the titan-第70章
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！
〃You wouldn't want to make me ungallant； would you？ Be a good fellowa good sport； as they say。 Guess； and it's yours。〃
Aileen pursed her lips at this ardent entreaty。
〃Oh； I don't mind guessing；〃 she commented； superiorly； 〃though I sha'n't take it。 It might be a pin； it might be a set of ear…rings； it might be a bracelet〃
He made no comment； but opened it； revealing a necklace of gold wrought into the form of a grape…vine of the most curious workmanship； with a cluster of leaves artistically carved and arranged as a breastpiece； the center of them formed by a black opal； which shone with an enticing luster。 Lynde knew well enough that Aileen was familiar with many jewels； and that only one of ornate construction and value would appeal to her sense of what was becoming to her。 He watched her face closely while she studied the details of the necklace。
〃Isn't it exquisite！〃 she commented。 〃What a lovely opalwhat an odd design。〃 She went over the separate leaves。 〃You shouldn't be so foolish。 I couldn't take it。 I have too many things as it is； and besides〃 She was thinking of what she would say if Cowperwood chanced to ask her where she got it。 He was so intuitive。
〃And besides？〃 he queried。
〃Nothing；〃 she replied； 〃except that I mustn't take it； really。〃 〃Won't you take it as a souvenir even ifour agreement； you know。〃
〃Even if what？〃 she queried。
〃Even if nothing else comes of it。 A memento； thentrulyyou know。〃
He laid hold of her fingers with his cool； vigorous ones。 A year before； even six months； Aileen would have released her hand smilingly。 Now she hesitated。 Why should she be so squeamish with other men when Cowperwood was so unkind to her？
〃Tell me something；〃 Lynde asked； noting the doubt and holding her fingers gently but firmly； 〃do you care for me at all？〃
〃I like you； yes。 I can't say that it is anything more than that。〃
She flushed； though； in spite of herself。
He merely gazed at her with his hard； burning eyes。 The materiality that accompanies romance in so many temperaments awakened in her； and quite put Cowperwood out of her mind for the moment。 It was an astonishing and revolutionary experience for her。 She quite burned in reply； and Lynde smiled sweetly； encouragingly。
〃Why won't you be friends with me； my sweetheart？ I know you're not happyI can see that。 Neither am I。 I have a wreckless； wretched disposition that gets me into all sorts of hell。 I need some one to care for me。 Why won't you？ You're just my sort。 I feel it。 Do you love him so much〃he was referring to Cowperwood 〃that you can't love any one else？〃
〃Oh； him！〃 retorted Aileen； irritably； almost disloyally。 〃He doesn't care for me any more。 He wouldn't mind。 It isn't him。〃
〃Well； then； what is it？ Why won't you？ Am I not interesting enough？ Don't you like me？ Don't you feel that I'm really suited to you？〃 His hand sought hers softly。
Aileen accepted the caress。
〃Oh； it isn't that；〃 she replied； feelingly； running back in her mind over her long career with Cowperwood； his former love； his keen protestations。 She had expected to make so much out of her life with him； and here she was sitting in a public restaurant flirting with and extracting sympathy from a comparative stranger。 It cut her to the quick for the moment and sealed her lips。 Hot； unbidden tears welled to her eyes。
Lynde saw them。 He was really very sorry for her； though her beauty made him wish to take advantage of her distress。 〃Why should you cry； dearest？〃 he asked； softly； looking at her flushed cheeks and colorful eyes。 〃You have beauty； you are young； you're lovely。 He's not the only man in the world。 Why should you be faithful when he isn't faithful to you？ This Hand affair is all over town。 When you meet some one that really would care for you； why shouldn't you？ If he doesn't want you； there are others。〃
At the mention of the Hand affair Aileen straightened up。 〃The Hand affair？〃 she asked； curiously。 〃What is that？〃
〃Don't you know？〃 he replied； a little surprised。 〃I thought you did； or I certainly wouldn't have mentioned it。〃
〃Oh； I know about what it is；〃 replied Aileen； wisely； and with a touch of sardonic humor。 〃There have been so many or the same kind。 I suppose it must be the case the Chicago Review was referring tothe wife of the prominent financier。 Has he been trifling with Mrs。 Hand？〃
〃Something like that；〃 replied Lynde。 〃I'm sorry that I spoke； though？ really I am。 I didn't mean to be carrying tales。〃
〃Soldiers in a common fight； eh？〃 taunted Aileen； gaily。
〃Oh； not that； exactly。 Please don't be mean。 I'm not so bad。 It's just a principle with me。 We all have our little foibles。〃
〃Yes； I know；〃 replied Aileen； but her mind was running on Mrs。 Hand。 So she was the latest。 〃Well； I admire his taste； anyway； in this case；〃 she said； archly。 〃There have been so many； though。 She is just one more。
Lynde smiled。 He himself admired Cowperwood's taste。 Then he dropped the subject。
〃But let's forget that；〃 he said。 〃Please don't worry about him any more。 You can't change that。 Pull yourself together。〃 He squeezed her fingers。 〃Will you？〃 he asked； lifting his eyebrows in inquiry。
〃Will I what？〃 replied Aileen； meditatively。
〃Oh； you know。 The necklace for one thing。 Me； too。〃 His eyes coaxed and laughed and pleaded。
Aileen smiled。 〃You're a bad boy；〃 she said； evasively。 This revelation in regard to Mrs。 Hand had made her singularly retaliatory in spirit。 〃Let me think。 Don't ask me to take the necklace to…day。 I couldn't。 I couldn't wear it； anyhow。 Let me see you another time。〃 She moved her plump hand in an uncertain way； and he smoothed her wrist。
〃I wonder if you wouldn't like to go around to the studio of a friend of mine here in the tower？〃 he asked； quite nonchalantly。 〃He has such a charming collection of landscapes。 You're interested in pictures； I know。 Your husband has some of the finest。〃
Instantly Aileen understood what was meantquite by instinct。 The alleged studio must be private bachelor quarters。
〃Not this afternoon；〃 she replied； quite wrought up and disturbed。 〃Not to…day。 Another time。 And I must be going now。 But I will see you。〃
〃And this？〃 he asked； picking up the necklace。
〃You keep it until I do come；〃 she replied。 〃I may take it then。〃
She relaxed a little； pleased that she was getting safely away； but her mood was anything but antagonistic； and her spirits were as shredded as wind…whipped clouds。 It was time she wanteda little timethat was all。
Chapter XXXIV
Enter Hosmer Hand
It is needless to say that the solemn rage of Hand； to say nothing of the pathetic anger of Haguenin； coupled with the wrath of Redmond Purdy； who related to all his sad story； and of young MacDonald and his associates of the Chicago General Company； constituted an atmosphere highly charged with possibilities and potent for dramatic results。 The most serious element in this at present was Hosmer Hand； who； being exceedingly wealthy and a director in a number of the principal mercantile and financial institutions of the city； was in a position to do Cowperwood some real financial harm。 Hand had been extremely fond of his young wife。 Being a man of but few experiences with women； it astonished and enraged him that a man like Cowperwood should dare to venture on his preserves in this reckless way； should take his dignity so lightly。 He burned now with a hot； slow fire of revenge。
Those who know anything concerning the financial world and its great adventures know how precious is that reputation for probity； solidarity； and conservatism on which so many of the successful enterprises of the world are based。 If men are not absolutely honest themselves they at least wish for and have faith in the honesty of others。 No set of men know more about each other； garner more carefully all the straws of rumor which may affect the financial and social well being of an individual one way or another； keep a tighter mouth concerning their own affairs and a sharper eye on that of their neighbors。 Cowperwood's credit had hitherto been good because it was known that he had a 〃soft thing〃 i
