the financier-第91节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃That's　odd；〃　observed　Mrs。　Butler；　doubtfully。　　〃She　must　have　gone　out　after　somethin'。　　It's　a　wonder　she　wouldn't　tell　somebody。〃

Butler　gave　no　sign。　　He　dared　not。　　〃She'll　be　back；〃　he　said；　more　in　order　to　gain　time　than　anything　else。　　He　was　sorry　to　have　to　pretend。　　Mrs。　Butler　went　out；　and　he　closed　the　door。　Then　he　took　out　the　letter　and　read　it　again。　　The　girl　was　crazy。　She　was　doing　an　absolutely　wild；　inhuman；　senseless　thing。　　Where　could　she　go；　except　to　Cowperwood？　She　was　on　the　verge　of　a　public　scandal；　and　this　would　produce　it。　　There　was　just　one　thing　to　do　as　far　as　he　could　see。　　Cowperwood；　if　he　were　still　in　Philadelphia；　would　know。　　He　would　go　to　himthreaten；　cajole；　actually　destroy　him；　if　necessary。　　Aileen　must　come　back。　　She　need　not　go　to　Europe；　perhaps；　but　she　must　come　back　and　behave　herself　at　least　until　Cowperwood　could　legitimately　marry　her。　That　was　all　he　could　expect　now。　　She　would　have　to　wait；　and　some　day　perhaps　he　could　bring　himself　to　accept　her　wretched　proposition。　Horrible　thought！　It　would　kill　her　mother；　disgrace　her　sister。　He　got　up；　took　down　his　hat；　put　on　his　overcoat；　and　started　out。

Arriving　at　the　Cowperwood　home　he　was　shown　into　the　reception…room。　Cowperwood　at　the　time　was　in　his　den　looking　over　some　private　papers。　　When　the　name　of　Butler　was　announced　he　immediately　went　down…stairs。　　It　was　characteristic　of　the　man　that　the　announcement　of　Butler's　presence　created　no　stir　in　him　whatsoever。　　So　Butler　had　come。　　That　meant；　of　course；　that　Aileen　had　gone。　　Now　for　a　battle；　not　of　words；　but　of　weights　of　personalities。　　He　felt　himself　to　be　intellectually；　socially；　and　in　every　other　way　the　more　powerful　man　of　the　two。　　That　spiritual　content　of　him　which　we　call　life　hardened　to　the　texture　of　steel。　　He　recalled　that　although　he　had　told　his　wife　and　his　father　that　the　politicians；　of　whom　Butler　was　one；　were　trying　to　make　a　scapegoat　of　him；　Butler；　nevertheless；　was　not　considered　to　be　wholly　alienated　as　a　friend；　and　civility　must　prevail。　　He　would　like　very　much　to　placate　him　if　he　could；　to　talk　out　the　hard　facts　of　life　in　a　quiet　and　friendly　way。　　But　this　matter　of　Aileen　had　to　be　adjusted　now　once　and　for　all。　　And　with　that　thought　in　his　mind　he　walked　quickly　into　Butler's　presence。

The　old　man；　when　he　learned　that　Cowperwood　was　in　and　would　see　him；　determined　to　make　his　contact　with　the　financier　as　short　and　effective　as　possible。　　He　moved　the　least　bit　when　he　heard　Cowperwood's　step；　as　light　and　springy　as　ever。

〃Good　evening；　Mr。　Butler；〃　said　Cowperwood；　cheerfully；　when　he　saw　him；　extending　his　hand。　　〃What　can　I　do　for　you？〃

〃Ye　can　take　that　away　from　in　front　of　me；　for　one　thing；〃　said　Butler；　grimly　referring　to　his　hand。　　〃I　have　no　need　of　it。　It's　my　daughter　I've　come　to　talk　to　ye　about；　and　I　want　plain　answers。　　Where　is　she？〃

〃You　mean　Aileen？〃　said　Cowperwood；　looking　at　him　with　steady；　curious；　unrevealing　eyes；　and　merely　interpolating　this　to　obtain　a　moment　for　reflection。　　〃What　can　I　tell　you　about　her？〃

〃Ye　can　tell　me　where　she　is；　that　I　know。　　And　ye　can　make　her　come　back　to　her　home；　where　she　belongs。　　It　was　bad　fortune　that　ever　brought　ye　across　my　doorstep；　but　I'll　not　bandy　words　with　ye　here。　　Ye'll　tell　me　where　my　daughter　is；　and　ye'll　leave　her　alone　from　now；　or　I'll〃　The　old　man's　fists　closed　like　a　vise；　and　his　chest　heaved　with　suppressed　rage。　　〃Ye'll　not　be　drivin'　me　too　far；　man；　if　ye're　wise；〃　he　added；　after　a　time；　recovering　his　equanimity　in　part。　　〃I　want　no　truck　with　ye。　　I　want　my　daughter。〃

〃Listen；　Mr。　Butler；〃　said　Cowperwood；　quite　calmly；　relishing　the　situation　for　the　sheer　sense　of　superiority　it　gave　him。　　〃I　want　to　be　perfectly　frank　with　you；　if　you　will　let　me。　　I　may　know　where　your　daughter　is；　and　I　may　not。　　I　may　wish　to　tell　you；　and　I　may　not。　　She　may　not　wish　me　to。　　But　unless　you　wish　to　talk　with　me　in　a　civil　way　there　is　no　need　of　our　going　on　any　further。　　You　are　privileged　to　do　what　you　like。　　Won't　you　come　up…stairs　to　my　room？　We　can　talk　more　comfortably　there。〃

Butler　looked　at　his　former　protege　in　utter　astonishment。　　He　had　never　before　in　all　his　experience　come　up　against　a　more　ruthless　typesuave；　bland；　forceful；　unterrified。　　This　man　had　certainly　come　to　him　as　a　sheep；　and　had　turned　out　to　be　a　ravening　wolf。　　His　incarceration　had　not　put　him　in　the　least　awe。

〃I'll　not　come　up　to　your　room；〃　Butler　said；　〃and　ye'll　not　get　out　of　Philadelphy　with　her　if　that's　what　ye're　plannin'。　　I　can　see　to　that。　　Ye　think　ye　have　the　upper　hand　of　me；　I　see；　and　ye're　anxious　to　make　something　of　it。　　Well；　ye're　not。　　It　wasn't　enough　that　ye　come　to　me　as　a　beggar；　cravin'　the　help　of　me；　and　that　I　took　ye　in　and　helped　ye　all　I　couldye　had　to　steal　my　daughter　from　me　in　the　bargain。　　If　it　wasn't　for　the　girl's　mother　and　her　sister　and　her　brothersdacenter　men　than　ever　ye'll　know　how　to　beI'd　brain　ye　where　ye　stand。　　Takin'　a　young；　innocent　girl　and　makin'　an　evil　woman　out　of　her；　and　ye　a　married　man！　It's　a　God's　blessin'　for　ye　that　it's　me；　and　not　one　of　me　sons；　that's　here　talkin'　to　ye；　or　ye　wouldn't　be　alive　to　say　what　ye'd　do。〃

The　old　man　was　grim　but　impotent　in　his　rage。

〃I'm　sorry；　Mr。　Butler；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　quietly。　　〃I'm　willing　to　explain；　but　you　won't　let　me。　　I'm　not　planning　to　run　away　with　your　daughter；　nor　to　leave　Philadelphia。　　You　ought　to　know　me　well　enough　to　know　that　I'm　not　contemplating　anything　of　that　kind；　my　interests　are　too　large。　　You　and　I　are　practical　men。　We　ought　to　be　able　to　talk　this　matter　over　together　and　reach　an　understanding。　　I　thought　once　of　coming　to　you　and　explaining　this；　but　I　was　quite　sure　you　wouldn't　listen　to　me。　　Now　that　you　are　here　I　would　like　to　talk　to　you。　　If　you　will　come　up　to　my　room　I　will　be　glad　tootherwise　not。　　Won't　you　come　up？〃

Butler　saw　that　Cowperwood　had　the　advantage。　　He　might　as　well　go　up。　　Otherwise　it　was　plain　he　would　get　no　information。

〃Very　well；〃　he　said。

Cowperwood　led　the　way　quite　amicably；　and；　having　entered　his　private　office；　closed　the　door　behind　him。

〃We　ought　to　be　able　to　talk　this　matter　over　and　reach　an　understanding；〃　he　said　again；　when　they　were　in　the　room　and　he　had　closed　the　door。　　〃I　am　not　as　bad　as　you　think；　though　I　know　I　appear　very　bad。〃　　Butler　stared　at　him　in　contempt。　　〃I　love　your　daughter；　and　she　loves　me。　　I　know　you　are　asking　yourself　how　I　can　do　this　while　I　am　still　married；　but　I　assure　you　I　can；　and　that　I　do。　　I　am　not　happily　married。　　I　had　expected；　if　this　panic　hadn't　come　along；　to　arrange　with　my　wife　for　a　divorce　and　marry　Aileen。　　My　intentions　are　perfectly　good。　　The　situation　which　you　can　complain　of；　of　course；　is　the　one　you　encountered　a　few　weeks　ago。　　It　was　indiscreet；　but　it　was　entirely　human。　Your　daughter　does　not　complainshe　understands。〃　　At　the　mention　of　his　daughter　in　this　connection　Butler　flushed　with　rage　and　shame；　but　he　controlled　himself。

〃And　ye　think　because　she　doesn't　complain　that　it's　all　right；　do　ye？〃　he　asked；　sarcastically。

〃From　my　point　of　view；　yes；　from　yours　no。　　You　have　one　view　of　life；　Mr。　Butler；　and　I　have　another。〃

〃Ye're　right　there；〃　put　in　Butler；　〃for　once；　anyhow。〃

〃That　doesn't　prove　that　either　of　us　is　right　or　wrong。　　In　my　judgment　the　present　end　justifies　the　means。　　The　end　I　have　in　view　is　to　marry　Aileen。　　If　I　can　possibly　pull　myself　out　of　this　financial　scrape　that　I　am　in　I　will　do　so。　　Of　course；　I　would　like　to　have　your　consent　for　thatso　would　Aileen；　but　if　we　can't；　we　can't。〃　　（Cowperwood　was　thinking　that　while　this　might　not　have　a　very　soothing　effect　on　the　old　contractor's　point　of　view；　nevertheless　it　must　make　some　appeal　to　his　sense　of　the　possible　or　necessary。　　Aileen's　present　situation　was　quite　unsatisfactory　without　marriage　in　view。　　And　even　if　he；　Cowperwood；　was　a　convicted　embezzler　in　the　eyes　of　the　public；　that　did　not　make　him　so。　　He　might　get　free　and　restore　himself　would　certainlyand　Aileen　ought　to　be　glad　to　marry　him　if　she　could　under　the　circumstances。　　He　did　not　quite　grasp　the　depth　of　Butler's　religious　and　moral　prejudices。）　　〃Lately；〃　he　went　on；　〃you　have　been　doing　all　you　can；　as　I　understand　it；　to　pull　me　down；　on　account　of　Aileen；　I　suppose；　but　that　is　simply　delaying　what　I　want　to　do。〃

〃Ye'd　like　me　to　help　ye　do　that；　I　suppose？〃　suggested　Butler；　with　infinite　disgust　and　patience。

〃I　want　to　marry　Aileen；〃　Cowperwood　repeated；　for　emphasis'　sake。　〃She　wants　to　marry　me。　　Under　the　circumstances；　however　you　may　feel；　you　can　have　no　real　objection　to　my　doing　that；　I　am　sure；　yet　you　go　on　fighting　memaking　it　hard　for　me　to　do　what　you　really　know　ought　to　be　done。〃

〃Ye're　a　scoundrel；〃　said　Butler；　seeing　through　his　motives　quite　clearly。　　〃Ye're　a　sharper；　to　my　way　of　thinkin'；　and　it's　no　child　of　mine　I　want　connected　with　ye。　　I'm　not　sayin'；　seein'　that　things　are　as　they　are；　that　if　ye　were　a　free　man　it　wouldn't　be　better　that　she　should　marry　ye。　　It's　the　one　dacent　thing　ye　could　doif　ye　would；　which　I　doubt。　　But　t