CHAPTER XXXI — TONY DENTON'S CALL

 Leaving Luke on his way to the Black Hills, we will go back to Groveton, to see how matters are moving on there.

 

Tony Denton had now the excuse he sought for calling upon Prince Duncan. Ostensibly, his errand related to the debt which Randolph had incurred¹ at his saloon, but really he had something more important to speak of. It may be remarked that Squire² Duncan, who had a high idea of his own personal importance, looked upon Denton as a low and insignificant³ person, and never noticed him when they met casually⁴ in the street. It is difficult to play the part of an aristocrat⁵ in a country village, but that is the role which Prince Duncan assumed. Had he been a prince in reality, as he was by name, he could not have borne himself more loftily when he came face to face with those whom he considered his inferiors.

 

When, in answer to the bell, the servant at Squire Duncan's found Tony Denton standing⁶ on the doorstep, she looked at him in surprise.

 

"Is the squire at home?" asked the saloon keeper.

 

"I believe so," said the girl, doubtfully.

 

"I would like to see him. Say Mr. Denton wishes to see him on important business."

 

The message was delivered.

 

"Mr. Denton!" repeated the squire, in surprise. "Is it Tony Denton?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"What can he wish to see me about?"

 

"He says it's business of importance, sir."

 

"Well, bring him in."

 

Prince Duncan assumed his most important attitude and bearing when his visitor entered his presence.

 

"Mr.—ahem!—Denton, I believe?" he said, as if he found difficulty in recognizing Tony.

 

"The same."

 

"I am—ahem!—surprised to hear that you have any business with me."

 

"Yet so it is, Squire Duncan," said Tony, not perceptibly overawed by the squire's grand manner.

 

"Elucidate⁷ it!" said Prince Duncan, stiffly.

 

"You may not be aware, Squire Duncan, that your son Randolph has for some time frequented my billiard saloon and has run up a sum of twenty-seven dollars."

 

"I was certainly not aware of it. Had I been, I should have forbidden his going there. It is no proper place for my son to frequent."

 

"Well, I don't know about that. It's respectable enough, I guess. At any rate, he seemed to like it, and at his request, for he was not always provided with money, I trusted him till his bill comes to twenty-seven dollars—"

 

"You surely don't expect me to pay it!" said the squire, coldly. "He is a minor⁸, as you very well know, and when you trusted him you knew you couldn't legally collect your claim."

 

"Well, squire, I thought I'd take my chances," said Tony, carelessly. "I didn't think you'd be willing to have him owing bills around the village. You're a gentleman, and I was sure you'd settle the debt."

 

"Then, sir, you made a very great mistake. Such bills as that I do not feel called upon to pay. Was it all incurred for billiards⁹?"

 

"No; a part of it was for drinks."

 

"Worse and worse! How can you have the face to come here, Mr. Denton, and tell me that?"

 

"I don't think it needs any face, squire. It's an honest debt."

 

"You deliberately¹⁰ entrapped¹¹ my son, and lured¹² him into your saloon, where he met low companions, and squandered¹³ his money and time in drinking and low amusements."

 

"Come, squire, you're a little too fast. Billiards ain't low. Did you ever see Schaefer and Vignaux play?"

 

"No, sir; I take no interest in the game. In coming here you have simply wasted your time. You will get no money from me."

 

"Then you won't pay your son's debt?" asked Tony Denton.

 

"No."

 

Instead of rising to go, Tony Denton kept his seat. He regarded Squire Duncan attentively¹⁴.

 

"I am sorry, sir," said Prince Duncan, impatiently. "I shall have to cut short this interview."

 

"I will detain you only five minutes, sir. Have you ascertained¹⁵ who robbed the bank?"

 

"I have no time for gossip. No, sir."

 

"I suppose you would welcome any information on the subject?"

 

Duncan looked at his visitor now with sharp attention.

 

"Do you know anything about it?" he asked.

 

"Well, perhaps I do."

 

"Were you implicated¹⁶ in it?" was the next question.

 

Tony Denton smiled a peculiar¹⁷ smile.

 

"No, I wasn't," he answered. "If I had been, I don't think I should have called upon you about the matter. But—I think I know who robbed the bank."

 

"Who, then?" demanded the squire, with an uneasy look.

 

Tony Denton rose from his chair, advanced to the door, which was a little ajar, and closed it. Then he resumed.

 

"One night late—it was after midnight—I was taking a walk, having just closed my saloon, when it happened that my steps led by the bank. It was dark—not a soul probably in the village was awake save myself, when I saw the door of the bank open and a muffled¹⁸ figure came out with a tin box under his arm. I came closer, yet unobserved, and peered at the person. I recognized him."

 

"You recognized him?" repeated the squire, mechanically, his face pale and drawn¹⁹.

 

"Yes; do you want to know who it was?"

 

Prince Duncan stared at him, but did not utter a word.

 

"It was you, the president of the bank!" continued Denton.

 

"Nonsense, man!" said Duncan, trying to regain²⁰ his self-control.

 

"It is not nonsense. I can swear to it."

 

"I mean that it is nonsense about the robbery. I visited the bank to withdraw a box of my own."

 

"Of course you can make that statement before the court?" said Tony Denton, coolly.

 

"But—but—you won't think of mentioning this circumstance?" muttered the squire.

 

"Will you pay Randolph's bill?"

 

"Yes—yes; I'll draw a check at once."

 

"So far, so good; but it isn't far enough. I want more."

 

"You want more?" ejaculated the squire.

 

"Yes; I want a thousand-dollar government bond. It's cheap enough for such a secret."

 

"But I haven't any bonds."

 

"You can find me one," said Tony, emphatically, "or I'll tell what I know to the directors. You see, I know more than that."

 

"What do you know?" asked Duncan, terrified.

 

"I know that you disposed of a part of the bonds on Wall Street, to Sharp & Ketchum. I stood outside when you were up in their office."

 

Great beads²¹ of perspiration²² gathered upon the banker's brow. This blow was wholly unexpected, and he was wholly unprepared for it. He made a feeble resistance, but in the end, when Tony Denton left the house he had a thousand-dollar bond carefully stowed away in an inside pocket, and Squire Duncan was in such a state of mental collapse²³ that he left his supper untasted.

 

Randolph was very much surprised when he learned that his father had paid his bill at the billiard saloon, and still more surprised that the squire made very little fuss about it.

1 incurred   

[医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式

参考例句：

• She had incurred the wrath of her father by marrying without his consent 她未经父亲同意就结婚，使父亲震怒。
• We will reimburse any expenses incurred. 我们将付还所有相关费用。

2 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

3 insignificant   

adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的

参考例句：

• In winter the effect was found to be insignificant.在冬季，这种作用是不明显的。
• This problem was insignificant compared to others she faced.这一问题与她面临的其他问题比较起来算不得什么。

4 casually   

adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地

参考例句：

• She remarked casually that she was changing her job.她当时漫不经心地说要换工作。
• I casually mentioned that I might be interested in working abroad.我不经意地提到我可能会对出国工作感兴趣。

5 aristocrat   

n.贵族，有贵族气派的人，上层人物

参考例句：

• He was the quintessential english aristocrat.他是典型的英国贵族。
• He is an aristocrat to the very marrow of his bones.他是一个道道地地的贵族。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 elucidate   

v.阐明，说明

参考例句：

• The note help to elucidate the most difficult parts of the text.这些注释有助于弄清文中最难懂的部分。
• This guide will elucidate these differences and how to exploit them.这篇指导将会阐述这些不同点以及如何正确利用它们。

8 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

9 billiards   

n.台球

参考例句：

• John used to divert himself with billiards.约翰过去总打台球自娱。
• Billiards isn't popular in here.这里不流行台球。

10 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

11 entrapped   

v.使陷入圈套，使入陷阱( entrap的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was entrapped into undertaking the work. 他受骗而担任那工作。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He felt he had been entrapped into marrying her. 他觉得和她结婚是上了当。 来自辞典例句

12 lured   

吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The child was lured into a car but managed to escape. 那小孩被诱骗上了车，但又设法逃掉了。
• Lured by the lust of gold,the pioneers pushed onward. 开拓者在黄金的诱惑下，继续奋力向前。

13 squandered   

v.（指钱，财产等）浪费，乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He squandered all his money on gambling. 他把自己所有的钱都糟蹋在赌博上了。
• She felt as indignant as if her own money had been squandered. 她心里十分生气，好像是她自己的钱给浪费掉了似的。 来自飘（部分）

14 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》

15 ascertained   

v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The previously unidentified objects have now been definitely ascertained as being satellites. 原来所说的不明飞行物现在已证实是卫星。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I ascertained that she was dead. 我断定她已经死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 implicated   

adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的

参考例句：

• These groups are very strongly implicated in the violence. 这些组织与这起暴力事件有着极大的关联。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Having the stolen goods in his possession implicated him in the robbery. 因藏有赃物使他涉有偷盗的嫌疑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

17 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

18 muffled   

adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己）

参考例句：

• muffled voices from the next room 从隔壁房间里传来的沉闷声音
• There was a muffled explosion somewhere on their right. 在他们的右面什么地方有一声沉闷的爆炸声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

20 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

21 beads   

n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链

参考例句：

• a necklace of wooden beads 一条木珠项链
• Beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead. 他的前额上挂着汗珠。

22 perspiration   

n.汗水；出汗

参考例句：

• It is so hot that my clothes are wet with perspiration.天太热了，我的衣服被汗水湿透了。
• The perspiration was running down my back.汗从我背上淌下来。

23 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。