man and superman-第32章

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dishonorable。

MALONE。　＇threateningly＇　Now　you　take　care　what　you're　saying；
Hector。　Take　care；　I　tell　you。

HECTOR。　I　have　taken　care。　I　am　taking　care。　I'm　taking　care　of
my　honor　and　my　position　in　English　society。

MALONE。　＇hotly＇　Your　position　has　been　got　by　my　money：　do　you
know　that？

HECTOR。　Well；　you've　just　spoiled　it　all　by　opening　that　letter。
A　letter　from　an　English　lady；　not　addressed　to　youa
confidential　letter！　a　delicate　letter！　a　private　letter　opened
by　my　father！　That's　a　sort　of　thing　a　man　can't　struggle　against
in　England。　The　sooner　we　go　back　together　the　better。　＇He
appeals　mutely　to　the　heavens　to　witness　the　shame　and　anguish　of
two　outcasts＇。

VIOLET。　＇snubbing　him　with　an　instinctive　dislike　for　scene
making＇　Don't　be　unreasonable；　Hector。　It　was　quite　natural　of　Mr
Malone　to　open　my　letter：　his　name　was　on　the　envelope。

MALONE。　There！　You've　no　common　sense；　Hector。　I　thank　you；　Miss
Robinson。

HECTOR。　I　thank　you；　too。　It's　very　kind　of　you。　My　father　knows
no　better。

MALONE。　＇furiously　clenching　his　fists＇　Hector

HECTOR。　＇with　undaunted　moral　force＇　Oh；　it's　no　use　hectoring
me。　A　private　letter's　a　private　letter；　dad：　you　can't　get　over
that。

MALONE　＇raising　his　voice＇　I　won't　be　talked　back　to　by　you；
d'y'　hear？

VIOLET。　Ssh！　please；　please。　Here　they　all　come。

Father　and　son；　checked；　glare　mutely　at　one　another　as　Tanner
comes　in　through　the　little　gate　with　Ramsden；　followed　by
Octavius　and　Ann。

VIOLET。　Back　already！

TANNER。　The　Alhambra　is　not　open　this　afternoon。

VIOLET。　What　a　sell！

Tanner　passes　on；　and　presently　finds　himself　between　Hector　and
a　strange　elder；　both　apparently　on　the　verge　of　personal　combat。
He　looks　from　one　to　the　other　for　an　explanation。　They　sulkily
avoid　his　eye；　and　nurse　their　wrath　in　silence。

RAMSDEN。　Is　it　wise　for　you　to　be　out　in　the　sunshine　with　such　a
headache；　Violet？

TANNER。　Have　you　recovered　too；　Malone？

VIOLET。　Oh；　I　forgot。　We　have　not　all　met　before。　Mr　Malone：
won't　you　introduce　your　father？

HECTOR。　＇with　Roman　firmness＇　No；　I　will　not。　He　is　no　father　of
mine。

MALONE。　＇very　angry＇　You　disown　your　dad　before　your　English
friends；　do　you？

VIOLET。　Oh　please　don't　make　a　scene。

Ann　and　Octavius；　lingering　near　the　gate；　exchange　an　astonished
glance；　and　discreetly　withdraw　up　the　steps　to　the　garden；　where
they　can　enjoy　the　disturbance　without　intruding。　On　their　way　to
the　steps　Ann　sends　a　little　grimace　of　mute　sympathy　to　Violet；
who　is　standing　with　her　back　to　the　little　table；　looking　on　in
helpless　annoyance　as　her　husband　soars　to　higher　and　higher
moral　eminences　without　the　least　regard　to　the　old　man's
millions。

HECTOR。　I'm　very　sorry；　Miss　Robinson；　but　I'm　contending　for　a
principle。　I　am　a　son；　and；　I　hope；　a　dutiful　one；　but　before
everything　I'm　a　Man！！！　And　when　dad　treats　my　private　letters　as
his　own；　and　takes　it　on　himself　to　say　that　I　shan't　marry　you
if　I　am　happy　and　fortunate　enough　to　gain　your　consent；　then　I
just　snap　my　fingers　and　go　my　own　way。

TANNER。　Marry　Violet！

RAMSDEN。　Are　you　in　your　senses？

TANNER。　Do　you　forget　what　we　told　you？

HECTOR。　＇recklessly＇　I　don't　care　what　you　told　me。

RAMSDEN。　＇scandalized＇　Tut　tut；　sir！　Monstrous！　＇he　flings　away
towards　the　gate；　his　elbows　quivering　with　indignation＇

TANNER。　Another　madman！　These　men　in　love　should　be　locked　up。
＇He　gives　Hector　up　as　hopeless；　and　turns　away　towards　the
garden；　but　Malone；　taking　offence　in　a　new　direction；　follows
him　and　compels　him；　by　the　aggressivenes　of　his　tone；　to　stop＇。

MALONE。　I　don't　understand　this。　Is　Hector　not　good　enough　for
this　lady；　pray？

TANNER。　My　dear　sir；　the　lady　is　married　already。　Hector　knows
it；　and　yet　he　persists　in　his　infatuation。　Take　him　home　and
lock　him　up。

MALONE。　＇bitterly＇　So　this　is　the　high…born　social　tone　I've
spoilt　by　my　ignorant；　uncultivated　behavior！　Makin　love　to　a
married　woman！　＇He　comes　angrily　between　Hector　and　Violet；　and
almost　bawls　into　Hector's　left　ear＇　You've　picked　up　that　habit
of　the　British　aristocracy；　have　you？

HECTOR。　That's　all　right。　Don't　you　trouble　yourself　about　that。
I'll　answer　for　the　morality　of　what　I'm　doing。

TANNER。　＇coming　forward　to　Hector's　right　hand　with　flashing
eyes＇　Well　said；　Malone！　You　also　see　that　mere　marriage　laws　are
not　morality！　I　agree　with　you；　but　unfortunately　Violet　does
not。

MALONE。　I　take　leave　to　doubt　that；　sir。　＇Turning　on　Violet＇　Let
me　tell　you；　Mrs　Robinson；　or　whatever　your　right　name　is；　you
had　no　right　to　send　that　letter　to　my　son　when　you　were　the　wife
of　another　man。

HECTOR。　＇outraged＇　This　is　the　last　straw。　Dad：　you　have　insulted
my　wife。

MALONE。　YOUR　wife！

TANNER。　YOU　the　missing　husband！　Another　moral　impostor！　＇He
smites　his　brow；　and　collapses　into　Malone's　chair＇。

MALONE。　You've　married　without　my　consent！

RAMSDEN。　You　have　deliberately　humbugged　us；　sir！

HECTOR。　Here：　I　have　had　just　about　enough　of　being　badgered。
Violet　and　I　are　married：　that's　the　long　and　the　short　of　it。
Now　what　have　you　got　to　sayany　of　you？

MALONE。　I　know　what　I've　got　to　say。　She's　married　a　beggar。

HECTOR。　No；　she's　married　a　Worker　＇his　American　pronunciation
imparts　an　overwhelming　intensity　to　this　simple　and　unpopular
word＇。　I　start　to　earn　my　own　living　this　very　afternoon。

MALONE。　＇sneering　angrily＇　Yes：　you're　very　plucky　now；　because
you　got　your　remittance　from　me　yesterday　or　this　morning；　I
reckon。　Wait　til　it's　spent。　You　won't　be　so　full　of　cheek　then。

HECTOR。　＇producing　a　letter　from　his　pocketbook＇　Here　it　is
＇thrusting　it　on　his　father＇。　Now　you　just　take　your　remittance
and　yourself　out　of　my　life。　I'm　done　with　remittances；　and　I'm
done　with　you。　I　don't　sell　the　privilege　of　insulting　my　wife
for　a　thousand　dollars。

MALONE。　＇deeply　wounded　and　full　of　concern＇　Hector：　you
don't　know　what　poverty　is。

HECTOR。　＇fervidly＇　Well；　I　want　to　know　what　it　is。　I　want'be　a
Man。　Violet：　you　come　along　with　me；　to　your　own　home：　I'll　see
you　through。

OCTAVIUS。　＇jumping　down　from　the　garden　to　the　lawn　and　running
to　Hector's　left　hand＇　I　hope　you'll　shake　hands　with　me　before　you
go；　Hector。　I　admire　and　respect　you　more　than　I　can　say。　＇He　is
affected　almost　to　tears　as　they　shake　hands＇。

VIOLET。　＇also　almost　in　tears；　but　of　vexation＇　Oh　don't　be　an
idiot；　Tavy。　Hector's　about　as　fit　to　become　a　workman　as　you
are。

TANNER。　＇rising　from　his　chair　on　the　other　ride　of　Hector＇　Never
fear：　there's　no　question　of　his　becoming　a　navvy；　Mrs　Malone。
＇To　Hector＇　There's　really　no　difficulty　about　capital　to　start
with。　Treat　me　as　a　friend：　draw　on　me。

OCTAVIUS。　＇impulsively＇　Or　on　me。

MALONE。　＇with　fierce　jealousy＇　Who　wants　your　dirty　money？　Who
should　he　draw　on　but　his　own　father？　＇Tanner　and　Octavius
recoil；　Octavius　rather　hurt；　Tanner　consoled　by　the　solution　of
the　money　difficulty。　Violet　looks　up　hopefully＇。　Hector：　don't
be　rash；　my　boy。　I'm　sorry　for　what　I　said：　I　never　meant　to
insult　Violet：　I　take　it　all　back。　She's　just　the　wife　you　want：
there！

HECTOR。　＇Patting　him　on　the　shoulder＇　Well；　that's　all　right；
dad。　Say　no　more：　we're　friends　again。　Only；　I　take　no　money　from
anybody。

MALONE。　＇pleading　abjectly＇　Don't　be　hard　on　me；　Hector。　I'd
rather　you　quarrelled　and　took　the　money　than　made　friends　and
starved。　You　don't　know　what　the　world　is：　I　do。

HECTOR。　No；　no；　NO。　That's　fixed：　that's　not　going　to　change。　＇He
passes　his　father　inexorably　by；　and　goes　to　Violet＇。　Come；　Mrs
Malone：　you've　got　to　move　to　the　hotel　with　me；　and　take　your
proper　place　before　the　world。

VIOLET。　But　I　must　go　in；　dear；　and　tell　Davis　to　pack。　Won't　you
go　on　and　make　them　give　you　a　room　overlooking　the　garden　for
me？　I'll　join　you　in　half　an　hour。

HECTOR。　Very　well。　You'll　dine　with　us；　Dad；　won't　you？

MALONE。　＇eager　to　conciliate　him＇　Yes；　yes。

HECTOR。　See　you　all　later。　＇He　waves　his　hand　to　Ann；　who　has　now
been　joined　by　Tanner；　Octavius；　and　Ramsden　in　the　garden；　and
goes　out　through　the　little　gate；　leaving　his　father　and　Violet
together　on　the　lawn＇。

MALONE。　You'll　try　to　bring　him　to　his　senses；　Violet：　I　know　you
will。

VIOLET。　I　had　no　idea　he　could　be　so　headstrong。　If　he　goes　on
like　that；　what　can　I　do？

MALONE。　Don't　be　discurridged：　domestic　pressure　may　be　slow；　but
it's　sure。　You'll　wear　him　down。　Promise　me　you　will。

VIOLET。　I　will　do　my　best。　Of　course　I　think　it's　the　greatest
nonsense　deliberately　making　us　poor　like　that。

MALONE。　Of　course　it　is。

VIOLET。　＇after　a　moment's　reflection＇　You　had　better　give　me　the
remittance。　He　will　want　it　for　his　hotel　bill。　I'll　see　whether
I　can　induce　him　to　accept　it。　Not　now；　of　course；　but　presently。

MALONE。　＇eagerly＇　Yes；　yes；　yes：　that's　just　the　thing　＇he　hands
her　the　thousand　dollar　bill；　and　adds　cunningly＇　Y'understand
that　this　is　only　a　bachelor　allowance。

VIOLET。　＇Coolly＇　Oh；　quite。　＇She　takes　it＇。　Thank　you。　By　the
way；　Mr　Malone；　those　two　houses　you　mentionedthe　abbeys。

MALONE。　Yes？

VIOLET。　Don't　take　one　of　them　until　I've　seen　it。　One　never
knows　what　may　be　wrong　with　these　places。

MALONE。　I　won't。　I'll　do　nothing　without　consulting　you；　never
fear。

VIOLET。　＇politely；　but　without　a　ray　of　gratitude＇　Thanks：　that
will　be　much　the　best　way。　＇She　goes　calmly　back　to　the　villa；
escorted　obsequiously　by　Malone　to　the　upper　end　of　the　garden＇。

TANNER。　＇drawing　Ramsden's　attention　to　Malone's　cringing
attitude　as　he　takes　leave　of　Violet＇　And　that　poor　devil　is　a
billionaire！　one　of　the　master　spirits　of　the　age！　Led　on　a
string　like　a　pug　dog　by　the　first　girl　who　takes　the　trouble　to
despise　him。　I　wonder　will　it　ever　come　to　that　with　me。　＇He
comes　down　to　the　lawn。＇

RAMSDEN。　＇following　him＇　The　sooner　the　better　for　you。

MALONE。　＇clapping　his　hands　as　he　returns　through　the　garden＇
That'll　be　a　grand　woman　for　Hector。　I　wouldn't　exchange　her　for
ten　duchesses。　＇He　descends　to　the　lawn　and　comes　between　Tanner
and　Ramsden＇。

RAMSDEN。　＇very　civil　to　the　billionaire＇　It's　an　unexpected
pleasure　to　find　you　in　this　corner　of　the　world；　Mr　Malone。　Have
you　come　to　buy　up　the　Alhambra？

MALONE。　Well；　I　don't　say　I　mightn't。　I　think　I　could　do　better
with　it　than　the　Spanish　government。　But　that's　not　what　I　came
about。　To　tell　you　the　truth；　about　a　month　ago　I　overheard　a
deal　between　two　men　over　a　bundle　of　shares。　They　differed　about
the　price：　they　were　young　and　greedy；　and　didn't　know　that　if
the　shares　were　worth　what　was　bid　for　them　they　must　be　worth
what　was　asked；　the　margin　being　too　small　to　be　of　any　account；
you　see。　To　amuse　meself；　I　cut　in　and　bought　the　shares。　Well；
to　this　day　I　haven't　found　out　what　the　business　is。　The　office
is　in　this　town；　and　the　name　is　Mendoza；　Limited。　Now　whether
Mendoza's　a　mine；　or　a　steamboat　line；　or　a　bank；　or　a　patent
article

TANNER。　He's　a　man。　I　know　him：　his　principles　are　thoroughly
commercial。　Let　us　take　you　round　the　town　in　our　motor；　Mr
Malone；　and　call　on　him　on　the　way。

MALONE。　If　you'll　be　so　kind；　yes。　And　may　I　ask　who

TANNER。　Mr　Roebuck　Ramsden；　a　very　old　frie