cw.imarriedadeadman-第19章

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　〃Look；　Patrice；　there　doesn't　have　to　be　anything　unpleasant　about　this。　You　seem　to　be　building　it　up　to　yourself　that　way；　in　your　own　mind。　I　have　no　such…　It's　all　in　the　way　you　look　at　it。　I　don't　see　that　there　has　to　be　any　change　in　the　way　things　were　going　along…before　last　night。　You　were　the　only　one　knew　before。　Now　you　and　I　are　the　only　ones　know。　It　ends　there。　That　is；　if　you　want　it　to。〃
　〃You　didn't　bring　me　out　here　to　tell　me　that。〃
　He　went　off　at　a　tangent。　Or　what　seemed　to　be　a　tangent。　〃I've　never　amounted　to…as　much　as　I'd　hoped；　I　suppose。　I　mean；　I've　never　gotten　as　far　as　I　should。　As　I　once　expected　to。　There　are　lots　of　us　like　that。　Every　once　in　awhile　I　find　myself　in　difficulties；　every　now　and　then　I　get　into　a　tight　squeeze。　Little　card…games　with　the　boys。　This　and　that　You　know　how　it　is。〃　He　laughed　deprecatingly。　〃It's　been　going　on　for　years。　It's　nothing　new。　But　I　was　wondering　if　you'd　care　to　do　me　a　favor…this　time。〃
　〃You're　asking　me　for　money。〃
　She　almost　felt　nauseated。　She　turned　her　face　away。
　〃I　didn't　think　there　were　people　like　you　outside　of…outside　of　penitentiaries。〃
　He　laughed　in　good…natured　tolerance。　〃You're　in　unusual　circumstances。　That　attracts　'people　like　me。'　If　you　weren't；　you　still　wouldn't　think　there　were　any；　you　wouldn't　know　any　different。〃
　〃Suppose　I　go　to　them　now　and　tell　them　of　this　conversation　we've　just　been　having；　of　my　own　accord。　My　brother…in…law　would　go　looking　for　you　and　beat　you　within　an　inch　of　your　life。〃
　〃We'll　let　the　relationship　stand　unchallenged。　I　wonder　why　women　put　such　undue　faith　in　a　beating…up？　Maybe　because　they're　not　used　to　violence　themselves。　A　beating　doesn't　mean　much　to　a　man。　Half　an　hour　after　it's　over；　he's　as　good　as　he　was　before。〃
　〃You　should　know；〃　she　murmured。
　He　tapped　a　finger　to　the　points　of　three　others。　〃There　are　three　alternatives。　You　go　to　them　and　tell　them。　Or　I　go　to　them　and　tell　them。　Or　we　remain　in　status　quo。　By　which　I　mean；　you　do　me　a　favor；　and　then　we　drop　the　whole　thing；　nothing　further　is　said。　But　there　isn't　any　fourth　alternative。〃
　He　shook　his　head　slightly；　in　patient　disapproval。　〃You　overdramatize　everything　so；　Patrice。　That's　the　unfailing　hallmark　of　cheapness。　You're　a　cheap　girl。　That's　the　basic　difference　between　us。　I　may　be；　according　to　your　lights；　a　rotter；　but　I　have　a　certain　tone。　As　you　visualize　it；　I'd　stride　in　there；　throw　my　arms　out　wide　in　declamation；　and　blare；　'This　girl　is　not　your　daughter…in…law！'　Not　at　all。　That　wouldn't　work　with　people　like　that。　It　would　overreach　itself。　All　I'd　have　to　do　would　be　to　let　you　accuse　yourself　out　of　your　own　mouth。　In　their　presence。　You　couldn't　refuse　the　house　to　me。　'When　you　were　in　Paris　with　Hugh；　Patrice；　which　bank　did　you　live　on；　Left　or　Right？'　'What　was　the　name　of　the　boat　you　made　the　trip　back　on；　again？'　'Well；　when　I　ran　into　you　over　there　that　day　with　him…oh；　you　forgot　to　mention　that　we'd　already　met　before；　Pat？…why　is　it　you　looked　so　different　from　what　you　do　today？　You　don't　look　like　the　same　girl　at　all。'　Until　you　crumpled　and　caved　in。〃
　He　was　capable　of　it。　He　was　too　cold　about　the　whole　thing；　that　was　the　dangerous　feature。　No　heat；　no　impulse；　no　emotion　to　cloud　the　issue。　Everything　planned；　plotted；　graphed；　ahead　of　time。　Drafted。　Charted。　Every　step。　Even　the　notes。　She　knew　their　purpose　now。　Not　poison…pen　letters　at　all。　They　had　been　important　to　the　long…term　scheme　of　the　thing。　Psychological　warfare；　nerve　warfare；　breaking　her　down　ahead　of　time；　toppling　her　resistance　before　the　main　attack　had　even　been　made。　The　research…trip　to　New　York　in…between；　to　make　sure　of　his　own　ground；　to　make　sure　there　was　no　flaw；　to　leave　her　no　loophole。
　He　skipped　the　edge　of　his　hand　off　the　wheel…rim；　as　if　brushing　off　a　particle　of　dust。　〃There's　no　villain　in　this。　Let's　get　rid　of　the　Victorian　trappings。　It's　just　a　business　transaction。　It's　no　different　from　taking　out　insurance；　really。〃　He　turned　to　her　with　an　assumption　of　candor　that　was　almost　charming　for　a　moment。　〃Don't　you　want　to　be　practical　about　it？〃
　〃I　suppose　so。　I　suppose　I　should　meet　you　on　your　own　ground。〃　She　didn't　try　to　project　her　contempt；　it　would　have　failed　to　reach　him；　she　knew。
　〃If　you　get　rid　of　these　stuffy　fetishes　of　virtue　and　villainy；　of　black　and　white；　the　whole　thing　bees　so　simple　it's　not　even　worth　the　quarter　of　an　hour　we're　giving　it　here　in　the　car。〃
　〃I　have　no　money　of　my　own；　Georgesson。〃　Capitulation。　Submission。
　〃They're　one　of　the　wealthiest　families　in　town；　that's　mon　knowledge。　Why　be　technical　about　it？　Get　them　to　open　an　account　for　you。　You're　not　a　child。〃
　〃I　couldn't　ask　them　outright　to　do　such　a…〃
　〃You　don't　ask。　There　are　ways。　You're　a　woman；　aren't　you？　It's　easy　enough；　a　woman　knows　how　to　go　about　those　things…〃
　〃I'd　like　to　go　now；〃　she　said；　reaching　blindly　for　the　door…handle。
　〃Do　we　understand　one　another？〃　He　opened　it　for　her。　〃I'll　give　you　another　ring　after　awhile。〃
　He　paused　a　moment。　The　threat　was　so　impalpable　there　was　not　even　a　change　of　inflection　in　the　lazy　drawl。
　〃Don't　neglect　it；　Patrice。〃
　She　got　out　The　crack　of　the　door　was　the　unfelt　slap…in…the…face　of　loathing　she　gave　him。
　〃Goodnight；　Patrice；〃　he　drawled　after　her　amiably。
　
　
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　〃…perfectly　plain；〃　she　was　saying　animatedly。　〃It　had　a　belt　of　the　same　material；　and　then　a　row　of　buttons　down　to　about　here。〃
　She　was　purposely　addressing　herself　to　Mother　Hazzard；　to　the　exclusion　of　the　two　men　members　of　the　family。　Well；　the　topic　in　itself　was　excuse　enough　for　that。
　〃Heaven　sakes；　why　didn't　you　take　it？〃　Mother　Hazzard　wanted　to　know。
　〃I　couldn't　do　that；〃　she　said　reluctantly。　She　stopped　a　moment；　then　she　added：　〃Not　right…then　and　there。〃　And　played　a　lot　with　her　fork。　And　felt　low。
　They　must　have　thought　the　expression　on　her　face　was　wistful　disappointment。　It　wasn't。　It　was　self…disgust。
　You　don't　have　to　ask　openly。　There　are　ways；　it's　easy　enough。　A　woman　knows　how　to　go　about　those　things。
　This　was　one　of　them　now。
　How　defenseless　those　who　love　you　are　against　you；　she　thought　bitterly。　How　vicious　and　how　criminal　it　is　to　trade　on　that　selfimposed　defenselessness。　As　I　am　doing　now。　Tricks　and　traps　and　wiles；　those　are　for　strangers。　Those　should　be　used　against　such　only。　Not　against　those　who　love　you；　with　their　guard　down；　with　their　eyes　trustfully　closed。　It　made　her　skin　crawl　in　revulsion。　She　felt　indecent；　unclean；　obscene。
　Father　Hazzard　cut　into　the　conversation。　〃Why　didn't　you　just　charge　it　up　and　have　it　sent？　You　could　have　used　Mother's　account。　She　deals　there　a　lot〃
　She　let　her　eyes　drop。　〃I　wouldn't　have　wanted　to　do　that；〃　she　said　reticently。
　〃Nonsense…〃　He　stopped　suddenly。　Almost　as　though　someone　had　trodden　briefly　on　his　foot　under　the　table。
　She　caught　Bill　glancing　at　her。　He　seemed　to　be　holding　the　glance　a　moment　longer　than　was　necessary。　But　before　she　could　verify　this；　it　had　stopped；　and　he　resumed　bringing　the　suspended　forkful　of　pie…fill　up　to　his　mouth。
　〃I　think　I　hear　Hughie　crying；〃　she　said；　and　flung　her　napkin　down　and　ran　out　to　the　stairs　to　listen。
　But　in　the　act　of　listening　upward；　she　couldn't　avoid　overhearing　Mother　Hazzard's　guarded　voice　in　the　dining…room　behind　her；　spacing　each　word　with　strictural　severity。
　〃Donald　Hazzard；　you　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself。　Do　you　men…folk　have　to　be　told　everything？　Haven't　you　got　a　grain　of　tact　in　your　heads？〃
　
　
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　In　the　morning　Father　Hazzard　had　lingered　on　at　the　table；　she　noticed　when　she　came　down；　instead　of　leaving　early　with　Bill。　He　sat　quietly　reading　his　newspaper　while　she　finished　her　coffee。　And　there　was　just　a　touch　of　secretive　self…satisfaction　in　his　attitude；　she　thought。
　He　rose　in　pany　with　her　when　she　got　up。　〃Get　your　hat　and　coat；　Pat；　I　want　you　to　e　with　me　in　the　car。　This　young　lady　and　I　have　business　downtown；〃　he　announced　to　Mother　Hazzard。　The　latter　tried；　not　altogether　successfully；　to　look　blankly　bewildered。
　〃But　what　about　Hughie's　feeding？〃
　〃I'll　give　him　his　feeding；〃　Mother　Hazzard　said　serenely。
　〃You'll　be　back　in　time　for　that　I'm　just　borrowing　you。〃
　She　got　in　next　to　him　a　moment　later　and　they　started　off。
　〃Did　poor　Bill　have　to　walk　to　the　office　this　morning？〃　she　asked。
　〃Poor　Bill　indeed！〃　he　scoffed。　〃Do　him　good；　the　big　lug。　If　I　had　those　long　legs　of　his；　I'd　walk　it　myself；　every　morning。〃
　〃Where　are　you　taking　me？〃
　〃Now　just　never　you　mind。　No　questions。　Just　wait'll　we　get　there；　and　you'll　see。〃
　They　stopped　in　front　of　the　bank。　He　motioned　her　out　and　led　her　inside　with　him。　He　said　something　to　one　of　the　guards　in　an　aside；　and　he　and　she　sat　down　to　wait　for　a　moment　on　a　bench。
　For　the　briefest　moment　only。　Then　the　guard　had　e　back　with　a　noticeable　deference。　He　led　them　toward　a　door　marked　〃Manager；　Private。〃　Before　they　could　reach　it　it　had　already　opened　and　a　pleasant…faced；　slightly　stout　man　wearing　horn…rimmed　spectacles　was　waiting　to　greet　them。
　〃e　in　and　meet　my　old　friend　Harve　Wheelock；〃　Father　Hazzard　said　to　her。
　They　seated　themselves　in　fortable　leather　chairs　in　the　private　office；　and　the　two　men　shared　cigars。
　〃Harve；　I've　got　a　new　customer　for　you。　This　is　my　boy　Hugh's　wife。　Not　that　I　think　your　mangy　old　bank　is　any　good；　but…well；　you　know　how　it　is。　Just　habit；　I　reckon。〃
　The　manager　shook　appreciatively　all　over；　as　if　this　were　some　joke　between　them　that　had　been　going　on　for　years。　He　winked　for　Patrice's　benefit。　〃I　agree　with　you　there。　Sell　it　to　you　real　cheap。〃
　〃How　cheap？〃
　〃Quarter　of　a　million。〃　Meanwhile　he　was　penning　required　entries　on　a　filing…form；　as　though　he　had　all　the　information　called　for　at　his　fingers'　tips；　didn't　need　to　ask　anything　about　it。
　Father　Hazzard　shook　his　head。　〃Too　cheap。　Can't　be　any　good。〃　He　offhandedly　palmed　an　oblong　of　light　blue　paper　onto　the　desk；　left　it　there　face　down。
　〃You　think　it　over　and　let　me　know；〃　the　manager　said　drily。　And　to　her；　reversing　his　pen；　〃Sign　here；　honey。〃
　Forger；　she　thought　scathingly。　She　handed　it　back；　her　eyes　downcast。　The　strip　of　light　blue　was　clipped　to　it　and　it　was　sent　out。　A　midget　black　book　came　back　in　its　stead。
　〃Here　you　are；　honey。〃　The　manager　tendered　it　to　her　across　his　desk。
　She　opened　it　and　looked　at　it；　unnoticed；　while　the　two　resumed　their　friendly　bickering　hammer　and　tongs。　It　was　so　spotless；　so　unused　yet。　At　the　top　it　said　〃Mrs。　Hugh　Hazzard。〃　And　there　was　just　one　entry；　under　today's　date。　A　deposit。
　
　〃5000。00〃
　
　
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　She　stood　there　holding　the　small　round　canister；　staring　frozenly　at　it　as　though　she　couldn't　make　out　what　was　in　it　She'd　been　holding　it　like　that　for　long　moments；　without　actually　seeing　it。　She　tilted　it　at　last　and　dumped　its　contents　into　the　washbowl。　It　had　been　better　than　half…full。
　She　went　out；　and　closed　the　door；　and　went　across　the　hall　and　knocked　softly。
　〃I'm　stepping　out　for　just　a　moment；　Mother。　Hughie　upset　his　whole　can　of　talc　in　the　bath　just　now；　and　I