the fortune hunter(闯世界的人)-第13节
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pushed。 The less time Ganser has to look about； the better forour
client。''
Travis found Ganser in his office at the brewery。 The old man's face
was red and troubled。
‘‘I've come on very unpleasant business； Mr。 Ganser；'' said Travis with
deference。 ‘‘As you know； I am with Loeb； Lynn； Levy and
McCafferty。 Our client； Mr。 Feuerstein''
Ganser leaped to his feet； apoplectic。
‘‘Get out！'' he shouted； ‘‘I don't speak with you！''
‘‘As an officer of the court； Mr。 Ganser；'' said Travis suavely； ‘‘it is my
painful duty to insist upon a hearing。 We lawyers can't select our clients。
We must do our best for all comers。 Our firm has sent me out of kindly
feeling for you。 We are all men of family； like yourself； and； when the
case was forced on us； we at once tried to think how we could be of
service to youof course； while doing our full legal duty by our client。
I've come in the hope of helping you to avoid the disgrace of publicity。''
‘‘Get out！'' growled Peter。 ‘‘I know lawyersthey're all thieves。
Get out！'' But Travis knew that Peter wished him to stay。
‘‘I needn't enlarge on our clientMr。 Feuerstein。 You know he's an
actor。 You know how they crave notoriety。 You know how eager the
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THE FORTUNE HUNTER
newspapers are to take up and make a noise about matters of this kind。''
Peter was sweating profusely； and had to seat himself。 ‘‘It's
outrageous！'' he groaned in German。
‘‘Feuerstein has ordered us to have your daughter brought into court at
onceto…morrow。 He's your daughter's lawful husband and she's well
beyond the legal age。 Of course； he can't compel her to live with him or
you to support him。 But he can force the courts to inquire publicly。
And I'm sorry to say we'll not be able to restrain him or the press； once he
gets the ball to rolling。''
Peter felt it rolling over him； tons heavy。 ‘‘What you talk about？'' he
said； on his guard but eager。
‘‘It's an outrage that honest men should be thus laid open to attack；''
continued Travis in a sympathetic tone。 ‘‘But if the law permits these
outrages； it also provides remedies。 Your daughter's mistake may cost
you a little something； but there need be no scandal。''
‘‘What do you mean by that？'' asked Ganser。 ‘‘Really； I've talked too
much already； Mr。 Ganser。 I almost forgot； for the moment； that I'm
representing Mr。 Feuerstein。 But； as between friends； I'd advise you to
go to some good divorce lawyersa firm that is reputable but understands
the ins and outs of the business； some firm like Beck and Brown。 They
can tell you exactly what to do。''
Ganser regarded his ‘‘friend'' suspiciously but credulously。 ‘‘I'll see；''
he said。 ‘‘But I won't pay a cent。''
‘‘Right you are； sir！ And there may be a way out of it without paying。
But Beck can tell you。'' Travis made a motion toward the inside pocket
of his coat； then pretended to change his mind。 ‘‘I came here to serve the
papers on you；'' he said apologetically。 ‘‘But I'll take the responsibility of
delayingit can't make Feuerstein any less married； and your daughter's
certainly safe in her father's care。 I'll wait in the hope that YOU'LL take
the first step。''
Ganser lost no time in going to his own lawyersFisher； Windisch and
Carteret； in the Postal Telegraph Building。 He told Windisch the whole
story。 ‘‘And；'' he ended； ‘‘I've got a detective looking up the rascal。
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He's a wretcha black wretch。''
‘‘We can't take your case； Mr。 Ganser；'' said Windisch。 ‘‘It's wholly
out of our line。 We don't do that kind of work。 I should say Beck and
Brown were your people。 They stand well； and at the same time they
know all the tricks。''
‘‘But they may play me the tricks。''
‘‘I think not。 They stand well at the bar。''
‘‘Yes； yes；'' sneered Peter； who was never polite； was always
insultingly frank to any one who served him for pay。 ‘‘I know that bar。''
‘‘Well； Mr。 Ganser；'' replied Windisch； angry but willing to take almost
anything from a rich client； ‘‘I guess you can look out for yourself。 Of
course there's always danger； once you get outside the straight course of
justice。 As I understand it； your main point is no publicity？''
‘‘That's right；'' replied Ganser。 ‘‘No newspapersno trial。''
‘‘Then Beck and Brown。 Drive as close a bargain as you can。 But
you'll have to give up a few thousands； I'm afraid。''
Ganser went over into Nassau Street and found Beck in his office。
He gazed with melancholy misgivings at this lean man with hair and
whiskers of a lifeless black。 Beck suggested a starved black spider；
especially when you were looking into his cold； amused； malignant black
eyes。 He made short work of the guileless brewer； who was dazed and
frightened by the meshes in which he was enveloped。 Staring at the
horrid specter of publicity which these men of craft kept before him； he
could not vigorously protest against extortion。 Beck discovered that
twenty thousand was his fighting limit。
‘‘Leave the matter entirely in our hands；'' said Beck。 ‘‘We'll make
the best bargain we can。 But Feuerstein has shrewd lawyersnone better。
That man Loeb'' Beck threw up his arms。 ‘‘Of course；'' he continued；
‘‘I had to know your limit。 I'll try to make the business as cheap for you
as possible。''
‘‘Put 'em off；'' said Ganser。 ‘‘My Lena's sick。''
His real reason was his hopes from the reports on Feuerstein's past；
which his detective would make。 But he thought it was not necessary to
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tell Beck about the detective。
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CHAPTER VI
TRAGEDY IN TOMPKINS SQUARE
After another talk with Travis； Feuerstein decided that he must give up
Hilda entirely until this affair with the Gansers was settled。 Afterward
well； there would be time to decide when he had his five thousand。 He
sent her a note； asking her to meet him in Tompkins Square on Friday
evening。 That afternoon he carefully prepared himself。 He resolved
that the scene between her and him should be； so far as his part was
concerned； a masterpiece of that art of which he knew himself to be one of
the greatest living exponents。 Only his own elegant languor had
prevented the universal recognition of this and his triumph over the envy
of professionals and the venality of critics。
It was a concert night in Tompkins Square； and Hilda； off from her
work for an hour； came alone through the crowds to meet him。 She made
no effort to control the delight in her eyes and in her voice。 She loved
him； he loved her。 Why suppress and deny？ Why not glory in the
glorious truth？ She loved him； not because he was her conquest； but
because she was his。
Mr。 Feuerstein was so absorbed in his impending ‘‘act'' that he barely
noted how pretty she was and how utterly in lovewhat was there
remarkable in a woman being in love with him？ ‘‘The women are all
crazy about me；'' was his inward comment whenever a woman chanced to
glance at him。 As he took Hilda's hand he gave her a look of intense；
yearning melancholy。 He sighed deeply。 ‘‘Let
