"What do you suppose they're staring at," he drawled.
"Your fatal beauty," said Jack.
Evening dress had gone to Bobo's head somewhat. The big white shirt front puffed4 out alarmingly. Among his new possessions was a fine watch that he drew out to consult every three minutes or so. He could not contain his impatience5 to get to the party.
"Hadn't we better be moving?"
"Good Lord! It isn't eight o'clock. What do you think this is, an M. E. social?"
"What time are you going, then?"
"About ten, I should say. The later we come, the more effect it will have."
"How will we put in the time until then?"
"I have another date. I'll take you along with me."
Bobo, when he forgot himself, dropped into his usual Tenderloin slang. "Gee6! I always wanted to go into society. I felt I was fitted for it. I like everything of the choicest. These common mutts gimme a pain. I'll show the swell7 guys a thing or two to-night. They'll have to hand it to me."
"You'd better cut out the guys and the gimmes," suggested Jack.
"Oh, I've got a line of classy talk all right when I need it. Wasn't I dresser for Bill Calverly the matinee idol8 season before last. He used to show me all his mash9 notes. How's this?"
Bobo screwed an imaginary monocle into his eye, and was suddenly prostrated10 with languor11. "—Er—How-de-do, Mrs. Cleaver12. So sorry we were late. But a lawyer fellow turned up just as I was leaving my hotel, and I couldn't put him off. Business is such a bother, isn't it?"
"Great!" said Jack dryly, "but tip me a wink13 before you begin so I can beat it."
"Oh, you've got to back me up!" said Bobo, suddenly scared and natural. "For the love of Mike don't leave me stranded14 on the grand stairway."
Bobo's limousine15, the perfection of luxury and elegance16, was waiting for them in front of the hotel. Bobo in silk hat, evening overcoat, fluffy17 white scarf, and white kids, with the inevitable18 yellow stick crooked19 over his arm enjoyed a wonderful moment standing20 on the top step of the Madagascar waiting for his car to pull up. He flicked21 the ash from his cigarette, and the humble22 pedestrians23 looked up admiringly.
It is not vouchsafed24 to many of us so completely to realize our dreams. Bobo's dream was based on the cigarette advertisements in color on the back covers of popular magazines. Jack, similarly attired25, watched him with a twinkle from a respectful stand to the rear. In his enjoyment26 of the situation he was perfectly27 content to play a secondary part. It was lots more fun, he thought, to pull the wires from behind the scenes.
When they got in the car Jack gave the chauffeur28 an address on East 69th Street.
"What are we going to Yorkville for?" asked Bobo.
"To see an old friend."
"I hate to leave the white lights."
Bobo insisted on keeping the dome29 light burning. Jack suspected that the real reason his heart had been set on a limousine was that the wide windows afforded the populace every facility to see him pass in his glory.
They drew up before a cheap apartment house, one of a long row in an untidy street.
"Gee! what a crummy joint30!" said Bobo fastidiously.
"It would have seemed plenty good enough yesterday," said Jack coldly.
Jack had no desire to take Bobo up-stairs with him. "You stay here till I come down," he said. "I may be an hour, but you've got plenty of cigars. Take a snooze. We'll be up late."
In the vestibule Jack searched among the double row of labels for the name that made his heart beat faster—Storer. Pressing the bell button, presently an answering click in the door latch31 informed him that the way in was open. He made his way up four flights of narrow ill-lighted stairs with a dirty carpet. Through the thin doors issued the sounds of incontinent domestic broils32, and every landing offered the nose a different smell—but all unpleasant. Jack shuddered—not because he couldn't endure the smells, but at the thought that his dear and dainty Kate was obliged to dwell among them.
Kate opened the door, a rare vision in that grimy frame. At the sight of Jack's regalia she quailed33 a little, but quickly recovered herself. Jack would have kissed her if she had given him the least opening, but she did not. She invited him in with an air better than Mrs. Cleaver's. Once the door closed the squalor was forgotten. It was a lady's room, however small and poorly furnished.
"How grand we are!" said Kate chaffingly.
Jack explained where he was going later.
"I'll call Mother," said Kate. "She has been anxious to meet you."
"Wait!" said Jack. "You must introduce me as Mr. Robinson."
Kate frowned. "Must? To Mother? I can't do that."
"I'll explain——" began Jack.
But at that moment the old lady walked in.
She was a dear little old lady, the old-fashioned kind of mother, quite rare in a New York flat. She wore a black silk dress many times turned and white at the seams, and a little cap which was never quite straight, giving her a lovable, rakish expression.
Jack looked appealingly at Kate, who hesitated and gulped34. "Mother, this—this is Mr. Robinson," she said.
"How do you do, Mr. Robinson," said Mrs. Storer in a voice like a little girl's. She affected to take no notice of Jack's grandeur35 though it must surely have been a notable sight in that poor little room. "I have not heard Katherine speak of you. Where did you meet Mr. Robinson, Katherine?"
"Mr. Robinson was—was formerly36 in our office," said poor Kate.
The little old lady made polite conversation for five minutes, and then having established the proprieties37, like a thoroughbred mother, she made a transparent38 excuse to disappear and was seen no more.
"She's a corker!" said Jack.
Kate beamed on him.
Through the open window came the sounds of a violent, vulgar altercation39 from the flat below. Kate closed the window with an oblivious40 air.
"I expect you've had an exciting day," she said. "What did the papers mean by saying that you were fat, and that you had a good-looking secretary to whom you turned for everything?"
"I'm the good-looking one," said Jack, grinning.
"I don't understand."
"I'll explain in a minute, but first——"
"Please!" she said with an admonishing41 gesture.
"Kitty, I can't help it! I can't play up to you. If you knew how it hurt to find you living in such a place——"
"We don't have to live here," she said with quick pride. "We're saving our money so we can go abroad."
"That's not true. I know how much they pay in the sort of place where you work, and how much it costs to live. I have been through the mill. It takes every cent you earn to keep up this place. And you're always thinking, what would you do if you got sick or were without a job, even for a week. That's what makes that little line between your dear eyes."
Kate laughed delicately. "Mercy, you're quite a mind-reader!"
Jack floundered on. "And me with all this rotten money! Every cent I spend shames me, thinking of you here—and your mother."
"You haven't spent any since you met Mother, have you?" she suggested maliciously42.
"Don't tease me! I'm in earnest. Why will you be so silly?"
"Are you proposing that I accept a gift of some of your new riches?"
"I'm proposing that you accept me."
"I would never marry a man that pitied me."
"Oh, Kate!" he said, graveled and reproachful. "How silly!"
Then he got his wind again. "That's only putting me off. What's pity got to do with it or anything? I just want you!"
"Why didn't you ask me when you were poor?" she murmured.
"How could I? I could scarcely keep myself."
"Then I am just a sort of luxury."
"Oh, Kitty! How unjust! You take a delight in putting me in the wrong!"
"It's no use," she said with a firm shake of the head. "I haven't changed since yesterday. If you insist on bringing this up every day, it will only have the effect of spoiling my naturally amiable43 temper. Let's change the subject. Tell me all your adventures since yesterday."
He was no match for her. He had to obey.
But if she was cruel in other respects, she made a rare listener. Her eyes sparkled and her soft cheeks glowed with excitement as his tale unfolded. When the devilish workings of the blackmailing44 scheme were made clear to her, her indignation knew no bounds.
"The wretches45! The beasts!" she murmured. "Oh, they must not be allowed to go free. That poor, lonely old man! It is fine of you to pledge yourself to run them down. It's a crusade in a way, isn't it—and a dangerous one!" She gave him an extraordinary look through her lashes46. "Come to me after you have done your work," she murmured, "and perhaps my answer will be different!"
"Oh, Kate!" he said, reaching for her hand.
She neatly47 evaded48 him. "Afterwards, I said. Now tell me what you mean to do."
He told her.
"I wish I could help!" she said involuntarily.
Jack had a dazzling inspiration. It must have been his good fairy that sent him that lovely idea all complete and ready to work. "Why, you can help!" he cried.
"How?"
He made out, of course, that the idea had been in his head all the time. "Listen. As Jack Norman's secretary I'm bound to become a pretty well-known figure around town, and it stands to reason I can't do much sleuthing in that character. I've get to have a disguise. I've got to lead a double life. I'll work while Bobo sleeps."
"Yes, but what has that got to do with me?"
"Listen, I'm coming to that. I've told you about our suite49 at the Madagascar, and Silas Gyde's two little rooms, and the secret way into the house next door. Now, you see, I'll go to bed in the hotel as Jack Norman's secretary, and in the morning I'll come out of the house next door prepared for work in another character."
"But what am I to do?"
"That house belongs to me, you know, though the deed has never been transferred. You must appear to rent it, furnish it and open it as a first-class boarding-house—no, furnished apartments would be easier for you."
"But"——
"Wait a minute. Then I can rent the second floor rear from you in my new character. I can pass back and forth50 through the vault51 as I like, and no one can possibly trace the connection between Jack Norman's secretary and the sober little business man who lives in your house. See?"
"Oh, I couldn't!"
"Why?"
"Mother wouldn't like it. And I—I'm not fitted for that sort of thing."
"You could make a bluff52 at it. You said you wanted to help."
"But would it be helping53? I think you're just trying to make an excuse to get us out of this place."
"Nonsense! I had it in mind before I ever came to-night. It's absolutely necessary to the success of my plans!"
"You're just trying to get around me."
"I'm not! How could I trust anybody else with the secret of that vault?"
Jack had struck the right line at last. She could not resist this subtle form of flattery, and in the end she gave in. "But I warn you I'll make that house pay," she said.
"Oh, go as far as you like."
They discussed their arrangements in detail. Once she had consented, Kate entered into it with a will. In the midst of their talk a clock struck one.
"Half-past nine!" said Jack, starting up. "I clean forgot Bobo downstairs!"
"Why didn't you bring him up?" said Kate. "I'm curious to see him."
"Thanks," said Jack, "but for once I wanted to play first fiddle54 myself."
At the door he gave her her final instructions. "You will start in to-morrow?"
"Yes," she said promptly55. "I know a girl that will be pleased to pieces to substitute for me at the typewriter."
"Oh, you'll never go back there," said Jack.
"We'll see," she said demurely56. As a matter of fact her heart was singing at the prospect57 of release from horrible monotony.
"My lawyer will come here in the morning with the keys and the necessary funds," said Jack.
"Oh, don't have him come here. I'll go to his office."
"Very well, if you'd rather. I'll write down the address. You and I mustn't see each other again, until I come to you to apply for a room. Can you open up in three days?"
"Three days!" she cried, aghast.
"Oh, things are made easy for you, I find, when you have the coin."
"Well, I'll try."
Jack went down the stairs two steps at a time, not at all displeased58 with himself. Had he not rescued Kate from her squalid surroundings, and made sure of being able to see her as often as he wanted? Let her fight him as she would, she was his partner already. She must come all the way some day soon. It was silly for her to make out she didn't mind poverty. She had given it away, in spite of herself.
The elegant limousine still rested at the curb59, the chauffeur fast asleep in the corner of the front seat. The dome light was now out and Jack could not see into the body of the car. He was astonished when he opened the door to find it empty. The chauffeur woke up instinctively60.
"Where is Mr. Norman?" demanded Jack, staring at the spot where he ought to have been.
"'Deed I don't know, sir. He was inside, all right, when I dropped off. I heard you tell him to take a snooze, so I thought I——"
"Sure, that's all right," said Jack. "He's big enough to take care of himself."
He looked anxiously up and down the street, but there was no sign of his silk-hatted friend.
点击收听单词发音
1 jack | |
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克 | |
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2 envious | |
adj.嫉妒的,羡慕的 | |
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3 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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4 puffed | |
adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 );喷着汽(或烟)移动;吹嘘;吹捧 | |
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5 impatience | |
n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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6 gee | |
n.马;int.向右!前进!,惊讶时所发声音;v.向右转 | |
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7 swell | |
vi.膨胀,肿胀;增长,增强 | |
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8 idol | |
n.偶像,红人,宠儿 | |
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9 mash | |
n.麦芽浆,糊状物,土豆泥;v.把…捣成糊状,挑逗,调情 | |
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10 prostrated | |
v.使俯伏,使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 );(指疾病、天气等)使某人无能为力 | |
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11 languor | |
n.无精力,倦怠 | |
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12 cleaver | |
n.切肉刀 | |
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13 wink | |
n.眨眼,使眼色,瞬间;v.眨眼,使眼色,闪烁 | |
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14 stranded | |
a.搁浅的,进退两难的 | |
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15 limousine | |
n.豪华轿车 | |
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16 elegance | |
n.优雅;优美,雅致;精致,巧妙 | |
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17 fluffy | |
adj.有绒毛的,空洞的 | |
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18 inevitable | |
adj.不可避免的,必然发生的 | |
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19 crooked | |
adj.弯曲的;不诚实的,狡猾的,不正当的 | |
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20 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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21 flicked | |
(尤指用手指或手快速地)轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 ); (用…)轻挥; (快速地)按开关; 向…笑了一下(或瞥了一眼等) | |
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22 humble | |
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低 | |
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23 pedestrians | |
n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 ) | |
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24 vouchsafed | |
v.给予,赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 );允诺 | |
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25 attired | |
adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服,使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
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27 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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28 chauffeur | |
n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机;v.为…开车 | |
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29 dome | |
n.圆屋顶,拱顶 | |
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30 joint | |
adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;v.连接,贴合 | |
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31 latch | |
n.门闩,窗闩;弹簧锁 | |
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32 broils | |
v.(用火)烤(焙、炙等)( broil的第三人称单数 );使卷入争吵;使混乱;被烤(或炙) | |
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33 quailed | |
害怕,发抖,畏缩( quail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34 gulped | |
v.狼吞虎咽地吃,吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 );大口地吸(气);哽住 | |
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35 grandeur | |
n.伟大,崇高,宏伟,庄严,豪华 | |
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36 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
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37 proprieties | |
n.礼仪,礼节;礼貌( propriety的名词复数 );规矩;正当;合适 | |
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38 transparent | |
adj.明显的,无疑的;透明的 | |
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39 altercation | |
n.争吵,争论 | |
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40 oblivious | |
adj.易忘的,遗忘的,忘却的,健忘的 | |
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41 admonishing | |
v.劝告( admonish的现在分词 );训诫;(温和地)责备;轻责 | |
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42 maliciously | |
adv.有敌意地 | |
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43 amiable | |
adj.和蔼可亲的,友善的,亲切的 | |
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44 blackmailing | |
胁迫,尤指以透露他人不体面行为相威胁以勒索钱财( blackmail的现在分词 ) | |
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45 wretches | |
n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 );可怜的人;恶棍;坏蛋 | |
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46 lashes | |
n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 );鞭子;突然猛烈的一击;急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 );煽动;紧系;怒斥 | |
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47 neatly | |
adv.整洁地,干净地,灵巧地,熟练地 | |
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48 evaded | |
逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 ); 避开; 回避; 想不出 | |
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49 suite | |
n.一套(家具);套房;随从人员 | |
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50 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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51 vault | |
n.拱形圆顶,地窖,地下室 | |
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52 bluff | |
v.虚张声势,用假象骗人;n.虚张声势,欺骗 | |
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53 helping | |
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的 | |
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54 fiddle | |
n.小提琴;vi.拉提琴;不停拨弄,乱动 | |
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55 promptly | |
adv.及时地,敏捷地 | |
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56 demurely | |
adv.装成端庄地,认真地 | |
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57 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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58 displeased | |
a.不快的 | |
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59 curb | |
n.场外证券市场,场外交易;vt.制止,抑制 | |
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60 instinctively | |
adv.本能地 | |
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