a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第7节
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〃He was always a 'dandy nigger；'〃 returned Pendleton； his face slightly
relaxing as he glanced after his grizzled henchman； 〃but his exaggeration
of courtesy is a blank sight more natural and manly than the exaggeration
of discourtesy which your superior civilized 'helps' think is self…respect。
The excuse of servitude of any kind is its spontaneity and affection。 When
you know a man hates you and serves you from interest； you know he's a
cur and you're a tyrant。 It's your blank progress that's made menial service
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degrading by teaching men to avoid it。 Why； sir； when I first arrived here；
Jack Hammersley and myself took turns as cook to the party。 I didn't
consider myself any the worse master for it。 But enough of this。〃 He
paused； and； raising himself on his elbow； gazed for some seconds half
cautiously； half doubtfully； upon his companion。 〃I've got something to tell
you； Hathaway；〃 he said； slowly。 〃You've had an easy time with this Trust；
your share of the work hasn't worried you； kept you awake nights； or
interfered with your career。 I understand perfectly；〃 he continued； in reply
to Hathaway's deprecating gesture。 〃I accepted to act as your proxy； and I
HAVE。 I'm not complaining。 But it is time that you should know what I've
done； and what you may still have to do。 Here is the record。 On the day
after that interview in the Mayor's office； the El Dorado Bank； of which I
was； and still am； president； received seventy…five thousand dollars in trust
from Mrs。 Howard。 Two years afterwards； on that same day； the bank had；
by lucky speculations； increased that sum to the credit of the trust one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars； or double the original capital。 In the
following year the bank suspended payment。〃
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CHAPTER II。
In an instant the whole situation and his relations to it flashed upon
Paul with a terrible； but almost grotesque； completeness。 Here he was； at
the outset of his career； responsible for the wasted fortune of the daughter
of a social outcast； and saddled with her support！ He now knew why
Colonel Pendleton had wished to see him； for one shameful moment he
believed he also knew why he had been content to take his proxy！ The
questionable character of the whole transaction； his own carelessness；
which sprang from that very confidence and trust that Pendleton had lately
extolledwhat WOULD； what COULD not be made of it！ He already
heard himself abused by his opponentsperhaps； more terrible still； faintly
excused by his friends。 All this was visible in his pale face and flashing
eyes as he turned them on the helpless invalid。
Colonel Pendleton received his look with the same critical； half…
curious scrutiny that had accompanied his speech。 At last his face changed
slightly； a faint look of disappointment crossed his eyes； and a sardonic
smile deepened the lines of his mouth。
〃There； sir；〃 he said hurriedly； as if dismissing an unpleasant revelation；
〃don't alarm yourself！ Take a drink of that whiskey。 You look pale。 Well；
turn your eyes on those walls。 You don't see any of that money laid out
heredo you？ Look at me。 I don't look like a man enriched with other
people's moneydo I？ Well； let that content you。 Every dollar of that Trust
fund； Hathaway； with all the interests and profits that have accrued to it； is
SAFE！ Every cent of it is locked up in government bonds with
Rothschild's agent。 There are the receipts； dated a week before the bank
suspended。 But enough of THATTHAT isn't what I asked you to come
and see me for。〃
The blood had rushed back to Paul's cheeks uncomfortably。 He saw
now； as impulsively as he had previously suspected his co…trustee； that the
man had probably ruined himself to save the Trust。 He stammered that he
had not questioned the management of the fund nor asked to withdraw his
proxy。
〃No matter； sir；〃 said the colonel； impatiently； 〃you had the right； and I
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suppose；〃 he added with half…concealed scorn； 〃it was your duty。 But let
that pass。 The money is safe enough； but； Mr。 Hathaway；and this is the
point I want to discuss with you；it begins to look as if the SECRET was
safe no longer！〃 He had raised himself with some pain and difficulty to
draw nearer to Paul； and had again fixed his eyes eagerly upon him。 But
Paul's responsive glance was so vague that he added quickly； 〃You
understand； sir； I believe that there are houndsI say hounds！who would
be able to blurt out at any moment that that girl at Santa Clara is Kate
Howard's daughter。〃
At any other moment Paul might have questioned the gravity of any
such contingency； but the terrible earnestness of the speaker； his dominant
tone； and a certain respect which had lately sprung up in his breast for him；
checked him； and he only asked with as much concern as he could master
for the moment：
〃What makes you think so？〃
〃That's what I want to tell you； Hathaway； and how I； and I alone； am
responsible for it。 When the bank was in difficulty and I made up my mind
to guard the Trust with my own personal and private capital； I knew that
there might be some comment on my action。 It was a delicate matter to
show any preference or exclusion at such a moment； and I took two or
three of my brother directors whom I thought I could trust into my
confidence。 I told them the whole story； and how the Trust was sacred。 I
made a mistake； sir；〃 continued Pendleton sardonically； 〃a grave mistake。 I
did not take into account that even in three years civilization and religion
had gained ground here。 There was a hound therea blank Judas in the
Trust。 Well； he didn't see it。 I think he talked Scripture and morality。 He
said something about the wages of sin being infamous； and only worthy of
confiscation。 He talked about the sins of the father being visited upon the
children； and justly。 I stopped him。 Well！ Do you know what's the matter
with my ankle？ Look！〃 He stopped and； with some difficulty and
invincible gravity； throwing aside his dressing…gown； turned down his
stocking； and exposed to Paul's gaze the healed cicatrix of an old bullet…
wound。 〃Troubled me damnably near a year。 Where I hit HIMhasn't
troubled him at all since！
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〃I think；〃 continued the colonel； falling back upon the pillow with an
air of relief； 〃that he told othersof his own kidney； sir； though it was a
secret among gentlemen。 But they have preferred to be silent nowthan
AFTERWARDS。 They know that I'm ready。 But I can't keep this up long；
some time； you know； they're bound to improve in practice and hit higher
up！ As far as I'm concerned；〃 he added； with a grim glance around the
faded walls and threadbare furniture； 〃it don't mind； but mine isn't the
mouth to be stopped。〃 He paused； and then abruptly； yet with a sudden and
pathetic dropping of his dominant note； said： 〃Hathaway； you're young；
and Hammersley liked youwhat's to be done？ I thought of passing over
my tools to you。 You can shoot； and I hear you HAVE。 But the hl of it is
that if you dropped a man or two people would ask WHY； and want to
know what it was about； while； when I do； nobody here thinks it anything
but MY WAY！ I don't mean that it would hurt you with the crowd to wipe
out one or two of these hounds during the canvass； but the trouble is that
they belong to YOUR PARTY； and；〃 he added grimly； 〃that wouldn't help
your career。〃
〃But；〃 said Paul； ignoring the sarcasm； are you not magnifying the
effect of a disclosure？ The girl is an heiress； excellently brought up。 Who
will bother about the antecedents of the mother； who has disappeared；
whom she never knew； a
