the dust-第60章

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Norman　looked　at　the　old　man　with　calm　penetrating　eyes。　　〃I　shall　conduct　my　married　life　on　a　sound；　business　basis；　or　not　at　all；〃　said　he。

〃We'll　see；〃　said　Galloway。　　〃That's　what　I　said　forty　years　ago　　No；　I　didn't。　　I　had　no　sense　about　such　matters　then。　　In　my　youth　the　men　knew　nothing　about　the　woman　question。〃　　He　smiled　grimly。　　〃I　see　signs　that　they　are　learning。〃

Then　as　abruptly　as　he　had　left　the　affairs　he　was　there　to　discuss　he　returned　to　them。　　His　mind　seemed　to　have　freed　itself　of　all　irrelevancy　and　superfluity；　as　a　stream　often　runs　from　a　faucet　with　much　spluttering　and　rather　muddy　at　first；　then　steadies　and　clears。　Norman　gave　him　the　attention　one　can　get　only　from　a　good　mind　that　is　interested　in　the　subject　and　understands　it　thoroughly。　　Such　attention　not　merely　receives　the　words　and　ideas　as　they　fall　from　the　mouth　of　him　who　utters　them；　but　also　seems　to　draw　them　by　a　sort　of　suction　faster　and　in　greater　abundance。　It　was　this　peculiar　ability　of　giving　attention；　as　much　as　any　other　one　quality；　that　gave　Norman's　clients　their　confidence　in　him。　　Galloway；　than　whom　no　man　was　shrewder　judge　of　men；　showed　in　his　gratified　eyes　and　voice；　long　before　he　had　finished；　how　strongly　his　conviction　of　Norman's　high　ability　was　confirmed。

When　Galloway　ended；　Norman　rapidly　and　in　clear　and　simple　sentences　summarized　what　Galloway　had　said。　　〃That　is　right？〃　he　asked。

〃Precisely；〃　said　Galloway　admiringly。　　〃What　a　gift　of　clear　statement　you　have；　young　man！〃

〃It　has　won　me　my　place；〃　said　Norman。　　〃As　to　your　campaign；　I　can　tell　you　now　that　the　legal　part　of　it　can　be　arranged。　　That　is　what　the　law　is　forto　enable　a　man　to　do　whatever　he　wants。　　The　penalties　are　for　those　who　have　the　stupidity　to　try　to　do　things　in　an　unlawful　way。〃

Galloway　laughed。　　〃I　had　heard　that　they　were　for　doing　unlawful　things。〃

〃Nothing　is　unlawful；〃　said　Norman；　〃except　in　method。〃

〃That's　an　interesting　view　of　courts　of　justice。〃

〃But　we　have　no　courts　of　justice。　　We　have　only　courts　of　law。〃

Galloway　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed　till　the　tears　rolled　down　his　cheeks。　　〃What　a　gift　for　clear　statement！〃　he　cried。

Norman　beamed　appreciation　of　a　compliment　so　flattering。　　But　he　went　back　to　business。　　〃As　I　was　saying；　you　can　do　what　you　want　to　do。　　You　wish　me　to　show　you　how。　　In　our　modern　way　of　doing　things；　the　relation　of　lawyer　and　client　has　somewhat　changed。　　To　illustrate　by　this　case；　you　are　the　bear　with　the　taste　for　honey　and　the　strength　to　rob　the　bees。　　I　am　the　honey　birdthat　is；　the　modern　lawyer　who　can　show　you　the　way　to　the　hive。　　Most　of　the　honey　birdsas　yetare　content　with　a　very　small　share　of　the　honeywhatever　the　bear　happens　to　be　unable　to　find　room　for。　　But　I〃　　Norman's　eyes　danced　and　his　strong　mouth　curved　in　a　charming　smile　〃I　am　a　honey　bird　with　a　bear　appetite。〃

Galloway　was　sitting　up　stiffly。　　〃I　don't　quite　follow　you；　sir；〃　he　said。

〃Yet　I　am　plain　enough。　　My　ability　at　clear　statement　has　not　deserted　me。　　If　I　show　you　the　way　through　the　tangled　forest　of　the　law　to　this　hive　you　scentI　must　be　a　partner　in　the　honey。〃

Galloway　rose。　　〃Your　conceptions　of　your　profession　and　of　me；　I　may　sayare　not　attractive。　　I　have　always　been；　and　am　willing　and　anxious　to　pay　liberallymore　liberally　than　anyone　elsefor　legal　advice。　　But　my　business；　sir；　is　my　own。〃

Norman　rose；　his　expression　one　of　apology　and　polite　disappointment。　　〃I　see　I　misunderstood　your　purpose　in　coming　to　me；〃　said　he。　　〃Let　us　take　no　more　of　each　other's　time。〃

〃And　what　did　you　think　my　object　was　in　coming？〃　demanded　Galloway。

〃To　get　from　me　what　you　realized　you　could　get　nowhere　elsewhich　meant；　as　an　old　experienced　trader　like　you　must　have　known；　that　you　were　ready　to　pay　my　price。　　Of　course；　if　you　can　get　elsewhere　the　assistance　you　need；　why；　you　would　be　most　unwise　to　come　to　me。〃

Galloway　moved　toward　the　door。　　〃And　you　might　have　charged　practically　any　fee　you　wished；〃　said　he；　laughing　satirically。　　〃Young　man；　you　are　making　the　mistake　that　is　ruining　this　generation。　You　wish　to　get　rich　all　at　once。　　You　are　not　willing　to　be　patient　and　to　work　and　to　build　your　fortune　solidly　and　slowly。〃

Norman　smiled　as　at　a　good　joke。　　〃What　an　asset　to　you　strong　men　has　been　the　vague　hope　in　the　minds　of　the　masses　that　each　poor　devil　of　them　will　have　his　turn　to　loot　and　grow　rich。　　I　used　to　think　ignorance　kept　the　present　system　going。　　But　I　have　discovered　that　it　is　that　sly；　silly；　corrupt　hope。　　But；　sir；　it　does　not　catch　me。　　I　shall　not　work　for　you　and　the　other　strong　men；　and　patiently　wait　my　turn　that　would　never　come。　　My　time　is　NOW。〃

〃You　threaten　me！〃　cried　Galloway　furiously。

〃Threaten　you？〃　exclaimed　Norman；　amazed。

〃You　think；　because　I　have　given　you；　my　lawyer；　my　secrets；　that　you　can　compel　me〃

With　an　imperious　gesture　Norman　stopped　him。　〃Good　day；　sir；〃　he　said　haughtily。　　〃Your　secrets　are　safe　with　me。　　I　am　a　lawyer；　not　a　financier。〃

Galloway　was　disconcerted。　　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr。　Norman；〃　he　said。　　〃I　misunderstood　you。　　I　thought　I　heard　you　say　in　effect　that　you　purposed　to　be　rich；　and　that　you　purposed　to　compel　me　to　make　you　so。〃

〃So　I　did；〃　replied　Norman。　　〃But　not　by　the　methods　you　financiers　are　so　adept　at　using。　　Not　by　high…class　blackmail　and　blackjacking。　　I　meant　that　my　abilities　were　such　that　you　and　your　fellow　masters　of　modern　society　would　be　compelled　to　employ　me　on　my　own　terms。　　A　few　moments　ago　you　outlined　to　me　a　plan。　　It　may　be　you　can　find　other　lawyers　competent　to　steer　it　through　the　channel　of　the　law。　　I　doubt　it。　I　may　exaggerate　my　value。　　But〃　　He　smiled　pleasantly〃I　don't　think　so。〃

In　this　modern　world　of　ours　there　is　no　more　delicate　or　more　important　branch　of　the　art　of　material　success　than　learning　to　play　one's　own　tune　on　the　trumpets　of　fame。　　To　those　who　watch　careers　intelligently　and　critically；　and　not　merely　with　mouth　agape　and　ears　awag　for　whatever　sounds　the　winds　of　credulity　bear；　there　is　keen　interest　in　noting　how　differently　this　high　art　is　practiced　by　the　fame…seekershow　well　some　modest　heroes　disguise　themselves　before　essaying　the　trumpet；　how　timidly　some　play；　how　brazenly　others。　It　is　an　art　of　infinite　variety。　　How　many　there　are　who　can　echo　Shakespeare's　sad　lament；　through　Hamlet's　lips〃I　lack　advancement！〃　Those　are　they　who　have　wholly　neglected；　as　did　Shakespeare；　this　essential　part　of　the　art　of　advancementShakespeare；　who　lived　almost　obscure　and　was　all　but　forgotten　for　two　centuries　after　his　death。

Norman；　frankly　seeking　mere　material　success；　and　with　the　colossal　egotism　that　disdains　egotism　and　shrugs　at　the　danger　of　being　accused　of　itNorman　did　not　hesitate　to　proclaim　his　own　merits。　　He　reasoned　that　he　had　the　wares；　that　crying　them　would　attract　attention　to　them；　that　he　whose　attention　was　attracted；　if　he　were　a　judge　of　wares　and　a　seeker　of　the　best；　would　see　that　the　Norman　wares　were　indeed　as　Norman　cried　them。　　At　first　blush　Galloway　was　amused　by　Norman's　candid　self…esteem。　　But　he　had　often　heard　of　Norman's　conceitand　in　a　long　and　busy　life　he　had　not　seen　an　able　man　who　was　unaware　of　his　ability；　any　more　than　he　had　seen　a　pretty　woman　unaware　of　her　prettiness。　　So；　at　second　blush；　Galloway　was　tempted　by　Norman's　calm　strong　blast　upon　his　own　trumpet　to　look　again　at　the　wares。

〃I　always　have　had　a　high　opinion　of　you；　young　man；〃　said　he；　with　laughing　eyes。　　〃Almost　as　high　an　opinion　as　you　have　of　yourself。　　Think　over　the　legal　side　of　my　plan。　　When　you　get　your　thoughts　in　order；　let　me　knowand　make　me　a　proposition　as　to　your　own　share。　　Does　that　satisfy　you？〃

〃It's　all　I　ask；〃　said　Norman。

And　they　parted　on　the　friendliest　termsand　Norman　knew　that　his　fortune　was　assured；　if　Galloway　lived　another　nine　months。　　When　he　was　alone；　the　sweat　burst　out　upon　him　and；　trembling　from　head　to　foot；　he　locked　his　door　and　flung　himself　at　full　length　upon　the　rug。　　It　was　half　an　hour　before　the　fit　of　silent　hysterical　reaction　passed　sufficiently　to　let　him　gather　strength　to　rise。　　He　t