man of property-第11章

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〃Clever？〃

〃As　clever　as　you　likea　bita　bit　up　in　the　air！〃

He　had　not　been　able　to　discover　what　houses　Bosinney　had　built；　nor　what　his　charges　were。　　The　impression　he　gathered　was　that　he　would　be　able　to　make　his　own　terms。　　The　more　he　reflected　on　the　idea；　the　more　he　liked　it。　　It　would　be　keeping　the　thing　in　the　family；　with　Forsytes　almost　an　instinct；　and　he　would　be　able　to　get　'favoured…nation；'　if　not　nominal　termsonly　fair；　considering　the　chance　to　Bosinney　of　displaying　his　talents；　for　this　house　　must　be　no　common　edifice。

Soames　reflected　complacently　on　the　work　it　would　be　sure　to　bring　the　young　man；　for；　like　every　Forsyte；　he　could　be　a　thorough　optimist　when　there　was　anything　to　be　had　out　of　it。

Bosinney's　office　was　in　Sloane　Street；　close　at；　hand；　so　that　he　would　be　able　to　keep　his　eye　continually　on　the　plans。

Again；　Irene　would　not　be　to　likely　to　object　to　leave　London　if　her　greatest　friend's　lover　were　given　the　job。　　June's　marriage　might　depend　on　it。　　Irene　could　not　decently　stand　in　the　way　of　June's　marriage；　she　would　never　do　that；　he　knew　her　too　well。　And　June　would　be　pleased；　of　this　he　saw　the　advantage。

Bosinney　looked　clever；　but　he　had　alsoandit　was　one　of　his　great　attractionsan　air　as　if　he　did　not　quite　know　on　which　side　his　bread　were　buttered；　he　should　be　easy　to　deal　with　in　money　matters。　　Soames　made　this　reflection　in　no　defrauding　spirit；　it　was　the　natural　attitude　of　his　mindof　the　mind　of　any　good　business　manof　all　those　thousands　of　good　business　men　through　whom　he　was　threading　his　way　up　Ludgate　Hill。

Thus　he　fulfilled　the　inscrutable　laws　of　his　great　classof　human　nature　itselfwhen　he　reflected；　with　a　sense　of　comfort；　that　Bosinney　would　be　easy　to　deal　with　in　money　matters。

While　he　elbowed　his　way　on；　his　eyes；　which　he　usually　kept　fixed　on　the　ground　before　his　feet；　were　attracted　upwards　by　the　dome　of　St。　　Paul's。　　It　had　a　peculiar　fascination　for　him；　that　old　dome；　and　not　once；　but　twice　or　three　times　a　week；　would　he　halt　in　his　daily　pilgrimage　to　enter　beneath　and　stop　in　the　side　aisles　for　five　or　ten　minutes；　scrutinizing　the　names　and　epitaphs　on　the　monuments。　　The　attraction　for　him　of　this　great　church　was　inexplicable；　unless　it　enabled　him　to　concentrate　his　thoughts　on　the　business　of　the　day。　　If　any　affair　of　particular　moment；　or　demanding　peculiar　acuteness；　was　weighing　on　his　mind；　he　invariably　went　in；　to　wander　with　mouse…like　attention　from　epitaph　to　epitaph。　　Then　retiring　in　the　same　noiseless　way；　he　would　hold　steadily　on　up　Cheapside；　a　thought　more　of　dogged　purpose　in　his　gait；　as　though　he　had　seen　something　which　he　had　made　up　his　mind　to　buy。

He　went　in　this　morning；　but；　instead　of　stealing　from　monument　to　monument；　turned　his　eyes　upwards　to　the　columns　and　spacings　of　the　walls；　and　remained　motionless。

His　uplifted　face；　with　the　awed　and　wistful　look　which　faces　take　on　themselves　in　church；　was　whitened　to　a　chalky　hue　in　the　vast　building。　　His　gloved　hands　were　clasped　in　front　over　the　handle　of　his　umbrella。　　He　lifted　them。　　Some　sacred　inspiration　perhaps　had　come　to　him。

'Yes；'　he　thought；　'I　must　have　room　to　hang　my　pictures。

That　evening；　on　his　return　from　the　City；　he　called　at　Bosinney's　office。　　He　found　the　architect　in　his　shirt…sleeves；　smoking　a　pipe；　and　ruling　off　lines　on　a　plan。　　Soames　refused　a　drink；　and　came　at　once　to　the　point。

〃If　you've　nothing　better　to　do　on　Sunday；　come　down　with　me　to　Robin　Hill；　and　give　me　your　opinion　on　a　building　site。〃

〃Are　you　going　to　build？〃

〃Perhaps；〃　said　Soames；　〃but　don't　speak　of　it。　　I　just　want　your　opinion。〃

〃Quite　so；〃　said　the　architect。

Soames　peered　about　the　room。

〃You're　rather　high　up　here；〃　he　remarked。

Any　information　he　could　gather　about　the　nature　and　scope　of　Bosinney's　business　would　be　all　to　the　good。

〃It　does　well　enough　for　me　so　far；〃　answered　the　architect。　〃You're　accustomed　to　the　swells。〃

He　knocked　out　his　pipe；　but　replaced　it　empty　between　his　teeth；　it　assisted　him　perhaps　to　carry　on　the　conversation。　　Soames　noted　a　hollow　in　each　cheek；　made　as　it　were　by　suction。

〃What　do　you　pay　for　an　office　like　this？〃　said　he。

〃Fifty　too　much；〃　replied　Bosinney。

This　answer　impressed　Soames　favourably。

〃I　suppose　it　is　dear；〃　he　said。　　〃I'll　call　for　youon　Sunday　about　eleven。〃　。

The　following　Sunday　therefore　he　called　for　Bosinney　in　a　hansom；　and　drove　him　to　the　station。　　On　arriving　at　Robin　Hill；　they　found　no　cab；　and　started　to　walk　the　mile　and　a　half　to　the　site。

It　was　the　1st　of　Augusta　perfect　day；　with　a　burning　sun　and　cloudless　skyand　in　the　straight；　narrow　road　leading　up　the　hill　their　feet　kicked　up　a　yellow　dust。

〃Gravel　soil；〃　remarked　Soames；　and　sideways　he　glanced　at　the　coat　Bosinney　wore。　　Into　the　side…pockets　of　this　coat　were　thrust　bundles　of　papers；　and　under　one　arm　was　carried　a　queer…　looking　stick。　　Soames　noted　these　and　other　peculiarities。

No　one　but　a　clever　man；　or；　indeed；　a　buccaneer；　would　have　taken　such　liberties　with　his　appearance；　and　though　these　eccentricities　were　revolting　to　Soames；　he　derived　a　certain　satisfaction　from　them；　as　evidence　of　qualities　by　which　he　must　inevitably　profit。　　If　the　fellow　could　build　houses；　what　did　his　clothes　matter？

〃I　told　you；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　want　this　house　to　be　a　surprise；　so　don't　say　anything　about　it。　　I　never　talk　of　my　affairs　until　they're　carried　through。〃

Bosinney　nodded。

〃Let　women　into　your　plans；〃　pursued　Soames；　〃and　you　never　know　where　it'll　end。〃

〃Ah！〃　Said　Bosinney；　〃women　are　the　devil！〃

This　feeling　had　long　been　at　thebottom　of　Soames's　heart；　he　had　never；　however；　put　it　into　words。

〃Oh！〃　he　Muttered；　〃so　you're　beginning　to。。。。〃　　He　stopped；　but　added；　with　an　uncontrollable　burst　of　spite：　〃June's　got　a　temper　of　her　ownalways　had。〃

〃A　temper's　not　a　bad　thing　in　an　angel。〃

Soames　had　never　called　Irene　an　angel。　　He　could　not　so　have　violated　his　best　instincts；　letting　other　people　into　the　secret　of　her　value；　and　giving　himself　away。　　He　made　no　reply。

They　had　struck　into　a　half…made　road　across　a　warren。　　A　cart…track　led　at　right…angles　to　a　gravel　pit；　beyond　which　the　chimneys　of　a　cottage　rose　amongst　a　clump　of　trees　at　the　border　of　a　thick　wood。　　Tussocks　of　feathery　grass　covered　the　rough　surface　of　the　ground；　and　out　of　these　the　larks　soared　into　the　hate　of　sunshine。　　On　the　far　horizon；　over　a　countless　succession　of　fields　and　hedges；　rose　a　line　of　downs。

Soames　led　till　they　had　crossed　to　the　far　side；　and　there　he　stopped。　　It　was　the　chosen　site；　but　now　that　he　was　about　to　divulge　the　spot　to　another　he　had　become　uneasy。

〃The　agent　lives　in　that　cottage；〃　he　said；　〃he'll　give　us　some　lunchwe'd　better　have　lunch　before　we　go　into　this　matter。〃

He　again　took　the　lead　to　the　cottage；　where　the　agent；　a　tall　man　named　Oliver；　with　a　heavy　face　and　grizzled　beard；　welcomed　them。　　During　lunch；　which　Soames　hardly　touched；　he　kept　looking　at　Bosinney；　and　once　or　twice　passed　his　silk　handkerchief　stealthily　over　his　forehead。　　The　meal　came　to　an　end　at　last；　and　Bosinney　rose。

〃I　dare　say　you've　got　business　to　talk　over；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　just　go　and　nose　about　a　bit。〃　Without　waiting　for　a　reply　he　strolled　out。

Soames　was　solicitor　to　this　estate；　and　he　spent　nearly　an　hour　in　the　agent's　company；　looking　at　ground…plans　and　discussing　the　Nicholl　and　other　mortgages；　it　was　as　it　were　by　an　afterthought　that　he　brought　up　the　question　of　the　building　site。

〃Your　people；〃　he　said；　〃ought　to　come　down　in　their　price　to　me；　considering　that　I　shall　be　the　first　to　build。〃

Oliver　shook　his　head。

The　site　you've　fixed　on；　Sir；　he　said；　〃is　the　cheapest　we've　got。　　Sites　at　the　top　of　the　slope　are　dearer　by　a　good　bit。〃

〃Mind；〃　said　Soames；〃　I've　not　decided；　it's　quite　possible　I　shan't　build　at　all。　　The　ground　rent's　very　high。〃

〃Well；　Mr。　Forsyte；　I　shall　be　sorry　if　you　go　off；　and　I　think　you'll　make　a　mistake；　Sir。　　There's　not　a　bit　of　land　near　London　with　such　a　view　as　this；　nor　one　that's　cheaper；　all　things　considered；　we've　only　to　advertise；　to　get　a　mob　of　people　after　it。〃

They　looked　at　each　other。　　Their　faces　said　very　plainly：　'I　respect　you　as　a　man　of　business；　　and　you　can't　expect　me　to　believe　a　word　you　say。'

Well；　repeated　Soames；　〃I　haven't　made　up　my　mind；　the　thing　will　very　likely　go　off！〃　　With　these　words；　taking　up　his　umbrella；　he　put　his　chilly　hand　into　the　agent's；　withdrew　it　without　the　faintest　pressure；　and　went　out　into　the　sun。

He　walked　slowly　back　towards　the　site　in　deep　thought。　　His　instinct　told　him　that　what　the　agent　had　said　was　true。　　A　cheap　site。　　And　the　beauty　of　it　was；　that　he　knew　the　agent　did　not　really　think　it　cheap；　so　that　his　own　intuitive　knowledge　was　a　victory　over　the　agent's。

'Cheap　or　not；　I　mean　to　have　it；'　　he　thought。

The　larks　sprang　up　in　front　of　his　feet；　the　air　was　full　of　butterflies；　a　sweet　fragrance　rose　from　the　wild　grasses。　　The　sappy　scent　of　the　bracken　stole　forth　from　the　wood；　where；　hidden　in　the　depths；　pigeons　were　cooing。；　and　from　afar　on　the　warm　breeze；　came　the　rhythmic　chiming　of　church　bells。

Soames　walked　with　his　eyes　on　the　ground；　his　lips　opening　and　closing　as　though　in　anticipation　of　a　delicious　morsel。　　But　when　he　arrived　at　the　site；　Bosinney　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。　After　waiting　some　little　time；　he　crossed　the　warren　in　the　direction　of　the　slope。　　He　would　have　shouted；　but　dreaded　the　sound　of　his　voice　。

The　warren　was　as　lonely　as　a　prairie；　its　silence　only　broken　by　the　rustle　of　rabbits　bolting　to　their　holes；　and　the　song　of　the　larks。

Soames；　the　pioneer…leader　of　the　great　Forsyte　army　advancing　to　the　civilization　of　this　wilderness；　felt　his　spirit　daunted　by　the　loneliness；　by　the　invisible　singing；　and　the　hot；　sweet　air。　He　had　begun　to　retrace　his　steps　when　he　at　last　caught　sight　of　Bosinney。

The　architect　was　sprawling　under　a　large　oak　tree；　whose　trunk；　with　a　huge　spread　of　bough　and　foliage；　ragged　with　age；　stood　on　the　verge　of　the　rise。

Soames　had　to　touch　him　on　the　shoulder　before　he　looked　up。

〃Hallo！　　Forsyte；〃　he　said；　〃I've　found　the　very　place　for　your　house！　　Look　here！〃

Soames　stood　and　looked；　then　he　said；　coldly：

〃You　may　be　very　clever；　but　this　site　will　cost　me　half　as　much　again。〃

〃Hang　the　cost；　man。　　Look　at　the　view！〃

Almost　from　their　feet　stretched　ripe　corn；　dipping　to　a　small　dark　copse　beyond。　　A　plain　of　fields　and　hedges　spread　to　the　distant　grey…bluedowns。　　In　a　silver　streak　to　the　right　could　be　seen　the　line　of　the　river。

The　sky　was　so　blue；　and　the　sun　so　bright；　that　an　eternal　summer　seemed　to　reign　over　this　prospect。　　Thistledown　floated　round　them；　enraptured　by　the　serenity；　of　the　ether。　　The　heat　danced　over　the　corn；　and；　pervading　all；　was　a　soft；　insensible　hum；　like　the　murmur　of　bright　minutes　holding　revel　between　earth　and　heaven。

Soames　looked。　　In　spite　of　himself；　something　swelled　in　his　breast。　　To　live　here　in　sight　of　all　this；　to　be　able　to　point　it　out　to　his　friends；　to　talk　of　it；　to　possess　it！　　H