the financier-第104节

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two　hydrants　opening　into　the　bath…tub　and　turned　them　on。　　Cowperwood　had　been　undressing　the　while；　and　now　stood　naked；　but　not　ashamed；　in　front　of　this　eighth…rate　intelligence。

〃Don't　forget　to　wash　your　head；　too；〃　said　Kuby；　and　went　away。

Cowperwood　stood　there　while　the　water　ran；　meditating　on　his　fate。　　It　was　strange　how　life　had　dealt　with　him　of　lateso　severely。　　Unlike　most　men　in　his　position；　he　was　not　suffering　from　a　consciousness　of　evil。　　He　did　not　think　he　was　evil。　　As　he　saw　it；　he　was　merely　unfortunate。　　To　think　that　he　should　be　actually　in　this　great；　silent　penitentiary；　a　convict；　waiting　here　beside　this　cheap　iron　bathtub；　not　very　sweet　or　hygienic　to　contemplate；　with　this　crackbrained　criminal　to　watch　over　him！

He　stepped　into　the　tub　and　washed　himself　briskly　with　the　biting　yellow　soap；　drying　himself　on　one　of　the　rough；　only　partially　bleached　towels。　　He　looked　for　his　underwear；　but　there　was　none。　At　this　point　the　attendant　looked　in　again。　　〃Out　here；〃　he　said；　inconsiderately。

Cowperwood　followed；　naked。　　He　was　led　through　the　receiving　overseer's　office　into　a　room；　where　were　scales；　implements　of　measurement；　a　record…book；　etc。　　The　attendant　who　stood　guard　at　the　door　now　came　over；　and　the　clerk　who　sat　in　a　corner　automatically　took　down　a　record…blank。　　Kendall　surveyed　Cowperwood's　decidedly　graceful　figure；　already　inclining　to　a　slight　thickening　around　the　waist；　and　approved　of　it　as　superior　to　that　of　most　who　came　here。　　His　skin；　as　he　particularly　noted；　was　especially　white。

〃Step　on　the　scale；〃　said　the　attendant；　brusquely。

Cowperwood　did　so；　The　former　adjusted　the　weights　and　scanned　the　record　carefully。

〃Weight；　one　hundred　and　seventy…five；〃　he　called。　　〃Now　step　over　here。〃

He　indicated　a　spot　in　the　side　wall　where　was　fastened　in　a　thin　slatwhich　ran　from　the　floor　to　about　seven　and　one　half　feet　above；　perpendicularlya　small　movable　wooden　indicator；　which；　when　a　man　was　standing　under　it；　could　be　pressed　down　on　his　head。　　At　the　side　of　the　slat　were　the　total　inches　of　height；　laid　off　in　halves；　quarters；　eighths；　and　so　on；　and　to　the　right　a　length　measurement　for　the　arm。　　Cowperwood　understood　what　was　wanted　and　stepped　under　the　indicator；　standing　quite　straight。

〃Feet　level；　back　to　the　wall；〃　urged　the　attendant。　　〃So。　　Height；　five　feet　nine　and　ten…sixteenths；〃　he　called。　　The　clerk　in　the　corner　noted　it。　　He　now　produced　a　tape…measure　and　began　measuring　Cowperwood's　arms；　legs；　chest；　waist；　hips；　etc。　　　He　called　out　the　color　of　his　eyes；　his　hair；　his　mustache；　and；　looking　into　his　mouth；　exclaimed；　〃Teeth；　all　sound。〃

After　Cowperwood　had　once　more　given　his　address；　age；　profession；　whether　he　knew　any　trade；　etc。which　he　did　nothe　was　allowed　to　return　to　the　bathroom；　and　put　on　the　clothing　which　the　prison　provided　for　himfirst　the　rough；　prickly　underwear；　then　the　cheap　soft　roll…collar；　white…cotton　shirt；　then　the　thick　bluish…gray　cotton　socks　of　a　quality　such　as　he　had　never　worn　in　his　life；　and　over　these　a　pair　of　indescribable　rough…leather　clogs；　which　felt　to　his　feet　as　though　they　were　made　of　wood　or　ironoily　and　heavy。　　He　then　drew　on　the　shapeless；　baggy　trousers　with　their　telltale　stripes；　and　over　his　arms　and　chest　the　loose…cut　shapeless　coat　and　waistcoat。　　He　felt　and　knew　of　course　that　he　looked　very　strange；　wretched。　　And　as　he　stepped　out　into　the　overseer's　room　again　he　experienced　a　peculiar　sense　of　depression；　a　gone　feeling　which　before　this　had　not　assailed　him　and　which　now　he　did　his　best　to　conceal。　　This；　then；　was　what　society　did　to　the　criminal；　he　thought　to　himself。　　It　took　him　and　tore　away　from　his　body　and　his　life　the　habiliments　of　his　proper　state　and　left　him　these。　　He　felt　sad　and　grim；　and；　try　as　he　wouldhe　could　not　help　showing　it　for　a　moment。　　It　was　always　his　business　and　his　intention　to　conceal　his　real　feelings；　but　now　it　was　not　quite　possible。　　He　felt　degraded；　impossible；　in　these　clothes；　and　he　knew　that　he　looked　it。　　Nevertheless；　he　did　his　best　to　pull　himself　together　and　look　unconcerned；　willing；　obedient；　considerate　of　those　above　him。　　After　all；　he　said　to　himself；　it　was　all　a　play　of　sorts；　a　dream　even；　if　one　chose　to　view　it　so；　a　miasma　even；　from　which；　in　the　course　of　time　and　with　a　little　luck　one　might　emerge　safely　enough。　　He　hoped　so。　　It　could　not　last。　　He　was　only　acting　a　strange；　unfamiliar　part　on　the　stage；　this　stage　of　life　that　he　knew　so　well。

Kendall　did　not　waste　any　time　looking　at　him；　however。　　He　merely　said　to　his　assistant；　〃See　if　you　can　find　a　cap　for　him；〃　and　the　latter；　going　to　a　closet　containing　numbered　shelves；　took　down　a　capa　high…crowned；　straight…visored；　shabby；　striped　affair　which　Cowperwood　was　asked　to　try　on。　　It　fitted　well　enough；　slipping　down　close　over　his　ears；　and　he　thought　that　now　his　indignities　must　be　about　complete。　　What　could　be　added？　There　could　be　no　more　of　these　disconcerting　accoutrements。　　But　he　was　mistaken。　〃Now；　Kuby；　you　take　him　to　Mr。　Chapin；〃　said　Kendall。　

Kuby　understood。　　He　went　back　into　the　wash…room　and　produced　what　Cowperwood　had　heard　of　but　never　before　seena　blue…and…white…striped　cotton　bag　about　half　the　length　of　an　ordinary　pillow…case　and　half　again　as　wide；　which　Kuby　now　unfolded　and　shook　out　as　he　came　toward　him。　　It　was　a　custom。　　The　use　of　this　hood；　dating　from　the　earliest　days　of　the　prison；　was　intended　to　prevent　a　sense　of　location　and　direction　and　thereby　obviate　any　attempt　to　escape。　　Thereafter　during　all　his　stay　he　was　not　supposed　to　walk　with　or　talk　to　or　see　another　prisoner　not　even　to　converse　with　his　superiors；　unless　addressed。　　It　was　a　grim　theory；　and　yet　one　definitely　enforced　here；　although　as　he　was　to　learn　later　even　this　could　be　modified　here。

〃You'll　have　to　put　this　on；〃　Kuby　said；　and　opened　it　in　such　a　way　that　it　could　be　put　over　Cowperwood's　head。

Cowperwood　understood。　　He　had　heard　of　it　in　some　way；　in　times　past。　　He　was　a　little　shockedlooked　at　it　first　with　a　touch　of　real　surprise；　but　a　moment　after　lifted　his　hands　and　helped　pull　it　down。

〃Never　mind；〃　cautioned　the　guard；　〃put　your　hands　down。　　I'll　get　it　over。〃

Cowperwood　dropped　his　arms。　　When　it　was　fully　on；　it　came　to　about　his　chest；　giving　him　little　means　of　seeing　anything。　　He　felt　very　strange；　very　humiliated；　very　downcast。　　This　simple　thing　of　a　blue…and…white　striped　bag　over　his　head　almost　cost　him　his　sense　of　self…possession。　　Why　could　not　they　have　spared　him　this　last　indignity；　he　thought？

〃This　way；〃　said　his　attendant；　and　he　was　led　out　to　where　he　could　not　say。

〃If　you　hold　it　out　in　front　you　can　see　to　walk；〃　said　his　guide；　and　Cowperwood　pulled　it　out；　thus　being　able　to　discern　his　feet　and　a　portion　of　the　floor　below。　　He　was　thus　conductedseeing　nothing　in　his　transitdown　a　short　walk；　then　through　a　long　corridor；　then　through　a　room　of　uniformed　guards；　and　finally　up　a　narrow　flight　of　iron　steps；　leading　to　the　overseer's　office　on　the　second　floor　of　one　of　the　two…tier　blocks。　　There；　he　heard　the　voice　of　Kuby　saying：　〃Mr。　Chapin；　here's　another　prisoner　for　you　from　Mr。　Kendall。〃

〃I'll　be　there　in　a　minute；〃　came　a　peculiarly　pleasant　voice　from　the　distance。　　Presently　a　big；　heavy　hand　closed　about　his　arm；　and　he　was　conducted　still　further。

〃You　hain't　got　far　to　go　now；〃　the　voice　said；　〃and　then　I'll　take　that　bag　off；〃　and　Cowperwood　felt　for　some　reason　a　sense　of　sympathy；　perhapsas　though　he　would　choke。　　The　further　steps　were　not　many。

A　cell　door　was　reached　and　unlocked　by　the　inserting　of　a　great　iron　key。　　It　was　swung　open；　and　the　same　big　hand　guided　him　through。　　A　moment　later　the　bag　was　pulled　easily　from　his　head；　and　he　saw　that　he　was　in　a　narrow；　whitewashed　cell；　rather　dim；　windowless；　but　lighted　from　the　top　by　a　small　skylight　of　frosted　glass　three　and　one　half　feet　long　by　four　inches　wide。　　For　a　night　light　there　was　a　tin…bodied　lamp　swinging　from　a　hook　near　the　middle　of　one　of　the　side　walls。　　A　rough　iron　cot；　furnished　with　a　straw　mattress　and　two　pairs　of　dark　blue；　probably　unwashed　blankets；　stood　in　one　corner。　　There　was　a　hydrant　and　small　sink　in　another。　　A　small　shelf　occupied　the　wall　opposite　the　bed。　　A　plain　wooden　chair　with　a　homely　round　back　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　bed；　and　a　fairly　serviceable　broom　was　standing　in　one　corner。　There　was　an　iron　stool　or　pot　for　excreta；　giving；　as　he　could　see；　into　a　large　drain…pipe　which　ran　along　the　inside　wall；　and　which　was　obviously　flushed　by　buckets　of　water　being　poured　into　it。　　Rats　and　other　vermin　infested　this；　and　it　gave　off　an　unpleasant　odor　which　filled　the　cell。　　The　floor　was　of　stone。　Cowperwood's　clear…seeing　eyes　took　it　all　in　at　a　glance。　　He　noted　the　hard　cell　door；　which　was　barred　and　cross…barred　with　great　round　rods　of　steel；　and　fastened　with　a　thick；　highly　polished　lock。　　He　saw　also　that　beyond　this　was　a　heavy　wooden　door；　which　could　shut　him　in　even　more　completely　than　the　iron　one。　　There　was　no　chance　for　any　clear；　purifying　sunlight　here。　Cleanliness　depended　entirely　on　whitewash；