The Mavick mansion1 was on Fifth Avenue in the neighborhood of Central Park. It was one of the buildings in the city that strangers were always taken to see. In fact, this was a palace not one kind of a palace, but all kinds of a palace. The clever and ambitious architect of the house had grouped all the styles of architecture he had ever seen, or of which he had seen pictures. Here was not an architectural conception, like a sonnet2 or a well-constructed novel, but if all the work could have been spread out in line, in all its variety, there would have been produced a panorama3. The sight of the mansion always caused wonder and generally ignorant admiration4. Its vastness and splendor5 were felt to be somehow typical of the New World and of the cosmopolitan6 city.
The cost, in the eyes of the spectators, was a great part of its merits. No doubt this was a fabulous7 sum. "You can form a little idea of it," said a gentleman to his country friend, "when I tell you that that little bit there, that little corner of carving8 and decoration, cost two hundred thousand dollars! I had this from the architect himself."
"My!"
The interior was as fully9 representative of wealth and of the ambition to put under one roof all the notable effects of all the palaces in the world. But it had, what most palaces have not, all the requisites10 for luxurious11 living. The variety of styles in the rooms was bewildering. Artists of distinction, both foreign and native, had vied with each other in the decoration of the rooms given over to the display of their genius. All paganism and all Christianity, history, myth, and the beauties of nature were spread upon the walls and ceilings. Rare woods, rare marbles, splendid textures12, the product of ancient handiwork and modern looms13, added a certain dignity to the more airy creations of the artists. Many of the rooms were named from the nations whose styles of decoration and furnishing were imitated in them, but others had the simple designation of the gold room, the silver room, the lapis-lazuli room, and so on. It was not only the show-rooms, the halls, passages, stairways, and galleries (both of pictures and of curios) that were thus enriched, but the boudoirs, retiring-rooms, and more private apartments as well. It was not simply a house of luxury, but of all the comfort that modern invention can furnish. It was said that the money lavished14 upon one or two of the noble apartments would have built a State-house (though not at Albany), and that the fireplace in the great hall cost as much as an imitation mediaeval church. These were the things talked about, and yet the portions of this noble edifice15, rich as they were, habitually16 occupied by the family had another character--the attractions and conveniences of what we call a home. Mrs. Mavick used to say that in her apartments she found refuge in a sublimated17 domesticity. Mavick's own quarters--not the study off the library where he received visitors whom it was necessary to impress--had an executive appearance, and were, in the necessary appliances, more like the interior bureau of a board of trade. In fact, the witty18 brokers19 who were admitted to its mysteries called it the bucket-shop.
Mr. Brad's article on "A Prisoned Millionaire" more than equaled Philip's expectations. No such "story" had appeared in the city press in a long time. It was what was called, in the language of the period, a work of art--that is, a sensation, heightened by all the words of color in the language, applied20 not only to material things, but to states and qualities of mind, such as "purple emotions" and "scarlet21 intrepidity22." It was also exceedingly complimentary23. Mavick himself was one of the powers and pillars of American society, and the girl was an exquisite24 exhibition of woodland bloom in the first flush of spring-time. As he read it over, Philip thought what a fine advertisement it is to every impecunious25 noble in Europe.
That morning, before going to his office, Philip strolled up Fifth Avenue to look at that now doubly, famous mansion. Many others, it appeared, were moved by the same curiosity. There was already a crowd assembled. A couple of policemen, on special duty, patrolled the sidewalk in front in order to keep a passage open, and perhaps to prevent a too impudent26 inspection27. Opposite the house, on the sidewalk and on door-steps, was a motley throng28, largely made up of toughs and roughs from the East Side, good-natured spectators who merely wanted to see this splendid prison, and a moving line of gentlemen and ladies who simply happened to be passing that way at this time. The curbstone was lined with a score of reporters of the city journals, each with his note-book. Every window and entrance was eagerly watched. It was hoped that one of the family might be seen, or that some servant might appear who could be interviewed. Upon the windows supposed by the reporters to be those from which the heiress looked, a strict watch was kept. The number, form, and location of these windows were accurately29 noted30, the stuff of the curtains described in the phrase of the upholsterer, and much good language was devoted31 to the view from these windows. The shrewdest of the reporters had already sought information as to the interior from the flower dealers32, from upholsterers, from artists who had been employed in the decorations, and had even assailed33, in the name of the rights of the public whom they represented, the architects of the building; but their chief reliance was upon the waiters furnished by the leading caterers on occasions of special receptions and great dinners, and milliners and dress-makers, who had penetrated34 the more domestic apartments. By reason of this extraordinary article in the newspaper, the public had acquired the right to know all about the private life of the Mavick family.
This right was not acknowledged by Mr. Mavick and his family. Of course the object of the excitement was wholly ignorant of the cause of it, as no daily newspaper was ever seen by her that had not been carefully inspected by the trusted and intelligent governess. The crowd in front of the mansion was accounted for by the statement that a picture of it had appeared in one of the low journals, and there was naturally a curiosity to see it. And Evelyn was told that this was one of the penalties a man paid for being popular.
Mrs. Mavick, who seldom lost her head, was thoroughly35 frightened and upset, and it was a rare occasion that could upset the equanimity36 of the late widow, Mrs. Carmen Henderson. She gave way to her passion and demanded that the offending editor should be pursued with the utmost rigor37 of the law. Mr. Mavick was not less annoyed and angry, but he smiled when his wife talked of pursuing the press with the utmost rigor of the law, and said that he would give the matter prompt attention. That day he had an interview with the editor of the Daily Spectrum38; which was satisfactory to both parties. The editor would have said that Mavick behaved like a gentleman. The result of the interview appeared in the newspaper of the following morning.
Mr. Mavick had requested that the offending reporter should be cautioned; he was too wise to have further attention called to the matter by demanding his dismissal. Accordingly the reporter was severely39 reprimanded, and then promoted.
The editorial, which was written by Mr. Olin Brad, and was in his best Macaulay style, began somewhat humorously by alluding40 to the curious interest of the public in ancient history, citing Mr. Froude and Mr. Carlyle, and the legend of Casper Hauser. It was true, gradually approaching the case in point, that uncommon41 precautions had been taken in the early years of the American heiress, and it was the romance of the situation that had been laid before the readers of the Spectrum. But there had been really no danger in our chivalrous42, free American society, and all these precautions were long a thing of the past (which was not true). In short, with elaboration and great skill, and some humor, the exaggerations of the former article were minimized, and put in an airy and unsubstantial light. And then this friend of the people, this exposer of abuses and champion of virtue43, turned and justly scored the sensational44 press for prying45 into the present life of one of the first families in the country.
Incidentally, it was mentioned that the ladies of the family had before this incident bespoken46 their passage for their annual visit to Europe, and that this affair had not disturbed their arrangements (which also was not true). This casual announcement was intended to draw away attention from the Fifth Avenue house, and to notify the roughs that it would be useless to lay any plans.
The country press, which had far and wide printed the interesting story, softened47 it in accordance with the later development. Possibly no intelligent person was deceived, but in the estimation of the mass of the people the Spectrum increased its reputation for enterprise and smartness and gave also an impression of its fairness. The manager, told Mr. Brad that the increased sales of the two days permitted the establishment to give him a vacation of two weeks on full pay, and during these weeks the manager himself set up a neat and modest brougham.
All of which events, only partially48 understood, Mr. Philip Burnett revolved49 in his mind, and wondered if what was called success was worth the price paid for it.
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1
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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sonnet
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| n.十四行诗 | |
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panorama
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| n.全景，全景画，全景摄影，全景照片[装置] | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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cosmopolitan
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| adj.世界性的，全世界的，四海为家的，全球的 | |
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fabulous
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| adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的 | |
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carving
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| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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requisites
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| n.必要的事物( requisite的名词复数 ) | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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textures
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| n.手感( texture的名词复数 )；质感；口感；（音乐或文学的）谐和统一感 | |
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looms
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| n.织布机( loom的名词复数 )v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的第三人称单数 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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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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edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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sublimated
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| v.（使某物质）升华( sublimate的过去式和过去分词 )；使净化；纯化 | |
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witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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brokers
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| n.（股票、外币等）经纪人( broker的名词复数 )；中间人；代理商；（订合同的）中人v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的第三人称单数 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排… | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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intrepidity
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| n.大胆，刚勇；大胆的行为 | |
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complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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impecunious
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| adj.不名一文的，贫穷的 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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dealers
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| n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者 | |
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assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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rigor
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| n.严酷，严格，严厉 | |
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spectrum
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| n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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alluding
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| 提及，暗指( allude的现在分词 ) | |
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uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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chivalrous
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| adj.武士精神的；对女人彬彬有礼的 | |
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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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sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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45
prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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bespoken
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| v.预定( bespeak的过去分词 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
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softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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