And this wise world of ours is mainly right.”
“Then you are of opinion, my dear White, that one cannot well refuse to meet these—er—persons?”
“Not,” replied Major White to Lord Ferriby, whose hand rested on his stout2 arm as they walked with dignity in the shade of the trees that border the Vyver—that quaint3 old fish-pond of The Hague—“not without running the risk of being called a d——d swindler.”
For the major was a lamentably4 plain-spoken man, who said but little, and said that little strong. Lord Ferriby's affectionate grasp of the soldier's arm relaxed imperceptibly. One must, he reflected, be prepared to meet unpleasantness in the good cause of charity—but there are words hardly applicable to the peerage, and Major White had made use of one of these.
“Public opinion,” observed the major, after some minutes of deep thought, “is a difficult thing to deal with—'cos you cannot thump6 the public.”
“It is notably7 hard,” said his lordship, firing off one of his pet platform platitudes8, “to induce the public to form a correct estimate, or what one takes to be a correct estimate.”
“Especially of one's self,” added the major, looking across the water towards the Binnenhof in his vacant way.
Then they turned and walked back again beneath the heavy shade of the trees. The conversation, and indeed this dignified9 promenade10 on the Vyverberg, had been brought about by a letter which his lordship had received that same morning inviting11 him to attend a meeting of paper-makers12 and others interested in the malgamite trade to consider the position of the malgamite charity, and the advisability of taking legal proceedings13 to close the works on the dunes14 at Scheveningen. The meeting was to be held at the H?tel des Indes, at three in the afternoon, and the conveners hinted pretty plainly that the proceedings would be of a decisive nature. The letter left Lord Ferriby with a vague feeling of discomfort15. His position was somewhat isolated16. A coldness had for some time been in existence between himself and his nephew, Tony Cornish. Of Mr. Wade17, Lord Ferriby was slightly distrustful.
“These commercial men,” he often said, “are apt to hold such narrow views.”
There remained Major White, of whom Lord Ferriby had thought more highly since Fortune had called this plain soldier to take a seat among the gods of the British public. For no man is proof against the satisfaction of being able to call a celebrated19 person by his Christian20 name. The major had long admired Joan, in his stupid way from, as one might say, the other side of the room. But neither Lord nor Lady Ferriby had encouraged this silent suit. Joan was theoretically one of those of whom it is said that “she might marry anybody,” and who, as the keen observer may see for himself, often finishes by failing to marry at all. She was pretty and popular, and had, moreover, the entrée to the best houses. White had been useful to Lord Ferriby ever since the inauguration21 of the Malgamite scheme. He was not uncomfortably clever, like Tony Cornish. He was an excellent buffer22 at jarring periods. Since the arrival of Joan and her father at The Hague, the major had been almost a necessity in their daily life, and now, quite suddenly, Lord Ferriby found that this was the only person to whom he could turn for advice or support.
“One cannot suppose,” he said, in the full conviction that words will meet any emergency—“One cannot suppose that Von Holzen will act in direct opposition23 to the voice of the majority.”
“Von Holzen,” replied the major, “plays a doocid good game.”
After luncheon24 they walked across the Toornoifeld to the H?tel des Indes, and there, in a small salon25, found a number of gentlemen seated round a table. Mr. Wade was conspicuous26 by his absence. They had, indeed, left him in the hotel garden, sitting at the consumption of an excellent cigar.
“Join the jocund27 dance?” the major had inquired, with a jerk of the head towards the H?tel des Indes. But Mr. Wade was going for a drive with Marguerite.
Tony Cornish was, however, seated at the table, and the major recognized two paper-makers whom he had seen before. One was an aggressive, red-headed man, of square shoulders and a dogged appearance, who had “radical” written all over him. The other was a mild-mannered person, with a thin, ash-colored moustache. The major nodded affably. He distinctly remembered offering to fight these two gentlemen either together or one after the other on the landing of the little malgamite office in Westminster. And there was a faint twinkle behind the major's eyeglass as he saluted28 them.
“Good morning, Thompson,” he said. “How do, MacHewlett?” For he never forgot a face or a name.
“A'hm thinking——” Mr. MacHewlett was observing, but his thoughts died a natural death at the sight of a real lord, and he rose and bowed. Mr. Thompson remained seated and made that posture29 as aggressive and obvious as possible. The remainder of the company were of varied30 nationality and appearance, while one, a Frenchman of keen dark eyes and a trim beard—seemed by tacit understanding to be the acknowledged leader. Even the pushing Mr. Thompson silently deferred32 to him by a gesture that served at once to introduce Lord Ferriby and invite the Frenchman to up and smite33 him.
Lord Ferriby took the seat that had been left vacant for him at the
head of the table. He looked around upon faces not too friendly.
“We were saying, my lord,” said the Frenchman, in perfect English and
all been the victims of an unfortunate chain of misunderstandings.
Had the organizers of this great charity consulted a few paper-makers
before inaugurating the works at Scheveningen, much unpleasantness
you and unthought-of; the milk is spilt, is it not so? Let us rather
think of the future.”
Lord Ferriby bowed graciously, and Mr. Thompson moved impatiently on his chair. The suave39 method had no attractions for him.
“A'hm thinking,” began Mr. MacHewlett, in his most plaintive40 voice, and commanded so sudden and universal an attention as to be obviously disconcerted, “his lordship'll need plainer speech than that,” he muttered hastily, and subsided41, with an uneasy glance in the direction of that man of action, Major White.
“One misunderstanding has, however, been happily dispelled,” said the Frenchman, “by our friend—if monsieur will permit the word—our friend, Mr. Cornish. From this gentleman we have learned that the executive of the Malgamite Charity are not by any means in harmony with the executive of the malgamite works at Scheveningen; that, indeed, the charity repudiates42 the action of its servants in manufacturing malgamite by a dangerous process tacitly and humanely43 set aside by makers up to this time; that the administrators44 of the fund are no party to the 'corner' which has been established in the product; do not desire to secure a monopoly, and disapprove45 of the sale of malgamite at a price which has already closed one or two of the smaller mills, and is paralyzing the paper trade of the world.”
The speaker finished with a bow towards Cornish, and resumed his seat. All were watching Lord Ferriby's face, except Major White, who examined a quill46 pen with short-sighted absorption. Lord Ferriby looked across the table at Cornish.
“Lord Ferriby,” said Cornish, without rising from his seat, and meeting his uncle's glance steadily47, “will now no doubt confirm all that Monsieur Creil has said.”
Lord Ferriby had, in truth, come to the meeting with no such intention. He had, with all his vast experience, no knowledge of a purely48 commercial assembly such as this. His public had hitherto been a drawing-room public. He was accustomed to a flower-decked platform, from which to deliver his flowing periods to the emotional of both sexes. There were no flowers in this room at the H?tel des Indes, and the men before him were not of the emotional school. They were, on the contrary, plain, hard-headed men of business, who had come from different parts of the world at Cornish's bidding to meet a crisis in a plain, hard-headed way. They had only thoughts of their balance-sheets, and not of the fact that they held in the hollow of their hands the lives of hundreds, nay49, of thousands, of men, women, and children. Monsieur Creil alone, the keen-eyed Frenchman, had absolute control of over three thousand employees—married men with children—but he did not think of mentioning the fact. And it is a weight to carry about with one—to go to sleep with and to awake with in the morning—the charge of, say, nine thousand human lives.
For a few moments Lord Ferriby was silent. Cornish watched him across the table. He knew that his uncle was no fool, although his wisdom amounted to little more than the wisdom of the worldly. Would Lord Ferriby recognize the situation in time? There was a wavering look in the great man's eye that made his nephew suddenly anxious. Then Lord Ferriby rose slowly, to make the shortest speech that he had ever made in his life.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “I beg to confirm what has just been said.”
As he sat down again, Cornish gave a sharp sigh of relief. In a moment Mr. Thompson was on his feet, his red face alight with democratic anger.
“This won't do,” he cried. “Let's have done with palavering and talk. Let's get to plain speaking.”
And it was not Lord Ferriby, but Tony Cornish, who rose to meet the attack.
“If you will sit down,” he said, “and keep your temper, you shall have plain speaking, and we can get to business. But if you do neither, I shall turn you out of the room.”
“You?”
“Yes,” answered Tony. And something which Mr. Thompson did not understand made him resume his seat in silence. The Frenchman smiled, and took up his speech where he had left it.
“Mr. Cornish,” he said, “speaks with authority. We are, gentlemen, in the hands of Mr. Cornish, and in good hands. He has this matter at the tips of his fingers. He has devoted50 himself to it for many months past, at considerable risk, as I suspect, to his own safety. We and the thousands of employees whom we represent cannot do better than entrust51 the situation to him, and give him a free hand. For once, capital and labour have a common interest——”
“It seems to me,” he said, “that we may well consider the past for a few minutes before passing on to the future. There's more than a million pounds profit, at the lowest reckoning, on the last few months' manufacture. Question is, where is that profit? Is this a charity, or is it not? Mr. Cornish is all very well in his way. But we're not fools. We're men of business, and as such can only presume that Mr. Cornish, like the rest of 'em, has had his share. Question is, where are the profits?”
Major White rose slowly. He was seated beside Mr. Thompson, and, standing31 up, towered above him. He looked down at the irate52 red face with a calm and wondering eye.
“Question is,” he said gravely, “where the deuce you will be in a few minutes if you don't shut up.”
Whereupon Mr. Thompson once more resumed his seat. He had the satisfaction, however, of perceiving that his shaft53 had reached its mark; for Lord Ferriby looked disconcerted and angry. The chairman of many charities looked, moreover, a little puzzled, as if the situation was beyond his comprehension. The Frenchman's pleasant voice again broke in, soothingly54 and yet authoritatively55.
“Mr. Cornish and a certain number of us have, for some time, been in correspondence,” he said. “It is unnecessary for me to suggest to my present hearers that in dealing56 with a large industry—in handling, as it were, the lives of a number of persons—it is impossible to proceed too cautiously. One must look as far ahead as human foresight57 may perceive—one must give grave and serious thought to every possible outcome of action or inaction. Gentlemen, we have done our best. We are now in a position to say to the administrators of the Malgamite Fund, close your works and we will do the rest. And this means that we shall provide for the survivors58 of this great commercial catastrophe59, that we shall care for the widows and children of the victims, that we shall supply ourselves with malgamite of our own manufacture, produced only by a process which is known to be harmless, that we shall make it impossible that such a monopoly may again be declared. We have, so far as lies in our power, provided for every emergency. We have approached the two men who, from their retreat on the dunes of Scheveningen, have swayed one of the large industries of the world. We have offered them a fortune. We have tried threats and money, but we have failed to close them but one alternative, and that is—war. We are prepared in every way. We can to-morrow take over the manufacture of malgamite for the whole world—but we must have the works on the dunes at Scheveningen. We must have the absolute control of the Malgamite Fund and of the works. We propose, gentlemen, to seize this control, and invest the supreme60 command in the one man who is capable of exercising it—Mr. Anthony Cornish.”
The Frenchman sat down, looked across the table, and shrugged61 his shoulders impatiently; for the irrepressible Thompson was already on his feet. It must be remembered that Mr. Thompson worked on commission, and had been hard hit.
“Then,” he cried, pointing a shaking forefinger62 into Lord Ferriby's face, “that man has no business to be sitting there. We're honest here—if we're nothing else. We all know your history, my fine gentleman; we know that you cannot wipe out the past, so you're trying to whitewash63 it over with good works. That's an old trick, and it won't go down here. Do you think we don't see through you and your palavering speeches? Why have you refused to take action against Roden and Von Holzen? Because they've paid you. Look at him, gentlemen! He has taken money from those men at Scheveningen—blood money. He has had his share. I propose that Lord Ferriby explains his position.”
Mr. Thompson banged his fist on the table, and at the same moment sat down with extreme precipitation, urged thereto by Major White's hand on his collar.
“This is not a vestry meeting,” said the major, sternly.
Lord Ferriby had risen to his feet. “My position, gentlemen,” he began, and then faltered64, with his hand at his watch-chain. “My position——” He stopped with a gulp65. His face was the colour of ashes. He turned in a dazed way towards his nephew; for at the beginning and the end of life blood is thicker than water. “Anthony,” said his lordship, and sat down heavily.
All rose to their feet in confusion. Major White seemed somehow to be quicker than the rest, and caught Lord Ferriby in his arms—but Lord Ferriby was dead.
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1
repents
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的第三人称单数 ) | |
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3
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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lamentably
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| adv.哀伤地，拙劣地 | |
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5
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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thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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notably
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| adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地 | |
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8
platitudes
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| n.平常的话，老生常谈，陈词滥调( platitude的名词复数 )；滥套子 | |
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9
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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10
promenade
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| n./v.散步 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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12
makers
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| n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式） | |
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13
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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14
dunes
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| 沙丘( dune的名词复数 ) | |
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15
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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16
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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17
wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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18
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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19
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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20
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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21
inauguration
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| n.开幕、就职典礼 | |
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22
buffer
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| n.起缓冲作用的人(或物)，缓冲器；vt.缓冲 | |
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23
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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24
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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25
salon
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| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
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26
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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27
jocund
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| adj.快乐的，高兴的 | |
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28
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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29
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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30
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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31
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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32
deferred
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| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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33
smite
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| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
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34
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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35
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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36
averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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37
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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38
mundane
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| adj.平凡的；尘世的；宇宙的 | |
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39
suave
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| adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的 | |
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40
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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41
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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42
repudiates
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| v.（正式地）否认( repudiate的第三人称单数 )；拒绝接受；拒绝与…往来；拒不履行（法律义务） | |
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43
humanely
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| adv.仁慈地；人道地；富人情地；慈悲地 | |
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44
administrators
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| n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师 | |
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45
disapprove
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| v.不赞成，不同意，不批准 | |
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46
quill
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| n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶 | |
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47
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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48
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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49
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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50
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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51
entrust
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| v.信赖，信托，交托 | |
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52
irate
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| adj.发怒的，生气 | |
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53
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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54
soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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55
authoritatively
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| 命令式地，有权威地，可信地 | |
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56
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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57
foresight
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| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
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58
survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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59
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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60
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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61
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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62
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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63
whitewash
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| v.粉刷，掩饰；n.石灰水，粉刷，掩饰 | |
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64
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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65
gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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