Chapter XXV — Sam Gives Himself Away

 Ben was looking with interest at a row of new books when he was summoned into the private office.

 

"My young friend," said Mr. Porter, senior, "we are not responsible for the letter that brought you here."

 

"No, sir," said Ben. "I am sorry to have troubled you. I'll go home this afternoon."

 

He looked sober enough, poor Ben, for it would not be pleasant facing his aunt and friends in Milltown, and explaining matters. Even the "licking" which he determined¹ to give Sam Archer², if he should prove the author of the decoy letter, would be a poor satisfaction.

 

"You may as well stay," said Mr. Porter. "My nephew thinks we can find a place for you in the store."

 

"Will you really take me?" asked Ben.

 

"We will try you. My nephew thinks you will suit us."

 

"Thank you, sir," said Ben warmly.

 

"Your friend, who wrote the letter, will be rather disappointed, eh?" said young Porter, smiling.

 

"Yes," said Ben, who could smile now. "I should like to see him when he learns that his malicious³ letter has procured⁴ me a situation.

 

"What do we pay you Robinson?"

 

"Six dollars a week."

 

"Then Benjamin shall have the same. He has no knowledge of the business, to be sure——"

 

"I will have soon," said Ben confidently.

 

"That's right, my lad. Make yourself useful to us, and you won't have cause to regret it."

 

He was set to work dusting books, and young Porter went to his own desk; he was chief bookkeeper.

 

"When the store closes," he said, "come to me. I shall take you to my room to-night."

 

In the evening, at his friend's room, Ben wrote the following letter to his friend, James Watson:

 

"Boston, July 18, 19—.

 

"Dear James: Though I have been only a few hours in Boston I have a good deal to tell you. You remember my showing you the letter from Jones & Porter, which induced me to come to the city. Well, it was a hoax⁵. It didn't come from the firm at all. Somebody wanted to play a trick on me, and wrote it. I have no doubt Sam Archer was at the bottom of it. You know what a mean fellow he is, and that he would like nothing better than to injure me. But I am glad to say that he has not succeeded. By great good luck I got acquainted with Mr. Porter's nephew on board the train. I showed him the letter, which he pronounced probably a forgery⁶. But he took me to the store—he is head bookkeeper—and introduced me to his uncle. It seems that there will be a vacancy⁷ at the beginning of next month, and as I was on the ground, they engaged me. So Sam's mean trick has been the means of obtaining me a position. He will be provoked enough when he hears it. Now I will tell you what I want you to do. Don't say a word about the letter being a hoax. Merely tell the boys that I have got the place I expected. If Sam wrote the letter he will certainly betray himself. Keep mum, and lead him on. Then let me know what you find out. I will write again soon.

 

"Your affectionate friend, "Ben Bradford."

 

"It's a mean trick, and just like Sam," ejaculated James when he read Ben's letter. "I'll follow Ben's instructions. Sam will be coming round making inquiries⁸ pretty soon. I'll manage him."

 

James was right in his supposition. Sam eagerly awaited the upshot of his trick. He concluded that Ben would come back Monday night depressed⁹ and humiliated¹⁰, and he was on the street near Ben's house when the afternoon train got in, ready to feast his eyes on his rival's unhappiness. But he waited in vain.

 

The next morning, about ten o'clock, he met James Watson on the street. James had received the letter from Ben the evening previous.

 

"How are you, James?" said Sam.

 

"I'm all right," said James rather coolly.

 

"Have you heard from Ben Bradford?"

 

"I heard last night."

 

"What does he say?' asked Sam eagerly.

 

"He hadn't been in his situation long enough to tell how he should like it," answered James.

 

"Is he in a situation?" demanded Sam in surprise.

 

"What do you think he went to Boston for?"

 

"Where is he working?" asked Sam incredulously.

 

"He is with Jones & Porter, of course. Didn't you know they sent for him?"

 

"Ha! ha!" laughed Sam.

 

"I am on the track," thought James.

 

"I don't know what you mean," said he quietly. "Jones & Porter sent for Ben, and he is in their employ."

 

"I'll bet you a dollar Ben Bradford will be back here within a week," said Sam, in a ton of great confidence. "I don't believe Jones & Porter ever wrote him a letter."

 

"I saw the letter."

 

"Suppose you did; it might have been a hoax."

 

"Then whoever wrote it did Ben a good turn, for he has got a place at Jones & Porter's."

 

"I don't believe it," said Sam uneasily.

 

"Ben writes me that he is there."

 

"Will you let me see the letter?"

 

"No, I won't."

 

"That convinces me that it's all a humbug¹¹."

 

"You think the letter a hoax?"

 

"Yes, I do."

 

"What reason have you for thinking so?"

 

"I decline to state."

 

"Who do you think wrote it?"

 

"How should I know?"

 

"As you know so much, I don't mind telling you that you are right. The letter was a hoax."

 

Sam laughed heartily¹².

 

"I thought so," he said.

 

"And I know who wrote it."

 

Sam didn't laugh now.

 

"Who?" he asked uncomfortably.

 

"You did it."

 

"What do you mean?" blustered¹³ Sam.

 

"Exactly what I say. Otherwise you would have had no reason to suspect the genuineness of it."

 

"Does Ben Bradford charge me with it? Just wait till I see him."

 

"That will be some time unless you go to Boston. Jones & Porter happened to have a vacancy, and Ben stepped into it. Your letter got him a place."

 

"I don't believe it," said Sam faintly.

 

"It's true, and it's lucky for you. If Ben had been obliged to come home he would have given you the worst licking you ever had."

1 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

2 archer   

n.射手，弓箭手

参考例句：

• The archer strung his bow and aimed an arrow at the target.弓箭手拉紧弓弦将箭瞄准靶子。
• The archer's shot was a perfect bull's-eye.射手的那一箭正中靶心。

3 malicious   

adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的

参考例句：

• You ought to kick back at such malicious slander. 你应当反击这种恶毒的污蔑。
• Their talk was slightly malicious.他们的谈话有点儿心怀不轨。

4 procured   

v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条

参考例句：

• These cars are to be procured through open tender. 这些汽车要用公开招标的办法购买。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• A friend procured a position in the bank for my big brother. 一位朋友为我哥哥谋得了一个银行的职位。 来自《用法词典》

5 hoax   

v.欺骗，哄骗，愚弄；n.愚弄人，恶作剧

参考例句：

• They were the victims of a cruel hoax.他们是一个残忍恶作剧的受害者。
• They hoax him out of his money.他们骗去他的钱。

6 forgery   

n.伪造的文件等，赝品，伪造（行为）

参考例句：

• The painting was a forgery.这张画是赝品。
• He was sent to prison for forgery.他因伪造罪而被关进监狱。

7 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。

8 inquiries   

n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
• I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

10 humiliated   

感到羞愧的

参考例句：

• Parents are humiliated if their children behave badly when guests are present. 子女在客人面前举止失当，父母也失体面。
• He was ashamed and bitterly humiliated. 他感到羞耻，丢尽了面子。

11 humbug   

n.花招，谎话，欺骗

参考例句：

• I know my words can seem to him nothing but utter humbug.我知道，我说的话在他看来不过是彻头彻尾的慌言。
• All their fine words are nothing but humbug.他们的一切花言巧语都是骗人的。

12 heartily   

adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很

参考例句：

• He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿，就出去找他的马。
• The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手，热情地和我握手。

13 blustered   

v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹

参考例句：

• He blustered his way through the crowd. 他吆喝着挤出人群。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The wind blustered around the house. 狂风呼啸着吹过房屋周围。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》