下载辰思小说免费APP
"We\'llhavetoattendtohim,rightoff,"hesaid.
Iwassurprisedtofindmyselfresentingtheimputation,anddeeply.
"I\'mafraidhe\'soneofthosewhocan\'tbe`attendedto,\'"Ianswered.
"Youmeanthathe\'sintheemployoftheRibblevalepeople?"theColonelinquired.
"Idon\'tmeananythingofthekind,"Iretorted,withmoreheat,perhaps,thanIrealized.TheColonellookedatmequeerly.
"That\'sallright,Mr.Paret.OfcourseIdon\'twanttoquestionyourjudgment,sir.Andyousayhe\'safriendofyours."
"IsaidIknewhimatcollege."
"Butyouwillpardonme,"theColonelwenton,"whenItellyouthatI\'vehadsomeexperiencewiththatbreed,andIhaveyettoseeoneof\'emyoucouldn\'tcometotermswithinsomeway——insomeway,"headded,significantly.IdidnotpausetoreflectthattheColonel\'sattitude,fromhispointofview(yes,andfrommine,——hadInotadoptedit?)wasthelogicalone.Inthatphilosophyeverymanhadhisprice,orhisweakness.Yet,suchistheinconsistencyofhumannature,Iwasnowunabletocontemplatethisattitudewithcalmness.
"Mr.Krebsisalawyer.HasheacceptedapassfromtheRailroad?"I
demanded,knowingthecustomofthatcorporationofconferringthisdelicatefavouronthepromisingyoungtalentinmyprofession.
"Ireckonhe\'sneverhadthechance,"saidMr.Varney.
"Well,hashetakenapassasamemberofthelegislature?"
"No,——Irememberlookingthatupwhenhefirstcamedown.Sentthatback,ifIrecallthemattercorrectly."ColonelVarneywenttoadeskinthecorneroftheroom,unlockedit,drewforthablackbook,andrunninghisfingersthroughthepagesstoppedattheletterK."Yes,sentbackhislegislativepass,butI\'veknown\'emtodothatwhentheywereholdingoutforsomethingmore.Theremustbesomebodywhocangetclosetohim."
TheColonelruminatedawhile.Thenhestrodetothedoorandcalledouttothegroupofmenwhowerealwayslounginginthehall.
"TellAlfYoungIwanttoseehim,Fred."
Iwaited,bynomeansfreefromuneasinessandanxiety,fromacertainlackofself-respectthatwasunfamiliar.Mr.Young,theColonelexplained,wasalegallightinGalesburg,nearElkington,——theRailroadlawyerthere.AndwhenatlastMr.Youngappearedheprovedtobeanoilygentlemanofaboutforty,incliningtostoutness,withoneofthose"blue,"shavenfaces.
"Wantme,Colonel?"heinquiredblithely,whenthedoorhadclosedbehindhim;andaddedobsequiously,whenintroducedtome,"Gladtomeetyou,Mr.Paret.MyregardstoMr.Watling,whenyougoback.
"Alf,"demandedtheColonel,"whatdoyouknowofthisfellowKrebs?"
Mr.Younglaughed.Krebswas"nutty,"hedeclared——thatwasalltherewastoit.
"Won\'the——listentoreason?"
"It\'sbeentried,Colonel.Say,hewouldn\'tknowahundred-dollarbillifyoushowedhimone."
"Whatdoeshewant?"
"Oh,something,——that\'ssure,theyallwantsomething."Mr.Youngshruggedhisshoulderexpressively,andbyaskillfulmanipulationofhislipsshiftedhiscigarfromonesideofhismouthtotheotherwithoutraisinghishands."Butitain\'tmoney.Iguesshe\'sgotanotionthatlateronthelabourunions\'llsendhimtotheUnitedStatesSenatesomeday.He\'snoslouch,either,whenitcomestolaw.Icantellyouthat."
"No——noflawinhis——record?"ColonelVarney\'sagateeyessoughtthoseofMr.Young,meaningly.
"That\'sbeentried,too,"declaredtheGalesburgattorney."Say,youcanbelieveitornot,butwe\'veneverduganythingupsofar.He\'sbeentooslickforus,Iguess."
"Well,"exclaimedtheColonel,atlength,"lethimsquealandbed——d!
Hecan\'tdoanymorethanmakeanoise.OnlyIhopedwe\'dbeabletogreasethisthingalongandslideitthroughtheSenatethisafternoon,beforetheygotwindofit."
"He\'llsqueal,allright,untilyousmotherhim,"Mr.Youngobserved.
"We\'llsmotherhimsomeday!"repliedtheColonel,savagely.
Mr.Younglaughed.
ButasImademywaytowardtheStateHouseIwasconsciousofafeelingofrelief.IhadnosoonergainedafrontseatinthegalleryoftheHouseofRepresentativeswhenthemembersrose,theSenatemarchedgravelyin,theSpeakerstoppedjestingwiththeChaplain,andovertheChaplain\'sfacecamesuddenlyanagonizedexpression.FoldinghishandsacrosshisstomachhebegantocallonGodwithterrificfervour,inanintenseandresoundingvoice.Iwasstrucksuddenlybytheironyofitall.WhyhavealegislaturewhenColonelPaulVarneywassoefficient!
Thelegislaturewasameresoptodemocraticprejudice,toprayoveritheightenedthetravesty.SupposetherewereaGodafterall?notnecessarilythemagnifiedmonarchtowhomthesepseudo-democratsprayed,butanIntelligentForcethatmakesforrighteousness.HowdidHe,orIt,liketobetrifledwithinthisway?And,ifHeexisted,wouldnotHisdisgustbeimmeasurableasHecontemplatedthatunctuousfigureinthe"PrinceAlbert"coat,whopretendedtorepresentHim?
AstheroutinebusinessbeganIsearchedforKrebs,tofindhimpresentlyatadeskbesideawindowintherearofthehallmakingnotesonapaper;therewas,confessedly,littlesatisfactioninthethoughtthatthemanwhosegauntfeaturesIcontemplatedwasmerelyoneofthoseimpracticalidealistswhobeatthemselvestopiecesagainsttheforcesthatswaytheworldandmustforeverswayit.IshouldbecompelledtoadmitthatherepresentedsomethinguniqueinthatassemblyifhehadthecouragetogetupandopposeHouseBill709.Iwatchedhimnarrowly;thesuggestionintrudeditself——perhapshehadbeen"seen,"astheColonelexpressedit.Irepudiatedit.Igrewimpatient,feverish;themonotonousreadingoftheclerkwasinterruptednowandthenbythesharptonesoftheSpeakerassigninghisvariousmeasurestothisorthatcommittee,"unlessobjectionisoffered,"whilethemembersmovedaboutandmurmuredamongthemselves;Krebshadstoppedmakingnotes;hewaslookingoutofthewindow.Atlast,withoutanychangeofemphasisinhisdroningvoice,theclerkannouncedtherecommendationoftheCommitteeonJudiciarythatHouseBill709oughttopass.
Downinfrontamanhadrisenfromhisseat——thefelicitousMr.
Truesdale.Glancingaroundathisfellow-membershethenbegantoexplainintheimpressivebutconversationaltoneofonewhosecounselsareinthehabitofbeinglistenedto,thatthiswasmerelyalittlemeasuretoremedyaflawinthestatutes.Mr.Truesdalebelievedincorporationswhencorporationsweregood,andthisbillwascalculatedtomakethemgood,toputanendtojuggleryandconcealment.Ourgreatstate,hesaid,shouldbeintheforefrontofsuchwiselegislation,whichmadeforjusticeandaproperpublicity;butthebillinquestionwasofgreaterinteresttolawyersthantolaymen,acommitteecomposedlargelyoflawyershadrecommendeditunanimously,andhewassurethatnooppositionwoulddevelopintheHouse.Inordernottotakeuptheirtimeheasked:therefore,thatitbeimmediatelyputonitssecondandthirdreadingandallowedtopass.
Hesatdown,andIlookedatKrebs.Couldhe,couldanyman,anylawyer,havethepresumptiontoquestionsuchanobviouslydesirablemeasure,toarraigntheunitedjudgmentofthecommittee\'slegaltalent?SuchwasthenoteMr.Truesdalesoadmirablystruck.Asthoughfascinated,I
continuedtogazeatKrebs.Ihatedhim,Idesiredtoseehimhumiliated,andyetamazinglyIfoundmyselfwishingwithalmostequalvehemencethathewouldbetruetohimself.Hewasrising,——slowly,timidly,Ithought,hishandclutchinghisdesklid,hisvoicesoundingwhollyinadequateasheaddressedtheSpeaker.TheSpeakerhesitated,histonepalpablysupercilious.
"Thegentlemanfrom——fromElkington,Mr.Krebs."
Therewasacraningofnecks,astaring,atittering.IburnedwithvicariousshameasKrebsstoodthereawkwardly,hishandstillholdingthedesk.Therewerecriesof"louder"whenhebegan;somepickeduptheirnewspapers,whileothersstartedconversations.TheSpeakerrappedwithhisgavel,andIfailedtoheartheopeningwords.Krebspaused,andbeganagain.Hisspeechdidnot,atfirst,floweasily.
"Mr.Speaker,Irisetoprotestagainstthisbill,whichinmyopinionisnotsoinnocentasthegentlemanfromSt.Helen\'swouldhavetheHousebelieve.Itisonapar,indeed,withotherlegislationthatinpastyearshasbeenengineeredthroughthislegislatureundertheguiseofbeneficentlaw.No,notonapar.Itisthemostarrogant,themostmonstrousexampleofspeciallegislationofthemall.AndwhileIdonotexpecttobeabletodelayitspassagemuchlongerthanthetimeIshallbeonmyfeet——"
"Thenwhynotsitdown?"cameavoice,justaudible.
Asheturnedswiftlytowardtheoffenderhisprofilehadaneagle-likeeffectthatstartledme,seeminglyrealizinganewqualityintheman.
Itwasasthoughhehadneededjustthestimulusofthatinterruptiontoelectrifyandtransformhim.Hisawkwardnessdisappeared;andifhewasalittlebombastic,alittle"young,"hespokewiththefireofconviction.
"Because,"hecried,"becauseIshouldlosemyself-respectforlifeifI
sathereandpermittedthepoliticalorganizationofarailroad,themembersofwhicharehereundertheguiseofservantsofthepeople,tocowmeintosilence.AndifitbetreasontomentionthenameofthatRailroadinconnectionwithitspoliticaltyranny,thenmakethemostofit."Heletgoofthedesk,andtappedthecopyofthebill."Whatarethefacts?TheBoyneIronWorks,underthepresidencyofAdolfScherer,hasbeenengagedinlitigationwiththeRibblevaleSteelCompanyforsomeyears:andthisbillisintendedtoputintothehandsoftheattorneysforMr.Scherercertaininformationthatwillenablehimtogetpossessionoftheproperty.Gentlemen,thatiswhat`legalpractice\'hasdescendedtointhehandsofrespectablelawyers.ThisdeviceoriginatedwiththeresourcefulMr.TheodoreWatling,andifithadnothadtheapprovalofMr.MillerGorse,itwouldneverhavegotanyfartherthanthejudiciarycommittee.ItwasconfidedtotheskillfulcareofColonelPaulVarneytobesteeredthroughthislegislature,ashundredsofothermeasureshavebeensteeredthrough,——withoutunnecessarynoise.ItmaybeaskedwhytheRailroadshouldbotheritselfbylendingitspoliticalorganizationtoprivatecorporations?Iwilltellyou.BecausecorporationsliketheBoynecorporationareapartofanetworkofinterests,thesecorporationsaidtheRailroadtomaintainitsmonopoly,andinreturnreceiverebates."
Krebshadraisedhisvoiceasthemurmursbecamelouder.Atthispointasharp-facedlawyerfromBelfastgottohisfeetandobjectedthatthegentlemanfromElkingtonwaswastingthetimeoftheHouse,indulginginhearsay.Hisremarkswerenotgermane,etc.TheSpeakerrappedagain,withafineshowofimpartiality,andcautionedthememberfromElkington.
"Verywell,"repliedKrebs."IhavesaidwhatIwantedtosayonthatscore,andIknowittobethetruth.AndifthisHousedoesnotfinditgermane,thedayiscomingwhenitsconstituentswill."
Whereuponheenteredintoadiscussionofthebill,dissectingitwithmorecalmness,withanabilitythatmusthavecommanded,evenfromsomehostileminds,anunwillingrespect.Thepenalty,hesaid,wasoutrageous,hithertounheardofinlaw,——puttingacorporationinthehandsofareceiver,atthemercyofthosewhocovetedit,becauseoneofitsofficersrefused,orwasunable,totestify.HemightbeinChina,inTimbuctoowhenthesummonswasdeliveredathislastorusualplaceofabode.Herewasanenormity,anexerciseoftyrannicalpowerexceedingallbounds,atravestyonpopulargovernmentHeendedbypointingoutthesignificanceofthefactthatthecommitteehadgivennohearings;bydeclaringthatifthebillbecamealaw,itwouldinevitablyreactupontheheadsofthosewhowereresponsibleforit.
Hesatdown,andtherewasaflutterofapplausefromthescatteredaudienceinthegallery.
"ByGod,that\'stheonlymaninthewholeplace!"
Iwasaware,forthefirsttime,ofaneighbouratmyside,——asolid,red-facedman,evidentlyafarmer.Histrousersweretuckedintohisboots,andhisgnarledandpowerfulhands,ingrainedwithdirt,clutchedthearmsoftheseatasheleanedforward.
"Didn\'thejustnaturallylambaste\'em?"hecriedexcitedly."They\'lldownhim,Iguess,——butsay,he\'sright.Amanwouldlosehisself-
respectifhedidn\'tletouthismindatthemhossthieves,wouldn\'the?
What\'sthatfellow\'sname?"
Itoldhim.
"Krebs,"herepeated."Iwanttorememberthat.DurnedifIdon\'tshakehandswithhim."
Hisexcitementastonishedme.Wouldthepublicfeellikethat,iftheyonlyknew?TheSpeaker\'sgavelhadcomedownlikeapistolshot.
One"war-hoss"——asmyneighbourcalledthem——afteranotherproceededtocrushthememberfromElkington.Itwas,indeed,veryskillfullydone,andyetitwasaprocessfromwhichIdidnotderive,somehow,muchpleasure.ColonelVarney\'sarmyhadbeenmagnificentlytrainedtomeetjustthiskindofsituation:someemployedridicule,othersdeclared,inimpassionedtones,thatthegoodnameoftheirstatehadbeenwantonlyassailed,andpointedferventlytoportraitsonthewallsofpatriotsofthepast,——sentimentsthatdrewapplausefromtheficklegallery.Onegentlemanobservedthattheobsessionofa"railroadmachine"wasasuresymptomofacertainkindofinsanity,ofwhichthefirstspeakerhadgivenmanyotherevidences.Thefarmeratmysideremainedstaunch.
"Theycan\'tfoolme,"hesaidangrily,"Iknow\'em.Doyouseethatfellowgettin\'uptotalknow?Well,Icouldtellyouafewthingsabouthim,allright.HecomesfromGlasgow,andhisname\'sLetchworth.He\'sdonemoreharminhislifethanallthecriminalshe\'skeptoutofprison,——belongstooneoftheoldfamiliesdownthere,too."
Ihad,indeed,remarkedLetchworth\'sface,whichseemedtomepeculiarlyevil,itslividityenhancedbyashockofgreyhair.Hismethodwaswitheringsarcasm,andhewasclearlyunabletocontrolhisanimus
NochampionappearedtosupportKrebs,whosatpaleandtensewhilethisdenunciationofhimwasgoingon.Finallyhegotthefloor.Hisvoicetrembledalittle,whetherwithpassion,excitement,ornervousnessitwasimpossibletosay.Buthecontentedhimselfwithabriefdefiance.
Ifthebillpassed,hedeclared,themenwhovotedforit,themenwhowerebehindit,wouldultimatelybedrivenfrompoliticallifebyanindignantpublic.Hehadahigheropinionofthevotersofthestatethanthosewhoaccusedhimofslanderingit,thanthosewhosatsilentandhadnotliftedtheirvoicesagainstthiscrime.
Whenthebillwasputtoavotehedemandedarollcall.
TenmembersbesideshimselfwererecordedagainstHouseBillNo.709!
InspiteofthisoverwhelmingtriumphmyfeelingswerenotwhollythoseofsatisfactionwhenIreturnedtothehotelandlistenedtotheexultationsanddenunciationsofsuchpoliticiansasLetchworth,Young,andColonelVarney.PerhapsanimagesuggestingHermannKrebsassomesplendidanimalatbay,draggeddownbythehounds,istoostrong:hehadbeeningloriouslycrushed,anddefeat,evenforthesakeofconviction,wasnotaninspiringspectacleAsthechasesweptonoverhisprostratefigureIrapidlyregainedpoiseandasenseofproportion;a"masteroflife"couldnotpermithimselftobetossedaboutbysentimentality;andgraduallyIgrewashamedofmybadquarterofanhourinthegalleryoftheHouse,andoftheeffectofit——whichlingeredawhile——asofaweaknesssuddenlyrevealed,whichmustatallcostsbeovercome.IbegantoseesomethingdramaticandsensationalinKrebs\'sperformance
TheRibblevaleSteelCompanywastherealquarry,afterall.Andsuchhadbeentheexpedition,theskillandsecrecy,withwhichouraffairwasconducted,thatbeforetheRibblevalelawyerscouldarrive,alarmedandbreathless,thebillhadpassedtheHouse,andtheironlyrealchanceofhaltingithadbeenlost.FortheRailroadcontrolledtheHouse,notbyowningtheindividualscomposingit,butthroughtheleaderswhodominatedit,——menlikeLetchworthandTruesdale.These,andColonelVarney,hadseentoitthatmenwhohadanyparliamentaryabilityhadbeenattendedto;allsaveKrebs,whohadprovedasurprise.Therewereindeedcertainmemberswho,althoughtheyhadrailroadpassesintheirpockets(whichwereregardedasjustperquisites,——theRailroadbeingsorich!),wouldhaveopposedthebilliftheyhadfeltsufficientlysureofthemselvestocopewithsuchveteransasLetchworth.ManyofthesehadallowedthemselvestobewonoverorcowedbytheoratorywhichhadcrushedKrebs.
NordidtheRibblevalepeople——beitrecorded——scrupletofightfirewithfire.Theirexistence,ofcourse,wasatstake,andtherewasnopublictoappealto.Apartofthelegalarmythatrushedtotheaidofouradversariesspenttheafternoonandmostofthenightorganizingallthosewhocouldbeinducedbyonemeansoranothertoreversetheirsentiments,andinsearchingforthefewwhohadgrievancesagainsttheexistingpower.Thefollowingmorningamotionwasintroducedtoreconsider;andinthedebatethatfollowed,Krebs,stilldefiant,tookanactivepart.Buttheresolutionrequiredatwo-thirdsvote,andwaslost.
WhenthebattlewasshiftedtotheSenateitwasasgoodaslost.TheJudiciaryCommitteeoftheaugustbodydidindeedcondescendtogivehearings,atwhichtheRibblevalelawyersexhaustedtheirenergyandingenuitywithoutresultwithonlytwodissentingvotesthebillwascalmlypassed.InvainwastheGovernorbesieged,entreated,threatened,——itwassaid;Mr.Truleasehadinformedprotesters——soColonelVarneygleefullyreported——thathehad"becomefullyconvincedoftheinherentjusticeofthemeasure."OnSaturdaymorninghesignedit,anditbecamealaw
ColonelVarney,asheaccompaniedmetothetrain,didnotconcealhisjubilation.
"PerhapsIoughtnottosayit,Mr.Paret,butitcouldn\'thavebeendoneneater.That\'stheartintheselittleaffairs,toget\'emrunnin\'fast,togetmomentumon\'embeforetheotherpartywakesup,andthenhecan\'tstop\'em."Asheshookhandsinfarewellheadded,withmoregravity:
"We\'llseeeachotheroften,sir,Iguess.MyverybestregardstoMr.
Watling."
Needlesstosay,IhadnotconfidedtohimthepartIhadplayedinoriginatingHouseBillNo.709,nowalawofthestate.Butasthetrainrolledonthroughthesunnywinterlandscapeasenseofwell-being,ofimportanceandpowerbegantostealthroughme.Iwasvictoriouslybearinghomemyfirstscalp,——onewhichwasbynomeanstobedespisedItwasnotuntilwereachedRossiter,aboutfiveo\'clock,thatIwasabletogettheeveningnewspapers.SuchwastheperfectionoftheorganizationofwhichImightnowcallmyselfanintegralpartthatthe"best"publicationscontainedonlythebarestmention,——andthatinthelegislativenews,——ofthesigningofthebill.IreadwithcomplacencyandevenwithamusementtheflaringheadlinesIhadanticipatedinMr.Lawler\'s\'Pilot.\'
"TheGovernorSignsIt!"
"Speciallegislation,forcedthroughbytheRailroadLobby,whichwilldrivehonestcorporationsfromthisstate."
"RibblevaleSteelCompanytheVictim."
Itwascommontalkinthecapital,thearticlewentontosay,thatTheodoreWatlinghimselfhaddrawnupthemeasurePerusingtheeditorialpagemyeyefellonthename,Krebs.Onememberofthelegislatureabovealldeservedthegratitudeofthepeopleofthestate,——
thememberfromElkington."Anunknownman,electedinspiteoftheoppositionofthemachine,hehaddaredtoraisehisvoiceagainstthisiniquity,"etc.,etc.
Wehadwon.Thatwastheessentialthing.Andmylegalexperiencehadtaughtmethatvictorycounts;defeatissoonforgotten.Eventhediscontented,half-bakedandheterogeneouselementfromwhichthePilotgotitscirculationhadshortmemories.
XI.
Thenextmorning,whichwasSunday,IwenttoMr.Watling\'shousein,FillmoreStreet——anewresidenceatthattime,beingadmiredasthederniercriinarchitecture.Ithadamediaevallook,queerdormersinasteeproofofredtiles,leadedwindowsburieddeepinwallsofroughstone.EmergingfromtherecessedvestibuleonalevelwiththestreetweretheWatlingtwins,aglowwithhealth,dressedinidenticalcostumesofblue.Theyhadmadetheirbowtosocietythatwinter.
"Why,here\'sHugh!"saidFrances."Doesn\'thelookpleasedwithhimself?"
"He\'scometotakeustochurch,"saidJanet.
"Oh,he\'smuchtooimportant,"saidFrances."He\'smadeakillingofsomesort,——haven\'tyou,Hugh?"
Irangthebellandstoodwatchingthemastheydeparted,reflectingthatIwasthirty-twoyearsofageandunmarried.Mr.Watling,surroundedwithnewspapersandseatedbeforehislibraryfire,glancedupatmewithawelcomingsmile:howhadIbornethelegislativebaptismoffire?
Such,Iknew,wasitsimplication.
"Everythingwentthroughaccordingtoschedule,eh?Well,Icongratulateyou,Hugh,"hesaid.
"Oh,Ididn\'thavemuchtodowithit,"Ianswered,smilingbackathim.
"Ikeptoutofsight."
"That\'sanartinitself."
"Ihadanopportunity,atcloserange,tostudythemethodsofourlawmakers."
"They\'renotparticularlyedifying,"Mr.Watlingreplied."Buttheyseem,unfortunately,tobenecessary."
Suchhadbeenmyownthought.
"WhoisthismanKrebs?"heinquiredsuddenly."Andwhydidn\'tVarneygetholdofhimandmakehimlistentoreason?"
"I\'mafraiditwouldn\'thavebeenanyuse,"Ireplied."HewasinmyclassatHarvard.Iknewhim——slightly.Heworkedhiswaythrough,andhadaprettyhardtimeofit.Iimagineitaffectedhisideas."
"Whatishe,aSocialist?"
"Somethingofthesort."InTheodoreWatling\'svigorous,sanity-exhalingpresenceKrebs\'sactappearedfantastic,ridiculous."Hehasqueernotionsaboutanewkindofdemocracywhichhesaysiscoming.Ithinkheisthekindofmanwhowouldbewillingtodieforit."
"What,inthesedays!"Mr.Watlinglookedatmeincredulously."Ifthat\'sso,wemustkeepaneyeonhim,asincerefanaticisagooddealmoredangerousthanareformerwhowantssomething.Therearesuchmen,"
headded,"buttheyarerare.HowwastheGovernor,Trulease?"heaskedsuddenly."Tractable?"
"Behavedlikealamb,althoughheinsistedupongoingthroughwithhislittlehumbug,"Isaid.
Mr.Watlinglaughed."Theyalwaysdo,"heobserved,"andwastealotofvaluabletime.You\'llfindsomelightcigarsinthecorner,Hugh."
