tommy and co.-第8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！



〃If　you　are　very　clever　Do　you　mind　coming　nearer　to　the　lamp？　　I　
can't　quite　see　you　over　there。〃

Clodd　never　could　understand　why　he　did　itnever　could　understand　
why；　from　first　to　last；　he　always　did　what　Tommy　wished　him　to　do；　
his　only　consolation　being　that　other　folks　seemed　just　as　
helpless。　　He　rose　and；　crossing　the　long　room；　stood　at　attention　
before　the　large　desk；　nervousness；　to　which　he　was　somewhat　of　a　
stranger；　taking　possession　of　him。

〃You　don't　LOOK　very　clever。〃

Clodd　experienced　another　new　sensationthat　of　falling　in　his　own　
estimation。

〃And　yet　one　can　see　that　you　ARE　clever。〃

The　mercury　of　Clodd's　conceit　shot　upward　to　a　point　that　in　the　
case　of　anyone　less　physically　robust　might　have　been　dangerous　to　
health。

Clodd　held　out　his　hand。　　〃We'll　pull　it　through；　Tommy。　　The　
Guv'nor　shall　find　the　literature；　you　and　I　will　make　it　go。　　I　
like　you。〃

And　Peter　Hope；　entering　at　the　moment；　caught　a　spark　from　the　
light　that　shone　in　the　eyes　of　William　Clodd　and　Tommy；　whose　
other　name　was　Jane；　as；　gripping　hands；　they　stood　with　the　desk　
between　them；　laughing　they　knew　not　why。　　And　the　years　fell　from　
old　Peter；　and；　again　a　boy；　he　also　laughed　he　knew　not　why。　　He　
had　sipped　from　the　wine…cup　of　youth。

〃It's　all　settled；　Guv'nor！〃　cried　Clodd。　　〃Tommy　and　I　have　fixed　
things　up。　　We'll　start　with　the　New　Year。〃

〃You've　got　the　money？〃

〃I'm　reckoning　on　it。　　I　don't　see　very　well　how　I　can　miss　it。〃

〃Sufficient？〃

〃Just　about。　　You　get　to　work。〃

〃I've　saved　a　little；〃　began　Peter。　　〃It　ought　to　have　been　more；　
but　somehow　it　isn't。〃

〃Perhaps　we　shall　want　it；〃　Clodd　replied；　〃perhaps　we　shan't。　　You　
are　supplying　the　brains。〃

The　three　for　a　few　moments　remained　silent。

〃I　think；　Tommy；〃　said　Peter；　〃I　think　a　bottle　of　the　old　Madeira…
…〃

〃Not　to…night；〃　said　Clodd；　〃next　time。〃

〃To　drink　success；〃　urged　Peter。

〃One　man's　success　generally　means　some　other　poor　devil's　
misfortune；〃　answered　Clodd。

〃Can't　be　helped；　of　course；　but　don't　want　to　think　about　it　to…
night。　　Must　be　getting　back　to　my　dormouse。　　Good　night。〃

Clodd　shook　hands　and　bustled　out。

〃I　thought　as　much；〃　mused　Peter　aloud。

〃What　an　odd　mixture　the　man　is！　　Kindno　one　could　have　been　
kinder　to　the　poor　old　fellow。　　Yet　all　the　while　We　are　an　odd　
mixture；　Tommy；〃　said　Peter　Hope；　〃an　odd　mixture；　we　men　and　
women。〃　　Peter　was　a　philosopher。

The　white…whiskered　old　dormouse　soon　coughed　himself　to　sleep　for　
ever。

〃I　shall　want　you　and　the　missis　to　come　to　the　funeral；　Gladman；〃　
said　Mr。　Clodd；　as　he　swung　into　the　stationer's　shop；　〃and　bring　
Pincer　with　you。　　I'm　writing　to　him。〃

〃Don't　see　what　good　we　can　do；〃　demurred　Gladman。

〃Well；　you　three　are　his　only　relatives；　it's　only　decent　you　
should　be　present；〃　urged　Clodd。　　〃Besides；　there's　the　will　to　be　
read。　　You　may　care　to　hear　it。〃

The　dry　old　law　stationer　opened　wide　his　watery　eyes。

〃His　will！　　Why；　what　had　he　got　to　leave？　　There　was　nothing　but　
the　annuity。〃

〃You　turn　up　at　the　funeral；〃　Clodd　told　him；　〃and　you'll　learn　all　
about　it。　　Bonner's　clerk　will　be　there　and　will　bring　it　with　him。　　
Everything　is　going　to　be　done　comme　il　faut；　as　the　French　say。〃

〃I　ought　to　have　known　of　this；〃　began　Mr。　Gladman。

〃Glad　to　find　you　taking　so　much　interest　in　the　old　chap；〃　said　
Clodd。　　〃Pity　he's　dead　and　can't　thank　you。〃

〃I　warn　you；〃　shouted　old　Gladman；　whose　voice　was　rising　to　a　
scream；　〃he　was　a　helpless　imbecile；　incapable　of　acting　for　
himself！　　If　any　undue　influence〃

〃See　you　on　Friday；〃　broke　in　Clodd；　who　was　busy。

Friday's　ceremony　was　not　a　sociable　affair。　　Mrs。　Gladman　spoke　
occasionally　in　a　shrill　whisper　to　Mr。　Gladman；　who　replied　with　
grunts。　　Both　employed　the　remainder　of　their　time　in　scowling　at　
Clodd。　　Mr。　Pincer；　a　stout；　heavy　gentleman　connected　with　the　
House　of　Commons；　maintained　a　ministerial　reserve。　　The　
undertaker's　foreman　expressed　himself　as　thankful　when　it　was　
over。　　He　criticised　it　as　the　humpiest　funeral　he　had　ever　known；　
for　a　time　he　had　serious　thoughts　of　changing　his　profession。

The　solicitor's　clerk　was　waiting　for　the　party　on　its　return　from　
Kensal　Green。　　Clodd　again　offered　hospitality。　　Mr。　Pincer　this　
time　allowed　himself　a　glass　of　weak　whisky…and…water；　and　sipped　
it　with　an　air　of　doing　so　without　prejudice。　　The　clerk　had　one　a　
little　stronger；　Mrs。　Gladman；　dispensing　with　consultation；　
declined　shrilly　for　self　and　partner。　　Clodd；　explaining　that　he　
always　followed　legal　precedent；　mixed　himself　one　also　and　drank　
〃To　our　next　happy　meeting。〃　　Then　the　clerk　read。

It　was　a　short　and　simple　will；　dated　the　previous　August。　　It　
appeared　that　the　old　gentleman；　unknown　to　his　relatives；　had　died　
possessed　of　shares　in　a　silver　mine；　once　despaired　of；　now　
prospering。　　Taking　them　at　present　value；　they　would　produce　a　sum　
well　over　two　thousand　pounds。　　The　old　gentleman　had　bequeathed　
five　hundred　pounds　to　his　brother…in…law；　Mr。　Gladman；　five　
hundred　pounds　to　his　only　other　living　relative；　his　first　cousin；　
Mr。　Pincer；　the　residue　to　his　friend；　William　Clodd；　as　a　return　
for　the　many　kindnesses　that　gentleman　had　shown　him。

Mr。　Gladman　rose；　more　amused　than　angry。

〃And　you　think　you　are　going　to　pocket　that　one　thousand　to　twelve　
hundred　pounds。　　You　really　do？〃　he　asked　Mr。　Clodd；　who；　with　legs　
stretched　out　before　him；　sat　with　his　hands　deep　in　his　trousers　
pockets。

〃That's　the　idea；〃　admitted　Mr。　Clodd。

Mr。　Gladman　laughed；　but　without　much　lightening　the　atmosphere。　　
〃Upon　my　word；　Clodd；　you　amuse　meyou　quite　amuse　me；〃　repeated　
Mr。　Gladman。

〃You　always　had　a　sense　of　humour；〃　commented　Mr。　Clodd。

〃You　villain！　　You　double…dyed　villain！〃　screamed　Mr。　Gladman；　
suddenly　changing　his　tone。　　〃You　think　the　law　is　going　to　allow　
you　to　swindle　honest　men！　　You　think　we　are　going　to　sit　still　for　
you　to　rob　us！　　That　will〃　　Mr。　Gladman　pointed　a　lank　forefinger　
dramatically　towards　the　table。

〃You　mean　to　dispute　it？〃　inquired　Mr。　Clodd。

For　a　moment　Mr。　Gladman　stood　aghast　at　the　other's　coolness；　but　
soon　found　his　voice　again。

〃Dispute　it！〃　he　shrieked。　　〃Do　you　dispute　that　you　influenced　
him？dictated　it　to　him　word　for　word；　made　the　poor　old　helpless　
idiot　sign　it；　he　utterly　incapable　of　even　understanding〃

〃Don't　chatter　so　much；〃　interrupted　Mr。　Clodd。　　〃It's　not　a　pretty　
voice；　yours。　　What　I　asked　you　was；　do　you　intend　to　dispute　it？〃

〃If　you　will　kindly　excuse　us；〃　struck　in　Mrs。　Gladman；　addressing　
Mr。　Clodd　with　an　air　of　much　politeness；　〃we　shall　just　have　time；　
if　we　go　now；　to　catch　our　solicitor　before　he　leaves　his　office。〃

Mr。　Gladman　took　up　his　hat　from　underneath　his　chair。

〃One　moment；〃　suggested　Mr。　Clodd。　　〃I　did　influence　him　to　make　
that　will。　　If　you　don't　like　it；　there's　an　end　of　it。〃

〃Of　course；〃　commenced　Mr。　Gladman　in　a　mollified　tone。

〃Sit　down；〃　suggested　Mr。　Clodd。　　〃Let's　try　another　one。〃　　Mr。　
Clodd　turned　to　the　clerk。　　〃The　previous　one；　Mr。　Wright；　if　you　
please；　the　one　dated　June　the　10th。〃

An　equally　short　and　simple　document；　it　bequeathed　three　hundred　
pounds　to　Mr。　William　Clodd　in　acknowledgment　of　kindnesses　
received；　the　residue　to　the　Royal　Zoological　Society　of　London；　
the　deceased　having　been　always　interested　in　and　fond　of　animals。　　
The　relatives；　〃Who　have　never　shown　me　the　slightest　affection　or　
given　themselves　the　slightest　trouble　concerning　me；　and　who　have　
already　received　considerable　sums　out　of　my　income；〃　being　by　name　
excluded。

〃I　may　mention；〃　observed　Mr。　Clodd；　no　one　else　appearing　inclined　
to　break　the　silence；　〃that　in　suggesting　the　Royal　Zoological　
Society　to　my　poor　old　friend　as　a　fitting　object　for　his　
benevolence；　I　had　in　mind　a　very　similar　case　that　occurred　five　
years　ago。　　A　bequest　to　them　was　disputed　on　the　grounds　that　the　
testator　was　of　unsound　mind。　　They　had　to　take　their　case　to　the　
House　of　Lords　before　they　finally　won　it。〃

〃Anyhow；〃　remarked　Mr。　Gladman；　licking　his　lips；　which　were　dry；　
〃you　won't　get　anything；　Mr。　Cloddno；　not　even　your　three…hundred　
pounds；　clever　as　you　think　yourself。　　My　brother…in…law's　money　
will　go　to　the　lawyers。〃

Then　Mr。　Pincer　rose　and　spoke　slowly　and　clearly。　　〃If　there　must　
be　a　lunatic　connected　with　our　family；　which　I　don't　see　why　there　
should　be；　it　seems　to　me　to　be　you；　Nathaniel　Gladman。〃

Mr。　Gladman　stared　back　with　open　mouth。　　Mr。　Pincer　went　on　
impressively。

〃As　for　my　poor　old　cousin　Joe；　he　had　his　eccentricities；　but　that　
was　all。　　I　for　one　am　prepared　to　swear　that　he　was　of　sound　mind　
in　August　last　and　quite　capable　of　making　his　own　will。　　It　seems　
to　me　that　the　other　thing；　dated　in　June；　is　just　waste　paper。〃

Mr。　Pincer　having　delivered　himself；　sat　down　again。　　Mr。　Gladman　
showed　signs　of　returning　language。

〃Oh！　what's　the　use　of　quarrelling？〃　chirped　in　cheery　Mrs。　
Gladman。　　〃It's　five　hundred　pounds　we　never　expected。　　Live　and　
let　live　is　what　I　always　say。〃

〃It's　the　damned　artfulness　of　the　thing；〃　said　Mr。　Gladman；　still　
very　white　about　the　gills。

〃Oh；　you　have　a　little　something　to　thaw　your　face；〃　suggested　his　
wife。

Mr。　and　Mrs。　Gladman；　on　the　strength　of　the　five　hundred　pounds；　
went　home　in　a　cab。　　Mr。　Pincer　stayed　behind　and　made　a　night　of　
it　with　Mr。　Clodd　and　Bonner's　clerk；　at　Clodd's　expense。

The　residue　worked　out　at　eleven　hundred　and　sixty…nine　pounds　and　
a　few　shillings。　　The　capital　of　the　new　company；　〃established　for　
the　purpose　of　carrying　on　the　business　of　newspaper　publishers　and　
distributors；　printers；　advertising　agents；　and　any　other　trade　and　
enterprise　affiliated　to　the　same；〃　was　one　thousand　pounds　in　one　
pound　shares；　fully　paid　up；　of　which　William　Clodd；　Esquire；　was　
registered　proprietor　of　four　hundred　and　sixty…three；　Peter　Hope；　
M。A。；　of　16；　Gough　Square；　of　also　four　hundred　and　sixty…three；　
Miss　Jane　Hope；　adopted　daughter　of　said　Peter　Hope　（her　real　name　
nobody；　herself　included；　ever　having　known