a millionaire of rough-and-ready(粗犷的百万富翁)-第17节
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A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
morrow。 What of that？ He HAD something to do： to look after this
immense fortune。 What more could a man want； or should he want？ It
was rather mean in him； able to give his wife and children everything they
wanted； to be wanting anything more。 He laid down the print gently；
after dusting its glass and frame with his silk handkerchief； and slowly left
the room。
The drum…beat of the rain followed him down the staircase； but he shut
it out with his other thoughts； when he again closed the door of his office。
He set diligently to work by the declining winter light； until he was
interrupted by the entrance of his Chinese waiter to tell him that supper
which was the meal that Mulrady religiously adhered to in place of the late
dinner of civilization was ready in the dining…room。 Mulrady
mechanically obeyed the summons； but on entering the room the oasis of a
few plates in a desert of white table…cloth which awaited him made him
hesitate。 In its best aspect； the high dark Gothic mahogany ecclesiastical
sideboard and chairs of this room； which looked like the appointments of a
mortuary chapel； were not exhilarating； and to… day； in the light of the
rain…filmed windows and the feeble rays of a lamp half…obscured by the
dark shining walls； it was most depressing。
〃You kin take up supper into my office；〃 said Mulrady； with a sudden
inspiration。 〃I'll eat it there。〃
He ate it there； with his usual healthy appetite； which did not require
even the stimulation of company。 He had just finished； when his Irish
cookthe one female servant of the housecame to ask permission to be
absent that evening and the next day。
〃I suppose the likes of your honor won't be at home on the Christmas
Day？ And it's me cousins from the old counthry at Rough… and…Ready
that are invitin' me。〃
〃Why don't you ask them over here？〃 said Mulrady； with another
vague inspiration。 〃I'll stand treat。〃
〃Lord preserve you for a jinerous gintleman！ But it's the likes of
them and myself that wouldn't be at home here on such a day。〃
There was so much truth in this that Mulrady checked a sigh as he
gave the required permission； without saying that he had intended to
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A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
remain。 He could cook his own breakfast： he had done it before； and it
would be something to occupy him。 As to his dinner； perhaps he could
go to the hotel at Rough…and…Ready。 He worked on until the night had
well advanced。 Then； overcome with a certain restlessness that disturbed
him； he was forced to put his books and papers away。 It had begun to
blow in fitful gusts； and occasionally the rain was driven softly across the
panes like the passing of childish fingers。 This disturbed him more than
the monotony of silence； for he was not a nervous man。 He seldom read
a book； and the county paper furnished him only the financial and
mercantile news which was part of his business。 He knew he could not
sleep if he went to bed。 At last he rose； opened the window； and looked
out from pure idleness of occupation。 A splash of wheels in the distant
muddy road and fragments of a drunken song showed signs of an early
wandering reveller。 There were no lights to be seen at the closed works；
a profound darkness encompassed the house； as if the distant pines in the
hollow had moved up and round it。 The silence was broken now only by
the occasional sighing of wind and rain。 It was not an inviting night for a
perfunctory walk； but an idea struck himhe would call upon the Slinns；
and anticipate his next day's visit！ They would probably have company；
and be glad to see him： he could tell the girls of Mamie and her success。
That he had not thought of this before was a proof of his usual self…
contained isolation； that he thought of it now was an equal proof that he
was becoming at last accessible to loneliness。 He was angry with himself
for what seemed to him a selfish weakness。
He returned to his office； and； putting the envelope that had been lying
on Slinn's desk in his pocket； threw a serape over his shoulders； and
locked the front door of the house behind him。 It was well that the way
was a familiar one to him； and that his feet instinctively found the trail； for
the night was very dark。 At times he was warned only by the gurgling of
water of little rivulets that descended the hill and crossed his path。
Without the slightest fear； and with neither imagination nor sensitiveness；
he recalled how； the winter before； one of Don Caesar's vaqueros； crossing
this hill at night； had fallen down the chasm of a landslip caused by the
rain； and was found the next morning with his neck broken in the gully。
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A MILLIONAIRE OF ROUGH…AND…READY
Don Caesar had to take care of the man's family。 Suppose such an
accident should happen to him？ Well； he had made his will。 His wife and
children would be provided for； and the work of the mine would go on all
the same； he had arranged for that。 Would anybody miss him？ Would
his wife； or his son； or his daughter？ No。 He felt such a sudden and
overwhelming conviction of the truth of this that he stopped as suddenly
as if the chasm had opened before him。 No！ It was the truth。 If he
were to disappear forever in the darkness of the Christmas night there was
none to feel his loss。 His wife would take care of Mamie； his son would
take care of himself； as he had beforerelieved of even the scant paternal
authority he rebelled against。 A more imaginative man than Mulrady
would have combated or have followed out this idea； and then dismissed it；
to the millionaire's matter…of…fact mind it was a deduction that； having
once presented itself to his perception； was already a recognized fact。
For the first time in his life he felt a sudden instinct of something like
aversion towards his family； a feeling that even his son's dissipation and
criminality had never provoked。 He hurried on angrily through the
darkness。
It was very strange； the old house should be almost before him now；
across the hollow； yet there were no indications of light！ It was not until
he actually reached the garden fence； and the black bulk of shadow rose
out against the sky； that he saw a faint ray of light from one of the lean…to
windows。 He went to the front door and knocked。 After waiting in vain
for a reply； he knocked again。 The second knock proving equally futile； he
tried the door； it was unlocked； and； pushing it open； he walked in。 The
narrow passage was quite dark； but from his knowledge of the house he
knew the 〃lean…to〃 was next to the kitchen； and； passing through the
dining… room into it； he opened the door of the little room from which the
light proceeded。 It came from a single candle on a small table； and
beside it； with his eyes moodily fixed on the dying embers of the fire； sat
old Slinn。 There was no other light nor another human being in the
whole house。
For the instant Mulrady； forgetting his own feelings in the mute picture
of the utter desolation of the helpless man； remained speechless on the
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threshold。 Then； recalling himself； he stepped forward and laid his hand
gayly on the bowed shoulders。
〃Rouse up out o' this； old man！ Come！ this won't do。 Look！ I've
run over here in the rain； jist to have a sociable time with you all。〃
〃I knew it；〃 said the old man； without looking up； 〃I knew you'd
come。〃
〃You knew I'd come？〃 echoed Mulrady； with an uneasy
