a far country-第37章
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〃I think so；〃 replied Mr。 Watling； smiling at me。 〃The bill was his own
idea。〃
The railroad attorney wheeled about in his chair and looked at me； looked
around me； would better express it； with his indefinite； encompassing yet
inclusive glance。 I had riveted his attention。 And from henceforth； I
knew； I should enter into his calculations。 He had made for me a
compartment in his mind。
〃His own idea！〃 he repeated。
〃I merely suggested it；〃 I was putting in； when he cut me short。
〃Aren't you the son of Matthew Paret？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said。
He gave me a queer glance； the significance of which I left untranslated。
My excitement was too great to analyze what he meant by this mention of
my father。。。。
When we reached the sidewalk my chief gave me a few parting instructions。
〃I need scarcely say； Hugh；〃 he added； 〃that your presence in the capital
should not be advertised as connected with thislegislation。 They will
probably attribute it to us in the end； but if you're reasonably careful；
they'll never be able to prove it。 And there's no use in putting our
cards on the table at the beginning。〃
〃No indeed； sir！〃 I agreed。
He took my hand and pressed it。
〃Good luck；〃 he said。 〃I know you'll get along all right。〃
A FAR COUNTRY
By Winston Churchill
BOOK 2。
X。
This was not my first visit to the state capital。 Indeed； some of that
recondite knowledge； in which I took a pride； had been gained on the
occasions of my previous visits。 Rising and dressing early； I beheld out
of the car window the broad； shallow river glinting in the morning
sunlight； the dome of the state house against the blue of the sky。 Even
at that early hour groups of the gentlemen who made our laws were
scattered about the lobby of the Potts House； standing or seated within
easy reach of the gaily coloured cuspidors that protected the marble
floor： heavy…jawed workers from the cities mingled with moon…faced but
astute countrymen who manipulated votes amongst farms and villages； fat
or cadaverous； Irish； German or American； all bore in common a certain
indefinable stamp。 Having eaten my breakfast in a large dining…room that
resounded with the clatter of dishes； I directed my steps to the
apartment occupied from year to year by Colonel Paul Barney；
generalissimo of the Railroad on the legislative battlefield；a position
that demanded a certain uniqueness of genius。
〃How do you do； sir；〃 he said； in a guarded but courteous tone as he
opened the door。 I entered to confront a group of three or four figures；
silent and rather hostile； seated in a haze of tobacco smoke around a
marble…topped table。 On it reposed a Bible； attached to a chain。
〃You probably don't remember me； Colonel；〃 I said。 〃My name is Pared；
and I'm associated with the firm of Watling； Fowndes； and Ripon。〃
His air of marginality；heightened by a grey moustache and goatee a la
Napoleon Third；vanished instantly； he became hospitable； ingratiating。
〃Whywhy certainly； you were down heah with Mr。 Fowndes two years ago。〃
The Colonel spoke with a slight Southern accent。 〃To be sure； sir。 I've
had the honour of meeting your father。 Mr。 Norris； of North Haven； meet
Mr。 Paretone of our rising lawyers。。。〃 I shook hands with them all and
sat down。 Opening his long coat； Colonel Varney revealed two rows of
cigars； suggesting cartridges in a belt。 These he proceeded to hand out
as he talked。 〃I'm glad to see you here； Mr。 Paret。 You must stay
awhile； and become acquainted with the men whoahemare shaping the
destinies of a great state。 It would give me pleasure to escort you
about。〃
I thanked him。 I had learned enough to realize how important are the
amenities in politics and business。 The Colonel did most of the
conversing； he could not have filled with efficiency and ease the
important post that was his had it not been for the endless fund of
humorous anecdotes at his disposal。 One by one the visitors left； each
assuring me of his personal regard： the Colonel closed the door； softly；
turning the key in the lock； there was a sly look in his black eyes as he
took a chair in proximity to mine。
〃Well； Mr。 Paret；〃 he asked softly； 〃what's up？〃
Without further ado I handed him Mr。 Gorse's letter； and another Mr。
Watling had given me for him； which contained a copy of the bill。 He
read these； laid them on the table； glancing at me again； stroking his
goatee the while。 He chuckled。
〃By gum！〃 he exclaimed。 〃I take off my hat to Theodore Watling； always
did。〃 He became contemplative。 〃It can be done； Mr。 Paret； but it's
going to take some careful driving； sir； some reaching out and flicking
'em when they r'ar and buck。 Paul Varney's never been stumped yet。 Just
as soon as this is introduced we'll have Gates and Armstrong down here
they're the Ribblevale attorneys； aren't they？ I thought so；and the
best legal talent they can hire。 And they'll round up all the
disgruntled fellows； you know；that ain't friendly to the Railroad。
We've got to do it quick； Mr。 Paret。 Gorse gave you a letter to the
Governor； didn't he？〃
〃Yes；〃 I said。
〃Well； come along。 I'll pass the word around among the boys； just to let
'em know what to expect。〃 His eyes glittered again。 〃I've been
following this Ribblevale business；〃 he added； 〃and I understand Leonard
Dickinson's all ready to reorganize that company； when the time comes。
He ought to let me in for a little； on the ground floor。〃
I did not venture to make any promises for Mr。 Dickinson。
〃I reckon it's just as well if you were to meet me at the Governor's
office；〃 the Colonel added reflectively； and the hint was not lost on me。
〃It's better not to let 'em find out any sooner than they have to where
this thing comes from；you understand。〃 He looked at his watch。 〃How
would nine o'clock do？ I'll be there； with Trulease； when you come；by
accident； you understand。 Of course he'll be reasonable； but when they
get to be governors they have little notions； you know； and you've got to
indulge 'em； flatter 'em a little。 It doesn't hurt； for when they get
their backs up it only makes more trouble。〃
He put on a soft； black felt hat； and departed noiselessly。。。
At nine o'clock I arrived at the State House and was ushered into a great
square room overlooking the park。 The Governor was seated at a desk
under an elaborate chandelier； and sure enough； Colonel Varney was there
beside him； making barely perceptible signals。
〃It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance； Mr。 Paret；〃 said Mr。
Trulease。 〃Your name is a familiar one in your city； sir。 And I gather
from your card that you are associated with my good friend； Theodore
Watling。〃
I acknowledged it。 I was not a little impressed by the perfect blend of
cordiality； democratic simplicity and impressiveness Mr。 Trulease had
achieved。 For he had managed； in the course of a long political career；
to combine in exact proportions these elements which； in the public mind；
should up the personality of a chief executive。 Momentarily he overcame
the feeling of superiority with which I had entered his presence；
neutralized the sense I had of being associated now with the higher
powers which had put him where he was。 For I knew all about his
〃record。〃
〃You're acquainted with Colonel Varney？〃 he inquired。
〃Yes； Governor； I've met the Colonel；〃 I said。
〃Well； I suppose your firm is getting its share of business these days；〃
Mr。 Trulease observed。 I acknowledged it was； and after discussing for a
few moments the remarkable growth of my native city the Governor tapped
on his desk and inquired what he could do for me。 I produced the letter
from the attorney for the Railroad。 The Governor read it gravely。
〃Ah；〃 he said； 〃from Mr。 Gorse。〃 A copy of the proposed bill was
enclosed； and the Governor read that also； hemmed and hawed a little；
turned and handed it to Colonel Varney； who was sitting with a detached
air； smoking contemplatively； a vacant expression on his face。 〃What do
you think of this； Colonel？〃
Whereupon the Colonel tore himself away from his reflections。
〃What's that； Governor？〃
〃Mr。 Gorse has called my attention to w
