the titan-第98部分

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　Whether　you　veto　this　bill　or　not；　you　will　never　again　be　elected　Governor　of　Illinois　if　the　people　who　are　fighting　me　succeed；　as　they　will　succeed；　in　fighting　you。〃

Swanson's　dark　eyes　burned　illuminatively。　　He　nodded　his　head　in　assent。

〃Governor；　I　have　come　here　this　morning　to　bribe　you；　if　I　can。　　I　do　not　agree　with　your　ideals；　in　the　last　analysis　I　do　not　believe　that　they　will　work。　　I　am　sure　I　do　not　believe　in　most　of　the　things　that　you　believe　in。　　Life　is　different　at　bottom　perhaps　from　what　either　you　or　I　may　think。　　Just　the　same；　as　compared　with　other　men；　I　sympathize　with　you。　　I　will　loan　you　that　one　hundred　thousand　dollars　and　two　or　three　or　four　hundred　thousand　dollars　more　besides　if　you　wish。　　You　need　never　pay　me　a　dollaror　you　can　if　you　wish。　　Suit　yourself。　　In　that　black　bag　which　Judge　Dickensheets　brought　here　yesterday；　and　which　is　in　your　safe；　is　three　hundred　thousand　dollars　in　cash。　　He　did　not　have　the　courage　to　mention　it。　　Sign　the　bill　and　let　me　beat　the　men　who　are　trying　to　beat　me。　　I　will　support　you　in　the　future　with　any　amount　of　money　or　influence　that　I　can　bring　to　bear　in　any　political　contest　you　may　choose　to　enter；　state　or　national。〃

Cowperwood's　eyes　glowed　like　a　large；　genial　collie's。　　There　was　a　suggestion　of　sympathetic　appeal　in　them；　rich　and　deep；　and；　even　more　than　that；　a　philosophic　perception　of　ineffable　things。　Swanson　arose。　　〃You　really　don't　mean　to　say　that　you　are　trying　to　bribe　me　openly；　do　you？〃　he　inquired。　　In　spite　of　a　conventional　impulse　to　burst　forth　in　moralistic　denunciation；　solemnly　phrased；　he　was　compelled　for　the　moment　to　see　the　other　man's　viewpoint。　They　were　working　in　different　directions；　going　different　ways；　to　what　ultimate　end？

〃Mr。　Cowperwood；〃　continued　the　governor；　his　face　a　physiognomy　out　of　Goya；　his　eye　alight　with　a　kind　of　understanding　sympathy；　〃I　suppose　I　ought　to　resent　this；　but　I　can't。　　I　see　your　point　of　view。　　I'm　sorry；　but　I　can't　help　you　nor　myself。　　My　political　belief；　my　ideals；　compel　me　to　veto　this　bill；　when　I　forsake　these　I　am　done　politically　with　myself。　　I　may　not　be　elected　governor　again；　but　that　does　not　matter；　either。　　I　could　use　your　money；　but　I　won't。　　I　shall　have　to　bid　you　good　morning。〃

He　moved　toward　the　safe；　slowly；　opened　it；　took　out　the　bag　and　brought　it　over。

〃You　must　take　that　with　you；〃　he　added。

The　two　men　looked　at　each　other　a　moment　curiously；　sadlythe　one　with　a　burden　of　financial；　political；　and　moral　worry　on　his　spirit；　the　other　with　an　unconquerable　determination　not　to　be　worsted　even　in　defeat。

〃Governor；〃　concluded　Cowperwood；　in　the　most　genial；　contented；　undisturbed　voice；　〃you　will　live　to　see　another　legislature　pass　and　another　governor　sign　some　such　bill。　　It　will　not　be　done　this　session；　apparently；　but　it　will　be　done。　　I　am　not　through；　because　my　case　is　right　and　fair。　　Just　the　same；　after　you　have　vetoed　the　bill；　come　and　see　me；　and　I　will　loan　you　that　one　hundred　thousand　if　you　want　it。〃

Cowperwood　went　out。　　Swanson　vetoed　the　bill。　　It　is　on　record　that　subsequently　he　borrowed　one　hundred　thousand　dollars　from　Cowperwood　to　stay　him　from　ruin。




Chapter　LVI



The　Ordeal　of　Berenice

At　the　news　that　Swanson　had　refused　to　sign　the　bill　and　that　the　legislature　lacked　sufficient　courage　to　pass　it　over　his　veto　both　Schryhart　and　Hand　literally　rubbed　their　hands　in　comfortable　satisfaction。

〃Well；　Hosmer；〃　said　Schryhart　the　next　day；　when　they　met　at　their　favorite　clubthe　Union　League〃it　looks　as　though　we　were　making　some　little　progress；　after　all；　doesn't　it？　Our　friend　didn't　succeed　in　turning　that　little　trick；　did　he？〃

He　beamed　almost　ecstatically　upon　his　solid　companion。

〃Not　this　time。　　I　wonder　what　move　he　will　decide　to　make　next。〃

〃I　don't　see　very　well　what　it　can　be。　　He　knows　now　that　he　can't　get　his　franchises　without　a　compromise　that　will　eat　into　his　profits；　and　if　that　happens　he　can't　sell　his　Union　Traction　stock。　　This　legislative　scheme　of　his　must　have　cost　him　all　of　three　hundred　thousand　dollars；　and　what　has　he　to　show　for　it？　The　new　legislature；　unless　I'm　greatly　mistaken；　will　be　afraid　to　touch　anything　in　connection　with　him。　　It's　hardly　likely　that　any　of　the　Springfield　politicians　will　want　to　draw　the　fire　of　the　newspapers　again。〃

Schryhart　felt　very　powerful；　imposingsleek；　indeednow　that　his　theory　of　newspaper　publicity　as　a　cure　was　apparently　beginning　to　work。　　Hand；　more　saturnine；　more　responsive　to　the　uncertainty　of　things　mundanethe　shifty　undercurrents　that　are　perpetually　sapping　and　mining　belowwas　agreeable；　but　not　sure。　　Perhaps　so。

In　regard　to　his　Eastern　life　during　this　interlude；　Cowperwood　had　been　becoming　more　and　more　keenly　alive　to　the　futility　of　the　attempt　to　effect　a　social　rescue　for　Aileen。　　〃What　was　the　use？〃　he　often　asked　himself；　as　he　contemplated　her　movements；　thoughts；　plans；　as　contrasted　with　the　natural　efficiency；　taste；　grace；　and　subtlety　of　a　woman　like　Berenice。　　He　felt　that　the　latter　could；　if　she　would；　smooth　over　in　an　adroit　way　all　the　silly　social　antagonisms　which　were　now　afflicting　him。　　It　was　a　woman's　game；　he　frequently　told　himself；　and　would　never　be　adjusted　till　he　had　the　woman。

Simultaneously　Aileen；　looking　at　the　situation　from　her　own　point　of　view　and　nonplussed　by　the　ineffectiveness　of　mere　wealth　when　not　combined　with　a　certain　social　something　which　she　did　not　appear　to　have；　was；　nevertheless；　unwilling　to　surrender　her　dream。　　What　was　it；　she　asked　herself　over　and　over；　that　made　this　great　difference　between　women　and　women？　The　question　contained　its　own　answer；　but　she　did　not　know　that。　　She　was　still　good…lookingveryand　an　adept　in　self…ornamentation；　after　her　manner　and　taste。　　So　great　had　been　the　newspaper　palaver　regarding　the　arrival　of　a　new　multimillionaire　from　the　West　and　the　palace　he　was　erecting　that　even　tradesmen；　clerks；　and　hall…boys　knew　of　her。　　Almost　invariably；　when　called　upon　to　state　her　name　in　such　quarters；　she　was　greeted　by　a　slight　start　of　recognition；　a　swift　glance　of　examination；　whispers；　even　open　comment。　　That　was　something。　　Yet　how　much　more；　and　how　different　were　those　rarefied　reaches　of　social　supremacy　to　which　popular　repute　bears　scarcely　any　relationship　at　all。　　How　different；　indeed？　From　what　Cowperwood　had　said　in　Chicago　she　had　fancied　that　when　they　took　up　their　formal　abode　in　New　York　he　would　make　an　attempt　to　straighten　out　his　life　somewhat；　to　modify　the　number　of　his　indifferent　amours　and　to　present　an　illusion　of　solidarity　and　unity。　　Yet；　now　that　they　had　actually　arrived；　she　noticed　that　he　was　more　concerned　with　his　heightened　political　and　financial　complications　in　Illinois　and　with　his　art…collection　than　he　was　with　what　might　happen　to　be　going　on　in　the　new　home　or　what　could　be　made　to　happen　there。　　As　in　the　days　of　old；　she　was　constantly　puzzled　by　his　persistent　evenings　out　and　his　sudden　appearances　and　disappearances。　　Yet；　determine　as　she　might；　rage　secretly　or　openly　as　she　would；　she　could　not　cure　herself　of　the　infection　of　Cowperwood；　the　lure　that　surrounded　and　substantiated　a　mind　and　spirit　far　greater　than　any　other　she　had　ever　known。　　Neither　honor；　virtue；　consistent　charity；　nor　sympathy　was　there；　but　only　a　gay；　foamy；　unterrified　sufficiency　and　a　creative；　constructive　sense　of　beauty　that；　like　sunlit　spray；　glowing　with　all　the　irradiative　glories　of　the　morning；　danced　and　fled；　spun　driftwise　over　a　heavy　sea　of　circumstance。　　Life；　however　dark　and　somber；　could　never　apparently　cloud　his　soul。　　Brooding　and　idling　in　the　wonder　palace　of　his　construction；　Aileen　could　see　what　he　was　like。　　The　silver　fountain　in　the　court　of　orchids；　the　peach…like　glow　of　the　pink　marble　chamber；　with　its　birds　and　flowers；　the　serried　brilliance　of　his　amazing　art…collections　were　all　like　him；　were　really　the　color　of　his　soul。　　To　think　that　after　all　she　was　not　the　one　to　bind　him　to　subjection；　to　hold　him　by　golden　yet　steely　threads　of　fancy　to　the　hem　of　her　garment！　To　think　that　he　should　no　longer　walk；　a　slave　of　his　desire；　behind　the　chariot　of　her　spiritual　and　physical　superiority。　Yet　she　could　not　give　up。

By　this　time　Cowperwood　had　managed　through　infinite　tact　and　a　stoic　disregard　of　his　own　aches　and　pains　to　re…establish　at　least　a　temporary　working　arrangement　with　the　Carter　household。　　To　Mrs。　Carter　he　was　still　a　Heaven…sent　son　of　light。　　Actually　in　a　mournful　way　she　pleaded　for　Cowperwood；　vouching　for　his　disinterestedness　and　long…standing　generosity。　　Berenice；　on　the　other　hand；　was　swept　between　her　craving　for　a　great　state　for　herselfluxury；　powerand　her　desire　to　conform　to　the　current　ethics　and　morals　of　life。　　Cowperwood　was　married；　and　because　of　his　attitude　of　affection　for　her　his　money　was　tainted。　　She　had　long　speculated　on　his　relation　to　Aileen；　the　basis　of　their　differences；　had　often　wondered　why　neither　she　nor　her　mother　had　ever　been　introduced。　　What　type　of　woman　was　the　second　Mrs。　Cowperwood？　Beyond　generalities　Cowperwood　had　never　mentioned　her。　　Berenice　actually　thought　to　seek　her　out　in　some　inconspicuous　way；　but；　as　it　chanced；　one　night　her　curiosity　was　rewarded　without　effort。　　She　was　at　the　opera　with　friends；　and　her　escort　nudged　her　arm。

〃Have　you　noticed　Box　9the　lady　in　white　satin　with　the　green　lace　shawl？〃

〃Yes。〃　Berenice　raised　her　glasses。

〃Mrs。　Frank　Algernon　Cowperwood；　the　wife　of　the　Chicago　millionaire。　They　have　just　built　that　house　at　68th　Street。　　He　has　part　lease　of　number　9；　I　believe。〃

Berenice　almost　started；　but　retained　her　composure；　giving　merely　an　indifferent　glance。　　A　little　while　after；　she　adjusted　her　glasses　carefully　and　studied　Mrs。　Cowperwood。　　She　noted　curiously　that　Aileen's　hair　was　somewhat　the　color　of　her　ownmore　carroty　red。　　She　studied　her　eyes；　which　were　slightly　ringed；　her　smooth　cheeks　and　full　mouth；　thickened　somewhat　by　drinking　and　dissipation。　Aileen　was　good…looking；　she　thoughthandsome　in　a　material　way；　though　so　much　older　than　herself。　　Was　it　merely　age　that　wa