"Teddy, I've got a new job for you and one that'll keep you—well, it'll keep you pretty busy." There was one comforting thing about Knowlton, he never beat about the bush.
"What is it?" I asked anxiously.
"I've just hired a chemical assistant for you."
"Is that all?"
"No, it's much more complicated than that. This fellow is an old inventor—a kind of genius. At any rate, I've got faith in him. He dreams dreams and sees visions, like the fellow in the Bible—Job, wasn't it? I guess you know what I mean. But he has two serious drawbacks. He isn't practical—not the least idea of the value of money. It's up to you to see he does economically what he's told. The other drawback is that he drinks and is thoroughly2 unreliable. You've got to keep him straight and keep him away from the booze. His favourite occupation, aside from chemistry, is alternating Bass's ale with brandy and Benedictine. Then he gets ugly and his experiments suffer. When he's sober, he's a wonder."
I still was totally at sea as to what was expected of me.
"He looks like a pirate from the Barbary coast—San Francisco," Knowlton went on, "and when he's full he acts like one. I've rented the bedroom that opens into this study for him. You can share the sitting room and work here evenings on your chemical problems. Also you will be able to keep an eye on him. The first time he comes home pickled, you let me know."
This cool way of supplying me with a roommate staggered me.
"Do you wish me to cable your father to authorize3 this arrangement?" said Knowlton, with his unerring skill in tracing the course of my thoughts.
"Not if you honestly tell me it is for the good of the business, and not because you want to tie me down."
"Well," he puffed4, looking at his cigarette, "I'm frank enough to say it's a mixture of both. We need this man in our business and some one has got to look after him. It's two birds with one barrel."
"It's very inconvenient5 for me," I objected. "I like to read and experiment with my literary work in the evenings."
"The world is often an inconvenient place," moralized Knowlton. "It might be inconvenient for several of us if old Prospero gets to hitting the booze."
"Prospero?" I enquired6, surprised by Knowlton's sudden excursion into literature.
"That's the best name I know for him. I learned a piece about him in school once, something about cloud-capped palaces leaving a wreck7 behind them, or words to that effect. I have a hunch8 that if you steer9 old Prospero right, he'll bring one of those cloud-capped palaces down to earth. The only thing that worries me is the danger of the wreck behind. Shakespeare certainly knew human nature all right. He was a wise boy."
Knowlton achieved his carefully planned purpose of disarming10 me. I laughed and even began to feel most curious concerning Prospero.
"What is the real name of your genius?" I asked, still postponing11 my final decision.
"John de Fougère is what he call's himself, since he decided12 he had French blood. As a matter of fact he took this name to avoid an unnecessary wife in Cripple Creek13. That's a piece of information I've salted away for what it may be worth to us. Just now he is living with an ex-circus gymnast. I'm buying the lady off, and persuaded John to pay his alimony to her. He thinks I think this circus woman is his wife. Prospero's right name is Donald McClintock and he hails originally from South Carolina. There's still some Scotch14 that isn't whiskey in him somewhere."
"I think you have planned a rather heavy contract for me. Won't he get restless without his gymnastic companion?"
"No. You see Prospero is all brains and no physical strength. Lately the lady has taken to practicing her gymnastic skill on him and beats him up every time he stays out nights. He says she is too crassly15 material to appreciate his knowledge of chemistry. If we can keep him in shape and use his brains for three months, I'll be satisfied."
"All right" I agreed finally. "You may move him in here and I'll stand it as long as I can. When does he arrive?"
"Day after tomorrow."
With this Knowlton rose and took himself off, leaving me to meditate16 upon this new complication in life.
Wednesday evening brought Prospero. Knowlton escorted him to my apartment, and the door between my study and the extra bedroom was formally opened. Prospero revealed the reason for his name. He was a tall, gaunt, swarthy individual over whose sharp bones a sallow, shrunken skin clung tightly. His eyes, deep sunken and brown, glowed beneath bushy eyebrows17. His long, lean face was adorned18 with a waxed moustache and sharp pointed19 goatee, which, together with an ample brimmed felt hat, gave him the appearance of a royalist of the ancient régime. He wore a Byronic collar, above which protruded20 an enormous Adam's apple resting in the folds of a flowing black tie. His hands, tapering21 like a vulture's claws, were covered with cheap imitation jewelry22. A suit of outrageous23 checked tweeds and patent leather pumps gave the last touch to his bizarre appearance. Any one seeing him would seize upon him as a character newly stepped from some detective story or tale of mystery. His breath was strongly impregnated with alcohol, which the smoke of a Cuban cigarette hanging loosely from a flabby lower lip could not conceal24. He seemed even more out of place in Deep Harbor than I did. Some mediaeval alchemist's cell, hung with crocodiles and stuffed owls25, was the only natural background for him.
With him he brought infinite luggage—everything from a steamer roll to a canvas dunnage bag, all of it portable. As we shook hands, an act which he performed in a most friendly manner, he crossed the room, opened one of his mysterious overflowing26 bags, and produced a box of costly27 chocolates. These he solemnly passed—like the Dodo in "Alice in Wonderland," I thought. Like Alice I took one, fearing to offend him. Then he drew his chair up to a table and announced that he was ready to talk business.
Knowlton evidently understood what was expected, for he took out a roll of bills and counted out a respectable pile. "I think you will find the amount correct—two months' pay in advance as per our agreement," said Knowlton. Prospero made great ceremony of counting and recounting the bills in silence, moistening his fingers frequently and getting the smoke from his cigarette in his eyes at intervals28 during the process.
"And now, Teddy, my lad," he said suddenly to me, to my intense surprise, calling me by my nickname in this unexpected way, "we'll go out, get something to eat, and see the town."
I looked at Knowlton, and his expression denoted approval. I fetched my hat and the two of us sallied forth29. Don Quixote and Sancho were not a more ill-assorted couple, and it was not strange that men turned to stare at us in the street.
"You are French, I believe," I said at last in a desperate effort to start conversation. I didn't believe it, but I wanted to know what he would say. His answer was astounding30.
"I am a descendant of Charles Martel," he announced as if he were stating the most ordinary fact. I let the statement pass in silence.
"Are you leading me to the best restaurant in town?" he queried31 a block further on.
"If you wish," I replied. "The best restaurant in town is a relative question. We'll try the so-called grill33 room at the Otooska House."
Our entrance together was easily the event of the evening. Prospero demanded a table like an emperor issuing a proclamation. Waiters came upon the run from every nook and cranny and crowded tables upon us. He was content to sit at the most conspicuous34. To one waiter he handed his hat, to another his stick, to a third, his gloves, and bade a fourth "Divest35 my friend of his paraphernalia36." There was a distinct touch of Wilkins Micawber in his make-up, I decided; still, one must expect that of a present-day relative of Charles Martel.
"Stout37 and oysters38 for two," he commanded. "I have ventured to order stout and oysters in compliment to you," he explained. "The combination is new to me, but I have read about it in Charles Dickens' novels."
"We are rather inland for oysters," I said. "They have an indecent habit here of serving them nude39 on a plate—without their shell, I mean," I added, as Prospero frowned questioningly.
"You are a chemist, Edward? Am I right?" Prospero's questions sounded like those of Rhadamanthus.
"I'm trying to be one," I modestly rejoined.
"I am the greatest chemist in the world, if I choose to let men know it." It seemed to me rather ill concealed40 for a secret of such importance. "I have an idea here—" he tapped his forehead—"that will make me rich beyond the dreams of avarice41. Would you like to know what it is?"
"Very much," I said sipping42 my stout gratefully.
"Listen!" he proclaimed. "I have discovered the secret of making electricity direct from coal! What do you think of me now?" And he sat back to study the effect of his dramatic announcement on me. I felt that common politeness compelled me in some way to rise to the occasion.
"It sounds marvellous," I said. "Have you ever done it?"
He waved this question aside with a long draft of stout. "Not yet," he sputtered44 through the brown foam45 on his moustache, "but that is immaterial, for I know the secret." I contemplated46 him a bit ruefully, wondering if the hard-headed Knowlton had made a good bargain in saddling us with this.
"You doubt me," he remarked. "That is because you do not know me yet. Do you know"—suddenly dropping his voice to a whisper—"I am not convinced yet that the alchemist's search for the philosopher's stone was vain. It might be possible—locked within the element radium that secret lies. And if men are to find it out, I shall be that man."
"Oh, hell, Mr. Fougère!" I said much nettled47, "all this has very little to do with the chemistry we use in our business."
"True, my young materialist48, true. He who looks straight before his nose shall see but the dust. My gaze is among the stars. But you need not worry. I shall give you and your father every cent's value that the most exacting49 business man could ask of me. If you care nothing for my true brains and want only my routine daily labour, that will be your loss—yet I shall not hold it against you. Money is the curse of the age."
"Your big ideas sound reasonably profitable," I retorted, "if you pull them off. How would you escape the curse?"
"I can use money wisely, for I am a great man. If I were rich I should cruise in the South Seas."
"That has been done before," I murmured.
"I shall go to Tahiti and surround myself with beautiful island women. There I will build the world's greatest laboratory and search for the philosopher's stone as I recline against the bronze breasts of flower-decked girls."
I meditated51 a moment on the vision he had conjured52 up and concluded he would look rather well in the part as outlined. Finally I ventured. "Isn't Tahiti quite an out of the way place for a chemical laboratory? 'Better fifty years of Europe than a cycle of Cathay.'"
"I do not agree with you. The hero of 'Locksley Hall' was wrong. He but reflected sentimentally53 the materialism54 of the nineteenth century."
I was amused to have my quotation56 recognized by him. What was this strange man, and what had he done with himself in the world? I wondered what kind of chemist he would prove.
"In spite of your youth, Edward, I see you are, like me, a thinker and philosopher; on a lower plane, of course, yet our minds have much in common."
He talked after a fashion of the characters in an early Victorian novel or a transpontine melodrama57. Where could such a creature have obtained the skill to keep consistently his elaborate pose? I wished to draw him out, so I played back to him: "I find the world a mildly amusing place and always interesting even in its unpleasant phases."
"That is very true, Edward. At one time I was forced by unusual circumstances to apply my chemical skill to the making of what is known as moonshine whiskey. This was in the mountains of North Carolina. Here, if you please, was one of life's unpleasant phases—that I, of all men, should be technically58 classified by a capitalistic government as a criminal and hence be subjected to annoyances59 from internal revenue minions61. Nevertheless, I was profoundly interested in the problems involved in eluding62 man-made laws."
He bared his right forearm; across the drum-like skin ran a long seared scar. "That was as near as the law came to me," he said, and emptied a pony63 of brandy, which he had ordered as soon as his bottle of stout was empty. I made an effort to stop him by referring to the early hour at which work began at the factory. There was as yet no trace of thickness in his speech; only his fiery64 eyes were shining more and more brightly. With his next brandy he commanded Welsh rabbits and chocolate ice-cream. Fortunately he made no attempt to urge me to keep pace with him in drinking. As for the morrow, he dismissed it with a shrug65.
"I work neither in time nor in space, Edward. My ideas are flashes—gleams—from the outer Cosmos66, whence time is not. When they come, I work; when they don't, I await the signal."
"It sounds like an irregular schedule to follow," I smiled.
"When the hour strikes, I shall be there, Edward. Waiter! Bring me another brandy."
From this time on he began to get thoroughly drunk. I could only sit and watch hoping that ultimately he would find his way home. When closing time came he wished to fight the entire hotel management for suggesting that he leave. At last I coaxed67 him to go; and, strange to say, I was not once included in his outbursts of rage. Like a lamb he followed me half way home; and then another whim68 seized him. He was determined69 to make an excursion down an unsavoury by-street whose nature he recognized. In vain I sought to detain him. I reminded him that half the night was gone and that there was work to do tomorrow. He would listen to no word of mine, but, wrenching70 his arm free from me, lurched away. Whether to follow or not I was undecided. He turned into an alley71 and disappeared. The streets were dark and deserted72. With a final imprecation almost as picturesque73 as one of Prospero's own, I went home and to bed.
At six, with the alarm clock still clanging in my ears, I looked into his bedroom. Prospero lay across the bed with most of his clothes on, unconscious. The sleeve of his left arm was rolled up, and I saw that the skin was covered with small puncture74 marks. On the floor a hypodermic syringe and his Russia leather wallet, both empty, were lying. I shook him savagely75, but a groan76 was the only response. Damning Knowlton for thrusting such a roommate upon me, I went out to the factory.
Instead of going to work I sat in Knowlton's office waiting for him to arrive. I had made up my mind to have the case of Prospero out with him. Promptly77 at eight he came, bringing Prospero with him! The latter was as fresh appearing and as amiable78 as if nothing had happened. He had changed his tweeds for a long frock coat, slightly green with age, and upon his head was a silk hat of a famous vintage.
"Why, Ted1, I'm surprised not to find you on the job this morning," grinned Knowlton. "I'm afraid Mr. de Fougère kept you up too late last night. Take him out to the laboratory, and if there's anything needed, wire New York to ship by express. I'll leave you two authority for any reasonable order."
In silence and deep disgust I led the way. As we entered the laboratory Prospero glanced about with an appraising79 eye.
"Very good, Teddy, very good. A well equipped little workshop," and he removed hat and coat, soaked a towel in fresh water, wrung80 it out, bound it about his head without further comment, lit a cigarette in defiance81 of the factory rules staring him in the face, and sat before the long bench table. I outlined the day's work and explained the experiments already under way. He critically picked up a beaker or two, sniffed82 their contents, and squinted83 at a rack of test tubes. I waited to see what would happen next. Our problem was one requiring a number of experiments to be performed in sequence. Among the assets of our firm were certain new chemical patents which were not yet in a commercial stage.
De Fougère finished his cigarette and then asked to see the laboratory diary and the inventory84 of chemicals on hand. These I placed in his hands. He smoked another cigarette in silence while he looked over my records.
"You appear to be a methodical boy, Teddy," he remarked with a yawn, at the same time choosing a Meissen ware85 dish as an ash tray. "I can't be bothered to write results down. I carry them stored here," and he tapped his forehead.
"All very well," I replied, "but what would happen if you dropped dead?"
Prospero smiled: "That is impossible. I have been sent to this planet to do a great work. Not until all the world rings with the name de Fougère shall I pass away. When that time comes I may pass, like Arthur, into the deep. I have seen my death in dreams, and it is a glorious one. There is no fear of my falling in the street."
All this explanation was not so comforting to me as it was to him, and I decided to add his records to mine, as far as it was possible to get them from observation and question. Was he a megalomaniac, or was his ego86 an effect of drugs upon a nerve-wracked constitution? Was there any knowledge accompanying this colossal87 conceit—this ego-centrism of his?
"I grant you, Teddy, that last evening has given you some cause to mistrust me. As soon as this headache clears from my brain, you shall see and marvel43 at the true de Fougère. You imagine I am often as you saw me last night? You are wrong, young man, wrong. That is the body of de Fougère struggling for freedom from the mind of de Fougère. I make my body so completely my slave that at times it revolts and demands such food as drugs and flesh."
I was fascinated by this pompous88 speech, which seemed as if it had been written out beforehand and memorized. A hundred questions were on the tip of my tongue. Where had he acquired this language, this farrago of phrases from Godey's Ladies' Magazine? This thought kept recurring89 to me as the most inexplicable90 of all the strange things about this man. I turned to my morning's work and abandoned the problem of Prospero.
In the evening I went to Knowlton's room at the Otooska House and laid formal complaint against de Fougère. Knowlton grinned: "It's great experience for you, Teddy boy. You don't meet many jewels like Prospero at your pink teas, I guess. So he hit the booze and worse, in spite of your protests? Tut, tut, Teddy that's bad."
"Not only that, but I tell you he uses morphine," I said, nettled by the way Knowlton took my story.
"Our contract is only for three months, Teddy, and he has forgotten more chemistry than most people will ever know. Now, Ted, keep your hair on. I'm simply gambling91 on a long chance. If we keep him fairly straight for three months, he can be mightily92 useful. If we don't, we are only out three months' salary for him. He spent two months' of it last night, which pretty well guarantees us against further blow-ups. I wanted to pay him the whole three in advance, but the old devil was too foxy to take it," Knowlton added reflectively.
Light began to dawn upon me. "So you encouraged him to take that tear last night?"
"Surest thing you know. I thought it would be well to get it out of his system at the start. It has been some time since he has seen that much money. He didn't get you stewed93, did he, Ted?"
"No," I said shortly. Knowlton grinned.
"You sound like a hang over, but perhaps it's only your moral sense, Teddy."
"The point is, have I got to have a drug fiend as a roommate?"
"I'm afraid so, Teddy. We must keep as much of an eye on him as possible. He believes you innocent and guileless; and he'll talk more freely to you than to me."
"Talk freely! Great heavens! I should think he did! That's one of the things I complain of. Perhaps you think it amusing to listen to a crazy man talk about himself night and day."
Upon my return to my quarters I found Prospero, in velvet94 jacket, cap, and slippers95, smoking a peculiar96 pipe of a great size. It was his instinct to wear a suitable costume for everything he did, even for pipe smoking. An old cash ledger97 lay open before him, and in this he was writing with—trust Prospero for a dramatic effect—a quill98 pen! He frowned at me as I entered and growled99 "Silence!" Somewhat bored and more irritated, I lit a candle which I had bought for sealing documents, set it down on the table by his book, and put out the desk light. "I'll make his damned scene complete," I thought.
"I thank you, Edward," he boomed at me. "Candle-light is less fatiguing100 to the eye. You are very thoughtful." He scratched abominably101 with his quill, which I suspected he did not know how to use. I endeavoured to read and watch his melodrama at the same time.
"Edward, do you know what I am writing?"
I rejoiced inwardly at this, for I was certain that my literal interpretation102 of his injunction to silence would prove irksome to him in the end.
"A treatise103 on chemistry?" I suggested. "Or perhaps a monograph104 on one of the rare elements?"
"Wrong, Edward, wrong again. I am writing the philosophy."
"The philosophy?" I queried.
"I call it the philosophy, for it is the only true one. I am the only man who can explain mind and matter—of what the universe is made—why it is, and what the nature of the Supreme105 Being is."
"What is the universe?" I ventured, hoping to draw him out. Mental hallucinations were novelties to me at that time, and for once Prospero had interested me.
"The universe, Edward, is a complex chemical equation which I am solving. On one side of this equation you have material manifestations106 of energy; on the other, the manifestations which we call mind and spirit."
"I think I have heard something like this before," I said, a little disappointed.
"The germ of my philosophy, Edward, is to be found in Confucius and repeats itself again in the sayings attributed to Buddha107."
"Indeed?"
"Positive matter is the male essence; negative matter, the female. The ultimate quintessence emanating108 from the supreme source is a wave vibration109 independent of time and space. As this travels outward through the atoms and molecules110 of the ultimate solid—these atoms and molecules which we call stars and planets and which compose this solid—the combinations between these positive and negative ions or wave vibrations111 produce the varying manifestations of mind and matter. They are all self-perpetuating, yet always passing into new forms. Thus matter begets112 matter; thought, thought."
"It sounds as plausible113 as any explanation," I said politely, turning over a page of my book. "I'm going to bed," and I shut myself up in my bedroom. I had had philosophy enough for one evening.
For a week or ten days Prospero worked steadily114 and amazingly in the laboratory. He did his experiments with skill, ease, and rapidity; furthermore, he put no obstacles in the way of my keeping full records of his work. One day, however, when he returned in the afternoon he was much depressed115. His cigarette reappeared upon his lower lip and he spilt its ashes into various mixtures, until, in a rage, he hurled116 an eggshell Bohemian glass beaker partly full of nitric acid into a far corner of the room. By acting50 promptly I saved the factory from a fire and the room from any serious damage. Prospero contemplated me gloomily when I had finished clearing up his mess.
"That's a little too risky117 to be funny," I rebuked118 him, with pardonable annoyance60. "It's all right to have nerves for one's personal pleasure, but endangering company property is another matter."
His reply was a series of picturesque and obscene oaths. The final intimation was that the next time I might expect nitric acid or worse at my head, instead of at a corner of the room. He flatly refused to continue any more experiments that afternoon and sat until six o'clock watching a flickering119 electric current passing through a vacuum tube. I reported the situation to Knowlton at the office.
"What do you make of it, Ted?" Knowlton asked.
"Getting ready to shoot himself full of morphine, I take it."
"He hasn't any money."
"I think he probably has a reserve supply of the drug—a fiend isn't likely to be without it."
"H'm," mused55 Knowlton. "I wish we could search his baggage. Here, Ted, you'd better have this in case of emergency," and Knowlton took a revolver from his desk and offered it to me. I laughed.
"You are getting as melodramatic as old Prospero himself. Thank you just the same, but I never use them," and I handed it back.
"If he should take a dislike to you, look out, Ted. Let me know if it continues. Paranoia120 is not a disease to ignore lightly."
"Paranoia?" I gasped121 in surprise.
"Sure. He's got all the symptoms—big head and the rest."
Evening brought the explanation. It was not quite so bad as we had surmised122. Upon entering my study I found a stout middle-aged123 woman seated there, fanning herself with a palm leaf fan. I was taken aback, I confess it, and at a loss for words. She saved me the trouble by saying, "Now, dearie, don't you worry about me. I'm waiting for Mr. de Fougère. I'm his wife."
"Yes?" I faltered124. "Pray make yourself at home."
"You can trust me to do that, dearie, no matter where I am. I've slept twenty-five seasons in a tourist Pullman car. Home is where I find it, I always say."
"Twenty-five seasons in a Pullman?" My fatal curiosity was leading me into conversation in spite of myself.
"Yes, dearie, with the greatest show on earth. Ain't you never heard of la belle125 Hélène?—well, that's me—Risley act—I've been everything from the apex126 to the base of the human pyramid."
"Good God," I thought, "the circus woman! What on earth shall we do now?" I sat down rather suddenly.
"When do you expect John home? I sent him a telegraph I was coming this noon, but the skunk127 didn't meet me to the dép?t as I told him. Left me to find my way as best may be, the dirty hound! But I'll fix him!" and she fanned herself vigorously, for her emotion caused her profuse128 perspiration129. "Has he been boozing again?" she continued.
"Mr. de Fougère should be here now," I said uneasily. "I can't think what's keeping him."
"Well, I can!" she announced with vigour130. "He always gets drunk when he knows I'm coming—the coward!"
I thought it took some courage to drink with certain punishment waiting at the other end. Here was more than a mere131 headache.
"I suppose you're Teddy—just the age my oldest boy was when he made his first hit—I trained him myself. John has written me all about you. You won't mind me calling you Teddy?—I just have to mother something or I'm all at sea."
The conversation was taking an alarmingly intimate turn. At this opportune132 moment Prospero's voice was heard upon the stairs, carolling at the top of his lungs "Rolling down to Rio."
"That's him," said the ex-gymnast, getting elaborately upon her feet, "and he's pie-eyed!"
There was no exit through which I could retreat; Prospero's entrance would be by the only door. I lacked spirit to make a sudden dash by him. He arrived in the middle of the chorus, his silk hat, ruffled133, over one ear.
"This is a nice way to meet me, ain't it? And you call yourself a man!" was his greeting.
"Woman, I defy you!" he challenged, "In the name of my ancestor, Charles Martel, King of France!"
"Go on, you drunken fool! You ain't no more French than what I am, except for your name, which is a fake, same as my stage name."
I edged toward the door, having stealthily secured my hat.
"You stay right where you are, Teddy dearie," the virago134 commanded. "John and me ain't got no secrets what can't be shouted from the house-tops, and he knows it. You stay and see justice done a poor old woman."
I apologetically referred to an engagement. It was no use.
"I want a witness to my treatment—I'm his legally, lawfully135 wedded136 wife, and he deserts me—and sends me no money—and gets drunk to my face. If there's justice on this earth, I'll have the law on him."
"Woman, you lie!" thundered John. "You're not my wife and never was. I'm sick and tired of you," he hiccupped. "You've ruined my life," and he sat heavily in a chair, being now in the maudlin137 stage. Yet his dramatic instinct did not desert him. He was a fine picture of despair as he sat there.
"Will you listen to him denying his own kith and kin," she shrieked138.
"Insult me before my friend—go on, woman," moaned Prospero. "Poison the mind of youth against me."
"Poison your grandfather—I wish I had when he was a boy, and I wouldn't be troubled with you now," was her subtle repartee139 to this.
"I shall not lower myself to retort that you are old enough to have had your wish"—Prospero uttered this dispassionately and with hardly an alcoholic140 stumble. There I was anxious to leave them, but the lady chose this opening for peculiarly noisy hysterics. I brought her a glass of water; she knocked it from my hands, smashing the glass to fragments.
"Better let May have it out by herself; it is easiest in the end," muttered Prospero. "Edward, when you learn to know the way of a woman with a man, you will lose all concern. She may do this for hours."
The latter statement caused me to flee. I went to the Otooska House and sought out Knowlton. He listened to my tale of woe141 with his customary grin. "Don't worry, Teddy," he said when I had finished, "she may prove a Godsend. He'll have something besides himself to think about now."
"But, man alive, they are in my rooms. I can't go on living there with the pair of them on my hands."
"Are you disturbed because of the proprieties142?"
"Not entirely143," I snapped. "Married or not, I don't care—but one drug fiend plus hysterics and broken crockery is more than I will stand."
"I'll move them in the morning," and that was the best compromise I could get.
Not a sound greeted my return. The lights in the study were out, the bedroom door closed, and all was apparently144 peace. With many inward maledictions on my companions I went to bed.
The six-o'clock alarm brought me with a start out of a sound sleep. As usual I dashed for a shower in the bathroom, to reach which I had to cross my study. To my consternation145 I encountered la belle Hélène, in flesh coloured tights and little else, violently exercising in the centre of the room with heavy dumbbells.
"Don't mind me, dearie," she said sweetly. "I'm just having my morning bracer. I get so fleshy if I don't keep trained."
"Heaven forbid her from getting any heavier," I thought, as I ducked by. Upon my return I knocked on the door; the study was again empty.
I looked forward to the day's work with horror. Prospero came punctually at seven and la belle Hélène with him! The latter, I was told, had often assisted him and knew how to keep chemical apparatus146 clean and do many simple routine things. Prospero appeared resigned to his fate, and the three of us worked briskly and for the most part in silence.
"I always hold a man hasn't any sense with dishes," she said early in the proceedings147, "even with these chemical things. Just as like as not you two will get things all mussed up. My land, how that one does smell! Why you don't poison yourselves I never could see."
Knowlton called upon us at eleven after he had finished the morning's mail and was formally introduced to la belle Hélène. Curiosity had evidently overpowered him. He kept a solemn face, but his eyes twinkled during the ceremony of introduction.
"Pleased to meet you," said la belle Hélène to him. "So you are John and Teddy's boss? My, you are a young-looking man to be running a factory like this. Nice seasonable weather, ain't it? Nice location out here, too, where you can see the lake from the windows. I always did like a nice view. I always say it makes a lot of difference what kind of a place you got to work in. In my business you can't be particular, though."
"I'm glad you are so favourably148 impressed with us," smiled Knowlton.
"My land, I'm used to anything after the life I've had. Brought up three boys to my business—one on 'em's been in vaudeville149 in Europe—I ain't heard from him in ten years. That's just like boys—off they go. Girls is more consoling, so they say. I ain't never had no experience with girls. Boys is trouble enough. Take things as they come, that's my motto every time. Home is where you find it, I always say."
Knowlton excused himself and departed.
Knowlton kept his word in a measure. Prospero and his companion were moved to a little two-room apartment on the floor above, and I was left in undisputed sway over my study. After they had been settled in the new abode150, Knowlton dropped in to see me.
"Business is not in good shape, Ted," he said, lighting151 his cigar. "I've been all over our orders and books and found we are operating on too close a margin152 of capital. We have more orders than we have machines or cash to handle."
"That seems a strange difficulty to me. We are too prosperous. Is this the Senegambian you were looking for?"
"Exactly. Our friend Norwood, who sold us the business, loaded the books with orders to make a good showing. Now he has got out, and deliveries are up to us. Frankly153, we haven't cash enough to swing it."
"What is the trouble just now?"
"We can't meet Saturday's payroll154—we haven't enough at the bank. There's a big payment due us on a complete contract. If that comes in by Saturday noon we are O. K. If not, the bank has got to see us through; and that's where you come in again, Ted. I'm going to send you to talk to the bank president."
"Why me?" I protested. "Wouldn't he pay more attention to you?"
"It's just a hunch of mine, Teddy, and it'll be a good experience for you. If you don't get away with it, I'll try my hand."
Saturday noon was an exciting hour. The mail came at twelve; the men had to be paid off, in cash, at one. I had just sixty minutes to find out whether we pulled through or closed down. The post office was on the corner of State Street and the Park, the latter a large unkempt square with a feeble fountain and some fine old trees. I had made an appointment with the president of the Deep Harbor National Bank for twelve-fifteen. A little before twelve I stood on the post office steps, with the key to the firm's box in my hand, waiting for the mail to be sorted. In my inner pocket was a statement of our resources and a list of our contracts.
The post office at noon was a famous gathering155 place for the citizenry of Deep Harbor. In front were a line of horses and buggies hitched156 to posts. The owners congregated157 mostly on the steps, chewing toothpicks and gossiping. Bootblacks and newspaper boys plied32 their trades. Every one seemed to know every one else, and each new comer was hailed by his first name or otherwise familiarly greeted. I felt that a stranger was at a great disadvantage in trying to conduct a factory in such an inbred community. Not one of all those men knew me or nodded to me. Yet I judged from the glances directed my way and the whispers that many at least knew who I was. Knowlton had told me that the new owners of the factory had been the subject of many rumours158. It was believed we were a blind for one of the large corporations about to begin operations in Deep Harbor on a vast scale.
At last the mail was ready, and I opened our box. Running through the pile of letters, I saw that the check was not there. First I telephoned Knowlton, then crossed the street to the Deep Harbor National Bank, a small box-like building built entirely of white marble in vague resemblance to a miniature Greek temple. My card was unnecessary. The president was seated, for all the world to see, behind a low mahogany railing before a high mahogany desk. He called me by name at my entrance and invited me inside his pen. There was nothing formidable in his appearance. My imagination had pictured the bank president of the stage, an elderly gentleman with white side whiskers, white spats159, a sanctimonious160 air, and a terrible callousness161 in driving financial bargains. Instead, I beheld162 a genial163 young man of thirty-eight to forty with a genial expression on his face. His face was tanned, his hair, just turning grey at the temples, was neatly164 smoothed down. The eyes were a little too small, almost pig-like, in fact; nevertheless his pleasant smile counteracted165 the unfavourable impression which his eyes would otherwise have made.
"Have a cigar, Edward?" were his opening words to me. The use of my Christian166 name encouraged me, for it seemed to imply that I had been admitted to citizenship167 in good standing168. I accepted the greasy169, aromatic170 cigar, although I feared a cigar before luncheon171 would be disastrous172. There seemed, however, no escape in Deep Harbor from the offer of a cigar as a preliminary to any business discussion. As we lighted up and the sickeningly fragrant173 smoke oozed174 through my nervous system, he looked keenly at me and said: "Well, Edward, what can we do for you? Money, I suppose," and he glanced at the clock. "You have about forty minutes in which to meet your payroll. Am I right?"
"Absolutely!" I answered promptly. "And here's the reason why you'll meet the payroll for us," and I handed him our statement. He then did a slightly theatrical175 thing which, I suppose, the r?le of bank president required; it was to produce a pair of tortoise shell goggle176 spectacles and study our statement through them. I stared about at the onyx and bronze trimmings of the little building and secretly wished I could lose the cigar.
"These contracts look all right on paper, Edward, but you people haven't equipment enough to put them through."
"I don't imagine that we are the first people who have come to you because we are too prosperous—not in a growing town like Deep Harbor," I remarked, surprised at my own diplomacy177.
"That's true enough, Edward. But the way I look at it is this. These contracts were made by your predecessors178. If you don't make good on them you won't get any more, and you can't make good with your present plant. The friend who sold you the plant, about whom I happen to know a lot, oversold you. In short, you were stung."
"What's to be done?" I asked, rising.
"Sit down, Edward," he replied. "Is there any truth in this story that a big corporation is behind you? I want brass179 tacks180."
"There's not a word of truth in it. We are just what our books show us to be."
He smiled and chewed his cigar. "That's what I thought you would say," he chuckled181. "What security do you offer?"
"Our notes at thirty days backed by the contracts which you will take over if we fall down."
"Not good enough, Edward. You must put up the plant."
With this he handed me the telephone which stood on his desk. I got through to Knowlton at the office, the while my financier-friend watched and listened. In the end, we had no option but to give way.
I left his office with our Saturday's payroll in a canvas bag, and I left behind a memorandum182 concerning the mortgage and security to be formally put up as soon as Knowlton could get down town.
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1
ted
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| vt.翻晒，撒，撒开 | |
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2
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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3
authorize
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| v.授权，委任；批准，认可 | |
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puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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5
inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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7
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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hunch
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| n.预感，直觉 | |
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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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10
disarming
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| adj.消除敌意的，使人消气的v.裁军( disarm的现在分词 )；使息怒 | |
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11
postponing
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| v.延期，推迟( postpone的现在分词 ) | |
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12
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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13
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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14
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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15
crassly
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| adv.粗鲁地，愚钝地 | |
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16
meditate
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| v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想 | |
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17
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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18
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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19
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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20
protruded
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
tapering
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| adj.尖端细的 | |
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22
jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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23
outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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24
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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25
owls
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| n.猫头鹰( owl的名词复数 ) | |
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26
overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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27
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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28
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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29
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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30
astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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31
queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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32
plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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33
grill
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| n.烤架，铁格子，烤肉；v.烧，烤，严加盘问 | |
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34
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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35
divest
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| v.脱去，剥除 | |
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36
paraphernalia
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| n.装备；随身用品 | |
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38
oysters
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| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
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39
nude
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| adj.裸体的；n.裸体者，裸体艺术品 | |
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40
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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41
avarice
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| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
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42
sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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43
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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44
sputtered
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| v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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45
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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46
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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47
nettled
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| v.拿荨麻打，拿荨麻刺（nettle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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48
materialist
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| n. 唯物主义者 | |
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49
exacting
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| adj.苛求的，要求严格的 | |
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50
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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51
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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52
conjured
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| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
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53
sentimentally
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| adv.富情感地 | |
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54
materialism
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| n.［哲］唯物主义，唯物论；物质至上 | |
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55
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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56
quotation
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| n.引文，引语，语录；报价，牌价，行情 | |
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57
melodrama
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| n.音乐剧；情节剧 | |
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58
technically
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| adv.专门地，技术上地 | |
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59
annoyances
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| n.恼怒( annoyance的名词复数 )；烦恼；打扰；使人烦恼的事 | |
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60
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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61
minions
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| n.奴颜婢膝的仆从( minion的名词复数 )；走狗；宠儿；受人崇拜者 | |
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62
eluding
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| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的现在分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
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63
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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64
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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65
shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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66
cosmos
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| n.宇宙；秩序，和谐 | |
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67
coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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68
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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69
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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70
wrenching
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| n.修截苗根，苗木铲根（铲根时苗木不起土或部分起土）v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的现在分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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71
alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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72
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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73
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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74
puncture
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| n.刺孔，穿孔；v.刺穿，刺破 | |
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75
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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76
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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77
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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78
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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79
appraising
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| v.估价( appraise的现在分词 )；估计；估量；评价 | |
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80
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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81
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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82
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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83
squinted
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| 斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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84
inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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85
ware
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| n.(常用复数)商品，货物 | |
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86
ego
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| n.自我，自己，自尊 | |
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87
colossal
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| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
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88
pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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89
recurring
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| adj.往复的，再次发生的 | |
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inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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91
gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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92
mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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93
stewed
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| adj.焦虑不安的，烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 )；煨；思考；担忧 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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95
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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96
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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97
ledger
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| n.总帐，分类帐；帐簿 | |
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98
quill
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| n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶 | |
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99
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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100
fatiguing
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| a.使人劳累的 | |
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101
abominably
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| adv. 可恶地，可恨地，恶劣地 | |
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102
interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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103
treatise
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| n.专著；(专题)论文 | |
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104
monograph
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| n.专题文章，专题著作 | |
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105
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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106
manifestations
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| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
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107
Buddha
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| n.佛；佛像；佛陀 | |
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108
emanating
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| v.从…处传出，传出( emanate的现在分词 )；产生，表现，显示 | |
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109
vibration
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| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
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110
molecules
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| 分子( molecule的名词复数 ) | |
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111
vibrations
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| n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动 | |
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112
begets
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| v.为…之生父( beget的第三人称单数 )；产生，引起 | |
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113
plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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114
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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115
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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116
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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117
risky
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| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
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118
rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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119
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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120
paranoia
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| n.妄想狂，偏执狂；多疑症 | |
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121
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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122
surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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123
middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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124
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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125
belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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126
apex
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| n.顶点，最高点 | |
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127
skunk
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| n.臭鼬，黄鼠狼；v.使惨败，使得零分；烂醉如泥 | |
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128
profuse
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| adj.很多的，大量的，极其丰富的 | |
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129
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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130
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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131
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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132
opportune
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| adj.合适的，适当的 | |
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133
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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134
virago
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| n.悍妇 | |
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135
lawfully
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| adv.守法地，合法地；合理地 | |
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136
wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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137
maudlin
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| adj.感情脆弱的，爱哭的 | |
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138
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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139
repartee
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| n.机敏的应答 | |
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140
alcoholic
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| adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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proprieties
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| n.礼仪，礼节；礼貌( propriety的名词复数 )；规矩；正当；合适 | |
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143
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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144
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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145
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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146
apparatus
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| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
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147
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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148
favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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149
vaudeville
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| n.歌舞杂耍表演 | |
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150
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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151
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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152
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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153
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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154
payroll
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| n.工资表，在职人员名单，工薪总额 | |
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155
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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156
hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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157
congregated
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| （使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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158
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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159
spats
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| n.口角( spat的名词复数 )；小争吵；鞋罩；鞋套v.spit的过去式和过去分词( spat的第三人称单数 )；口角；小争吵；鞋罩 | |
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160
sanctimonious
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| adj.假装神圣的，假装虔诚的，假装诚实的 | |
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161
callousness
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162
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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163
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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164
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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165
counteracted
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| 对抗，抵消( counteract的过去式 ) | |
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166
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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167
citizenship
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| n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份) | |
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168
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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169
greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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170
aromatic
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| adj.芳香的，有香味的 | |
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171
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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172
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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173
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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174
oozed
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| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的过去式和过去分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
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175
theatrical
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| adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的 | |
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176
goggle
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| n.瞪眼，转动眼珠，护目镜；v.瞪眼看，转眼珠 | |
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177
diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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178
predecessors
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| n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身 | |
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179
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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180
tacks
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| 大头钉( tack的名词复数 )； 平头钉； 航向； 方法 | |
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181
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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182
memorandum
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| n.备忘录，便笺 | |
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