the financier-第96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！


　been　built　up　into　some　strange　self…confidence；　some　curious　faith　in　its　own　powers；　based；　no　doubt；　on　the　actual　presence　of　these　same　powers　subtly　involved　in　the　body；　that　it　fronts　life　unflinchingly。　　It　would　be　too　much　to　say　that　Cowperwood's　mind　was　of　the　first　order。　　It　was　subtle　enough　in　all　conscience　and　involved；　as　is　common　with　the　executively　great；　with　a　strong　sense　of　personal　advancement。　　It　was　a　powerful　mind；　turning；　like　a　vast　searchlight；　a　glittering　ray　into　many　a　dark　corner；　but　it　was　not　sufficiently　disinterested　to　search　the　ultimate　dark。　　He　realized；　in　a　way；　what　the　great　astronomers；　sociologists；　philosophers；　chemists；　physicists；　and　physiologists　were　meditating；　but　he　could　not　be　sure　in　his　own　mind　that；　whatever　it　was；　it　was　important　for　him。　　No　doubt　life　held　many　strange　secrets。　　Perhaps　it　was　essential　that　somebody　should　investigate　them。　　However　that　might　be；　the　call　of　his　own　soul　was　in　another　direction。　　His　business　was　to　make　money　to　organize　something　which　would　make　him　much　money；　or；　better　yet；　save　the　organization　he　had　begun。

But　this；　as　he　now　looked　upon　it；　was　almost　impossible。　　It　had　been　too　disarranged　and　complicated　by　unfortunate　circumstances。　He　might；　as　Steger　pointed　out　to　him；　string　out　these　bankruptcy　proceedings　for　years；　tiring　out　one　creditor　and　another；　but　in　the　meantime　the　properties　involved　were　being　seriously　damaged。　Interest　charges　on　his　unsatisfied　loans　were　making　heavy　inroads；　court　costs　were　mounting　up；　and；　to　cap　it　all；　he　had　discovered　with　Steger　that　there　were　a　number　of　creditorsthose　who　had　sold　out　to　Butler；　and　incidentally　to　Mollenhauerwho　would　never　accept　anything　except　the　full　value　of　their　claims。　　His　one　hope　now　was　to　save　what　he　could　by　compromise　a　little　later；　and　to　build　up　some　sort　of　profitable　business　through　Stephen　Wingate。　　The　latter　was　coming　in　a　day　or　two；　as　soon　as　Steger　had　made　some　working　arrangement　for　him　with　Warden　Michael　Desmas　who　came　the　second　day　to　have　a　look　at　the　new　prisoner。

Desmas　was　a　large　man　physicallyIrish　by　birth；　a　politician　by　trainingwho　had　been　one　thing　and　another　in　Philadelphia　from　a　policeman　in　his　early　days　and　a　corporal　in　the　Civil　War　to　a　ward　captain　under　Mollenhauer。　　He　was　a　canny　man；　tall；　raw…boned；　singularly　muscular…looking；　who　for　all　his　fifty…seven　years　looked　as　though　he　could　give　a　splendid　account　of　himself　in　a　physical　contest。　　His　hands　were　large　and　bony；　his　face　more　square　than　either　round　or　long；　and　his　forehead　high。　　He　had　a　vigorous　growth　of　short…clipped；　iron…gray　hair；　and　a　bristly　iron…gray　mustache；　very　short；　keen；　intelligent　blue…gray　eyes；　a　florid　complexion；　and　even…edged；　savage…looking　teeth；　which　showed　the　least　bit　in　a　slightly　wolfish　way　when　he　smiled。　However；　he　was　not　as　cruel　a　person　as　he　looked　to　be；　temperamental；　to　a　certain　extent　hard；　and　on　occasions　savage；　but　with　kindly　hours　also。　　His　greatest　weakness　was　that　he　was　not　quite　mentally　able　to　recognize　that　there　were　mental　and　social　differences　between　prisoners；　and　that　now　and　then　one　was　apt　to　appear　here　who；　with　or　without　political　influences；　was　eminently　worthy　of　special　consideration。　　What　he　could　recognize　was　the　differences　pointed　out　to　him　by　the　politicians　in　special　cases；　such　as　that　of　Stenernot　Cowperwood。　　However；　seeing　that　the　prison　was　a　public　institution　apt　to　be　visited　at　any　time　by　lawyers；　detectives；　doctors；　preachers；　propagandists；　and　the　public　generally；　and　that　certain　rules　and　regulations　had　to　be　enforced　（if　for　no　other　reason　than　to　keep　a　moral　and　administrative　control　over　his　own　help）；　it　was　necessary　to　maintainand　that　even　in　the　face　of　the　politiciana　certain　amount　of　discipline；　system；　and　order；　and　it　was　not　possible　to　be　too　liberal　with　any　one。　　There　were；　however；　exceptional　casesmen　of　wealth　and　refinement；　victims　of　those　occasional　uprisings　which　so　shocked　the　political　leaders　generallywho　had　to　be　looked　after　in　a　friendly　way。

Desmas　was　quite　aware；　of　course；　of　the　history　of　Cowperwood　and　Stener。　　The　politicians　had　already　given　him　warning　that　Stener；　because　of　his　past　services　to　the　community；　was　to　be　treated　with　special　consideration。　　Not　so　much　was　said　about　Cowperwood；　although　they　did　admit　that　his　lot　was　rather　hard。　Perhaps　he　might　do　a　little　something　for　him　but　at　his　own　risk。

〃Butler　is　down　on　him；〃　Strobik　said　to　Desmas；　on　one　occasion。　〃It's　that　girl　of　his　that's　at　the　bottom　of　it　all。　　If　you　listened　to　Butler　you'd　feed　him　on　bread　and　water；　but　he　isn't　a　bad　fellow。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　if　George　had　had　any　sense　Cowperwood　wouldn't　be　where　he　is　to…day。　　But　the　big　fellows　wouldn't　let　Stener　alone。　　They　wouldn't　let　him　give　Cowperwood　any　money。〃

Although　Strobik　had　been　one　of　those　who；　under　pressure　from　Mollenhauer；　had　advised　Stener　not　to　let　Cowperwood　have　any　more　money；　yet　here　he　was　pointing　out　the　folly　of　the　victim's　course。　　The　thought　of　the　inconsistency　involved　did　not　trouble　him　in　the　least。

Desmas　decided；　therefore；　that　if　Cowperwood　were　persona　non　grata　to　the　〃Big　Three；〃　it　might　be　necessary　to　be　indifferent　to　him；　or　at　least　slow　in　extending　him　any　special　favors。　　For　Stener　a　good　chair；　clean　linen；　special　cutlery　and　dishes；　the　daily　papers；　privileges　in　the　matter　of　mail；　the　visits　of　friends；　and　the　like。　　For　Cowperwoodwell；　he　would　have　to　look　at　Cowperwood　and　see　what　he　thought。　　At　the　same　time；　Steger's　intercessions　were　not　without　their　effect　on　Desmas。　So　the　morning　after　Cowperwood's　entrance　the　warden　received　a　letter　from　Terrence　Relihan；　the　Harrisburg　potentate；　indicating　that　any　kindness　shown　to　Mr。　Cowperwood　would　be　duly　appreciated　by　him。　　Upon　the　receipt　of　this　letter　Desmas　went　up　and　looked　through　Cowperwood's　iron　door。　　On　the　way　he　had　a　brief　talk　with　Chapin；　who　told　him　what　a　nice　man　he　thought　Cowperwood　was。

Desmas　had　never　seen　Cowperwood　before；　but　in　spite　of　the　shabby　uniform；　the　clog　shoes；　the　cheap　shirt；　and　the　wretched　cell；　he　was　impressed。　　Instead　of　the　weak；　anaemic　body　and　the　shifty　eyes　of　the　average　prisoner；　he　saw　a　man　whose　face　and　form　blazed　energy　and　power；　and　whose　vigorous　erectness　no　wretched　clothes　or　conditions　could　demean。　　He　lifted　his　head　when　Desmas　appeared；　glad　that　any　form　should　have　appeared　at　his　door；　and　looked　at　him　with　large；　clear；　examining　eyesthose　eyes　that　in　the　past　had　inspired　so　much　confidence　and　surety　in　all　those　who　had　known　him。　　Desmas　was　stirred。　　Compared　with　Stener；　whom　he　knew　in　the　past　and　whom　he　had　met　on　his　entry；　this　man　was　a　force。　　Say　what　you　will；　one　vigorous　man　inherently　respects　another。　　And　Desmas　was　vigorous　physically。　　He　eyed　Cowperwood　and　Cowperwood　eyed　him。　　Instinctly　Desmas　liked　him。　He　was　like　one　tiger　looking　at　another。

Instinctively　Cowperwood　knew　that　he　was　the　warden。　　This　is　Mr。　Desmas；　isn't　it？〃　he　asked；　courteously　and　pleasantly。

〃Yes；　sir；　I'm　the　man；〃　replied　Desmas　interestedly。　　〃These　rooms　are　not　as　comfortable　as　they　might　be；　are　they？〃　The　warden's　even　teeth　showed　in　a　friendly；　yet　wolfish；　way。

〃They　certainly　are　not；　Mr。　Desmas；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　standing　very　erect　and　soldier…like。　　〃I　didn't　imagine　I　was　coming　to　a　hotel；　however。〃　　He　smiled。

〃There　isn't　anything　special　I　can　do　for　you；　is　there；　Mr。　Cowperwood？〃　began　Desmas　curiously；　for　he　was　moved　by　a　thought　that　at　some　time　or　other　a　man　such　as　this　might　be　of　service　to　him。　　〃I've　been　talking　to　your　lawyer。〃　　Cowperwood　was　intensely　gratified　by　the　Mr。　　So　that　was　the　way　the　wind　was　blowing。　　Well；　then；　within　reason；　things　might　not　prove　so　bad　here。　　He　would　see。　　He　would　sound　this　man　out。

〃I　don't　want　to　be　asking　anything；　Warden；　which　you　cannot　reasonably　give；〃　he　now　returned　politely。　　〃But　there　are　a　few　things；　of　course；　that　I　would　change　if　I　could。　　I　wish　I　might　have　sheets　for　my　bed；　and　I　could　afford　better　underwear　if　you　would　let　me　wear　it。　　This　that　I　have　on　annoys　me　a　great　deal。〃

〃They're　not　the　best　wool；　that's　true　enough；〃　replied　Desmas；　solemnly。　　〃They're　made　for　the　State　out　here　in　Pennsylvania　somewhere。　　I　suppose　there's　no　objection　to　your　wearing　your　own　underwear　if　you　want　to。　　I'll　see　about　that。　　And　the　sheets；　too。　　We　might　let　you　use　them　if　you　have　them。　　We'll　have　to　go　a　little　slow　about　this。　　There　are　a　lot　of　people　that　take　a　special　interest　in　showing　the　warden　how　to　tend　to　his　business。〃

〃I　can　readily　understand　that；　Warden；〃　went　on　Cowperwood　briskly；　〃and　I'm　certainly　very　much　obliged　to　you。　　You　may　be　sure　that　anything　you　do　for　me　here　will　be　appreciated；　and　not　misused；　and　that　I　have　friends　on　the　outside　who　can　reciprocate　for　me　in　the　course　of　time。〃　　He　talked　slowly　and　emphatically；　looking　Desmas　directly　in　the　eye　all　of　the　time。　　Desmas　was　very　much　impressed。

〃That's　all　right；〃　he　said；　now　that　he　had　gone　so　far　as　to　be　friendly。　　〃I　can't　promise　much。　　Prison　rules　are　prison　rules。　But　there　are　some　things　that　can　be　done；　because　it's　the　rule　to　do　them　for　other　men　when　they　behave　themselves。　　You　can　have　a　better　chair　than　that；　if　you　want　it；　and　something　to　read　too。　　If　you're　in　business　yet；　I　wouldn't　want　to　do　anything　to　stop　that。　　We　can't　have　people　running　in　and　out　of　here　every　fifteen　minutes；　and　you　can't　turn　a　cell　into　a　business　office　that's　not　possible。　　It　would　break　up　the　order　of　the　place。　Still；　there's　no　reason　why　you　shouldn't　see　some　of　your　friends　now　and　then。　　As　for　your　mailwell；　that　will　have　to　be　opened　in　the　ordinary　way　for　the　time　being；　anyhow。　　I'll　have　to　see　about　that。　　I　can't　promise　too　much。　　You'll　have　to　wait　until　you　come　out　of　this　block　and　down…stairs。　　Some　of　the　cells　have　a　yard　there；　if　there　are　any　empty〃　The　warden　cocked　his　eye　wisely；　and　Cowperwood　saw　that　his　tot　was　no