five tales-第11章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃Sixty　thousand！　　And　out　of　that　you　pay　me　ten　per　cent。；　if　I　get　it　through　for　you。　　Take　it　or　leave　it。〃

〃My　dear　Sylvanus；　that's　almost…cynical。〃

〃Too　good　a　priceyou'll　never　get　it　without　me。〃

〃But　abut　a　commission！　　You　could　never　disclose　it！〃

〃Arrange　that　all　right。　　Think　it　over。　　Freights'll　go　lower　yet。　Have　some　port。〃

〃No；　no！　　Thank　you。　　No！　　So　you　think　freights　will　go　lower？〃

〃Sure　of　it。〃

〃Well；　I'll　be　going。　　I'm　sure　I　don't　know。　　It'sit'sI　must　think。〃

〃Think　your　hardest。〃

〃Yes；　yes。　　Good…bye。　　I　can't　imagine　how　you　still　go　on　smoking　those　things　and　drinking　port。

〃See　you　in　your　grave　yet；　Joe。〃　　What　a　feeble　smile　the　poor　fellow　had！　　Laugh…he　couldn't！　　And；　alone　again；　he　had　browsed；　developing　the　idea　which　had　come　to　him。

Though；　to　dwell　in　the　heart　of　shipping；　Sylvanus　Heythorp　had　lived　at　Liverpool　twenty　years；　he　was　from　the　Eastern　Counties；　of　a　family　so　old　that　it　professed　to　despise　the　Conquest。　　Each　of　its　generations　occupied　nearly　twice　as　long　as　those　of　less　tenacious　men。　　Traditionally　of　Danish　origin；　its　men　folk　had　as　a　rule　bright　reddish…brown　hair；　red　cheeks；　large　round　heads；　excellent　teeth　and　poor　morals。　　They　had　done　their　best　for　the　population　of　any　county　in　which　they　had　settled；　their　offshoots　swarmed。　　Born　in　the　early　twenties　of　the　nineteenth　century；　Sylvanus　Heythorp；　after　an　education　broken　by　escapades　both　at　school　and　college；　had　fetched　up　in　that　simple　London　of　the　late　forties；　where　claret；　opera；　and　eight　per　cent。　for　your　money　ruled　a　cheery　roost。　　Made　partner　in　his　shipping　firm　well　before　he　was　thirty；　he　had　sailed　with　a　wet　sheet　and　a　flowing　tide；　dancers；　claret；　Cliquot；　and　piquet；　a　cab　with　a　tiger；　some　travelall　that　delicious　early…Victorian　consciousness　of　nothing　save　a　golden　time。　　It　was　all　so　full　and　mellow　that　he　was　forty　before　he　had　his　only　love　affair　of　any　depthwith　the　daughter　of　one　of　his　own　clerks；　a　liaison　so　awkward　as　to　necessitate　a　sedulous　concealment。　　The　death　of　that　girl；　after　three　years；　leaving　him　a；　natural　son；　had　been　the　chief；　perhaps　the　only　real；　sorrow　of　his　life。　　Five　years　later　he　married。　　What　for？　God　only　knew！　as　he　was　in　the　habit　of　remarking。　　His　wife　had　been　a　hard；　worldly；　well…connected　woman；　who　presented　him　with　two　unnatural　children；　a　girl　and　a　boy；　and　grew　harder；　more　worldly；　less　handsome；　in　the　process。　　The　migration　to　Liverpool；　which　took　place　when　he　was　sixty　and　she　forty…two；　broke　what　she　still　had　of　heart；　but　she　lingered　on　twelve　years；　finding　solace　in　bridge；　and　being　haughty　towards　Liverpool。　　Old　Heythorp　saw　her　to　her　rest　without　regret。　　He　had　felt　no　love　for　her　whatever；　and　practically　none　for　her　two　childrenthey　were　in　his　view　colourless；　pragmatical；　very　unexpected　characters。　　His　son　Ernest…　…in　the　Admiraltyhe　thought　a　poor；　careful　stick。　　His　daughter　Adela；　an　excellent　manager；　delighting　in　spiritual　conversation　and　the　society　of　tame　men；　rarely　failed　to　show　him　that　she　considered　him　a　hopeless　heathen。　　They　saw　as　little　as　need　be　of　each　other。　　She　was　provided　for　under　that　settlement　he　had　made　on　her　mother　fifteen　years　ago；　well　before　the　not　altogether　unexpected　crisis　in　his　affairs。　　Very　different　was　the　feeling　he　had　bestowed　on　that　son　of　his　〃under　the　rose。〃　　The　boy；　who　had　always　gone　by　his　mother's　name　of　Larne；　had　on　her　death　been　sent　to　some　relations　of　hers　in　Ireland；　and　there　brought　up。　　He　had　been　called　to　the　Dublin　bar；　and　married；　young；　a　girl　half　Cornish　and　；half　Irish；　presently；　having　cost　old　Heythorp　in　all　a　pretty　penny；　he　had　died　impecunious；　leaving　his　fair　Rosamund　at　thirty　with　a　girl　of　eight　and　a　boy　of　five。　　She　had　not　spent　six　months　of　widowhood　before　coming　over　from　Dublin　to　claim　the　old　man's　guardianship。　　A　remarkably　pretty　woman；　like　a　full…blown　rose；　with　greenish　hazel　eyes；　she　had　turned　up　one　morning　at　the　offices　of　〃The　Island　Navigation　Company；〃　accompanied　by　her　two　childrenfor　he　had　never　divulged　to　them　his　private　address。　　And　since　then　they　had　always　been　more　or　less　on　his　hands；　occupying　a　small　house　in　a　suburb　of　Liverpool。　　He　visited　them　there；　but　never　asked　them　to　the　house　in　Sefton　Park；　which　was　in　fact　his　daughter's；　so　that　his　proper　family　and　friends　were　unaware　of　their　existence。

Rosamund　Larne　was　one　of　those　precarious　ladies　who　make　uncertain　incomes　by　writing　full…bodied　storyettes。　　In　the　most　dismal　circumstances　she　enjoyed　a　buoyancy　bordering　on　the　indecent；　which　always　amused　old　Heythorp's　cynicism。　　But　of　his　grandchildren　Phyllis　and　Jock　（wild　as　colts）　he　had　become　fond。　　And　this　chance　of　getting　six　thousand　pounds　settled　on　them　at　a　stroke　had　seemed　to　him　nothing　but　heaven…sent。　　As　things　were；　if　he　〃went　off〃　and；　of　course；　he　might　at　any　moment；　there　wouldn't　be　a　penny　for　them；　for　he　would　〃cut　up〃　a　good　fifteen　thousand　to　the　bad。　　He　was　now　giving　them　some　three　hundred　a　year　out　of　his　fees；　and　dead　directors　unfortunately　earned　no　fees！　　Six　thousand　pounds　at　four　and　a　half　per　cent。；　settled　so　that　their　mother　couldn't　〃blue　it；〃　would　give　them　a　certain　two　hundred　and　fifty　pounds　a　year…better　than　beggary。　　And　the　more　he　thought　the　better　he　liked　it；　if　only　that　shaky　chap；　Joe　Pillin；　didn't　shy　off　when　he'd　bitten　his　nails　short　over　it！

Four　evenings　later；　the　〃shaky　chap〃　had　again　appeared　at　his　house　in　Sefton　Park。

〃I've　thought　it　over；　Sylvanus。　　I　don't　like　it。

〃No；　but　you'll　do　it。〃

〃It's　a　sacrifice。　　Fifty…four　thousand　for　four　shipsit　means　a　considerable　reduction　in　my　income。〃

〃It　means　security；　my　boy。〃

〃Well；　there　is　that；　but　you　know；　I　really　can't　be　party　to　a　secret　commission。　　If　it　came　out；　think　of　my　name　and　goodness　knows　what。〃

〃It　won't　come　out。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　so　you　say；　but〃

〃All　you've　got　to　do's　to　execute　a　settlement　on　some　third　parties　that　I'll　name。　　I'm　not　going　to　take　a　penny　of　it　myself。　　Get　your　own　lawyer　to　draw　it　up　and　make　him　trustee。　　You　can　sign　it　when　the　purchase　has　gone　through。　　I'll　trust　you；　Joe。　　What　stock　have　you　got　that　gives　four　and　a　half　per　cent。？〃

〃Midland〃

〃That'll　do。　　You　needn't　sell。〃

〃Yes；　but　who　are　these　people？〃

〃Woman　and　her　children　I　want　to　do　a　good　turn　to。〃　　What　a　face　the　fellow　had　made！　　〃Afraid　of　being　connected　with　a　woman；　Joe？〃

〃Yes；　you　may　laughI　am　afraid　of　being　connected　with　someone　else's　woman。　　I　don't　like　itI　don't　like　it　at　all。　　I've　not　led　your　life；　Sylvanus。〃

〃Lucky　for　you；　you'd　have　been　dead　long　ago。　　Tell　your　lawyer　it's　an　old　flame　of　yoursyou　old　dog！〃

〃Yes；　there　it　is　at　once；　you　see。　　I　might　be　subject　to　blackmail。〃

〃Tell　him　to　keep　it　dark；　and　just　pay　over　the　income；　quarterly。〃

〃I　don't　like　it；　SylvanusI　don't　like　it。〃

〃Then　leave　it；　and　be　hanged　to　you。　　Have　a　cigar？〃

〃You　know　I　never　smoke。　　Is　there　no　other　way？〃

〃Yes。　　Sell　stock　in　London；　bank　the　proceeds　there；　and　bring　me　six　thousand　pounds　in　notes。　　I'll　hold　'em　till　after　the　general　meeting。　　If　the　thing　doesn't　go　through；　I'll　hand　'em　back　to　you。〃

〃No；　I　like　that　even　less。〃

〃Rather　I　trusted　you；　eh！〃

〃No；　not　at　all；　Sylvanus；　not　at　all。　　But　it's　all　playing　round　the　law。〃

〃There's　no　law　to　prevent　you　doing　what　you　like　with　your　money。　What　I　do's　nothing　to　you。　　And　mind　you；　I'm　taking　nothing　from　itnot　a　mag。　　You　assist　the　widowed　and　the　fatherlessjust　your　line；　Joe！〃

〃What　a　fellow　you　are；　Sylvanus；　you　don't　seem　capable　of　taking　anything　seriously。〃

〃Care　killed　the　cat！〃

Left　alone　after　this　second　interview　he　had　thought：　'The　beggar'll　jump。'

And　the　beggar　had。　　That　settlement　was　drawn　and　only　awaited　signature。　　The　Board　to…day　had　decided　on　the　purchase；　and　all　that　remained　was　to　get　it　ratified　at　the　general　meeting。　　Let　him　but　get　that　over；　and　this　provision　for　his　grandchildren　made；　and　he　would　snap　his　fingers　at　Brownbee　and　his　crew…the　canting　humbugs！　　〃Hope　you　have　many　years　of　this　life　before　you！〃　　As　if　they　cared　for　anything　but　his　moneytheir　money　rather！　　And　becoming　conscious　of　the　length　of　his　reverie；　he　grasped　the　arms　of　his　chair；　heaved　at　his　own　bulk；　in　an　effort　to　rise；　growing　redder　and　redder　in　face　and　neck。　　It　was　one　of　the　hundred　things　his　doctor　had　told　him　not　to　do　for　fear　of　apoplexy；　the　humbug！　Why　didn't　Farney　or　one　of　those　young　fellows　come　and　help　him　up？　To　call　out　was　undignified。　　But　was　he　to　sit　there　all　night？　Three　times　he　failed；　and　after　each　failure　sat　motionless　again；　crimson　and　exhausted；　the　fourth　time　he　succeeded；　and　slowly　made　for　the　office。　　Passing　through；　he　stopped　and　said　in　his　extinct　voice：

〃You　young　gentlemen　had　forgotten　me。〃

〃Mr。　Farney　said　you　didn't　wish　to　be　disturbed；　sir。〃

〃Very　good　of　him。　　Give　me　my　hat　and　coat。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Thank　you。　　What　time　is　it？〃

〃Six　o'clock；　sir。〃

〃Tell　Mr。　Farney　to　come　and　see　me　tomorrow　at　noon；　about　my　speech　for　the　general　meeting。〃

〃Yes；　Sir。〃

〃Good…night　to　you。〃

〃Good…night；　Sir。〃

At　his　tortoise　gait　he　passed　between　the　office　stools　to　the　door；　opened　it　feebly；　and　slowly　vanished。

Shutting　the　door　behind　him；　a　clerk　said：

〃Poor　old　chairman！　　He's　on　his　last！〃

Another　answered：

〃Gosh！　　He's　a　tough　old　hulk。　　He'll　go　down　fightin'。〃




2

Issuing　from　the　offices　of　〃The　Island　Navigation　Company；〃　Sylvanus　Heythorp　moved　towards　the　corner　whence　he　always　took　tram　to　Sefton　Park。　　The　crowded　street　had　all　that　prosperous　air　of　catching　or　missing　something　which　characterises　the　town　where　London　and　New　York　and　Dublin　meet。　　Old　Heythorp　had　to　cross　to　the　far　side；　and　he　sallied　forth　without　regard　to　traffic。　　That　snail…like　passage　had　in　it　a　touch　of　the　sublime；　the　old　man　seemed　saying：　〃Knock　me　down　and　be　d…d　to　youI'm　not　going　to　hurry。〃　　His　life　was　saved　perhaps　ten　times　a　day　by　the　British　character　at　large；　compounded　of　phlegm　and　a　liking　to　take　something　under　its　protection。　　The　tram　conductors　on　that　line　were　especially　used　to　him；　never　failing　to　catch　him　under　the　arms　and　heave　him　like　a　sack　of　coals；　while　with　trembling　hands　he　pulled　hard　at　the　rail　and　strap。

〃All　right；　sir？〃

〃Thank　you。〃

He　moved　into　the　body　of　the　tram；　where　somebody　would　always　get　up　from　kindness　and　the　fear　that　he　might　sit　down　on　them；　and　there　he　stayed　motionless；　his　little　eyes　tight　closed。　　With　his　red　face；　tuft　of　white　hairs　above　his　square　cleft　block　of　shaven　chin；　and　his　big　high…crowned　bowler　hat；　which　yet　seemed　too　petty　for　his　head　with　its　thick　hairhe　looked　like　some　kind　of　an　idol　dug　up　and　decked　out　in　gear　a　size　too　small。

One　of　those　voices　of　young　men　from　public　schools　and　exchanges　where　things　are　bought　and　sold；　said：

〃How　de　do；　Mr。　Heythorp？〃

Old　Heythorp　opened　his　eyes。　　That　sleek　cub；　Joe　Pillin's　son！　What　a　young　pup…with