　by　the　storm　and　fire　of　disease！　　It　was　hard　for　her　to　keep　back　her　tears。

Their　eyes　met　and　his　instantly　shifted。　　The　rest　of　the　world　saw　the　man　of　force　bent　upon　the　possessions　which　mean　fame　and　honor　regardless　of　how　they　are　got。　　He　knew　that　he　could　deceive　the　world；　that　so　long　as　he　was　rich　and　powerful　it　would　refuse　to　let　him　undeceive　it；　though　he　might　strive　to　show　it　what　he　was。　　But　he　knew　that　SHE　saw　him　as　he　really　wasknew　him　as　only　a　husband　and　a　wife　can　know　each　the　other。　　And　he　respected　her　for　the　qualities　which　gave　her　a　right　to　despise　him；　and　which　had　forced　her　to　exercise　that　right。　　He　felt　himself　the　superior　of　the　rest　of　his　fellow…beings；　but　her　inferior；　did　she　not　successfully　defy　him；　could　she　not；　without　a　word；　by　simply　resting　her　calm　gaze　upon　him；　make　him　shift　and　slink？

He　felt　that　he　must　change　the　subjectnot　of　their　conversation；　for　they　were　not　talking；　but　of　theirherthoughts。　　He　did　not　know　precisely　what　she　was　thinking　of　him；　but　he　was　certain　that　it　was　not　anything　favorable　how　could　it　be？　　In　fact；　fight　though　she　did　against　the　thought；　into　her　mind　as　she　looked；　pitying　yet　shrinking；　came　his　likeness　to　a　wolfstarved　and　sick　and　gaunt；　by　weakness　tamed　into　surface　restraint；　but　in　vicious　teeth；　in　savage　lips；　in　jaw　made　to　crush　for　love　of　crushing；　a　wicked　wolf；　impatient　to　resume　the　life　of　the　beast　of　prey。

By　a　mischance　unavoidable　in　a　mind　filled　as　was　his　he　began　to　tell　of　his　revengeof　the　exhibition　of　power　he　purposed　to　give；　sudden　and　terrible。　　He　talked　of　his　enemies　as　a　cat　might　of　a　mouse　it　was　teasing　in　the　impassable　circle　of　its　paws。　　She　felt　that　they　deserved　the　thunderbolt　he　said　he　was　about　to　hurl　into　them；　but　she　could　not　help　feeling　pity　for　them。　　If　what　he　said　of　his　resources　and　power　were　true；　how　feeble；　how　helpless　they　werepygmies　fatuously　disporting　themselves　in　the　palm　of　a　giant's　hand；　unconscious　of　where　they　were；　of　the　cruel　eyes　laughing　at　them；　of　the　iron　muscles　that　would　presently　contract　that　hand　andshe　shuddered；　his　voice　came　to　her　in　a　confused　murmur。

〃If　he　does　not　stop　I　shall　loathe　him　AGAIN！〃　she　said　to　herself。　　Then　to　him：　　〃Perhaps　you'd　like　to　see　Langdonhe's　in　the　drawing…room　with　Gladys。〃

〃I　sent　for　him　two　hours　ago。　　Yes；　tell　him　to　come　up　at　once。〃

As　she　took　the　cup　he　detained　her　hand。　　She　beat　down　the　impulse　to　snatch　it　away；　let　it　lie　passive。　　He　pressed　his　lips　upon　it。

〃I　haven't　thanked　you　for　coming　back；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice；　holding　to　her　hand　nervously。

〃But　you　know　it　wasn't　because　I'm　not　grateful；　don't　you？　　I　can　hardly　believe　yet　that　it　isn't　a　dream。　　I'd　have　said　there　wasn't　a　human　being　on　earth　who'd　have　done　itexcept　your　mother。　　No；　not　even　you；　only　your　mother。〃

At　this　tribute　to　her　mother；　unexpected；　sincere；　tears　dimmed　Pauline's　eyes　and　a　sob　choked　up　into　her　throat。

〃It　was　your　mother　in　you　that　made　you　come；〃　he　went　on。　　〃But　you　cameand　I'll　not　forget　it。　　You　said　you　had　come　to　stayis　that　so；　Pauline？〃

She　bent　her　head　in　assent。

〃When　I'm　well　and　on　top　againbut　there's　nothing　in　words。　　All　I'll　say　is；　you're　giving　me　a　chance；　and　I'll　make　the　best　of　it。　　I've　learned　my　lesson。〃

He　slowly　released　her　hand。　　She　stood　there　a　moment；　without　speaking；　without　any　definite　thought。　　Then　she　left　to　send　Langdon。

〃Yes；〃　Dumont　reflected；　〃it　was　her　duty。　　It's　a　woman's　duty　to　be　forgiving　and　gentle　and　loving　and　purethey're　made　differently　from　men。　　It　was　unnatural；　her　ever　going　away　at　all。　　But　she's　a　good　woman；　and　she　shall　get　what　she　deserves　hereafter。　　When　I　settle　this　bill　for　my　foolishness　I'll　not　start　another。〃

Dutythat　word　summed　up　his　whole　conception　of　the　right　attitude　of　a　good　woman　toward　a　man。　　A　woman　who　acted　from　love　might　change　her　mind；　but　duty　was　safe；　was　always　there　when　a　man　came　back　from　wanderings　which　were　mere　amiable；　natural　weaknesses　in　the　male。　　Love　might　adorn　a　honeymoon　or　an　escapade；　duty　was　the　proper　adornment　of　a　home。

〃I've　just　been　viewing　the　wreck　with　Culver；〃　he　said；　as　Langdon　entered；　dressed　in　the　extreme　of　the　latest　London　fashion。

〃Much　damage？〃

〃What　didn't　go　in　the　storm　was　carried　off　by　Giddings　when　he　abandoned　the　ship。　　But　the　hull's　there　andoh；　I'll　get　her　off　and　fix　her　up　all　right。〃

〃Always　knew　Giddings　was　a　rascal。　　He　oozes　piety　and　respectability。　　That's　the　worst　kind　you　have　down…town。　　When　a　man　carries　so　much　character　in　his　faceit's　like　a　woman　who　carries　so　much　color　in　her　cheeks　that　you　know　it　couldn't　have　come　from　the　inside。〃

〃You're　wrong　about　Giddings。　　He's　honest　enough。　　Any　other　man　would　have　done　the　same　in　his　place。　　He　stayed　until　there　was　no　hope　of　saving　the　ship。〃

〃All　lost　but　his　honorWall　Street　honor；　eh？〃

〃Precisely。〃

After　a　pause　Langdon　said：　　〃I'd　no　idea　you　held　much　of　your　own　stock。　　I　thought　you　controlled　through　other　people's　proxies　and　made　your　profits　by　forcing　the　stock　up　or　down　and　getting　on　the　other　side　of　the　market。〃

〃But；　you　see；　I　believe　in　Woolens；〃　replied　Dumont。　　〃And　I　believe　in　it　still；　Langdon！〃　　His　eyes　had　in　them　the　look　of　the　fanatic。

〃That　concern　is　breath　and　blood　and　life　to　me；　and　wife　and　children　and　parents　and　brothers　and　sisters。　　I've　put　my　whole　self　into　it。　　I　conceived　it。　　I　brought　it　into　the　world。　　I　nursed　it　and　brought　it　up。　　I　made　it　big　and　strong　and　great。　　It's　mine；　by　heaven！　　MINE！　　And　no　man　shall　take　it　from　me！〃

He　was　sitting　up；　his　face　flushed；　his　eyes　blazing。　　〃Gadhe　does　look　a　wild　beast！〃　said　Langdon　to　himself。　　He　would　have　said　aloud；　had　Dumont　been　well：　　〃I'm　precious　glad　I　ain't　the　creature　those　fangs　are　reaching　for！〃　　He　was　about　to　caution　him　against　exciting　himself　when　Dumont　sank　back　with　a　cynical　smile　at　his　own　outburst。

〃But　to　get　down　to　business；〃　he　went　on。　　〃I've　eleven　millions　of　the　stock　leftabout　a　hundred　and　twenty　thousand　shares。　　Gladys　has　fifty　thousand　shareshow　much　have　you　got？〃

〃Less　than　ten　thousand。　　And　I'd　have　had　none　at　all　if　my　mind　hadn't　been　full　of　other　things　as　I　was　sailing。　　I　forgot　to　tell　my　broker　to　sell。〃

Dumont　was　reflecting。　　Presently　he　said：　　〃Those　curs　not　only　took　most　of　my　stock　and　forced　the　sale　of　most　of　my　other　securities；　they've　put　me　in　such　a　light　that　outside　stockholders　wouldn't　send　me　their　proxies　now。　　To　get　back　control　I　must　smash　them；　and　I　must　also　acquire　pretty　nearly　half　the　shares；　and　hold　them　till　I'm　firm　in　the　saddle　again。〃

〃