Stanley Lake was not a man to let the grass grow under his feet when an object was to be gained. It was with a sure prescience that Mark Wylder’s letter had inferred that Stanley Lake would aspire2 to the representation either of the county or of the borough3 of Dollington. His mind was already full of these projects.
Electioneering schemes are conducted, particularly at their initiation4, like conspiracies5 — in fact, they are conspiracies, and therefore there was nothing remarkable6 in the intense caution with which Stanley Lake set about his. He was not yet ‘feeling his way.’ He was only preparing to feel his way.
All the data, except the muster-roll of electors, were in nubibus — who would retire — who would step forward, as yet altogether in the region of conjecture7. There are men to whom the business of elections — a life of secrecy8, excitement, speculation9, and combat — has all but irresistible10 charms; and Tom Wealdon, the Town Clerk, was such a spirit.
A bold, frank, good-humoured fellow — he played at elections as he would at cricket. Every faculty11 of eye, hand, and thought — his whole heart and soul in the game. But no ill-will — no malevolence12 in victory — no sourness in defeat. A successful coup13 made Tom Wealdon split with laughing. A ridiculous failure amused him nearly as much. He celebrated14 his last great defeat with a pic-nic in the romantic scenery of Nolton, where he and his comrades in disaster had a roaring evening, and no end of ‘chaff’ When he and Jos. Larkin carried the last close contest at Dollington, by a majority of two, he kicked the crown out of the grave attorney’s chimney-pot, and flung his own wide-awake into the river. He did not show much; his official station precluded15 prominence16. He kept in the background, and did his spiriting gently. But Tom Wealdon, it was known — as things are known without evidence — was at the bottom of all the clever dodges17, and long-headed manoeuvres. When, therefore, Mr. Larkin heard from the portly and veracious18 Mr. Larcom, who was on very happy relations with the proprietor19 of the Lodge20, that Tom Wealdon had been twice quietly to Brandon to lunch, and had talked an hour alone with the captain in the library each time; and that they seemed very ‘hernest like, and stopped of talking directly he (Mr. Larcom) entered the room with the post-bag’— the attorney knew very well what was in the wind.
Now, it was not quite clear what was right — by which the good attorney meant prudent21 — under the circumstances. He was in confidential22 — which meant lucrative23 — relations with Mark Wylder. Ditto, ditto with Captain Lake, of Brandon. He did not wish to lose either. Was it possible to hold to both, or must he cleave24 only to one and despise the other?
Wylder might return any day, and Tom Wealdon would probably be one of the first men whom he would see. He must ‘hang out the signal’ in ‘Galignani.’ Lake could never suspect its meaning, even were he to see it. There was but one risk in it, which was in the coarse perfidy25 of Mark Welder26 himself, who would desire no better fun, in some of his moods, than boasting to Lake of the whole arrangement in Jos. Larkin’s presence.
However, on the whole, it was best to obey Mark Wylder’s orders, and accordingly ‘Galignani’ said: ‘Mr. Smith will take notice that the other party is desirous to purchase, and becoming very pressing.’
In the meantime Lake was pushing his popularity among the gentry27 with remarkable industry, and with tolerable success. Wealdon’s two little visits explained perfectly28 the active urbanities of Captain Stanley Lake.
About three weeks after the appearance of the advertisement in ‘Galignani,’ one of Mark Wylder’s letters reached Larkin. It was dated from Geneva(!) and said:—
‘DEAR LARKIN — I saw my friend Smith here in the café, who has kept a bright look out, I dare say; and tells me that Captain Stanley Lake is thinking of standing29 either for the county or for Dollington. I will thank you to apprise30 him that I mean to take my choice first; and please hand him the enclosed notice open as you get it; and, if you please, to let him run his eye also over this note to you, as I have my own reasons for wishing him to know that you have seen it.
‘This is all I will probably trouble you about elections for some months to come, or, at least, weeks. It being time enough when I go back, and no squalls a-head just now at home, though foreign politics look muggy31 enough.
‘I have nothing particular at present about tenants32 or timber, except the three acres of oak behind Farmer Tanby’s — have it took down. Thomas Jones and me went over it last September, and it ought to bring near 3,000_l. I must have a good handful of money by May next.
‘Yours, my dear Larkin,
‘Very truly,
‘MARK WYLDER.’
Folded in this was a thin slip of foreign paper, on which were traced these lines:—
‘Private.
‘DEAR LARKIN — Don’t funk the interview with the beast Lake — a hyaena has no pluck in him. When he reads what I send him by your hand, he’ll be as mild as you please. Parkes must act for me as usual — no bluster33 about giving up. Lake’s afraid of yours,
‘M. W.’
Within was what he called his ‘notice’ to Stanley Lake, and it was thus conceived:—
‘Private.
‘DEAR LAKE— I understand you are trying to make all safe for next election in Dollington or the county. Now, understand at once, that I won’t permit that. There is not a country gentleman on the grand jury who is not your superior; and there is no extremity34 I will not make you feel — and you know what I mean — if you dare despise this first and not unfriendly warning.
‘Yours truly,
‘MARK WYLDER.’
Now there certainly was need of Wylder’s assurance that nothing unpleasant should happen to the conscious bearer of such a message to an officer and a gentleman. Jos. Larkin did not like it. Still there was a confidence in his own conciliatory manners and exquisite35 tact36. Something, too, might be learned by noting Lake’s looks, demeanour, and language under this direct communication from the man to whom his relations were so mysterious.
Larkin looked at his watch; it was about the hour when he was likely to find Lake in his study. The attorney withdrew the little private enclosure, and slipt it, with a brief endorsement37, into the neat sheaf of Wylder’s letters, all similarly noted38, and so locked it up in the iron safe. He intended being perfectly ingenuous39 with Lake, and showing him that he had ‘no secrets — no concealments — all open as the day’— by producing the letter in which the ‘notice’ was enclosed, and submitting it for Captain Lake’s perusal40.
When Lawyer Larkin reached the dim chamber41, with the Dutch tapestries42, where he had for a little while to await Captain Lake’s leisure, he began to anticipate the scene now so immediately impending43 more uncomfortably than before. The ‘notice’ was, indeed, so outrageous44 in its spirit, and so intolerable in its language, that, knowing something of Stanley’s wild and truculent45 temper, he began to feel a little nervous about the explosion he was about to provoke.
The Brandon connection, one way or other, was worth to the attorney in hard cash between five and six hundred a-year. In influence, and what is termed ‘position,’ it was, of course, worth a great deal more. It would be a very serious blow to lose this. He did not, he hoped, care for money more than a good man ought; but such a loss, he would say, he could not afford.
Precisely46 the same, however, was to be said of his connection with Mark Wylder; and in fact, of late years, Mr. Jos. Larkin, of the Lodge, had begun to put by money so fast that he was growing rapidly to be a very considerable man indeed. ‘Everything,’ as he said, ‘was doing very nicely;’ and it would be a deplorable thing to mar1, by any untoward47 act, this pilgrim’s quiet and prosperous progress.
In this stage of his reverie he was interrupted by a tall, powdered footman, in the Brandon livery, who came respectfully to announce that his master desired to see Mr. Larkin.
Larkin’s soul sneered49 at this piece of state. Why could he not put his head in at the door and call him? But still I think it impressed him, and that, diplomatically, Captain Lake was in the right to environ himself with the ceremonial of a lord of Brandon.
‘Well, Larkin, how d’ye do? Anything about Raikes’s lease?’ said the great Captain Lake, rising from behind his desk, with his accustomed smile, and extending his gentlemanlike hand.
‘No, Sir — nothing, Captain Lake. He has not come, and I don’t think we should show any anxiety about it,’ replied the attorney, taking the captain’s thin hand rather deferentially50. ‘I’ve had — a — such a letter from my — my client, Mr. Mark Wylder. He writes in a violent passion, and I’m really placed in a most disagreeable position.’
‘Won’t you sit down?’
‘A— thanks — a — well I thought, on the whole, having received the letter and the enclosure, which I must say very much surprises me — very much indeed.’ And Larkin looked reprovingly on an imaginary Mark Wylder, and shook his head a good deal.
‘He has not appointed another man of business?’
‘Oh, dear, no,’ said Larkin, quickly, with a faint, supercilious51 smile. ‘No, nothing of that kind. The thing — in fact, there has been some gossiping fellow. Do you happen to know a person at all versed52 in Gylingden matters — or, perhaps, a member of your club — named Smith?’
‘Smith? I don’t, I think, recollect53 any particular Smith, just at this moment. And what is Smith doing or saying?’
‘Why, he has been talking over election matters. It seems Wylder — Mr. Wylder — has met him in Geneva, from whence he dates; and he says — he says — oh, here’s the letter, and you’ll see it all there.’
He handed it to Lake, and kept his eye on him while he read it. When he saw that Lake, who bit his lip during the perusal, had come to the end, by his glancing up again at the date, Larkin murmured —
‘Something, you see, has gone wrong with him. I can’t account for the temper otherwise — so violent.’
‘Quite so,’ said Lake, quietly; ‘and where is the notice he speaks of here?’
‘Why, really, Captain Lake, I did not very well know, it is such a production — I could not say whether you would wish it presented; and in any case you will do me the justice to understand that I, for my part — I really don’t know how to speak of it.
‘Quite so,’ repeated Lake, softly, taking the thin, neatly54 folded piece of paper which Larkin, with a sad inclination55 of his body, handed to him.
Lake, under the ‘lawyer’s’ small, vigilant56 eyes, quietly read Mark Wylder’s awful threatenings through, twice over, and Larkin was not quite sure whether there was any change of countenance57 to speak of as he did so.
‘This is dated the 29th,’ said Lake, in the same quiet tone; ‘perhaps you will be so good as to write a line across it, stating the date of your handing it to me.’
‘I— of course — I can see no objection. I may mention, I suppose, that I do so at your request.’
And Larkin made a neat little endorsement to that effect, and he felt relieved. The hyaena certainly was not showing fight.
‘And now, Mr. Larkin, you’ll admit, I think, that I’ve exhibited no ill-temper, much less violence, under the provocation58 of that note.’
‘Certainly; none whatever, Captain Lake.’
‘And you will therefore perceive that whatever I now say, speaking in cool blood, I am not likely to recede59 from.’
Lawyer Larkin bowed.
‘And may I particularly ask that you will so attend to what I am about to say, as to be able to make a note of it for Mr. Welder’s consideration?’
‘Certainly, if you desire; but I wish to say that in this particular matter I beg it may be clearly understood that Mr. Wylder is in no respect more my client than you, Captain Lake, and that I merely act as a most reluctant messenger in the matter.’
‘Just so,’ said Captain Lake.
‘Now, as to my thinking of representing either county or borough,’ he resumed, after a little pause, holding Mark Wylder’s ‘notice’ between his finger and thumb, and glancing at it from time to time, as a speaker might at his notes, ‘I am just as well qualified60 as he in every respect; and if it lies between him and me, I will undoubtedly61 offer myself, and accompany my address with the publication of this precious document which he calls his notice — the composition, in all respects, of a ruffian — and which will inspire every gentleman who reads it with disgust, abhorrence62, and contempt. His threat I don’t understand. I despise his machinations. I defy him utterly63; and the time is coming when, in spite of his manoeuvring, I’ll drive him into a corner and pin him to the wall. He very well knows that flitting and skulking64 from place to place, like an escaped convict, he is safe in writing what insults he pleases through the post. I can’t tell how or where to find him. He is not only no gentleman, but no man — a coward as well as a ruffian. But his game of hide-and-seek cannot go on for ever; and when next I can lay my hand upon him, I’ll make him eat that paper on his knees, and place my heel upon his neck.’
The peroration65 of this peculiar66 invective67 was emphasised by an oath, at which the half-dozen short grizzled hairs that surmounted68 the top of Mr. Jos. Larkin’s shining bald head no doubt stood up in silent appeal.
The attorney was standing during this sample of Lake’s parliamentary rhetoric69 a little flushed, for he did not know the moment when a blue flicker70 from the rhetorical thunder-storm might splinter his own bald head, and for ever end his connection with Brandon.
There was a silence, during which pale Captain Lake locked up Mark Wylder’s warning, and the attorney twice cleared his voice.
‘I need hardly say, Captain Lake, how I feel in this business. I——’
‘Quite so,’ said the captain, in his soft low tones. ‘I assure you I altogether acquit71 you of sympathy with any thing so utterly ruffianly,’ and he took the hand of the relieved attorney with a friendly condescension72. ‘The only compensation I exact for your involuntary part in the matter is that you distinctly convey the tenor73 of my language to Mr. Wylder, on the first occasion on which he affords you an opportunity of communicating with him. And as to my ever again acting74 as his trustee; — though, yes, I forgot’— he made a sudden pause, and was lost for a minute in annoyed reflection —‘yes, I must for a while. It can’t last very long; he must return soon, and I can’t well refuse to act until at least some other arrangement is made. There are quite other persons and I can’t allow them to starve.’
So saying, he rose, with his peculiar smile, and extended his hand to signify that the conference was at an end.
‘And I suppose,’ he said, ‘we are to regard this little conversation, for the present, as confidential?’
‘Certainly, Captain Lake, and permit me to say that I fully48 appreciate the just and liberal construction which you have placed upon my conduct — a construction which a party less candid75 and honourably-minded than yourself might have failed to favour me with.’
And with this pretty speech Larkin took his hat, and gracefully76 withdrew.
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1
mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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aspire
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| vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于 | |
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borough
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| n.享有自治权的市镇；(英)自治市镇 | |
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initiation
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| n.开始 | |
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conspiracies
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| n.阴谋，密谋( conspiracy的名词复数 ) | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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malevolence
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| n.恶意，狠毒 | |
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coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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precluded
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| v.阻止( preclude的过去式和过去分词 )；排除；妨碍；使…行不通 | |
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prominence
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| n.突出；显著；杰出；重要 | |
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dodges
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| n.闪躲( dodge的名词复数 )；躲避；伎俩；妙计v.闪躲( dodge的第三人称单数 )；回避 | |
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veracious
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| adj.诚实可靠的 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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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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lucrative
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| adj.赚钱的，可获利的 | |
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cleave
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| v．(clave；cleaved)粘着，粘住；坚持；依恋 | |
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perfidy
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| n.背信弃义，不忠贞 | |
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welder
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| n电焊工 | |
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gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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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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apprise
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| vt.通知，告知 | |
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muggy
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| adj.闷热的；adv.（天气）闷热而潮湿地；n.（天气）闷热而潮湿 | |
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tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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bluster
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| v.猛刮；怒冲冲的说；n.吓唬，怒号；狂风声 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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endorsement
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| n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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ingenuous
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| adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的 | |
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perusal
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| n.细读，熟读；目测 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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tapestries
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| n.挂毯( tapestry的名词复数 )；绣帷，织锦v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的第三人称单数 ) | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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truculent
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| adj.野蛮的，粗野的 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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untoward
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| adj.不利的，不幸的，困难重重的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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deferentially
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| adv.表示敬意地，谦恭地 | |
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supercilious
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| adj.目中无人的，高傲的；adv.高傲地；n.高傲 | |
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versed
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| adj. 精通，熟练 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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recede
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| vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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abhorrence
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| n.憎恶；可憎恶的事 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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skulking
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的现在分词 ) | |
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peroration
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| n.（演说等之）结论 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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invective
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| n.痛骂，恶意抨击 | |
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68
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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rhetoric
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| n.修辞学，浮夸之言语 | |
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70
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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71
acquit
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| vt.宣判无罪；(oneself)使(自己)表现出 | |
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72
condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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73
tenor
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| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
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74
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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75
candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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76
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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