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the fortune hunter-第9部分
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‘‘Very generous terms; in the circumstances。 You can take it or leave it。''
‘‘I can't do anything without you。 I accept。''
‘‘Very well。'' Loeb took up his pen; as if he were done with Feuerstein; but went on: ‘‘And you're SURE that thethe FORMER Mrs。 Feuerstein is divorcedand won't turn up?''
‘‘Absolutely。 She swore she'd never enter any country where I was。''
‘‘Has she any friends who are likely to hear of this?''
‘‘She knew no one here。''
‘‘All right。 Go into the room to the left there。 Mr。 Travis or Mr。 Gordon will take your statement of the factsnames; dates; all details。 Good morning。''
Feuerstein went to Travis; small and sleek; smooth and sly。 When Travis had done with him; he showed him out。 ‘‘Call day after to…morrow;'' he said; ‘‘and when you come; ask for me。 Mr。 Loeb never bothers with these small cases。''
Travis reported to Loeb half an hour later; when Feuerstein's statement had been typewritten。 Loeb read the statement through twice with great care。
‘‘Most complete; Mr。 Travis;'' was his comment。 ‘‘You've done a good piece of work。'' He sat silent; drumming noiselessly on the table with his stumpy; hairy; fat fingers。 At last he began: ‘‘It ought to be worth at least twenty thousand。 Do you know Ganser?''
‘‘Just a speaking acquaintance。''
‘‘Excellent。 What kind of a man is he?''
‘‘Stupid and ignorant; but not without a certain cunning。 We can get at him all right; though。 He's deadly afraid of social scandal。 Wants to get into the German Club and become a howling swell。 But he don't stand a chance; though he don't know it。''
‘‘You'd better go to see him yourself;'' said Loeb。
‘‘I'll be glad to do it; Mr。 Loeb。 Isn't your manthis Feuersteina good bit to the queer?''
‘‘A dead beatone of the worst kindthe born gentleman。 You've noticed; perhaps; that where a man or woman has been brought up to live without work; to live off other people's work; there's nothing they wouldn't stoop to; to keep on living that way。 As for this chap; if he had got started right; he'd be operating up in the Fifth Avenue district。 He used to have a wife。 He SAYS he's divorced。''
Loeb and Travis looked each at the other significantly。 ‘‘I see;'' said Travis。
‘‘Neither side wants scandal。 Still; I think you're right; that Ganser's good for twenty thousand。''
‘‘You can judge better after you've felt him;'' replied Loeb。 ‘‘You'd better go at once。 Give him the tip that Feuerstein's about to force him to produce his daughter in court。 But you understand。 Try to induce him to go to Beck。'' Travis grinned and Loeb's eyes twinkled。 ‘‘You might lay it on strong about Feuerstein's actor…craze for getting into the papers。''
‘‘That's a grand idea;'' exclaimed Travis。 ‘‘I don't think I'll suggest any sum if he agrees to go to Beck。 Beck can get at least five thousand more out of him than any other lawyer in town。''
‘‘Beck's the wonder;'' said Loeb。
‘‘LOEB and Beck;'' corrected Travis in a flattering tone。
Loeb waved his hot; fat head gently to and fro as if a pleasant cooling stream were being played upon it。 ‘‘I think I have got a ‘pretty good nut on me;' as John L。 used to say;'' he replied。 ‘‘I think I do know a little about the law。 And now hustle yourself; my boy。 This case must be pushed。 The less time Ganser has to look about; the better forour client。''
Travis found Ganser in his office at the brewery。 The old man's face was red and troubled。
‘‘I've come on very unpleasant business; Mr。 Ganser;'' said Travis with deference。 ‘‘As you know; I am with Loeb; Lynn; Levy and McCafferty。 Our client; Mr。 Feuerstein''
Ganser leaped to his feet; apoplectic。
‘‘Get out!'' he shouted; ‘‘I don't speak with you!''
‘‘As an officer of the court; Mr。 Ganser;'' said Travis suavely; ‘‘it is my painful duty to insist upon a hearing。 We lawyers can't select our clients。 We must do our best for all comers。 Our firm has sent me out of kindly feeling for you。 We are all men of family; like yourself; and; when the case was forced on us; we at once tried to think how we could be of service to youof course; while doing our full legal duty by our client。 I've come in the hope of helping you to avoid the disgrace of publicity。''
‘‘Get out!'' growled Peter。 ‘‘I know lawyersthey're all thieves。 Get out!'' But Travis knew that Peter wished him to stay。
‘‘I needn't enlarge on our clientMr。 Feuerstein。 You know he's an actor。 You know how they crave notoriety。 You know how eager the newspapers are to take up and make a noise about matters of this kind。''
Peter was sweating profusely; and had to seat himself。 ‘‘It's outrageous!'' he groaned in German。
‘‘Feuerstein has ordered us to have your daughter brought into court at onceto…morrow。 He's your daughter's lawful husband and she's well beyond the legal age。 Of course; he can't compel her to live with him or you to support him。 But he can force the courts to inquire publicly。 And I'm sorry to say we'll not be able to restrain him or the press; once he gets the ball to rolling。''
Peter felt it rolling over him; tons heavy。 ‘‘What you talk about?'' he said; on his guard but eager。
‘‘It's an outrage that honest men should be thus laid open to attack;'' continued Travis in a sympathetic tone。 ‘‘But if the law permits these outrages; it also provides remedies。 Your daughter's mistake may cost you a little something; but there need be no scandal。''
‘‘What do you mean by that?'' asked Ganser。
‘‘Really; I've talked too much already; Mr。 Ganser。 I almost forgot; for the moment; that I'm representing Mr。 Feuerstein。 But; as between friends; I'd advise you to go to some good divorce lawyersa firm that is reputable but understands the ins and outs of the business; some firm like Beck and Brown。 They can tell you exactly what to do。''
Ganser regarded his ‘‘friend'' suspiciously but credulously。 ‘‘I'll see;'' he said。 ‘‘But I won't pay a cent。''
‘‘Right you are; sir! And there may be a way out of it without paying。 But Beck can tell you。'' Travis made a motion toward the inside pocket of his coat; then pretended to change his mind。 ‘‘I came here to serve the papers on you;'' he said apologetically。 ‘‘But I'll take the responsibility of delayingit can't make Feuerstein any less married; and your daughter's certainly safe in her father's care。 I'll wait in the hope that YOU'LL take the first step。''
Ganser lost no time in going to his own lawyersFisher; Windisch and Carteret; in the Postal Telegraph Building。 He told Windisch the whole story。 ‘‘And;'' he ended; ‘‘I've got a detective looking up the rascal。 He's a wretcha black wretch。''
‘‘We can't take your case; Mr。 Ganser;'' said Windisch。 ‘‘It's wholly out of our line。 We don't do that kind of work。 I should say Beck and Brown were your people。 They stand well; and at the same time they know all the tricks。''
‘‘But they may play me the tricks。''
‘‘I think not。 They stand well at the bar。''
‘‘Yes; yes;'' sneered Peter; who was never polite; was always insultingly frank to any one who served him for pay。 ‘‘I know that bar。''
‘‘Well; Mr。 Ganser;'' replied Windisch; angry but willing to take almost anything from a rich client; ‘‘I guess you can look out for yourself。 Of course there's always danger; once you get outside the straight course of justice。 As I understand it; your main point is no publicity?''
‘‘That's right;'' replied Ganser。 ‘‘No newspapersno trial。''
‘‘Then Beck and Brown。 Drive as close a bargain as you can。 But you'll have to give up a few thousands; I'm afraid。''
Ganser went over into Nassau Street and found Beck in his office。 He gazed with melancholy misgivings at this lean man with hair and whiskers of a lifeless black。 Beck suggested a starved black spider; especially when you were looking into his cold; amused; malignant black eyes。 He made short work of the guileless brewer; who was dazed and frightened by the meshes in which he was enveloped。 Staring at the horrid specter of publicity which these men of craft kept before him; he could not vigorously protest against extortion。 Beck discovered that twenty thousand was his fighting limit。
‘‘Leave the matter entirely in our hands;'' said Beck。 ‘‘We'll make the best bargain we can。 But Feuerstein has shrewd lawyersnone better。 That man Loeb'' Beck threw up his arms。 ‘‘Of course;'' he continued; ‘‘I had to know your limit。 I'll try to make the business as cheap for you as possible。''
‘‘Put 'em off;'' said Ganser。 ‘‘My Lena's sick。''
His real reason was his hopes from the reports on Feuerstein's past; which his detective would make。 But he thought it was not necessary to tell Beck about the detective。
VI
TRAGEDY IN TOMPKINS SQUARE
After another talk with Travis; Feuerstein decided that he must give up Hilda entirely until this affair with the Gansers was settled。 Afterwardwell; there would be time to decide when he had his five thousand。 He sent her a note; asking her to meet him in Tompkins Square on Friday evening。 That afternoon he carefully prepared himself。 He resolved that the scene between her and him should be; so far as his part was concerned; a masterpiece of that art of which he knew himself to be one of the greatest living exponents。 Only his own elegant languor had prevented the universal recognition of this and his triumph over the envy of professionals and the venality of critics。
It was a concert night in Tompkins Square; and Hilda; off from her work for an hour; came alone through the crowds to meet him。 She made no effort to control the delight in her eyes and in her voice。 She loved him; he loved her。 Why suppress and deny? Why not glory in the glorious truth? She loved him; not because he was her conquest; but because she was his。
Mr。 Feuerstein was so absorbed in his impending ‘‘act'' that he barely noted how pretty she was and how utterly in lovewhat was there remarkable in a woman being in love with him? ‘‘The women are all crazy about me;'' was his inward comment whenever a woman chanced to glance at him。 As he took Hilda's hand he gave her a look of intense; yearning melancholy。 He sighed deeply。 ‘‘Let us go apart;'' he said。 Then
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