hr.thecarpetbaggers-第5部分

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　I　lifted　my　head　and　looked　at　her。　Her　eyes　were　open　and　yet　they　were　guarded。　I　could　not　see　into　them。　〃I　want　you；〃　I　said。
　Her　eyes　did　not　change　expression。　I　could　hardly　hear　her　voice。　〃I　know。〃
　I　moved　toward　her　again。　This　time；　her　hand　against　my　chest；　stopped　me。
　〃Lend　me　your　handkerchief；〃　she　said；　taking　it　from　my　breast　pocket。
　It　fluttered　whitely　in　the　night；　then　dropped　from　sight　with　her　hands。　She　didn't　raise　her　head　from　the　back　of　the　seat；　she　didn't　speak；　she　just　watched　me　with　those　guarded　eyes。
　I　felt　her　searching　fingers　and　I　leaned　toward　her　but　somehow　she　kept　me　from　getting　any　closer　to　her。　Then　suddenly；　I　felt　an　exquisite　pain　rushing　from　the　base　of　my　spine　and　I　almost　climbed　halfway　out　of　the　seat。
　I　took　out　a　cigarette　and　lit　it　with　trembling　fingers　as　she　crumpled　the　handkerchief　into　a　small　ball　and　threw　it　over　the　side　of　the　car。　Then　she　took　the　cigarette　from　my　mouth　and　placed　it　between　her　lips。　
　〃I　still　want　you；〃　I　said。
　She　gave　the　cigarette　back　to　me　and　shook　her　head。　
　〃Why？〃　I　asked。
　She　turned　her　face　toward　me。　It　shone　palely　in　the　dark。　〃Because　in　two　days　I'm　going　home。　Because　in　the　stock…market　crash　of　twenty…three；　my　father　lost　everything。　Because　I　must　find　and　marry　a　rich　husband。　I　must　do　nothing　to　endanger　that。〃
　I　stared　at　her　for　a　moment；　then　started　the　engine。　I　backed　the　car　out　of　the　date　grove　and　set　it　on　the　road　for　home。　I　didn't　say　anything　but　I　had　all　the　answers　for　her。　I　was　rich。　Or　I　would　be　someday。
　I　left　Rina　in　the　parlor　and　went　into　my　father's　study。　As　usual；　he　was　working　at　his　desk；　the　single　lamp　throwing　its　light　down　on　the　papers。　He　looked　up　as　I　came　in。
　〃Yes？〃　he　asked；　as　if　I　were　someone　in　his　office　who　had　intruded　in　the　midst　of　a　problem。
　I　hit　the　wall　switch　and　flooded　the　room　with　light。　〃I　want　to　get　married；〃　I　said。
　He　looked　at　me　for　a　moment　as　if　he　was　far　away。　He　had　been；　but　he　came　back　fast。　〃You're　crazy；〃　he　said　unemotionally。　He　looked　down　at　his　desk　again。　〃Go　to　bed　and　don't　bother　me。〃
　I　stood　there。　〃I　mean　it；　Dad；〃　I　said。　It　was　the　first　time　I　had　called　him　that　since　I　was　a　kid。
　He　got　to　his　feet　slowly。　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃You're　too　young。〃
　That　was　all　he　said。　It　would　never　occur　to　him　to　ask　who；　what；　why。　No；　only　I　was　too　young。　〃All　right；　Father；〃　I　said；　turning　toward　the　door。　〃Remember　I　asked　you。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　he　said。　I　stopped；　my　hand　on　the　doorknob。　〃Where　is　she？〃
　〃Waiting　in　the　parlor；〃　I　answered。　
　He　looked　at　me　shrewdly。　〃When　did　you　decide？〃　
　〃Tonight；〃　I　answered。　〃Just　tonight。〃　
　〃I　suppose　she's　one　of　those　silly　little　girls　who　show　up　at　the　club　dance　and　she's　waiting　on　pins　and　needles　to　meet　the　old　man？〃　he　asked。
　I　rose　to　her　defense。　〃She's　not　like　that　at　all。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　she　doesn't　even　know　that　I'm　in　here　asking　you。〃　
　〃You　mean　you　haven't　even　asked　her　yet？〃　
　〃I　don't　have　to；〃　I　answered；　with　the　supreme　confidence　of　my　years。　〃I　know　her　answer。〃
　My　father　shook　his　head。　〃Just　for　the　record；　don't　you　think　you　had　better　ask　her？〃
　I　went　out　and　brought　Rina　back　into　the　room。　〃Rina；　this　is　my　father；　Father；　this　is　Rina　Marlowe。〃
　Rina　nodded　politely。　For　all　you　could　tell　from　her　manner；　it　could　have　been　high　noon　instead　of　two　o'clock　in　the　morning。
　Father　looked　at　her　thoughtfully。　There　was　a　curious　expression　on　his　face　I　had　never　seen　before。　He　came　around　his　desk　and　held　out　his　hand　to　her。　〃How　do　you　do；　Miss　Marlowe？〃　he　said　in　a　soft　voice。　I　stared　at　him。　I　had　never　seen　him　do　that　with　any　of　my　friends　before。　
　She　took　his　hand。　〃How　do　you　do？〃　
　Still　holding　her　hand；　he　let　his　voice　fall　into　a　semi…amused　tone。　〃My　son　thinks　he　wants　to　marry　you；　Miss　Marlowe；　but　I　think　he's　too　young。　Don't　you？〃
　Rina　looked　at　me。　For　a　moment；　I　could　see　into　her　eyes。　They　were　bright　and　shining；　then　they　were　guarded　again。
　She　turned　to　Father。　〃This　is　very　embarrassing；　Mr。　Cord。　Would　you　please　take　me　home？〃
　Stunned；　unable　to　speak；　I　watched　my　father　take　her　arm　and　walk　out　of　the　room　with　her。　A　moment　later；　I　heard　the　roar　of　the　Duesenberg　and　angrily　I　looked　around　for　something　to　vent　my　spleen　on。　The　only　thing　available　was　the　lamp　on　the　table。　I　smashed　it　against　the　wall。
　Two　weeks　later；　at　college；　I　got　a　telegram　from　my　father。
　
　RINA　AND　I　WERE　MARRIED　THIS　MORNING。　WE　ARE　AT　THE　WALDORF…ASTORIA；　NEW　YORK。　LEAVING　TOMORROW　ON　LEVIATHAN　FOR　EUROPEAN　HONEYMOON。
　
　I　picked　up　the　telephone　and　called　him。
　〃There's　no　fool　like　an　old　fool！〃　I　shouted　across　the　three　thousand　miles　of　wire　between　us。　〃Don't　you　know　the　only　reason　she　married　you　was　for　your　money？〃
　Father　didn't　even　get　angry。　He　even　chuckled。　〃You're　the　fool。　All　she　wanted　was　a　man；　not　a　boy。　She　even　insisted　that　we　sign　a　premarital　property　agreement　before　she　would　marry　me。〃
　〃Oh；　yeah？〃　I　asked。　〃Who　drew　the　agreement？　Her　lawyer？〃
　Father　chuckled　again。　〃No。　Mine。〃　His　voice　changed　abruptly。　It　grew　heavy　and　coarse　with　meaning。　〃Now　get　back　to　your　studies；　son；　and　don't　meddle　in　things　that　don't　concern　you。　It's　midnight　here　and　I'm　just　about　to　go　to　bed。〃
　The　telephone　went　dead　in　my　hands。　I　stared　at　it　for　a　moment；　then　slowly　put　it　down。　I　couldn't　sleep　that　night。　Across　my　mind's　eye　unreeled　pornographic　pictures　of　Rina　and　my　father　in　wild　sexual　embrace。　Several　times；　I　woke　up　in　a　cold　sweat。
　
　A　hand　was　shaking　me　gently。　Slowly　I　opened　my　eyes。　The　first　thing　I　saw　was　Nevada's　face。　〃Wake　up；　Jonas；〃　he　said。　〃We're　home。〃
　I　blinked　my　eyes　to　clear　the　sleep　from　them。
　The　last　piece　of　sun　was　going　down　behind　the　big　house。　I　shook　my　head　and　stepped　out　of　the　car。　I　looked　up　at　the　house。　Strange　house。　I　don't　think　I'd　spent　more　than　two　weeks　in　it　since　my　father　had　it　built　and　now　it　was　mine。　Like　everything　else　my　father　had　done。
　I　started　for　the　steps。　Rina　had　thought　of　everything。　Except　this。　My　father　was　dead。　And　I　was　going　to　tell　her。
　
　6
　
　THE　FRONT　DOOR　OPENED　AS　I　CROSSED　THE　VERANDA。　My　father　had　built　a　traditional　Southern　plantation　house；　and　to　run　it；　he　had　brought　Robair　up　from　New　Orleans。　Robair　was　a　Creole　butler　in　the　full　tradition。
　He　was　a　giant　of　a　man；　towering　a　full　head　over　me；　and　as　gentle　and　efficient　as　he　was　big。　His　father　and　grandfather　had　been　butlers　before　him　and　even　though　they　had　been　slaves；　they　had　instilled　in　him　a　pride　in　his　work。　He　had　a　sixth　sense　for　his　duties。　Somehow；　he　was　always　there　when　he　was　wanted。
　He　stepped　aside　to　let　me　enter。　〃Hello；　Master　Cord。〃　He　greeted　me　in　his　soft　Creole　English。
　〃Hello；　Robair；〃　I　said；　turning　to　him　as　he　closed　the　door。　〃e　with　me。〃
　He　followed　me　silently　into　my　father's　study。　His　face　impassive；　he　closed　the　door　behind　him。　〃Yes；　Mr。　Cord？〃
　It　was　the　first　time　he　had　called　me　Mister；　instead　of　Master。　I　looked　at　him。　〃My　father　is　dead；〃　I　said。　
　〃I　know；〃　he　said。　〃Mr。　Denby　called。〃　
　〃Do　the　others　know？〃　I　asked。
　He　shook　his　head。　〃I　told　Mr。　Denby　that　Mrs。　Cord　was　out　and　I　haven't　said　anything　to　the　other　servants。〃
　There　was　a　faint　sound　outside　the　closed　door。　Robair　continued　speaking　as　he　moved　swiftly　toward　it。　〃I　figured　you　would　want　to　break　the　sad　news　yourself。〃　He　threw　the　door　open。
　There　was　no　one　there。　He　stepped　quickly　out　the　door。　I　followed　him。　A　figure　was　hurrying　up　the　long　staircase　that　curved　around　the　entrance　hall　to　the　upper　floor。
　Robair's　voice　was　low　but　held　the　whip　of　authority。　〃Louise！〃
　The　figure　stopped。　It　was　Rina's　personal　maid。　
　〃e　down　here；〃　he　manded。　
　Louise　came　down　the　steps　hesitantly。　I　could　see　the　terrified　look　on　her　face　as　she　approached。　〃Yes；　Mr。　Robair？〃　Her　voice　was　frightened；　too。
　For　the　first　time；　Robair　let　me　see　how　he　kept　the　servants　in　line。　He　moved　almost　lazily　but　his　hand　met　her　face　with　the　impact　of　a　pistol　shot。　His　voice　was　filled　with　contempt。　〃How　many　times　do　I　tell　you　not　to　listen　at　doors？〃
　She　stood　holding　her　hand　to　her　face。　The　tears　began　to　run　down　her　cheeks。
　〃Now　you　get　back　to　the　kitchen。　I'll　deal　with　you　later。〃
　She　ran　toward　the　kitchen；　still　holding　her　face。　Robair　turned　back　to　me。　〃I　apologize　for　her；　Mr。　Cord；〃　he　said；　his　voice　once　more　deep　and　soft。　〃Ordinarily；　my　servants　don't　do　such　a　thing；　but　that　one　is　pretty　hard　to　keep　in　her　place。〃
　I　took　out　a　cigarette　and　almost　before　I　had　it　in　my　mouth；　Robair　struck　a　match　and　held　it　for　me。　I　dragged　deep。　〃That's　all　right；　Robair。　I　don't　think　she'll　be　with　us　much　longer。〃
　Robair　put　out　the　match　and　carefully　deposited　it　in　an　ash　tray。　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　I　looked　at　the　staircase　speculatively。　Oddly　enough；　I　hesitated。
　Robair's　voice　came　over　my　shoulder。　〃Mrs。　Cord　is　in　her　room。〃
　I　looked　at　him。　His　face　was　an　impenetrable　butler's　mask。　〃Thank　you；　Robair。　I'll　go　up　and　tell　her。〃
　I　started　up　the　staircase。　His　voice　held　me。　〃Mr。　Cord？〃　I　turned　and　looked　down　at　him。
　His　black　face　gleamed。　〃What　time　shall　I　serve　dinner；　sir？〃
　I　thought　for　a　moment。　〃About　eight　o'clock；〃　I　answered。
　〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　he　said　and　started　for　the　kitchen。
　
　I　knocked　softly　at　Rina's　door。　There　was　no　answer。　I　opened　it　and　walked　in。　Her　voice　came　from　the　bathroom。
　〃Louise；　bring　me　a　bath　towel。〃
　I　walked　into　the　bathroom　and　took　a　large　towel　from　the　stack　on　the　shelf　over　her　dressing　table。　I　started　for　the　enclosed　bathtub　just　as　she　slid　back　the　glass　door。
　She　was　gold　and　white　and　gleaming　with　the　water　running　down　her　body。　She　stood　there　for　a　moment　surprised。　Most　women　would　have　tried　to　cover　themselves。　But　not　Rina。　She　held　out　a　hand　for　the　towel。
　She　wrapped　it　around　her　expertly　and　stepped　from　the　tub。　〃Where's　Louise？〃　she　asked；　sitting　down　at　the　dressing　table。　
　〃Downstairs；〃　I　answered。
　She　beg