the financier-第13部分

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usand　dollars；　including　the　furniture。　　It　was　not　completed　for　nearly　three　weeks　after　their　return；　but　when　finished　made　a　comparatively　new　house。　The　dining…room　bay　hung　low　over　the　grass；　as　Frank　wished；　and　the　windows　were　diamond…paned　and　leaded；　swiveled　on　brass　rods。　The　parlor　and　dining…room　were　separated　by　sliding　doors；　but　the　intention　was　to　hang　in　this　opening　a　silk　hanging　depicting　a　wedding　scene　in　Normandy。　　Old　English　oak　was　used　in　the　dining…room；　an　American　imitation　of　Chippendale　and　Sheraton　for　the　sitting…room　and　the　bedrooms。　　There　were　a　few　simple　water…colors　hung　here　and　there；　some　bronzes　of　Hosmer　and　Powers；　a　marble　venus　by　Potter；　a　now　forgotten　sculptor；　and　other　objects　of　artnothing　of　any　distinction。　　Pleasing；　appropriately　colored　rugs　covered　the　floor。　　Mrs。　Cowperwood　was　shocked　by　the　nudity　of　the　Venus　which　conveyed　an　atmosphere　of　European　freedom　not　common　to　America；　but　she　said　nothing。　It　was　all　harmonious　and　soothing；　and　she　did　not　feel　herself　capable　to　judge。　　Frank　knew　about　these　things　so　much　better　than　she　did。　Then　with　a　maid　and　a　man　of　all　work　installed；　a　program　of　entertaining　was　begun　on　a　small　scale。

Those　who　recall　the　early　years　of　their　married　life　can　best　realize　the　subtle　changes　which　this　new　condition　brought　to　Frank；　for；　like　all　who　accept　the　hymeneal　yoke；　he　was　influenced　to　a　certain　extent　by　the　things　with　which　he　surrounded　himself。　Primarily；　from　certain　traits　of　his　character；　one　would　have　imagined　him　called　to　be　a　citizen　of　eminent　respectability　and　worth。　　He　appeared　to　be　an　ideal　home　man。　　He　delighted　to　return　to　his　wife　in　the　evenings；　leaving　the　crowded　downtown　section　where　traffic　clamored　and　men　hurried。　　Here　he　could　feel　that　he　was　well…stationed　and　physically　happy　in　life。　　The　thought　of　the　dinner…table　with　candles　upon　it　（his　idea）；　the　thought　of　Lillian　in　a　trailing　gown　of　pale…blue　or　green　silkhe　liked　her　in　those　colors；　the　thought　of　a　large　fireplace　flaming　with　solid　lengths　of　cord…wood；　and　Lillian　snuggling　in　his　arms；　gripped　his　immature　imagination。　　As　has　been　said　before；　he　cared　nothing　for　books；　but　life；　pictures；　trees；　physical　contactthese；　in　spite　of　his　shrewd　and　already　gripping　financial　calculations；　held　him。　　To　live　richly；　joyously；　fullyhis　whole　nature　craved　that。

And　Mrs。　Cowperwood；　in　spite　of　the　difference　in　their　years；　appeared　to　be　a　fit　mate　for　him　at　this　time。　　She　was　once　awakened；　and　for　the　time　being；　clinging；　responsive；　dreamy。　His　mood　and　hers　was　for　a　baby；　and　in　a　little　while　that　happy　expectation　was　whispered　to　him　by　her。　　She　had　half　fancied　that　her　previous　barrenness　was　due　to　herself；　and　was　rather　surprised　and　delighted　at　the　proof　that　it　was　not　so。　It　opened　new　possibilitiesa　seemingly　glorious　future　of　which　she　was　not　afraid。　　He　liked　it；　the　idea　of　self…duplication。　It　was　almost　acquisitive；　this　thought。　　For　days　and　weeks　and　months　and　years；　at　least　the　first　four　or　five；　he　took　a　keen　satisfaction　in　coming　home　evenings；　strolling　about　the　yard；　driving　with　his　wife；　having　friends　in　to　dinner；　talking　over　with　her　in　an　explanatory　way　the　things　he　intended　to　do。　　She　did　not　understand　his　financial　abstrusities；　and　he　did　not　trouble　to　make　them　clear。

But　love；　her　pretty　body；　her　lips；　her　quiet　mannerthe　lure　of　all　these　combined；　and　his　two　children；　when　they　cametwo　in　four　yearsheld　him。　　He　would　dandle　Frank；　Jr。；　who　was　the　first　to　arrive；　on　his　knee；　looking　at　his　chubby　feet；　his　kindling　eyes；　his　almost　formless　yet　bud…like　mouth；　and　wonder　at　the　process　by　which　children　came　into　the　world。　　There　was　so　much　to　think　of　in　this　connectionthe　spermatozoic　beginning；　the　strange　period　of　gestation　in　women；　the　danger　of　disease　and　delivery。　　He　had　gone　through　a　real　period　of　strain　when　Frank；　Jr。；　was　born；　for　Mrs。　Cowperwood　was　frightened。　　He　feared　for　the　beauty　of　her　bodytroubled　over　the　danger　of　losing　her；　and　he　actually　endured　his　first　worry　when　he　stood　outside　the　door　the　day　the　child　came。　　Not　muchhe　was　too　self…sufficient；　too　resourceful；　and　yet　he　worried；　conjuring　up　thoughts　of　death　and　the　end　of　their　present　state。　　Then　word　came；　after　certain　piercing；　harrowing　cries；　that　all　was　well；　and　he　was　permitted　to　look　at　the　new　arrival。　　The　experience　broadened　his　conception　of　things；　made　him　more　solid　in　his　judgment　of　life。　　That　old　conviction　of　tragedy　underlying　the　surface　of　things；　like　wood　under　its　veneer；　was　emphasized。　Little　Frank；　and　later　Lillian；　blue…eyed　and　golden…haired；　touched　his　imagination　for　a　while。　　There　was　a　good　deal　to　this　home　idea；　after　all。　　That　was　the　way　life　was　organized；　and　properly　soits　cornerstone　was　the　home。

It　would　be　impossible　to　indicate　fully　how　subtle　were　the　material　changes　which　these　years　involvedchanges　so　gradual　that　they　were；　like　the　lap　of　soft　waters；　unnoticeable。　Considerablea　great　deal；　considering　how　little　he　had　to　begin　withwealth　was　added　in　the　next　five　years。　　He　came；　in　his　financial　world；　to　know　fairly　intimately；　as　commercial　relationships　go；　some　of　the　subtlest　characters　of　the　steadily　enlarging　financial　world。　　In　his　days　at　Tighe's　and　on　the　exchange；　many　curious　figures　had　been　pointed　out　to　himState　and　city　officials　of　one　grade　and　another　who　were　〃making　something　out　of　politics；〃　and　some　national　figures　who　came　from　Washington　to　Philadelphia　at　times　to　see　Drexel　&　Co。；　Clark　&　Co。；　and　even　Tighe　&　Co。　　These　men；　as　he　learned；　had　tips　or　advance　news　of　legislative　or　economic　changes　which　were　sure　to　affect　certain　stocks　or　trade　opportunities。　　A　young　clerk　had　once　pulled　his　sleeve　at　Tighe's。

〃See　that　man　going　in　to　see　Tighe？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃That's　Murtagh；　the　city　treasurer。　　Say；　he　don't　do　anything　but　play　a　fine　game。　　All　that　money　to　invest；　and　he　don't　have　to　account　for　anything　except　the　principal。　　The　interest　goes　to　him。〃

Cowperwood　understood。　　All　these　city　and　State　officials　speculated。　　They　had　a　habit　of　depositing　city　and　State　funds　with　certain　bankers　and　brokers　as　authorized　agents　or　designated　State　depositories。　　The　banks　paid　no　interestsave　to　the　officials　personally。　　They　loaned　it　to　certain　brokers　on　the　officials'　secret　order；　and　the　latter　invested　it　in　〃sure　winners。〃　The　bankers　got　the　free　use　of　the　money　a　part　of　the　time；　the　brokers　another　part：　the　officials　made　money；　and　the　brokers　received　a　fat　commission。　　There　was　a　political　ring　in　Philadelphia　in　which　the　mayor；　certain　members　of　the　council；　the　treasurer；　the　chief　of　police；　the　commissioner　of　public　works；　and　others　shared。　　It　was　a　case　generally　of　〃You　scratch　my　back　and　I'll　scratch　yours。〃　　Cowperwood　thought　it　rather　shabby　work　at　first；　but　many　men　were　rapidly　getting　rich　and　no　one　seemed　to　care。　　The　newspapers　were　always　talking　about　civic　patriotism　and　pride　but　never　a　word　about　these　things。　And　the　men　who　did　them　were　powerful　and　respected。

There　were　many　houses；　a　constantly　widening　circle；　that　found　him　a　very　trustworthy　agent　in　disposing　of　note　issues　or　note　payment。　　He　seemed　to　know　so　quickly　where　to　go　to　get　the　money。　　From　the　first　he　made　it　a　principle　to　keep　twenty　thousand　dollars　in　cash　on　hand　in　order　to　be　able　to　take　up　a　proposition　instantly　and　without　discussion。　　So；　often　he　was　able　to　say；　〃Why；　certainly；　I　can　do　that；〃　when　otherwise；　on　the　face　of　things；　he　would　not　have　been　able　to　do　so。　　He　was　asked　if　he　would　not　handle　certain　stock　transactions　on　'change。　He　had　no　seat；　and　he　intended　not　to　take　any　at　first；　but　now　he　changed　his　mind；　and　bought　one；　not　only　in　Philadelphia；　but　in　New　York　also。　　A　certain　Joseph　Zimmerman；　a　dry…goods　man　for　whom　he　had　handled　various　note　issues；　suggested　that　he　undertake　operating　in　street…railway　shares　for　him；　and　this　was　the　beginning　of　his　return　to　the　floor。

In　the　meanwhile　his　family　life　was　changinggrowing；　one　might　have　said；　finer　and　more　secure。　　Mrs。　Cowperwood　had；　for　instance；　been　compelled　from　time　to　time　to　make　a　subtle　readjustment　of　her　personal　relationship　with　people；　as　he　had　with　his。　　When　Mr。　Semple　was　alive　she　had　been　socially　connected　with　tradesmen　principallyretailers　and　small　wholesalersa　very　few。　　Some　of　the　women　of　her　own　church；　the　First　Presbyterian；　were　friendly　with　her。　　There　had　been　church　teas　and　sociables　which　she　and　Mr。　Semple　attended；　and　dull　visits　to　his　relatives　and　hers。　　The　Cowperwoods；　the　Watermans；　and　a　few　families　of　that　caliber；　had　been　the　notable　exceptions。　Now　all　this　was　changed。　　Young　Cowperwood　did　not　care　very　much　for　her　relatives；　and　the　Semples　had　been　alienated　by　her　second；　and　to　them　outrageous；　marriage。　　His　own　family　was　closely　interested　by　ties　of　affection　and　mutual　prosperity；　but；　better　than　this；　he　was　drawing　to　himself　some　really　significant　personalities。　　He　brought　home　with　him；　sociallynot　to　talk　business；　for　he　disliked　that　ideabankers；　investors；　customers　and　prospective　customers。　　Out　on　the　Schuylkill；　the　Wissahickon；　and　elsewhere；　were　popular　dining　places　where　one　could　drive　on　Sunday。　　He　and　Mrs。　Cowperwood　frequently　drove　out　to　Mrs。　Seneca　Davis's；　to　Judge　Kitchen's；　to　the　home　of　Andrew　Sharpless；　a　lawyer　whom　he　knew；　to　the　home　of　Harper　Steger；　his　own　lawyer；　and　others。　　Cowperwood　had　the　gift　of　geniality。　　None　of　these　men　or　women　suspected　the　depth　of　his　naturehe　was　thinking；　thinking；　thinking；　but　enjoyed　life　as　he　went。

One　of　his　earliest　and　most　genuine　leanings　was　toward　paintings。　He　admired　nature；　but　somehow；　without　knowing　why；　he　fancied　one　could　best　grasp　it　through　the　personality　of　some　interpreter；　just　as　we　gain　our　ideas　of　law　and　politics　through　individuals。　Mrs。　Cowperwood　cared　not　a　whit　one　way　or　another；　but　she　accompanied　him　to　exhibitions；　thinking　all　the　while　that　Frank　was　a　little　peculiar。　　He　tried；　because　he　loved　her；