the financier-第69节

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w；　that　he　did　not　think　that　the　evidence　was　strong　enough　to　convict　him。　　He　was　merely　a　political　scapegoat　through　public　clamor　and　her　father's　influence；　since　the　latter's　receipt　of　the　letter　about　them　he　had　been　the　victim　of　Butler's　enmity；　and　nothing　more。　　〃If　it　weren't　for　your　father；　honey；〃　he　declared；　〃I　could　have　this　indictment　quashed　in　no　time。　　Neither　Mollenhauer　nor　Simpson　has　anything　against　me　personally；　I　am　sure。　　They　want　me　to　get　out　of　the　street…railway　business　here　in　Philadelphia；　and；　of　course；　they　wanted　to　make　things　look　better　for　Stener　at　first；　but　depend　upon　it；　if　your　father　hadn't　been　against　me　they　wouldn't　have　gone　to　any　such　length　in　making　me　the　victim。　　Your　father　has　this　fellow　Shannon　and　these　minor　politicians　just　where　he　wants　them；　too。　　That's　where　the　trouble　lies。　　They　have　to　go　on。〃

〃Oh；　I　know；〃　replied　Aileen。　　〃It's　me；　just　me；　that's　all。　　If　it　weren't　for　me　and　what　he　suspects　he'd　help　you　in　a　minute。　Sometimes；　you　know；　I　think　I've　been　very　bad　for　you。　　I　don't　know　what　I　ought　to　do。　　If　I　thought　it　would　help　you　any　I'd　not　see　you　any　more　for　a　while；　though　I　don't　see　what　good　that　would　do　now。　　Oh；　I　love　you；　love　you；　Frank！　I　would　do　anything　for　you。　　I　don't　care　what　people　think　or　say。　　I　love　you。〃

〃Oh；　you　just　think　you　do；〃　he　replied；　jestingly。　　〃You'll　get　over　it。　　There　are　others。〃

〃Others！〃　echoed　Aileen；　resentfully　and　contemptuously。　　〃After　you　there　aren't　any　others。　　I　just　want　one　man；　my　Frank。　　If　you　ever　desert　me；　I'll　go　to　hell。　　You'll　see。〃

〃Don't　talk　like　that；　Aileen；〃　he　replied；　almost　irritated。　　〃I　don't　like　to　hear　you。　　You　wouldn't　do　anything　of　the　sort。　　I　love　you。　　You　know　I'm　not　going　to　desert　you。　　It　would　pay　you　to　desert　me　just　now。〃

〃Oh；　how　you　talk！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Desert　you！　It's　likely；　isn't　it？　But　if　ever　you　desert　me；　I'll　do　just　what　I　say。　　I　swear　it。〃

〃Don't　talk　like　that。　　Don't　talk　nonsense。〃

〃I　swear　it。　　I　swear　by　my　love。　　I　swear　by　your　successmy　own　happiness。　　I'll　do　just　what　I　say。　　I'll　go　to　hell。〃

Cowperwood　got　up。　　He　was　a　little　afraid　now　of　this　deep…seated　passion　he　had　aroused。　　It　was　dangerous。　　He　could　not　tell　where　it　would　lead。

It　was　a　cheerless　afternoon　in　November；　when　Alderson；　duly　informed　of　the　presence　of　Aileen　and　Cowperwood　in　the　South　Sixth　Street　house　by　the　detective　on　guard　drove　rapidly　up　to　Butler's　office　and　invited　him　to　come　with　him。　　Yet　even　now　Butler　could　scarcely　believe　that　he　was　to　find　his　daughter　there。　　The　shame　of　it。　　The　horror。　　What　would　he　say　to　her？　How　reproach　her？　What　would　he　do　to　Cowperwood？　His　large　hands　shook　as　he　thought。　　They　drove　rapidly　to　within　a　few　doors　of　the　place；　where　a　second　detective　on　guard　across　the　street　approached。　　Butler　and　Alderson　descended　from　the　vehicle；　and　together　they　approached　the　door。　　It　was　now　almost　four…thirty　in　the　afternoon。　　In　a　room　within　the　house；　Cowperwood；　his　coat　and　vest　off；　was　listening　to　Aileen's　account　of　her　troubles。

The　room　in　which　they　were　sitting　at　the　time　was　typical　of　the　rather　commonplace　idea　of　luxury　which　then　prevailed。　　Most　of　the　〃sets〃　of　furniture　put　on　the　market　for　general　sale　by　the　furniture　companies　were；　when　they　approached　in　any　way　the　correct　idea　of　luxury；　imitations　of　one　of　the　Louis　periods。　　The　curtains　were　always　heavy；　frequently　brocaded；　and　not　infrequently　red。　The　carpets　were　richly　flowered　in　high　colors　with　a　thick；　velvet　nap。　　The　furniture；　of　whatever　wood　it　might　be　made；　was　almost　invariably　heavy；　floriated；　and　cumbersome。　　This　room　contained　a　heavily　constructed　bed　of　walnut；　with　washstand；　bureau；　and　wardrobe　to　match。　　A　large；　square　mirror　in　a　gold　frame　was　hung　over　the　washstand。　　Some　poor　engravings　of　landscapes　and　several　nude　figures　were　hung　in　gold　frames　on　the　wall。　　The　gilt…framed　chairs　were　upholstered　in　pink…and…white…flowered　brocade；　with　polished　brass　tacks。　　The　carpet　was　of　thick　Brussels；　pale　cream　and　pink　in　hue；　with　large　blue　jardinieres　containing　flowers　woven　in　as　ornaments。　　The　general　effect　was　light；　rich；　and　a　little　stuffy。

〃You　know　I　get　desperately　frightened；　sometimes；〃　said　Aileen。　〃Father　might　be　watching　us；　you　know。　　I've　often　wondered　what　I'd　do　if　he　caught　us。　　I　couldn't　lie　out　of　this；　could　I？〃

〃You　certainly　couldn't；〃　said　Cowperwood；　who　never　failed　to　respond　to　the　incitement　of　her　charms。　　She　had　such　lovely　smooth　arms；　a　full；　luxuriously　tapering　throat　and　neck；　her　golden…red　hair　floated　like　an　aureole　about　her　head；　and　her　large　eyes　sparkled。　　The　wondrous　vigor　of　a　full　womanhood　was　herserrant；　ill…balanced；　romantic；　but　exquisite；　〃but　you　might　as　well　not　cross　that　bridge　until　you　come　to　it；〃　he　continued。　　〃I　myself　have　been　thinking　that　we　had　better　not　go　on　with　this　for　the　present。　　That　letter　ought　to　have　been　enough　to　stop　us　for　the　time。〃

He　came　over　to　where　she　stood　by　the　dressing…table；　adjusting　her　hair。

〃You're　such　a　pretty　minx；〃　he　said。　　He　slipped　his　arm　about　her　and　kissed　her　pretty　mouth。　　〃Nothing　sweeter　than　you　this　side　of　Paradise；〃　he　whispered　in　her　ear。

While　this　was　enacting；　Butler　and　the　extra　detective　had　stepped　out　of　sight；　to　one　side　of　the　front　door　of　the　house；　while　Alderson；　taking　the　lead；　rang　the　bell。　　A　negro　servant　appeared。

〃Is　Mrs。　Davis　in？〃　he　asked；　genially；　using　the　name　of　the　woman　in　control。　　〃I'd　like　to　see　her。〃

〃Just　come　in；〃　said　the　maid；　unsuspectingly；　and　indicated　a　reception…room　on　the　right。　　Alderson　took　off　his　soft；　wide…brimmed　hat　and　entered。　　When　the　maid　went　up…stairs　he　immediately　returned　to　the　door　and　let　in　Butler　and　two　detectives。　　The　four　stepped　into　the　reception…room　unseen。　　In　a　few　moments　the　〃madam〃　as　the　current　word　characterized　this　type　of　woman；　appeared。　　She　was　tall；　fair；　rugged；　and　not　at　all　unpleasant　to　look　upon。　　She　had　light…blue　eyes　and　a　genial　smile。　　Long　contact　with　the　police　and　the　brutalities　of　sex　in　her　early　life　had　made　her　wary；　a　little　afraid　of　how　the　world　would　use　her。　　This　particular　method　of　making　a　living　being　illicit；　and　she　having　no　other　practical　knowledge　at　her　command；　she　was　as　anxious　to　get　along　peacefully　with　the　police　and　the　public　generally　as　any　struggling　tradesman　in　any　walk　of　life　might　have　been。　　She　had　on　a　loose；　blue…flowered　peignoir；　or　dressing…gown；　open　at　the　front；　tied　with　blue　ribbons　and　showing　a　little　of　her　expensive　underwear　beneath。　　A　large　opal　ring　graced　her　left　middle　finger；　and　turquoises　of　vivid　blue　were　pendent　from　her　ears。　　She　wore　yellow　silk　slippers　with　bronze　buckles；　and　altogether　her　appearance　was　not　out　of　keeping　with　the　character　of　the　reception…room　itself；　which　was　a　composite　of　gold…flowered　wall…paper；　blue　and　cream…colored　Brussels　carpet；　heavily　gold…framed　engravings　of　reclining　nudes；　and　a　gilt…framed　pier…glass；　which　rose　from　the　floor　to　the　ceiling。　　Needless　to　say；　Butler　was　shocked　to　the　soul　of　him　by　this　suggestive　atmosphere　which　was　supposed　to　include　his　daughter　in　its　destructive　reaches。

Alderson　motioned　one　of　his　detectives　to　get　behind　the　woman　between　her　and　the　doorwhich　he　did。

〃Sorry　to　trouble　you；　Mrs。　Davis；〃　he　said；　〃but　we　are　looking　for　a　couple　who　are　in　your　house　here。　　We're　after　a　runaway　girl。　　We　don't　want　to　make　any　disturbancemerely　to　get　her　and　take　her　away。〃　　Mrs。　Davis　paled　and　opened　her　mouth。　　〃Now　don't　make　any　noise　or　try　to　scream；　or　we'll　have　to　stop　you。　My　men　are　all　around　the　house。　　Nobody　can　get　out。　　Do　you　know　anybody　by　the　name　of　Cowperwood？〃

Mrs。　Davis；　fortunately　from　one　point　of　view；　was　not　of　a　particularly　nervous　nor　yet　contentious　type。　　She　was　more　or　less　philosophic。　　She　was　not　in　touch　with　the　police　here　in　Philadelphia；　hence　subject　to　exposure。　　What　good　would　it　do　to　cry　out？　she　thought。　　The　place　was　surrounded。　　There　was　no　one　in　the　house　at　the　time　to　save　Cowperwood　and　Aileen。　She　did　not　know　Cowperwood　by　his　name；　nor　Aileen　by　hers。　　They　were　a　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Montague　to　her。

〃I　don't　know　anybody　by　that　name；〃　she　replied　nervously。

〃Isn't　there　a　girl　here　with　red　hair？〃　　asked　one　of　Alderson's　assistants。　　〃And　a　man　with　a　gray　suit　and　a　light…brown　mustache？　They　came　in　here　half　an　hour　ago。　　You　remember　them；　don't　you？〃

〃There's　just　one　couple　in　the　house；　but　I'm　not　sure　whether　they're　the　ones　you　want。　　I'll　ask　them　to　come　down　if　you　wish。　Oh；　I　wish　you　wouldn't　make　any　disturbance。　　This　is　terrible。〃

〃We'll　not　make　any　disturbance；〃　replied　Alderson；　〃if　you　don't。　Just　you　be　quiet。　　We　merely　want　to　see　the　girl　and　take　her　away。　　Now；　you　stay　where　you　are。　　What　room　are　they　in？〃

〃In　the　second　one　in　the　rear　up…stairs。　　Won't　you　let　me　go；　though？　It　will　be　so　much　better。　　I'll　just　tap　and　ask　them　to　come　out。〃

〃No。　　We'll　tend　to　that。　　You　stay　where　you　are。　　You're　not　going