One evening, as he sat idly before the fire, indulging in complacent5 thoughts, a servant announced a visitor.
“Bring him in here,” said Lewis, albeit6 somewhat surprised at an intrusion at that late hour. This surprise was not lessened7 when, in the visitor, he recognized Mr. Sharp.
The lawyer advanced with an air of easy assurance, and as he glanced about him observed, rubbing his hands, “Really, Mr. Rand, you are quite charmingly situated8. I am reminded of what I have read of the Mohammedan Paradise. To make it complete, you only need a houri.”
“Yet, Paradise as it is,” said Lewis, significantly, for he had neither forgotten nor forgiven the lawyer’s treachery, “it is not free from the intrusion of evil spirits.”
“Indeed!” returned Mr. Sharp, with an admirable air of unconsciousness, “you surprise me.”
249“Not more than I am surprised to see you here. If it is not taking too great a liberty, might I inquire the motive9 of your visit? I presume it is not the pleasure of seeing me.”
“That’s undoubtedly10 one of my motives,” said the lawyer, affably; “but, as you surmise11, it is not the only one. I wish to speak with you on important business.”
“Perhaps you have made out a bill of charge for the very valuable services you have rendered me?”
“Thank you,” said Mr. Sharp, bowing; “I cannot express the gratification I feel at this generous commendation on the part of one in whose behalf I have put forth my poor efforts.”
“Sir,” said Lewis Rand, rising impatiently, “you cannot hope to deceive me by your imperturbable12 assurance. You serve my interests! You put forth efforts in my behalf! You, who turned traitor13 to my interests, and sought by every means in your power to defeat my plans! This, I suppose, is your idea of legal fidelity14.”
“I fancy,” said the lawyer, boldly, “that I have been as faithful to you as you to your uncle. If we are to indulge in recrimination, it may be that I shall not come off second-best.”
“What do you mean, sir? You are disposed to be impertinent. Can you deny that it was through your agency that my cousin was informed of that which I most desired to conceal15 from him?”
“And thereby,” said the lawyer, composedly, “enabled a father and son to meet before Death came in to separate them forever upon the earth.”
“This, then, is the construction which you put upon your conduct,” said Lewis, with a sneer16. “I congratulate you upon your elevated sentiments.”
“Thank you,” said Mr. Sharp, bowing modestly. “Appreciation 250is always soothing17 to the feelings. Praise from such a source makes me proud, indeed.”
Lewis was incensed18 to find the lawyer adopting the tone which he had hitherto arrogated19 to himself. That a briefless attorney should dare to indulge in sarcasm20 at his expense was a piece of unparalleled presumption21.
“I need not say,” he remarked with a smile of conscious power, “how much I regret putting to inconvenience a man of such elevated and Christian22 sentiments as yourself. Yet I am under the necessity of reminding you that you have in your possession some three hundred dollars which I intrusted to you for a particular purpose. That sum I have present occasion for. If you are unable to pay me, I may feel called upon to resort to measures which may be mutually disagreeable.”
“I am glad you mentioned it,” said Mr. Sharp, blandly23. “By the way, you can show proof that you did intrust me with this money?”
“You perceive,” said the lawyer, nonchalantly, “that if I were dishonest, I might deny the trust. But such is not my intention. Will you favor me with a slip of paper?”
Mr. Sharp made out a bill for professional services amounting to three hundred dollars. This he receipted, and handed to Lewis.
“I believe we are now quits,” he said.
Baffled once more, Lewis turned upon the lawyer with a fury which he no longer attempted to conceal.
“Then,” said he, “I see no further reason for continuing this interview.”
“Pardon me,” said Mr. Sharp, “my business is not yet completed; I came here in behalf of your cousin, my client, Robert Rand.”
251“Perhaps,” said Lewis, with a sneer, “he has come to his senses, and decided26 to accept the offer I made him the day after the funeral. You may inform him that he is too late. The offer is withdrawn27.”
“As to that, your message is unnecessary, since he has not the slightest disposition29 to accept it.”
“Indeed! Then may I beg to know with what message you are charged?”
“He will agree to receive nothing less than half the estate.”
“He is quite moderate. You are sure that he does not demand the whole?”
“Quite so. He has no disposition to impoverish30 you, notwithstanding the wrongs he has received at your hands.”
“He is considerate,” said Lewis, “very considerate! How soon does he expect an answer to his modest proposal?”
“This very night.”
“And suppose,” said Lewis, “(of course, it is highly improbable) but suppose I should decline complying with this very moderate demand of my worthy31 cousin? What then?”
“Allow me, before answering your question, to propose one of my own.”
“Certainly, Mr. Sharp,” said Lewis, graciously, already exulting in the other’s discomfiture33; “I shall be happy to give you information upon any point you may desire.”
“Are you acquainted with a copyist named Wynne,—Jacob Wynne?”—asked Mr. Sharp, looking searchingly at his late client.
Lewis Rand started, and his sallow face grew red and white by turns.
252“Well,” said he, with a vain effort to speak carelessly, “and if I do?”
Lewis rose from his seat, and paced the room. At length he paused before the lawyer.
“Why do you tell me this?” he demanded fiercely, “What have I to do with a paltry36 scrivener? What is it to me that he is in prison? Doubtless he has been there before, and you too, for ought I know.”
“He was arrested on a charge of forgery37,” said the lawyer, slowly, watching the effect of this announcement on his companion.
Lewis sat down, brought to bay at last, and leaned his head upon the table. He no longer dared to evade38 the subject. He felt that the danger was imminent39, and must be confronted.
“How was his arrest brought about?” he inquired.
“Through the agency of a woman,—his wife, I believe,—who, in consequence of some quarrel, wishes to revenge herself upon this Jacob. When the forgery was committed she was a concealed40 spectator, and saw and heard the whole. She can swear to the person who employed Jacob Wynne to do this service! Nor is this all. She has a piece of paper—a torn half sheet—which was used by the copyist to try his pen on that night. It contains a name several times repeated.”
Lewis did not inquire what name.
“This woman—this Margaret—fell in with me, and applied42 to me to help her. It suited my purpose to do so, although her poverty will prevent my receiving any recompense from her.”
“Then she is poor,” said Lewis, thoughtfully. “Where is she?”
253“Pardon me,” said Mr. Sharp, reading the purpose of Lewis in his face; “that is a question which I cannot answer.”
“That was not needful. I will at once speak to the point, Mr. Rand. It can be abundantly proved that this forgery was committed at your instigation. Once let this be known, and you become amenable45 to the same penalties which now menace your instrument. One word from me will carry you to prison to-night. There is no chance of escape. I have obtained a warrant, and an officer is waiting at the door. But there is an alternative.”
Lewis summoned all the energies of his crafty46 and subtile mind to devise some method of escape. But he was entangled47 in a labyrinth48 from which he could not extricate49 himself.
“Give me till to-morrow,” he said.
“I regret that I cannot do so,” said the lawyer, politely.
Mr. Sharp drew from his pocket a legal instrument conveying one half of all his estates to Robert Rand, some time known as Robert Ford51. It was drawn28 up with all the precision and technicality required by the law. It only needed the signature of Lewis.
Lewis read it with dark and lowering face. “I cannot sign it,” he said, desperately52.
“Fate is against me,” muttered Lewis, moved by this threat. “Since it must be done.”
“Will you have the kindness to summon two of your servants to witness the document?” said the lawyer.
Lewis rang the bell sharply.
“Jacqueline, call Antoine, and come in yourself.”
254Lewis signed his name.
“Will that satisfy you?” he said, bitterly.
“Perfectly,” said Mr. Sharp, bowing.
“Then, Antoine, you will show this gentleman to the door.”
Mr. Sharp bowed graciously, and withdrew. A moment more, and Lewis was left alone,—a prey54 to the keenest disappointment. Troubled as he was by the loss of one half his possessions, there were two things that troubled him even more. He had been out-generalled by one of his own tools, whom he had looked upon with contempt, and his cousin, whom he detested55 more than ever, was now as wealthy as himself.
Lewis Rand paced the library with disordered steps, till far into the night, and, when he retired56 to his chamber57, it was not to sleep.
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1
palled
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| v.（因过多或过久而）生厌，感到乏味，厌烦( pall的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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defrauded
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| v.诈取，骗取( defraud的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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complacent
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| adj.自满的；自鸣得意的 | |
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6
albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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7
lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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17
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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arrogated
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| v.冒称，妄取( arrogate的过去式和过去分词 )；没来由地把…归属（于） | |
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sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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27
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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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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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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impoverish
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| vt.使穷困，使贫困 | |
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31
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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32
exulting
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| vi. 欢欣鼓舞，狂喜 | |
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33
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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35
inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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36
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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37
forgery
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| n.伪造的文件等，赝品，伪造（行为） | |
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38
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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40
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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41
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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42
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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43
divulged
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| v.吐露，泄露( divulge的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
amenable
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| adj.经得起检验的；顺从的；对负有义务的 | |
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46
crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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47
entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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49
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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50
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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51
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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52
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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53
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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54
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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55
detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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57
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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