a hazard of new fortunes v1-第17部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


which　he　began　to　smoke；　throwing　his　head　back　with　a　leisurely　effect；
as　if　he　had　got　to　the　end　of　at　least　as　much　of　his　story　as　he　meant
to　tell　without　prompting。

March　asked　him　the　desired　question。　　〃What　in　the　world　for？〃

Fulkerson　took　out　his　cigarette　and　said；　with　a　smile：　〃To　spend　his
money；　and　get　his　daughters　into　the　old　Knickerbocker　society。　　Maybe
he　thought　they　were　all　the　same　kind　of　Dutch。〃

〃And　has　he　succeeded？〃

〃Well；　they're　not　social　leaders　yet。　　But　it's　only　a　question　of　time
generation　or　twoespecially　if　time's　money；　and　if　Every　Other　Week
is　the　success　it's　bound　to　be。〃

〃You　don't　mean　to　say；　Fulkerson；〃　said　March；　with　a　half…doubting；
half…daunted　laugh；　〃that　he's　your　Angel？〃

〃That's　what　I　mean　to　say；〃　returned　Fulkerson。　　〃I　ran　onto　him　in
Broadway　one　day　last　summer。　　If　you　ever　saw　anybody　in　your　life；
you're　sure　to　meet　him　in　Broadway　again；　sooner　or　later。　　That's　the
philosophy　of　the　bunco　business；　country　people　from　the　same
neighborhood　are　sure　to　run　up　against　each　other　the　first　time　they
come　to　New　York。　　I　put　out　my　hand；　and　I　said；　'Isn't　this　Mr。　Dryfoos
from　Moffitt？'　　He　didn't　seem　to　have　any　use　for　my　hand；　he　let　me
keep　it；　and　he　squared　those　old　lips　of　his　till　his　imperial　stuck
straight　out。　　Ever　see　Bernhardt　in　'L'Etrangere'？　　Well；　the　American
husband　is　old　Dryfoos　all　over；　no　mustache；　and　hay…colored　chin…
whiskers　cut　slanting　froze　the　corners　of　his　mouth。　　He　cocked　his
little　gray　eyes　at　me；　and　says　he：　'Yes；　young　man；　my　name　is　Dryfoos；
and　I'm　from　Moffitt。　　But　I　don't　want　no　present　of　Longfellow's　Works；
illustrated；　and　I　don't　want　to　taste　no　fine　teas；　but　I　know　a
policeman　that　does；　and　if　you're　the　son　of　my　old　friend　Squire
Strohfeldt；　you'd　better　get　out。'　　'Well；　then；'　said　I；　'how　would　you
like　to　go　into　the　newspaper　syndicate　business？'　　He　gave　another　look
at　me；　and　then　he　burst　out　laughing；　and　he　grabbed　my　hand；　and　he
just　froze　to　it。　　I　never　saw　anybody　so　glad。

〃Well；　the　long　and　the　short　of　it　was　that　I　asked　him　round　here　to
Maroni's　to　dinner；　and　before　we　broke　up　for　the　night　we　had　settled
the　financial　side　of　the　plan　that's　brought　you　to　New　York。　　I　can
see；'t　said　Fulkerson；　who　had　kept　his　eyes　fast　on　March's　face；　〃that
you　don't　more　than　half　like　the　idea　of　Dryfoos。　　It　ought　to　give　you
more　confidence　in　the　thing　than　you　ever　had。　　You　needn't　be　afraid；〃
he　added；　with　some　feeling；　〃that　I　talked　Dryfoos　into　the　thing　for　my
own　advantage。〃

〃Oh；　my　dear　Fulkerson！〃　March　protested；　all　the　more　fervently　because
he　was　really　a　little　guilty。

〃Well；　of　course　not！　I　didn't　mean　you　were。　　But　I　just　happened　to
tell　him　what　I　wanted　to　go　into　when　I　could　see　my　way　to　it；　and　he
caught　on　of　his　own　accord。　　The　fact　is；〃　said　Fulkerson；　〃I　guess　I'd
better　make　a　clean　breast　of　it；　now　I'm　at　it；　Dryfoos　wanted　to　get
something　for　that　boy　of　his　to　do。　　He's　in　railroads　himself；　and　he's
in　mines　and　other　things；　and　he　keeps　busy；　and　he　can't　bear　to　have
his　boy　hanging　round　the　house　doing　nothing；　like　as　if　he　was　a　girl。
I　told　him　that　the　great　object　of　a　rich　man　was　to　get　his　son　into
just　that　fix；　but　he　couldn't　seem　to　see　it；　and　the　boy　hated　it
himself。　　He's　got　a　good　head；　and　he　wanted　to　study　for　the　ministry
when　they　were　all　living　together　out　on　the　farm；　but　his　father　had
the　old…fashioned　ideas　about　that。　　You　know　they　used　to　think　that　any
sort　of　stuff　was　good　enough　to　make　a　preacher　out　of；　but　they　wanted
the　good　timber　for　business；　and　so　the　old　man　wouldn't　let　him。
You'll　see　the　fellow；　you'll　like　him；　he's　no　fool；　I　can　tell　you；　and
he's　going　to　be　our　publisher；　nominally　at　first　and　actually　when　I've
taught　him　the　ropes　a　little。〃




XII。

Fulkerson　stopped　and　looked　at　March；　whom　he　saw　lapsing　into　a　serious
silence。　　Doubtless　he　divined　his　uneasiness　with　the　facts　that　had
been　given　him　to　digest。　　He　pulled　out　his　watch　and　glanced　at　it。
〃See　here；　how　would　you　like　to　go　up　to　Forty…sixth　street　with　me；　and
drop　in　on　old　Dryfoos？　　Now's　your　chance。　　He's　going　West　tomorrow；
and　won't　be　back　for　a　month　or　so。　　They'll　all　be　glad　to　see　you；　and
you'll　understand　things　better　when　you've　seen　him　and　his　family。　　I
can't　explain。〃

March　reflected　a　moment。　　Then　he　said；　with　a　wisdom　that　surprised
him；　for　he　would　have　liked　to　yield　to　the　impulse　of　his　curiosity：
〃Perhaps　we'd　better　wait　till　Mrs。　March　comes　down；　and　let　things　take
the　usual　course。　　The　Dryfoos　ladies　will　want　to　call　on　her　as　the
last…comer；　and　if　I　treated　myself　'en　garcon'　now；　and　paid　the　first
visit；　it　might　complicate　matters。〃

〃Well；　perhaps　you're　right；〃　said　Fulkerson。　　〃I　don't　know　much　about
these　things；　and　I　don't　believe　Ma　Dryfoos　does；　either。〃　　He　was　on
his　legs　lighting　another　cigarette。　　〃I　suppose　the　girls　are　getting
themselves　up　in　etiquette；　though。　　Well；　then；　let's　have　a　look　at　the
'Every　Other　Week'　building；　and　then；　if　you　like　your　quarters　there；
you　can　go　round　and　close　for　Mrs。　Green's　flat。〃

March's　dormant　allegiance　to　his　wife's　wishes　had　been　roused　by　his
decision　in　favor　of　good　social　usage。　　〃I　don't　think　I　shall　take　the
flat；〃　he　said。

〃Well；　don't　reject　it　without　giving　it　another　look；　anyway。　　Come　on！〃

He　helped　March　on　with　his　light　overcoat；　and　the　little　stir　they　made
for　their　departure　caught　the　notice　of　the　old　German；　he　looked　up
from　his　beer　at　them。　　March　was　more　than　ever　impressed　with　something
familiar　in　his　face。　　In　compensation　for　his　prudence　in　regard　to　the
Dryfooses　he　now　indulged　an　impulse。　　He　stepped　across　to　where　the　old
man　sat；　with　his　bald　head　shining　like　ivory　under　the　gas…jet；　and　his
fine　patriarchal　length　of　bearded　mask　taking　picturesque　lights　and
shadows；　and　put　out　his　hand　to　him。

〃Lindau！　Isn't　this　Mr。　Lindau？〃

The　old　man　lifted　himself　slowly　to　his　feet　with　mechanical　politeness；
and　cautiously　took　March's　hand。　　〃Yes；　my　name　is　Lindau；〃　he　said；
slowly；　while　he　scanned　March's　face。　　Then　he　broke　into　a　long　cry。
〃Ah…h…h…h…h；　my　dear　poy！　my　gong　friendt！　my…myIdt　is　Passil　Marge；
not　zo？　　Ah；　ha；　ha；　ha！　How　gladt　I　am　to　zee　you！　Why；　I　am　gladt！　And
you　rememberdt　me？　　You　remember　Schiller；　and　Goethe；　and　Uhland？　　And
Indianapolis？　　You　still　lif　in　Indianapolis？　　It　sheers　my　hardt　to　zee
you。　　But　you　are　lidtle　oldt；　too？　　Tventy…five　years　makes　a
difference。　　Ah；　I　am　gladt！　Dell　me；　idt　is　Passil　Marge；　not　zo？〃

He　looked　anxiously　into　March's　face；　with　a　gentle　smile　of　mixed　hope
and　doubt；　and　March　said：　〃As　sure　as　it's　Berthold　Lindau；　and　I　guess
it's　you。　　And　you　remember　the　old　times？　　You　were　as　much　of　a　boy　as
I　was；　Lindau。　　Are　you　living　in　New　York？　　Do　you　recollect　how　you
tried　to　teach　me　to　fence？　　I　don't　know　how　to　this　day；　Lindau。　　How
good　you　were；　and　how　patient！　Do　you　remember　how　we　used　to　sit　up　in
the　little　parlor　back　of　your　printing…office；　and　read　Die　Rauber　and
Die　Theilung　der　Erde　and　Die　Glocke？　　And　Mrs。　Lindau？　　Is　she　with〃

〃Deadtdeadt　long　ago。　　Right　after　I　got　home　from　the　wartventy
years　ago。　　But　tell　me；　you　are　married？　　Children？　　Yes！　Goodt！　And　how
oldt　are　you　now？〃

〃It　makes　me　seventeen　to　see　you；　Lindau；　but　I've　got　a　son　nearly　as
old。〃

〃Ah；　ha；　ha！　Goodt！　And　where　do　you　lif？〃

〃Well；　I'm　just　coming　to　live　in　New　York；〃　March　said；　looking　over　at
Fulkerson；　who　had　been　watching　his　interview　with　the　perfunctory　smile
of　sympathy　that　people　put　on　at　the　meeting　of　old　friends。　　〃I　want　to
introduce　you　to　my　friend　Mr。　Fulkerson。　　He　and　I　are　going　into　a
literary　enterprise　here。〃

〃Ah！　zo？〃　　said　the　old　man；　with　polite　interest。　　He　took　Fulkerson's
proffered　hand；　and　they　all　stood　talking　a　few　moments　together。

Then　Fulkerson　said；　with　another　look　at　his　watch；　〃Well；　March；　we're
keeping　Mr。　Lindau　from　his　dinner。〃

〃Dinner！〃　cried　the　old　man。　　〃Idt's　better　than　breadt　and　meadt　to　see
Mr。　Marge！〃

〃I　must　be　going；　anyway；〃　said　March。　　〃　But　I　must　see　you　again　soon；
Lindau。　　Where　do　you　live？　　I　want　a　long　talk。〃

〃And　I。　　You　will　find　me　here　at　dinner…time。〃　　said　the　old　man。　　〃It
is　the　best　place〃；　and　March　fancied　him　reluctant　to　give　another
address。

To　cover　his　consciousness　he　answered；　gayly：　〃Then；　it's　'auf
wiedersehen'　with　us。　　Well！〃

〃Also！〃　The　old　man　took　his　hand；　and　made　a　mechanical　movement　with
his　mutilated　arm；　as　if　he　would　have　taken　it　in　a　double　clasp。　　He
laughed　at　himself。　　〃I　wanted　to　gif　you　the　other　handt；　too；　but　I
gafe　it　to　your　gountry　a　goodt　while　ago。〃

To　my　country？〃　　asked　March；　with　a　sense　of　pain；　and　yet　lightly；　as
if　it　were　a　joke　of　the　old　man's。　　〃Your　country；　too；　Lindau？〃

The　old　man　turned　very　grave；　and　said；　almost　coldly；　〃What　gountry
hass　a　poor　man　got；　Mr。　Marge？〃

〃Well；　you　ought　to　have　a　share　in　the　one　you　helped　to　save　for　us
rich　men；　Lindau；〃　March　returned；　still　humoring　the　joke。

The　old　man　smiled　sadly；　but　made　no　answer　as　he　sat　down　again。

〃Seems　to　be　a　little　soured；〃　said　Fulkerson；　as　they　went　down　the
steps。　　He　was　one　of　those　Americans　whose　habitual　conception　of　life
is　unalloyed　prosperity。　　When　any　experience　or　observation　of　his　went
counter　to　it　he　sufferedsomething　like　physical　pain。　　He　eagerly
shrugged　away　the　impression　left　upon　his　buoyancy　by　Lindau；　and　added
to　March's　continued　silence；　〃What　did　I　tell　you　about　meeting　every
man　in　New　York　that　you　ever　knew　before？〃

I　never　expected　to　meat　Lindau　in　the　world　again；〃　said　March；　more　to
himself　than　to　Fulkerson。　　〃I　had　an　impression　that　he　had　been　killed
in　the　war。　　I　almost　wish　he　had　been。〃

〃Oh；　hello；　now！〃　cried　Fulkerson。

March　laughed；　but　went　on　soberly：　〃He　was　a　man　predestined　to
adversity；　though。　　When　I　first　knew　him　out　in　Indianapolis　he　was
starving　along　with　a　sick　wife　and　a　sick　newspaper。　　It　was　before