CHAPTER XXIII. A SECRET CONFERENCE.

 The affairs of Florence Douglas are so interwoven with the fortunes of my young hero that I find myself obliged to devote a part of my space to their record. I confess that I have no pleasure in detailing the schemes of Orton Campbell, who seems to me a very disagreeable character, but it seems necessary.

 

After leaving the presence of Miss Douglas he took a walk, to consider the situation and decide what it was most expedient¹ to do. He was spending considerable time and money in the effort to recover his father's ward², and he did not like to fail. Yet it was not easy to decide upon any plan which would bring success. It was not a matter in which he could invoke³ the assistance of the law. The young lady's manner convinced him that she[Pg 184] would not of her own free will consent to accompany him back. What, then, was to be done?

 

On the principle that two heads are better than one, he resolved to take his companion, Jones, into his confidence and ask him to make a suggestion.

 

"How did you find the young lady, Mr. Orton?" asked his follower⁴ on his return to the hotel.

 

"Very offish, Jones."

 

"Then she wasn't glad to see you?" said Jones, with a grin.

 

"By no means. She hardly treated me with civility."

 

"That's because of the other man," said Jones, sagaciously.

 

"You are right. Mr. Dewey, as I learned, is in California."

 

"Then maybe they have an understanding together."

 

"No; she doesn't know where he is."

 

Jones was puzzled, and showed it in a way common to men of his class. He scratched his head and looked perplexed⁵.

 

[Pg 185]"Then, what good is it for her to stay here?" he asked, after a pause.

 

"She is taking steps to find this Dewey, who is somewhere at the mines, though she would not tell me what they were. He may turn up any time, and then good-bye to all my hopes."

 

"You want to marry her yourself, Mr. Orton?"

 

"Of course. Otherwise I wouldn't have come so far in search of her."

 

"The young lady is very rich, isn't she?" asked Jones, shrewdly.

 

"She has a moderate fortune," replied Orton, guardedly; "but that doesn't influence me."

 

"Of course not," said Jones; but there was something in his tone which made Campbell eye him sharply.

 

"I am no fortune-hunter," said he, stiffly.

 

"You'd want to marry her just the same if she hadn't a cent?"

 

"Of course I would," snapped Orton.

 

"Now, that's what I call real love," said Jones. "To be sure, you're rich yourself, and needn't mind."

 

[Pg 186]"Precisely so. I may not be rich, but I can support a wife."

 

"As the young lady prefers some one else, I suppose we may as well go home?"

 

"That's what I want to talk to you about, Jones. Very likely this Dewey is dead; at any rate, he's a mere⁶ fortune-hunter. Now, although Florence doesn't care to marry me now, if our marriage could be brought about she would no doubt be reconciled to it after a while. Now, Jones, have you anything to suggest?"

 

Orton Campbell threw himself back in his chair and eyed Jones. He had formed a plan, but, if possible, he wanted the proposal to come from Jones.

 

Jones was not over-scrupulous; he had never been so, and the months he had spent in the mines in the company of adventurers of all kinds had not improved him. Even law-abiding citizens often lost their regard for law in California, and Jones had fewer scruples⁷ to overcome than most.

 

He suggested a plan which met with the ap[Pg 187]proval of his employer, and promised his co-operation on the understanding that if successful Campbell should properly reward him.

 

It may be added that of the thousand dollars which he was to receive for his information he had actually received but three hundred, Orton Campbell having on various pretexts⁸ put off paying him. He received the assurance that this also should be paid him without further delay as soon as the plan referred to was successfully carried out.

 

1 expedient   

adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计

参考例句：

• The government found it expedient to relax censorship a little.政府发现略微放宽审查是可取的。
• Every kind of expedient was devised by our friends.我们的朋友想出了各种各样的应急办法。

2 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

3 invoke   

v.求助于(神、法律)；恳求，乞求

参考例句：

• Let us invoke the blessings of peace.让我们祈求和平之福。
• I hope I'll never have to invoke this clause and lodge a claim with you.我希望我永远不会使用这个条款向你们索赔。

4 follower   

n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒

参考例句：

• He is a faithful follower of his home football team.他是他家乡足球队的忠实拥护者。
• Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。

5 perplexed   

adj.不知所措的

参考例句：

• The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛，走了又回来，犹豫不决，总怕上当受骗。
• The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。

6 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

7 scruples   

n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• I overcame my moral scruples. 我抛开了道德方面的顾虑。
• I'm not ashamed of my scruples about your family. They were natural. 我并未因为对你家人的顾虑而感到羞耻。这种感觉是自然而然的。 来自疯狂英语突破英语语调

8 pretexts   

n.借口，托辞( pretext的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• On various pretexts they all moved off. 他们以各种各样的借口纷纷离开了。 来自辞典例句
• Pretexts and appearances no longer deceive us. 那些托辞与假象再也不会欺骗我们了。 来自辞典例句