five tales-第15章

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He　sank　back　into　his　seat。　　The　secretary；　stealing　a　glance；　thought　with　a　sort　of　enthusiasm：　'Bravo！　　Who'd　have　thought　he　could　rally　his　voice　like　that？　　A　good　touch；　too；　that　about　his　honour！　　I　believe　he's　knocked　them。

It's　still　dicky；　though；　if　that　fellow　at　the　back　gets　up　again；　the　old　chap　can't　work　that　stop　a　second　time。　　'Ah！　here　was　'old　Apple…pie'　on　his　hind　legs。　　That　was　all　right！

〃I　do　not　hesitate　to　say　that　I　am　an　old　friend　of　the　chairman；　we　are；　many　of　us；　old　friends　of　the　chairman；　and　it　has　been　painful　to　me；　and　I　doubt　not　to　others；　to　hear　an　attack　made　on　him。　　If　he　is　old　in　body；　he　is　young　in　mental　vigour　and　courage。　　I　wish　we　were　all　as　young。　　We　ought　to　stand　by　him；　I　say；　we　ought　to　stand　by　him。〃　　（〃Hear；　hear！　　Hear；　hear！〃）　And　the　secretary　thought：　'That's　done　it！'　And　he　felt　a　sudden　odd　emotion；　watching　the　chairman　bobbing　his　body；　like　a　wooden　toy；　at　old　Appleby；　and　old　Appleby　bobbing　back。　　Then；　seeing　a　shareholder　close　to　the　door　get　up；　thought：　'Who's　that？　　I　know　his　faceAh！　　yes；　Ventnor；　the　solicitorhe's　one　of　the　chairman's　creditors　that　are　coming　again　this　afternoon。　　What　now？'

〃I　can't　agree　that　we　ought　to　let　sentiment　interfere　with　our　judgment　in　this　matter。　　The　question　is　simply：　How　are　our　pockets　going　to　be　affected？　　I　came　here　with　some　misgivings；　but　the　attitude　of　the　chairman　has　been　such　as　to　remove　them；　and　I　shall　support　the　proposition。〃　　The　secretary　thought：　'That's　all　right　only；　he　said　it　rather　queerlyrather　queerly。'

Then；　after　a　long　silence；　the　chairman；　without　rising；　said：

〃I　move　the　adoption　of　the　report　and　accounts。〃

〃I　second　that。〃

〃Those　in　favour　signify　the　same　in　the　usual　way。　　Contrary？　Carried。〃　　The　secretary　noted　the　dissentients；　six　in　number；　and　that　Mr。　Westgate　did　not　vote。

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later　he　stood　in　the　body　of　the　emptying　room　supplying　names　to　one　of　the　gentlemen　of　the　Press。　　The　passionless　fellow　said：　〃Haythorp；　with　an　'a'；　oh！　　an　'e'；　he　seems　an　old　man。　　Thank　you。　　I　may　have　the　slips？　　Would　you　like　to　see　a　proof？　　With　an　'a'　you　saidoh！　　an　'e。'　Good　afternoon！〃　And　the　secretary　thought：　'Those　fellows；　what　does　go　on　inside　them？　　Fancy　not　knowing　the　old　chairman　by　now！'。。。




2

Back　in　the　proper　office　of　〃The　Island　Navigation　Company〃　old　Heythorp　sat　smoking　a　cigar　and　smiling　like　a　purring　cat。　　He　was　dreaming　a　little　of　his　triumph；　sifting　with　his　old　brain；　still　subtle；　the　wheat　from　the　chaff　of　the　demurrers：　Westgatenothing　in　thatprofessional　discontent　till　they　silenced　him　with　a　place　on　the　boardbut　not　while　be　held　the　reins！　　That　chap　at　the　backan　ill…conditioned　fellow！　　〃Something　behind！〃　　Suspicious　brute！　　There　was　somethingbuthang　it！　they　might　think　themselves　lucky　to　get　four　ships　at　that　price；　and　all　due　to　him！　It　was　on　the　last　speaker　that　his　mind　dwelt　with　a　doubt。　　That　fellow　Ventnor；　to　whom　he　owed　moneythere　had　been　something　just　a　little　queer　about　his　toneas　much　as　to　say；　〃I　smell　a　rat。〃　Well！　one　would　see　that　at　the　creditors'　meeting　in　half　an　hour。

〃Mr。　Pillin；　sir。〃

〃Show　him　in！〃

In　a　fur　coat　which　seemed　to　extinguish　his　thin　form；　Joe　Pillin　entered。　　It　was　snowing；　and　the　cold　had　nipped　and　yellowed　his　meagre　face　between　its　slight　grey　whiskering。　　He　said　thinly：

〃How　are　you；　Sylvanus？　　Aren't　you　perished　in　this　cold？〃

〃Warm　as　a　toast。　　Sit　down。　　Take　off　your　coat。〃

〃Oh！　I　should　be　lost　without　it。　　You　must　have　a　fire　inside　you。　So…so　it's　gone　through？〃

Old　Heythorp　nodded；　and　Joe　Pillin；　wandering　like　a　spirit；　scrutinised　the　shut　door。　　He　came　back　to　the　table；　and　said　in　a　low　voice：

〃It's　a　great　sacrifice。〃

Old　Heythorp　smiled。

〃Have　you　signed　the　deed　poll？〃

Producing　a　parchment　from　his　pocket　Joe　Pillin　unfolded　it　with　caution　to　disclose　his　signature；　and　said：

〃I　don't　like　itit's　irrevocable。〃

A　chuckle　escaped　old　Heythorp。

〃As　death。〃

Joe　Pillin's　voice　passed　up　into　the　treble　clef。

〃I　can't　bear　irrevocable　things。　　I　consider　you　stampeded　me；　playing　on　my　nerves。〃

Examining　the　signatures　old　Heythorp　murmured：

〃Tell　your　lawyer　to　lock　it　up。　　He　must　think　you　a　sad　dog；　Joe。〃

〃Ah！　　Suppose　on　my　death　it　comes　to　the　knowledge　of　my　wife！〃

〃She　won't　be　able　to　make　it　hotter　for　you　than　you'll　be　already。〃

Joe　Pillin　replaced　the　deed　within　his　coat；　emitting　a　queer　thin　noise。　　He　simply　could　not　bear　joking　on　such　subjects。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃you've　got　your　way；　you　always　do。　　Who　is　this　Mrs。　Larne？　　You　oughtn't　to　keep　me　in　the　dark。　　It　seems　my　boy　met　her　at　your　house。　　You　told　me　she　didn't　come　there。〃

Old　Heythorp　said　with　relish：

〃Her　husband　was　my　son　by　a　woman　I　was　fond　of　before　I　married；　her　children　are　my　grandchildren。　　You've　provided　for　them。　　Best　thing　you　ever　did。〃

〃I　don't　knowI　don't　know。　　I'm　sorry　you　told　me。　　It　makes　it　all　the　more　doubtful。　　As　soon　as　the　transfer's　complete；　I　shall　get　away　abroad。　　This　cold's　killing　me。　　I　wish　you'd　give　me　your　recipe　for　keeping　warm。〃

〃Get　a　new　inside。〃

Joe　Pillin　regarded　his　old　friend　with　a　sort　of　yearning。　　〃And　yet；〃　he　said；　〃I　suppose；　with　your　full…blooded　habit；　your　life　hangs　by　a　thread；　doesn't　it？〃

〃A　stout　one；　my　boy〃

〃Well；　good…bye；　Sylvanus。　　You're　a　Job's　comforter；　I　must　be　getting　home。〃　　He　put　on　his　hat；　and；　lost　in　his　fur　coat；　passed　out　into　the　corridor。　　On　the　stairs　he　met　a　man　who　said：

〃How　do　you　do；　Mr。　Pillin？　　I　know　your　son。　　Been'　seeing　the　chairman？　　I　see　your　sale's　gone　through　all　right。　　I　hope　that'll　do　us　some　good；　but　I　suppose　you　think　the　other　way？〃

Peering　at　him　from　under　his　hat；　Joe　Pillin　said：

〃Mr。　Ventnor；　I　think？　　Thank　you！　　It's　very　cold；　isn't　it？〃　　And；　with　that　cautious　remark；　he　passed　on　down。

Alone　again；　old　Heythorp　thought：　'By　George！　　What　a　wavering；　quavering；　thread　paper　of　a　fellow！　　What　misery　life　must　be　to　a　chap　like　that！　　He　walks　in　fearhe　wallows　in　it。　　Poor　devil！'　And　a　curious　feeling　swelled　his　heart；　of　elation；　of　lightness　such　as　he　had　not　known　for　years。　　Those　two　young　things　were　safe　now　from　penury…safe！　　After　dealing　with　those　infernal　creditors　of　his　he　would　go　round　and　have　a　look　at　the　children。　　With　a　hundred　and　twenty　a　year　the　boy　could　go　into　the　Armybest　place　for　a　young　scamp　like　that。　The　girl　would　go　off　like　hot　cakes；　of　course；　but　she　needn't　take　the　first　calf　that　came　along。　As　for　their　mother；　she　must　look　after　herself；　nothing　under　two　thousand　a　year　would　keep　her　out　of　debt。　　But　trust　her　for　wheedling　and　bluffing　her　way　out　of　any　scrape！　　Watching　his　cigar…smoke　curl　and　disperse　he　was　conscious　of　the　strain　he　had　been　under　these　last　six　weeks；　aware　suddenly　of　how　greatly　he　had　baulked　at　thought　of　to…day's　general　meeting。　Yes！　　It　might　have　turned　out　nasty。　　He　knew　well　enough　the　forces　on　the　Board；　and　off；　who　would　be　only　too　glad　to　shelve　him。　　If　he　were　shelved　here　his　other　two　Companies　would　be　sure　to　follow　suit；　and　bang　would　go　every　penny　of　his　incomehe　would　be　a　pauper　dependant　on　that　holy　woman。　　Well！　　Safe　now　for　another　year　if　he　could　stave　off　these　sharks　once　more。　　It　might　be　a　harder　job　this　time；　but　he　was　in　luckin　luck；　and　it　must　hold。　　And　taking　a　luxurious　pull　at　his　cigar；　he　rang　the　handbell。

〃Bring　'em　in　here；　Mr。　Farney。　　And　let　me　have　a　cup　of　China　tea　as　strong　as　you　can　make　it。〃

〃Yes；　sir。　　Will　you　see　the　proof　of　the　press　report；　or　will　you　leave　it　to　me？〃

〃To　you。〃

〃Yes；　sir。　　It　was　a　good　meeting；　wasn't　it？〃

Old　Heythorp　nodded。

〃Wonderful　how　your　voice　came　back　just　at　the　right　moment。　　I　was　afraid　things　were　going　to　be　difficult。　　The　insult　did　it；　I　think。　　It　was　a　monstrous　thing　to　say。　　I　could　have　punched　his　head。〃

Again　old　Heythorp　nodded；　and；　looking　into　the　secretary's　fine　blue　eyes；　he　repeated：　〃Bring　'em　in。〃

The　lonely　minute　before　the　entrance　of　his　creditors　passed　in　the　thought：　'So　that's　how　it　struck　him！　　Short　shrift　I　should　get　if　it　came　out。'

The　gentlemen；　who　numbered　ten　this　time；　bowed　to　their　debtor；　evidently　wondering　why　the　deuce　they　troubled　to　be　polite　to　an　old　man　who　kept　them　out　of　their　money。　　Then；　the　secretary　reappearing　with　a　cup　of　China　tea；　they　watched　while　their　debtor　drank　it。　　The　feat　was　tremulous。　　Would　he　get　through　without　spilling　it　all　down　his　front；　or　choking？　　To　those　unaccustomed　to　his　private　life　it　was　slightly　miraculous。　　He　put　the　cup　down　empty；　tremblingly　removed　some　yellow　drops　from　the　little　white　tuft　below　his　lip；　refit　his　cigar；　and　said：

〃No　use　beating　about　the　bush；　gentlemen；　I　can　offer　you　fourteen　hundred　a　year　so　long　as　I　live　and　hold　my　directorships；　and　not　a　penny　more。　　If　you　can't　accept　that；　you　must　make　me　bankrupt　and　get　about　sixpence　in　the　pound。　　My　qualifying　shares　will　fetch　a　couple　of　thousand　at　market　price。　　I　own　nothing　else。　　The　house　I　live　in；　and　everything　in　it；　barring　my　clothes；　my　wine；　and　my　cigars；　belong　to　my　daughter　under　a　settlement　fifteen　years　old。　My　solicitors　and　bankers　will　give　you　every　information。　　That's　the　position　in　a　nutshell。〃

In　spite　of　business　habits　the　surprise　of　the　ten　gentlemen　was　only　partially　concealed。　　A　man　who　owed　them　so　much　would　naturally　say　he　owned　nothing；　but　would　he　refer　them　to　his　solicitors　and　bankers　unless　he　were　telling　the　truth？　　Then　Mr。　Ventnor　said：

〃Will　you　submit　your　pass　books？〃

〃No；　but　I'll　authorise　my　bankers　to　give　you　a　full　statement　of　my　receipts　for　the　last　five　yearslonger；　if　you　like。〃

The　strategic　stroke　of　placing　the　ten　gentlemen　round　the　Board　table　had　made　it　impossible　for　them　to　consult　freely　without　being　overheard；　but　the　low…voiced　transference　of　thought　travelling　round　was　summed　up　at　last　by　Mr。　Brownbee。

〃We　think；　Mr。　Heythorp；　that　your　fees　and　dividends　should　enable　you　to　set　aside　for　us　a　larger　sum。　　Sixteen　hundred；　in　fact；　is　what　we　think　you　should　give　us　yearly。　　Representing；　as　we　do；　sixteen　thousand　pounds；　the　prospect　is　not　cheering；　but　we　hope　you　have　some　good　years　before　you　yet。　　We　understand　your　income　to　be　two　thousand　pounds。〃

Old　Heythorp　shook　his　head。　　〃Nineteen　hundred　and　thirty　pounds　in　a　good　year。　　Must　eat　and　drink；　must　have　a　man　to　look　after　me　not　as　active　as　I　was。　　Can't　do　on　less　than　five　hundred　pounds。　Fourteen　hundred's　all　I　can　give　you；　gentlemen；　it's　an　advance　of　two　hundred　pounds。　　That's　my　last　word。〃

The　silence　was　broken　by　Mr。　Ventnor。

〃And　it's　my　last　word　that　I'm　not　satisfied。　　If　these　other　gentlemen　accept　your　proposition　I　shall　be　forced　to　consider　what　I　can　do　on　my　own　account。〃

The　old　man　stared　at　him；　and　answered：

〃Oh！　　you　will；　sir；　we　shall　see。〃

The　others　had　risen　and　were　gathered　in　a　knot　at　the　end　of　the　table；　old　Heythorp　and　Mr。　Ventnor　alone　remained　seated。　　The　old　man'