vera, the medium-第3部分

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！



Rainey　stared　sulkily　at　the　floor。

〃I　think　they're　here　now　　downstairs；〃　he　answered。　Garrett
generally　hides　them　there　till　you're　out　of　the　house。〃

〃Indeed；〃　commented　Gaylor　dryly。　〃After　Winthrop　and　Miss
Coates　have　gone；　I　want　to　talk　with　your　friends。〃

〃Now；　see　here；　Judge；〃　whined　Rainey；　〃don't　make　trouble。　It
isn't　as　bad　as　you　think。　The　old　man's　only　investigating　　〃

〃Hush！〃　commanded　the　Judge。

From　the　bedroom；　leaning　on　the　butler's　arm；　Stephen
Hallowell　came　stumbling　toward　them　and；　with　a　sigh；　sank　into
an　invalid's　chair　that　was　placed　for　him　between　the　fire　and
the　long　library　table。。　He　was　a　very　feeble；　very　old　man；
with　a　white　face；　and　thin；　white　hair；　but　with　a　mouth　and
lower　jaw　as　hard　and　uncompromising　as　those　of　a　skull。　His
eyes；　which　were　strangely　brilliant　and　young…looking；　peered
suspiciously　from　under　ragged　white　eyebrows。　But　when　they
fell　upon　the　doctor；　the　eyes　became　suddenly　credulous；
pleading；　filled　with　self…pity。

〃I'm　a　very　sick　man；　Doctor；〃　said　Mr。　Hallowell。

Judge　Gaylor　bustled　forward　cheerily。　〃Nonsense；　Stephen；
nonsense；〃　he　cried；　〃you　look　a　different　man　this　morning。
Doesn't　he；　Doctor？〃

〃Sure　he　does！〃　assented　Rainey。　〃Little　sleep　was　all　he
needed。〃　Mr。　Hallowell　shook　his　head　petulantly。　〃Not　at　all！〃
he　protested。　〃That　was　a　very　serious　attack。　This　morning　my
head　hurts　　hurts　me　to　think　　〃

〃Perhaps；〃　said　Gaylor；　〃you'd　prefer　that　I　talked　to　your
niece。〃

〃No！〃　exclaimed　the　invalid　excitedly。　〃I　want　to　see　her
myself。　I　want　to　tell　her；　once　and　for　all　　〃　He　checked
himself　and　frowned　at　the　Doctor。　〃You　needn't　wait；〃　he　said。
〃And　Doctor；〃　he　added　meaningly；　〃after　these　people　go；　you
come　back。〃

With　a　conscious　glance　at　the　Judge；　Rainey　nodded　and　left
them。

〃No；〃　continued　the　old　man；　〃I　want　to　talk　to　my　niece　myself。
But　I　don't　want　to　talk　to　Winthrop。　He's　too　clever　a　young
man；　Winthrop。　In　the　merger　case；　you　remember　　had　me　on　the
stand　for　three　hours。　Made　me　talk　too。〃　The　mind　of　the　old
man　suddenly　veered　at　a　tangent。　〃How　the　devil　can　Helen
retain　him？〃　he　demanded　peevishly。　〃She　can't　retain　him。　She
hasn't　any　money。　And　he's　District　Attorney　too。　It's　against
the　law。　Is　he　doing　it　as　a　speculation？　Does　he　want　to　marry
her？〃

Judge　Gaylor　laughed　soothingly。

〃Heavens；　no！〃　he　said。　〃She's　in　his　office；　that's　all。　When
she　took　this　craze　to　be　independent　of　you；　he　gave　her　a
position　as　secretary；　or　as　stenographer；　or　something。　She's
probably　told　him　her　story；　her　side　of　it；　and　he's　helping
her　out　of　charity。：〃　The　Judge　smiled　tolerantly。　〃He　does　that
sort　of　thing；　I　believe。〃

The　old　man　struck　the　library　table　with　his　palm。　〃I　wish　he'd
mind　his　own　business；〃　he　cried。　〃It's　my　money。　She　has　no
claim　to　it；　never　had　any　claim　〃

The　Judge　interrupted　quickly。

〃That's　all　right；　Stephen；　that's　all　right；〃　he　said。　〃Don't
excite　yourself。　Just　get　what　you're　to　say　straight　in　your
mind　and　stick　to　it。　Remember；〃　he　went　on；　as　though　coaching
a　child　in　a　task　already　learned；　〃there　never　was　a　written
agreement。

〃No！〃　muttered　Hallowell。　〃Never　was！〃

〃Repeat　this　to　yourself；〃　commanded　the　Judge。　〃The
understanding　between　you　and　your　brother…in…law　was　that　if
you　placed　his　patent　on　the　market；　for　the　first　five　years
you　would　share　the　profits　equally。　After　the　five　years；　all
rights　in　the　patent　became　yours。　It　was　unfortunate；〃
commented　the　Judge　dryly；　〃that　your　brother…in…law　and　your
sister　died　before　the　five　years　were　up；　especially　as　the
patent　did　not　begin　to　make　money　until　after　five　years。
Remember　　until　after　five　years。〃

〃Until　after　five　years；〃　echoed　Mr。　Hallowell。　〃It　was　over　six
years；〃　he　went　on　excitedly；　〃before　it　made　a　cent。　And；　then；
it　was　my　money　　and　anything　I　give　my　niece　is　charity。
She's　not　entitled　　〃

Garrett　appeared　at　the　door。　〃Miss　Coates；〃　he　announced；　〃and
Mr。　Winthrop。〃　Judge　Gaylor　raised　a　hand　for　silence；　and　as
Mr。　Hallowell　sank　back　in　his　chair；　Helen　Coates；　the　only
child　of　Catherine　Coates；　his　sister；　and　the　young　District
Attorney　of　New　York　came　into　the　library。　Miss　Coates　was　a
woman　of　between　twenty…five　and　thirty；　capable；　and　self…
reliant。　She　had　a　certain　beauty　of　a　severe　type；　but　an
harassed　expression　about　her　eyes　made　her　appear　to　be　always
frowning。　At　times；　in　a　hardening　of　the　lower　part　of　her
face；　she　showed　a　likeness　to　her　uncle。　Like　him；　in　speaking；
also；　her　manner　was　positive　and　decided。

In　age　the　young　man　who　accompanied　her　was　ten　years　her
senior；　but　where　her　difficulties　had　made　her　appear　older
than　she　really　was；　the　enthusiasm　with　which　he　had　thrown
himself　against　those　of　his　own　life；　had　left　him　young。

The　rise　of　Winthrop　had　been　swift　and　spectacular。　Almost　as
soon　as　he　graduated　from　the　college　in　the　little　〃up…state〃
town　where　he　had　been　educated；　and　his　family　had　always
lived；　he　became　the　prosecuting　attorney　of　that　town；　and
later；　at　Albany；　represented　the　district　in　the　Assembly。　From
Albany　he　entered　a　law　office　in　New　York　City；　and　in　the
cause　of　reform　had　fought　so　many　good　fights　that　on　an
independent　ticket；　much　to　his　surprise；　he　had　been　lifted　to
the　high　position　he　now　held。　No　more　in　his　manner　than　in　his
appearance　did　Winthrop　suggest　the　popular　conception　of　his
role。　He　was　not　professional；　not　mysterious。　Instead；　he　was
sane；　cheerful；　tolerant。　It　was　his　philosophy　to　believe　that
the　world　was　innocent　until　it　was　proved　guilty。

He　was　a　bachelor　and；　except　for　two　sisters　who　had　married
men　of　prominence　in　New　York　and　who　moved　in　a　world　of
fashion　into　which　he　had　not　penetrated；　he　was　alone。

When　the　visitors　entered；　Mr。　Hallowell；　without　rising；
greeted　his　niece　cordially。

〃Ah；　Helen！　I　am　glad　to　see　you；〃　he　called；　and　added
reproachfully；　〃at　last。〃

〃How　do　you　do；　sir？〃　returned　Miss　Helen　stiffly。　With　marked
disapproval　she　bowed　to　Judge　Gaylor。

〃And　our　District　Attorney；〃　cried　Mr。　Hallowell。　〃Pardon　my　not
rising；　won't　you？　I　haven't　seen　you；　sir；　since　you　tried　to
get　the　Grand　Jury　to　indict　me。〃　He　chucked　delightedly。　〃You
didn't　succeed；〃　he　taunted。

Winthrop　shook　hands　with　him；　smiling；　〃Don't　blame　me；〃　he
said；　〃I　did　my　best。　I'm　glad　to　see　you　in　such　good　spirits；
Mr。　Hallowell。　I　feared；　by　the　Despatch　　〃

〃Lies；　lies；〃　interrupted　Hallowell　curtly。　〃You　know　Judge
Gaylor？〃

As　he　shook　hands；　Winthrop　answered　that　the　Judge　and　he　were
old　friends；　that　they　knew　each　other　well。

〃Know　each　other　so　well！〃　returned　the　Judge；　〃that　we　ought　to
be　old　enemies。〃

The　younger　man　nodded　appreciatively。　〃That's　true！〃　he
laughed；　〃only　I　didn't　think　you'd　admit　it。〃

With　light　sarcasm　Mr。　Hallowell　inquired　whether　Winthrop　was
with　them　in　his　official　capacity。

〃Oh；　don't　suggest　that！〃　begged　Winthrop；　〃you'll　be　having　me
indicted　next。　No　sir；　I　am　here　without　any　excuse　whatsoever。
I　am　just　interfering　as　a　friend　of　this　young　lady。〃

〃Good；〃　commented　Hallowell。　〃I'd　be　sorry　to　have　my　niece
array　counsel　against　me　　especially　such　distinguished
counsel。　Sit　down；　Helen。〃

Miss　Coates　balanced　herself　on　the　edge　of　a　chair　and　spoke　in
cool；　business…like　tones；　〃Mr。　Hallowell；〃　she　began；　〃I　came。〃

〃Mr。　Hallowell？〃　objected　her　uncle。

〃Uncle　Stephen；〃　Miss　Coates　again　began；　〃I　wish　to　be　as　brief
as　possible。　I　asked　you　to　see　me　today　because　I　hoped　that　by
talking　things　over　we　might　avoid　lawsuits　and　litigation。〃

Mr。　Hallowell　nodded　his　approval。　〃Yes；〃　he　said　encouragingly。

〃I　have　told　Mr。　Winthrop　what　the　trouble　is；〃　Miss　Coates　went
on；　〃and　he　agrees　with　me　that　I　have　been　very　unjustly
treated　　〃

〃By　whom？〃　interrupted　Hallowell。

〃By　you；〃　said　his　niece。

〃Wait；　Helen；〃　commanded　the　old　man。　〃Have　you　also　told　Mr。
Winthrop；〃　he　demanded；　〃that　I　have　made　a　will　in　your　favor？
That；　were　I　to　die　tonight；　you　would　inherit　ten　millions　of
dollars？　Is　that　the　injustice　of　which　you　complain？〃

Judge　Gaylor　gave　an　exclamation　of　pleasure。

〃Good！〃　he　applauded。　〃Excellent！〃

Hallowell　turned　indignantly　to　Winthrop。　〃And　did　she　tell　you
also；〃　he　demanded；　〃that　for　three　years　I　have　urged　her　to
make　a　home　in　this　house？　That　I　have　offered　her　an　income　as
large　as　I　would　give　my　own　daughter；　and　that　she　has　refused
both　offers。　And　what's　more〃　　in　his　excitement　his　voice
rose　hysterically　　〃by　working　publicly　for　her　living　she　has
made　me　appear　mean　and　uncharitable；　and　　〃

〃That's　just　it；〃　interrupted　Miss　Coates。　〃It　isn't　a　question
of　charity。〃

〃Will　you　allow　me？〃　said　Winthrop　soothingly。　〃Your　niece
contends；　sir；〃　he　explained；　〃that　this　money　you　offered　her
is　not　yours　to　offer。　She　claims　it　belongs　to　her。　That　it's
what　should　have　been　her　father's　share　of　the　profits　on　the
Coates…Hallowell　coupling　pin。　But；　as　you　have　willed　your
niece　so　much　money；　although　half　of　it　is　hers　already；　I
advised　her　not　to　fight。　Going　to　law　is　an　expensive　business。
But　she　has　found　out　　and　that's　what　brings　me　uptown　this
morning　　that　you　intend　to　make　a　new　will；　and　leave　all　her
money　and　your　own　to　establish　the　Hallowell　Institute。　Now；〃
Winthrop　continued；　with　a　propitiating　smile；　〃Miss　Coates　also
would　like　to　be　a　philanthropist；　in　her　own　way；　with　her　own
money。　And　she　wishes　to　warn　you　that；　unless　you　deliver　up
what　is　due　her；　she　will　proceed　against　you。〃

Judge　Gaylor　was　the　first　to　answer。

〃Mr。　Winthrop；〃　he　said　impressively；　〃I　give　you　my　word；　there
is　not　one　dollar　due　Miss　Coates；　except　what　Mr。　Hallowell
pleases　to　give　her。　〃

Miss　Coates　contradicted　him　sharply。　〃That　is　not　so；〃　she
said。　She　turned　to　her　uncle；　〃You　and　my　father；〃　she
declared；　〃agreed　in　writing　you　would　share　the　profits
always。〃　Mr。　Hallowell　looked　from　his　niece　to　his　lawyer。　The
lawyer；　eyeing　him　apprehensively；　nodded。　With　the　patient
voice　of　one　who　tried　to　reason　with　an