飘-第127章
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to sell out the Union behind its back—for one…hundred…per…cent profit on their goods。 Part I made out of my little investment in cotton at the beginning of the war； the cotton I bought cheap and sold for a dollar a pound when the British mills were crying for it。 Part I got from food speculation。 Why should I let the Yankees have the fruits of my labor？ But the rest did belong to the Confederacy。 It came from Confederate cotton which I managed to run through the blockade and sell in Liverpool at sky…high prices。 The cotton was given me in good faith to buy leather and rifles and machinery with。 And it was taken by me in good； faith to buy the same。 My orders were to leave the gold in English banks； under my own name； in order that my credit would be good。 You remember when the blockade tightened； I couldn’t get a boat out of any Confederate port or into one； so there the money stayed in England。 What should I have done？ Drawn out all that gold from English banks； like a simpleton； and tried to run it into Wilmington？ And let the Yankees capture it？ Was it my fault that the blockade got too tight？ Was it my fault that our Cause failed？ The money belonged to the Confederacy。 Well； there is no Confederacy now—though you’d never know it； to hear some people talk。 Whom shall I give the money to？ The Yankee government？ I should so hate for people to think me a thief。”
He removed a leather case from his pocket； extracted a long cigar and smelled it approvingly； meanwhile watching her with pseudo anxiety as if he hung on her words。
Plague take him； she thought； he’s always one jump ahead of me。 There is always something wrong with his arguments but I never can put my finger on just what it is。
“You might；” she said with dignity； “distribute it to those who are in need。 The Confederacy is gone but there are plenty of Confederates and their families who are starving。”
He threw back his head and laughed rudely。
“You are never so charming or so absurd as when you are airing some hypocrisy like that；” he cried in frank enjoyment。 “Always tell the truth； Scarlett。 You can’t lie。 The Irish are the poorest liars in the world。 Come now； be frank。 You never gave a damn about the late lamented Confederacy and you care less about the starving Confederates。 You’d scream in protest if I even suggested giving away all the money unless I started off by giving you the lion’s share。”
“I don’t want your money；” she began； trying to be coldly dignified。
“Oh； don’t you！ Your palm is itching to beat the band this minute。 If I showed you a quarter； you’d leap on it。”
If you have come here to insult me and laugh at my poverty； I will wish you good day；” she retorted； trying to rid her lap of the heavy ledger so she might rise and make her words more impressive。 Instantly； he was on his feet bending over her； laughing as he pushed her back into her chair。
“When will you ever get over losing your temper when you hear the truth？ You never mind speaking the truth about other people； so why should you mind hearing it about yourself？ I’m not insulting you。 I think acquisitiveness is a very fine quality。”
She was not sure what acquisitiveness meant but as he praised it she felt slightly mollified。
“I didn’t come to gloat over your poverty but to wish you long life and happiness in your marriage。 By the way； what did sister Sue think of your larceny？”
“My what？”
“Your stealing Frank from under her nose。”
“I did not—”
“Well； we won’t quibble about the word。 What did she say？”
“She said nothing；” said Scarlett。 His eyes danced as they gave her the lie。
“How unselfish of her。 Now； let’s hear about your poverty。 Surely I have the right to know； after your little trip out to the jail not long ago。 Hasn’t Frank as much money as you hoped？”
There was no evading his impudence。 Either she would have to put up with it or ask him to leave。 And now she did not want him to leave。 His words were barbed but they were the barbs of truth。 He knew what she had done and why she had done it and he did not seem to think the less of her for it。 And though his questions were unpleasantly blunt； they seemed actuated by a friendly interest。 He was one person to whom she could tell the truth。 That would be； a relief； for it had been so long since she had told anyone the truth about herself and her motives。 Whenever she spoke her mind everyone seemed to be shocked。 Talking to Rhett was comparable only to one thing； the feeling of ease and comfort afforded by a pair of old slippers after dancing in a pair too tight。
“Didn’t you get the money for the taxes？ Don’t tell me the wolf is still at the door of Tara。” There was a different tone in his voice。
She looked up to meet his dark eyes and caught an expression which startled and puzzled her at first； and then made her suddenly smile； a sweet and charming smile which was seldom on her face these days。 What a perverse wretch he was； but how nice he could be at times！ She knew now that the real reason for his call was not to tease her but to make sure she had gotten the money for which she had been so desperate。 She knew now that he had hurried to her as soon as he was released； without the slightest appearance of hurry； to tend her the money if she still needed it。 And yet he would torment and insult her and deny that such was his intent； should she accuse him。 He was quite beyond all comprehension。 Did he really care about her； more than he was willing to admit？ Or did he have some other motive？ Probably the latter； she thought。 But who could tell？ He did such strange things sometimes。
“No；” she said； “the wolf isn’t at the door any longer。 I—I got the money。”
“But not without a struggle； I’ll warrant。 Did you manage to restrain yourself until you got the wedding ring on your finger？”
She tried not to smile at his accurate summing up of her conduct but she could not help dimpling。 He seated himself again； sprawling his long legs comfortably。
“Well； tell me about your poverty。 Did Frank； the brute； mislead you about his prospects？ He should be soundly thrashed for taking advantage of a helpless female。 Come； Scarlett。 tell me everything。 You should have no secrets from me。 Surely； I know the worst about you。”
“Oh； Rhett。 you’re the worst—well； I don’t know what！ No； he didn’t exactly fool me but—” Suddenly it became a pleasure to unburden herself。 “Rhett； if Frank would just collect the money people owe him； I wouldn’t be worried about anything。 But； Rhett； fifty people owe him and he won’t press them。 He’s so thin skinned。 He says a gentleman can’t do that to another gentleman。 And it may be months and may be never before we get the money。”
“Well； what of it？ Haven’t you enough to eat on until he does collect？”
“Yes； but—well； as a matter of fact； I could use a little money right now。” Her eyes brightened as she thought of the mill。 Perhaps—
“What for？ More taxes？”
“Is that any of your business？”
“Yes； because you are getting ready to touch me for a loan。 Oh； I know all the approaches。 And I’ll lend it to you—without； my dear Mrs。 Kennedy； that charming collateral you offered me a short while ago。 Unless； of course； you insist。”
“You are the coarsest—”
“Not at all。 I merely wanted to set your mind at ease。 I knew you’d be worried about that point。 Not much worried but a little。 And I’m willing to lend you the money。 But I do want to know how you are going to spend it。 I have that right； I believe。 If it’s to buy you pretty frocks or a carriage； take it with my blessing。 But if it’s to buy a new pair of breeches for Ashley Wilkes； I fear I must decline to lend it。”
She was hot with sudden rage and she stuttered until words came。
“Ashley Wilkes has never taken a cent from me！ I couldn’t make him take a cent if he were starving！ You don’t understand him； how honorable； how proud he is！ Of course； you can’t understand him； being what you are—”
“Don’t let’s begin calling names。 I could call you a few that would match any you could think of for me。 You forget that I have been keeping up with you through Miss Pittypat； and the dear soul tells all she knows to any sympathetic listener。 I know that Ashley has been at Tara ever since he came home from Rock Island。 I know that you have even put up with having his wife around； which must have been a strain on you。”
“Ashley is—”
“Oh； yes；” he said； waving his hand negligently。 “Ashley is too sublime for my earthy comprehension。 But please don’t forget I was an interested witness to your tender scene with him at Twelve Oaks and something tells me he hasn’t changed since then。 And neither have you。 He didn’t cut so sublime a figure that day； if I remember rightly。 And I don’t think the figure he cuts now is much better。 Why doesn’t he take his family and get out and find work？ And stop living at Tara？ Of course； it’s just a whim of mine； but I don’t intend to tend you a cent for Tara to help support him。 Among men； there’s a very unpleasant name for men who permit women to support them。”
“How dare you say such things？ He’s been working like a field hand！” For all her rage； her heart was wrung by the memory of Ashley splitting fence rails。
“And worth his weight in gold； I dare say。 What a hand he must be with the manure and—”
“He’s—”
“Oh； yes； I know。 Let’s grant that he does the best he can but I don’t imagine he’s much help。 You’ll never make a farm hand out of a Wilkes—or anything else that’s useful。 The breed is purely ornamental。 Now； quiet your ruffled feathers and overlook my boorish remarks about the proud and honorable Ashley。 Strange how these illusions will persist even in women as hard headed as you are。 How much money do you want and what do you want it for？”
When she did not answer he repeated：
“What do you want it for？ And see if you can manage to tell me the truth。 It will do as well as a lie。 In fact； better； for if you lie to me； I’ll be sure to find it out； and think how embarrassing that would be。 Always remember this； Scarlett； I can stand anything from you but a lie—your dislike for me； your tempers； all your vixenish ways； but not a lie。 Now what do you want it for？”
Raging as she was at his attack on Ashley； she would have given anything to spit on him and throw his offer of money proudly into his mocking face。 For a moment she almost did； but the cold hand of common sense held her back。 She swallowed her anger with poor grace and tried to assume an expression of pleasant dignity。 He leaned back in his chair； stretching his legs toward the stove。
“If there’s one thing in the world that gives me more amusement than anything else；” he remarked； “it’s the sight of your mental struggles when a matter of principle is laid up against something practical like money。 Of course； I know the practical in you will always win； but I keep hanging around to see if your better nature won’t triumph some day。 And when that day comes I shall pack my bag and leave Atlanta forever。 There are too many women whose better natures are always triumphing。 。。。 Well； let’s get back to business。 How much and what for？”
“I don’t know quite how much
