the financier-第43部分

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s　reaching　Stener　first）and　the　whole　state　of　affairs　made　perfectly　plain。　　No　more　money　was　to　be　used　under　penalty　of　prosecution。　　If　Stener　wanted　to　see　any　one　he　must　see　Mollenhauer。　　Sengstack；　having　received　a　telegram　from　Strobik　informing　him　of　their　proposed　arrival　at　noon　the　next　day；　had　proceeded　to　Wilmington　to　meet　them。　　The　result　was　that　Stener　did　not　come　direct　into　the　business　heart　of　the　city；　but　instead　got　off　at　West　Philadelphia；　proposing　to　go　first　to　his　house　to　change　his　clothes　and　then　to　see　Mollenhauer　before　meeting　Cowperwood。　　He　was　very　badly　frightened　and　wanted　time　to　think。

〃I　can't　do　it；　Frank；〃　he　pleaded；　piteously。　　〃I'm　in　pretty　bad　in　this　matter。　　Mollenhauer's　secretary　met　the　train　out　at　Wilmington　just　now　to　warn　me　against　this　situation；　and　Strobik　is　against　it。　　They　know　how　much　money　I've　got　outstanding。　You　or　somebody　has　told　them。　　I　can't　go　against　Mollenhauer。　I　owe　everything　I've　got　to　him；　in　a　way。　　He　got　me　this　place。〃

〃Listen；　George。　　Whatever　you　do　at　this　time；　don't　let　this　political　loyalty　stuff　cloud　your　judgment。　　You're　in　a　very　serious　position　and　so　am　I。　　If　you　don't　act　for　yourself　with　me　now　no　one　is　going　to　act　for　younow　or　laterno　one。　　And　later　will　be　too　late。　　I　proved　that　last　night　when　I　went　to　Butler　to　get　help　for　the　two　of　us。　　They　all　know　about　this　business　of　our　street…railway　holdings　and　they　want　to　shake　us　out　and　that's　the　big　and　little　of　itnothing　more　and　nothing　less。　　It's　a　case　of　dog　eat　dog　in　this　game　and　this　particular　situation　and　it's　up　to　us　to　save　ourselves　against　everybody　or　go　down　together；　and　that's　just　what　I'm　here　to　tell　you。　Mollenhauer　doesn't　care　any　more　for　you　to…day　than　he　does　for　that　lamp…post。　　It　isn't　that　money　you've　paid　out　to　me　that's　worrying　him；　but　who's　getting　something　for　it　and　what。　　Well　they　know　that　you　and　I　are　getting　street…railways；　don't　you　see；　and　they　don't　want　us　to　have　them。　　Once　they　get　those　out　of　our　hands　they　won't　waste　another　day　on　you　or　me。　　Can't　you　see　that？　Once　we've　lost　all　we've　invested；　you're　down　and　so　am　Iand　no　one　is　going　to　turn　a　hand　for　you　or　me　politically　or　in　any　other　way。　　I　want　you　to　understand　that；　George；　because　it's　true。　　And　before　you　say　you　won't　or　you　will　do　anything　because　Mollenhauer　says　so；　you　want　to　think　over　what　I　have　to　tell　you。〃

He　was　in　front　of　Stener　now；　looking　him　directly　in　the　eye　and　by　the　kinetic　force　of　his　mental　way　attempting　to　make　Stener　take　the　one　step　that　might　save　himCowperwoodhowever　little　in　the　long　run　it　might　do　for　Stener。　　And；　more　interesting　still；　he　did　not　care。　　Stener；　as　he　saw　him　now；　was　a　pawn　in　whosoever's　hands　he　happened　to　be　at　the　time；　and　despite　Mr。　Mollenhauer　and　Mr。　Simpson　and　Mr。　Butler　he　proposed　to　attempt　to　keep　him　in　his　own　hands　if　possible。　　And　so　he　stood　there　looking　at　him　as　might　a　snake　at　a　bird　determined　to　galvanize　him　into　selfish　self…interest　if　possible。　　But　Stener　was　so　frightened　that　at　the　moment　it　looked　as　though　there　was　little　to　be　done　with　him。　　His　face　was　a　grayish…blue：　his　eyelids　and　eye　rings　puffy　and　his　hands　and　lips　moist。　　God；　what　a　hole　he　was　in　now！

〃Say　that's　all　right；　Frank；〃　he　exclaimed　desperately。　　〃I　know　what　you　say　is　true。　　But　look　at　me　and　my　position；　if　I　do　give　you　this　money。　　What　can't　they　do　to　me；　and　won't。　　If　you　only　look　at　it　from　my　point　of　view。　　If　only　you　hadn't　gone　to　Butler　before　you　saw　me。〃

〃As　though　I　could　see　you；　George；　when　you　were　off　duck　shooting　and　when　I　was　wiring　everywhere　I　knew　to　try　to　get　in　touch　with　you。　　How　could　I？　The　situation　had　to　be　met。　　Besides；　I　thought　Butler　was　more　friendly　to　me　than　he　proved。　　But　there's　no　use　being　angry　with　me　now；　George；　for　going　to　Butler　as　I　did；　and　anyhow　you　can't　afford　to　be　now。　　We're　in　this　thing　together。　It's　a　case　of　sink　or　swim　for　just　us　twonot　any　one　elsejust　usdon't　you　get　that？　Butler　couldn't　or　wouldn't　do　what　I　wanted　him　to　doget　Mollenhauer　and　Simpson　to　support　the　market。　Instead　of　that　they　are　hammering　it。　　They　have　a　game　of　their　own。　　It's　to　shake　us　outcan't　you　see　that？　Take　everything　that　you　and　I　have　gathered。　　It　is　up　to　you　and　me；　George；　to　save　ourselves；　and　that's　what　I'm　here　for　now。　　If　you　don't　let　me　have　three　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　dollarsthree　hundred　thousand；　anyhowyou　and　I　are　ruined。　　It　will　be　worse　for　you；　George；　than　for　me；　for　I'm　not　involved　in　this　thing　in　any　waynot　legally；　anyhow。　　But　that's　not　what　I'm　thinking　of。　What　I　want　to　do　is　to　save　us　bothput　us　on　easy　street　for　the　rest　of　our　lives；　whatever　they　say　or　do；　and　it's　in　your　power；　with　my　help；　to　do　that　for　both　of　us。　　Can't　you　see　that？　I　want　to　save　my　business　so　then　I　can　help　you　to　save　your　name　and　money。〃　　He　paused；　hoping　this　had　convinced　Stener；　but　the　latter　was　still　shaking。

〃But　what　can　I　do；　Frank？〃　he　pleaded；　weakly。　　〃I　can't　go　against　Mollenhauer。　　They　can　prosecute　me　if　I　do　that。　　They　can　do　it；　anyhow。　　I　can't　do　that。　　I'm　not　strong　enough。　　If　they　didn't　know；　if　you　hadn't　told　them；　it　might　be　different；　but　this　way〃　He　shook　his　head　sadly；　his　gray　eyes　filled　with　a　pale　distress。

〃George；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　who　realized　now　that　only　the　sternest　arguments　would　have　any　effect　here；　〃don't　talk　about　what　I　did。　What　I　did　I　had　to　do。　　You're　in　danger　of　losing　your　head　and　your　nerve　and　making　a　serious　mistake　here；　and　I　don't　want　to　see　you　make　it。　　I　have　five　hundred　thousand　of　the　city's　money　invested　for　youpartly　for　me；　and　partly　for　you；　but　more　for　you　than　for　me〃which；　by　the　way；　was　not　true〃and　here　you　are　hesitating　in　an　hour　like　this　as　to　whether　you　will　protect　your　interest　or　not。　　I　can't　understand　it。　　This　is　a　crisis；　George。　　Stocks　are　tumbling　on　every　sideeverybody's　stocks。　You're　not　alone　in　thisneither　am　I。　　This　is　a　panic；　brought　on　by　a　fire；　and　you　can't　expect　to　come　out　of　a　panic　alive　unless　you　do　something　to　protect　yourself。　　You　say　you　owe　your　place　to　Mollenhauer　and　that　you're　afraid　of　what　he'll　do。　　If　you　look　at　your　own　situation　and　mine；　you'll　see　that　it　doesn't　make　much　difference　what　he　does；　so　long　as　I　don't　fail。　　If　I　fail；　where　are　you？　Who's　going　to　save　you　from　prosecution？　Will　Mollenhauer　or　any　one　else　come　forward　and　put　five　hundred　thousand　dollars　in　the　treasury　for　you？　He　will　not。　　If　Mollenhauer　and　the　others　have　your　interests　at　heart；　why　aren't　they　helping　me　on　'change　today？　I'll　tell　you　why。　　They　want　your　street…railway　holdings　and　mine；　and　they　don't　care　whether　you　go　to　jail　afterward　or　not。　　Now　if　you're　wise　you　will　listen　to　me。　　I've　been　loyal　to　you；　haven't　I？　You've　made　money　through　melots　of　it。　　If　you're　wise；　George；　you'll　go　to　your　office　and　write　me　your　check　for　three　hundred　thousand　dollars；　anyhow；　before　you　do　a　single　other　thing。　　Don't　see　anybody　and　don't　do　anything　till　you've　done　that。　　You　can't　be　hung　any　more　for　a　sheep　than　you　can　for　a　lamb。　　No　one　can　prevent　you　from　giving　me　that　check。　　You're　the　city　treasurer。　　Once　I　have　that　I　can　see　my　way　out　of　this；　and　I'll　pay　it　all　back　to　you　next　week　or　the　week　afterthis　panic　is　sure　to　end　in　that　time。　　With　that　put　back　in　the　treasury　we　can　see　them　about　the　five　hundred　thousand　a　little　later。　　In　three　months；　or　less；　I　can　fix　it　so　that　you　can　put　that　back。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　can　do　it　in　fifteen　days　once　I　am　on　my　feet　again。　　Time　is　all　I　want。　　You　won't　have　lost　your　holdings　and　nobody　will　cause　you　any　trouble　if　you　put　the　money　back。　　They　don't　care　to　risk　a　scandal　any　more　than　you　do。　　Now　what'll　you　do；　George？　Mollenhauer　can't　stop　you　from　doing　this　any　more　than　I　can　make　you。　　Your　life　is　in　your　own　hands。　　What　will　you　do？〃

Stener　stood　there　ridiculously　meditating　when；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　his　very　financial　blood　was　oozing　away。　　Yet　he　was　afraid　to　act。　　He　was　afraid　of　Mollenhauer；　afraid　of　Cowperwood；　afraid　of　life　and　of　himself。　　The　thought　of　panic；　loss；　was　not　so　much　a　definite　thing　connected　with　his　own　property；　his　money；　as　it　was　with　his　social　and　political　standing　in　the　community。　Few　people　have　the　sense　of　financial　individuality　strongly　developed。　　They　do　not　know　what　it　means　to　be　a　controller　of　wealth；　to　have　that　which　releases　the　sources　of　social　action　its　medium　of　exchange。　　They　want　money；　but　not　for　money's　sake。　They　want　it　for　what　it　will　buy　in　the　way　of　simple　comforts；　whereas　the　financier　wants　it　for　what　it　will　controlfor　what　it　will　represent　in　the　way　of　dignity；　force；　power。　　Cowperwood　wanted　money　in　that　way；　Stener　not。　　That　was　why　he　had　been　so　ready　to　let　Cowperwood　act　for　him；　and　now；　when　he　should　have　seen　more　clearly　than　ever　the　significance　of　what　Cowperwood　was　proposing；　he　was　frightened　and　his　reason　obscured　by　such　things　as　Mollenhauer's　probable　opposition　and　rage；　Cowperwood's　possible　failure；　his　own　inability　to　face　a　real　crisis。　Cowperwood's　innate　financial　ability　did　not　reassure　Stener　in　this　hour。　　The　banker　was　too　young；　too　new。　　Mollenhauer　was　older；　richer。　　So　was　Simpson；　so　was　Butler。　　These　men；　with　their　wealth；　represented　the　big　forces；　the　big　standards　in　his　world。　　And　besides；　did　not　Cowperwood　himself　confess　that　he　was　in　great　dangerthat　he　was　in　a　corner。　　That　was　the　worst　possible　confession　to　make　to　Steneralthough　under　the　circumstances　it　was　the　only　one　that　could　be　madefor　he　had　no　courage　to　face　danger。

So　it　was　that　now；　Stener　stood　by　Cowperwood　meditatingpale；　flaccid；　unable　to　see　the　main　line　of　his　interests　quickly；　unable　to　follow　it　definitely；　surely；　vigorouslywhile　they　drove　to　his　office。　　Cowperwood　entered　it　with　him　for　the　sake　of　continuing　his　plea。

〃Well；　George；〃　he　said　earnestly；　〃I　wish　you'd　tell　me。　　Time's　short。　　We　haven't　a　moment　to　lose。　　Give　me　the　money；　won't　you；　and　I'l