“I must give in!” Hosmer Hand had declared to Arneel and Schryhart, at the close of the Arneel house conference and as they stood in consultation14 after the others had departed. “We seem to be beaten to-night, but I, for one, am not through yet. He has won to-night, but he won’t win always. This is a fight to a finish between me and him. The rest of you can stay in or drop out, just as you wish.”
“Hear, hear!” exclaimed Schryhart, laying a fervently15 sympathetic hand on his shoulder. “Every dollar that I have is at your service, Hosmer. This fellow can’t win eventually. I’m with you to the end.”
Arneel, walking with Merrill and the others to the door, was silent and dour16. He had been cavalierly affronted17 by a man who, but a few short years before, he would have considered a mere underling. Here was Cowperwood bearding the lion in his den7, dictating18 terms to the principal financial figures of the city, standing19 up trig and resolute20, smiling in their faces and telling them in so many words to go to the devil. Mr. Arneel glowered21 under lowering brows, but what could he do? “We must see,” he said to the others, “what time will bring. Just now there is nothing much to do. This crisis has been too sudden. You say you are not through with him, Hosmer, and neither am I. But we must wait. We shall have to break him politically in this city, and I am confident that in the end we can do it.” The others were grateful for his courage even though to-morrow he and they must part with millions to protect themselves and the banks. For the first time Merrill concluded that he would have to fight Cowperwood openly from now on, though even yet he admired his courage. “But he is too defiant22, too cavalier! A very lion of a man,” he said to himself. “A man with the heart of a Numidian lion.”
It was true.
From this day on for a little while, and because there was no immediate23 political contest in sight, there was comparative peace in Chicago, although it more resembled an armed camp operating under the terms of some agreed neutrality than it did anything else. Schryhart, Hand, Arneel, and Merrill were quietly watchful24. Cowperwood’s chief concern was lest his enemies might succeed in their project of worsting him politically in one or all three of the succeeding elections which were due to occur every two years between now and 1903, at which time his franchises25 would have to be renewed. As in the past they had made it necessary for him to work against them through bribery26 and perjury27, so in ensuing struggles they might render it more and more difficult for him or his agents to suborn the men elected to office. The subservient and venal28 councilmen whom he now controlled might be replaced by men who, if no more honest, would be more loyal to the enemy, thus blocking the extension of his franchises. Yet upon a renewal29 period of at least twenty and preferably fifty years depended the fulfilment of all the colossal30 things he had begun—his art-collection, his new mansion31, his growing prestige as a financier, his rehabilitation32 socially, and the celebration of his triumph by a union, morganatic or otherwise, with some one who would be worthy to share his throne.
It is curious how that first and most potent33 tendency of the human mind, ambition, becomes finally dominating. Here was Cowperwood at fifty-seven, rich beyond the wildest dream of the average man, celebrated34 in a local and in some respects in a national way, who was nevertheless feeling that by no means had his true aims been achieved. He was not yet all-powerful as were divers35 Eastern magnates, or even these four or five magnificently moneyed men here in Chicago who, by plodding36 thought and labor37 in many dreary38 fields such as Cowperwood himself frequently scorned, had reaped tremendous and uncontended profits. How was it, he asked himself, that his path had almost constantly been strewn with stormy opposition39 and threatened calamity40? Was it due to his private immorality41? Other men were immoral42; the mass, despite religious dogma and fol-de-rol theory imposed from the top, was generally so. Was it not rather due to his inability to control without dominating personally—without standing out fully43 and clearly in the sight of all men? Sometimes he thought so. The humdrum44 conventional world could not brook45 his daring, his insouciance46, his constant desire to call a spade a spade. His genial47 sufficiency was a taunt48 and a mockery to many. The hard implication of his eye was dreaded49 by the weaker as fire is feared by a burnt child. Dissembling enough, he was not sufficiently50 oily and make-believe.
Well, come what might, he did not need to be or mean to be so, and there the game must lie; but he had not by any means attained51 the height of his ambition. He was not yet looked upon as a money prince. He could not rank as yet with the magnates of the East—the serried52 Sequoias of Wall Street. Until he could stand with these men, until he could have a magnificent mansion, acknowledged as such by all, until he could have a world-famous gallery, Berenice, millions—what did it avail?
The character of Cowperwood’s New York house, which proved one of the central achievements of his later years, was one of those flowerings—out of disposition53 which eventuate in the case of men quite as in that of plants. After the passing of the years neither a modified Gothic (such as his Philadelphia house had been), nor a conventionalized Norman-French, after the style of his Michigan Avenue home, seemed suitable to him. Only the Italian palaces of medieval or Renaissance54 origin which he had seen abroad now appealed to him as examples of what a stately residence should be. He was really seeking something which should not only reflect his private tastes as to a home, but should have the more enduring qualities of a palace or even a museum, which might stand as a monument to his memory. After much searching Cowperwood had found an architect in New York who suited him entirely55—one Raymond Pyne, rake, raconteur56, man-about-town—who was still first and foremost an artist, with an eye for the exceptional and the perfect. These two spent days and days together meditating57 on the details of this home museum. An immense gallery was to occupy the west wing of the house and be devoted58 to pictures; a second gallery should occupy the south wing and be given over to sculpture and large whorls of art; and these two wings were to swing as an L around the house proper, the latter standing in the angle between them. The whole structure was to be of a rich brownstone, heavily carved. For its interior decoration the richest woods, silks, tapestries59, glass, and marbles were canvassed60. The main rooms were to surround a great central court with a colonnade61 of pink-veined alabaster62, and in the center there would be an electrically lighted fountain of alabaster and silver. Occupying the east wall a series of hanging baskets of orchids63, or of other fresh flowers, were to give a splendid glow of color, a morning-sun effect, to this richly artificial realm. One chamber64—a lounge on the second floor—was to be entirely lined with thin-cut transparent65 marble of a peach-blow hue66, the lighting67 coming only through these walls and from without. Here in a perpetual atmosphere of sunrise were to be racks for exotic birds, a trellis of vines, stone benches, a central pool of glistening68 water, and an echo of music. Pyne assured him that after his death this room would make an excellent chamber in which to exhibit porcelains69, jades70, ivories, and other small objects of value.
Cowperwood was now actually transferring his possessions to New York, and had persuaded Aileen to accompany him. Fine compound of tact71 and chicane that he was, he had the effrontery72 to assure her that they could here create a happier social life. His present plan was to pretend a marital73 contentment which had no basis solely74 in order to make this transition period as undisturbed as possible. Subsequently he might get a divorce, or he might make an arrangement whereby his life would be rendered happy outside the social pale.
Of all this Berenice Fleming knew nothing at all. At the same time the building of this splendid mansion eventually awakened75 her to an understanding of the spirit of art that occupied the center of Cowperwood’s iron personality and caused her to take a real interest in him. Before this she had looked on him as a kind of Western interloper coming East and taking advantage of her mother’s good nature to scrape a little social courtesy. Now, however, all that Mrs. Carter had been telling her of his personality and achievements was becoming crystallized into a glittering chain of facts. This house, the papers were fond of repeating, would be a jewel of rare workmanship. Obviously the Cowperwoods were going to try to enter society. “What a pity it is,” Mrs. Carter once said to Berenice, “that he couldn’t have gotten a divorce from his wife before he began all this. I am so afraid they will never be received. He would be if he only had the right woman; but she—” Mrs. Carter, who had once seen Aileen in Chicago, shook her head doubtfully. “She is not the type,” was her comment. “She has neither the air nor the understanding.”
“If he is so unhappy with her,” observed Berenice, thoughtfully, “why doesn’t he leave her? She can be happy without him. It is so silly—this cat-and-dog existence. Still I suppose she values the position he gives her,” she added, “since she isn’t so interesting herself.”
“I suppose,” said Mrs. Carter, “that he married her twenty years ago, when he was a very different man from what he is to-day. She is not exactly coarse, but not clever enough. She cannot do what he would like to see done. I hate to see mismatings of this kind, and yet they are so common. I do hope, Bevy76, that when you marry it will be some one with whom you can get along, though I do believe I would rather see you unhappy than poor.”
This was delivered as an early breakfast peroration77 in Central Park South, with the morning sun glittering on one of the nearest park lakes. Bevy, in spring-green and old-gold, was studying the social notes in one of the morning papers.
“I think I should prefer to be unhappy with wealth than to be without it,” she said, idly, without looking up.
Her mother surveyed her admiringly, conscious of her imperious mood. What was to become of her? Would she marry well? Would she marry in time? Thus far no breath of the wretched days in Louisville had affected78 Berenice. Most of those with whom Mrs. Carter had found herself compelled to deal would be kind enough to keep her secret. But there were others. How near she had been to drifting on the rocks when Cowperwood had appeared!
“After all,” observed Berenice, thoughtfully, “Mr. Cowperwood isn’t a mere money-grabber, is he? So many of these Western moneyed men are so dull.”
“My dear,” exclaimed Mrs. Carter, who by now had become a confirmed satellite of her secret protector, “you don’t understand him at all. He is a very astonishing man, I tell you. The world is certain to hear a lot more of Frank Cowperwood before he dies. You can say what you please, but some one has to make the money in the first place. It’s little enough that good breeding does for you in poverty. I know, because I’ve seen plenty of our friends come down.”
In the new house, on a scaffold one day, a famous sculptor79 and his assistants were at work on a Greek frieze80 which represented dancing nymphs linked together by looped wreaths. Berenice and her mother happened to be passing. They stopped to look, and Cowperwood joined them. He waved his hand at the figures of the frieze, and said to Berenice, with his old, gay air, “If they had copied you they would have done better.”
“How charming of you!” she replied, with her cool, strange, blue eyes fixed81 on him. “They are beautiful.” In spite of her earlier prejudices she knew now that he and she had one god in common—Art; and that his mind was fixed on things beautiful as on a shrine82.
He merely looked at her.
“This house can be little more than a museum to me,” he remarked, simply, when her mother was out of hearing; “but I shall build it as perfectly83 as I can. Perhaps others may enjoy it if I do not.”
She looked at him musingly84, understandingly, and he smiled. She realized, of course, that he was trying to convey to her that he was lonely.
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1
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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buttress
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| n.支撑物；v.支持 | |
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eventual
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| adj.最后的，结局的，最终的 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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subservient
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| adj.卑屈的，阿谀的 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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opprobrious
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| adj.可耻的，辱骂的 | |
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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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dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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flaunt
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| vt.夸耀，夸饰 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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dour
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| adj.冷酷的，严厉的；（岩石）嶙峋的；顽强不屈 | |
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affronted
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| adj.被侮辱的，被冒犯的v.勇敢地面对( affront的过去式和过去分词 )；相遇 | |
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dictating
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的现在分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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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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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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glowered
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| v.怒视( glower的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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franchises
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| n.（尤指选举议员的）选举权( franchise的名词复数 )；参政权；获特许权的商业机构（或服务）；（公司授予的）特许经销权v.给…以特许权，出售特许权( franchise的第三人称单数 ) | |
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bribery
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| n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿 | |
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perjury
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| n.伪证；伪证罪 | |
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venal
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| adj.唯利是图的，贪脏枉法的 | |
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renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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colossal
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| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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rehabilitation
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| n.康复，悔过自新，修复，复兴，复职，复位 | |
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potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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divers
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| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
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plodding
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| a.proceeding in a slow or dull way | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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immorality
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| n. 不道德, 无道义 | |
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immoral
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| adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的 | |
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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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humdrum
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| adj.单调的，乏味的 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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insouciance
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| n.漠不关心 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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taunt
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| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
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49
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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50
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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51
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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52
serried
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| adj.拥挤的；密集的 | |
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53
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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renaissance
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| n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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raconteur
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| n.善讲故事者 | |
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57
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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58
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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59
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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60
canvassed
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| v.（在政治方面）游说( canvass的过去式和过去分词 )；调查（如选举前选民的）意见；为讨论而提出（意见等）；详细检查 | |
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colonnade
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| n.柱廊 | |
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alabaster
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| adj.雪白的；n.雪花石膏；条纹大理石 | |
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orchids
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| n.兰花( orchid的名词复数 ) | |
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64
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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porcelains
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| n.瓷，瓷器( porcelain的名词复数 ) | |
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70
jades
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| n.玉，翡翠（jade的复数形式）v.（使）疲（jade的第三人称单数形式） | |
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71
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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72
effrontery
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| n.厚颜无耻 | |
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marital
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| adj.婚姻的，夫妻的 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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bevy
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| n.一群 | |
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77
peroration
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| n.（演说等之）结论 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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sculptor
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| n.雕刻家，雕刻家 | |
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80
frieze
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| n.(墙上的)横饰带，雕带 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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82
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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83
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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musingly
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| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
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