the make-believe man(说服者)-第2节
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Forbes。 Having first known him as 〃Joe；〃 I occasionally forget。
〃My name is NOT Joe；〃 he said sternly； 〃and I have as much right to
carry a second…hand bag as a new one。 The bag says IT has been to
Europe。 It does not say that I have been there。〃
〃But； you probably will；〃 I pointed out； 〃and then some one who has
really visited those places〃
〃Listen！〃 commanded Kinney。 〃If you want adventures you must be
somebody of importance。 No one will go shares in an adventure with Joe
Kinney； a twenty…dollar…a…week clerk； the human adding machine； the
hall…room boy。 But Forbes Kinney； Esq。； with a bag from Europe； and a
Harvard ribbon round his hat〃
〃Is that a Harvard ribbon round your hat？〃 I asked。
〃It is！〃 declared Kinney； 〃and I have a Yale ribbon； and a Turf Club
ribbon； too。 They come on hooks； and you hook 'em on to match your
clothes； or the company you keep。 And； what's more；〃 he continued； with
some heat； 〃I've borrowed a tennis racket and a golf bag full of sticks； and
you take care you don't give me away。〃
〃I see；〃 I returned； 〃that you are going to get us into a lot of trouble。〃
〃I was thinking；〃 said Kinney； looking at me rather doubtfully； 〃it might
help a lot if for the first week you acted as my secretary； and during the
second week I was your secretary。〃
Sometimes； when Mr。 Joyce goes on a business trip； he takes me with
him as his private stenographer； and the change from office work is very
pleasant； but I could not see why I should spend one week of my holiday
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writing letters for Kinney。
〃You wouldn't write any letters；〃 he explained。 〃But if I could tell
people you were my private secretary； it would naturally give me a certain
importance。〃
〃If it will make you any happier；〃 I said； 〃you can tell people I am a
British peer in disguise。〃
〃There is no use in being nasty about it；〃 protested Kinney。 〃I am
only trying to show you a way that would lead to adventure。〃
〃It surely would！〃 I assented。 〃It would lead us to jail。〃
The last week in August came； and； as to where we were to go we still
were undecided； I suggested we leave it to chance。
〃The first thing；〃 I pointed out； 〃is to get away from this awful city。
The second thing is to get away cheaply。 Let us write down the names of
the summer resorts to which we can travel by rail or by boat for two
dollars and put them in a hat。 The name of the place we draw will be the
one for which we start Saturday afternoon。 The idea；〃 I urged； 〃is in
itself full of adventure。〃
Kinney agreed； but reluctantly。 What chiefly disturbed him was the
thought that the places near New York to which one could travel for so
little money were not likely to be fashionable。
〃I have a terrible fear；〃 he declared； 〃that； with this limit of yours； we
will wake up in Asbury Park。〃
Friday night came and found us prepared for departure； and at
midnight we held our lottery。 In a pillow…case we placed twenty slips of
paper； on each of which was written the name of a summer resort。 Ten of
these places were selected by Kinney； and ten by myself。 Kinney
dramatically rolled up his sleeve； and； plunging his bared arm into our
grab…bag； drew out a slip of paper and read aloud： 〃New Bedford； via New
Bedford Steamboat Line。〃 The choice was one of mine。
〃New Bedford！〃 shouted Kinney。 His tone expressed the keenest
disappointment。 〃It's a mill town！〃 he exclaimed。 〃It's full of cotton
mills。〃
〃That may be；〃 I protested。 〃But it's also a most picturesque old
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seaport； one of the oldest in America。 You can see whaling vessels at the
wharfs there； and wooden figure…heads； and harpoons〃
〃Is this an expedition to dig up buried cities；〃 interrupted Kinney； 〃or a
pleasure trip？ I don't WANT to see harpoons！ I wouldn't know a
harpoon if you stuck one into me。 I prefer to see hatpins。〃
The Patience did not sail until six o'clock； but we were so anxious to
put New York behind us that at five we were on board。 Our cabin was an
outside one with two berths。 After placing our suit…cases in it； we
collected camp…chairs and settled ourselves in a cool place on the boat
deck。 Kinney had bought all the afternoon papers； and； as later I had
reason to remember； was greatly interested over the fact that the young
Earl of Ivy had at last arrived in this country。 For some weeks the papers
had been giving more space than seemed necessary to that young Irishman
and to the young lady he was coming over to marry。 There had been
pictures of his different country houses； pictures of himself； in uniform； in
the robes he wore at the coronation； on a polo pony； as Master of Fox…
hounds。 And there had been pictures of Miss Aldrich； and of HER
country places at Newport and on the Hudson。 From the afternoon
papers Kinney learned that； having sailed under his family name of
Meehan； the young man and Lady Moya； his sister； had that morning
landed in New York； but before the reporters had discovered them； had
escaped from the wharf and disappeared。
〃'Inquiries at the different hotels；'〃 read Kinney impressively； 〃'failed
to establish the whereabouts of his lordship and Lady Moya； and it is
believed they at once left by train for Newport。'〃
With awe Kinney pointed at the red funnels of the Mauretania。
〃There is the boat that brought them to America；〃 he said。 〃I see；〃 he
added； 〃that in this picture of him playing golf he wears one of those knit
jackets the Eiselbaum has just marked down to three dollars and seventy…
five cents。 I wish〃 he added regretfully。
〃You can get one at New Bedford；〃 I suggested。
〃I wish；〃 he continued； 〃we had gone to Newport。 All of our BEST
people will be there for the wedding。 It is the most important social
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event of the season。 You might almost call it an alliance。〃
I went forward to watch them take on the freight； and Kinney stationed
himself at the rail above the passengers gangway where he could see the
other passengers arrive。 He had dressed himself with much care； and was
wearing his Yale hat…band； but when a very smart…looking youth came up
the gangplank wearing a Harvard ribbon； Kinney hastily retired to our
cabin and returned with one like it。 A few minutes later I found him and
the young man seated in camp… chairs side by side engaged in a
conversation in which Kinney seemed to bear the greater part。 Indeed； to
what Kinney was saying the young man paid not the slightest attention。
Instead； his eyes were fastened on the gangplank below； and when a young
man of his own age； accompanied by a girl in a dress of rough tweed；
appeared upon it； he leaped from his seat。 Then with a conscious look at
Kinney； sank back。
The girl in the tweed suit was sufficiently beautiful to cause any man
to rise and to remain standing。 She was the most beautiful girl I had ever
seen。 She had gray eyes and hair like golden…rod； worn in a fashion with
which I was not familiar； and her face was so lovely that in my surprise at
the sight of it； I felt a sudden catch at my throat； and my heart stopped
with awe； and wonder； and gratitude。
After a brief moment the young man in the real Harvard hat…band rose
restlessly and； with a nod to Kinney； went below。 I also rose and
followed him。 I had an uncontrollable desire to again look at the girl
