the cost-第42章

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Without　this　reinforcement　the　〃yellows〃　might　have　shrieked　in　vain。　　It　was　assumed　that　baffled　sensationalism　was　by　far　a　stronger　motive　with　them　than　justice；　and　the　public　was　amused　rather　than　aroused　by　their　protests。　　But　now　soberer　dailies　and　weeklies　took　up　the　case　and　the　discussion　spread　to　other　cities；　to　the　whole　country。　　By　his　audacity；　by　his　arrogant　frankness　he　had　latterly　treated　public　opinion　with　scantiest　courtesyby　his　purchase　of　campaign　committees；　and　legislatures；　and　courts；　Dumont　had　made　himself　in　the　public　mind　an　embodiment　of　the　〃mighty　and　menacing　plutocracy〃　of　which　the　campaign　orators　talked　so　much。　　And　the　various　phases　of　the　scandal　gave　the　press　a　multitude　of　texts　for　satirical；　or　pessimistic；　or　fiery　discourses　upon　the　public　and　private　rottenness　of　〃plutocrats。〃

But　Dumont's　name　was　never　directly　mentioned。　　Every　one　knew　who　was　meant；　no　newspaper　dared　to　couple　him　in　plain　language　with　the　scandal。　　The　nearest　approach　to　it　was　where　one　New　York　newspaper　published；　without　comment；　in　the　center　of　a　long　news　article　on　the　case；　two　photographs　of　Dumont　side　by　sideone　taken　when　he　first　came　to　New　York；　clear…cut；　handsome；　courageous；　apparently　a　type　of　progressive　young　manhood；　the　other；　taken　within　the　year；　gross；　lowering；　tyrannical；　obviously　a　type　of　indulged；　self…indulgent　despot。

Herron　had　forced　Fanshaw　to　abandon　the　idea　of　suing　Dumont　for　a　money　consolation。　　He　had　been　deeply　impressed　by　his　wife's　warnings　against　Fanshaw〃a　lump　of　soot；　and　sure　to　smutch　you　if　you　go　near　him。〃　　He　was　reluctant　to　have　Fanshaw　give　up　the　part　of　the　plan　which　insured　the　public　damnation　of　Dumont；　but　there　was　no　other　prudent　course。　　He　assured　himself　that　he　knew　Fanshaw　to　be　an　upright　man；　but　he　did　not　go　to　so　perilous　a　length　in　self…deception　as　to　fancy　he　could　convince　cynical　and　incredulous　New　York。　　It　was　too　eager　to　find　excuses　for　successful　and　admired　men　like　Dumont；　too　ready　to　laugh　at　and　despise　underdogs　like　Fanshaw。　　Herron　never　admitted　it　to　himself；　but　in　fact　it　was　he　who　put　it　into　Fanshaw's　resourceless　mind　to　compass　the　revenge　of　publicity　in　another　way。

Fanshaw　was　denouncing　the　judge　for　sealing　the　divorce　testimony；　and　the　newspapers　for　being　so　timid　about　libel　laws　and　contempt　of　court。

〃If　a　newspaper　should　publish　the　testimony；〃　said　Herron；　〃Judge　Glassford　would　never　dare　bring　the　editor　before　him　for　contempt。　　His　record's　too　bad。　　I　happen　to　know　he　was　in　the　News…Record　office　no　longer　ago　than　last　month；　begging　for　the　suppression　of　an　article　that　might　have　caused　his　impeachment；　if　published。　　So　there's　one　paper　that　wouldn't　be　afraid　of　him。〃

〃Then　why　does　it　shield　the　scoundrel？〃

〃Perhaps；〃　replied　Herron；　his　hand　on　the　door　of　his　office　law…library；　〃it　hasn't　been　able　to　get　hold　of　a　copy　of　the　testimony。〃　　And　having　thus　dropped　the　seed　on　good　soil；　he　left。

Fanshaw　waited　several　weeks；　waited　until　certain　other　plans　of　his　and　Herron's　were　perfected。　　Then　he　suddenly　deluged　the　sinking　flames　of　the　divorce　discussion　with　a　huge　outpouring　of　oil。　　Indirectly　and　with　great　secrecy　he　sent　a　complete　copy　of　the　testimony　to　the　newspaper　Herron　had　mentioned；　the　most　sensational；　and　one　of　the　most　widely　circulated　in　New　York。

The　next　morning　Dumont　had　to　ring　three　times　for　his　secretary。　　When　Culver　finally　appeared　he　had　in　his　trembling　right　hand　a　copy　of　the　News…Record。　　His　face　suggested　that　he　was　its　owner；　publisher　and　responsible　editor；　and　that　he　expected　then　and　there　to　be　tortured　to　death　for　the　two　illustrated　pages　of　the　〃Great　Fanshaw…Dumont　Divorce！　　All　the　Testimony！　　Shocking　Revelations！〃

〃I　thought　it　necessary　for　you　to　know　this　without　delay；　sir；〃　he　said　in　a　shaky　voice；　as　he　held　out　the　newspaper　to　his　master。

Dumont　grew　sickly　yellow　with　the　first　glance　at　those　head…lines。　　He　had　long　been　used　to　seeing　extensive　and　highly　unflattering　accounts　of　himself　and　his　doings　in　print；　but　theretofore　every　open　attack　had　been　on　some　public　matter　where　a　newspaper　〃pounding〃　might　be　attributed　to　politics　or　stock…jobbery。　　Hereit　was　a　verbatim　official　report；　and　of　a　private　scandal；　more　dangerous　to　his　financial　standing　than　the　fiercest　assault　upon　his　honesty　as　a　financier；　for　it　tore　away　the　foundation　of　reputationprivate　character。　　A　faithful　transcript　throughout；　it　portrayed　him　as　a　bag　of　slimy　gold　and　gilded　slime。　　He　hated　his　own　face　staring　out　at　him　from　a　three…column　cut　in　the　center　of　the　first　pageits　heavy　jaw；　its　cynical　mouth；　its　impudent　eyes。　　〃Do　I　look　like　THAT？〃　he　thought。　　He　was　like　one　who；　walking　along　the　streets；　catches　sight　of　his　own　image　in　a　show…window　mirror　and　before　he　recognizes　it；　sees　himself　as　others　see　him。　　He　flushed　to　his　temples　at　the　contrast　with　the　smaller　cut　beside　itthe　face　of　Pauline；　high　and　fine　icily　beautiful　as　always　in　her　New　York　days　when　her　features　were　in　repose。

Culver　shifted　from　one　weak　leg　to　the　other；　and　the　movement　reminded　Dumont　of　his　existence。　　〃That's　all。　　Clear　out！〃　he　exclaimed；　and　fell　back　into　his　big　chair　and　closed　his　eyes。　　He　thought　he　at　last　understood　publicity。

But　he　was　mistaken。

He　finished　dressing　and　choked　down　a　little　breakfast。　　As　he　advanced　toward　the　front　door　the　servant　there　coughed　uneasily　and　said：　　〃Beg　pardon；　sir；　but　I　fear　you　won't　be　able　to　get　out。〃

〃What's　the　matter？〃　he　demanded；　his　brows　contracting　and　his　lips　beginning　to　slide　back　in　a　snarlit　promised　to　be　a　sad　morning　for　human　curs　of　all　kinds　who　did　not　scurry　out　of　the　lion's　way。

〃The　crowd；　sir；〃　said　the　servant。　　And　he　drew　aside　the　curtain　across　the　glass　in　one　of　the　inside　pair　of　great　double　doors　of　the　palace　entrance。　　〃It's　quite　safe　to　look；　sir。　　They　can't　see　through　the　outside　doors　as　far　as　this。〃

Dumont　peered　through　the　bronze　fretwork。　　A　closely　packed　mass　of　people　was　choking　the　sidewalk　and　streethis　brougham　was　like　an　island　in　a　troubled　lake。　　He　saw　several　policementhey　were　trying　to　move　the　crowd　on；　but　not　trying　sincerely。　　He　saw　three　huge　cameras；　their　operators　under　the　black　cloths；　their　lenses　pointed　at　the　doorwaiting　for　him　to　appear。　　For　the　first　time　in　his　life　he　completely　lost　his　nerve。　　Not　only　publicity；　the　papera　lifeless　sheet　of　print；　but　also　publicity；　the　publicwith　living　eyes　to　peer　and　living　voices　to　jeer。　　He　looked　helplessly；　appealingly　at　the　〃cur〃　he　had　itched　to　kick　the　moment　before。

〃What　the　devil　shall　I　do？〃　he　asked　in　a　voice　without　a　trace　of　courage。

〃I　don't　know；　sir；〃　replied　the　servant。　　〃The　basement　door　wouldn't　help　very　much；　would　it？〃

The　basement　door　was　in　front　also。　　〃Idiot！　　Is　there　no　way　out　at　the　rear？〃　he　asked。

〃Only　over　the　fences；　sir；〃　said　the　servant；　perfectly　matter…of…fact。　　Having　no　imagination；　his　mind　made　no　picture　of　the　great　captain　of　industry　scrambling　over　back　fences　like　a　stray　cat　flying　from　a　brick。

Dumont　turned　back　and　into　his　first…floor　sitting…room。　　He　unlocked　his　stand　of　brandy　bottles；　poured　out　an　enormous　drink　and　gulped　it　down。　　His　stomach　reeled；　then　his　head。　　He　went　to　the　window　and　looked　outthere　must　have　been　five　hundred　people　in　the　street；　and　vehicles　were　making　their　way　slowly　and　with　difficulty；　drivers　gaping　at　the　house　and　joking　with　the　crowd；　newsboys；　bent　sidewise　to　balance　their　huge　bundles　of　papers；　were　darting　in　and　out；　and　even　through　the　thick　plate　glass　he　could　hear：　　〃All　about　Millionaire　Dumont's　disgrace！〃

He　went　through　to　a　rear　window。　　No；　there　was　a　continuous　wall；　a　high　brick　wall。　　A　servant　came　and　told　him　he　was　wanted　at　the　telephone。　　It　was　Giddings；　who　said　in　a　voice　that　was　striving　in　vain　to　be　calm　against　the　pressure　of　some　intense　excitement：　　〃You　are　coming　down　to…day；　Mr。　Dumont？〃

〃Why？〃　asked　Dumont；　snapping　the　word　out　as　short　and　savage　as　the　crack　of　a　lash。

〃There　ar