man of property-第54章

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But　secretly；　the　idea　of　wresting　the　house　from　James　and　his　son　had　begun　to　take　hold　of　him。　　He　had　heard　on　Forsyte　'Change　much　comment；　much　rather　doubtful　praise　of　this　house。　It　was　'too　artistic；'　but　a　fine　place。　　To　take　from　the　'man　of　property'　that　on　which　he　had　set　his　heart；　would　be　a　crowning　triumph　over　James；　practical　proof　that　he　was　going　to　make　a　man　of　property　of　Jo；　to　put　him　back　in　his　proper　position；　and　there　to　keep　him　secure。　　Justice　once　for　all　on　those　who　had　chosen　to　regard　his　son　as　a　poor；　penniless　outcast。

He　would　see；　he　would　see！　　It　might　be　out　of　the　question；　he　was　not　going　to　pay　a　fancy　price；　but　if　it　could　be　done；　why；　perhaps　he　would　do　it！

And　still　more　secretly　he　knew　that　he　could　not　refuse　her。

But　he　did　not　commit　himself。　　He　would　think　it　overhe　said　to　June。




CHAPTER　VIII

BOSINNEY'S　DEPARTURE


Old　Jolyon　　was　not　given　to　hasty　decisions；　it　is　probable　that　he　would　have　continued　to　think　over　the　purchase　of　the　house　at　Robin　Hill；　had　not　June's　face　told　him　that　he　would　have　no　peace　until　he　acted。

At　breakfast　next　morning　she　asked　him　what　time　she　should　order　the　carriage。

〃Carriage！〃　he　said；　with　some　appearance　of　innocence；　〃what　for？　　I'm　not　going　out！〃

She　answered：　〃If　you　don't　go　early；　you　won't　catch　Uncle　James　before　he　goes　into　the　City。〃

〃James！　what　about　your　Uncle　James？〃

〃The　house；〃　she　replied；　in　such　a　voice　that　he　no　longer　pretended　ignorance。

〃I've　not　made　up　my　mind；〃　he　said。

〃You　must！　　You　must！　　Oh！　Granthink　of　me！〃

Old　Jolyon　grumbled　out：　〃Think　of　youI'm　always　thinking　of　you；　but　you　don't　think　of　yourself；　you　don't　think　what　you're　letting　yourself　in　for。　　Well；　order　the　carriage　at　ten！〃

At　a　quarter　past　he　was　placing　his　umbrella　in　the　stand　at　Park　Lanehe　did　not　choose　to　relinquish　his　hat　and　coat；　telling　Warmson　that　he　wanted　to　see　his　master；　he　went；　without　being　announced；　into　the　study；　and　sat　down。

James　was　still　in　the　dining…room　talking　to　Soames；　who　had　come　round　again　before　breakfast。　　On　hearing　who　his　visitor　was；　he　muttered　nervously：　〃Now；　what's　be　want；　I　wonder？〃

He　then　got　up。

〃Well；〃　he　said　to　Soames；　〃don't　you　go　doing　anything　in　a　hurry。　　The　first　thing　is　to　find　out　where　she　isI　should　go　to　Stainer's　about　it；　they're　the　best　men；　if　they　can't　find　her；　nobody　can。〃　And　suddenly　moved　to　strange　softness；　he　muttered　to　himself；　〃Poor　little　thing；　I　can't　tell　what　she　was　thinking　about！〃　and　went　out　blowing　his　nose。

Old　Jolyon　did　not　rise　on　seeing　his　brother；　but　held　out　his　hand；　and　exchanged　with　him　the　clasp　of　a　Forsyte。

James　took　another　chair　by　the　table；　and　leaned　his　head　on　his　hand。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃how　are　you？　　We　don't　see　much　of　you　nowadays！〃

Old　Jolyon　paid　no　attention　to　the　remark。

〃How's　Emily？〃　he　asked；　and　waiting　for　no　reply；　went　on　〃I've　come　to　see　you　about　this　affair　of　young　Bosinney's。　　I'm　told　that　new　house　of　his　is　a　white　elephant。〃

〃I　don't　know　anything　about　a　white　elephant；〃　said　James；　〃I　know　he's　lost　his　case；　and　I　should　say　he'll　go　bankrupt。〃

Old　Jolyon　was　not　slow　to　seize　the　opportunity　this　gave　him。

〃I　shouldn't　wonder　a　bit！〃　he　agreed；　〃and　if　he　goes　bankrupt；　the　'man　of　property'that　is；　Soames'll　be　out　of　pocket。　　Now；　what　I　was　thinking　was　this：　If　he's　not　going　to　live　there。。。。〃

Seeing　both　surprise　and　suspicion　in　James'　eye；　he　quickly　went　on：　〃I　don't　want　to　know　anything；　I　suppose　Irene's　put　her　foot　downit's　not　material　to　me。　　But　I'm　thinking　of　a　house　in　the　country　myself；　not　too　far　from　London；　and　if　it　suited　me　I　don't　say　that　I　mightn't　look　at　it；　at　a　price。〃

James　listened　to　this　statement　with　a　strange　mixture　of　doubt；　suspicion；　and　relief；　merging　into　a　dread　of　something　behind；　and　tinged　with　the　remains　of　his　old　undoubted　reliance　upon　his　elder　brother's　good　faith　and　judgment。　　There　was　anxiety；　too；　as　to　what　old　Jolyon　could　have　heard　and　how　he　had　heard　it；　and　a　sort　of　hopefulness　arising　from　the　thought　that　if　June's　connection　with　Bosinney　were　completely　at　an　end；　her　grandfather　would　hardly　seem　anxious　to　help　the　young　fellow。　Altogether　he　was　puzzled；　as　he　did　not　like　either　to　show　this；　or　to　commit　himself　in　any　way；　he　said：

〃They　tell　me　you're　altering　your　Will　in　favour　of　your　son。〃

He　had　not　been　told　this；　he　had　merely　added　the　fact　of　having　seen　old　Jolyon　with　his　son　and　grandchildren　to　the　fact　that　he　had　taken　his　Will　away　from　Forsyte；　Bustard　and　Forsyte。　The　shot　went　home。

〃Who　told　you　that？〃　asked　old　Jolyon。

〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know；〃　said　James；　〃I　can't　remember　namesI　know　somebody　told　me　Soames　spent　a　lot　of　money　on　this　house；　he's　not　likely　to　part　with　it　except　at　a　good　price。〃

〃Well；〃　said　old　Jolyon；　〃if；　he　thinks　I'm　going　to　pay　a　fancy　price；　he's　mistaken。　　I've　not　got　the　money　to　throw　away　that　he　seems　to　have。　　Let　him　try　and　sell　it　at　a　forced　sale；　and　see　what　he'll　get。　　It's　not　every　man's　house；　I　hear！〃

James；　who　was　secretly　also　of　this　opinion；　answered：　〃It's　a　gentleman's　house。　　Soames　is　here　now　if　you'd　like　to　see　him。〃

〃No；〃　said　old　Jolyon；　〃I　haven't　got　as　far　as　that；　and　I'm　not　likely　to；　I　can　see　that　very　well　if　I'm　met　in　this　manner！〃

James　was　a　little　cowed；　when　it　came　to　the　actual　figures　of　a　commercial　transaction　he　was　sure　of　himself；　for　then　he　was　dealing　with　facts；　not　with　men；　but　preliminary　negotiations　such　as　these　made　him　nervoushe　never　knew　quite　how　far　he　could　go。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I　know　nothing　about　it。　　Soames；　he　tells　me　nothing；　I　should　think　he'd　entertain　itit's　a　question　of　price。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　old　Jolyon；　〃don't　let　him　make　a　favour　of　it！〃　He　placed　his　hat　on　his　head　in　dudgeon。

The　door　was　opened　and　Soames　came　in。

〃There's　a　policeman　out　here；〃　he　said　with　his　half　smile；　〃for　Uncle　Jolyon。〃

Old　Jolyon　looked　at　him　angrily；　and　James　said：　〃A　policeman？　I　don't　know　anything　about　a　policeman。　　But　I　suppose　you　know　something　about　him；〃　he　added　to　old　Jolyon　with　a　look　of　suspicion：　〃I　suppose　you'd　better　see　him！〃

In　the　hall　an　Inspector　of　Police　stood　stolidly　regarding　with　heavy…lidded　pale…blue　eyes　the　fine　old　English　furniture　picked　up　by　James　at　the　famous　Mavrojano　sale　in　Portman　Square。　〃You'll　find　my　brother　in　there；〃　said　James。

The　Inspector　raised　his　fingers　respectfully　to　his　peaked　cap；　and　entered　the　study。

James　saw　him　go　in　with　a　strange　sensation。

〃Well；〃　he　said　to　Soames；　〃I　suppose　we　must　wait　and　see　what　he　wants。　　Your　uncle's　been　here　about　the　house！〃

He　returned　with　Soames　into　the　dining…room；　but　could　not　rest。

〃Now　what　does　he　want？〃　he　murmured　again。

〃Who？〃　replied　Soames：　〃the　Inspector？　　They　sent　him　round　from　Stanhope　Gate；　that's　all　I　know。　　That　'nonconformist'　of　Uncle　Jolyon's　has　been　pilfering；　I　shouldn't　wonder！〃

But　in　spite　of　his　calmness；　he　too　was　ill　at　ease。

At　the　end　of　ten　minutes　old　Jolyon　came　in。　　He　walked　up　to　the　table；　and　stood　there　perfectly　silent　pulling　at　his　long　white　moustaches。　　James　gazed　up　at　him　with　opening　mouth；　he　had　never　seen　his　brother　look　like　this。

Old　Jolyon　raised　his　hand；　and　said　slowly：

〃Young　Bosinney　has　been　run　over　in　the　fog　and　killed。〃

Then　standing　above　his　brother　and　his　nephew；　and　looking　down　at　him　with　his　deep　eyes：

〃There'ssometalkofsuicide；〃　he　said。

James'　jaw　dropped。　　〃Suicide！　　What　should　he　do　that　for？〃

Old　Jolyon　answered　sternly：　〃God　knows；　if　you　and　your　son　don't！〃

But　James　did　not　reply。

For　all　men　of　great　age；　even　for　all　Forsytes；　life　has　had　bitter　experiences。　　The　passer…by；　who　sees　them　wrapped　in　cloaks　of　custom；　wealth；　and　comfort；　would　never　suspect　that　such　black　shadows　had　fallen　on　their　roads。　　To　every　man　of　great　ageto　Sir　Walter　Bentham　himselfthe　idea　of　suicide　has　once　at　least　been　present　in　the　ante…room　of　his　soul；　on　the　threshold；　waiting　to　enter；　held　out　from　the　inmost　chamber　by　some　chance　reality；　some　vague　fear；　some　painful　hope。　　To　Forsytes　that　final　renunciation　of　property　is　hard。　　Oh！　it　is　hard！　　Seldomperhaps　nevercan　they　achieve；　it；　and　yet；　how　near　have　they　not　sometimes　been！

So　even　with　James！　　Then　in　the　medley　of　his　thoughts；　he　broke　out：　〃Why　I　saw　it　in　the　paper　yesterday：　'Run　over　in　the　fog！'　They　didn't　know　his　name！〃　He　turned　from　one　face　to　the　other　in　his　confusion　of　soul；　but　instinctively　all　the　time　he　was　rejecting　that　rumour　of　suicide。　　He　dared　not　entertain　this　thought；　so　against　his　interest；　against　the　interest　of　his　son；　of　every　Forsyte。　　He　strove　against　it；　and　as　his　nature　ever　unconsciously　rejected　that　which　it　could　not　with　safety　accept；　so　gradually　he　overcame　this　fear。　　It　was　an　accident！　It　must　have　been！

Old　Jolyon　broke　in　on　his　reverie。

〃Death　was　instantaneous。　　He　lay　all　day　yesterday　at　the　hospital。　　There　was　nothing　to　tell　them　who　he　was。　　I　am　going　there　now；　you　and　your　son　had　better　come　too。〃

No　one　opposing　this　command　he　led　the　way　from　the　room。

The　day　was　still　and　clear　and　bright；　and　driving　over　to　Park　Lane　from　Stanhope　Gate；　old　Jolyon　had　had　the　carriage　open。　Sitting　back　on　the　padded　cushions；　finishing　his　cigar；　he　had　noticed　with　pleasure　the　keen　crispness　of　the　air；　the　bustle　of　the　cabs　and　people；　the　strange；　almost　Parisian；　alacrity　that　the　first　fine　day　will　bring　into　London　streets　after　a　spell　of　fog　or　rain。　　And　he　had　felt　so　happy；　he　had　not　felt　like　it　for　months。　　His　confession　to　June　was　off　his　mind；　he　had　the　prospect　of　his　son's；　above　all；　of　his　grandchildren's　company　in　the　future（he　had　appointed　to　meet　young　Jolyon　at　the　Hotch　Potch　that　very　manning　todiscuss　it　again）；　and　there　was　the　pleasurable　excitement　of　a　coming　encounter；　a　coming　victory；　over　James　and　the　'man　of　property'　in　the　matter　of　the　house。

He　had　the　carriage　closed　now；　he　had　no　heart　to　look　on　gaiety；　nor　was　it　right　that　Forsytes　should　be　seen　driving　with　an　Inspector　of　Police。

In　that　carriage　the　Inspector　spoke　again　of　the　death：

〃It　was　not　so　very　thickJust　there。　　The　driver　says　the　gentleman　must　have　had　time　to　see　what　he　was　about；　he　seemed　to　walk　right　into　it。　　It　appears　that　he　was　very　hard　up；　we　found　several　pawn　tickets　at　his　rooms；　his　account　at　the　bank　is　overdrawn；　and　there's　this　case　in　to…day's　papers；〃　his　cold　blue　eyes　travelled　from　one　to　another　of　the　three　Forsytes　in　the　carriage。

Old　Jolyon　watching　from　his　corner　saw　his　brother's　face　change；　and　the　brooding；　worried；　look　deepen　on　it。　　At　the　Inspector's　words；　indeed；　all　James'　doubts　and　fears　revived。　Hard…uppawn…ticketsan　overdrawn　account！　　These　words　that　had　all　his　life　been　a　far…off　nightmare　to　him；　seemed　to　make　uncannily　real　that　suspicion　of　suicide　which　must　on　no　account　be　entertained。　　He　sought　his　son's　eye；　but　lynx…eyed；　taciturn；　immovable；　Soames　gave　no　answering　look。　　And　to　old