贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > the dust >

第40章

the dust-第40章

小说: the dust 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



〃Dress?〃 he inquired vaguely。  〃Why dress? Why do anything?〃

She thought he would not go to Josephine but would hide in his club and drink。  But she was mistaken。 Toward nine o'clock he; in evening dress; with the expression of a horse in a treadmill; rang the bell of Josephine's house and passed in at the big bronze doors。 The butler must have particularly admired the way he tossed aside his coat and hat。  As soon as he was in the presence of his fiancee he saw that she was again in the throes of some violent agitation。

She began at once:  〃I've just had the most frightful scene with father;〃 she said。  〃He's been hearing a lot of stuff about you down town and it set him wild。〃

〃Do you mind if I smoke a cigar?〃 said he; looking at her unseeingly with haggard; cold eyes。  〃And may I have some whisky?〃

She rang。  〃I hope the servants didn't hear him;〃 she said。  Then; as a step sounded outside she put on an air of gayety; as if she were still laughing at some jest he had made。  In the doorway appeared her father one of those big men who win half the battle in advance on personal appearance of unconquerable might。 Burroughs was noted for his generosity and for his violent temper。  As a rule men of the largeness necessary to handling large affairs are free from petty vindictiveness。 They are too busy for hatred。  They do not forgive; they are most careful not to forget; they simply stand ready at any moment to do whatever it is to their interest to do; regardless of friendships or animosities。  Burroughs was an exception in that he got his highest pleasure out of pursuing his enemies。 He enjoyed this so keenly that several timesso it was saidhe had sacrificed real money to satisfy a revenge。 But these rumors may have wronged him。  It is hardly probable that a man who would let a weakness carry him to that pitch of folly could have escaped destruction。 For of all the follies revenge is the most dangerous as well as the most fatuous。

Burroughs had a big face。  Had he looked less powerful the bigness of his features; the spread of cheek and jowl; would have been grotesque。  As it was; the face was impressive; especially when one recalled how many; many millions he owned and how many more he controlled。  The control was better than the ownership。 The millions he owned made him a cowardhe was afraid he might lose them。  The millions he controlled; and of course used for his own enrichment; made him brave; for if they were lost in the daring ventures in which he freely staked them; why; the loss was not his; and he could shift the blame。  Usually Norman treated him with great respect; for his business gave the firm nearly half its total income; and it was his daughter and his wealth; prestige and power; that Norman was marrying。 But this evening he looked at the great man with a superciliousness that was peculiarly disrespectful from so young a man to one well advanced toward old age。  Norman had been feeling relaxed; languid; exhausted。  The signs of battle in that powerful face nerved him; keyed him up at once。  He waited with a joyful impatience while the servant was bringing cigars and whisky。  The enormous quantities of liquor he had drunk in the last few days had not been without effect。 Alcohol; the general stimulant; inevitably brings out in strong relief a man's dominant qualities。  The dominant quality of Norman was love of combat。

〃Josephine tells me you are in a blue fury;〃 said Norman pleasantly when the door was closed and the three were alone。  〃Nonot a blue fury。  A black fury。〃

At the covert insolence of his tone Josephine became violently agitated。  〃Father;〃 she said; with the imperiousness of an only and indulged child; 〃I have asked you not to interfere between Fred and me。  I thought I had your promise。〃

〃I said I'd think about it;〃 replied her father。  He had a heavy voice that now and then awoke some string of the lower octaves of the piano in the corner to a dismal groan。  〃I've decided to speak out。〃

〃That's right; sir;〃 said Norman。  〃Is your quarrel with me?〃

Josephine attempted an easy laugh。  〃It's that silly story we were talking about the other day; Fred。〃

〃I supposed so;〃 said he。  〃You are not smoking; Mr。 Burroughs〃  He laughed amiably〃at least not a cigar。〃

〃The doctor only allows me one; and I've had it;〃 replied Burroughs; his eyes sparkling viciously at this flick of the whip。  〃What is the truth about that business; Norman?〃

Norman's amused glance encountered the savage glare mockingly。  〃Why do you ask?〃 he inquired。

〃Because my daughter's happiness is at stake。 Because I cannot but resent a low scandal about a man who wishes to marry my daughter。〃

〃Very proper; sir;〃 said Norman graciously。

〃My daughter;〃 continued Burroughs with accele… rating anger; 〃tells me you have denied the story。〃


{illust。 caption = 〃 ‘Father 。 。 。 I have asked you not to interfere between Fred and me。' 〃}



Norman interrupted with an astonished look at Josephine。  She colored; gazed at him imploringly。  His face terrified her。  When body and mind are in health and at rest the fullness of the face hides the character to a great extent。  But when a human being is sick or very tired the concealing roundness goes and in the clearly marked features the true character is revealed。 In Norman's face; haggard by his wearing emotions; his character stood forththe traits of strength; of tenacity; of inevitable purpose。  And Josephine saw and dreaded。

〃But;〃 Burroughs went on; 〃I have it on the best authority that it is true。〃

Norman; looking into the fascinating face of danger; was thrilled。  〃Then you wish to break off the engagement?〃 he said in the gentlest; smoothest tone。

Burroughs brought his fist down on the tableand Norman recognized the gesture of the bluffer。  〃I wish you to break off with that woman!〃 he cried。  〃I insist upon itupon positive assurances from you。〃

〃Fred!〃 pleaded Josephine。  〃Don't listen to him。 Remember; I have said nothing。〃

He had long been looking for a justifying grievance against her。  It now seemed to him that he had found it。  〃Why should you?〃 he said genially but with subtle irony; 〃since you are getting your father to speak for you。〃

There was just enough truth in this to entangle her and throw her into disorder。  She had been afraid of the consequences of her father's interfering with a man so spirited as Norman; but at the same time she had longed to have some one put a check upon him。  Norman's suave remark made her feel that he could see into her inmost soulcould see the anger; the jealousy; the doubt; the hatred…tinged love; the love…saturated hate seething and warring there。

Burroughs was saying:  〃If we had not committed ourselves so deeply; I should deal very differently with this matter。〃

〃Why should that deter you?〃 said Normanand Josephine gave a piteous gasp。  〃If this goes much farther; I assure you I shall not be deterred。〃

Burroughs; firmly planted in a big leather chair; looked at the young man in puzzled amazement。  〃I see you think you have us in your power;〃 he said at last。  〃But you are mistaken。〃

〃On the contrary;〃 rejoined the young man; 〃I see you believe you have me in your power。  And in a sense you are NOT mistaken。〃

〃Father; he is right;〃 cried Josephine agitatedly。 〃I shouldn't love and respect him as I do if he would submit to this hectoring。〃

〃Hectoring!〃 exclaimed Burroughs。  〃Josephine; leave the room。  I cannot discuss this matter properly before you。〃

〃I hope you will not leave; Josephine;〃 said Nor… man。  〃There is nothing to be said that you cannot and ought not to hear。〃

〃I'm not an infant; father;〃 said Josephine。 〃Besides; it is as Fred says。  He has done nothing improper。〃

〃Then why does he not say so?〃 demanded Burroughs; seeing a chance to recede from his former too advanced position。  〃That's all I ask。〃

〃But I told you all about it; father;〃 said Josephine angrily。  〃They've been distorting the truth; and the truth is to his credit。〃

Norman avoided the glance she sent to him; it was only a glance and away; for more formidably than ever his power was enthroned in his haggard face。  He stood with his back to the fire and it was plain that the muscle

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的