CHAPTER XXI. MR. PERKINS MAKES AN ACQUAINTANCE.

 Dick Ralston and the bookkeeper stared at their Western friend in undisguised amazement¹. Finally Mr. Mullins said, "What did I understand you to call yourself?"

 

"Paul Perkins, of Minneapolis."

 

"And—you are staying at the Fifth Avenue Hotel?"

 

"Certainly. Didn't you send this boy with a message?" said Mr. Perkins, rather impatiently.

 

"Ye-es."

 

"How did you know that I was coming to New York? That's what beats me."

 

Mullins began to appreciate the situation, and he was cudgeling his brains for an explanation. Finally one came.

 

"I may be misinformed, but I learned from a friend of yours that you were coming here with an intention of locating in our city. Now, as we are in the real estate business, I thought we would offer our services to find you a suitable house."

 

"Some friend of mine notified you of my coming to New York? Why, I started off on a sudden without consulting anyone. I don't see how anyone could give you the information."

 

"I won't undertake to explain it," said the bookkeeper. "I will only say that I am glad to meet you."

 

"Thank you! You are very polite. What was the name of the friend who spoke² about me and my plans?"

 

"I have a poor memory for names, but I believe I have the gentleman's card in my desk."

 

He opened the desk and made an elaborate search for what he knew he should not find.

 

"It's no use," he said, after a pause. "It's disappeared."

 

"What was the appearance of the person?" persisted Mr. Perkins.

 

"He was—tall, and—yes, with a dark complexion³ and—and side whiskers."

 

"About how old?"

 

"I should say about forty."

 

"I know plenty of people answering that description. But how did he happen to call on you?"

 

"There you have me. He had some business with Mr. Fairchild, and unfortunately Mr. F. started West this morning."

 

"I see. I can get no clew to the mystery. However, I am glad to have made the acquaintance of this young man," indicating Chester.

 

"Oh, you mean our office boy," returned Mullins, coldly.

 

Just then Dick Ralston nudged the bookkeeper.

 

"Introduce me," he said, sotto voce.

 

The bookkeeper did not incline favorably to this request, but did not dare to refuse. Dick Ralston's appearance was decidedly against him, and his "loud" attire⁵ was in keeping with his face and manners.

 

"Mr. Perkins," said Mullins, "allow me to introduce my friend, Mr. Ralston."

 

"Glad to meet you, Mr. Ralston," said the man from Minneapolis, extending his hand, which Dick seized and pressed warmly.

 

"Proud to make your acquaintance, Mr. Perkins," rejoined the gambler. "I always did like Western people."

 

"Thank you. I am not Western by birth, though I went out to Minnesota when I was a mere⁶ boy."

 

"And I have no doubt you have prospered," said Ralston, who was really anxious to learn whether Mr. Perkins was well provided with money and was worth fleecing.

 

"Well, I don't complain," answered Perkins, in a matter-of-fact tone.

 

"I shall be glad to pay you any attentions," insinuated⁷ Ralston. "I know the ropes pretty well, and I flatter myself I can show you the town as well as anyone, eh, Mullins?"

 

"Oh, yes," assented⁸ the bookkeeper, not over cordially.

 

"I have no doubt of it, Mr. Ralston, and I take your offer kindly⁹, but I am afraid I won't have time to go round much."

 

"Won't you go out and take a drink? Mullins, you go, too!"

 

"Thank you, but I don't drink—at any rate, when I am away from home. By the way, Mr.——" and he stopped short, for he did not remember the bookkeeper's name.

 

"Mr. Mullins," suggested that gentleman.

 

"You are misinformed about my wanting to locate in this city. New York's a right smart place, I admit, but give me Minneapolis. That suits me."

 

"All right, sir. I am misinformed, that's all."

 

"If you find my friend's card just write and let me know his name. I'd like to know who it is that knows so much about my plans."

 

"I will. Where shall I direct?"

 

"Oh, just direct to Minneapolis. I'm well known there. A letter will be sure to reach me."

 

"Shall you be at the hotel this evening, Mr. Perkins?" added Dick Ralston, who found it hard to give up his design upon his new acquaintance.

 

"I don't know. I haven't made any plans."

 

"I was thinking I might call upon you."

 

"Don't trouble yourself, Mr. Ralston. Probably you would not find me in."

 

Mr. Perkins was a tolerably shrewd man. He had "sized up" the gambler, and decided⁴ that he did not care to become any better acquainted with him.

 

"Just as you say," returned Dick Ralston, looking discomfited¹⁰. "I thought perhaps I could make it pleasant for you."

 

"If I find I have time I can call at your place of business," said the man from Minneapolis, with a shrewd glance at the gambler.

 

"I have no place of business," returned Ralston, rather awkwardly. "I am a—a capitalist, and sometimes speculate in real estate. Don't I, Mullins?"

 

"Of course. By the way, I forgot to tell you that I have four lots on Ninety-sixth Street which would make a good investment."

 

"Ninety-sixth Street! Ahem, rather far uptown. What's the figure?"

 

"Five thousand dollars."

 

"I'll take a look at them as soon as I have time. You see, Mr. Perkins, I do all my real estate business through my friend, Mr. Mullins."

 

"Just so."

 

Neither Mr. Perkins nor Chester was taken in by Ralston's assumption of the character of a capitalist. The Western man had already a shrewd suspicion of the gambler's real business, and being a cautious and prudent¹¹ man, did not care to cultivate him.

 

"Good-morning!" said Mr. Perkins. "I must not take up any more of your time. Will you allow Chester to go out with me for five minutes?"

 

"Certainly."

 

David Mullins would have liked to refuse, but had no good excuse for doing so.

 

"Don't stay long!" he said, rather sharply.

 

"I won't keep him long."

 

When they were in the street Mr. Perkins said: "I don't like the looks of that bookkeeper of yours."

 

"Nor do I," returned Chester.

 

"I wouldn't trust him any further than I could see him. Who was that Ralston? Have you ever seen him before?"

 

"Once. He doesn't come into the office when Mr. Fairchild is at home."

 

"Do you know anything about him?"

 

"I know—that is, I have heard that he is a well-known gambler."

 

"By the great horn spoon, if I didn't think so! He seemed very anxious to show me round the city."

 

"He would probably have taken you to a gambling¹² house."

 

"Not if I was in my senses. I don't gamble, and I hope you don't."

 

"I shouldn't know how," answered Chester, with a smile.

 

"Have you any engagement for this evening?"

 

"No, sir."

 

"What time do you leave the office?"

 

"At five o'clock."

 

"Then come round to the hotel and take dinner with me. I don't know anyone in the city, and I shall be glad to have your company this evening. We will take a walk together, and you can show me what's worth seeing."

 

"Are you not afraid that I will take you to a gambling house?" asked Chester, with a smile.

 

"I'll risk it."

 

"You would find Mr. Ralston a better guide."

 

"But not so safe a one. I shall be satisfied with you."

 

When Chester returned to the office Mullins asked, sharply: "What did Perkins want to say to you?"

 

"He asked me to dine with him to-night at the Fifth Avenue Hotel."

 

"Speak a good word for me, Chester," said Ralston, with unusual affability. "I would like to become better acquainted with him."

 

"What shall I say, Mr. Ralston?"

 

"Tell him I am a prominent man, and expect to be nominated for Congress next fall."

 

This he said with a wink¹³. Chester and the bookkeeper laughed.

 

"I'll tell him," said Chester.

 

1 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

2 spoke   

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

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 complexion   

n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格

参考例句：

• Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
• Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 attire   

v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装

参考例句：

• He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他无意改变着装方式。
• Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服装引起了她的注意。

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 insinuated   

v.暗示( insinuate的过去式和过去分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入

参考例句：

• The article insinuated that he was having an affair with his friend's wife. 文章含沙射影地点出他和朋友的妻子有染。
• She cleverly insinuated herself into his family. 她巧妙地混进了他的家庭。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 assented   

同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
• "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对，”汤姆表示赞同地说，“他们不杀女人——真伟大！

9 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

10 discomfited   

v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词)；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败

参考例句：

• He was discomfited by the unexpected questions. 意料不到的问题使得他十分尴尬。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He will be particularly discomfited by the minister's dismissal of his plan. 部长对他计划的不理会将使他特别尴尬。 来自辞典例句

11 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

12 gambling   

n.赌博；投机

参考例句：

• They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
• The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

13 wink   

n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁

参考例句：

• He tipped me the wink not to buy at that price.他眨眼暗示我按那个价格就不要买。
• The satellite disappeared in a wink.瞬息之间，那颗卫星就消失了。