paul the peddler-第23部分
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〃Yes；〃 said the young man； fully believing that he was telling
the truth。
〃And I have called on your parents？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I think；〃 said the adventurer； 〃that will be sufficient to
convince you that I am what I appear。〃
It was hard to doubt； in the face of such evidence。 Ephraim
Young was so unmistakably from the rural districts that it would
have been absurd to suspect him of being an artful city rogue。
Besides； Mr。 Barnes himself was got up so naturally that all the
clerk's doubts vanished at once。 He concluded that the customer
who had questioned his genuineness must be very much mistaken。
〃I ought to apologize to you； sir；〃 he said； 〃for doubting your
word。 But in a city like this you know one has to be very
careful。〃
〃Of course；〃 said the adventurer； blandly； 〃I do not blame you in
the least。 You only did your duty； though it might have cost me
some trouble and inconvenience。〃
〃I am sorry； sir。〃
〃No apologies； I beg。 It has all turned out right； and your
mistake was a natural one。 If you will kindly return me the
ring； I will defer selling it； I think； till another day。〃
The clerk brought the ring； which he handed back to Mr。
Montgomery。 The latter received it with so much the more
satisfaction； as he had made up his mind at one time that it was
gone irrevocably； and put it away in his waistcoat pocket。
〃I had intended to buy some silver spoons；〃 he said； 〃but it will
be necessary to wait until I have disposed of the ring。 However；
I may as well look at some； eh； Mrs。 Barnes？〃
〃If you like；〃 assented the lady。
So the pair examined some spoons； and fixed upon a dozen； which
they said they would return and buy on the next day； and then；
with a polite good…by； went out of the store； leaving behind； on
the whole； a favorable impression。
Ephraim Young accompanied them out； and walked along beside them
in the street。 He； too； was in good spirits； for had not his
companion promised him five dollars for his services； which he
had faithfully rendered？ Five dollars to the young man from the
rural districts was a very considerable sum of moneyquite a
nugget； in factand he already enjoyed in advance the pleasure
which he anticipated of telling his friends at home how easily he
had earned such a sum in 〃York。〃 He walked along beside the
adventurer； expecting that he would say something about paying
him； but no allusion was made by the adventurer to his promise。
Indeed； five dollars was considerably more than he had in his
possession。 When they reached Amity street； for they were now
proceeding up Broadway； he sought to shake off the young man；
whose company he no longer desired。
〃This is our way；〃 he said。 〃I suppose you are going further。 I
am very glad to have met you； Mr。 Young。 I hope you will give
our regards to your excellent parents；〃 and he held out his hand
in token of farewell。
〃Ain't you goin' to pay me that money？〃 said Ephraim； bluntly；
becoming alarmed at the prospect of losing the nugget he had
counted on with so much confidence。
〃Bless me； I came near forgetting it！ I hope you will excuse
me；〃 and to Ephraim's delight he drew out his pocketbook。 But
the prospect of payment was not so bright as the young man
supposed。
〃I don't think I have a five…dollar bill；〃 said Mr。 Montgomery；
after an examination of the pocketbook。 〃Mrs。 Montgomery； do you
happen to have a five with you？〃
〃No； I haven't；〃 said the lady； promptly。 〃I spent all my money
shopping this morning。〃
〃That is unfortunate。 Our young friend has rendered us such a
service I don't like to make him wait for his money。〃
Ephraim Young looked rather blank at this suggestion。
〃Let me see； I have a hundred…dollar bill here；〃 said Mr。
Montgomery。 〃I will go into the next store； and see if I can't
get it changed。 Mr。 Young； will you be kind enough to remain
with my wife？〃
〃Certain；〃 said Ephraim； brightening up。
Mr。 Montgomery went into a shop near by； but made no request to
have a hundred…dollar bill changed。 He was rather afraid that
they might comply with his request； which would have subjected
him to some embarrassment。 He merely inquired if he could use a
pen for a moment； request which was readily granted。 In less
than five minutes he emerged into the street again。 Ephraim
Young looked toward him eagerly。
〃I am sorry to say； my young friend；〃 he remarked； 〃that I was
unable to get my bill changed。 I might get it changed at a bank；
but the banks are all closed at this hour。〃
The countryman looked disturbed。
〃I am afraid；〃 continued Mr。 Montgomery； 〃I must wait and send
you the money in a letter from Hayfield Centre。〃
〃I'd rather have it now；〃 said Ephraim。
〃I am sorry to disappoint you；〃 said the adventurer smoothly；
〃but after all you will only have a day or two to wait。 To make
up to you for the delay I have decided to send you ten dollars
instead of five。 Finding I could not change my bill； I wrote a
note for the amount； which I will hand you。〃
Ephraim received the paper； which the other handed him； and read
as follows：
NEW YORK； Sept 15； 18。
Three days from date I promise to pay Mr。 Ephraim Young ten
dollars。
JOTHAM BARNES； of Hayfield Centre。
〃How will that do？〃 asked the adventurer。 〃By waiting three
days you double your money。〃
〃You'll be sure to send it；〃 said Ephraim； doubtfully。
〃My young friend； I hope you do not doubt me；〃 said the Rev。 Mr。
Barnes； impressively。
〃I guess it's all right；〃 said Ephraim； 〃only I thought I might
like to spend the money in the city。〃
〃Much better save it up；〃 said the other。 〃By and by it may come
in useful。〃
Ephraim carefully folded up the note； and deposited it in an
immense wallet； the gift of his father。 He would have preferred
the money which it represented： but three days would soon pass；
and the ten dollars would be forwarded to him。 He took leave of
his new acquaintances； Mr。 Montgomery shaking his hand with
affectionate warmth； and requesting him to give his best respects
to his parents。 When Ephraim was out of sight he returned to his
wife； with a humorous twinkle in his eye； and said：
〃Wasn't that cleverly done； old lady？〃
〃Good enough！〃 remarked the lady。 〃Now you've got the ring back
again； what are you going to do with it？〃
〃That； my dear； is a subject which requires the maturest
consideration。 I shall endeavor to convert it as soon as
possible into the largest possible sum in greenbacks。 Otherwise
I am afraid our board bill； and the note I have just given to my
rural friend； will remain unpaid。〃
CHAPTER XXIV
MR。 MONTGOMERY'S ARREST
Having shaken off his country acquaintance； of whom he had no
further need； Mr。 Montgomery started to return to his lodgings。
On the whole； he was in good spirits； though he had not effected
the sale of the ring。 But it was still in his possession； and it
had a tangible value。
〃I am sorry you did not sell the ring；〃 said Mrs。 Montgomery。
〃So am I；〃 said her husband。 〃We may have to sell it in some
other city。〃
〃We can't leave the city without money。〃
〃That's true；〃 returned her husband； rather taken aback by what
was undeniably true。
〃We must sell the ring； or raise money on it； in New York。〃
〃I don't know but you are right。 The trouble is； there are not
many places where they will buy so expensive an article。
Besides； they will be apt to ask impertinent questions。〃
〃You might go to a pawnbroker's。〃
〃And get fleeced。 If I got a quarter of the value from a
pawnbroker； I should be lucky。〃
〃We must do something with it；〃 said Mrs。 Montgomery； decidedly。
〃Right； my dear。 We must get the sinews of war somewhere。
Richard will never be himself again till his pocketbook is lined
with greenbacks。 At present； who steals my purse steals trash。〃
〃Suppose you try Tiffany's？〃
〃The ring has already been offered there。 They might remember
it。〃
〃If they do； say that he is your son。〃
〃A good thought；〃 answered the husband。 〃I will act upon it。
But； on the whole； I'll doff this disguise； and assume my
ordinary garments。 This time； my dear； I shall not need your
assistance。〃
〃Well； the sooner it's done the better。 That's all I have to
say。〃
〃As soon as possible。〃
Mr。 Montgomery returned to his lodgings in Amity street； and；
taking off his clerical garb； appeared in the garb in which we
first made his acquaintance。 The change was very speedily
effected。
〃Wish me good luck； Mrs。 M。；〃 he said； as he opened the door。 〃I
am going to make another attempt。〃
〃Good luck to you； Tony！ Come back soon。〃
〃As soon as my business is completed。 If I get the money； we
will leave for Philadelphia this evening。 You may as well be
packing up。〃
〃I am afraid the landlady won't let us carry away our baggage
unless we pay our bill。〃
〃Never mind！ Pack it up； and we'll run our chance。〃
Felix Montgomery left the house with the ring carefully deposited
in his vest pocket。 To judge from his air of easy indifference；
he might readily have been taken for a substantial citizen in
excellent circumstances； but then appearances are oftentimes
deceitful； and they were especially so in the present instance。
He made his way quickly to Broadway； and thence to Tiffany's； at
that time not so far uptown as at present。 He entered the store
with a nonchalant air； and； advancing to the counter； accosted
the same clerk to whom Paul had shown the ring earlier in the
day。
〃I have a valuable ring which I would like to sell；〃 he said。
〃Will you tell me its value？〃
The clerk no sooner took it in his hand than he
