the financier-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！


t。　　Frank　was　fascinated　by　him　at　once。　　He　had　been　a　planter　in　Cuba　and　still　owned　a　big　ranch　there　and　could　tell　him　tales　of　Cuban　liferebellions；　ambuscades；　hand…to…hand　fighting　with　machetes　on　his　own　plantation；　and　things　of　that　sort。　　He　brought　with　him　a　collection　of　Indian　curies；　to　say　nothing　of　an　independent　fortune　and　several　slavesone；　named　Manuel；　a　tall；　raw…boned　black；　was　his　constant　attendant；　a　bodyservant；　as　it　were。　　He　shipped　raw　sugar　from　his　plantation　in　boat…loads　to　the　Southwark　wharves　in　Philadelphia。　　Frank　liked　him　because　he　took　life　in　a　hearty；　jovial　way；　rather　rough　and　offhand　for　this　somewhat　quiet　and　reserved　household。

〃Why；　Nancy　Arabella；〃　he　said　to　Mrs　Cowperwood　on　arriving　one　Sunday　afternoon；　and　throwing　the　household　into　joyous　astonishment　at　his　unexpected　and　unheralded　appearance；　〃you　haven't　grown　an　inch！　I　thought　when　you　married　old　brother　Hy　here　that　you　were　going　to　fatten　up　like　your　brother。　　But　look　at　you！　I　swear　to　Heaven　you　don't　weigh　five　pounds。〃　　And　he　jounced　her　up　and　down　by　the　waist；　much　to　the　perturbation　of　the　children；　who　had　never　before　seen　their　mother　so　familiarly　handled。

Henry　Cowperwood　was　exceedingly　interested　in　and　pleased　at　the　arrival　of　this　rather　prosperous　relative；　for　twelve　years　before；　when　he　was　married；　Seneca　Davis　had　not　taken　much　notice　of　him。

〃Look　at　these　little　putty…faced　Philadelphians；〃　he　continued；　〃They　ought　to　come　down　to　my　ranch　in　Cuba　and　get　tanned　up。　That　would　take　away　this　waxy　look。〃　　And　he　pinched　the　cheek　of　Anna　Adelaide；　now　five　years　old。　　〃I　tell　you；　Henry；　you　have　a　rather　nice　place　here。〃　　And　he　looked　at　the　main　room　of　the　rather　conventional　three…story　house　with　a　critical　eye。

Measuring　twenty　by　twenty…four　and　finished　in　imitation　cherry；　with　a　set　of　new　Sheraton　parlor　furniture　it　presented　a　quaintly　harmonious　aspect。　　Since　Henry　had　become　teller　the　family　had　acquired　a　pianoa　decided　luxury　in　those　days　brought　from　Europe；　and　it　was　intended　that　Anna　Adelaide；　when　she　was　old　enough；　should　learn　to　play。　　There　were　a　few　uncommon　ornaments　in　the　rooma　gas　chandelier　for　one　thing；　a　glass　bowl　with　goldfish　in　it；　some　rare　and　highly　polished　shells；　and　a　marble　Cupid　bearing　a　basket　of　flowers。　　It　was　summer　time；　the　windows　were　open；　and　the　trees　outside；　with　their　widely　extended　green　branches；　were　pleasantly　visible　shading　the　brick　sidewalk。　　Uncle　Seneca　strolled　out　into　the　back　yard。

〃Well；　this　is　pleasant　enough；〃　he　observed；　noting　a　large　elm　and　seeing　that　the　yard　was　partially　paved　with　brick　and　enclosed　within　brick　walls；　up　the　sides　of　which　vines　were　climbing。　　〃Where's　your　hammock？　Don't　you　string　a　hammock　here　in　summer？　Down　on　my　veranda　at　San　Pedro　I　have　six　or　seven。〃

〃We　hadn't　thought　of　putting　one　up　because　of　the　neighbors；　but　it　would　be　nice；〃　agreed　Mrs。　Cowperwood。　　〃Henry　will　have　to　get　one。〃

〃I　have　two　or　three　in　my　trunks　over　at　the　hotel。　　My　niggers　make　'em　down　there。　　I'll　send　Manuel　over　with　them　in　the　morning。〃

He　plucked　at　the　vines；　tweaked　Edward's　ear；　told　Joseph；　the　second　boy；　he　would　bring　him　an　Indian　tomahawk；　and　went　back　into　the　house。

〃This　is　the　lad　that　interests　me；〃　he　said；　after　a　time；　laying　a　hand　on　the　shoulder　of　Frank。　　〃What　did　you　name　him　in　full；　Henry？〃

〃Frank　Algernon。〃

〃Well；　you　might　have　named　him　after　me。　　There's　something　to　this　boy。　　How　would　you　like　to　come　down　to　Cuba　and　be　a　planter；　my　boy？〃

〃I'm　not　so　sure　that　I'd　like　to；〃　replied　the　eldest。

〃Well；　that's　straight…spoken。　　What　have　you　against　it？〃

〃Nothing；　except　that　I　don't　know　anything　about　it。〃

〃What　do　you　know？〃

The　boy　smiled　wisely。　　〃Not　very　much；　I　guess。〃

〃Well；　what　are　you　interested　in？〃

〃Money！〃

〃Aha！　What's　bred　in　the　bone；　eh？　Get　something　of　that　from　your　father；　eh？　Well；　that's　a　good　trait。　　And　spoken　like　a　man；　too！　We'll　hear　more　about　that　later。　　Nancy；　you're　breeding　a　financier　here；　I　think。　　He　talks　like　one。〃

He　looked　at　Frank　carefully　now。　　There　was　real　force　in　that　sturdy　young　bodyno　doubt　of　it。　　Those　large；　clear　gray　eyes　were　full　of　intelligence。　　They　indicated　much　and　revealed　nothing。

〃A　smart　boy！〃　he　said　to　Henry；　his　brother…in…law。　　〃I　like　his　get…up。　　You　have　a　bright　family。〃

Henry　Cowperwood　smiled　dryly。　　This　man；　if　he　liked　Frank；　might　do　much　for　the　boy。　　He　might　eventually　leave　him　some　of　his　fortune。　　He　was　wealthy　and　single。

Uncle　Seneca　became　a　frequent　visitor　to　the　househe　and　his　negro　body…guard；　Manuel；　who　spoke　both　English　and　Spanish；　much　to　the　astonishment　of　the　children；　and　he　took　an　increasing　interest　in　Frank。

〃When　that　boy　gets　old　enough　to　find　out　what　he　wants　to　do；　I　think　I'll　help　him　to　do　it；〃　he　observed　to　his　sister　one　day；　and　she　told　him　she　was　very　grateful。　　He　talked　to　Frank　about　his　studies；　and　found　that　he　cared　little　for　books　or　most　of　the　study　he　was　compelled　to　pursue。　　Grammar　was　an　abomination。　Literature　silly。　　Latin　was　of　no　use。　　Historywell；　it　was　fairly　interesting。

〃I　like　bookkeeping　and　arithmetic；〃　he　observed。　　〃I　want　to　get　out　and　get　to　work；　though。　　That's　what　I　want　to　do。〃

〃You're　pretty　young；　my　son；〃　observed　his　uncle。　　〃You're　only　how　old　now？　Fourteen？〃

〃Thirteen。〃

〃Well；　you　can't　leave　school　much　before　sixteen。　　You'll　do　better　if　you　stay　until　seventeen　or　eighteen。　　It　can't　do　you　any　harm。　　You　won't　be　a　boy　again。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　be　a　boy。　I　want　to　get　to　work。〃

〃Don't　go　too　fast；　son。　　You'll　be　a　man　soon　enough。　　You　want　to　be　a　banker；　do　you？〃

〃Yes；　sir！〃

〃Well；　when　the　time　comes；　if　everything　is　all　right　and　you've　behaved　yourself　and　you　still　want　to；　I'll　help　you　get　a　start　in　business。　　If　I　were　you　and　were　going　to　be　a　banker；　I'd　first　spend　a　year　or　so　in　some　good　grain　and　commission　house。　There's　good　training　to　be　had　there。　　You'll　learn　a　lot　that　you　ought　to　know。　　And；　meantime；　keep　your　health　and　learn　all　you　can。　　Wherever　I　am；　you　let　me　know；　and　I'll　write　and　find　out　how　you've　been　conducting　yourself。〃

He　gave　the　boy　a　ten…dollar　gold　piece　with　which　to　start　a　bank…account。　　And；　not　strange　to　say；　he　liked　the　whole　Cowperwood　household　much　better　for　this　dynamic；　self…sufficient；　sterling　youth　who　was　an　integral　part　of　it。





Chapter　III




It　was　in　his　thirteenth　year　that　young　Cowperwood　entered　into　his　first　business　venture。　　Walking　along　Front　Street　one　day；　a　street　of　importing　and　wholesale　establishments；　he　saw　an　auctioneer's　flag　hanging　out　before　a　wholesale　grocery　and　from　the　interior　came　the　auctioneer's　voice：　〃What　am　I　bid　for　this　exceptional　lot　of　Java　coffee；　twenty…two　bags　all　told；　which　is　now　selling　in　the　market　for　seven　dollars　and　thirty…two　cents　a　bag　wholesale？　What　am　I　bid？　What　am　I　bid？　The　whole　lot　must　go　as　one。　　What　am　I　bid？〃

〃Eighteen　dollars；〃　suggested　a　trader　standing　near　the　door；　more　to　start　the　bidding　than　anything　else。　　Frank　paused。

〃Twenty…two！〃　called　another。

〃Thirty！〃　a　third。　　〃Thirty…five！〃　a　fourth；　and　so　up　to　seventy…five；　less　than　half　of　what　it　was　worth。

〃I'm　bid　seventy…five！　I'm　bid　seventy…five！〃　called　the　auctioneer；　loudly。　　〃Any　other　offers？　Going　once　at　seventy…five；　am　I　offered　eighty？　Going　twice　at　seventy…five；　and〃he　paused；　one　hand　raised　dramatically。　　Then　he　brought　it　down　with　a　slap　in　the　palm　of　the　other〃sold　to　Mr。　Silas　Gregory　for　seventy…five。　Make　a　note　of　that；　Jerry；〃　he　called　to　his　red…haired；　freckle…faced　clerk　beside　him。　　Then　he　turned　to　another　lot　of　grocery　staplesthis　time　starch；　eleven　barrels　of　it。

Young　Cowperwood　was　making　a　rapid　calculation。　　If；　as　the　auctioneer　said；　coffee　was　worth　seven　dollars　and　thirty…two　cents　a　bag　in　the　open　market；　and　this　buyer　was　getting　this　coffee　for　seventy…five　dollars；　he　was　making　then　and　there　eighty…six　dollars　and　four　cents；　to　say　nothing　of　what　his　profit　would　be　if　he　sold　it　at　retail。　　As　he　recalled；　his　mother　was　paying　twenty…eight　cents　a　pound。　　He　drew　nearer；　his　books　tucked　under　his　arm；　and　watched　these　operations　closely。　　The　starch；　as　he　soon　heard；　was　valued　at　ten　dollars　a　barrel；　and　it　only　brought　six。　　Some　kegs　of　vinegar　were　knocked　down　at　one…third　their　value；　and　so　on。　　He　began　to　wish　he　could　bid；　but　he　had　no　money；　just　a　little　pocket　change。　　The　auctioneer　noticed　him　standing　almost　directly　under　his　nose；　and　was　impressed　with　the　stoliditysolidityof　the　boy's　expression。

〃I　am　going　to　offer　you　now　a　fine　lot　of　Castile　soapseven　cases；　no　lesswhich；　as　you　know；　if　you　know　anything　about　soap；　is　now　selling　at　fourteen　cents　a　bar。　　This　soap　is　worth　anywhere　at　this　moment　eleven　dollars　and　seventy…five　cents　a　case。　　What　am　I　bid？　What　am　I　bid？　What　am　I　bid？〃　He　was　talking　fast　in　the　usual　style　of　auctioneers；　with　much　unnecessary　emphasis；　but　Cowperwood　was　not　unduly　impressed。　　He　was　already　rapidly　calculating　for　himself。　　Seven　cases　at　eleven　dollars　and　seventy…five　cents　would　be　worth　just　eighty…two　dollars　and　twenty…five　cents；　and　if　it　went　at　halfif　it　went　at　half

〃Twelve　dollars；〃　commented　one　bidder。

〃Fifteen；〃　bid　another。

〃Twenty；〃　called　a　third。

〃Twenty…five；〃　a　fourth。

Then　it　came　to　dollar　raises；　for　Castile　soap　was　not　such　a　vital　commodity。　　〃Twenty…six。〃　　〃Twenty…seven。〃　　〃Twenty…eight。〃　〃Twenty…nine。〃　　There　was　a　pause。　　〃Thirty；〃　observed　young　Cowperwood；　decisively。

The　auctioneer；　a　short　lean　faced；　spare　man　with　bushy　hair　and　an　incisive　eye；　looked　at　him　curiously　and　almost　incredulously　but　without　pausing。　　He　had；　somehow；　in　spite　of　himself；　been　impressed　by　the　boy's　peculiar　eye；　and　now　he　felt；　without　knowing　why；　that　the　offer　was　probably　legitimate　enough；　and　that　the　boy　had　the　money。　　He　might　be　the　son　of　a　grocer。

〃I'm　bid　thirty！　I'm　bid　thirty！　I'm　bid　thirty　for　this　fine　lot　of　Castile　soap。　　It's　a　fine　lot