William Wylder’s reversion was very tempting2. But Lawyer Larkin knew the value of the precious metals, and waited for more data. The more he thought over his foreign correspondence, and his interview with Lake, the more steadily3 returned upon his mind the old conviction that the gallant4 captain was deep in the secret, whatever it might be.
Whatever his motive5 — and he always had a distinct motive, though sometimes not easily discoverable — he was a good deal addicted6 now to commenting, in his confidential7 talk, with religious gossips and others, upon the awful state of the poor vicar’s affairs, his inconceivable prodigality8, the unaccountable sums he had made away with, and his own anxiety to hand over the direction of such a hopeless complication of debt, and abdicate9 in favour of any competent skipper the command of the water-logged and foundering10 ship.
‘Why, his Brother Mark could get him cleverly out of it — could not he?’ wheezed11 the pork-butcher.
‘More serious than you suppose,’ answered Larkin, with a shake of his head.
‘It can’t go beyond five hundred, or say nine hundred — eh, at the outside?’
‘Nine hundred — say double as many thousand, and I’m afraid you’ll be nearer the mark. You’ll not mention, of course, and I’m only feeling my way just now, and speaking conjecturally12 altogether; but I’m afraid it is enormous. I need not remind you not to mention.’
I cannot, of course, say how Mr. Larkin’s conjectures13 reached so prodigious14 an elevation15, but I can now comprehend why it was desirable that this surprising estimate of the vicar’s liabilities should prevail. Mr. Jos. Larkin had a weakness for enveloping16 much of what he said and wrote in an honourable17 mystery. He liked writing private or confidential at top of his notes, without apparent right or even reason to impose either privacy or confidence upon the persons to whom he wrote. There was, in fact, often in the good attorney’s mode of transacting18 business just a soup?on or flavour of an arrière pensée of a remote and unseen plan, which was a little unsatisfactory.
Now, with the vicar he was imperative19 that the matter of the reversion should be strictly20 confidential — altogether ‘sacred,’ in fact.
‘You see, the fact is, my dear Mr. Wylder, I never meddle21 in speculative22 things. It is not a class of business that I like or would touch with one of my fingers, so to speak,’ and he shook his head gently; ‘and I may say, if I were supposed to be ever so slightly engaged in these risky23 things, it would be the ruin of me. I don t like, however, sending you into the jaws24 of the City sharks — I use the term, my dear Mr. Wylder, advisedly — and I make a solitary25 exception in your case; but the fact is, if I thought you would mention the matter, I could not touch it even for you. There’s Captain Lake, of Brandon, for instance — I should not be surprised if I lost the Brandon business the day after the matter reached his ears. All men are not like you and me, my dear Mr. Wylder. The sad experience of my profession has taught me that a suspicious man of the world, without religion, my dear Mr. Wylder,’ and he lifted his pink eyes, and shook his long head and long hands in unison26 —‘without religion — will imagine anything. They can’t understand us.’
Now, the fifty pounds which good Mr. Larkin had procured27 for the improvident28 vicar, bore interest, I am almost ashamed to say, at thirty per cent. per annum, and ten per cent. more the first year. But you are to remember that the security was altogether speculative; and Mr. Larkin, of course, made the best terms he could.
penses, and life not insurable, a delicacy29 of the lungs }
￡ s. d.
Annual premium30 on a policy for ￡100 [double insurance being insisted upon by lender, to cover contingent31 ex- being admitted, on the ordinary scale] 10 0 0
Annuity32 payable33 to lender, clear of premium, the security being unsatisfactory 7 10 0
￡17 10 0
Ten pounds of which (the premium), together with four pounds ten shillings for expenses, &c. were payable in advance. So that thirty-two pounds, out of his borrowed fifty, were forfeit34 for these items within a year and a month. In the meantime the fifty pounds had gone, as we know, direct to Cambridge; and he was called upon to pay forthwith ten pounds for premium, and four pounds ten shillings for ‘expenses.’ Quod impossibile.
The attorney had nothing for it but to try to induce the lender to let him have another fifty pounds, pending35 the investigation36 of title — another fifty, of which he was to get, in fact, eighteen pounds. Somehow, the racking off of this bitter vintage from one vessel37 into another did not seem to improve its quality. On the contrary, things were growing decidedly more awful.
Now, there came from Messrs. Burlington and Smith a peremptory38 demand for the fourteen pounds ten shillings, and an equally summary one for twenty-eight pounds fourteen shillings and eight pence, their costs in this matter.
When the poor vicar received this latter blow, he laid the palm of his hand on the top of his head, as if to prevent his brain from boiling over. Twenty-eight pounds fourteen shillings and eight pence! Quod impossibile. again.
When he saw Larkin, that conscientious39 guardian40 of his client’s interests scrutinised the bill of costs very jealously, and struck out between four and five pounds. He explained to the vicar the folly41 of borrowing insignificant42 and insufficient43 sums — the trouble, and consequently the cost, of which were just as great as of an adequate one. He was determined44, if he could, to pull him through this. But he must raise a sufficient sum, for the expense of going into title would be something; and he would write sharply to Burlington, Smith, and Co., and had no doubt the costs would be settled for twenty-three pounds. And Mr. Jos. Larkin’s opinion upon the matter was worthy45 of respect, inasmuch as he was himself, under the rose, the ‘Co.’ of that firm, and ministered its capital.
‘The fact is you must, my dear Mr. Wylder, make an effort. It won’t do peddling46 and tinkering in such a case. You will be in a worse position than ever, unless you boldly raise a thousand pounds — if I can manage such a transaction upon a security of the kind. Consolidate47 all your liabilities, and keep a sum in hand. You are well connected — powerful relatives — your brother has Huxton, four hundred, a year, whenever old — the — the present incumbent48 goes — and there are other things beside — but you must not allow yourself to be ruined through timidity; and if you go to the wall without an effort, and allow yourself to be slurred49 in public, what becomes of your chance of preferment?’
And now ‘title’ went up to Burlington, Smith, and Co. to examine and approve; and from that firm, I am sorry to say, a bill of costs was coming, when deeds were prepared and all done, exceeding three hundred and fifty pounds; and there was a little reminder50 from good Jos. Larkin for two hundred and fifty pounds more. This, of course, was to await Mr. Wylder’s perfect convenience. The vicar knew him — he never pressed any man. Then there would be insurances in proportion; and interest, as we see, was not trifling51. And altogether, I am afraid, our friend the vicar was being extricated52 in a rather embarrassing fashion.
Now, I have known cases in which good-natured debauchees have interested themselves charitably in the difficulties of forlorn families; and I think I knew, almost before they suspected it, that their generous interference was altogether due to one fine pair of eyes, and a pretty tournure, in the distressed53 family circle. Under a like half-delusion, Mr. Jos. Larkin, in the guise54 of charity, was prosecuting55 his designs upon the vicar’s reversion, and often most cruelly and most artfully, when he frankly56 fancied his conduct most praiseworthy.
And really I do not myself know, that, considering poor William’s liabilities and his means, and how many chances there were against that reversion ever becoming a fact, that I would not myself have advised his selling it, if a reasonable price were obtainable.
‘All this power will I give thee,’ said the Devil, ‘and the glory of them; for that is delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will I give it.’ The world belongs to the rascals57. It is like ‘the turf,’ where, everyone admits, an honest man can hardly hold his own. Jos. Larkin looked down on the seedy and distracted vicar from an immense moral elevation. He heard him talk of religion with disgust. He owed him costs, and, beside, costs also to Burlington, Smith, and Co. Was there not Talkative in ‘Pilgrim’s Progress?’ I believe there are few things more provoking than that a man who owes you money, and can’t pay the interest, should pretend to religion to your face, except, perhaps, his giving sixpence in charity.
The attorney was prosperous. He accounted for it by his attributes, and the blessing58 that waits on industry and integrity. He did not see that luck and selfishness had anything to do with it. No man ever failed but through his own fault — none ever succeeded but by his deservings. The attorney was in a position to lecture the Rev1. Mr. Wylder. In his presence, religion, in the vicar’s mouth, was an impertinence.
The vicar, on the other hand, was all that we know. Perhaps, in comparison, his trial is, in some sort, a blessing; and that there is no greater snare59 than the state of the man with whom all goes smoothly60, and who mistakes his circumstances for his virtues61.
The poor vicar and his little following were got pretty well into the Furcae Caudinae. Mr. Jos. Larkin, if he did not march him out, to do him justice, had had no hand in primarily bringing him there. There was no reason, however, why the respectable lawyer should not make whatever was to be fairly made of the situation. The best thing for both was, perhaps, that the one should sell and the other buy the reversion. Larkin had no apprehensions62 about the nature of the dealing63. He was furnished with an excellent character — his cheques were always honoured — his ‘tots’ always unexceptionable — his vouchers64 never anything but exact. He had twice been publicly complimented in this sense, when managing Lord Hedgerow’s estate. No man had, I believe, a higher reputation in his walk — few men were more formidable. I think it was Lawyer Larkin’s private canon, in his dealings with men, that everything was moral that was not contrary to an Act of Parliament.
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1
rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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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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addicted
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| adj.沉溺于....的，对...上瘾的 | |
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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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prodigality
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| n.浪费，挥霍 | |
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abdicate
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| v.让位，辞职，放弃 | |
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foundering
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| v.创始人( founder的现在分词 ) | |
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wheezed
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| v.喘息，发出呼哧呼哧的喘息声( wheeze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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conjecturally
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| adj.推测的，好推测的 | |
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conjectures
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| 推测，猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
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prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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enveloping
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的现在分词 ) | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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transacting
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的现在分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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20
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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speculative
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| adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的 | |
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23
risky
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| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
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24
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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25
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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26
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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27
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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improvident
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| adj.不顾将来的，不节俭的，无远见的 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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premium
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| n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的 | |
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contingent
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| adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队 | |
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32
annuity
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| n.年金；养老金 | |
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33
payable
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| adj.可付的，应付的，有利益的 | |
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34
forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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35
pending
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| prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的 | |
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36
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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37
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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38
peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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41
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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42
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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43
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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peddling
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| 忙于琐事的，无关紧要的 | |
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47
consolidate
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| v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并 | |
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incumbent
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| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
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49
slurred
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| 含糊地说出( slur的过去式和过去分词 )； 含糊地发…的声； 侮辱； 连唱 | |
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50
reminder
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| n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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52
extricated
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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prosecuting
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| 检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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59
snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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vouchers
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| n.凭证( voucher的名词复数 )；证人；证件；收据 | |
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