the pit-第42部分

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〃I　have　always　believed　so；〃　he　answered。　　〃Of　all　the　arts；　music；　to　my　notion；　is　the　most　intimate。　　At　the　other　end　of　the　scale　you　have　architecture；　which　is　an　expression　of　and　an　appeal　to　the　common　multitude；　a　whole　people；　the　mass。　　Fiction　and　painting；　and　even　poetry；　are　affairs　of　the　classes；　reaching　the　groups　of　the　educated。　　But　musicah；　that　is　different；　it　is　one　soul　speaking　to　another　soul。　　The　composer　meant　it　for　you　and　himself。　　No　one　else　has　anything　to　do　with　it。　　Because　his　soul　was　heavy　and　broken　with　grief；　or　bursting　with　passion；　or　tortured　with　doubt；　or　searching　for　some　unnamed　ideal；　he　has　come　to　youyou　of　all　the　people　in　the　worldwith　his　message；　and　he　tells　you　of　his　yearnings　and　his　sadness；　knowing　that　you　will　sympathise；　knowing　that　your　soul　has；　like　his；　been　acquainted　with　grief；　or　with　gladness；　and　in　the　music　his　soul　speaks　to　yours；　beats　with　it；　blends　with　it；　yes；　is　even；　spiritually；　married　to　it。〃

And　as　he　spoke　the　electrics　all　over　the　gallery　flashed　out　in　a　sudden　blaze；　and　Curtis　Jadwin　entered　the　room；　crying　out：

〃Are　you　here；　Laura？　　By　George；　my　girl；　we　pulled　it　off；　and　I've　cleaned　up　fivehundredthousand　dollars。〃

Laura　and　the　artist　faced　quickly　about；　blinking　at　the　sudden　glare；　and　Laura　put　her　hand　over　her　eyes。

〃Oh；　I　didn't　mean　to　blind　you；〃　said　her　husband；　as　he　came　forward。　　〃But　I　thought　it　wouldn't　be　appropriate　to　tell　you　the　good　news　in　the　dark。〃

Corthell　rose；　and　for　the　first　time　Jadwin　caught　sight　of　him。

〃This　is　Mr。　Corthell；　Curtis；〃　Laura　said。　　〃You　remember　him；　of　course？〃

〃Why；　certainly；　certainly；〃　declared　Jadwin；　shaking　Corthell's　hand。　　〃Glad　to　see　you　again。　　I　hadn't　an　idea　you　were　here。〃　　He　was　excited；　elated；　very　talkative。　　〃I　guess　I　came　in　on　you　abruptly；〃　he　observed。　　〃They　told　me　Mrs。　Jadwin　was　in　here；　and　I　was　full　of　my　good　news。　　By　the　way；　I　do　remember　now。　　When　I　came　to　look　over　my　mail　on　the　way　down　town　this　morning；　I　found　a　note　from　you　to　my　wife；　saying　you　would　call　to…night。　　Thought　it　was　for　me；　and　opened　it　before　I　found　the　mistake。〃

〃I　knew　you　had　gone　off　with　it；〃　said　Laura。

〃Guess　I　must　have　mixed　it　up　with　my　own　mail　this　morning。　　I'd　have　telephoned　you　about　it；　Laura；　but　upon　my　word　I've　been　so　busy　all　day　I　clean　forgot　it。　　I've　let　the　cat　out　of　the　bag　already；　Mr。　Corthell；　and　I　might　as　well　tell　the　whole　thing　now。

I've　been　putting　through　a　little　deal　with　some　Liverpool　fellows　to…day；　and　I　had　to　wait　down　town　to　get　their　cables　to…night。　　You　got　my　telephone；　did　you；　Laura？〃

〃Yes；　but　you　said　then　you'd　be　up　in　half　an　hour。〃

〃I　knowI　know。　　But　those　Liverpool　cables　didn't　come　till　all　hours。　　Well；　as　I　was　saying；　Mr。　Corthell；　I　had　this　deal　on　handit　was　that　wheat；　Laura；　I　was　telling　you　about　this　morningfive　million　bushels　of　it；　and　I　found　out　from　my　English　agent　that　I　could　slam　it　right　into　a　couple　of　fellows　over　there；　if　we　could　come　to　terms。　　We　came　to　terms　right　enough。

Some　of　that　wheat　I　sold　at　a　profit　of　fifteen　cents　on　every　bushel。　　My　broker　and　I　figured　it　out　just　now　before　I　started　home；　and；　as　I　say；　I'm　a　clean　half　million　to　the　good。　　So　much　for　looking　ahead　a　little　further　than　the　next　man。〃　　He　dropped　into　a　chair　and　stretched　his　arms　wide。　　〃Whoo！　I'm　tired　Laura。　　Seems　as　though　I'd　been　on　my　feet　all　day。　Do　you　suppose　Mary；　or　Martha；　or　Maggie；　or　whatever　her　name　is；　could　rustle　me　a　good　strong　cup　of　tea。

〃Haven't　you　dined；　Curtis？〃　cried　Laura

〃Oh；　I　had　a　stand…up　lunch　somewhere　with　Sam。　　But　we　were　both　so　excited　we　might　as　well　have　eaten　sawdust。　　Heigho；　I　sure　am　tired。　　It　takes　it　out　of　you；　Mr。　Corthell；　to　make　five　hundred　thousand　in　about　ten　hours。〃

〃Indeed　I　imagine　so；〃　assented　the　artist。　　Jadwin　turned　to　his　wife；　and　held　her　glance　in　his　a　moment。　　He　was　full　of　triumph；　full　of　the　grim　humour　of　the　suddenly　successful　American。

〃Hey？〃　he　said。　　〃What　do　you　think　of　that　Laura；〃　he　clapped　down　his　big　hand　upon　his　chair　arm；　〃a　whole　half　millionat　one　grab？　　Maybe　they'll　say　down　there　in　La　Salle　Street　now　that　I　don't　know　wheat。　　Why；　Samthat's　Gretry　my　broker；　Mr。　Corthell；　of　Gretry；　Converse　&　Co。Sam　said　to　me　Laura；　to…night；　he　said；　'J。；'they　call　me　'J。'　down　there；　Mr。　Corthell'J。；　I　take　off　my　hat　to　you。　　I　thought　you　were　wrong　from　the　very　first；　but　I　guess　you　know　this　game　better　than　I　do。'　Yes；　sir；　that's　what　he　said；　and　Sam　Gretry　has　been　trading　in　wheat　for　pretty　nearly　thirty　years。　　Oh；　I　knew　it；〃　he　cried；　with　a　quick　gesture；　〃I　knew　wheat　was　going　to　go　up。　I　knew　it　from　the　first；　when　all　the　rest　of　em　laughed　at　me。　　I　knew　this　European　demand　would　hit　us　hard　about　this　time。　　I　knew　it　was　a　good　thing　to　buy　wheat；　I　knew　it　was　a　good　thing　to　have　special　agents　over　in　Europe。　　Oh；　they'll　all　buy　nowwhen　I've　showed　'em　the　way。　　Upon　my　word；　I　haven't　talked　so　much　in　a　month　of　Sundays。　　You　must　pardon　me；　Mr。　Corthell。　　I　don't　make　five　hundred　thousand　every　day。〃

〃But　this　is　the　lastisn't　it？〃　said　Laura。

〃Yes；〃　admitted　Jadwin；　with　a　quick；　deep　breath。　〃I'm　done　now。　　No　more　speculating。　　Let　some　one　else　have　a　try　now。　　See　if　they　can　hold　five　million　bushels　till　it's　wanted。　　My；　my；　I　am　tiredas　I've　said　before。　　D'that　tea　come；　Laura？〃

〃What's　that　in　your　hand？〃　she　answered；　smiling。

Jadwin　stared　at　the　cup　and　saucer　he　held；　whimsically。　　〃Well；　well；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I　must　be　flustered。　　Corthell；〃　he　declared　between　swallows；　〃take　my　advice。　　Buy　May　wheat。　　It'll　beat　art　all　hollow。〃

〃Oh；　dear；　no；〃　returned　the　artist。　　〃I　should　lose　my　senses　if　I　won；　and　my　money　if　I　didn't。

〃That's　so。　　Keep　out　of　it。　　It's　a　rich　man's　game。　And　at　that；　there's　no　fun　in　it　unless　you　risk　more　than　you　can　afford　to　lose。　　Well；　let's　not　talk　shop。　　You're　an　artist；　Mr。　Corthell。　　What　do　you　think　of　our　house？〃

Later　on　when　they　had　said　good…by　to　Corthell；　and　when　Jadwin　was　making　the　rounds　of　the　library；　art　gallery；　and　drawing…roomsa　nightly　task　which　he　never　would　intrust　to　the　servantsturning　down　the　lights　and　testing　the　window　fastenings；　his　wife　said：

〃And　now　you　are　out　of　itfor　good。〃

〃I　don't　own　a　grain　of　wheat；〃　he　assured　her。　　〃I've　got　to　be　out　of　it。〃

The　next　day　he　went　down　town　for　only　two　or　three　hours　in　the　afternoon。　　But　he　did　not　go　near　the　Board　of　Trade　building。　　He　talked　over　a　few　business　matters　with　the　manager　of　his　real　estate　office；　wrote　an　unimportant　letter　or　two；　signed　a　few　orders；　was　back　at　home　by　five　o'clock；　and　in　the　evening　took　Laura；　Page；　and　Landry　Court　to　the　theatre　。

After　breakfast　the　next　morning；　when　he　had　read　his　paper；　he　got　up；　and；　thrusting　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　looked　across　the　table　at　his　wife。

〃Well；〃　he　said。　　〃Now　what'll　we　do？〃

She　put　down　at　once　the　letter　she　was　reading。

〃Would　you　like　to　drive　in　the　park？〃　she　suggested。　〃It　is　a　beautiful　morning。〃

〃Mmyes；〃　he　answered　slowly。　　〃All　right。　　Let's　drive　in　the　park。〃

But　she　could　see　that　the　prospect　was　not　alluring　to　him。

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃no。　　I　don't　think　you　want　to　do　that。〃

〃I　don't　think　I　do；　either；〃　he　admitted。　　〃The　fact　is；　Laura；　I　just　about　know　that　park　by　heart。　　Is　there　anything　good　in　the　magazines　this　month？〃

She　got　them　for　him；　and　he　installed　himself　comfortably　in　the　library；　with　a　box　of　cigars　near　at　hand。

〃Ah；〃　he　said；　fetching　a　long　breath　as　he　settled　back　in　the　deep…seated　leather　chair。　　〃Now　this　is　what　I　call　solid　comfort。　　Better　than　stewing　and　fussing　about　La　Salle　Street　with　your　mind　loaded　down　with　responsibilities　and　all。　　This　is　my　idea　of　life。〃

But　an　hour　later；　when　Laurawho　had　omitted　her　ride　that　morninglooked　into　the　room；　he　was　not　there。　The　magazines　were　helter…skeltered　upon　the　floor　and　table；　where　he　had　tossed　each　one　after　turning　the　leaves。　　A　servant　told　her　that　Mr。　Jadwin　was　out　in　the　stables。

She　saw　him　through　the　window；　in　a　cap　and　great…　coat；　talking　with　the　coachman　and　looking　over　one　of　the　horses。　　But　he　came　back　to　the　house　in　a　little　while；　and　she　found　him　in　his　smoking…room　with　a　novel　in　his　hand。

〃Oh；　I　read　that　last　week；〃　she　said；　as　she　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　title。　　〃Isn't　it　interesting？　　Don't　you　think　it　is　good？〃

〃Ohyespretty　good；〃　he　admitted。　　〃Isn't　it　about　time　for　lunch？　　Let's　go　to　the　matinee　this　afternoon；　Laura。　　Oh；　that's　so；　it's　Thursday；　I　forgot。〃

〃Let　me　read　that　aloud　to　you；〃　she　said；　reaching　for　the　book。　　〃I　know　you'll　be　interested　when　you　get　farther　along。〃

〃Honestly；　I　don't　think　I　would　be；〃　he　declared。　〃I've　looked　ahead　in　it。　　It　seems　terribly　dry。　　Do　you　know；〃　he　said；　abruptly；　〃if　the　law　was　off　I'd　go　up　to　Geneva　Lake　and　fish　through　the　ice。　　Laura；　how　would　you　like　to　go　to　Florida？〃

〃Oh；　I　tell　you；〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Let's　go　up　to　Geneva　Lake　over　Christmas。　　We'll　open　up　the　house　and　take　some　of　the　servants　along　and　have　a　house　party。〃

Eventually　this　was　done。　　The　Cresslers　and　the　Gretrys　were　invited；　together　with　Sheldon　Corthell　and　Landry　Court。　　Page　and　Aunt　Wess'　came　as　a　matter　of　course。　　Jadwin　brought　up　some　of　the　horses　and　a　couple　of　sleighs。　　On　Christmas　night　they　had　a　great　tree；　and　Corthell　composed　the　words　and　music　for　a　carol　which　had　a　great　success。

About　a　week　later；　two　days　after　New　Year's　day；　when　Landry　came　down　from　Chicago　on　the　afternoon　train；　he　was　full　of　the　tales　of　a　great　day　on　the　Board　of　Trade。　　Laura；　descending　to　the　sitting…room；　just　before　dinner；　found　a　group　in　front　of　the　fireplace；　where　the　huge　logs　were　hissing　and　crackling。　　Her　husband　and　Cressler　were　there；　and　Gretry；　who　had　come　down　on　an　earlier　train。　　Page　sat　near　at　hand；　her　chin　on　her　palm；　listening　intently　to　Landry；　who　held　the　centre　of　the　stage　for　the　moment。　　In　a　far　corner　of　the　room　Sheldon　Corthell；　in　a　dinner　coat　and　patent…lea