vera, the medium-第2部分

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mediums；　it　would　invalidate　everything　he　does？　After　his
death；　every　act　of　his　at　this　time；　every　paper　he　had　signed；
would　be　suspected；　and　　and〃　　stammered　the　Judge　as　his
imagination　pictured　what　might　follow　　〃they　might　even
attack　his　will！〃　He　advanced　truculently。　〃Do　you　mean　to
publish　this　libel？〃

Lee　moved　his　shoulders　in　deprecation。　〃I'm　afraid　we　must；〃　he
said。

〃You　must！〃　demanded　Gaylor。　〃After　what　I've　told　you？　Do　you
think　I'm　lying　to　you？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　reporter；　〃I　don't　think　you　are。　Looks　more　like
you　didn't　know。〃

〃Not　know？　I？〃　Gaylor　laughed　hysterically。　〃I　am　his　lawyer。　I
am　his　best　friend！　Who　will　you　believe？〃　He　stepped　to　the
table　and　pressed　an　electric　button；　and　Garrett　appeared　in
the　hall。　〃Tell　Dr。　Rainey　I　want　to　see　him；〃　Gaylor　commanded；
〃and　return　with　him。〃

As　they　waited；　Judge　Gaylor　paced　quickly　to　and　fro。　〃I've　had
to　deny　some　pretty　silly　stories　about　Mr。　Hallowell；〃　he　said；
〃but　of　all　the　absurd；　malicious　…　…　There's　some　enemy　back　of
this；　some　one　in　Wall　Street　is　doing　this。　But　I'll　find　him
　I'll　　〃　he　was　interrupted　by　the　entrance　of　the　butler
and　Dr。　Rainey；　Mr。　Hallowell's　personal　physician。

Rainey　was　a　young　man　with　a　weak　face；　and　knowing；　shifting
eyes　that　blinked　behind　a　pair　of　eyeglasses。　To　conceal　an
indecision　of　character　of　which　he　was　quite　conscious；　he
assumed　a　manner　that；　according　to　whom　he　addressed；　was
familiar　or　condescending。　At　one　of　the　big　hospitals　he　had
been　an　ambulance　surgeon　and　resident　physician；　later　he　had
started　upon　a　somewhat　doubtful　career　as　a　medical　〃expert。〃
Only　two　years　had　passed　since　the　police　and　the　reporters　of
the　Tenderloin　had　ceased　calling　him　〃Doc。〃　In　a　celebrated
criminal　case　in　which　Gaylor　had　acted　as　chief　counsel；　he　had
found　Rainey　complaisant　and　apparently　totally　without　the
moral　sense。　And　when　in　Garrett　he　had　discovered　for　Mr。
Hallowell　a　model　servant；　he　had　also　urged　upon　his　friend；
for　his　resident　physician；　his　protege　Rainey。

Still　at　white　heat；　the　older　man　began　abruptly：　〃This
gentleman　is　from　the　Republic。　He　is　going　to　publish　a　story
that　Mr。　Hallowell　has　fallen　under　the　influence　of　mediums；
clairvoyants；　that　everything　he　does　is　on　advice　from　the
spirit　world　　〃　he　turned　sharply　upon　Lee。　〃Is　that　right？〃
The　reporter　nodded。

〃You　can　see　the　effect　of　such　a　story。　It　would　invalidate
every　act　of　Mr。　Hallowell's！〃

Dr。　Rainey　laughed　offensively。

〃It　might；〃　he　said；　〃but　who'd　believe　it？〃

〃He　believes　it！〃　cried　Gaylor；　〃or　he　pretends　to　believe　it。
Tell　him！〃　he　commanded。　〃He　won't　believe　me。　Does　Mr。
Hallowell　associate　with　mediums；　and　spirits　　and　spooks？〃

Again　the　young　doctor　laughed。

〃Of　course　not！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃It's　not　worth　answering；　Judge。
You　ought　to　treat　it　with　silent　contempt。〃　From　behind　his
glasses　he　winked　at　the　reporter　with　a　jocular；　intimate
smile。　He　was　adapting　himself　to　what　he　imagined　was　his
company。　〃Where　did　you　pick　up　that　pipe　dream？〃　he　asked。

Without　answering；　the　Southerner　regarded　him　steadily　with
inquiring；　interested　eyes。　The　doctor　coughed　nervously　and
turned　to　Judge　Gaylor。　In　the　manner　of　a　cross…examination
Gaylor　called　up　his　next　witness。

〃Garrett；　does　any　one　visit　Mr。　Hallowell　without　your
knowledge？〃　he　asked。　You　may　not　open　the　door　for　him；　but　you
know　every　one　who　gets　in　to　see　Mr。　Hallowell；　do　you　not？〃

〃Every　one；　sir。〃

〃Do　you　admit　any　mediums；　palm…readers；　or　people　of　that
sort？〃

〃Certainly　not；〃　returned　the　butler。

〃Dr。　Rainey；〃　he　added；　〃would　not　permit　it；　sir。〃

Gaylor　stamped　his　foot　with　impatience。

〃Do　you　admit　any　one；〃　he　demanded；　〃without　Dr。　Rainey's
permission？〃

〃No；　sir！〃　The　reply　could　not　have　rung　with　greater　emphasis。
Triumphantly；　Gaylor；　with　a　wave　of　the　hand；　as　though　saying；
〃Take　the　witness；〃　turned　to　Lee。　〃There　you　are；〃　he　cried。
〃Now；　are　you　satisfied？〃

The　reporter　moved　slowly　toward　the　door。　〃I　am　satisfied；〃　he
said；　〃that　the　man　doesn't　admit　any　one　without　Dr。　Rainey's
permission。〃

Indignantly；　as　though　to　intercept　him；　Judge　Gaylor　stepped
forward。　Both　Rainey　and　himself　spoke　together。

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　Rainey　demanded。

〃Are　you　trying　to　be　insolent；　sir？〃　cried　the　Judge。

Lee　smiled　pleasantly。　〃I　had　no　intention　of　being　insolent；〃
he　said。　〃We　have　the　facts　　I　only　came　to　give　you　a　chance
to　explain　them。〃

Gaylor　lost　all　patience。

〃What　facts？〃　he　shouted。　〃What　facts？　That　mediums　come　here？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Lee。

〃When？〃　Gaylor　cried。　〃Tell　me　that！　When？〃

Lee　regarded　the　older　man　thoughtfully。

〃Well；　today　is　Thursday；〃　he　said。　〃They　were　here　Monday
morning；　and　Tuesday　morning　　and　　the　one　they　call　Vera　
will　be　here　in　half　an　hour。〃

Rainey　ran　across　the　room；　stretching　out　eager；　detaining
hands。

〃See　here！〃　he　begged。　〃We　can　fix　this！〃

〃Fix　it？〃　said　the　reporter。　〃Not　with　me；　you　can't。〃　He　turned
to　the　door　and　found　Garrett　barring　his　exit。　He　halted；　fell
back　on　his　heels；　and　straightened　his　shoulders。　For　the　first
time　they　saw　how　tall　he　was。

〃Get　out　of　my　way；〃　he　said。　The　butler　hesitated　and　fell
back。　Lee　walked　into　the　hall。

〃I'll　leave　you　gentlemen　to　fight　it　out　among　you；〃　he　said。
〃It's　a　better　story　than　I　thought。〃

As　he　descended　to　the　floor　below；　the　men　remained　motionless。
The　face　of　Judge　Gaylor　seemed　to　have　grown　older。　When　the
front　door　closed；　he　turned　and　searched　the　countenance　of
each　of　his　companions。　The　butler　had　dropped　into　a　chair
muttering　and　beating　his　fist　into　his　open　palm。

Gaylor's　voice　was　hardly　louder　than　a　whisper。　〃Is　this　true？〃
he　asked。

Like　a　cur　dog　pinned　in　a　corner　and　forced　to　fight；　Rainey
snarled　at　him　evilly。　〃Of　course　it's　true；〃　he　said。

〃You've　let　these　people　see　him！〃　cried　Gaylor。　〃After　I
forbade　it？　After　I　told　you　what　would　happen？〃

〃He　would　see　them；〃　Rainey　answered　hotly。　〃Twas　better　I
chose　them　than　　〃

Gaylor　raised　his　clenched　hands　and　took　a　sudden　step　forward。
The　Doctor　backed　hastily　against　the　library　table。　〃Don't　you
come　near　me！〃　he　stammered。　〃Don't　you　touch　me。〃

〃And　you've　lied　to　me！〃　cried　Gaylor。　〃You've　deceived　me。　You
　you　jailbirds　　you　idiots。〃　His　voice　rose　hysterically。
〃And　do　you　think；〃　he　demanded　fiercely；　〃I'll　help　you　now？〃

〃No！〃　said　the　butler。

The　word　caught　the　Judge　in　the　full　rush　of　his　anger。　He
turned　stupidly　as　though　he　had　not　heard　aright。　〃What？〃　he
asked。　From　the　easy　chair　the　butler　regarded　him　with　sullen；
hostile　eyes。

〃No！〃　he　repeated。　〃We　don't　think　you'll　help　us。　You　never
meant　to　help　us。　You've　never　thought　of　any　one　but　yourself。〃

The　face　of　the　older　man　was　filled　with　reproach。

〃Jim！〃　he　protested。

〃Don't　do　that！〃　commanded　the　butler　sharply。　〃I've　told　you
not　to　do　that。〃

The　Judge　moved　his　head　slowly　in　amazement。　The　tone　of
reproach　was　still　in　his　voice。

〃I　thought　you　could　understand；〃　he　said。　〃It　doesn't　matter
about　him。　But　you！　You　should　have　seen　what　I　was　doing！〃

〃I　saw　what　you　were　doing；〃　the　butler　replied。　〃Buying　stocks；
buying　a　country　place。　You　didn't　wait　for　him　to　die。　What
were　we　getting？〃

With　returning　courage；　Rainey　nodded　vigorously。

〃That's　right；　all　right；〃　he　protested。　〃What　were　we　getting？〃

〃What　were　you　getting？〃　demanded　Gaylor；　eagerly。　〃If　you'd
only　left　him　to　me；　till　he　signed　the　new　will；　you'd　have　had
everything。　It　only　needs　his　signature。〃

〃Yes；〃　interrupted　Garrett　contemptuously；　that's　all　it　needs。〃

〃Oh；　he'd　have　signed　it！〃　cried　Gaylor。　〃But　what's　it　worth
now！　Nothing！　Thanks　to　you　two　　nothing！　They'll　claim　undue
influence；　they'll　claim　he　signed　it　under　the　influence　of
mediums　　of　ghosts。〃　His　voice　shook　with　anger　and　distress。
〃You've　ruined　me！〃　he　cried。　〃You've　ruined　me。〃

He　turned　and　paced　from　them；　his　fingers　interlacing；　his
teeth　biting　upon　his　lower　lip。　The　two　other　men　glanced　at
each　other　uncomfortably；　their　silence　seemed　to　assure　Gaylor
that　already　they　regretted　what　they　had　done。　He　stood　over
Garrett；　and　for　an　instant　laid　his　hand　upon　his　shoulder。　His
voice　now　was　sane　and　cold。

〃I've　worked　three　years　for　this；〃　he　said。　〃And　for　you；　too；
Jim。　You　know　that。　I've　worked　on　his　vanity；　on　his　fear　of
death；　on　his　damn　superstition。　When　he　talked　of　restitution；
of　giving　the　money　to　his　niece；　I　asked　Why？'　I　said；　Leave　it
for　a　great　monument　to　your　memory。　Isn't　it　better　that　ten
million　dollars　should　be　spent　in　good　works　in　your　name　than
that　it　should　go　to　a　chit　of　a　child　to　be　wasted　by　some
fortune　hunter？　And　　then　　I　evolved　the　Hallowell
Institute；　university；　hospital；　library；　all　under　one　roof；
all　under　one　direction；　and　I　would　have　been　the　director。　We
should　have　handled　ten　millions　of　dollars！　I'd　have　made　you
both　so　rich；〃　he　cried　savagely；　〃that　in　two　years　you'd　have
drunk　yourselves　into　a　mad…house。　And　you　couldn't　trust　me！
You've　filled　this　house　with　fakes　and　palm…readers。　And；　now；
every　one　will　know　just　what　he　is　　a　senile；　half…witted　old
man　who　was　clay　in　my　hands；　clay　in　my　hands　　and　you've
robbed　me　of　him；　you've　robbed　me　of　him！〃　His　voice；　broken
with　anger　and　disappointment；　rose　in　an　hysterical　wail。　As
though　to　meet　it　a　bell　rang　shrilly。　Gaylor　started　and　stood
with　eyes　fixed　on　the　door　of　the　bedroom。　The　three　men　eyed
each　other　guiltily。

The　butler　was　the　first　to　recover。　With　mask…like　face　he
hastened　noiselessly　across　the　room。　In　his　tones　of　usual
authority；　Gaylor　stopped　him。

〃Tell　Mr。　Hallowell；〃　he　directed；　〃that　his　niece　and　District
Attorney　Winthrop　will　be　here　any　moment。　Ask　him　if　he　wishes
me　to　see　them；　or　if　he　will　talk　to　them　himself？〃

When　the　faithful　servant　had　entered　the　bedroom　Gaylor　turned
to　Rainey。

〃When　do　these　mediums　come　today？〃　he　asked。

Rainey　stared　sulkily　at　the　floor。

〃I　think　they're　here　now　　downstairs；〃　he　answe