vera, the medium-第4章
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Mr。 Winthrop。〃 Judge Gaylor raised a hand for silence； and as
Mr。 Hallowell sank back in his chair； Helen Coates； the only
child of Catherine Coates； his sister； and the young District
Attorney of New York came into the library。 Miss Coates was a
woman of between twenty…five and thirty； capable； and self…
reliant。 She had a certain beauty of a severe type； but an
harassed expression about her eyes made her appear to be always
frowning。 At times； in a hardening of the lower part of her
face； she showed a likeness to her uncle。 Like him； in speaking；
also； her manner was positive and decided。
In age the young man who accompanied her was ten years her
senior； but where her difficulties had made her appear older
than she really was； the enthusiasm with which he had thrown
himself against those of his own life； had left him young。
The rise of Winthrop had been swift and spectacular。 Almost as
soon as he graduated from the college in the little 〃up…state〃
town where he had been educated； and his family had always
lived； he became the prosecuting attorney of that town； and
later； at Albany； represented the district in the Assembly。 From
Albany he entered a law office in New York City； and in the
cause of reform had fought so many good fights that on an
independent ticket； much to his surprise； he had been lifted to
the high position he now held。 No more in his manner than in his
appearance did Winthrop suggest the popular conception of his
role。 He was not professional； not mysterious。 Instead； he was
sane； cheerful； tolerant。 It was his philosophy to believe that
the world was innocent until it was proved guilty。
He was a bachelor and； except for two sisters who had married
men of prominence in New York and who moved in a world of
fashion into which he had not penetrated； he was alone。
When the visitors entered； Mr。 Hallowell； without rising；
greeted his niece cordially。
〃Ah； Helen！ I am glad to see you；〃 he called； and added
reproachfully； 〃at last。〃
〃How do you do； sir？〃 returned Miss Helen stiffly。 With marked
disapproval she bowed to Judge Gaylor。
〃And our District Attorney；〃 cried Mr。 Hallowell。 〃Pardon my not
rising； won't you？ I haven't seen you； sir； since you tried to
get the Grand Jury to indict me。〃 He chucked delightedly。 〃You
didn't succeed；〃 he taunted。
Winthrop shook hands with him； smiling； 〃Don't blame me；〃 he
said； 〃I did my best。 I'm glad to see you in such good spirits；
Mr。 Hallowell。 I feared； by the Despatch 〃
〃Lies； lies；〃 interrupted Hallowell curtly。 〃You know Judge
Gaylor？〃
As he shook hands； Winthrop answered that the Judge and he were
old friends； that they knew each other well。
〃Know each other so well！〃 returned the Judge； 〃that we ought to
be old enemies。〃
The younger man nodded appreciatively。 〃That's true！〃 he
laughed； 〃only I didn't think you'd admit it。〃
With light sarcasm Mr。 Hallowell inquired whether Winthrop was
with them in his official capacity。
〃Oh； don't suggest that！〃 begged Winthrop； 〃you'll be having me
indicted next。 No sir； I am here without any excuse whatsoever。
I am just interfering as a friend of this young lady。〃
〃Good；〃 commented Hallowell。 〃I'd be sorry to have my niece
array counsel against me especially such distinguished
counsel。 Sit down； Helen。〃
Miss Coates balanced herself on the edge of a chair and spoke in
cool； business…like tones； 〃Mr。 Hallowell；〃 she began； 〃I came。〃
〃Mr。 Hallowell？〃 objected her uncle。
〃Uncle Stephen；〃 Miss Coates again began； 〃I wish to be as brief
as possible。 I asked you to see me today because I hoped that by
talking things over we might avoid lawsuits and litigation。〃
Mr。 Hallowell nodded his approval。 〃Yes；〃 he said encouragingly。
〃I have told Mr。 Winthrop what the trouble is；〃 Miss Coates went
on； 〃and he agrees with me that I have been very unjustly
treated 〃
〃By whom？〃 interrupted Hallowell。
〃By you；〃 said his niece。
〃Wait； Helen；〃 commanded the old man。 〃Have you also told Mr。
Winthrop；〃 he demanded； 〃that I have made a will in your favor？
That； were I to die tonight； you would inherit ten millions of
dollars？ Is that the injustice of which you complain？〃
Judge Gaylor gave an exclamation of pleasure。
〃Good！〃 he applauded。 〃Excellent！〃
Hallowell turned indignantly to Winthrop。 〃And did she tell you
also；〃 he demanded； 〃that for three years I have urged her to
make a home in this house？ That I have offered her an income as
large as I would give my own daughter； and that she has refused
both offers。 And what's more〃 in his excitement his voice
rose hysterically 〃by working publicly for her living she has
made me appear mean and uncharitable； and 〃
〃That's just it；〃 interrupted Miss Coates。 〃It isn't a question
of charity。〃
〃Will you allow me？〃 said Winthrop soothingly。 〃Your niece
contends； sir；〃 he explained； 〃that this money you offered her
is not yours to offer。 She claims it belongs to her。 That it's
what should have been her father's share of the profits on the
Coates…Hallowell coupling pin。 But； as you have willed your
niece so much money； although half of it is hers already； I
advised her not to fight。 Going to law is an expensive business。
But she has found out and that's what brings me uptown this
morning that you intend to make a new will； and leave all her
money and your own to establish the Hallowell Institute。 Now；〃
Winthrop continued； with a propitiating smile； 〃Miss Coates also
would like to be a philanthropist； in her own way； with her own
money。 And she wishes to warn you that； unless you deliver up
what is due her； she will proceed against you。〃
Judge Gaylor was the first to answer。
〃Mr。 Winthrop；〃 he said impressively； 〃I give you my word； there
is not one dollar due Miss Coates； except what Mr。 Hallowell
pleases to give her。 〃
Miss Coates contradicted him sharply。 〃That is not so；〃 she
said。 She turned to her uncle； 〃You and my father；〃 she
declared； 〃agreed in writing you would share the profits
always。〃 Mr。 Hallowell looked from his niece to his lawyer。 The
lawyer； eyeing him apprehensively； nodded。 With the patient
voice of one who tried to reason with an unreasonable child； Mr。
Hallowell began。 〃Helen；〃 he said； 〃I have told you many times
there never was such an agreement。 There was a verbal 〃
〃And I repeat； I saw it；〃 said Miss Coates。
〃When？〃 asked Hallowell。
〃I saw it first when I was fifteen；〃 answered the young woman
steadily； 〃and two years later； before mother died； she showed
it to me again。 It was with father's papers。〃
〃Miss Coates；〃 asked the Judge； 〃where is this agreement now？〃
For a moment Miss Coates hesitated。 Her dislike for Gaylor was
so evident that； to make it less apparent； she lowered her eyes。
〃My uncle should be able to tell you；〃 she said evenly。 〃He was
my father's executor。 But； when he returned my father's papers〃
she paused and then； although her voice fell to almost a
whisper； continued defiantly； 〃the agreement was not with them。〃
There was a moment's silence。 To assure himself the others had
heard as he did； Mr。 Hallowell glanced quickly from Winthrop to
Gaylor。 He half rose from his chair and leaned across the table。
〃What！〃 he demanded。 His niece looked at him steadily。
〃You heard what I said；〃 she answered。
The old man leaned farther forward。
〃So！〃 he cried； 〃so！ I am not only doing you an injustice； but I
am a thief！ Mr。 Winthrop；〃 he cried appealingly； 〃do you
appreciate the seriousness of this？〃
Winthrop nodded cheerfully。 〃It's certainly pretty serious；〃 he
assented。
〃It is so serious；〃 cried Mr。 Hallowell； 〃that I welcome you
into this matter。 Now； we will settle it once and forever。〃 He
turned to his niece。 〃I have tried to be generous；〃 he cried； 〃I
have tried to be kind； and you insult me in my own house。〃 He
pressed the button that summoned the butler from the floor
below。 〃Gentlemen； this interview is at an end。 From now on this
matter is in the hands of my lawyer。 We will settle this in the
courts。〃
With an exclamation of pleasure that was an acceptance of his
challenge； Miss Coates rose。
〃That is satisfactory to me；〃 she said。 Winthrop turn
