tommy and co[1].(托米和科)-第10节
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〃Clodd's a good sorta good sort；〃 said Peter Hope； who； having in
his time lived much alone； had fallen into the habit of speaking his
thoughts aloud； 〃but he's not the man to waste his time。 I wonder。〃
With the winter Clodd's Lunatic fell ill。
Clodd bustled round to Chancery Lane。
〃To tell you the truth；〃 confessed Mr。 Gladman； 〃we never thought
he would live so long as he has。〃
〃There's the annuity you've got to think of；〃 said Clodd； whom his
admirers of to…day （and they are many； for he must be a millionaire by
this time） are fond of alluding to as 〃that frank； outspoken Englishman。〃
〃Wouldn't it be worth your while to try what taking him away from the
fogs might do for him？〃
Old Gladman seemed inclined to consider the question； but Mrs。
Gladman； a brisk； cheerful little woman； had made up her mind。
〃We've had what there is to have；〃 said Mrs。 Gladman。 〃He's
seventy…three。 What's the sense of risking good money？ Be content。〃
No one could sayno one ever did saythat Clodd； under the
circumstances； did not do his best。 Perhaps； after all； nothing could
have helped。 The little old gentleman； at Clodd's suggestion； played at
being a dormouse and lay very still。 If he grew restless； thereby
bringing on his cough； Clodd； as a terrible black cat； was watching to
pounce upon him。 Only by keeping very quiet and artfully pretending
to be asleep could he hope to escape the ruthless Clodd。
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Doctor William Smith （ne Wilhelm Schmidt） shrugged his fat
shoulders。 〃We can do noding。 Dese fogs of ours： id is de one ting
dat enables the foreigner to crow over us。 Keep him quiet。 De
dormouseid is a goot idea。〃
That evening William Clodd mounted to the second floor of 16； Gough
Square； where dwelt his friend； Peter Hope； and knocked briskly at the
door。
〃Come in；〃 said a decided voice； which was not Peter Hope's。
Mr。 William Clodd's ambition was； and always had been； to be the
owner or part…owner of a paper。 To…day； as I have said； he owns a
quarter of a hundred； and is in negotiation； so rumour goes； for seven
more。 But twenty years ago 〃Clodd and Co。； Limited；〃 was but in
embryo。 And Peter Hope； journalist； had likewise and for many a long
year cherished the ambition to be； before he died； the owner or part…
owner of a paper。 Peter Hope to…day owns nothing； except perhaps the
knowledge； if such things be permitted； that whenever and wherever his
name is mentioned； kind thoughts arise unbidden that someone of the
party will surely say： 〃Dear old Peter！ What a good fellow he was！〃
Which also may be in its way a valuable possession： who knows？
But twenty years ago Peter's horizon was limited by Fleet Street。
Peter Hope was forty…seven； so he said； a dreamer and a scholar。
William Clodd was three…and…twenty； a born hustler； very wide awake。
Meeting one day by accident upon an omnibus； when Clodd lent Peter；
who had come out without his purse； threepence to pay his fare with；
drifting into acquaintanceship； each had come to acquire a liking and
respect for the other。 The dreamer thought with wonder of Clodd's
shrewd practicability； the cute young man of business was lost in
admiration of what seemed to him his old friend's marvellous learning。
Both had arrived at the conclusion that a weekly journal with Peter Hope
as editor； and William Clodd as manager； would be bound to be
successful。
〃If only we could scrape together a thousand pounds！〃 had sighed
Peter。
〃The moment we lay our hands upon the coin； we'll start that paper。
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Remember； it's a bargain；〃 had answered William Clodd。
Mr。 William Clodd turned the handle and walked in。 With the door
still in his hand he paused to look round the room。 It was the first time
he had seen it。 His meetings hitherto with Peter Hope had been chance
rencontres in street or restaurant。 Always had he been curious to view
the sanctuary of so much erudition。
A large； oak…panelled room； its three high windows； each with a low；
cushioned seat beneath it； giving on to Gough Square。 Thirty… five years
before； Peter Hope； then a young dandy with side whiskers close…
cropped and terminating just below the ear； with wavy； brown hair；
giving to his fresh…complexioned face an appearance almost girlish； in
cut…away blue coat； flowered waistcoat； black silk cravat secured by two
gold pins chained together； and tightly strapped grey trouserings； had；
aided and abetted by a fragile little lady in crinoline and much…flounced
skirt； and bodice somewhat low； with corkscrew curls each movement of
her head set ringing； planned and furnished it in accordance with the
sober canons then in vogue； spending thereupon more than they should；
as is to be expected from the young to whom the future promises all
things。 The fine Brussels carpet！ A little too bright； had thought the
shaking curls。 〃The colours will tone down； missma'am。〃 The
shopman knew。 Only by the help of the round island underneath the
massive Empire table； by excursions into untrodden corners； could Peter
recollect the rainbow floor his feet had pressed when he was twenty…one。
The noble bookcase； surmounted by Minerva's bust。 Really it was too
expensive。 But the nodding curls had been so obstinate。 Peter's silly
books and papers must be put away in order； the curls did not intend to
permit any excuse for untidiness。 So； too； the handsome； brass… bound
desk； it must be worthy of the beautiful thoughts Peter would pen upon it。
The great sideboard； supported by two such angry… looking mahogany
lions； it must be strong to support the weight of silver clever Peter would
one day purchase to place upon it。 The few oil paintings in their heavy
frames。 A solidly furnished； sober apartment； about it that subtle
atmosphere of dignity one finds but in old rooms long undisturbed；
where one seems to read upon the walls： 〃I； Joy and Sorrow； twain in
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one； have dwelt here。〃 One item only there was that seemed out of
place among its grave surroundingsa guitar； hanging from the wall；
ornamented with a ridiculous blue bow； somewhat faded。
〃Mr。 William Clodd？〃 demanded the decided voice。
Clodd started and closed the door。
〃Guessed it in once；〃 admitted Mr。 Clodd。
〃I thought so；〃 said the decided voice。 〃We got your note this
afternoon。 Mr。 Hope will be back at eight。 Will you kindly hang up
your hat and coat in the hall？ You will find a box of cigars on the
mantelpiece。 Excuse my being busy。 I must finish this； then I'll talk
to you。〃
The owner of the decided voice went on writing。 Clodd； having done
as he was bid； sat himself in the easy…chair before the fire and smoked。
Of the person behind the desk Mr。 Clodd
