man of property-第35章

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And　Dartie　thought：　'Women！'

The　glow　died　above　the　river；　the　singing　ceased；　the　young　moon　hid　behind　a　tree；　and　all　was　dark。　　He　pressed　himself　against　Irene。

He　was　not　alarmed　at　the　shuddering　that　ran　through　the　limbs　he　touched；　or　at　the　troubled；　scornful　look　of　her　eyes。　　He　felt　her　trying　to　draw　herself　away；　and　smiled。

It　must　be　confessed　that　the　man　of　the　world　had　drunk　quite　as　much　as　was　good　for　him。

With　thick　lips　parted　under　his　well…curled　moustaches；　and　his　bold　eyes　aslant　upon　her；　he　had　the　malicious　look　of　a　satyr。

Along　the　pathway　of　sky　between　the　hedges　of　the　tree　tops　the　stars　clustered　forth；　like　mortals　beneath；　they　seemed　to　shift　and　swarm　and　whisper。　　Then　on　the　terrace　the　buzz　broke　out　once　more；　and　Dartie　thought：　'Ah！　　he's　a　poor；　hungry…looking　devil；　that　Bosinney！'and　again　he　pressed　himself　against　Irene。

The　movement　deserved　a　better　success。　　She　rose；　and　they　all　followed　her。

The　man　of　the　world　was　more　than　ever　determined　to　see　what　she　was　made　of。　　Along　the　terrace　he　kept　close　at　her　elbow。　He　had　within　him　much　good　wine。　　There　was　the　long　drive　home；　the　long　drive　and　the　warm　dark　and　the　pleasant　closeness　of　the　hansom　cabwith　its　insulation　from　the　world　devised　by　some　great　and　good　man。　　That　hungry　architect　chap　might　drive　with　his　wifehe　wished　him　joy　of　her！　　And；　conscious　that　his　voice　was　not　too　steady；　he　was　careful　not　to　speak；　but　a　smile　had　become　fixed　on　his　thick　lips。

They　strolled　along　toward　the　cabs　awaiting　them　at　the　farther　end。　　His　plan　had　the　merit　of　all　great　plans；　an　almost　brutal　simplicity　he　would　merely　keep　at　her　elbow　till　she　got　in；　and　get　in　quickly　after　her。

But　when　Irene　reached　the　cab　she　did　not　get　in；　she　slipped；　instead；　to　the　horse's　head。　　Dartie　was　not　at　the　moment　sufficiently　master　of　his　legs　to　follow。　　She　stood　stroking　the　horse's　nose；　and；　to　his　annoyance；　Bosinney　was　at　her　side　first。　　She　turned　and　spoke　to　him　rapidly；　in　a　low　voice；　the　words　'That　man'　reached　Dartie。　　He　stood　stubbornly　by　the　cab　step；　waiting　for　her　to　come　back。　　He　knew　a　trick　worth　two　of　that！

Here；　in　the　lamp…light；　his　figure　（no　more　than　medium　height）；　well　squared　in　its　white　evening　waistcoat；　his　light　overcoat　flung　over　his　arm；　a　pink　flower　in　his　button…hole；　and　on　his　dark　face　that　look　of　confident；　good…humoured　insolence；　he　was　at　his　besta　thorough　man　of　the　world。

Winifred　was　already　in　her　cab。　　Dartie　reflected　that　Bosinney　would　have　a　poorish　time　in　that　cab　if　he　didn't　look　sharp！　Suddenly　he　received　a　push　which　nearly　overturned　him　in　the　road。　　Bosinney's　voice　hissed　in　his　ear：　〃I　am　taking　Irene　back；　do　you　understand？〃　　He　saw　a　face　white　with　passion；　and　eyes　that　glared　at　him　like　a　wild　cat's。

〃Eh？〃　he　stammered。　　〃What？　Not　a　bit。　　You　take　my　wife！〃

〃Get　away！〃　hissed　Bosinney〃or　I'll　throw　you　into　the　road！〃

Dartie　recoiled；　he　saw　as　plainly　as　possible　that　the　fellow　meant　it。　　In　the　space　he　made　Irene　had　slipped　by；　her　dress　brushed　his　legs。　　Bosinney　stepped　in　after　her。

〃Go　on！〃　he　heard　the　Buccaneer　cry。　　The　cabman　flicked　his　horse。　　It　sprang　forward。

Dartie　stood　for　a　moment　dumbfounded；　then；　dashing　at　the　cab　where　his　wife　sat；　he　scrambled　in。

〃Drive　on！〃　he　shouted　to　the　driver；　〃and　don't　you　lose　sight　of　that　fellow　in　front！〃

Seated　by　his　wife's　side；　he　burst　into　imprecations。　　Calming　himself　at　last　with　a　supreme　effort；　he　added：　〃A　pretty　mess　you've　made　of　it；　to　let　the　Buccaneer　drive　home　with　her；　why　on　earth　couldn't　you　keep　hold　of　him？　　He's　mad　with　love；　any　fool　can　see　that！〃

He　drowned　Winifred's　rejoinder　with　fresh　calls　to　the　Almighty；　nor　was　it　until　they　reached　Barnes　that　he　ceased　a　Jeremiad；　in　the　course　of　which　he　had　abused　her；　her　father；　her　brother；　Irene；　Bosinney；　the　name　of　Forsyte；　his　own　children；　and　cursed　the　day　when　he　had　ever　married。

Winifred；　a　woman　of　strong　character；　let　him　have　his　say；　at　the　end　of　which　he　lapsed　into　sulky　silence。　　His　angry　eyes　never　deserted　the　back　of　that　cab；　which；　like　a　lost　chance；　haunted　the　darkness　in　front　of　him。

Fortunately　he　could　not　hear　Bosinney's　passionate　pleading　that　pleading　which　the　man　of　the　world's　conduct　had　let　loose　like　a　flood；　he　could　not　see　Irene　shivering；　as　though　some　garment　had　been　torn　from　her；　nor　her　eyes；　black　and　mournful；　like　the　eyes　of　a　beaten　child。　　He　could　not　hear　Bosinney　entreating；　entreating；　always　entreating；　could　not　hear　her　sudden；　soft　weeping；　nor　see　that　poor；　hungry…looking　devil；　awed　and　trembling；　humbly　touching　her　hand。

In　Montpellier　Square　their　cabman；　following　his　instructions　to　the　letter；　faithfully　drew　up　behind　the　cab　in　front。　　The　Darties　saw　Bosinney　spring　out；　and　Irene　follow；　and　hasten　up　the　steps　with　bent　head。　　She　evidently　had　her　key　in　her　hand；　for　she　disappeared　at　once。　　It　was　impossible　to　tell　whether　she　had　turned　to　speak　to　Bosinney。

The　latter　came　walking　past　their　cab；　both　husband　and　wife　had　an　admirable　view　of　his　face　in　the　light　of　a　street　lamp。　　It　was　working　with　violent　emotion。

〃Good…night；　Mr。　Bosinney！〃　called　Winifred。

Bosinney　started；　clawed　off　his　hat；　and　hurried　on。　　He　had　obviously　forgotten　their　existence。

〃There！〃　said　Dartie；　〃did　you　see　the　beast's　face？　　What　did　I　say？　　Fine　games！〃　　He　improved　the　occasion。

There　had　so　clearly　been　a　crisis　in　the　cab　that　Winifred　was　unable　to　defend　her　theory。

She　said：　〃I　shall　say　nothing　about　it。　　I　don't　see　any　use　in　making　a　fuss！〃

With　that　view　Dartie　at　once　concurred；　looking　upon　James　as　a　private　preserve；　he　disapproved　of　his　being　disturbed　by　the　troubles　of　others。

〃Quite　right；〃　he　said；　〃let　Soames　look　after　himself。　　He's　jolly　well　able　to！〃

Thus　speaking；　the　Darties　entered　their　habitat　in　Green　Street；　the　rent　of　which　was　paid　by　James；　and　sought　a　well…earned　rest。　　The　hour　was　midnight；　and　no　Forsytes　remained　abroad　in　the　streets　to　spy　out　Bosinney's　wanderings；　to　see　him　return　and　stand　against　the　rails　of　the　Square　garden；　back　from　the　glow　of　the　street　lamp；　to　see　him　stand　there　in　the　shadow　of　trees；　watching　the　house　where　in　the　dark　was　hidden　she　whom　he　would　have　given　the　world　to　see　for　a　single　minuteshe　who　was　now　to　him　the　breath　of　the　lime…trees；　the　meaning　of　the　light　and　the　darkness；　the　very　beating　of　his　own　heart。




CHAPTER　X

DIAGNOSIS　OF　A　FORSYTE


It　is　in　the　nature　of　a　Forsyte　to　be　ignorant　that　he　is　a　Forsyte；　but　young　Jolyon　was　well　aware　of　being　one。　　He　had　not　known　it　till　after　the　decisive　step　which　had　made　him　an　outcast；　since　then　the　knowledge　had　been　with　him　continually。　He　felt　it　throughout　his　alliance；　throughout　all　his　dealings　with　his　second　wife；　who　was　emphatically　not　a　Forsyte。

He　knew　that　if　he　had　not　possessed　in　great　measure　the　eye　for　what　he　wanted；　the　tenacity　to　hold　on　to　it；　the　sense　of　the　folly　of　wasting　that　for　which　he　had　given　so　big　a　pricein　other　words；　the　'sense　of　property'　he　could　never　have　retained　her　（perhaps　never　would　have　desired　to　retain　her）　with　him　through　all　the　financial　troubles；　slights；　and　misconstructions　of　those　fifteen　years；　never　have　induced　her　to　marry　him　on　the　death　of　his　first　wife；　never　have　lived　it　all　through；　and　come　up；　as　it　were；　thin；　but　smiling。

He　was　one　of　those　men　who；　seated　cross…legged　like　miniature　Chinese　idols　in　the　cages　of　their　own　hearts；　are　ever　smiling　at　themselves　a　doubting　smile。　　Not　that　this　smile；　so　intimate　and　eternal；　interfered　with　his　actions；　which；　like　his　chin　and　his　temperament；　were　quite　a　peculiar　blend　of　softness　and　determination。

He　was　conscious；　too；　of　being　a　Forsyte　in　his　work；　that　painting　of　water…colours　to　which　he　devoted　so　much　energy；　always　with　an　eye　on　himself；　as　though　he　could　not　take　so　unpractical　a　pursuit　quite　seriously；　and　always　with　a　certain　queer　uneasiness　that　he　did　not　make　more　money　at　it。

It　was；　then；　this　consciousness　of　what　it　meant　to　be　a　Forsyte；　that　made　him　receive　the　following　letter　from　old　Jolyon；　with　a　mixture　of　sympathy　and　disgust：


'SHELDRAKE　HOUSE；　　　　　　'BROADSTAIRS；

'July　1。　'MY　DEAR　JO；'

（The　Dad's　handwriting　had　altered　very　little　in　the　thirty　odd　years　that　he　remembered　it。）

'We　have　been　here　now　a　fortnight；　and　have　had　good　weather　on　the　whole。　　The　air　is　bracing；　but　my　liver　is　out　of　order；　and　I　shall　be　glad　enough　to　get　back　to　town。　　I　cannot　say　much　for　June；　her　health　and　spirits　are　very　indifferent；　and　I　don't　see　what　is　to　come　of　it。　　She　says　nothing；　but　it　is　clear　that　she　is　harping　on　this　engagement；　which　is　an　engagement　and　no　engagement；　andgoodness　knows　what。　　I　have　grave　doubts　whether　she　ought　to　be　allowed　to　return　to　London　in　the　present　state　of　affairs；　but　she　is　so　self…willed　that　she　might　take　it　into　her　head　to　come　up　at　any　moment。　　The　fact　is　someone　ought　to　speak　to　Bosinney　and　ascertain　what　he　means。　　I'm　afraid　of　this　myself；　for　I　should　certainly　rap　him　over　the　knuckles；　but　I　thought　that　you；　knowing　him　at　the　Club；　might　put　in　a　word；　and　get　to　ascertain　what　the　fellow　is　about。　　You　will　of　course　in　no　way　commit　June。　　I　shall　be　glad　to　hear　from　you　in　the　course　of　a　few　days　whether　you　have　succeeded　in　gaining　any　information。　　The　situation　is　very　distressing　to　me；　I　worry　about　it　at　night。

With　my　love　to　Jolly　and　Holly。　'I　am；　　　　　　'Your　affect。　　father；

'JOLYON　FORSYTE。'


Young　Jolyon　pondered　this　letter　so　long　and　seriously　that　his　wife　noticed　his　preoccupation；　and　asked　him　what　was　the　matter。　　He　replied：　〃Nothing。〃

It　was　a　fixed　principle　with　him　never　to　allude　to　June。　　She　might　take　alarm；　he　did　not　know　what　she　might　think；　he　hastened；　therefore；　to　banish　from　his　manner　all　traces　of　absorption；　but　in　this　he　was　about　as　successful　as　his　father　would　have　been；　for　he　had　inherited　all　old　Jolyon's　transparency　in　matters　of　domestic　finesse；　and　young　Mrs。　Jolyon；　busying　herself　over　the　affairs　of　the　house；　went　about　with　tightened　lips；　stealing　at　him　unfathomable　looks。

He　started　for　the　Club　in　the　afternoon　with　the　letter　in　his　pocket；　and　without　having　made　up　his　mind。

To　sound　a　man　as　to　'his　intentions'　was　peculiarly　unpleasant　to　him；　nor　did　his　own　anomalous　position　diminish　this　unpleasantness。　　It　was　so　like　his　family；　so　like　all　the　people　they　knew　and　mixed　with；　to　enforce　what　they　called　their　rights　over　a　man；　to　bring　　him　up　to　the　mark；　so　like　them　to　carry　their　business　principles　into　their　private　relations。

And　how　that　phrase　in　the　letter　…'You　will；　of　course；　in　no　way　commit　June'gave　the　whole　thing　away。

Yet　the　letter；　with　the　personal　grievance；　the　concern　for　June；　the　'rap　over　the　knuckles；'　was　all　so　natural。　　No　wonder　his　father　wanted　to　know　what　Bosinney　meant；　no　wonder　he　was　angry。

It　was　difficult　to　refuse！　　But　why　give　the　thing　to　him　to　do？　That　was　surel