下载辰思小说免费APP
Yet,onthewhole,Ifeltacertaincomplacencyaboutitall;Iknewthatsufferingwasdisagreeable,Ihadlearnedhowtoavoidit,andImayhavehad,deepwithinme,afeelingthatImightmarryherafterall.
Meanwhilemylifewasfull,andgavepromiseofbecomingevenfuller,moreabsorbingandexcitingintheimmediatefuture.
Oneofthemostfascinatingfigures,tome,ofthatOrderbeingwoven,likeaclothofgold,outofourhithertodrabcivilization,——anOrderintowhichIwasreadyandeagertobeinitiated,——wasthatofAdolfScherer,thegiantGermanimmigrantattheheadoftheBoyneIronWorks.
Hislifewouldeasilylenditselftoriotousromance.Intheoldcountry,inavalleybelowthecastleperchedontherackabove,hehadbegunlifebytendinghisfather\'sgeese.Whatacontrastto"Steeltown"
withitssmellsandsickeningsummerheat,totheshantywhereMrs.
Scherertookboardersandbentoverthewash-tub!She,too,wasanimmigrant,butlivedtohearhernativeWagnerfromherownboxatCoventGarden;andhetoexplain,onthedeckofanimperialyacht,tothemanwhomighthavebeenhissovereigncertainprocessesinthemanufactureofsteelhithertountriedonthatsideoftheAtlantic.IncomparisonwithAdolfScherer,citizenofaoncedespiseddemocracy,theminorprinceinwhosedominionshehadoncetendedgeesewasofsmallaccountindeed!
TheAdolfSchererofthatday——thoughitisnotsolongagoastimeflies——wasevenmoresolidandimpressivethanthemanheafterwardsbecame,whenhereachedthedizzierheightsfromwhichhedeliveredtoaneagerpressopinionsonpoliticsandwar,eugenicsandwoman\'ssuffrageandothersubjectsthatarethedespairofspecialists.Hadhestucktosteel,hewouldhaveremainedinvulnerable.Buteventhenhewasbeginningtoabandonthefieldofproductionforthatofexploitation:
figurativelyspeaking,hehadtakentosoap,whichwiththeaidofwatermaybeblownintobeautiful,iridescentbubblestocharmtheeye.Muchgoodsoap,apparently,hasgonethatway,nevertoberecovered.
Everybodywhowasanybodybegantoblowbubblesaboutthattime,andthebiggerthebubblethegreateritsattractionforinvestorsofhard-earnedsavings.Outsideofthisloveforfinancialiridescence,letitbecalled,Mr.Schererseemedtocarelittlethenforglitterofanysort.
ShortlyafterhiselevationtothepresidencyoftheBoyneIronWorkshehadbeenelectedamemberoftheBoyneClub,——anhonourofwhich,somethought,heshouldhavebeenmoresensible;butgenerally,whenintown,hepreferredtolunchatalittleGermanrestaurantannexedtoasaloon,whereIusedoftentofindhimliterallytoweringabovethecloth,——forhewasagiantwithshortlegs,——hisnapkintuckedintohisshirtfront,engagedinlivelyconversationwiththeministeringHeinrich.Thechefattheclub,Mr.Schererinsisted,couldproducenothingequaltoHeinrich\'ssauer-krautandsausage.MyearliestrelationshipwithMr.
Schererwasthatofanerrandboy,ofbringingtohimforhisapprovalpaperswhichmightnotbeintrustedtoacommonmessenger.HisgruffnessandbrevitydisturbedmemorethanIcaredtoconfess.Iwasprettysurethatheeyedmewiththedispositionoftheself-madetobelievethatcollegeeducationsandgoodtailorsweretheheaviesthandicapswithwhichayoungmancouldbeburdened:andIsuspectedhimofaninimicalattitudetowardtheolderfamiliesofthecity.Certainmenpossessedhisconfidence;andhehadbuilt,asitwere,astockadeaboutthem,sternlykeepingtherestoftheworldoutside.InTheodoreWatlinghehadachildlikefaith.
ThusIstudiedhim,withadeliberationwhichitisthepurposeofthesechapterstoconfess,thoughhelittleknewthathewasbeingmadethesubjectofanalysis.NordidIeverventuretotalkwithhim,butheldstrictlytomyroleoferrandboy,——evenaftertheconvictioncameovermethathewasnolongerindifferenttomypresence.Thedayarrived,aftersomeyears,whenhesuddenlythrusttowardmeabig,hairyhandthatheldthedocumenthewasexamining.
"Whodrewthis,Mr.Paret!"hedemanded.
Mr.Ripon,Itoldhim.
TheBoyneWorkswerebuyingupcoal-mines,andthiswasacontractlookingtothepurchaseofoneinPutmanCounty,provided,afteracertainperiodofworking,theyieldandqualityshouldcomeuptospecifications.Mr.Schererrequestedmetoreadoneofthesections,whichpuzzledhim.Andinexplainingitanideaflashedoverme.
"Doyoumindmymakingasuggestion,Mr.Scherer?"Iventured.
"Whatisit?"heaskedbrusquely.
Ishowedhimhow,bythealterationofafewwords,thedifficultytowhichhehadreferredcouldnotonlybeeliminated,butthatcertainpossiblepenaltiesmightbeevaded,whiletheapparentmeaningofthesectionremainedunchanged.Inotherwords,itgavetheBoyneIronWorksanadvantagethatwasnotcontemplated.Heseizedthepaper,staredatwhatIhadwritteninpencilonthemargin,andthenstaredatme.
Abruptly,hebegantolaugh.
"AskMr.Wadingwhathethinksofit?"
"Iintendedto,providedithadyourapproval,sir,"Ireplied.
"Youhavemyapproval,Mr.Paret,"hedeclared,rathercryptically,andwiththeslightGermanhardeningofthev\'sintowhichherelapsedattimes."BringittotheWorksthisafternoon."
Mr.Wadingagreedtothealteration.Helookedatmeamusedly.
"Yes,Ithinkthat\'sanimprovement,Hugh,"hesaid.IhadafeelingthatIhadgainedground,andfromthistimeonIthoughtIdetectedachangeinhisattitudetowardme;therecouldbenodoubtaboutthenewattitudeofMr.Scherer,whowouldoftengreetmenowwithasmileandajoke,andsometimeswentsofarastoaskmyopinionsThen,aboutsixmonthslater,camethefamousRibblevalecasethatarousedthemoralindignationofsomanypersons,amongwhomwasPerryBlackwood.
"YouknowaswellasIdo,Hugh,howthisthingisbeingmanipulated,"hedeclaredatTom\'soneSundayevening;"therewasnothingthematterwiththeRibblevaleSteelCompany——itwasasrightasrainbeforeLeonardDickinsonandGriersonandSchererandthatcrowdyoutrainwithbegantotalkitdownattheClub.Oh,they\'reverycompassionate.I\'veheard\'em.Dickinson,privately,doesn\'tthinkmuchofRibblevalepaper,andPugh"(thepresidentoftheRibblevale)"seemsworriedandlooksbadly.
It\'sallveryclever,butI\'dhatetotellyouinplainwordswhatI\'dcallit."
"Goahead,"Ichallengedhimaudaciously."Youhaven\'tanyproofthattheRibblevalewasn\'tintrouble."
"IheardMr.Pughtellmyfathertheotherdayitwasad——doutrage.Hecouldn\'tcatchupwiththeserumours,andsomeofhisstockholderswereliquidating."
"You,don\'tsupposePughwouldwanttoadmithissituation,doyou?"I
asked.
"Pugh\'sastraightman,"retortedPerry."That\'smorethanIcansayforanyoftheothergang,savingyourpresence.TheunpleasanttruthisthatSchererandtheBoynepeoplewanttheRibblevale,andyououghttoknowitifyoudon\'t."Helookedatmeveryhardthroughtheglasseshehadlatelytakentowearing.Tom,whowasloungingbythefire,shiftedhispositionuneasily.Ismiled,andtookanothercigar.
"IbelieveRalphisright,Perry,whenhecallsyouasentimentalist.
Foryouthere\'satragedybehindeveryordinarybusinesstransaction.
TheRibblevalepeoplearehavingahardtimetokeeptheirheadsabovewater,andimmediatelyyousmellconspiracy.DickinsonandSchererhavebeentalkingitdown.Howaboutit,Tom?"
ButTom,inthesedebates,wasinclinedtobenoncommittal,althoughitwascleartheytroubledhim.
"Oh,don\'taskme,Hughie,"hesaid.
"IsupposeIoughttocultivatethescientificpointofview,andlookwithimpartialinterestatthisindustrialcannibalism,"returnedPerry,sarcastically."Eatorbeeatenthat\'swhatenlightenedself-interesthascometo.Afterall,Ralphwouldsay,itisnature,theinsectworldoveragain,thevictimdupedandcrippledbeforeheisdevoured,andthelawyer——howshallIputit?——facilitatingtheprocessesofswallowinganddigesting"
TherewasnousearguingwithPerrywhenhewasinthisvein
SinceIamnotwritingatechnicaltreatise,IneednotgointothedetailsoftheRibblevalesuit.Sinceittosaythattheaffair,afterawhile,cameapparentlytoadeadlock,owingtotheimpossibilityofgettingcertaindefiniteinformationfromtheRibblevalebooks,whichhadbeentakenoutofthestate.Thetreasurer,forreasonsofhisown,remainedoutofthestatealso;theordinarycourseofsummoninghimbeforeamagistrateinanotherstatehadnaturallybeenresortedto,butthedesiredevidencewasnotforthcoming.
"Thetroubleis,"Mr.WadingexplainedtoMr.Scherer,"thatthereisnolawinthevariousstateswithasufficientpenaltyattachedthatwillcompelthewitnesstodivulgefactshewishestoconceal."
ItwasthemiddleofaFebruaryafternoon,andtheywereseatedindeep,leatherchairsinonecornerofthereadingroomoftheBoyneClub.Theyhadtheplacetothemselves.Fowndeswastherealso,onelegtwistedaroundtheotherinfamiliarfashion,aboredlookonhislongandsallowface.Mr.Wadinghadtelephonedtotheofficeformetobringthemsomepapersbearingonthecase.
"Sitdown,Hugh,"hesaidkindly.
"Nowwehavepresentagenuinelegalmind,"saidMr.Scherer,intheplayfulmannerhehadadoptedoflate,whileIgrinnedappreciativelyandtookachair.Mr.WatlingpresentlysuggestedkidnappingtheRibblevaletreasureruntilheshouldpromisetoproducethebooksastheonlywayoutofwhatseemedanimpasse.ButMr.Schererbroughtdownahugefistonhisknee.
"Itellyouitisnojoke,Watling,we\'vegottowinthatsuit,"heasserted.
"That\'sallverywell,"repliedMr.Watling."Butwe\'rearespectablefirm,youknow.Wehaven\'thadtoresorttosafe-blowing,asyet."
Mr.Scherershruggedhisshoulders,asmuchastosayitwereamatterofindifferencetohimwhatmethodswereresortedto.Mr.Watling\'seyesmetmine;hisglancewasamused,yetIthoughtIreadinitaqueryastotheadvisability,inmypresence,ofgoingtoodeeplyintothequestionofwaysandmeans.Imayhavebeenwrong.Atanyrate,itssuddeneffectwastoemboldenmetogivevoicetoanideathathadbeguntosimmerinmymind,thatexcitedme,andyetIhadfearedtoutterit.
Thislookofmychief\'s,andthelightertonetheconversationhadtakendecidedme.
"Whywouldn\'titbepossibletodrawupabilltofitthesituation?"I
inquired.
Mr.Wadingstarted.
"Whatdoyoumean?"heaskedquickly.
Allthreelookedatme.Ifeltthebloodcomeintomyface,butitwastoolatetodrawback.
"Well——thelegislatureisinsession.Andsince,asMr.Watlingsays,thereisnosufficientpenaltyinotherstatestocompelthewitnesstoproducetheinformationdesired,whynotdrawupabilland——andhaveitpassed——"Ipausedforbreath——"imposingasufficientpenaltyonhomecorporationsintheeventofsuchevasions.TheRibblevaleSteelCompanyisahomecorporation."
IhadshotmyboltTherefollowedwhatwasformeananxioussilence,whilethethreeofthemcontinuedtostareatme.Mr.Watlingputthetipsofhisfingerstogether,andIbecameawarethathewasnotoffended,thathewasthinkingrapidly.
"ByGeorge,whynot,Fowndes?"hedemanded.
"Well,"saidFowndes,"there\'sanelementofriskinsuchaproceedingI
neednotdwellupon."
"Risk!"criedtheseniorpartnervigorously."There\'sriskineverything.They\'llhowl,ofcourse.Buttheyhowlanyway,andnobodyeverlistenstothem.They\'llsayit\'sspeciallegislation,andthePilotwillprintsensationaleditorialsforafewdays.Butwhatofit?
Allofthathashappenedbefore.Itellyou,ifwecan\'tseethosebooks,we\'lllosethesuit.That\'sinblackandwhite.And,asamatterofjustice,we\'reentitledtoknowwhatwewanttoknow."
"Theremightbetwoopinionsastothat,"observedFowndes,withhissardonicsmile.
Mr.Watlingpaidnoattentiontothisremark.Hewasalreadydeepinthought.Itwascharacteristicofhismindtoleapforward,seizeasuggestionthatoftenappearedchimericaltoamanlikeFowndesandturnitintoanaccomplishedFact."Ibelieveyou\'vehitit,Hugh,"hesaid.
"Weneedn\'tbotheraboutthepowersofthecourtsinotherstates.We\'llputintothisbillanappealtoourcourtforanorderontheclerktocompelthewitnesstocomebeforethecourtandtestify,andwe\'llprovideforaspecialcommissionertotakedepositionsinthestatewherethewitnessis.Iftheofficersofahomecorporationwhoareoutsideofthestaterefusetotestify,thepenaltywillbethattherationgoesintothehandsofareceiver."
Fowndeswhistled.
"That\'sgoingsome!"hesaid.
"Well,we\'vegottogosome.Howaboutit,Scherer?"
EvenMr.Scherer\'sbrowneyesweresnapping.
"Wehavegottowinthatsuit,Watling."
Wewereallexcited,evenFowndes,Ithink,thoughheremainedexpressionless.Ourswasthetenseexcitementofprimitivemaninchase:
thequarrywhichhadthreatenedtoeludeuswasagaininview,andnotunlikelytofallintoourhands.Addtothisfeeling,onmypart,thethrillthatitwasIwhohadputthemonthescent.Ihadallthesensationsofanaspiringyoungbravewhoforthefirsttimeisadmittedtothecouncilsofthetribe!
"Itoughttobeapopularbill,too,"Mr.Schemerwassaying,withasmileofironicappreciationatthethoughtofdemagoguesadvocatingit.
"WeshouldhaveoneofLawler\'sfriendsintroduceit."
"Oh,weshallhaveitproperlyintroduced,"repliedMr.Wading.
"Itmaycomebackatus,"suggestedFowndespessimistically."TheBoyneIronWorksisahomecorporationtoo,ifIamnotmistaken."
"TheBoyneIronWorkshasthefirmofWading,FowndesandRiponbehindit,"assertedMr.Scherer,withwhatstruckmeasamagnificentfaith.
"Youmustn\'tforgetParet,"Mr.Watlingremindedhim,withawinkatme.
Wehadrisen.Mr.Schererlaidahandonmyarm.
"No,no,Idonotforgethim.Hewillnotpermitmetoforgethim."
Aremark,Ithought,thatbetrayedsomeinsightintomycharacterMr.
Watlingcalledforpenandpaperandmadethenandthereadraftoftheproposedbill,fornotimewastobelost.ItwasdarkwhenwelefttheClub,andIrecalltheelationIfeltandstrovetoconcealasI
accompaniedmychiefbacktotheoffice.Thestenographersandclerksweregone;aloneinthelibrarywegotdownthestatutesandsettowork.
toperfectthebillfromtheroughdraft,onwhichMr.Fowndeshadwrittenhissuggestions.IfeltthatacompleteyetsubtlechangehadcomeovermyrelationshipwithMr.Watling.
InthemidstofourlaboursheaskedmetocalluptheattorneyfortheRailroad.Mr.Gorsewasstillathisoffice.
"Hello!Isthatyou,Miller?"Mr.Watlingsaid."ThisisWading.WhencanIseeyouforafewminutesthisevening?Yes,IamleavingforWashingtonatninethirty.Eighto\'clock.Allright,I\'llbethere."
Itwasalmosteightbeforehegotthedraftfinishedtohissatisfaction,andIhadpickeditoutonthetypewriter.AsIhandedittohim,mychiefhelditamoment,gazingatmewithanoddsmile.
"Youseemtohaveacquiredagooddealofusefulknowledge,hereandthere,Hugh,"heobserved.
"I\'vetriedtokeepmyeyesopen,Mr.Watling,"Isaid.
"Well,"hesaid,"thereareagreatmanythingsayoungmanpractisinglawinthesedayshastolearnforhimself.AndifIhadn\'tgivenyoucreditforsomecleverness,Ishouldn\'thavewantedyouhere.There\'sonlyonewaytolookat——atthesematterswehavebeendiscussing,myboy,that\'sthecommon-senseway,andifamandoesn\'tgetthatpointofviewbyhimself,nobodycanteachittohim.Ineedn\'tenlargeuponit"
"No,sir,"Isaid.
Hesmiledagain,butimmediatelybecameserious.
"IfMr.Gorseshouldapproveofthisbill,I\'mgoingtosendyoudowntothecapital——to-night.Canyougo?"
Inodded.
"Iwantyoutolookoutforthebillinthelegislature.Ofcoursetherewon\'tbemuchtodo,excepttostandby,butyouwillgetabetterideaofwhatgoesondownthere."
Ithankedhim,andtoldhimIwoulddomybest.
"I\'msureofthat,"hereplied."Nowit\'stimetogotoseeGorse."
ThelegaldepartmentoftheRailroadoccupiedanentireflooroftheCornBankbuilding.Ihadoftenbeenthereonvariouserrands,havingonoccasionsdeliveredsealedenvelopestoMr.Gorsehimself,approachinghimintheordinarywaythroughaseriesofoffices.Butnow,followingMr.Watlingthroughthedimlylightedcorridor,wecametoadooronwhichnonamewaspainted,andwhichwaspresentlyopenedbyastenographer.Therewasintheproceedingatouchofmysterythatrevivedkeenlymyboyishloveforromance;broughtbackthedayswhenI
hadbeen,inturn,CaptainKiddandAliBaba.
Ihaveneverrealizedmorestronglythaninthatmomentthepsychologicalforceofprestige.Littlebylittle,forfiveyears,anestimateoftheextentofMillerGorse\'spowerhadbeencominghometome,andhisfeaturesstoodinmymindforhisparticularkindofpower.Hewasatremendousworker,andoftenremainedinhisofficeuntiltenandelevenatnight.Hedismissedthestenographerbythewaveofahandwhichseemedtothrustherbodilyoutoftheroom.
"Hello,Miller,"saidMr.Watling.
"Hello,Theodore,"repliedMr.Gorse.
"ThisisParet,ofmyoffice."
"Iknow,"saidMr.Gorse,andnoddedtowardme.IwasimpressedbythefelicitywithwhichacartoonistofthePilothadoncecaricaturedhimbytheuseofcurvedlines.Thecircleoftheheavyeyebrowsendedatthewidenostrils;themouthwasacrescent,butboweddownwards;theheavyshoulderswererounded.Indeed,theonlystraightlinetobediscernedabouthimwasthatofhishair,blackasbitumen,bangedacrosshisforehead;evenhispolishedporphyryeyeswereconstructedonsomecurvilinearprinciple,andneverseemedtofocus.ItmightbesaidofMr.Gorsethathehadanoverwhelmingimpersonality.Onecouldneverbequitesurethatone\'swordsreachedthemark.
InspiteoftheintimacywhichIknewexistedbetweenthem,inmypresenceatleastMr.Gorse\'smannerwaslittledifferentwithMr.
Watlingthanitwaswithothermen.Mr.Wadingdidnotseemtomind.Hepulledupachairclosetothedeskandbegan,withoutanypreliminaries,toexplainhiserrand.
"It\'sabouttheRibblevaleaffair,"hesaid."Youknowwehaveasuit."
Gorsenodded.
"We\'vegottogetatthebooks,Miller,——that\'sallthereistoit.I
toldyousotheotherday.Well,we\'vefoundoutaway,Ithink."
Hethrusthishandinhispocket,whiletherailroadattorneyremainedimpassive,anddrewoutthedraftofthebill.Mr.Gorsereadit,thenreaditoveragain,andlaiditdowninfrontofhim.
"Well,"hesaid.
"Iwanttoputthatthroughbothhousesandhavethegovernor\'ssignaturetoitbytheendoftheweek."
"Itseemsalittleraw,atfirstsight,Theodore,"saidMr.Gorse,withthesuspicionofasmile.
Mychieflaughedalittle.
