Keith left the courtroom in a daze1 of incredulity. This was his first serious defeat; and he could not understand it. The case was absolutely open and shut, a mere2 question of fact to which there were sufficient and competent witnesses. For the moment he was completely routed.
As he emerged to the busy crowds on Kearney Street a sudden repugnance3 to meeting acquaintances overcame him. He turned off toward the bay, making his way by the back streets, alleys5, and slums of that unsavoury quarter. But even here he was not to escape. He had not gone two blocks before he descried6 Krafft's slight and elegant figure sauntering toward him. Keith braced7 himself for the inevitable8 question.
"Well," it came, "how goes the trial?"
The words released Keith's pent flood of bitterness. Here was an outlet9; Krafft was "safe." He poured out his disappointment, his suspicion, his indignation. The little man listened to him in silence, a slight smile, sketching10 his full, red lips. When Keith had somewhat run down, Krafft, without a word, took him by the arm and led him by devious11 ways down to the water-front portion of the city. There he planted him near the entrance of a dark alley4.
"Now you wait here," Keith was told.
Keith obeyed. The interval12 was long, but he had much to occupy his mind. After a time Krafft returned in company with a slouching, drink-sodden bummer of powerful build and lowering mien13, the remains14 of a forceful personality. This individual shambled along in the wake of the dapper little Krafft quite meekly15 and submissively.
"Here you are," said the latter briskly, and with a sort of nonchalant authority. "Come, now, Mex, tell Mr, Keith what you know about the Cora trial. Go on!" he urged, as the man hesitated. "He's not going to 'use' you--he doesn't even know who you are or where you're to be found, and I'm not going to tell him. Speak up, Mex! I tell you I want him to know how things stand."
Keith by now was acquainted with many of Krafft's proteges, but he had never met the delectable16 Mex. Evidently the latter had long known Krafft, however, for he acknowledged his authority unquestioningly.
"It's like this, boss," he began in a hoarse17 voice. "You don't know me, like Mr. Krafft says, but there's plenty that do. I got a lot of infloonce down here, and when anybody wants anything they know where to come to get it, which is right to headquarters--here," he slapped his great chest.
"Get on," interrupted Krafft impatiently. "We'll take it for granted that you are a great man."
Mex looked at him reproachfully, but went on:
"About this Cora trial: they come to me for good, reliable witnesses, and I got 'em, and drilled 'em. There ain't nobody in it with me for making any witness watertight."
"How many witnesses?" prompted Krafft.
"Eight," replied Mex promptly18.
"How much?"
"Well, they give me five thousand fer to git the job done," admitted Mex, with some reluctance19.
"Hope they got some of it," commented Krafft.
"Who gave you the money?" demanded Keith.
But Krafft interposed.
"Hold on, my son, that isn't ethics20 at all! You mustn't ask questions like that, must he, Mex? Very bad form!" He turned to Keith with a crisp air of decision. "That's what was the matter with your trial; I just thought I'd show you. Go on, Mex, get out," he commanded that individual, good- humouredly. "I'm not particularly proud of you, but I suppose I've got to stand you. Only remember this: Mr. Keith is my friend. Swear him out of the high seats of heaven--if you can--because that's the nature of you; but let him walk safely. In other words, no strong-arm work; do you understand?"
The man mumbled21 and growled22 something.
"Nonsense, Mex," interrupted Krafft sharply. "Do as I say.
"It's a matter of a tidy sum," blurted23 out Mex at last.
Krafft laughed.
"You see, you were already marked for the slaughter," he told Keith; then to Mex:
"Well, you let him alone; he's my friend."
"All right, if you say so," growled the man.
"You're safe--as far as Mex and all his people are concerned," said Krafft to Keith. "Our word is always good, when given to a friend; isn't it, Mex?"
The man nodded, awkwardly and slouched away.
Keith's depression had given place to anger. He had been beaten by unfair means; his opponent had cheated at the game, and his opponent enjoyed the respect of the community as a high-minded, able, dignified24 member of the bar. It was unthinkable! A man caught cheating at cards would most certainly be expelled from any decent club.
"I'll disbar that man if it's the last act of my life!" He cried, "He's not fit to practise among decent men!"
He left Krafft standing25 on the corner and smiling quietly, and hurried back to his office.
收听单词发音 |
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daze
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| v.(使)茫然，(使)发昏 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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alleys
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| 胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径 | |
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descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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sketching
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| n.草图 | |
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devious
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| adj.不坦率的，狡猾的；迂回的，曲折的 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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delectable
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| adj.使人愉快的；美味的 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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ethics
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| n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准 | |
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mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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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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