CHAPTER XXIV. INTRODUCES MR. SHARPLEIGH, THE DETECTIVE.

 Chester was not so much disturbed by his discharge, so far as it related to his own welfare, as by the thought that Mr. Fairchild's interests were threatened. He felt that his absent employer ought to be notified at once.

 

Accordingly he went to the Fifth Avenue Hotel and telegraphed to Chicago:

 

"I am discharged. Felix Gordon is in my place. Will write."

 

A few hours later Chester received the following message at his lodgings¹.

 

"Your telegram received. Will write you instructions. Fairchild."

 

Two days later Chester received a letter requesting him to call at once on a well-known detective, give him all the available information and request him to keep careful watch of Mr. Mullins and his operations, and interfere² if any steps were taken prejudicial to Mr. Fairchild's interests.

 

Chester called on the detective and was fortunate enough to find him in. He expected to see a large man of impressive manners and imposing³ presence, and was rather disappointed when he found a small personage under the average height, exceedingly plain and unpretentious, who might easily have been taken for an humble⁴ clerk on a salary of ten or twelve dollars a week.

 

Mr. Sharpleigh listened attentively⁵ to Chester's communication, and then proceeded to ask questions.

 

"Do you know anything of Mr. Mullins outside of the office?" he asked.

 

"A little, sir."

 

"Has he any bad habits? Is he extravagant⁶? Does he drink?"

 

"I have never seen any evidence that he drank," answered Chester. "Perhaps he may drink a glass of wine or beer occasionally."

 

"I don't mean that. He is not what may be called an intemperate⁷ man?"

 

"No, sir."

 

"Any other objectionable habits?"

 

"I think he gambles."

 

"Ha! this is important. What makes you think so?"

 

"He seems to be intimate with a man who, I am told, is a well-known gambler."

 

"Who is it?"

 

"Dick Ralston."

 

"Ralston is as well known as any gambler in the city. How is it that this has not excited the suspicions of Mr. Fairchild?"

 

"I don't think Mr. Fairchild knows it."

 

"Then Ralston doesn't come into the office?"

 

"He did not when Mr. Fairchild was in town. As soon as Mr. Fairchild left he came at once, and now spends considerable time there."

 

"Probably Mullins owes him money lost in gambling⁸."

 

"I think he does. I overheard him one day urging Mr. Mullins to give him money."

 

"That makes it probable. Do you know if they keep company outside?"

 

"I have seen them walking late in the evening."

 

"Why do you think Mr. Mullins discharged you?"

 

"He wanted the place for a cousin of his."

 

"What name?"

 

"Felix Gordon."

 

"Is he there now?"

 

"Yes; Felix was taken on when I was discharged."

 

"At once?"

 

"Yes. He was in the office, probably waiting for the vacancy⁹."

 

"The plan seems to have been cut and dried. What sort of a boy is Felix?"

 

"I don't know him very well. He seems on confidential¹⁰ terms with Mr. Mullins."

 

"Did the bookkeeper have any other reasons for disliking you?"

 

"Yes; I interfered¹¹ to prevent his cheating a mechanic out of his month's rent."

 

"State the circumstances."

 

Chester did so.

 

"How long has Mr. Mullins been in Mr. Fairchild's employ?"

 

"About five years, I think I have heard."

 

"That speaks well for him. Probably his acquaintance with Ralston is recent, or he would have done something before this to insure his discharge."

 

There was a short silence, and Chester asked: "Have you any more questions, Mr. Sharpleigh?"

 

"Not at present. Will you give me your address?"

 

Chester did so.

 

"I will send for you if I need you. I think you can help me materially. You seem to have a clear head, and are observing."

 

It was the evening for Chester to call at Prof. Hazlitt's.

 

"I passed your office this morning, Chester," said Arthur Burks, "and thought of calling in, but I was in haste."

 

"You wouldn't have found me, Arthur. I am discharged."

 

"What!" exclaimed Arthur, in surprise. "What complaint does Mr. Fairchild make of you?"

 

"None at all. He is out of the city. The bookkeeper, who dislikes me, discharged me, and gave the place to his cousin."

 

"I am awfully¹² sorry. What will you do?"

 

"I have some money saved up. Besides, I shall devote more time to drawing. I made a sketch¹³ yesterday which Mr. Conrad thinks I will get ten dollars for."

 

"That is fine. I never earned ten dollars in my life."

 

"You have never felt obliged to work, except in school."

 

"I take care not to injure my health in studying," said Arthur, with a laugh.

 

"I will speak to uncle Edgar, and he will arrange to have you come four times a week instead of two. Then you will earn more money from him."

 

"Thank you, Arthur. I should like that."

 

Prof. Hazlitt, on being spoken to, ratified¹⁴ this arrangement, so that Chester's mind was easy. He knew now that he would be able to support himself and more, too.

 

Chester soon had something more to encourage him. He received at his lodgings the following letter:

 

"Mr. Chester Rand.

 

"Dear Sir: We are about to establish a new comic weekly, which we shall call The Ph?nix. It is backed by sufficient capital to insure its success. Our attention has been called to some illustrations which you have furnished to some of our successful contemporaries, and we shall be glad to secure your services. We may be able to throw considerable work in your way. Please call at our office as soon as possible.

 

"Editors of the Ph?nix."

 

Chester was quite exhilarated by this letter. He felt that it was a proof of his growing popularity as an artist, and this was particularly gratifying. Besides, his income would be largely, at any rate considerably¹⁵, increased. He lost no time in presenting himself at the office of The Ph?nix.

 

It was located in a large office building on Nassau Street. He took the elevator and went upstairs to the sixth floor. On the door of a room a little way from the elevator he saw the name, and knocked.

 

"Come in!" was the response.

 

Chester opened the door and found himself in the presence of a man of about forty, with a profusion¹⁶ of brown hair shading a pleasant countenance¹⁷. He looked up inquiringly as Chester entered.

 

"Is this the editor of The Ph?nix?" inquired Chester, respectfully.

 

"The Ph?nix will have no existence till next week," answered the other, pleasantly. "I expect to be its editor."

 

"I came in answer to your letter."

 

"To my letter?" repeated the editor, puzzled.

 

"Yes; my name is Chester Rand."

 

"What!" exclaimed the brown-haired man, almost incredulously. "You—a boy? How old are you?"

 

"Sixteen."

 

"And you are a contributor to Puck and other papers?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"You must be a smart boy. Shake hands."

 

Chester shook hands with a smile.

 

"Will my being a boy make any difference?" he asked.

 

"Not if your work is satisfactory. Are you willing to work exclusively for The Ph?nix?"

 

"Yes, sir; that is, if I may be allowed to complete a contract I have made."

 

"What sort of a contract?"

 

"I am illustrating¹⁸ Prof. Hazlitt's ethnological work. I think it may take me some months more, working evenings."

 

"That won't interfere with us. I was afraid you might be under an engagement with a rival publication."

 

"No, sir. So far as that goes I will confine myself to The Ph?nix if——"

 

"Terms are satisfactory, I suppose."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Then I will agree to pay you twenty-five dollars a week for the first six months. I may be able to do better afterward¹⁹."

 

Chester was dazzled. Twenty-five dollars a week! What would Silas Tripp say to that or his enemy, the bookkeeper.

 

"I accept," he answered, promptly²⁰.

1 lodgings   

n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍

参考例句：

• When he reached his lodgings the sun had set. 他到达公寓房间时，太阳已下山了。
• I'm on the hunt for lodgings. 我正在寻找住所。

2 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

3 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

4 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

5 attentively   

adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神

参考例句：

• She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 extravagant   

adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的

参考例句：

• They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
• He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。

7 intemperate   

adj.无节制的，放纵的

参考例句：

• Many people felt threatened by Arther's forceful,sometimes intemperate style.很多人都觉得阿瑟的强硬的、有时过激的作风咄咄逼人。
• The style was hurried,the tone intemperate.匆促的笔调，放纵的语气。

8 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。

9 vacancy   

n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺

参考例句：

• Her going on maternity leave will create a temporary vacancy.她休产假时将会有一个临时空缺。
• The vacancy of her expression made me doubt if she was listening.她茫然的神情让我怀疑她是否在听。

10 confidential   

adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的

参考例句：

• He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
• We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。

11 interfered   

v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉

参考例句：

• Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 awfully   

adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地

参考例句：

• Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
• I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。

13 sketch   

n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述

参考例句：

• My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。
• I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。

14 ratified   

v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The treaty was declared invalid because it had not been ratified. 条约没有得到批准，因此被宣布无效。
• The treaty was ratified by all the member states. 这个条约得到了所有成员国的批准。

15 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

16 profusion   

n.挥霍；丰富

参考例句：

• He is liberal to profusion.他挥霍无度。
• The leaves are falling in profusion.落叶纷纷。

17 countenance   

n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同

参考例句：

• At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
• I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地，仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。

18 illustrating   

给…加插图( illustrate的现在分词 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明

参考例句：

• He upstaged the other speakers by illustrating his talk with slides. 他演讲中配上幻灯片，比其他演讲人更吸引听众。
• Material illustrating detailed structure of graptolites has been etched from limestone by means of hydrofluoric acid. 表明笔石详细构造的物质是利用氢氟酸从石灰岩中侵蚀出来。

19 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

20 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。