“That is very easily arranged, then,” said Henry Morton.
He opened his pocketbook and drew out four crisp new United States notes, of one hundred dollars each.
“There, Frank,” said he; “that will loosen the hold Squire2 Haynes has upon you. I fancy he will find it a little more difficult to extricate3 himself from my grasp.”
“How can I ever thank you, Mr. Morton?” said Frank, with emotion.
“It gives me great pleasure to have it in my power to be of service to you, Frank,” said his friend kindly4.
“We will have a mortgage made out to you,” continued Frank.
“Not without my consent, I hope,” said Mr. Morton, smiling.
Frank looked puzzled.
“No, Frank,” resumed Mr. Morton, “I don't care for any security. You may give me a simple acknowledgment of indebtedness, and then pay me at your leisure.”
Frank felt with Justice that Mr. Morton was acting5 very generously, and he was more than ever drawn6 to him.
So passed the earlier hours of the forenoon.
About eleven o'clock Squire Haynes was observed approaching the house. His step was firm and elastic7, as if he rejoiced in the errand he was upon. Again he lifted the knocker, and sounded a noisy summons. It was in reality a summons to surrender.
The door was opened again by Mrs. Frost, who invited the squire to enter. He did so, wondering at her apparent composure.
“They can't have raised the money,” thought he apprehensively8. “No, I am sure the notice was too short.”
Frank was in the room, but Squire Haynes did not deign9 to notice him, nor did Frank choose to make advances. Mrs. Frost spoke10 upon indifferent subjects, being determined11 to force Squire Haynes to broach12 himself the business that had brought him to the farm.
Finally, clearing his throat, he said: “Well, madam, are you prepared to cancel the mortgage which I hold upon your husband's farm?”
“I hope,” said Mrs. Frost, “you will give us time. It is hardly possible to obtain so large a sum in twenty-four hours.”
“They haven't got it,” thought the squire exultingly13.
“As to that,” he said aloud, “you've had several years to get ready in.”
“Have you no consideration? Remember my husband's absence, and I am unacquainted with business.”
“I have already told you,” said the squire hastily, “that I require the money. I have a note to pay, and——”
“Can you give us a week?”
“No, I must have the money at once.”
“And if we cannot pay?”
“I must foreclose.”
“Will that give you the money any sooner? I suppose you would have to advertise the farm for sale before you could realize anything, and I hardly think that car be accomplished14 sooner than a week hence.”
“The delay is only a subterfuge15 on your part,” said the squire hotly. “You would be no better prepared at the end of a week than you are now.”
“No, perhaps not,” said Mrs. Frost quietly.
“And yet you ask me to wait,” said the squire indignantly. “Once for all, let me tell you that all entreaties16 are vain. My mind is made up to foreclose, and foreclose I will.”
“Don't be too sure of that,” interrupted Frank, with a triumphant17 smile.
“Ha, young impudence18!” exclaimed the squire, wheeling round. “Who's to prevent me, I should like to know?”
“I am,” said Frank boldly.
The squire fingered his cane19 nervously20. He was very strongly tempted21 to lay it on our hero's back. But he reflected that the power was in his hands, and that he was sure of his revenge.
“You won't gain anything by your impudence,” he said loftily. “I might have got you a place, out of pity to your mother, if you had behaved differently. I need a boy to do odd jobs about the house, and I might have offered the place to you.”
“Thank you for your kind intentions,” said Frank, “but I fear the care of this farm will prevent my accepting your tempting22 offer.”
“The care of the farm!” repeated the squire angrily. “Do you think I will delegate it to you?”
“I don't see what you have to do about it,” said Frank.
“Then you'll find out,” roared the squire. “I shall take immediate23 possession, and require you to leave at once.”
“Then I suppose we had better pay the mortgage, mother,” said Frank.
“Pay the mortgage! You can't do it,” said the squire exultingly.
“Have you the document with you?” inquired Mrs. Frost.
“Yes, madam.”
“Name the amount due on it.”
“With interest eight hundred and twenty-four dollars.”
“Frank, call in Mr. Morton as a witness.”
Mr. Morton entered.
“Now, Frank, you may count out the money.”
“We can.”
“Why didn't you tell me so in the first place?” demanded Squire Haynes, his wrath25 excited by his bitter disappointment.
“I wished to ascertain26 whether your course was dictated27 by necessity or a desire to annoy and injure us. I can have no further doubt about it.”
There was no help for it. Squire Haynes was compelled to release his hold upon the Frost Farm, and pocket his money. He had never been so sorry to receive money before.
This business over, he was about to beat a hurried retreat, when he was suddenly arrested by a question from Henry Morton.
“Can you spare me a few minutes, Squire Haynes?”
“I am in haste, sir.”
“My business is important, and has already been too long delayed.”
“Too long delayed?”
“Yes, it has waited twelve years.”
“I don't understand you, sir,” said the squire.
“Perhaps I can assist you. You know me as Henry Morton. That is not my real name.”
“Yes, I had my reasons,” returned the young man, unmoved.
“I have no doubt of it.”
Henry Morton smiled, but did not otherwise notice the unpleasant imputation30.
“My real name is Richard Waring.”
Squire Haynes started violently and scrutinized31 the young man closely through his spectacles. His vague suspicions were confirmed.
“Do you wish to know my business with you?”
The squire muttered something inaudible.
“I demand the restitution32 of the large sum of money entrusted33 to you by my father, just before his departure to the West Indies—a sum of which you have been the wrongful possessor for twelve years.”
“Do you mean to insult me?” exclaimed the squire, bold in the assurance that the sole evidence of his fraud was undiscovered.
“Unless you comply with my demand I shall proceed against you legally, and you are enough of a lawyer to understand the punishment meted34 out to that description of felony.”
“Pooh, pooh! Your threats won't avail you,” said the squire contemptuously. “Your plan is a very clumsy one. Let me suggest to you, young man, that threats for the purpose of extorting35 money are actionable.”
“Do you doubt my identity?”
“You may very probably be the person you claim to be, but that won't save you.”
“Very well. You have conceded one point.”
He walked quietly to the door of the adjoining room, opened it, and in a distinct voice called “James Travers.”
At the sound of this name Squire Haynes sank into a chair, ashy pale.
A man, not over forty, but with seamed face, hair nearly white, and a form evidently broken with ill health, slowly entered.
“You see before you, Squire Haynes, a man whose silence has been your safeguard for the last twelve years. His lips are now unsealed. James Travers, tell us what you know of the trust reposed37 in this man by my father.”
“No, no,” said the squire hurriedly. “It—it is enough. I will make restitution.”
“You have done wisely,” said Richard Waring. (We must give him his true name.) “When will you be ready to meet me upon this business?”
“To-morrow,” muttered the squire.
He left the house with the air of one who has been crushed by a sudden blow.
Numerous and hearty40 were the congratulations which Mr. Morton—I mean Mr. Waring—received upon his new accession of property.
“I do not care so much for that,” he said, “but my father's word has been vindicated41. My mind is now at peace.”
There was more than one happy heart at the farm that night. Mr. Waring had accomplished the great object of his life; and as for Frank and his mother, they felt that the black cloud which had menaced their happiness had been removed, and henceforth there seemed prosperous days in store. To cap the climax42 of their happiness, the afternoon mail brought a letter from Mr. Frost, in which he imparted the intelligence that he had been promoted to a second lieutenancy43.
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1
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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elastic
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| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
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apprehensively
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| adv.担心地 | |
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deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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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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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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broach
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| v.开瓶，提出(题目) | |
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exultingly
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| 兴高采烈地，得意地 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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subterfuge
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| n.诡计；藉口 | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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alias
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| n.化名；别名；adv.又名 | |
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29
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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imputation
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| n.归罪，责难 | |
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scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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restitution
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| n.赔偿；恢复原状 | |
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entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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meted
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| v.（对某人）施以，给予（处罚等）( mete的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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extorting
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| v.敲诈( extort的现在分词 )；曲解 | |
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36
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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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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40
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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41
vindicated
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| v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护 | |
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42
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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43
lieutenancy
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| n.中尉之职，代理官员 | |
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44
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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