The following morning Aaron went to the office as usual, and quickly discovered that the poisoned arrow had found its mark. He was received with coldness, and the principals of the firm passed his desk without speaking to him. He observed the older employes whispering together, and looking at him furtively1, avoiding his eye when he returned their gaze. His mind was soon made up; sending in his name to his employers he requested an interview with them. Upon entering the private room he saw upon the table a copy of the paper containing the scandalous attack; he did not change colour, he thought of Rachel's love, and his voice was firm and resigned.
"You have read this article, Mr. Cohen?" said the principal member of the firm.
"Yes, sir; I read it last night."
"And you have come to explain----"
He interrupted his employer mildly.
"No, sir; I have not come to explain anything. I am here to tender my resignation."
"You save us from a difficulty, Mr. Cohen. It was our intention to speak to you before the day was over. But still, if the story we have seen in the paper is not true--if it does not, after all, refer to you----"
"The story is true," he said, "and it refers to me."
"In that case," was the reply, "there is nothing more to be said. We regret the necessity, but it appears unavoidable. The cashier will pay you a month's salary in lieu of notice."
"I can accept only what is due to me," said Aaron; and shortly afterwards he left the office.
Not one of his fellow-clerks offered to shake hands with him as he went away; but the pang2 he felt was momentary3.
"Patience, patience," he murmured, raising his eyes to heaven. "To Thy decree, O God, I humbly4 submit. My punishment is just."
He did not return home until evening, and then he said nothing to Rachel of his dismissal. The next day he went out and wandered aimlessly about the streets, choosing the thoroughfares where he would be least likely to be recognised. So the days passed, and still he had not the courage to speak to Rachel.
"Perhaps in another country," he thought, "I may find rest, and Rachel and I will be allowed to pass the remainder of our life in peace."
On Tuesday, in the ensuing week, he went forth5, and with bowed head was walking sadly on, when, with a sudden impulse, he wheeled round in the direction of his home. The feeling that impelled6 him to do this was, that he was behaving treacherously7 to Rachel in keeping the secret from her. He would make her acquainted with his disgrace and dismissal, and never again in his life would he conceal8 anything from her knowledge. This resolution gave him the courage he had lacked.
"It is as if I were losing faith in her," he murmured. "Love has made me weak where it should have made me strong."
He hastened his steps, and soon reached his home. As he stood for a moment at the door of the sitting-room9 he heard a voice within which he recognised as that of his old rival, Mr. Poynter, and upon his entrance he found that gentleman and his wife together.
Rachel was standing10 in a dignified11 attitude, as though in the presence of an enemy; her face was pale and scornful, and Mr. Poynter was manifestly ill at ease. Hearing her husband's footsteps she extended her hand, and taking his, pressed it to her lips. In this position they must be left for a brief space while an explanation is given of another incident which was to bear directly upon the scene, and to bring into it a startling colour.
Prissy had conducted Mr. Poynter into the presence of her mistress, and had scarcely done so when she was called down to a lady, who had inquired for Mr. and Mrs. Cohen.
"Mr. Cohen is out," said Prissy, "and Mrs. Cohen is engaged."
"I wish to see them particularly," said the lady, giving Prissy a card, upon which the name of Mrs. Gordon was engraved12. "Are you Prissy?"
"Yes, ma'am," Prissy answered in wonder; "but I don't remember ever having seen you."
"You have never seen me before," said Mrs. Gordon with a smile, "but I have heard of you. Can I wait until your mistress's visitor is gone? I bring good news."
"You can sit in my room, if you don't mind, ma'am," said Prissy, who was greatly excited at the promise of good news.
"Thank you," said Mrs. Gordon; and she followed the servant upstairs to a room next to that in which Mr. Poynter and Rachel were conversing13, and where, the wall being thin, she could hear every word that was being spoken in the adjoining apartment.
"This gentleman," said Rachel to her husband, pointing in the direction of Mr. Poynter, "has called to see you on business, and has taken advantage of your absence to offer me a bribe15."
"One moment, Rachel," said Aaron; "let me first hear the nature of Mr. Poynter's business."
"I will explain it," said Mr. Poynter. "I have not been fortunate enough to win Mrs. Cohen's favour, but ladies are not accustomed to discuss business matters."
"Did you come here to discuss a business matter with my wife?" inquired Aaron, calmly.
"Well, hardly; but as you were absent I thought I might mention the matter to her."
"What matter?"
"The business I came upon," said Mr. Poynter, irritated by Aaron's composure. "I am ready to hear it, sir."
"Very well. We will not beat about the bush, but will come straight to the point. You are down in the world, Mr. Cohen?"
"Yes, sir; I am, as you say, down in the world."
"The newspapers," continued Mr. Poynter, "have been saying uncomplimentary things of you, and I have heard a threat of further revelations. I considered it my duty--in the interests of truth, Mr. Cohen--to make your wife acquainted with these public disclosures."
Rachel pressed her lips again upon Aaron's hand, which she held in a firm and loving grasp. His face brightened.
"You have rendered me a service," he said. "Possibly I have you to thank, also, for the statements which have been made in the papers concerning me."
"Possibly," said Mr. Poynter.
"Nay," said Aaron, "you suggested just now the advisability of not beating about the bush, and you proclaim that you are here in the interests of truth. Have I, or have I not, to thank you for this unfavourable publicity16?"
"I have never shrunk from the truth," replied Mr. Poynter, with a lofty air, "nor from a duty, however distressing17 the truth or the duty might be. Society has to be considered, and we must ignore the feeling of the individual. I became possessed18 of certain information, and I considered it my imperative19 duty not to withhold20 it from the public ear."
"I thank you. Without further circumlocution21 I must ask you to come straight to the business which brings you here."
"It is very simple, and will put money in your pocket, of which, it seems to me, you stand in need."
"I do stand in need of money."
"Then the matter can be arranged. Some little while since we had a conversation concerning certain contracts which you were not in a position to complete."
"You solicited22 a transference of those contracts to your firm," said Aaron, "and I declined to grant your request."
"You use high-sounding words for one in your position," said Mr. Poynter, with a frown, "but I will not quarrel with you. You gave the worst of all bad reasons for your refusal."
"Whether my reasons were good or bad, you have taken your revenge."
"God-fearing men do not seek revenge, but justice. To continue. The firm to which you transferred the most important of these contracts happens at the present time to need some assistance, and hearing of it, I offer what it needs. But it appears that you have hampered23 them, and that in the deed of transference you expressly stipulate24 that no part of the contracts shall be executed by me unless I bind25 myself to a scale of wages and hours which you have tabulated26."
"I considered it fair to the men," said Aaron, "and it is as you have stated."
"It is my belief," pursued Mr. Poynter, "that the firm will accept my aid if I adhere to the scale, which I decline to do. I know what is right, and I will not be dictated27 to. My business here is to make you the offer of a sum of money--I will go as far as a hundred pounds--if you will cancel this stipulation29 by which my friends are bound. A hundred pounds is a large sum, Mr. Cohen; it would come in useful to you just now."
"It would. It is likely you would increase the sum."
"Oh, you Jews, you Jews!" exclaimed Mr. Poynter, jocosely30, thinking he had gained his point. "Always on the look-out for the main chance--always screwing out the last penny. Well, I am not a mean man, Mr. Cohen. We will say a hundred and twenty."
Aaron turned to Rachel, and asked, "Is this the bribe you spoke14 of?"
"It is not," she replied. "Mr. Poynter will explain it to you in his own words."
"I haven't the smallest objection," said Mr. Poynter. "You see, Mr. Cohen, it is sometimes necessary to put the screw on. Who knows that better than you? There is a material screw, and a moral screw, in this particular case. The material screw is money; the moral screw is an iron safe, of which, as yet, no mention has been made in the newspapers."
"Ah!" said Aaron.
"It is almost a waste of words to speak of it to you, who are so familiar with the circumstances. This iron safe, it appears, was given into your charge when you received the infant into your house in Gosport. You were a pauper31 at the time, and from that day you prospered32. In a manner of speaking you became suddenly rich. Well, well, the temptation was too strong for you. You could not resist opening the safe, and appropriating what it contained--undoubtedly treasure of some sort in money or jewels. But, Mr. Cohen, there is an all-seeing Eye."
"I acknowledge it In the event of my refusing your money, you threaten to accuse me through the columns of the press of breaking open the safe and stealing the contents."
"You have expressed it clearly, Mr. Cohen. The moral screw, you know."
"And of further blackening my character."
"It can scarcely be made worse than it is. In the event of your refusal I shall certainly do my duty."
"Mr. Poynter," said Aaron, with dignity, "I refuse your offer."
"It is not enough?"
"Were you to multiply it a hundred times, it would not be enough."
Through Aaron's veins33 ran the sweet approval conveyed in Rachel's close clasp upon his hand. "You beggar!" exclaimed Mr. Poynter. "You hypocrite! You defy me?"
"I do not defy you; I simply tell you to do your worst."
"It shall be done!" cried Mr. Poynter, furiously. "You are ruined; I will ruin you still more; I will bring you to your knees; you shall lie in the gutter34 and beg for mercy! You paragon35 of sanctity, all the world shall know you for what you are!"
"You can use no harsher words," said Aaron. "Relieve me now of your presence."
As he said this the communicating door between the rooms opened, and Mrs. Gordon appeared on the threshold.
"Yes, I will go," said Mr. Poynter, but fell back when Mrs. Gordon advanced.
"Not yet," she said, and turned to Aaron. "I have a word to say to this gentleman. Your servant admitted me, and allowed me to wait in the adjoining apartment till you were disengaged. I have heard all that has passed between you, and I am thankful for the chance that enabled me to do so. Mr. Cohen, look upon that man, and mark how changed he is from braggart36 to coward. It is not the infamous37 falsehoods he has spoken, it is not the cowardly threats to which he has dared to give utterance38 in the presence of a lady, that cause him to shrink, that blanch39 his face, and bring terror into his eyes. It is because he sees me stand before him, the woman he betrayed and deserted40 long years ago. He believed me dead, driven to death by his treachery and baseness; he beholds41 me living, to cover him, if I wish, with shame and ignominy. Heaven knows I had no desire to seek him, but Heaven directed me here in a just moment to expose and baffle him. It is my turn now to threaten, it is my turn to dictate28. You unutterable villain42, you shall make some sort of retribution for the infamy43 of the past!"
"Psha!" said Mr. Poynter, with white lips. "Who will believe you? You have no proofs."
"I have. God's justice has turned your weapon against yourself. The safe entrusted44 to this noble gentleman, and which he delivered to me intact, untampered with, when I came to claim it, contained no treasure in money or jewels. When I parted with my child--and yours--I was too poor to deposit even one silver coin in it, but in its stead I placed there the letters you wrote to me, in your own hand, signed in your own name, the name by which you are known. These letters are now in my possession. How would you stand in the eyes of the world if I published them, you God-fearing man, with the story attaching to them? I will do it, as Heaven is my judge, if you do not repair the injury you have done this gentleman, whom, with all my heart and soul, I honour and revere45. It is him you have to thank that your child has been reared in honour and virtue46. Go! I never wish to look upon your face again; but as you are a living man I will bring the good name you falsely bear to the dust if you do not make reparation!"
As he slunk past her, uttering no word, she held her dress so that it should not come in contact with him. His power for evil was at an end, and Aaron had nothing more to fear from his malice47.
Then, after Aaron had introduced her to Rachel, she poured glad tidings into their ears. She had not sought them earlier, she said, because she wished first to execute a plan which was in her head respecting them, and she had also to reconcile Lord Storndale to his son's marriage with Ruth. Her great wealth had enabled her, after much labour, to succeed in this endeavour, and Ruth was recognised by her husband's family. The fortune which Aaron had settled upon Ruth had not been used in the carrying out of her desire; it was deposited in the bank, where only Aaron's signature was needed to prove his right to it. And now she begged them to accompany her; she wished to show them something, and her carriage was at the door. It conveyed them to a handsome house in a good neighbourhood, which they supposed to be Mrs. Gordon's residence. A neatly48 dressed maid answered the bell, and to their surprise Mrs. Gordon immediately left them, and saying she would call on the morrow, drove away before they could reply. The maid, holding the door open to allow them to enter, handed Aaron a letter and a packet, both addressed to him. The letter was from Mrs. Gordon, and upon reading it the mystery was explained. The house had been purchased by her in the name of Aaron Cohen, and the packet contained the deeds. "In furnishing the house," Mrs. Gordon wrote, "Ruth has been the guiding spirit; she knew what was most precious to you and your dear wife." Aaron's heart throbbed49 with gratitude50 as he and Rachel walked through the rooms, and he saw all the memorials of their old home which they held most dear. On the walls were the portrait of himself and the picture of Rachel in the garden in France, which had been presented to him on the day when all his friends had assembled to do him honour. Joyful51 tears ran down Rachel's face as he described these treasures to her; the love she had lavished52 on Ruth met now with its return. In the study Aaron paused, and lifting something from the table, placed it in Rachel's hands.
"Your silver-mounted pipe!" she exclaimed.
"My silver-mounted pipe," he answered. "My life, with this pipe, and the dear picture of you sitting under the cherry tree, and holding your dear hand, I can pass my days in perfect happiness and content."
"O Lord of the Universe," said Rachel, clasping her hands, and raising her lovely face, "I thank Thee humbly for all Thy goodness to me and mine!"
The End
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1
furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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treacherously
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| 背信弃义地； 背叛地； 靠不住地； 危险地 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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11
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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12
engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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withhold
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| v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡 | |
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circumlocution
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| n. 绕圈子的话，迂回累赘的陈述 | |
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solicited
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| v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
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hampered
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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stipulate
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| vt.规定，（作为条件）讲定，保证 | |
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bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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tabulated
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| 把（数字、事实）列成表( tabulate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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dictate
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| v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令 | |
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stipulation
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| n.契约，规定，条文；条款说明 | |
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jocosely
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| adv.说玩笑地，诙谐地 | |
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pauper
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| n.贫民，被救济者，穷人 | |
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prospered
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| 成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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gutter
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| n.沟，街沟，水槽，檐槽，贫民窟 | |
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paragon
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| n.模范，典型 | |
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braggart
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| n.吹牛者；adj.吹牛的，自夸的 | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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39
blanch
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| v.漂白；使变白；使(植物)不见日光而变白 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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beholds
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| v.看，注视( behold的第三人称单数 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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infamy
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| n.声名狼藉，出丑，恶行 | |
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entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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revere
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| vt.尊崇，崇敬，敬畏 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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47
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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49
throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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50
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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51
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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52
lavished
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| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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