the lost road-第67章
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Nelsons； and Herbert and Charles were very warm friends。 Charles
was of the same lack of years as was Herbert； of an enthusiastic
and sentimental nature； and； like many other young men； the story
of his life also was the lovely and much…desired Aline Proctor。
It was this coincidence that had made them friends and that had
led Herbert to select Charles as the custodian of his treasure。
As a custodian and confidant Charles especially appealed to his
new friend； because； except upon the stage and in restaurants；
Charles had never seen Aline Proctor； did not know herand
considered her so far above him； so unattainable； that he had no
wish to seek her out。 Unknown； he preferred to worship at a
distance。 In this determination Herbert strongly encouraged him。
When he turned over the pictures to Charles； Herbert could not
resist showing them to him。 They were in many ways charming。
They presented the queen of musical comedy in several new roles。
In one she was in a sailor suit； giving an imitation of a girl
paddling a canoe。 In another she was in a riding…habit mounted
upon a pony of which she seemed very much afraid。
In some she sat like a siren among the rocks with the waves and
seaweed snatching at her feet； and in another she crouched
beneath the wheel of Herbert's touring car。 All of the
photographs were unprofessional and intimate； and the
legends scrawled across them were even more intimate。
〃'As long as this rock lasts！'〃 read Herbert。 At arm's length he
held the picture for Cochran to see； and laughed bitterly and
unmirthfully as he had heard leading men laugh in problem plays。
〃That is what she wrote；〃 he mocked〃but how long did it last？
Until she saw that little red…headed Albany playing polo。 That
lasted until his mother heard of it。 She thought her precious
lamb was in the clutches of a designing actress； and made the
Foreign Office cable him home。 Then Aline took up one of those
army aviators； and chucked him for that fellow who painted her
portrait； and threw him over for the lawn…tennis champion。 Now
she's engaged to Chester Griswold； and Heaven pity her！ Of course
he's the greatest catch in America； but he's a prig and a snob； and
he's so generous with his money that he'll give you five pennies for
a nickel any time you ask him。 He's got a heart like the metre of a
taxicab； and he's jealous as a cat。 Aline will have a fine time with
Chester！ I knew him at St。 Paul's and at Harvard； and he's got as
much red blood in him as an eel！〃
Cochran sprang to the defense of the lady of his dreams。
〃There must be some good in the man；〃 he protested； 〃or Miss
Proctor…〃
〃Oh； those solemn snobs；〃 declared Herbert； 〃impress women by
just keeping still。 Griswold pretends the reason he doesn't speak
to you is because he's too superior； but the real reason is that
he knows whenever he opens his mouth he shows he is an ass。〃
Reluctantly Herbert turned over to Charles the precious pictures。
〃It would be a sin to destroy them； wouldn't it？〃 he prompted。
Cochran agreed heartily。
〃You might even；〃 suggested Herbert； 〃leave one or two of them
about。 You have so many of Aline already that one more wouldn't
be noticed。 Then when I drop in I could see it。〃 He smiled
ingratiatingly。
〃But those I have I bought；〃 Cochran pointed out。 〃Anybody can
buy them； but yours are personal。 And they're signed。〃
〃No one will notice that but me；〃 protested Herbert。 〃Just one or
two；〃 he coaxed…〃stuck round among the others。 They'd give me a
heap of melancholy pleasure。〃
Charles shook his head doubtfully。
〃Your wife often comes here with you；〃 he said。 〃I don't believe
they'd give her melancholy pleasure。 The question is； are you married
to Sally or to Aline Proctor？〃
〃Oh； of course；〃 exclaimed Herbert〃 if you refuse！〃
With suspicious haste Charles surrendered。
〃I don't refuse；〃 he explained； 〃I only ask if it's wise。 Sally
knows you were once very fond of Miss Proctorknows you were
engaged to her。〃
〃But；〃 protested Herbert； 〃Sally sees your photographs of Aline。
What difference can a few more make？ After she's seen a dozen
she gets used to them。〃
No sooner had Herbert left him than the custodian of the treasure
himself selected the photographs he would display。 In them the
young woman he hadfrom the front row of the orchestraso
ardently admired appeared in a new light。 To Cochran they seemed
at once to render her more kindly； more approachable； to show her
as she really was； the sort of girl any youth would find it extremely
difficult not to love。 Cochran found it extremely easy。 The photographs
gave his imagination all the room it wanted。 He believed they also gave
him an insight into her real character that was denied to anybody else。
He had always credited her with all the virtues； he now endowed her
with every charm of mind and body。 In a week to the two photographs
he had selected from the loan collection for purposes of display and to
give Herbert melancholy pleasure he had added three more。 In two
weeks there were half a dozen。 In a month； nobly framed in silver；
in leather of red； green； and blue； the entire collection smiled upon him
from every part of his bedroom。 For he now kept them where no one
but himself could see them。 No longer was he of a mind to share
his borrowed treasure with othersnot even with the rightful
owner。
Chester Griswold； spurred on by Aline Proctor； who wanted to
build a summer home on Long Island； was motoring with Post； of
Post & Constant； in the neighborhood of Westbury。 Post had
pointed out several houses designed by his firm； which he hoped
might assist Griswold in making up his mind as to the kind of
house he wanted； but none they had seen had satisfied his client。
〃What I want is a cheap house；〃 explained the young millionaire。
〃I don't really want a house at all；〃 he complained。 〃It's Miss
Proctor's idea。 When we are married I intend to move into my
mother's town house； but Miss Proctor wants one for herself in
the country。 I've agreed to that； but it must be small and it
must be cheap。〃
〃Cheap〃 was a word that the clients of Post & Constant never
used； but Post knew the weaknesses of some of the truly rich； and
he knew also that no house ever built cost only what the
architect said it would cost。
〃I know the very house you want！〃 he exclaimed。 〃One of our
young men owns it。 He made it over from an old farmhouse。 It's
very well arranged； we've used his ground…plan several times and
it works out splendidly。 If he's not at home； I'11 show you over the
place myself。 And if you like the house he's the man to build you one。〃
When they reached Cochran's home he was at Garden City playing
golf； but the servant knew Mr。 Post； and to him and his client
threw open every room in the house。
〃Now； this；〃 exclaimed the architect enthusiastically； 〃is the
master's bedroom。 In your case it would probably be your wife's
room and you would occupy the one adjoining； which Cochran now
uses as a guest…room。 As you see； they are entirely cut off from…〃
Mr。 Griswold did not see。 Up to that moment he had given every
appearance of being both bored and sulky。 Now his attention was
entirely engagedbut not upon the admirable simplicity of Mr。
Cochran's ground…plan； as Mr。 Post had hoped。 Instead； the eyes
of the greatest catch in America were intently regarding a display
of photographs that smiled back at him from every corner of the
room。 Not only did he regard these photographs with a savage glare；
but he approached them and carefully studied the inscriptions scrawled
across the face of each。
Post himself cast a glance at the nearest photographs； and then
hastily manoeuvred his client into the hall and closed the door。
〃We will now；〃 he exclaimed； 〃visit the butler's pantry； which
opens upon the dining…room and kitchen； thus saving〃
But Griswold did not hear him。 Without giving another glance at
the house he stamped out of it and； plumping himself down in the
motor…car； banged the door。 Not until Post had driven him well
into New York did he make any comment。
〃What did you say；〃 he then demanded； 〃is the name of
