children of the whirlwind-第23部分

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rest　each　had　in　the　other；　to　help　bridge　or　close　the　chasm　which　he　sensed　had　opened　between　them。　So　he　brought　the　picture　of　the　Italian　mother　from　his　room。　She　regarded　it　critically；　but　with　no　sign　of　approval　or　disapproval。

〃What　do　you　think　of　it？〃　she　asked。

〃It's　a　most　remarkable　piece　of　work！〃　he　said　emphaticallywishing　he　could　bring　in　that　picture　of　Maggie　as　additional　evidence　supporting　his　opinion。

She　made　no　further　comment；　and　it　was　up　to　Larry　to　keep　the　conversation　alive。　〃What　is　the　most　Mr。　Hunt　ever　was　paid　for　a　painting？　I　mean　one　of　what　he　swears　at　as　his　‘pretty　pictures'？〃

〃I　believe　about　two　thousand　dollars。〃

That　was　part　of　the　information　necessary　to　Larry's　plan。

〃Miss　Sherwood；　I'm　going　to　ask　another　favor　of　you。　In　connection　with　a　bet　I　made　with　Mr。　Hunt。　I　want　to　talk　with　a　picture　dealerthe　best　one　there　is。　I　can't　very　well　go　to　him。　Can　you　manage　to　have　him　come　here？〃

〃Easily。　I　know　the　man　best　for　your　purpose。　I'll　telephone；　and　if　he's　in　New　York　he'll　come　to　see　you　this　afternoon。〃

〃Thank　you。〃

She　started　out；　then　turned。　〃Better　finish　your　business　with　him　to…day　if　you　can。　We　go　to　the　country　to…morrow　or　the　day　after。　I've　just　had　word　that　the　workmen　are　finally　out　of　the　house；　though　the　grounds；　of　course；　are　in　bad　shape；　and　will　probably　remain　so。　With　this　labor　situation；　it's　practically　impossible　to　get　men。〃

Larry　remembered　something　else。　〃Miss　Sherwood；　you　recall　my　once　speaking　about　a　man　I　got　to　be　friends　with　in　prisonJoe　Ellison？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I've　written　him；　under　an　assumed　name；　of　course；　and　have　had　an　answer。　He'll　be　out　in　a　very　few　days　now。　He's　through　with　his　old　ways。　I　know　he'd　like　nothing　better　than　a　quiet　place　to　work；　off　to　himself　somewhere。　I'm　sure　you　can　trust　him。〃

〃We'll　arrange　to　have　him　come　out　to　Cedar　Crest。　Oh；　don't　think　I'm　being　generous　or　sentimental；〃　she　interrupted　smilingly　as　he　started　to　thank　her。　〃I'd　be　glad　to　put　two　or　three　more　ex…convicts　to　work　on　our　place　if　I　could　get　them。　And　so　would　my　friends；　they　can't　get　workmen　of　any　kind。〃

That　afternoon　the　picture　dealer　came。　Miss　Sherwood　introduced　Larry　to　him　as　Mr。　Brandon；　her　cousin；　and　then　left　the　two　men　together。　Larry　appraised　Mr。　Graham　as　a　shrewd　man　who　knew　his　business　and　who　would　like　to　score　a　triumph　in　his　own　particular　field。　He　decided　that　the　dealer　had　to　be　handled　with　a　great　deal　of　frankness；　and　with　some　stiff　bluffing　which　must　appear　equally　frank。　The　secret　of　Larry's　earlier　success　had　been　to　establish　confidence　and　even　enthusiasm　in　something　which　had　little　or　no　value。　In　selling　an　honest　thing　at　an　honest　price；　the　first　and　fundamental　procedure　was　the　same；　to　establish　confidence　and；　if　possible；　enthusiasm。

From　the　moment　of　introduction　Larry　quietly　assumed　the　manner　of　an　art　collector　who　was　very　sure　of　himself；　which　manner　was　abetted　by　the　setting　of　the　Sherwood　library。　He　felt　something　of　the　old　zest　when　wits　had　been　matched　against　wits；　even　though　this　was　to　be　a　strictly　honorable　enterprise。

〃You　know　the　work　of　Mr。　Jerome　Hunt？〃　he　asked。

〃I　have　handled　practically　all　his　work　since　he　began　to　sell；〃　replied　Mr。　Graham。

〃I　was　referring　to　work　in　his　recent　manner。〃

〃He　has　not　been　doing　any　work　recently；〃　corrected　Mr。　Graham。

〃No？〃　Larry　picked　up　the　Italian　mother　which　for　this　occasion　he　had　mounted　with　thumb…tacks　upon　a　drawing…board；　and　stood　it　upon　a　chair　in　the　most　advantageous　light。　〃There　is　a　little　thing　in　Mr。　Hunt's　recent　manner　which　I　lately　purchased。〃

Mr。　Graham　regarded　the　painting　long　and　critically。

Finally　he　remarked：

〃At　least　it　is　different。〃

〃Different　and　better；〃　said　Larry　with　his　quiet　positiveness。　〃So　much　better　that　I　paid　him　three　thousand　dollars　for　it。〃

〃Three　thousand！〃　The　dealer　regarded　Larry　sharply。　〃Three　thousand　for　that？〃

〃Yes。　And　I　consider　that　I　got　a　bargain。〃

Mr。　Graham　was　silent　for　several　moments。　Then　he　said　〃For　what　reason　have　I　been　asked　here？〃

〃I　want　you　to　undertake　to　sell　this　picture。〃

〃For　how　much？〃

〃Five　thousand　dollars。〃

〃Five　thousand　dollars！〃

〃It　is　easily　worth　five　thousand；〃　Larry　said　quietly。

〃If　you　value　it　so　highly；　why　do　you　want　to　sell？〃

〃I　am　pressed　by　the　present　money　shortage。　Also　I　secured　a　second　picture　when　I　got　this　one。　That　second　picture　I　shall　not　sell。　You　should　have　no　difficulty　in　selling　this；〃　Larry　continued；　〃if　you　handle　the　matter　right。　Think　of　how　people　have　started　again　to　talk　about　Gaugin：　about　his　starting　to　paint　in　a　new　manner　down　there　in　the　Marquesas　Islands；　of　his　trading　a　picture　for　a　stick　of　furniture　or　selling　it　for　a　few　hundred　francswhich　same　paintings　are　now　each　worth　a　small　fortune。　Capitalize　this　Gaugin　talk；　also　the　talk　about　poor　mad　Blakeslie。　You've　got　a　new　sensation。　One　all　your　own。〃

〃You　can't　start　a　sensation　with　one　painting；〃　Mr。　Graham　remarked　dryly。

This　had　been　the　very　remark　Larry　had　adroitly　been　trying　to　draw　from　the　dealer。

〃Why；　that's　so！〃　he　exclaimed。　And　then　as　if　the　thought　had　only　that　moment　come　to　him：　〃Why　not　have　an　exhibition　of　paintings　done　in　his　new　manner？　He's　got　a　studio　full　of　things　just　as　characteristic　as　this　one。〃

Larry　caught　the　gleam　which　came　into　the　dealer's　eyes。　It　was　instantly　masked。

〃Too　late　in　the　spring　for　a　picture　show。　Couldn't　put　on　an　exhibition　before　next　season。〃

〃But　why　not　have　a　private　pre…exhibition　showing？〃　Larry　argued　〃with　special　invitations　sent　to　a　small；　carefully　chosen　list；　putting　it　over　strong　to　them　that　you　were　offering　them　the　chance　of　a　first　and　exclusive　view　of　something　very　remarkable。　Most　of　them　will　feel　flattered　and　will　come。　And　that　will　start　talk　and　stir　up　interest　in　your　public　exhibition　in　the　fall。　That's　the　idea！〃

Again　there　was　the　gleam；　quickly　masked；　in　the　dealer's　eyes。　But　Larry　got　it。

〃How　do　I　know　this　picture　here　isn't　just　an　accident？the　only　one　of　the　sort　Mr。　Hunt　has　ever　painted；　or　ever　will　paint？〃　cautiously　inquired　Mr。　Graham。　〃You　said　you　had　a　second　picture。　May　I　see　it？〃

Larry　hesitated。　But　he　believed　he　had　the　dealer　almost　〃sold〃；　a　little　more　and　Mr。　Graham　would　be　convinced。　So　he　brought　in　Maggie's　portrait。　The　dealer　looked　it　over　with　a　face　which　he　tried　to　keep　expressionless。

〃How　much　is　this　one？〃　he　asked　at　length。

〃It　is　not　for　sale。〃

〃It　will　bring　more　money　than　the　other。　It's　a　more　interesting　subject。〃

〃That's　why　I'm　keeping　it；〃　said　Larry。　〃I　think　you'll　admit；　Mr。　Graham；　that　this　proves　that　Mr。　Hunt　is　not　now　painting　accidents。〃

〃You're　right。〃　The　mask　suddenly　dropped　from　Mr。　Graham's　face；　he　was　no　longer　merely　an　art　merchant；　he　was　also　an　art　enthusiast。　〃Hunt　has　struck　something　bold　and　fresh；　and　I　think　I　can　put　him　over。　I'll　try　that　scheme　you　mentioned。　Tell　me　where　I　can　find　him　and　I'll　see　him　at　once。〃

〃That　picture　has　got　to　be　sold　before　I　give　you　his　address。　No　use　seeing　him　until　then；　he'd　laugh　at　you；　and　not　listen　to　anything。　He's　sore　at　the　world；　thinks　it　doesn't　understand　him。　An　actual　sale　would　be　the　only　argument　that　would　have　weight　with　him。〃

〃All　rightI'll　buy　the　picture　myself。　Hunt　and　I　have　had　a　falling　out；　and　I'd　like　him　to　have　proof　that　I　believe　in　him。〃　Again　Mr。　Graham　was　the　art　merchant。　〃Though；　of　course；　I　can't　pay　the　five　thousand　you　ask。　Hunt's　new　manner　may　catch　on；　and　it　may　not。　It's　a　big　gamble。〃

〃What　will　you　pay？〃

〃What　you　paid　for　itthree　thousand。〃

〃That's　an　awful　drop　from　what　I　expected。　When　can　you　pay　it？〃

〃I'll　send　you　my　check　by　an　assistant　as　soon　as　I　get　back　to　my　place。〃

〃I　told　you　I　was　squeezed　financiallyso　the　picture　is　yours。　I'll　send　you　Mr。　Hunt's　present　address　when　I　receive　your　check。　Make　it　payable　to　'cash。'〃

When　Mr。　Graham　had　gone　with　the　Italian　motherit　was　then　the　very　end　of　the　afternoonLarry　wondered　if　his　plan　to　draw　Hunt　out　of　his　hermitage　was　going　to　succeed；　and　wondered　what　would　be　the　result；　if　any；　upon　the　relationship　between　Hunt　and　Miss　Sherwood　if　Hunt　should　come　openly　back　into　his　world　an　acclaimed　success；　and　come　with　the　changed　attitude　toward　every　one　and　every　thing　that　recognition　bestows。

But　something　was　to　make　Larry　wonder　even　more　a　few　minutes　later。　Dick；　that　habitual　late　riser；　had　had　to　hurry　away　that　morning　without　speaking　to　him。　Now；　when　he　came　home　toward　six　o'clock；　Dick　shouted　cheerily　from　the　hallway：

〃Ahoy！　Where　you　anchored；　Captain　Nemo？〃

Larry　did　not　answer。　He　sat　over　his　papers　as　one　frozen。　He　knew　now　whose　had　been　the　elusively　familiar　voice　he　had　heard　outside　Maggie's　door。　It　was　Dick　Sherwood's。

Dick　paused　without　to　take　some　messages　from　Judkins；　and　Larry's　mind　raced　feverishly。　Dick　Sherwood　was　the　victim　Maggie　and　Barney　and　Old　Jimmie　were　so　cautiously　and　elaborately　trying　to　trim！　It　seemed　an　impossible　coincidence。　But　no；　not　impossible；　after　all。　Their　net　had　been　spread　for　just　such　game：　a　young　man；　impressionable；　pleasure…loving；　with　plenty　of　money；　and　with　no　strings　tied　to　his　spending　of　it。　That　Barney　should　have　made　his　acquaintance　was　easily　explained；　to　establish　acquaintance　with　such　persons　as　Dick　was　Barney's　specialty。　What　more　natural　than　that　the　high…spirited；　irresponsible　Dick　should　fall　into　this　trap？or　indeed　that　he　should　have　been　picked　out　in　advance　as　the　ideal　victim　and　have　been　drawn　into　it？

〃Hello；　there！〃　grumbled　Dick；　entering。　〃Why　didn't　you　answer　a　shipmate's　hail？〃

〃I　heard　you；　but　just　then　I　was　adding　a　column　of　figures；　and　I　knew　you'd　look　in。〃

At　that　moment　Larry　noted　the　portrait　of　Maggie；　looking　up　from　the　chair　beside　him。　With　a　swiftness　which　he　tried　to　disguise　into　a　mechanical　action；　he　seized　the　painting　and　rolled　it　up；　face　inside。

〃What's　that　you've　got？〃　demanded　Dick。

〃Just　a　little　daub