options-第11章

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　　had　come　ten　thousand　miles　（as　it　seemed）　to　deliver　it　into　the　　hands　of　the　one　who　was　to　wear　it　and　wind　it　and　cherish　it　and　　listen　to　it　tick　off　the　unsullied　hours　that　marked　the　lives　of　the　　Carteretsof　Virginia。

His　experience　and　conception　of　the　Yankees　had　been　an　impression　of　　tyrants〃low…down；　common　trash〃in　blue；　laying　waste　with　fire　and　　sword。　　He　had　seen　the　smoke　of　many　burning　homesteads　almost　as　　grand　as　Carteret　Hall　ascending　to　the　drowsy　Southern　skies。　　And　　now　he　was　face　to　face　with　one　of　themand　he　could　not　distinguish　　him　from　his　〃young　marster〃　whom　he　had　come　to　find　and　bestow　upon　　him　the　emblem　of　his　kingshipeven　as　the　arm　〃clothed　in　white　　samite；　mystic；　wonderful〃　laid　Excalibur　in　the　right　hand　of　Arthur。　　　He　saw　before　him　two　young　men；　easy；　kind；　courteous；　welcoming；　　either　of　whom　might　have　been　the　one　he　sought。　　Troubled；　　bewildered；　sorely　grieved　at　his　weakness　of　judgment；　old　Jake　　abandoned　his　loyal　subterfuges。　　His　right　hand　sweated　against　the　　buckskin　cover　of　the　watch。　　He　was　deeply　humiliated　and　chastened。　　　Seriously；　now；　his　prominent；　yellow…white　eyes　closely　scanned　the　　two　young　men。　　At　the　end　of　his　scrutiny　he　was　conscious　of　but　one　　difference　between　them。　　One　wore　a　narrow　black　tie　with　a　white　　pearl　stickpin。　　The　other's　〃four…in…hand　〃　was　a　narrow　blue　one　　pinned　with　a　black　pearl。

And　then；　to　old　Jake's　relief；　there　came　a　sudden　distraction。　　　Drama　knocked　at　the　door　with　imperious　knuckles；　and　forced　Comedy　　to　the　wings；　and　Drama　peeped　with　a　smiling　but　set　face　over　the　　footlights。

Percival；　the　hater　of　mill　supplies；　brought　in　a　card；　which　he　　handed；　with　the　manner　of　one　bearing　a　cartel；　to　Blue…Tie。

〃'Olivia　De　Ormond；'〃　read　Blue…Tie　from　the　card。　　He　looked　　inquiringly　at　his　cousin。

〃Why　not　have　her　in；〃　said　Black…Tie；　〃and　bring　matters　to　a　　conclusion？〃

〃Uncle　Jake；〃　said　one　of　the　young　men；　〃would　you　mind　taking　that　　chair　over　there　in　the　corner　for　a　while？　　A　lady　is　coming　inon　　some　business。　　We'll　take　up　your　case　afterward。〃

The　lady　whom　Percival　ushered　in　was　young　and　petulantly；　decidedly；　　freshly；　consciously；　and　intentionally　pretty。　　She　was　dressed　with　　such　expensive　plainness　that　she　made　you　consider　lace　and　ruffles　　as　mere　tatters　and　rags。　　But　one　great　ostrich　plume　that　she　wore　　would　have　marked　her　anywhere　in　the　army　of　beauty　as　the　wearer　of　　the　merry　helmet　of　Navarre。

Miss　De　Ormond　accepted　the　swivel　chair　at　Blue…Tie's　desk。　　Then　the　　gentlemen　drew　leather…upholstered　seats　conveniently　near；　and　spoke　　of　the　weather。

〃Yes；〃　said　she；　〃I　noticed　it　was　warmer。　　But　I　mustn't　take　up　too　　much　of　your　time　during　business　hours。　　That　is；〃　she　continued；　　〃unless　we　talk　business。〃

She　addressed　her　words　to　Blue…Tie；　with　a　charming　smile。

〃Very　well；〃　said　he。　　〃You　don't　mind　my　cousin　being　present；　do　　you？　　We　are　generally　rather　confidential　with　each　other…especially　　in　business　matters。〃

〃Oh　no；〃　caroled　Miss　De　Ormond。　　〃I'd　rather　he　did　hear。　　He　knows　　all　about　it；　anyhow。　　In　fact；　he's　quite　a　material　witness　because　　he　was　present　when　youwhen　it　happened。　　I　thought　you　might　want　　to　talk　things　over　beforewell；　before　any　action　is　taken；　as　I　　believe　the　lawyers　say。〃

〃Have　you　anything　in　the　way　of　a　proposition　to　make？〃　asked　Black…　Tie。

Miss　De　Ormond　looked　reflectively　at　the　neat　toe　of　one　of　her　dull　　kid…pumps。

〃I　had　a　proposal　made　to　me；〃　she　said。　　〃If　the　proposal　sticks　it　　cuts　out　the　proposition。　　Let's　have　that　settled　first。〃

〃Well；　as　far　as〃　began　Blue…Tie。

〃Excuse　me；　cousin；〃　interrupted　Black…Tie；　〃if　you　don't　mind　my　　cutting　in。〃　　And　then　he　turned；　with　a　good…natured　air；　toward　the　　lady。

〃Now；　let's　recapitulate　a　bit；〃　he　said　cheerfully。　　〃All　three　of　　us；　besides　other　mutual　acquaintances；　have　been　out　on　a　good　many　　larks　together。〃

〃I'm　afraid　I'll　have　to　call　the　birds　by　another　name；〃　said　Miss　De　　Ormond。

〃All　right；〃　responded　Black…Tie；　with　unimpaired　cheerfulness；　　〃suppose　we　say　'squabs'　when　we　talk　about　the　'proposal'　and　'larks'　　when　we　discuss　the　'proposition。'　　You　have　a　quick　mind；　Miss　De　　Ormond。　　Two　months　ago　some　half…dozen　of　us　went　in　a　motor…car　for　　day's　run　into　the　country。　　We　stopped　at　a　road…house　for　dinner。　　　My　cousin　proposed　marriage　to　you　then　and　there。　　He　was　influenced　　to　do　so；　of　course；　by　the　beauty　and　charm　which　no　one　can　deny　　that　you　possess。〃

〃I　wish　I　had　you　for　a　press　agent；　Mr。　　Carteret；〃　said　the　beauty；　　with　a　dazzling　smile。

〃You　are　on　the　stage；　Miss　De　Ormond；〃　went　on　Black…Tie。　　〃You　have　　had；　doubtless；　many　admirers；　and　perhaps　other　proposals。　　You　must　　remember；　too；　that　we　were　a　party　of　merrymakers　on　that　occasion。　　　There　were　a　good　many　corks　pulled。　　That　the　proposal　of　marriage　　was　made　to　you　by　my　cousin　we　cannot　deny。　　But　hasn't　it　been　your　　experience　that；　by　common　consent；　such　things　lose　their　seriousness　　when　viewed　in　the　next　day's　sunlight？　　Isn't　there　something　of　a　　'code'　among　good　'sports'I　use　the　word　in　its　best　sensethat　　wipes　out　each　day　the　follies　of　the　evening　previous？〃

〃Oh　yes；〃　said　Miss　De　Ormond。　　〃I　know　that　very　well。　　And　I've　　always　played　up　to　it。　　But　as　you　seem　to　be　conducting　the　case　with　the　silent　consent　of　the　defendantI'll　tell　you　something　　more。　　I've　got　letters　from　him　repeating　the　proposal。　　And　they're　　signed；　too。〃

〃I　understand；〃　said　Black…Tie　gravely。　　〃What's　your　price　for　the　　letters？〃

〃I'm　not　a　cheap　one；〃　said　Miss　De　Ormond。　　〃But　I　had　decided　to　　make　you　a　rate。　　You　both　belong　to　a　swell　family。　　Well；　if　I　am　on　　the　stage　nobody　can　say　a　word　against　me　truthfully。　　And　the　money　　is　only　a　secondary　consideration。　　It　isn't　the　money　I　was　after。　　　II　believed　himandand　I　liked　him。〃

She　cast　a　soft；　entrancing　glance　at　Blue…Tie　from　under　her　long　　eyelashes。

〃And　the　price？〃　went　on　Black…Tie；　inexorably。

〃Ten　thousand　dollars；〃　said　the　lady；　sweetly。

〃Or〃

〃Or　the　fulfillment　of　the　engagement　to　marry。〃

〃I　think　it　is　time；〃　interrupted　Blue…Tie；　〃for　me　to　be　allowed　to　　say　a　word　or　two。　　You　and　I；　cousin；　belong　to　a　family　that　has　　held　its　head　pretty　high。　　You　have　been　brought　up　in　a　section　of　　the　country　very　different　from　the　one　where　our　branch　of　the　family　　lived。　　Yet　both　of　us　are　Carterets；　even　if　some　of　our　ways　and　　theories　differ。　　You　remember；　it　is　a　tradition　of　the　family；　that　　no　Carteret　ever　failed　in　chivalry　to　a　lady　or　failed　to　keep　his　　word　when　it　was　given。〃

Then　Blue…Tie；　with　frank　decision　showing　on　his　countenance；　turned　　to　Miss　De　Ormond。

〃Olivia；〃　said　he；　〃on　what　date　will　you　marry　me？〃

Before　she　could　answer；　Black…Tie　again　interposed。

〃It　is　a　long　journey；〃　said　he；　〃from　Plymouth　rock　to　Norfolk　Bay。　　　Between　the　two　points　we　find　the　changes　that　nearly　three　centuries　　have　brought。　　In　that　time　the　old　order　has　changed。　　We　no　longer　　burn　witches　or　torture　slaves。　　And　to…day　we　neither　spread　our　　cloaks　on　the　mud　for　ladies　to　walk　over　nor　treat　them　to　the　　ducking…stool。　　It　is　the　age　of　common　sense；　adjustment；　and　　proportion。　　All　of　usladies；　gentlemen；　women；　men；　Northerners；　　Southerners；　lords；　caitiffs；　actors；　hardware…drummers；　senators；　　hodcarriers；　and　politiciansare　coming　to　a　better　understanding。　　　Chivalry　is　one　of　our　words　that　changes　its　meaning　every　day。　　　Family　pride　is　a　thing　of　many　constructionsit　may　show　itself　by　　maintaining　a　moth…eaten　arrogance　in　cobwebbed　Colonial　mansion　or　by　　the　prompt　paying　of　one's　debts。

〃Now；　I　suppose　you've　had　enough　of　my　monologue。　　I've　learned　　something　of　business　and　a　little　of　life；　and　I　somehow　believe；　　cousin；　that　our　great…great…grandfathers；　the　original　Carterets；　　would　indorse　my　view　of　this　matter。〃

Black…Tie　wheeled　around　to　his　desk；　wrote　in　a　check…book　and　tore　　out　the　check；　the　sharp　rasp　of　the　perforated　leaf　making　the　only　　sound　in　the　room。　　He　laid　the　check　within　easy　reach　of　Miss　De　　Ormond's　hand。

〃Business　is　business；〃　said　he。　　〃We　live　in　a　business　age。　　There　　is　my　personal　check　for　10；000。　　What　do　you　say；　Miss　De　Ormond　will　it　he　orange　blossoms　or　cash　？〃

Miss　De　Ormond　picked　up　the　cheek　carelessly；　folded　it　　indifferently；　and　stuffed　it　into　her　glove。

〃Oh；　this　'11　do；〃　she　said；　calmly。　　〃I　just　thought　I'd　call　and　put　　it　up　to　you。　　I　guess　you　people　are　all　right。　　But　a　girl　has　　feelings；　you　know。　　I've　heard　one　of　you　was　a　SouthernerI　wonder　　which　one　of　you　it　is？〃

She　arose；　smiled　sweetly；　and　walked　to　the　door。　　There；　with　a　　flash　of　white　teeth　and　a　dip　of　the　heavy　plume；　she　disappeared。

Both　of　the　cousins　had　forgotten　Uncle　Jake　for　the　time。　　But　now　　they　heard　the　shuffling　of　his　shoes　as　he　came　across　the　rug　toward　　them　from　his　seat　in　the　corner。

〃Young　marster；〃　he　said；　〃take　yo'　watch。〃　　And　without　hesitation　he　　laid　the　ancient　timepiece　in　the　hand　of　its　rightful　owner。

Finch　keeps　a　hats…cleaned…by…electricity…while…you…wait　　establishment；　nine　feet　by　twelve；　in　Third　Avenue。　　Once　a　customer；　　you　are　always　his。　　I　do　not　know　his　secret　process；　but　every　four　　days　your　hat　needs　to　be　cleaned　again。

Finch　is　a　leathern；　sallow；　slowfooted　man；　between　twenty　and　forty。　　　You　would　say　he　had　been　brought　up　a　bushelman　in　Essex　Street。　　　When　business　is　slack　he　likes　to　talk；　so　I　had　my　hat　cleaned　even　　oftener　than　it　deserved；　hoping　Finch　might　let　me　into　some　of　the　　secrets　of　the　sweatshops。

One　afternoon　I　dropped　in　and　found　Finch　alone。　　He　began　to　anoint　　my　headpiece　de　Panama　with　his　mysterious　fluid　that　attracted　dust　　and　dirt　like　a　magnet。

〃They　say　the　Indians　weave　'em　under　water；〃　said　I；　for　a　leader。

〃Don't　you　believe　it；〃　said　Finch。　　〃No　Indian　or　white　man　could　　stay　under　water　that　long。　　Say；　do　you　pay　much　attention　to　　politics？　　I　see　in　the　paper　something　about　a　law　they've　passed　　called　'the　law　of　supply　and　demand。'〃

I　explained　to　him　as　well　as　I　could　that　the　reference　was　to　a　　politico…economical　law；　and　not　to　a　legal　statute。

〃I　didn't　know；〃　said　Finch。　　〃I　heard　a　good　deal　about　it　a　year　or　　so　ago；　but　in　a　one…sided　way。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　I；　〃political　orators　use　it　a　great　deal。　　In　fact；　they　　never　give　it　a　rest。　　I　suppose　you　heard　some　of　those　cart…tail　　fellows　spouting　on　the　subject　over　here　on　the　east　side。〃

〃I　heard　it　from　a　king；〃　said　Finch〃the　white　king　of　a　tribe　of　　Indians　in　South　America。〃

I　was　interested　but　not　surprised。　　The　big　city　is　like　a　mother's　　knee　to　many　who　have　strayed　far　and　found　the　roads　rough　beneath　　their　uncertain　feet。　　At　dusk　they　come　home　and　sit　upon　the　door…　step。　　I　know　a　piano　player　in　a　cheap　cafe　who　has　shot　lions　in　　Africa；　a　bell…boy　who　fought　in　the　British　army　against　the　Zulus；　　an　express…driver　whose　left　arm　had　been　cracked　like　a　lobster's　　claw　for　a　stew…pot　of　Patagonian　cannibals　when　the　boat　of　his　　rescuers　hove　in