“You had your money,” suggested Mr. Stanton.
“Yes, I had my money; but for money itself I cared little.”
Mr. Stanton shrugged2 his shoulders a little contemptuously. He could not understand how anyone could think slightingly of money, and he decided3 in his own mind that Ralph was an unpractical enthusiast4.
“I valued money only as a means to an end, and that end was to make Margaret Lindsay my wife. She failed me, and my money lost its charm.”
“There were plenty who could have consoled you in her place.”
“No doubt, I might have been successful in other quarters, but I did not care to try. I left New York in disgust, and, going West, I buried myself in the forest, where I built a rude cabin, and there I have lived since, an unsocial, solitary5 life. Years have passed since I visited New York.”
“What did you do with your money all this while?”
“I left it in the hands of men whom I could trust. It has been accumulating all these years, and I find that the fifty thousand dollars have swelled6 to ninety thousand.”
“Indeed!” ejaculated Mr. Stanton, his respect for Ralph considerably7 raised. “And now you have come here to enjoy it, I suppose?”
“A different motive8 has led to my coming—a motive connected with you,” said Ralph, fixing his eyes steadily9 upon Mr. Stanton.
“Connected with me!” repeated the merchant, uneasily.
“Yes.”
“May I ask in what manner?”
“I expected the question, and am come to answer it. When I returned from Europe impoverished10, you gave me a brief statement of the manner in which you had invested my fortune, and showed me how it had melted away like snow before the sun.”
“You remember rightly. I bought, on your account, shares in Lake Superior Mining Company, which promised excellently, and bade fair to make handsome returns. But it proved to be under the management of knaves11, and ran quickly down from par12 to two per cent., at which price I thought best to sell out, considering that a little saved from the wreck13 was better than nothing.”
“This is according to the statement you made me,” said Ralph, quietly.
“I am sure,” said Mr. Stanton, “that no one regretted more than I do the disastrous14 result. Indeed, I had reason to do so, for I was myself involved, and suffered considerable loss.”
“I am aware now that you were concerned in the matter,” said Ralph, significantly.
“I will tell you. You were right in denouncing the management as knavish16. The company was got up by knaves, on a basis of fraud, and was from the first intended as a trap for the unwary. But there is one important circumstance which you have neglected to mention.”
“What is that?” asked Mr. Stanton, in a voice which strove to be composed.
“I mean this,” said Ralph, firmly, “that you yourself were the prime originator of the company—that you engineered it through to the end—that you invested my money with the express intention of converting it to your own profit. I charge you with this, that all, or nearly all the property I lost, went into your pocket.”
The color came and went in Mr. Stanton's face. He seemed staggered by this sudden and unexpected accusation17, and did not at first make reply.
Feeling forced to speak at last, he said: “This is very strange language, Mr. Pendleton.”
“It is unexpected, no doubt, for after all these years you probably thought it would remain forever unknown; but in what respect is it strange? I have given you a statement of facts as directly as I could.”
“They are not facts. Your charge is wholly false,” said the merchant, but his tone was not that of a man who speaks the truth boldly.
“I wish I could believe it,” said Ralph. “I wish I could believe that I was not deliberately18 swindled by one who professed19 to be my father's friend.”
“On what authority do you bring this monstrous20 charge?” demanded Mr. Stanton, more boldly. “How happens it that you have not made it before?”
“For the simple reason that I myself did not suspect any fraud. I presumed that it was as you stated to me, and that your only fault was your injudicious investment.”
“Well, I admit that, as it turned out, the investment was injudicious. Everything else I deny.”
“Your denial is vain.”
“You cannot prove the truth of what you say.”
“So you fall back on that? But you are mistaken. I can prove the truth of what I say,” said Ralph firmly.
“How?”
“Do you remember a man named David Marston?”
“He is dead,” said Mr. Stanton, hastily.
“So you have supposed,” said Ralph; “but you were deceived. He is not dead. I only encountered him a week since, quite by accident, in my Western home. He was your confidential21 clerk, you remember, and fully22 acquainted with all your business transactions at the time of which I am speaking. From him I learned how basely I had been deceived, and with what deliberate cruelty you conspired23 to rob the son of your dead friend.”
“I don't believe David Marston is alive,” said Mr. Stanton, hoarsely24, with a certain terror in his face. “Indeed, I have proof that he is dead.”
“I know the character of your proof. A paper was forwarded to you from Australia, whither you had sent him, containing the record of his death.”
“Yes? What have you to say against this?”
“That the publication was a mistake. He was dangerously sick, and it was falsely announced that he was dead. That notice was sent to you, and you believed it to be true.”
“If you wish to be convinced, proof is at hand. Wait a moment.”
Ralph Pendleton rose from his seat and left the counting-room. Two minutes had not passed when he returned with an elderly man, thin of face and wasted in figure, looking twenty years older than Mr. Stanton, though really of about the same age.
“This is David Marston,” said Ralph—“the living proof that I have told you the truth.”
Mr. Stanton gazed at him wildly, for to him it was as the face of one risen from the dead.
“How do you do, Mr. Stanton?” said David Marston, humbly26. “It is many, many years since we met, sir.”
“Are you really David Marston?” demanded Mr. Stanton, never taking his eyes off the shrunken figure of his old clerk.
“I am, sir; greatly changed indeed, but still the David Marston who was formerly27 in your employ. Time hasn't treated me as well as it has you, sir. I've been unlucky, and aged28 fast.”
“I am afraid your mind is also affected29. You have been telling strange stories to Mr. Pendleton here.”
“True stories, sir,” said David, firmly.
“Come, come, how much is he going to give you for this evidence of yours?”
“Stop, Mr. Stanton! You insult us both,” said Ralph Pendleton, sternly. “I am not the man to buy false evidence, nor is David Marston the man to perjure30 himself for pay. David, I want you, in Mr. Stanton's presence, to make a clear statement of his connection with the mining company by which I lost my fortune.”
David Marston obeyed, and in a few words as possible unfolded the story. It is not necessary to repeat it here. Enough that it fully substantiated31 the charge which Ralph had brought against his early guardian32.
When he had finished, Ralph said, “You can judge what weight Marston's testimony33 would have before a court of justice, and whether it would help your commercial standing34 to have his story made public.”
“I want restitution36, dollar for dollar, of my lost money. I will waive37 interest, though I might justly claim it. But, were it all paid, interest and principal, the wrong would not be redressed38. You cannot restore the bride who would have been mine but for your villainy.”
“Ten days.”
“It is a short time.”
“It must suffice. Do you agree?”
“I must.”
“Bind yourself to that, and for ten days I leave you free.”
Satisfactory security was given that the engagement would be met, and Ralph Pendleton left the counting-room. But his countenance40 was scarcely more cheerful than that of the man he had conquered.
“I am rich,” he said to himself; “but of what avail is it? Whom can I benefit with my wealth?”
This thought had scarcely crossed his mind when he came face to face with Herbert, walking with a sad and downcast face in the opposite direction.
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1
laboring
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| n.劳动，操劳v.努力争取(for)( labor的现在分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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2
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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3
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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6
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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7
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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8
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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9
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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10
impoverished
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| adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化 | |
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11
knaves
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| n.恶棍，无赖( knave的名词复数 )；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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12
par
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| n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的 | |
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13
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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14
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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15
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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knavish
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| adj.无赖（似）的，不正的；刁诈 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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18
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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20
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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21
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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22
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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23
conspired
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| 密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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24
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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27
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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28
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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perjure
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| v.作伪证；使发假誓 | |
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31
substantiated
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| v.用事实支持（某主张、说法等），证明，证实( substantiate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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33
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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34
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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35
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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36
restitution
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| n.赔偿；恢复原状 | |
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37
waive
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| vt.放弃，不坚持(规定、要求、权力等) | |
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38
redressed
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| v.改正( redress的过去式和过去分词 )；重加权衡；恢复平衡 | |
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39
moodily
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| adv.喜怒无常地；情绪多变地；心情不稳地；易生气地 | |
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40
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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