five tales-第22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！


They　can　upset　me；　that's　all。〃

Joe　Pillin　answered；　with　trembling　lips：

〃How　you　can　sit　there；　and　look　the　same　as　ever！　　Are　you　sure　they　can't　touch　me？〃

Old　Heyworth　nodded　grimly。

〃They　talk　of　an　Act；　but　they　haven't　passed　it　yet。　　They　might　prove　a　breach　of　trust　against　me。　　But　I'll　diddle　them。　　Keep　your　pecker　up；　and　get　off　abroad。〃

〃Yes；　yes。　　I　must。　　I'm　very　bad。　　I　was　going　to…morrow。　　But　I　don't　know；　I'm　sure；　with　this　hanging　over　me。　　My　son　knowing　her　makes　it　worse。　　He　picks　up　with　everybody。　　He　knows　this　man　Ventnor　too。　　And　I　daren't　say　anything　to　Bob。　　What　are　you　thinking　of；　Sylvanus？　　You　look　very　funny！〃

Old　Heythorp　seemed　to　rouse　himself　from　a　sort　of　coma。

〃I　want　my　lunch；〃　he　said。　　〃Will　you　stop　and　have　some？〃

Joe　Pillin　stammered　out：

〃Lunch！　I　don't　know　when　I　shall　eat　again。　　What　are　you　going　to　do；　Sylvanus？〃

〃Bluff　the　beggar　out　of　it。〃

〃But　suppose　you　can't？〃

〃Buy　him　off。　　He's　oneof　my　creditors。〃

Joe　Pillin　stared　at　him　afresh。　　〃You　always　had　such　nerve；〃　he　said　yearningly。　　〃Do　you　ever　wake　up　between　two　and　four？　　I　do　and　everything's　black。〃

〃Put　a　good　stiff　nightcap　on；　my　boy；　before　going　to　bed。〃

〃Yes；　I　sometimes　wish　I　was　less　temperate。　　But　I　couldn't　stand　it。　　I'm　told　your　doctor　forbids　you　alcohol。〃

〃He　does。　　That's　why　I　drink　it。〃

Joe　Pillin；　brooding　over　the　fire；　said：　〃This　meetingd'you　think　they　mean　to　have　it？　　D'you　think　this　man　really　knows？　　If　my　name　gets　into　the　newspapers〃　but　encountering　his　old　friend's　deep　little　eyes；　he　stopped。　　〃So　you　advise　me　to　get　off　to…morrow；　then？〃

Old　Heythorp　nodded。

〃Your　lunch　is　served；　sir。〃

Joe　Pillin　started　violently；　and　rose。

〃Well；　good…bye；　Sylvanus…good…bye！　　I　don't　suppose　I　shall　be　back　till　the　summer；　if　I　ever　come　back！〃　　He　sank　his　voice：　〃I　shall　rely　on　you。　　You　won't　let　them；　will　you？〃

Old　Heythorp　lifted　his　hand；　and　Joe　Pillin　put　into　that　swollen　shaking　paw　his　pale　and　spindly　fingers。　　〃I　wish　I　had　your　pluck；〃　he　said　sadly。　　〃Good…bye；　Sylvanus；〃　and　turning；　he　passed　out。

Old　Heythorp　thought：　'Poor　shaky　chap。　　All　to　pieces　at　the　first　shot！'　　And；　going　to　his　lunch；　ate　more　heavily　than　usual。




2

Mr。　Ventnor；　on　reaching　his　office　and　opening　his　letters；　found；　as　he　had　anticipated；　one　from　〃that　old　rascal。〃　　Its　contents　excited　in　him　the　need　to　know　his　own　mind。　　Fortunately　this　was　not　complicated　by　a　sense　of　dignityhe　only　had　to　consider　the　position　with　an　eye　on　not　being　made　to　look　a　fool。　　The　point　was　simply　whether　he　set　more　store　by　his　money　than　by　his　desire　for…　…erJustice。　　If　not；　he　had　merely　to　convene　the　special　meeting；　and　lay　before　it　the　plain　fact　that　Mr。　Joseph　Pillin；　selling　his　ships　for　sixty　thousand　pounds；　had　just　made　a　settlement　of　six　thousand　pounds　on　a　lady　whom　he　did　not　know；　a　daughter；　ward；　or　what…notof　the　purchasing　company's　chairman；　who　had　said；　moreover；　at　the　general　meeting；　that　he　stood　or　fell　by　the　transaction；　he　had　merely　to　do　this；　and　demand　that　an　explanation　be　required　from　the　old　man　of　such　a　startling　coincidence。　Convinced　that　no　explanation　would　hold　water；　he　felt　sure　that　his　action　would　be　at　once　followed　by　the　collapse；　if　nothing　more；　of　that　old　image；　and　the　infliction　of　a　nasty　slur　on　old　Pillin　and　his　hopeful　son。　　On　the　other　hand；　three　hundred　pounds　was　money；　and；　if　old　Heythorp　were　to　say　to　him：　〃What　do　you　want　to　make　this　fuss　forhere's　what　I　owe　you！〃　　could　a　man　of　business　and　the　world　let　his　sense　of　justicehowever　he　might　itch　to　have　it　satisfiedstand　in　the　way　of　what　was　after　all　also　his　sense　of　Justice？for　this　money　had　been　owing　to　him　for　the　deuce　of　along　time。　　In　this　dilemma；　the　words：

〃My　solicitors　will　be　instructed〃　were　of　notable　service　in　helping　him　to　form　a　decision；　for　he　had　a　certain　dislike　of　other　solicitors；　and　an　intimate　knowledge　of　the　law　of　libel　and　slander；　if　by　any　remote　chance　there　should　be　a　slip　between　the　cup　and　the　lip；　Charles　Ventnor　might　be　in　the　soupa　position　which　he　deprecated　both　by　nature　and　profession。　　High　thinking；　therefore；　decided　him　at　last　to　answer　thus：

〃February　19th；　1905。

〃SIR；I　have　received　your　note。　　I　think　it　may　be　fair；　before　taking　further　steps　in　this　matter；　to　ask　you　for　a　personal　explanation　of　the　circumstances　to　which　I　alluded。　　I　therefore　propose　with　your　permission　to　call　on　you　at　your　private　residence　at　five　o'clock　to…morrow　afternoon。

〃Yours　faithfully；

〃CHARLES　VENTNOR。

〃SYLVANUS　HEYTHORP；　Esq。〃


Having　sent　this　missive；　and　arranged　in　his　mind　the　damning；　if　circumstantial；　evidence　he　had　accumulated；　he　awaited　the　hour　with　confidence；　for　his　nature　was　not　lacking　in　the　cock…surety　of　a　Briton。　　All　the　same；　he　dressed　himself　particularly　well　that　morning；　putting　on　a　blue　and　white　striped　waistcoat　which；　with　a　cream…coloured　tie；　set　off　his　fulvous　whiskers　and　full　blue　eyes；　and　he　lunched；　if　anything；　more　fully　than　his　wont；　eating　a　stronger　cheese　and　taking　a　glass　of　special　Club　ale。　　He　took　care　to　be　late；　too；　to　show　the　old　fellow　that　his　coming　at　all　was　in　the　nature　of　an　act　of　grace。　　A　strong　scent　of　hyacinths　greeted　him　in　the　hall；　and　Mr。　Ventnor；　who　was　an　amateur　of　flowers；　stopped　to　put　his　nose　into　a　fine　bloom　and　think　uncontrollably　of　Mrs。　Larne。　　Pity！　　The　things　one　had　to　give　up　in　lifefine　womenone　thing　and　another。　　Pity！　　The　thought　inspired　in　him　a　timely　anger；　and　he　followed　the　servant；　intending　to　stand　no　nonsense　from　this　paralytic　old　rascal。

The　room　he　entered　was　lighted　by　a　bright　fire；　and　a　single　electric　lamp　with　an　orange　shade　on　a　table　covered　by　a　black　satin　cloth。　　There　were　heavily　gleaming　oil　paintings　on　the　walls；　a　heavy　old　brass　chandelier　without　candles；　heavy　dark　red　curtains；　and　an　indefinable　scent　of　burnt　acorns；　coffee；　cigars；　and　old　man。　　He　became　conscious　of　a　candescent　spot　on　the　far　side　of　the　hearth；　where　the　light　fell　on　old　Heythorp's　thick　white　hair。

〃Mr。　Ventnor；　sir。〃

The　candescent　spot　moved。　　A　voice　said：　〃Sit　down。〃

Mr。　Ventnor　sat　in　an　armchair　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　fire；　and；　finding　a　kind　of　somnolence　creeping　over　him；　pinched　himself。　　He　wanted　all　his　wits　about　him。

The　old　man　was　speaking　in　that　extinct　voice　of　his；　and　Mr。　Ventnor　said　rather　pettishly：

〃Beg　pardon；　I　don't　get　you。〃

Old　Heythorp's　voice　swelled　with　sudden　force：

〃Your　letters　are　Greek　to　me。〃

〃Oh！　　indeed；　I　think　we　can　soon　make　them　into　plain　English！〃

〃Sooner　the　better。〃

Mr。　Ventnor　passed　through　a　moment　of　indecision。　　Should　he　lay　his　cards　on　the　table？　　It　was　not　his　habit；　and　the　proceeding　was　sometimes　attended　with　risk。　　The　knowledge；　however；　that　he　could　always　take　them　up　again；　seeing　there　was　no　third　person　here　to　testify　that　he　had　laid　them　down；　decided　him；　and　he　said：

〃Well；　Mr。　Heythorp；　the　long　and　short　of　the　matter　is　this：　Our　friend　Mr。　Pillin　paid　you　a　commission　of　ten　per　cent。　on　the　sale　of　his　ships。　　Oh！　yes。　　He　settled　the　money；　not　on　you；　but　on　your　relative　Mrs。　Larne　and　her　children。　　This；　as　you　know；　is　a　breach　of　trust　on　your　part。

The　old　man's　voice：　〃Where　did　you　get　hold　of　that　cock…and…bull　story？〃　　brought　him　to　his　feet　before　the　fire。

〃It　won't　do；　Mr。　Heythorp。　　My　witnesses　are　Mr。　Pillin；　Mrs。　Larne；　and　Mr。　Scriven。〃

〃What　have　you　come　here　for；　thenblackmail？〃

Mr。　Ventnor　straightened　his　waistcoat；　a　rush　of　conscious　virtue　had　dyed　his　face。

〃Oh！　you　take　that　tone；〃　he　said；　〃do　you？　　You　think　you　can　ride　roughshod　over　everything？　　Well；　you're　very　much　mistaken。　　I　advise　you　to　keep　a　civil　tongue　and　consider　your　position；　or　I'll　make　a　beggar　of　you。　　I'm　not　sure　this　isn't　a　case　for　a　prosecution！〃

〃Gammon！〃

The　choler　in　Charles　Ventnor　kept　him　silent　for　a　moment；　then　he　burst　out：

〃Neither　gammon　nor　spinach。　　You　owe　me　three　hundred　pounds；　you've　owed　it　me　for　years；　and　you　have　the　impudence　to　take　this　attitude　with　me；　have　you？　　Now；　I　never　bluster；　I　say　what　I　mean。　You　just　listen　to　me。　　Either　you　pay　me　what　you　owe　me　at　once；　or　I　call　this　meeting　and　make　what　I　know　public。　　You'll　very　soon　find　out　where　you　are。　　And　a　good　thing；　too；　for　a　more　unscrupulousunscrupulous…〃　he　paused　for　breath。

Occupied　with　his　own　emotion；　he　had　not　observed　the　change　in　old　Heythorp's　face。　　The　imperial　on　that　lower　lip　was　bristling；　the　crimson　of　those　cheeks　had　spread　to　the　roots　of　his　white　hair。　He　grasped　the　arms　of　his　chair；　trying　to　rise；　his　swollen　hands　trembled；　a　little　saliva　escaped　one　corner　of　his　lips。　　And　the　words　came　out　as　if　shaken　by　his　teeth：

〃So…so…you…you　bully　me！〃

Conscious　that　the　interview　had　suddenly　passed　from　the　phase　of　negotiation；　Mr。　Ventnor　looked　hard　at　his　opponent。　　He　saw　nothing　but　a　decrepit；　passionate；　crimson…faced　old　man　at　bay；　and　all　the　instincts　of　one　with　everything　on　his　side　boiled　up　in　him。　　The　miserable　old　turkey…cockthe　apoplectic　image！　　And　he　said：

〃And　you'll　do　no　good　for　yourself　by　getting　into　a　passion。　　At　your　age；　and　in　your　condition；　I　recommend　a　little　prudence。　　Now　just　take　my　terms　quietly；　or　you　know　what'll　happen。　　I'm　not　to　be　intimidated　by　any　of　your　airs。〃　　And　seeing　that　the　old　man's　rage　was　such　that　he　simply　could　not　speak；　he　took　the　opportunity　of　going　on：　〃I　don't　care　two　straws　which　you　doI'm　out　to　show　you　who's　master。　　If　you　think　in　your　dotage　you　can　domineer　any　longerwell；　you'll　find　two　can　play　at　that　game。　　Come；　now；　which　are　you　going　to　do？〃

The　old　man　had　sunk　back　in　his　chair；　and　only　his　little　deep…blue　eyes　seemed　living。　　Then　he　moved　one　hand；　and　Mr。　Ventnor　saw　that　he　was　fumbling　to　reach　the　button　of　an　electric　bell　at　the　end　of　a　cord。　　'I'll　show　him；'　he　thought；　and　stepping　forward；　he　put　it　out　of　reach。

Thus　frustrated；　the　old　man　remained…motionless；　staring　up。　　The　word　〃blackmail〃　resumed　its　buzzing　in　Mr。　Ventnor's　ears。　　The　impudence　the　consummate　impudence　of　it　from　this　fraudulent　old　ruffian　with　one　foot　in　bankruptcy　and　one　foot　in　the　grave；　if　not　in　the　dock。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃it's　never　too　late　to　learn；　and　for　once　you've　come　up　against　someone　a　leetle　bit　too　much　for　you。　　Haven't　you　now？　　You'd　better　cry　'Peccavi。'

Then；　in　the　deathly　silence　of　the　room；　the　moral　force　of　his　position；　and　the　collapse　as　it　seemed　of　his　opponent；　awakening　a　faint　compunction；　he　took　a　turn　over　the　Turkey　carpet　to　readjust　his　mind。

〃You're　an　old　man；　and　I　don't　want　to　be　too　hard　on　you。　　I'm　only　showing　you　that　you　can't　play　fast　and　loose　as　if　you　were　God　Almighty　any　longer。　　You've　had　your　own　way　too　many　years。　　And　now　you　can't　have　it；　see！〃　　Then；　as　the　old　man　again　moved　forward　in　his　chair；　he　added：　〃Now；　don't　get　into　a　passion　again；　calm　yourself；　because　I　warn　youthis　is　your　last　chance。　　I'm　a　man　of　my　word；　and　wha