the vision spendid(美景)-第44部分
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THE VISION SPLENDID
CHAPTER 21
Many a man has kept his self…respect through a long lifetime of
decalog breaking； only to go to smash like a crushed eggshell when he
commits the crime of being found out。 From the Note Book of a
Dreamer。
THE HERO IS PAINED TO FIND THAT EVEN IN A WELL…
REGULATED WORLD THE GODS ARE JUST； AND OF OUR
PLEASANT VICES MAKE INSTRUMENTS TO PLAGUE US
Going back across the park Jeff trod the hilltops。 He was not thinking
about society； except that small unit of it represented by a slender； golden
girl who had just bidden him good…bye。 And because his heart sang within
him his footsteps turned toward the office of his cousin。 There had been
between them of late an estrangement。 Since the lawyer had been
appointed general attorney for the Transcontinental and had formed a
partnership with Scott； thus bringing to the firm the business of the public
utility corporations； James had not found much time for Jeff。 He was a
member of the most important law firm on the Pacific Coast； judged by
the business it was doing； and he had definitely cut loose politically from
his former associates。 His cousin blamed himself for the change in their
personal relations； and he meant to bring things back to the old basis if he
could。
It was past office hours； but a light in the window of the junior
member's private office gave promise that James might be in。 Leaving the
elevator at the fourth floor； he walked down the corridor toward the suite
occupied by the firm。
Before he reached the door Jeff stopped。 Something unusual was
happening within。 There came to him the sounds of shuffling feet； of
furniture being smashed； of an angry oath。 Almost at once there was a thud；
as if something heavy had fallen。 The listener judged that a live body was
thrashing around actively。 The impact of blows； a heavy grunt； a second
stifled curse； decided Farnum。 Pushing through the outer office； he entered
the one usually occupied by James。
Two men were on the floor； one astride of the other。 The man on top
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THE VISION SPLENDID
was driving home heavy jarring blows against his opponent's face and
head。 Jeff ran forward and dragged him away。
〃Good heavens； Sam！ What's the matter？〃 his friend demanded in
surprise。
Miller waited panting； his fists still doubled； the lust of battle in his
eyes。
〃The damned cad！ The damned cad！〃 was all he could get out。
From the floor James Farnum was rising。 His forehead； his cheek； and
his lips were bleeding from cuts。 One of his eyes was closing rapidly。
There was a dogged look of fear in the battered face。
〃I tripped over a chair； he explained； glaring at his foe。
〃Damn you then； stand up and fight！〃
Disgust and annoyance were pictured on the damaged countenance of
the lawyer。 〃I don't fight with riff raff from the streets。〃
With a lurch Miller was free from Jeff and at him again。 James lashed
straight out and cut open his lip without stopping him。 Jeff wrenched the
furious man back again。 A moment later he made a discovery。 The fear of
his cousin was not physical。
〃Here！ Stop it； man！ What's the row about？〃 Jeff hung on with a
strangle hold while he fired his questions。
Sam turned a distorted face toward him。 〃Nellie。〃
The truth crashed home like a bolt of lightning。 James was the man
who had betrayed Nellie Anderson。 The thing was incredible； but Jeff
knew instantly it was so。
Except where the blood streamed down it the face of the lawyer was
colorless。 His lips twitched。
〃Is this true； James？〃
The sullen eyes of the detected man fell。 〃It will ruin me。 It will ruin
my career。 And all because in a moment of fearful temptation I yielded；
God help me。〃
〃God help you！〃 The angry scorn in Miller's voice burned like vitriol。
〃God help you！ you selfish villain and coward！ You pursued her！ You
hounded her。 You made your own temptationand hers。 And afterward
you left her to bear a lifetime of shameto kill herself if she couldn't stand
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it。 When I think of you； smug liar and hell hound； I know that killing isn't
good enough for you。〃
〃Steady； old man；〃 counseled Jeff。
Miller began to tremble violently。 Tears gathered in his eyes and
coursed down his fat cheeks。 〃And I can't stamp him out。 I can't expose
him without hurting her worse。 I've got to stand it without touching him。〃
Faintly Jeff smiled。 James did not look quite untouched。 He was a
much battered statue of virtue； his large dignity for once torn to shreds。
Miller flung himself down heavily in a chair and buried his face in his
hands。 James began to talk； and as he talked his fluency came back to him。
〃It's the only stain on my life record 。 。 。 the only one。 My life has been
an open book but for that。 I was only a boyand I made a slip。 Ought that
to spoil my whole life； a splendid career of usefulness for the city and the
state？ Ought I to be branded for that one error？〃
Miller looked up whitely。 〃Shut up； you liar！ If it had been a slip you
would have stood by her； you would have married the girl you had ruined。
But you left herto death or worse。 She was loyal to you。 She kept your
secret； you damned villain。 I wrung it out of her to…day when I went home
only by pretending that I knew。。。。 And you let Jeff bear the blame of it
without saying a word。 I know now why her name wasn't unearthed by the
reporters。 You killed the story because you were afraid the truth would
leak out。 You haven't a straight hair in your head。 You sold out Jeff's bill。
You're for yourself first and last； no matter who pays the price。〃
〃That's your interpretation of my career。 But what does Verden think of
me？ No man stands higher among the best people of the community。〃
〃To hell with you and your best people。 I say you're nothing but a
whited sepulchre；〃 snarled Miller。
Suddenly he reached for his hat and left the office。 He was stifling。
He knew that if he stayed he could not keep his hands from his
enemy's throat。
James wrung his hands。 〃My God； Jeff； it's awful！ To think that a little
fault should come out now to ruin me。 After I've gone so far and am on the
way to bigger things。 It's ghastly luck。 Can't you do something？ Can't you
keep the fellow quiet？ I'll pay anything in reason。〃
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Jeff looked at him steadily。 〃I wouldn't say that to him if I were you。〃
〃Oh； I don't know what I'm saying。〃 He mopped the blood from his
face with a handkerchief。 〃I'm half crazy。 Did he mark me up badly？〃
James examined himself anxiously in the glass。 〃He's just chopped my
face to pieces。 I'll have to get out of the city to…night and stay away till the
marks are gone。 But the main point is to keep him from talking。 Can you
do it？〃
For once Jeff's toleration failed him。 〃He's right。 You are a selfish
beggar。 Don't you ever think of anyone except yourself？〃
〃I'm not thinking of myself at all； but ofof someone else。 You're
wronging me； Jeff。 This is not the time to go back on me； now that I'm in
trouble。 You've got to help me out。 You've got to keep Miller quiet。 If he
talks I'm done for。〃
His cousin looked at him with contemptuous eyes。 〃Can't you see
haven't you fineness enough to see that Sam Miller would cut an arm off
before he would expose his wife to more talk？ Your precious secret's safe。〃
〃It's all very well for you to talk that way；〃 James complained。 〃I don't
suppose you ever were put into temptation by a woman。 You're not a lady's
man。 I'm the kind they take a shine to for some reason。 Now this Anderson
woman〃
Sharply Jeff cut in。 〃That's enough。 When you speak of her it won't be
in that tone of voice。 You'll speak respectfully of her。 She's the wife of my
friend； and before she met you was innocent as a child。〃
〃What do you know of her？ I tell you； Jeff； there's a type of woman
that's always smiling round the corner at you。 I don't say I did right to
yield to her。 Of course I didn't。 But； hang it； I'm not a block of wood。 I've
got red blood in my veins。 The whip of youth drove me on。 You've
probably never noticed it； but she was a devilish pretty girl。〃
He was swimming into his phrases so fluently that Jeff knew he would
soon persuade himself that he had been the victim of her wiles。 So； no
doubt； in one sense； he had。 She had laid her innocent bait to win his
friendship； with never a thought of what was to come of it。
〃It happened of course while you were rooming there；〃 the editor shot
