CHAPTER XXV. MAKING ARRANGEMENTS.

N ICHOLAS BUNDY went downtown the next morning. Contrary to his usual custom, he did not invite Oliver to accompany him.

"Perhaps you have some places to visit," he said. "If so, take the day to yourself. I shall not need you."

He proceeded to the office of a well-known broker¹ in the vicinity of Wall Street, and, entering, looked around him. His rusty² appearance did not promise a profitable customer, and he had to wait some time before any attention was paid him. Finally a young clerk came to him and enquired³ carelessly:

"Can we do anything for you this morning?"

"Are you one of the proprietors⁴?" asked Nicholas.

"No," answered the young man, smiling.

"I should like to see your employer, then."

"I can attend to any little commission you may have," said the young man pertly.

"Who told you my commission was a little one, young man?"

"It seems large to him, I suppose," thought the clerk, again smiling. "If it's only a few hundred dollars――" he commenced.

"I want to consult your employer about the investment of fifty thousand dollars in gold," said Nicholas deliberately⁵.

"Oh, I beg your pardon, sir," said the young man, his manner entirely⁶ altered. "I will speak to Mr. Hamlin at once."

Though the broker was engaged with another person he waited upon Nicholas without delay, inviting⁷ him to take a seat in his private office.

"Are you desirous of obtaining large interest, Mr. Bundy?" he asked.

"No, sir; I want something solid, that won't fly away. I've worked for my money and don't want to lose it."

"Precisely⁸. Then I can recommend you nothing better than Government bonds. They pay a fair interest and the security is unquestionable."

"Government bonds will suit me," said the miner. "You may buy them."

The purchase was made and Nicholas enquired:

"What shall I do with them? I don't want to carry them around with me. Is there any place of safety where I can leave them while I am absent on a journey?"

"Yes, sir; you want to place them with a safe deposit company. I will give you a note to one that I can recommend."

This advice seemed good to Mr. Bundy. He presented himself at the office of the company and deposited the bonds, receiving a suitable certificate.

"One thing more," he said to himself, "and my arrangements will be made."

He visited the office of a lawyer and dictated⁹ his will. It was very brief, scarcely ten lines in length. This also he deposited with the safe deposit company.

"Oliver," he said, in the evening, "I've got through my business sooner than I expected. Can you start to-morrow?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then we'll go. We'll pay our landlady¹⁰ to the end of the month, so that she can't complain. One thing more, Oliver, I want to tell you. I've left the bulk of my property, in bonds, and my will with the Safe Deposit Company, No. ―― Broadway. If anything happens to me you are to go there and call for the will. Whatever there is in it I want you to see carried out."

"All right, sir."

The next day they started for Chicago.

1 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

2 rusty   

adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的

参考例句：

• The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
• I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用，我的法语又荒疏了。

3 enquired   

打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问

参考例句：

• He enquired for the book in a bookstore. 他在书店查询那本书。
• Fauchery jestingly enquired whether the Minister was coming too. 浮式瑞嘲笑着问部长是否也会来。

4 proprietors   

n.所有人，业主( proprietor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These little proprietors of businesses are lords indeed on their own ground. 这些小业主们，在他们自己的行当中，就是真正的至高无上的统治者。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Many proprietors try to furnish their hotels with antiques. 许多经营者都想用古董装饰他们的酒店。 来自辞典例句

5 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。

6 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

7 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。

8 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

9 dictated   

v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布

参考例句：

• He dictated a letter to his secretary. 他向秘书口授信稿。
• No person of a strong character likes to be dictated to. 没有一个个性强的人愿受人使唤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 landlady   

n.女房东，女地主

参考例句：

• I heard my landlady creeping stealthily up to my door.我听到我的女房东偷偷地来到我的门前。
• The landlady came over to serve me.女店主过来接待我。