jg.thefirm-第5部分

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　　〃Why　is　it　so　important？〃
　　〃Several　reasons。　First　of　all；　they　want　you　down　here。　This　firm　is　very　selective；　and　they　usually　get　who　they　want。　But　Memphis　is　not　exactly　in　the　spotlight；　so　they　have　to　offer　more。　Also；　　is　very　demanding；　especially　on　the　associates。　There's　pressure；　overwork；　eighty…hour　weeks　and　time　away　from　home。　It　won't　be　easy　on　either　of　you；　and　　knows　it。　The　theory　is　that　a　strong　marriage　means　a　happy　lawyer；　and　a　happy　lawyer　is　a　productive　lawyer；　so　the　bottom　line　is　profits。　Always　profits。
　　〃And　there's　another　reason。　These　guys…all　guys；　no　women…take　a　lot　of　pride　in　their　wealth；　and　everyone　is　expected　to　look　and　act　affluent。　It　would　be　an　insult　to　　if　an　associate　was　forced　to　live　in　an　apartment。　They　want　you　in　a　house；　and　after　five　years；　in　a　bigger　house。　If　we　have　some　time　this　afternoon；　I'll　show　you　some　of　the　partners'　homes。　When　you　see　them；　you　won't　mind　the　eighty…hour　weeks。〃
　　〃I'm　used　to　them　now。〃
　　〃That's　good；　but　law　school　doesn't　pare　with　this。　Sometimes　they'll　work　a　hundred　hours　a　week　during　tax　season。〃
　　Abby　smiled　and　shook　her　head　as　if　this　impressed　her　a　great　deal。　〃Do　you　work？〃
　　〃No。　Most　of　us　don't　work。　The　money　is　there；　so　we're　not　forced　to；　and　we　get　little　help　with　the　kids　from　our　husbands。　Of　course；　working　is　not　forbidden。〃
　　〃Forbidden　by　whom？〃
　　〃。〃
　　〃I　would　hope　not。〃　Abby　repeated　the　word　〃forbidden〃　to　herself；　but　let　it　pass。
　　Kay　sipped　her　coffee　and　watched　the　ducks。　A　small　boy　wandered　away　from　his　mother　and　stood　near　the　fountain。　〃Do　you　plan　to　start　a　family？〃　Kay　asked。
　　〃Maybe　in　a　couple　of　years。〃
　　〃Babies　are　encouraged。〃
　　〃By　whom？〃
　　〃。〃
　　〃Why　should　　care　if　we　have　children？〃
　　〃Again；　stable　families。　A　new　baby　is　a　big　deal　around　the　office。　They　send　flowers　and　gifts　to　the　hospital。　You're　treated　like　a　queen。　Your　husband　gets　a　week　off；　but　he'll　be　too　busy　to　take　it。　They　put　a　thousand　dollars　in　a　trust　fund　for　college。　It's　a　lot　of　fun。〃
　　〃Sounds　like　a　big　fraternity。〃
　　〃It's　more　like　a　big　family。　Our　social　life　revolves　around　；　and　that's　important　because　none　of　us　are　from　Memphis。　We're　all　transplants。〃
　　〃That's　nice；　but　I　don't　want　anyone　telling　me　when　to　work　and　when　to　quit　and　when　to　have　children。〃
　　〃Don't　worry。　They're　very　protective　of　each　other；　but　　does　not　meddle。〃
　　〃I'm　beginning　to　wonder。〃
　　〃Relax；　Abby。　　is　like　a　family。　They're　great　people；　and　Memphis　is　a　wonderful　old　town　to　live　in　and　raise　kids。　The　cost　of　living　is　much　lower　and　life　moves　at　a　slower　pace。　You're　probably　considering　the　bigger　towns。　So　did　we；　but　I'll　take　Memphis　any　day　over　the　big　cities。〃
　　〃Do　I　get　the　grand　tour？〃
　　〃That's　why　I'm　here。　I　thought　we'd　start　downtown；　then　head　out　east　and　look　at　the　nicer　neighborhoods；　maybe　look　at　some　houses　and　eat　lunch　at　my　favorite　restaurant。〃
　　〃Sounds　like　fun。〃
　　Kay　paid　for　the　coflee；　as　she　had　the　brunch；　and　they　left　the　Peabody　in　the　Quin　family's　new　Mercedes。
　　The　dining　room；　as　it　was　simply　called；　covered　the　west　end　of　the　fifth　floor　above　Riverside　Drive　and　high　above　the　river　in　the　distance。　A　row　of　eight…foot　windows　lined　the　wall　and　provided　a　fascinating　view　of　the　tugboats；　paddle…wheelers；　barges；　docks　and　bridges。
　　The　room　was　protected　turf；　a　sanctuary　for　those　lawyers　talented　and　ambitious　enough　to　be　called　partners　in　the　quiet　Bendini　firm。　They　gathered　each　day　for　lunches　prepared　by　Jessie　Frances；　a　huge；　temperamental　old　black　woman；　and　served　by　her　husband；　Roosevelt；　who　wore　white　gloves　and　an　odd…fitting；　faded；　wrinkled　hand…me…down　tux　given　to　him　by　Mr。　Bendini　himself　shortly　before　his　death。　They　also　gathered　for　coffee　and　doughnuts　some　mornings　to　discuss　firm　business　and；　occasionally；　for　a　glass　of　wine　in　the　late　afternoon　to　celebrate　a　good　month　or　an　exceptionally　large　fee。　It　was　for　partners　only；　and　maybe　an　occasional　guest　such　as　a　blue…chip　client　or　prospective　recruit。　The　associates　could　dine　there　twice　a　year；　only　twice…and　records　were　kept…and　then　only　at　the　invitation　of　a　partner。
　　Adjacent　to　the　dining　room　was　a　small　kitchen　where　Jessie　Frances　performed；　and　where　she　had　cooked　the　first　meal　for　Mr。　Bendini　and　a　few　others　twenty…six　years　earlier。　For　twenty…six　years　she　had　cooked　Southern　food　and　ignored　requests　to　experiment　and　try　dishes　she　had　trouble　pronouncing。　〃Don't　eat　it　if　you　don't　like　it；〃　was　her　standard　reply。　Judging　from　the　scraps　Roosevelt　collected　from　the　tables；　the　food　was　eaten　and　enjoyed　immensely。　She　posted　the　week's　menu　on　Monday；　asked　that　reservations　be　made　by　ten　each　day　and　held　grudges　for　years　if　someone　canceled　or　didn't　show。　She　and　Roosevelt　worked　four　hours　each　day　and　were　paid　a　thousand　each　month。
　　Mitch　sat　at　a　table　with　Lamar　Quin；　Oliver　Lambert　and　Royce　McKnight。　The　entree　was　prime　rib；　served　with　fried　okra　and　boiled　squash。
　　〃She　laid　off　the　grease　today；〃　Mr。　Lambert　observed。
　　〃It's　delicious；〃　Mitch　said。
　　〃Is　your　system　accustomed　to　grease？〃
　　〃Yes。　They　cook　this　way　in　Kentucky。〃
　　〃I　joined　this　firm　in　1955；〃　Mr。　McKnight　said；　〃and　I　e　from　New　Jersey；　right？　Out　of　suspicion；　I　avoided　most　Southern　dishes　as　much　as　possible。　Everything　is　battered　and　fried　in　animal　fat；　right？　Then　Mr。　Bendini　decides　to　open　up　this　little　caf6。　He　hires　Jessie　Frances；　and　I've　had　heartburn　for　the　past　twenty　years。　Fried　ripe　tomatoes；　fried　green　tomatoes；　fried　eggplant；　fried　okra；　fried　squash；　fried　anything　and　everything。　One　day　Victor　Milligan　said　too　much。　He's　from　Connecticut；　right？　And　Jessie　Frances　had　whipped　up　a　batch　of　fried　dill　pickles。　Can　you　imagine？　Fried　dill　pickles！　Milligan　said　something　ugly　to　Roosevelt　and　he　reported　it　to　Jessie　Frances。　She　walked　out　the　back　door　and　quit。　Stayed　gone　for　a　week。　Roosevelt　wanted　to　work；　but　she　kept　him　at　home。　Finally；　Mr。　Bendini　smoothed　things　over　and　she　agreed　to　return　if　there　were　no　plaints。　But　she　also　cut　back　on　the　grease。　I　think　we'll　all　live　ten　years　longer。〃
　　〃It's　delicious；〃　said　Lamar　as　he　buttered　another　roll。
　　〃It's　always　delicious；〃　added　Mr。　Lambert　as　Roosevelt　walked　by。　〃Her　food　is　rich　and　fattening；　but　we　seldom　miss　lunch。〃
　　Mitch　ate　cautiously；　engaged　in　nervous　chitchat　and　tried　to　appear　pletely　at　ease。　It　was　difficult。　Surrounded　by　eminently　successful　lawyers；　all　millionaires；　in　their　exclusive；　lavishly　ornamented　dining　suite；　he　felt　as　if　he　was　on　hallowed　ground。　Lamar's　presence　was　forting；　as　was　Roosevelt's。
　　When　it　was　apparent　Mitch　had　finished　eating；　Oliver　Lambert　wiped　his　mouth；　rose　slowly　and　tapped　his　tea　glass　with　his　spoon。　〃Gentlemen；　could　I　have　your　attention。〃
　　The　room　became　silent　as　the　twenty　or　so　partners　turned　to　the　head　table。　They　laid　their　napkins　down　and　stared　at　the　guest。　Somewhere　on　each　of　their　desks　was　a　copy　of　the　dossier。　Two　months　earlier　they　had　voted　unanimously　to　make　him　their　number　one　pick。　They　knew　he　ran　four　miles　a　day；　did　not　smoke；　was　allergic　to　sulfites；　had　no　tonsils；　had　a　blue　Mazda；　had　a　crazy　mother　and　once　threw　three　interceptions　in　one　quarter。　They　knew　he　took　nothing　stronger　than　aspirin　even　when　he　was　sick；　and　that　he　was　hungry　enough　to　work　a　hundred　hours　a　week　if　they　asked。　They　liked　him。　He　was　good…looking；　athletic…looking；　a　man's　man　with　a　brilliant　mind　and　a　lean　body。
　　〃As　you　know；　we　have　a　very　special　guest　today；　Mitch　McDeere。　He　will　soon　graduate　with　honors　from　Harvard…〃
　　〃Hear！　Hear！〃　said　a　couple　of　Harvard　alumni。
　　〃Yes；　thank　you。　He　and　his　wife；　Abby；　are　staying　at　the　Peabody　this　weekend　as　our　guests。　Mitch　will　finish　in　the　top　five　out　of　three　hundred　and　has　been　heavily　recruited。　We　want　him　here；　and　I　know　you　will　speak　to　him　before　he　leaves。　Tonight　he　will　have　dinner　with　Lamar　and　Kay　Quin；　and　then　tomorrow　night　is　the　dinner　at　my　place。　You　are　all　expected　to　attend。〃　Mitch　smiled　awkwardly　at　the　partners　as　Mr。　Lambert　rambled　on　about　the　greatness　of　。　When　he　finished；　they　continued　eating　as　Roosevelt　served　bread　pudding　and　coffee。
　　Kay's　favorite　restaurant　was　a　chic　East　Memphis　hangout　for　the　young　affluent。　A　thousand　ferns　hung　from　everywhere　and　the　jukebox　played　nothing　but　early　sixties。　The　daiquiris　were　served　in　tall　souvenir　glasses。
　　〃One　is　enough；〃　Kay　warned。
　　〃I'm　not　much　of　a　drinker。〃
　　They　ordered　the　quiche　of　the　day　and　sipped　daiquiris。
　　〃Does　Mitch　drink？〃
　　〃Very　little。　He's　an　athlete　and　very　particular　about　his　body。　An　occasional　beer　or　glass　of　wine；　nothing　stronger。　How　about　Lamar？〃
　　〃About　the　same。　He　really　discovered　beer　in　law　school；　but　he　has　trouble　with　his　weight。　　frowns　on　drinking。〃
　　〃That's　admirable；　but　why　is　it　their　business？〃
　　〃Because　alcohol　and　lawyers　go　together　like　blood　and　vampires。　Most　lawyers　drink　like　fish；　and　the　profession　is　plagued　with　alcoholism。　I　think　it　starts　in　law　school。　At　Vanderbilt；　someone　was　always　tapping　a　keg　of　beer。　Probably　the　same　at　Harvard。　The　job　has　a　lot　of　pressure；　and　that　usually　means　a　lot　of　booze。　These　guys　aren't　a　bunch　of　teetotalers；　mind　you；　but　they　keep　it　under　control。　A　healthy　lawyer　is　a　productive　lawyer。　Again；　profits。〃
　　〃I　guess　that　makes　sense。　Mitch　says　there's　no　turnover。〃
　　〃It's　rather　permanent。　I　can't　recall　anyone　leaving　in　the　seven　years　we've　been　here。　The　money's　great　and　they're　careful　about　whom　they　hire。　They　don't　want　anyone　with　family　money。〃
　　〃I'm　not　sure　I　follow。〃
　　〃They　won't　hire　a　lawyer　with　other　sources　of　ine。　They　want　them　young　and　hungry。　It's　a　question　of　loyalty。　If　all　your　money　es　from　one　source；　then　you　tend　to　be　very　loyal　to　that　source。　　demands　extreme　loyalty。　Lamar　says　there's　never　talk　of　leaving。　They're　all　happy；　and　either　rich　or　getting　that　way。　And　if　one　wanted　to　leave；　he　couldn't　f