the cost-第48节

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　furniture。　　On　the　floor　in　the　heaps　and　coils　of　ticker…tape　lay　Dumont。

In　his　struggles　the　tape　had　wound　round　and　round　his　legs；　his　arms；　his　neck。　　It　lay　in　a　curling；　coiling　mat；　like　a　serpent's　head；　upon　his　throat；　where　his　hands　clutched　the　collar　of　his　pajamas。

Sackett　knelt　beside　him；　listening　at　his　chest；　feeling　for　his　pulse　in　vain。　　And　Culver　stood　by；　staring　stupidly　at　the　now　worthless　instrument　of　his　ambition　for　wealth　and　power。



XXVIII。

AFTER　THE　LONG　WINTER。


Within　two　hours　Langdon；　in　full　control；　had　arranged　with　Tavistock　to　make　the　imperiled　victory　secure。　　Thus；　not　until　the　next　day　but　one　did　it　come　out　that　the　cataclysm　had　been　caused　by　a　man　ruined　and　broken　and　with　his　back　against　death's　door　to　hold　it　shut；　that　Dumont　himself　had　turned　the　triumphing　host　of　his　enemies　into　a　flying　mob；　in　its　panic　flinging　away　its　own　possessions　as　well　as　its　booty。

Perhaps　the　truth　never　would　have　been　known；　perhaps　Langdon　would　have　bribed　Tavistock　to　silence　and　would　have　posed　as　the　conquering　genius；　had　he　found　out　a　day　earlier　how　Dumont　had　put　himself　in　funds。　　As　it　was；　this　discovery　did　not　come　too　late　for　him　to　seize　the　opportunity　that　was　his　through　Dumont's　secret　methods；　Pauline's　indifference　to　wealth　and　his　own　unchecked　authority。　　He　has　got　many　an　hour　ofstrictly　privatemental　gymnastics　out　of　the　moral　problem　he　saw；　in　his　keeping　for　himself　and　Gladys　the　spoils　he　gathered　up。　　He　is　inclined　to　think　he　was　intelligent　rather　than　right；　but；　knowing　his　weakness　for　self…criticism；　he　never　gives　a　positive　verdict　against　himself。　　That；　however；　is　unimportant；　as　he　is　not　the　man　to　permit　conscience　to　influence　conduct　in　grave　matters。

He　feels　that；　in　any　case；　he　did　not　despoil　Pauline　or　Gardiner。　　For；　after　he　had　told　her　what　Dumont　didand　to　protect　himself　he　hastened　to　tell　itshe　said：　　〃Whatever　there　may　be；　it's　all　for　Gardiner。　　I　waive　my　own　rights；　if　I　have　any。　　But　you　must　give　me　your　word　of　honor　that　you　won't　let　anything　tainted　pass　to　him。〃　　Langdon；　judging　with　the　delicacy　of　a　man　of　honor　put　on　honor；　was　able　to　find　little　such　wealth。

He　gives　himself　most　of　the　credit　for　Gardiner's　turning　out　so　well〃Inherited　riches　are　a　hopeless　handicap；〃　he　often　says　to　Gladys　when　they　are　talking　over　the　future　of　their　children。

Pauline

The　first　six　months　of　her　new　life；　of　her　resumed　life；　she　spent　in　Europe　with　her　father　and　mother　and　Gardiner。　　Late　in　the　fall　they　were　back　at　Saint　X；　at　the　old　house　in　Jefferson　Street。　　In　the　following　June　came　Scarborough。　　She　was　in　the　garden；　was　waiting　for　him；　was　tying　up　a　tall　rose；　whose　splendid；　haughty　head　had　bent　under　the　night's　rain。

He　was　quite　near　her　when　she　heard　his　step　and　turned。　　He　stood；　looked　at　herthe　look　she　had　seen　that　last　afternoon　at　Battle　Field。　　He　came　slowly　up　and　took　both　her　hands。

〃After　all　the　waiting　and　longing　and　hoping；〃　he　said；　〃at　lastyou！　　I　can't　put　it　into　wordsexcept　to　sayjustPauline！〃

She　drew　a　long　breath；　her　gaze　met　his。　　And　in　her　eyes　he　saw　a　flame　that　had　never　shone　clearly　there　beforethe　fire　of　her　own　real　self；　free　and　proud。　　〃Once　you　told　me　about　your　father　and　motherhow　he　caredcared　always。〃

〃I　remember；〃　he　answered。

〃WellII；〃　said　Pauline；　〃I　care　as　SHE　must　have　cared　when　she　gave　him　herselfand　YOU。〃






End