These activities gave Keith just the required door out into a world other than his own. Were it not for something of the sort he might, like many modern corporation lawyers, have confined himself entirely1 to his own class. And this, of course, would eventually have meant narrowness.
But through Krafft, and especially through his desire to help Krafft's work, he came in contact with all sorts of people; and, what was more important, he found that he liked a great many of them. So it happened that when it seemed expedient3 to the ruling caste to put him in as Assistant District Attorney, his inevitable4 election met with wider approval than such elections usually enjoy.
For it must be understood that in the fifties any candidate selected by the ruling caste was absolutely sure of election. The machinery5 was thoroughly6 in their hands. Diplomacy7 in party caucuses8, delicate manipulation at primaries, were backed by cruder methods if need be. Associations were semi-publically formed for the sale of votes; gangs of men were driven from one precinct to another, voting in all; intimidation9, and, indeed, open violence, was freely used. Only the most adventurous10 or the most determined11 thought it worth while even to try to vote in the rough precincts. And if the first and second lines of defence failed, there was still the third to fall back on when the booths were dosed and the ballots12 counted: the boxes could still be "stuffed," the count could still be scientifically juggled13 to bring about any desired result.
This particular election was one of the worst in the history of the place. All day fighting was kept up, and the rowdies swaggered everywhere. Whiskey was to be had for the asking; and the roughs who surrounded the polls fired shots, and in some places started what might fairly be called riots. Yankee Sullivan returned James Casey as elected supervisor14, which was probably a mistake, for Casey was not a candidate, his name was on none of the official ballots, and nobody could be found who had voted for him. Everybody was surprised, Casey most of all! The sixth ward15 count was delayed unconscionably, its returns being withheld16 until nearly morning. It was more than hinted that this delay was prolonged until the returns had been received from all other precincts, so that any deficiencies might be made up by the sixth. The "slate17" went through unbroken.
Of all the candidates, Keith received the most votes, for the simple reason that his total included both the honest and dishonest ballots. Blanchford, Neil, Palmer, Adams, all the political overlords of the city were satisfied, as well they might be, for they had issued the fiat18 that he be chosen.
"He's one of us," said they.
But what was more unusual, the rank and file of decent, busy, hard-working citizens approved, too.
"Keith is not stuck up," they told each other. "He is the _commonest_ man in that bunch. And he's square."
The position carried some social as well as political significance. Society made another effort to take him up. His rare appearances were rather in the nature of concessions19. They served to make him more regretted, for he had an easy, jolly way of moving from one group or one woman to another, of paying flattering, monopolizing20, brief attention to each in turn, and then disappearing, very early! His bold rather florid countenance21 radiated energy and quizzical good humour; his tight, closely curled hair crisped with virile22 alertness; he carried himself taut23 and eager--altogether a figure to engage the curiosities of women or the interest of men.
Mrs. Sherwood alone was shrewd enough to penetrate24 to his true feelings. She had experienced no difficulty in pushing to a social leadership shared --indolently and indifferently--with Nan Keith. Already her past was growing dim in a tradition kept alive only by a few whisperers. Her wealth, her natural tact2 and poise25, her calm assumption of the right to rule, her great personal charm, beauty, and taste were more than sufficient to get her what she wanted. The game was almost too easy, when one held the cards.
"Yes, he's very charming," she told her husband, "but that manner of his does not impress me. As a matter of fact, he doesn't care a snap of his finger about any of them. He does it too well. It's a stencil26. Only the outside of him does it. He's just as bad as you are; only _he_ doesn't hold up a corner of the doorway27 all the evening, and beam vaguely28 in general, like a good-natured, dear old owl29."
1 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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2 tact | |
n.机敏,圆滑,得体 | |
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3 expedient | |
adj.有用的,有利的;n.紧急的办法,权宜之计 | |
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4 inevitable | |
adj.不可避免的,必然发生的 | |
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5 machinery | |
n.(总称)机械,机器;机构 | |
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6 thoroughly | |
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
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7 diplomacy | |
n.外交;外交手腕,交际手腕 | |
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8 caucuses | |
n.(政党决定政策或推举竞选人的)核心成员( caucus的名词复数 );决策干部;决策委员会;秘密会议 | |
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9 intimidation | |
n.恐吓,威胁 | |
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10 adventurous | |
adj.爱冒险的;惊心动魄的,惊险的,刺激的 | |
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11 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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12 ballots | |
n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 );选举;选票;投票总数v.(使)投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 ) | |
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13 juggled | |
v.歪曲( juggle的过去式和过去分词 );耍弄;有效地组织;尽力同时应付(两个或两个以上的重要工作或活动) | |
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14 supervisor | |
n.监督人,管理人,检查员,督学,主管,导师 | |
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15 ward | |
n.守卫,监护,病房,行政区,由监护人或法院保护的人(尤指儿童);vt.守护,躲开 | |
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16 withheld | |
withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
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17 slate | |
n.板岩,石板,石片,石板色,候选人名单;adj.暗蓝灰色的,含板岩的;vt.用石板覆盖,痛打,提名,预订 | |
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18 fiat | |
n.命令,法令,批准;vt.批准,颁布 | |
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19 concessions | |
n.(尤指由政府或雇主给予的)特许权( concession的名词复数 );承认;减价;(在某地的)特许经营权 | |
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20 monopolizing | |
v.垄断( monopolize的现在分词 );独占;专卖;专营 | |
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21 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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22 virile | |
adj.男性的;有男性生殖力的;有男子气概的;强有力的 | |
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23 taut | |
adj.拉紧的,绷紧的,紧张的 | |
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24 penetrate | |
v.透(渗)入;刺入,刺穿;洞察,了解 | |
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25 poise | |
vt./vi. 平衡,保持平衡;n.泰然自若,自信 | |
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26 stencil | |
v.用模版印刷;n.模版;复写纸,蜡纸 | |
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27 doorway | |
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径 | |
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28 vaguely | |
adv.含糊地,暖昧地 | |
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29 owl | |
n.猫头鹰,枭 | |
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