the financier-第76部分

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　　　money　that　was　actually　due　him　for　an　authorized　purchase　of　　　city　loan。　　Was　Cowperwood　guilty　as　an　agent　in　any　of　these　　　transactions？　Not　in　the　least。　　Was　there　any　suit　pending　to　　　make　him　return　the　five　hundred　thousand　dollars　of　city　money　　　involved　in　his　present　failure？　Not　at　all。　　It　was　simply　a　　　case　of　wild；　silly　panic　on　the　part　of　George　W。　Stener；　and　　　a　strong　desire　on　the　part　of　the　Republican　party　leaders；　　　once　they　discovered　what　the　situation　was；　to　find　some　one　　　outside　of　Stener；　the　party　treasurer；　upon　whom　they　could　　　blame　the　shortage　in　the　treasury。　　You　heard　what　Mr。　　　Cowperwood　testified　to　here　in　this　case　to…daythat　he　went　　　to　Mr。　Stener　to　forfend　against　any　possible　action　of　this　　　kind　in　the　first　place。　　And　it　was　because　of　this　very　　　warning　that　Mr。　Stener　became　wildly　excited；　lost　his　head；　　　and　wanted　Mr。　Cowperwood　to　return　him　all　his　money；　all　the　　　five　hundred　thousand　dollars　he　had　loaned　him　at　two　and　　　one…half　per　cent。　　Isn't　that　silly　financial　business　at　the　　　best？　Wasn't　that　a　fine　time　to　try　to　call　a　perfectly　legal　　　loan？

　　〃But　now　to　return　to　this　particular　check　of　sixty　thousand　　　dollars。　　When　Mr。　Cowperwood　called　that　last　afternoon　before　　　he　failed；　Mr。　Stener　testified　that　he　told　him　that　he　couldn't　　　have　any　more　money；　that　it　was　impossible；　and　that　then　Mr。　　　Cowperwood　went　out　into　his　general　office　and　without　his　　　knowledge　or　consent　persuaded　his　chief　clerk　and　secretary；　　　Mr。　Albert　Stires；　to　give　him　a　check　for　sixty　thousand　dollars；　　　to　which　he　was　not　entitled　and　on　which　he；　Stener；　would　　　have　stopped　payment　if　he　had　known。

　　〃What　nonsense！　Why　didn't　he　know？　The　books　were　there；　open　　　to　him。　　Mr。　Stires　told　him　the　first　thing　the　next　morning。　　　Mr。　Cowperwood　thought　nothing　of　it；　for　he　was　entitled　to　it；　　　and　could　collect　it　in　any　court　of　law　having　jurisdiction　in　　　such　cases；　failure　or　no　failure。　　It　is　silly　for　Mr。　Stener　　　to　say　he　would　have　stopped　payment。　　Such　a　claim　was　probably　　　an　after…thought　of　the　next　morning　after　he　had　talked　with　his　　　friends；　the　politicians；　and　was　all　a　part；　a　trick；　a　trap；　　　to　provide　the　Republican　party　with　a　scapegoat　at　this　time。　　　Nothing　more　and　nothing　less；　and　you　may　be　sure　no　one　knew　　　it　better　than　the　people　who　were　most　anxious　to　see　Mr。　　　Cowperwood　convicted。〃

Steger　paused　and　looked　significantly　at　Shannon。

　　〃Gentlemen　of　the　jury　＇he　finally　concluded；　quietly　and　　　earnestly＇；　you　are　going　to　find；　when　you　think　it　over　in　　　the　jury…room　this　evening；　that　this　charge　of　larceny　and　　　larceny　as　bailee；　and　embezzlement　of　a　check　for　sixty　　　thousand　dollars；　which　are　contained　in　this　indictment；　and　　　which　represent　nothing　more　than　the　eager　effort　of　the　　　district　attorney　to　word　this　one　act　in　such　a　way　that　it　　　will　look　like　a　crime；　represents　nothing　more　than　the　excited　　　imagination　of　a　lot　of　political　refugees　who　are　anxious　to　　　protect　their　own　skirts　at　the　expense　of　Mr。　Cowperwood；　and　　　who　care　for　nothinghonor；　fair　play；　or　anything　else；　so　　　long　as　they　are　let　off　scot…free。　　They　don't　want　the　　　Republicans　of　Pennsylvania　to　think　too　ill　of　the　Republican　　　party　management　and　control　in　this　city。　　They　want　to　protect　　　George　W。　Stener　as　much　as　possible　and　to　make　a　political　　　scapegoat　of　my　client。　　It　can't　be　done；　and　it　won't　be　done。　　　As　honorable；　intelligent　men　you　won't　permit　it　to　be　done。　　　And　I　think　with　that　thought　I　can　safely　leave　you。〃

Steger　suddenly　turned　from　the　jury…box　and　walked　to　his　seat　beside　Cowperwood；　while　Shannon　arose；　calm；　forceful；　vigorous；　much　younger。

As　between　man　and　man；　Shannon　was　not　particularly　opposed　to　the　case　Steger　had　made　out　for　Cowperwood；　nor　was　he　opposed　to　Cowperwood's　having　made　money　as　he　did。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　Shannon　actually　thought　that　if　he　had　been　in　Cowperwood's　position　he　would　have　done　exactly　the　same　thing。　　However；　he　was　the　newly　elected　district　attorney。　　He　had　a　record　to　make；　and；　besides；　the　political　powers　who　were　above　him　were　satisfied　that　Cowperwood　ought　to　be　convicted　for　the　looks　of　the　thing。　Therefore　he　laid　his　hands　firmly　on　the　rail　at　first；　looked　the　jurors　steadily　in　the　eyes　for　a　time；　and；　having　framed　a　few　thoughts　in　his　mind　began：

　　〃Now；　gentlemen　of　the　jury；　it　seems　to　me　that　if　we　all　pay　　　strict　attention　to　what　has　transpired　here　to…day；　we　will　　　have　no　difficulty　in　reaching　a　conclusion；　and　it　will　be　a　　　very　satisfactory　one；　if　we　all　try　to　interpret　the　facts　　　correctly。　　This　defendant；　Mr。　Cowperwood；　comes　into　this　　　court　to…day　charged；　as　I　have　stated　to　you　before；　with　　　larceny；　with　larceny　as　bailee；　with　embezzlement；　and　with　　　embezzlement　of　a　specific　checknamely；　one　dated　October　9；　　　1871；　drawn　to　the　order　of　Frank　A。　Cowperwood　&　Company　for　　　the　sum　of　sixty　thousand　dollars　by　the　secretary　of　the　city　　　treasurer　for　the　city　treasurer；　and　by　him　signed；　as　he　had　　　a　perfect　right　to　sign　it；　and　delivered　to　the　said　Frank　A。　　　Cowperwood；　who　claims　that　he　was　not　only　properly　solvent　　　at　the　time；　but　had　previously　purchased　certificates　of　city　　　loan　to　the　value　of　sixty　thousand　dollars；　and　had　at　that　　　time　or　would　shortly　thereafter；　as　was　his　custom；　deposit　　　them　to　the　credit　of　the　city　in　the　city　sinking…fund；　and　　　thus　close　what　would　ordinarily　be　an　ordinary　transaction　　　namely；　that　of　Frank　A。　Cowperwood　&　Company　as　bankers　and　　　brokers　for　the　city　buying　city　loan　for　the　city；　depositing　　　it　in　the　sinking…fund；　and　being　promptly　and　properly　reimbursed。　　　Now；　gentlemen；　what　are　the　actual　facts　in　this　case？　Was　the　　　said　Frank　A。　Cowperwood　&　Companythere　is　no　company；　as　　　you　well　know；　as　you　have　heard　testified　here　to…day；　only　　　Frank　A。　Cowperwoodwas　the　said　Frank　A。　Cowperwood　a　fit　　　person　to　receive　the　check　at　this　time　in　the　manner　he　　　received　itthat　is；　was　he　authorized　agent　of　the　city　at　　　the　time；　or　was　he　not？　Was　he　solvent？　Did　he　actually　himself　　　think　he　was　going　to　fail；　and　was　this　sixty…thousand…dollar　　　check　a　last　thin　straw　which　he　was　grabbing　at　to　save　his　　　financial　life　regardless　of　what　it　involved　legally；　morally；　　　or　otherwise；　or　had　he　actually　purchased　certificates　of　city　　　loan　to　the　amount　he　said　he　had　in　the　way　he　said　he　had；　at　　　the　time　he　said　he　had；　and　was　he　merely　collecting　his　honest　　　due？　Did　he　intend　to　deposit　these　certificates　of　loans　in　the　　　city　sinking…fund；　as　he　said　he　wouldas　it　was　understood　　　naturally　and　normally　that　he　wouldor　did　he　not？　Were　his　　　relations　with　the　city　treasurer　as　broker　and　agent　the　same　　　as　they　had　always　been　on　the　day　that　he　secured　this　particular　　　check　for　sixty　thousand　dollars；　or　were　they　not？　Had　they　been　　　terminated　by　a　conversation　fifteen　minutes　before　or　two　days　　　before　or　two　weeks　beforeit　makes　no　difference　when；　so　long　　　as　they　had　been　properly　terminatedor　had　they　not？　A　business　　　man　has　a　right　to　abrogate　an　agreement　at　any　time　where　there　　　is　no　specific　form　of　contract　and　no　fixed　period　of　operation　　　entered　intoas　you　all　must　know。　　You　must　not　forget　that　in　　　considering　the　evidence　in　this　case。　　Did　George　W。　Stener；　　　knowing　or　suspecting　that　Frank　A。　Cowperwood　was　in　a　tight　　　place　financially；　unable　to　fulfill　any　longer　properly　and　　　honestly　the　duties　supposedly　devolving　on　him　by　this　agreement；　　　terminate　it　then　and　there　on　October　9；　1871；　before　this　　　check　for　sixty　thousand　dollars　was　given；　or　did　he　not？　Did　　　Mr。　Frank　A。　Cowperwood　then　and　there；　knowing　that　he　was　no　　　longer　an　agent　of　the　city　treasurer　and　the　city；　and　knowing　　　also　that　he　was　insolvent　（having；　as　Mr。　Stener　contends；　　　admitted　to　him　that　he　was　so）；　and　having　no　intention　of　　　placing　the　certificates　which　he　subsequently　declared　he　had　　　purchased　in　the　sinking…fund；　go　out　into　Mr。　Stener's　general　　　office；　meet　his　secretary；　tell　him　he　had　purchased　sixty　　　thousand　dollars'　worth　of　city　loan；　ask　for　the　check；　get　　　it；　put　it　in　his　pocket；　walk　off；　and　never　make　any　return　　　of　any　kind　in　any　manner；　shape；　or　form　to　the　city；　and　then；　　　subsequently；　twenty…four　hours　later；　fail；　owing　this　and　　　five　hundred　thousand　dollars　more　to　the　city　treasury；　or　did　　　he　not？　What　are　the　facts　in　this　case？　What　have　the　witnesses　　　testified　to？　What　has　George　W。　Stener　testified　to；　Albert　　　Stires；　President　Davison；　Mr。　Cowperwood　himself？　What　are　the　　　interesting；　subtle　facts　in　this　case；　anyhow？　Gentlemen；　you　　　have　a　very　curious　problem　to　decide。〃

He　paused　and　gazed　at　the　jury；　adjusting　his　sleeves　as　he　did　so；　and　looking　as　though　he　knew　for　certain　that　he　was　on　the　trail　of　a　slippery；　elusive　criminal　who　was　in　a　fair　way　to　foist　himself　upon　an　honorable　and　decent　community　and　an　honorable　and　innocent　jury　as　an　honest　man。

Then　he　continued：

　　〃Now；　gentlemen；　what　are　the　facts？　You　can　see　for　yourselves　　　exactly　how　this　whole　situation　has　come　about。　　You　are　sensible　　　men。　　I　don't　need　to　tell　you。　　Here　are　two　men；　one　elected　　　treasurer　of　the　city　of　Philadelphia；　sworn　to　guard　the　　　interests　of　the　city　and　to　manipulate　its　finances　to　the　best　　　advantage；　and　the　other　called　in　at　a　time　of　uncertain　financial　　　cogitation　to　assist　in　unraveling　a　possibly　difficult　financial　　　problem；　and　then　you　have　a　case　of　a　quiet；　private　financial　　　understanding　being　reached；　and　of　subsequent　illegal　dealings　　　in　which　one　man　who　is　shrewder；　wiser；　more　versed　in　the　subtle　　　ways　of　Third　Street　leads　the　other　along　over　seemingly　charming　　　paths　of　fortunate　investment　into　an　accidental　but　none　the　　　less　criminal　mire　of　failure　and　exposure　and　public　calumny　and　　　what　not。　　And　then　they　get　to　the　place　where　the　more　vulnerable　　　individual　of　the　twothe　man　in　the　most　dangerous　position；　　　the　city　treasurer　of　Philadelphia；　no　lesscan　no　longer　　　reasonably　or；　let　us　say；　courageously；　follow　th