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第43章

the three partners-第43章

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doctored in his interests as a 〃bear;〃 and there was wild talk of

lynching by the indignant mob。  Passengers from Sacramento; San

Francisco; and Marysville brought incredible news and the wildest

sensations。  Firm after firm had failed in the great cities。  Old

established houses that dated back to the 〃spring of '49;〃 and had

weathered the fires and inundations of their perilous Californian

infancy; collapsed before this mysterious; invisible; impalpable

breath of panic。  Companies rooted in respectability and sneered at

for old…fashioned ways were discovered to have shamelessly

speculated with trusts!  An eminent deacon and pillar of the church

was found dead in his room with a bullet in his heart and a damning

confession on the desk before him!  Foreign bankers were sending

their gold out of the country; government would be appealed to to

open the vaults of the Mint; there would be an embargo on all

bullion shipment!  Nothing was too wild or preposterous to be

repeated or credited。



And with this fever of sordid passion the summer temperature had

increased。  For the last two weeks the thermometer had stood

abnormally high during the day…long sunshine; and the metallic dust

in the roads over mineral ranges pricked the skin like red…hot

needles。  In the deepest woods the aromatic sap stood in beads on

felled logs and splintered tree…shafts; even the mountain night

breeze failed to cool these baked and heated fastnesses。  There

were ominous clouds of smoke by day that were pillars of fire by

night along the distant valleys。  Some of the nearer crests were

etched against the midnight sky by dull red creeping lines like a

dying firework。  The great hotel itself creaked and crackled and

warped though all its painted; blistered; and veneered expanse; and

was filled with the stifling breath of desiccation。  The stucco

cracked and crumbled away from the cornices; there were yawning

gaps in the boarded floors beneath the Turkey carpets。  Plate…glass

windows became hopelessly fixed in their warped and twisted sashes;

and added to the heat; there was a warm incense of pine sap in the

dining…room that flavored all the cuisine。  And yet the babble of

stocks and shares went on; and people pricked their ears over their

soup to catch the gossip of the last arrival。



Demorest; loathing it all in his new…found bitterness; was

nevertheless impatient in his inaction; and was eagerly awaiting a

telegram from Stacy; Barker had disappeared since luncheon。

Suddenly there was a commotion on the veranda as a carriage drove

up with a handsome; gray…haired woman。  In the buzzing of voices

around him Demorest heard the name of Mrs。 Van Loo。  In further

comments; made in more smothered accents; he heard that Van Loo had

been stopped at Canyon Station; but that no warrant had yet been

issued against him; that it was generally believed that the bank

dared not hold him; that others openly averred that he had been

used as a scapegoat to avert suspicion from higher guilt。  And

certainly Mrs。 Van Loo's calm; confident air seemed to corroborate

these assertions。



He was still wondering if the strange coincidence which had brought

both mother and son into his own life was not merely a fancy; as

far as SHE was concerned; when a waiter brought a message from Mrs。

Van Loo that she would be glad to see him for a few moments in her

room。  Last night he could scarcely have restrained his eagerness

to meet her and elucidate the mystery of the photograph; now he was

conscious of an equally strong revulsion of feeling; and a dull

premonition of evil。  However; it was no doubt possible that the

man had told her of his previous inquiries; and she had merely

acknowledged them by that message。



Demorest found Mrs。 Van Loo in the private sitting…room where he

and his old partners had supped on the preceding night。  She

received him with unmistakable courtesy and even a certain dignity

that might or might not have been assumed。  He had no difficulty in

recognizing the son's mechanical politeness in the first; but he

was puzzled at the second。



〃The manager of this hotel;〃 she began; with a foreigner's

precision of English; 〃has just told me that you were at present

occupying my rooms at his invitation; but that you wished to see me

at once on my return; and I believe that I was not wrong in

apprehending that you preferred to hear my wishes from my own lips

rather than from an innkeeper。  I had intended to keep these rooms

for some weeks; but; unfortunately for me; though fortunately for

you; the present terrible financial crisis; which has most unjustly

brought my son into such scandalous prominence; will oblige me to

return to San Francisco until his reputation is fully cleared of

these foul aspersions。  I shall only ask you to allow me the

undisturbed possession of these rooms for a couple of hours until I

can pack my trunks and gather up a few souvenirs that I almost

always keep with me。〃



〃Pray; consider that your wishes are my own in respect to that; my

dear madam;〃 returned Demorest gravely; 〃and that; indeed; I

protested against even this temporary intrusion upon your

apartments; but I confess that now that you have spoken of your

souvenirs I have the greatest curiosity about one of them; and that

even my object in seeking this interview was to gratify it。  It is

in regard to a photograph which I saw on the chimney…piece in your

bedroom; which I think I recognized as that of some one whom I

formerly knew。〃



There was a sudden look of sharp suspicion and even hard

aggressiveness that quite changed the lady's face as he mentioned

the word 〃souvenir;〃 but it quickly changed to a smile as she put

up her fan with a gesture of arch deprecation; and said:



〃Ah!  I see。  Of course; a lady's photograph。〃



The reply irritated Demorest。  More than that; he felt a sudden

sense of the absolute sentimentality of his request; and the

consciousness that he was about to invite the familiar confidence

of this strange womanwhose son had forged his namein regard to

HER!



〃It was a Venetian picture;〃 he began; and stopped; a singular

disgust keeping him from voicing the name。



But Mrs。 Van Loo was less reticent。  〃Oh; you mean my dearest

frienda lovely picture; and you know her?  Why; yes; surely。  You

are THE Mr。 Demorest who  Of course; that old love…affair。  Well;

you are a marvel!  Five years ago; at least; and you have not

forgotten!  I really must write and tell her。〃



〃Write and tell her!〃  Then it was all a lie about her death!  He

felt not only his faith; his hope; his future leaving him; but even

his self…control。  With an effort he said。



〃I think you have already satisfied my curiosity。  I was told five

years ago that she was dead。  It was because of the date of the

photographtwo years laterthat I ventured to intrude upon you。

I was anxious only to know the truth。〃



〃She certainly was very much living and of the world when I saw her

last; two years ago;〃 said Mrs。 Van Loo; with an easy smile。  〃I

dare say that was a ruse of her relativesa very stupid oneto

break off the affair; for I think they had other plans。  But; dear

me! now I remember; was there not some little quarrel between you

before?  Some letter from you that was not very kind?  My

impression is that there was something of the sort; and that the

young lady was indignant。  But only for a time; you know。  She very

soon forgot it。  I dare say if you wrote something very charming to

her it might not be too late。  We women are very forgiving; Mr。

Demorest; and although she is very much sought after; as are all

young American girls whose fathers can give them a comfortable

'dot'; her parents might be persuaded to throw over a poor prince

for a rich countryman in the end。  Of course; you know; to you

Republicans there is always something fascinating in titles and

blood; and our dear friend is like other girls。  Sti

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