the cost-第26章

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e　an　electric　shock。

The　clerk　rose；　tiptoed　away　to　the　office　of　the　first　vice…president　of　the　Woolens　Trust。　　He　came　tiptoeing　back　to　say　in　a　faint；　deprecating　voice：　　〃Mr。　Giddings　isn't　down　yet；　sir。〃

Dumont　rolled　out　a　volley　of　violent　language　about　Giddings。　　In　his　tantrums　he　had　no　more　regard　for　the　dignity　of　his　chief　lieutenants；　themselves　rich　men　and　middle…aged　or　old；　than　he　had　for　his　office　boys。　　To　the　Ineffable　Grand　Turk　what　noteworthy　distinction　is　there　between　vizier　and　sandal…strapper？

〃Send　him　inquick；you；　as　soon　as　he　comes；〃　he　shouted　in　conclusion。　　If　he　had　not　paid　generously；　if　his　lieutenants　had　not　been　coining　huge　dividends　out　of　his　brains　and　commercial　audacity；　if　his　magnetic；　confidence…inspiring　personality　had　not　created　in　the　minds　of　all　about　him　visions　of　golden　rivers　widening　into　golden　oceans；　he　would　have　been　deserted　and　execrated。　　As　it　was；　his　service　was　eagerly　sought；　and　his　servants　endured　its　mental　and　moral　hardships　as　the　prospector　endures　the　physical　cruelties　of　the　mountain　fastnesses。

He　was　closing　his　private　door　when　the　door…boy　from　the　outermost　of　that　maze　of　handsome　offices　came　up　to　him　with　a　card。

〃Not　here；〃　he　growled；　and　shut　himself　in。

Half　an　hour　later　the　sounds　of　an　angry　tumult　in　the　clerks'　room　made　him　fling　his　door　open。　　〃What　the〃　he　began；　his　heavy　face　purple；　then　stopped　amazed。

The　outside　doorkeeper；　the　watchman　and　several　clerks　were　engaged　in　a　struggle　with　Fanshaw。　　His　hat　was　off；　his　hair　wild；　his　necktie；　shirt　and　coat　awry。

〃There　you　are　nowI　knew　you　were　in；〃　he　shouted；　as　he　caught　sight　of　Dumont。　　〃Call　these　curs　off；　Jack！〃

〃Let　him　alone；〃　snarled　Dumont。

Fanshaw　was　released。　　He　advanced　into　Dumont's　office；　straightening　his　clothing　and　panting　with　exertion；　excitement　and　anger。　　Dumont　closed　the　door。　　〃Well；〃　he　said　surlily。　　〃What　d'　you　want？〃

〃I'll　have　to　go　to　the　wall　at　half…past　ten　if　you　don't　help　me　out；〃　said　Fanshaw。　　〃The　Montana　election　went　against　my　crowdI'm　in　the　copper　deal。　　There's　a　slump；　but　the　stock's　dead　sure　to　go　up　within　a　week。〃

〃In　trouble　again？〃　sneered　Dumont。　　〃It's　been　only　three　months　since　I　pulled　you　through。〃

〃You　didn't　lose　anything　by　it；　did　you？〃　retorted　Fanshawhe　had　recovered　himself　and　was　eying　Dumont　with　the　cool；　steady；　significant　stare　of　one　rascal　at　another　whom　he　thinks　he　has　in　his　power。

Before　that　look　Dumont　flushed　an　angrier　red。　　〃I　won't　do　it　again！〃　and　he　brought　his　fist　down　with　a　bang。

〃All　I　want　is　five　hundred　thousand　to　carry　my　copper　for　a　week　at　the　outside。　　If　I　get　it　I'll　clear　a　million。　　If　I　don't〃Fanshaw　shrugged　his　shoulders〃I'll　be　cleaned　out。〃　　He　looked　with　narrowed；　shifting　eyes　at　Dumont。　　〃My　wife　has　all　she's　got　in　this；〃　he　went　on；　〃even　her　jewels。〃

Dumont's　look　shot　straight　into　Fanshaw's。

〃Not　a　cent！〃　he　said　with　vicious　emphasis。　　〃Not　a　red！〃

Fanshaw　paled　and　pinched　in　his　lips。　　〃I'm　a　desperate　man。　　I'm　ruined。　　Leonora〃

Dumont　shook　his　head；　the　veins　swelling　in　his　forehead　and　neck。　　The　last　strand　of　his　self…restraint　snapped。　　〃Leave　her　out　of　this！　She　has　no　claim　on　me　NOWand　YOU　never　had。〃

Fanshaw　stared　at　him；　then　sprang　to　his　feet；　all　in　a　blaze。　　〃You　scoundrel！〃　he　shouted；　shaking　his　fist　under　Dumont's　nose。

〃If　you　don't　clear　out　instantly　I'll　have　you　thrown　out；〃　said　Dumont。　　He　was　cool　and　watchful　now。

Fanshaw　folded　his　arms　and　looked　down　at　him　with　the　dignified　fury　of　the　betrayed　and　outraged。　　〃So！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃I　see　it　all！〃

Dumont　pressed　an　electric　button；　then　leaned　back　in　his　revolving　chair　and　surveyed　Fanshaw　tranquilly。　　〃Not　a　cent！〃　he　repeated；　a　cruel　smile　in　his　eyes　and　round　his　mouth。　　The　boy　came　and　Dumont　said　to　him：　　〃Send　the　watchman。〃

Fanshaw　drew　himself　up。　　〃I　shall　punish　you；〃　he　said。　　〃Your　wealth　will　not　save　you。〃　　And　he　stalked　past　the　gaping　office　boy。

He　stood　in　front　of　the　Edison　Building；　looking　aimlessly　up　and　down　the　street　as　he　pulled　his　long；　narrow；　brown…gray　mustache。　　Gloom　was　in　his　face　and　hate　in　his　heartnot　hate　for　Dumont　alone　but　hate　for　all　who　were　what　he　longed　to　be；　all　rich　and　〃successful〃　men。　　And　the　towering　steel　and　stone　palaces　of　prosperity　sneered　down　on　him　with　crushing　mockery。

〃Damn　them　all！〃　he　muttered。　　〃The　cold…hearted　thieves！〃

From　his　entry　into　that　district　he　had　played　a　gambling　game；　had　played　it　dishonestly　in　a　small　way。　　Again　and　again　he　had　sneakingly　violated　Wall　Street's　code　of　moralitythat　curious　code　with　its　quaint；　unexpected　incorporations　of　parts　of　the　decalogue　and　its　quainter；　though　not　so　unexpected；　infringements　thereof　and　amendments　thereto。　　Now　by　〃pull；〃　now　by　trickery；　he　had　evaded　punishment。　　But　apparently　at　last　he　was　to　be　brought　to　bar；　branded　and　banished。

〃Damn　them　all！〃　he　repeated。　　〃They're　a　pack　of　wolves。　　They've　got　me　down　and　they're　going　to　eat　me。〃

He　blamed　Dumont　and　he　blamed　his　wife　for　his　plightand　there　was　some　justice　in　both　accusations。　　Twenty　years　before；　he　had　come　down　to　〃the　Street〃　a　frank…looking　boy；　of　an　old　and　distinguished　New　York　family　that　had　become　too　aristocratic　for　business　and　had　therefore　lost　its　hold　upon　its　once　great　fortune。　　He　was　neither　a　good　boy　nor　a　bad。　　But　he　was　weak；　and　had　the　extravagant　tastes　and　cynical　morals　to　which　he　had　been　bred；　and　his　intelligent　brain　was　of　the　kind　that　goes　with　weaknessshrewd　and　sly；　preferring　to　slink　along　the　byways　of　craft　even　when　the　highway　of　courage　lies　straight　and　easy。　　But　he　had　physical　bravery　and　the　self…confidence　that　is　based　upon　an　assured　social　position　in　a　community　where　social　position　is　worshiped；　so；　he　passed　for　manly　and　proud　when　he　was　in　reality　neither。　　Family　vanity　he　had；　personal　pride　he　had　not。

In　many　environments　his　weakness　would　have　remained　hidden　even　from　himself；　and　he　would　have　lived　and　died　in　the　odor　and　complacence　of　respectability。　　But　not　in　the　strain　and　stress　of　Wall　Street。　　There　he　had　naturally　developed　not　into　a　lion；　not　even　into　a　wolf；　but　into　a　coyote。

Wall　Street　found　him　out　in　ten　yearsabout　one　year　after　it　began　to　take　note　of　him　and　his　skulking　ways　and　his　habit　of　prowling　in　the　wake　of　the　pack。　　Only　his　adroit　use　of　his　family　connections　and　social　position　saved　him　from　being　trampled　to　death　by　the　wolves　and　eaten　by　his　brother　coyotes。　　Thereafter　he　lived　precariously；　but　on　the　whole　sumptuously；　upon　carcasses　of　one　kind　and　another。　　He　participated　in　〃strike〃　suits　against　big　corporationshe　would　set　on　a　pack　of　coyotes　to　dog　the　lions　and　to　raise　discordant　howls　that　inopportunely　centered　public　attention　upon　leonine；　lawless　doings；　the　lions　would　pay　him　well　to　call　off　the　pack。　　He　assisted　sometimes　wolves　and　sometimes　coyotes　in　flotations　of　worthless；　or　almost　worthless；　stocks　and　bonds　from　gold　and　mahogany　offices　and　upon　a　sea　of　glittering　prospectuses。　　He　had　a　hand　in　all　manner　of　small；　shady　transactions　of　lawful；　or　almost　lawful；　swindling　that　were　tolerated　by　lions　and　wolves；　because　at　bottom　there　is　a　feeling　of　fellowship　among　creatures　of　prey　as　against　creatures　preyed　upon。

There　were　days　when　he　came　home　haggard　and　blue　in　the　lips　to　tell　Leonora　that　he　must　fly。　　There　were　days　when　he　returned　from　the　chase；　or　rather　from　the　skulk；　elated；　youthful；　his　pockets　full　of　money　and　his　imagination　afire　with　hopes　of　substantial　wealth。　　But　his　course　was　steadily　downward；　his　methods　steadily　farther　and　farther　from　the　line　of　the　law。　　Dumont　came　just　in　time　to　save　him；　came　to　build　him　up　from　the　most　shunned　of　coyotes　into　a　deceptive　imitation　of　a　wolf　with　aspirations　toward　the　lion　class。

Leonora　knew　that　he　was　small；　but　she　thought　all　men　smallshe　had　supreme　contempt　for　her　own　sex；　and　it　seemed　to　her　that　men　must　be　even　less　worthy　of　respect　since　they　were　under　the　influence　of　women　and　lavished　time　and　money　on　them。　　Thus　she　was　deceived　into　cherishing　the　hope　that　her　husband；　small　and　timid　though　he　was；　would　expand　into　a　multi…millionaire　and　would　help　her　to　possess　the　splendors　she　now　enjoyed　at　the　expense　of　her　associates　whom　she　despised。　　She　was　always　thinking　how　far　more　impressive　than　their　splendor　her　magnificence　would　be；　if　their　money　were　added　to　her　brains　and　beauty。

Dumont　had　helped　Fanshaw　as　much　as　he　could。　　He　immediately　detected　the　coyote。　　He　knew　it　was　impossible　to　make　a　lion　or　even　a　wolf　out　of　one　who　was　both　small　and　crooked。　　He　used　him　only　in　minor　matters；　chiefly　in　doing　queer；　dark　things　on　the　market　with　National　Woolens；　things　he　indirectly　ordered　done　but　refused　to　know　the　details　of　beyond　the　one　important　detailthe　record　of　checks　for　the　profits　in　his　bank　account。　　For　such　matters　Fanshaw　did　as　well　as　another。　　But　as　Dumont　became　less　of　a　wolf　and　more　of　a　lion；　less　of　a　speculator　and　more　of　a　financier；　he　had　less　and　less　work　of　the　kind　Fanshaw　could　do。

But　Leonora；　unaware　of　her　husband's　worthlessness　and　desperate　in　her　calamities；　sneered　and　jeered　and　lashed　him　onto　ruin。　　The　coyote　could　put　on　the　airs　of　a　lion　so　long　as　the　lion　was　his　friend　and　protector；　when　he　kept　on　in　kingly　ways　after　the　lion　had　cast　him　off；　he　speedily　came　to　grief。

As　he　stood　looking　helplessly　up　and　down　Broad　Street　he　was　debating　what　move　to　make。　　There　were　about　even　measures　of　truth　and　falsehood　in　his　statement　to　Dumonthe　did　need　two　hundred　thousand　dollars；　and　he　must　have　it　before　a　quarter　past　two　that　day　or　go　into　a　bankruptcy　from　which　he　could　not　hope　to　save　a　shred　of　reputation　or　to　secrete　more　than　fifty　thousand　dollars。

〃To　the　New　York　Life　Building；〃　he　finally　said　to　the　driver　as　he　got　into　his　hansom。　　Then　to　himself：　　〃I'll　have　a　go　at　old　Herron。〃

He　knew　that　Dumont　and　Herron　had　quarreled；　and　that　Herron　had　sold　out　of　the　National　Woolens　Company。　　But　he　did　not　know　that　Herron　was　a　man　with　a　fixed　idea；　hatred　of　Dumont；　and　a　fixed　purpose；　to　damage　him　at　every　opportunity　that　offered　or　could　be　created；　to　ruin　him　if　possible。

When　the　National　Woolens　Company　was　expanded　into　the　huge　conglomerate　it　now　wasa　hundred　millions　common；　a　hundred　millions　preferred；　and　twenty　millions　of　bondsHerron　had　devised　and　directed　the　intricate　and　highly　perilous　course　among　the　rocks　of　law　and　public　opinion　in　many　states　and　in　the　nation。　　It　was　a　splendid　exhibition　of　legal　piloting；　and　he　was　bitterly　dissatisfied　with　the　modest　reward　of　ten　millions　of　the　preferred　stock　which　Dumont　apportioned　to　him。　　He　felt　that　that　would　have　been　about　his　just　share　in　the　new　concern　merely　in　exchange　for　his　stock　in　the　old。　　When　he　found　Dumont　obdurate；　and　grew　frank　and　spoke　such　words　as　〃dishonor〃　and　〃dishonesty〃　and　got　into　the　first　syllable　of　〃swindling；〃　Dumont　cut　him　off　with

〃If　you　don't　like　it；　get