At three o'clock in the afternoon of May 14, 1856, the current issue of the _Bulletin_ was placed on sale. A very few minutes later a copy found its way into the hands of James Casey. Casey at that time, in addition to his political cares, was editor of a small sheet he called the _Sunday Times_. With this he had strenuously1 supported the extreme wing of the Law party, which, as has been explained, comprised also the gambling2 and lawless element. It was suspected by some that his paper was more or less subsidized for the purpose, though the probability is that Casey found his reward merely in political support. This Casey it was who, to his own vast surprise, had at a previous election been returned as elected supervisor3; although he was not a candidate, his name was not on the ticket, and no man could be found who had voted for him. Indeed, he was not even a resident of the district. However, Yankee Sullivan, who ran the election, said officially the votes had been cast for him; so elected he was proclaimed. Undoubtedly4 he proved useful; he had always proved useful at elections elsewhere, seldom appearing in person, but adept5 at selecting suitable agents. His methods were devious6, dishonest, and rough. He was head of the Crescent Fire Engine Company, and was personally popular. In appearance he was a short, slight man, with a bright, keen face, a good forehead, a thin but florid countenance7, dark curly hair, and light blue eyes, a type of unscrupulous Irish adventurer with a dash of romantic ideals. Like all the gentlemen rovers of his time, he was exceedingly touchy8 on the subject of "honour."
In the _Bulletin_ of the date mentioned James Casey read these words, apropos9 of the threat of one Bagby to shoot Casey on sight:
It does not matter how bad a man Casey had been, or how much benefit it might be to the public to have him out of the way, we cannot accord to any one citizen the right to kill him, or even beat him, without justifiable10 provocation11. The fact that Casey has been an inmate12 of Sing Sing prison in New York is no offence against the laws of this State; nor is the fact of his having stuffed himself through the ballot13 box, as elected to the Board of Supervisors14 from a district where it is said he was not even a candidate, any justification15 for Mr. Bagby to shoot Casey, however richly the latter may deserve to have his neck stretched for such fraud on the public.
Casey read this in the full knowledge that thousands of his fellow-citizens would also read it. His thin face turned white with anger. He crumpled16 the paper into a ball and hurled17 it violently into the gutter18, settled his hat more firmly on his head, and proceeded at once to the _Bulletin_ office with the full intention of shooting King on sight. Probably he would have done so, save for the accidental circumstance that King happened to be busy at a table, his back squarely to the door. Casey could not shoot a man in the back without a word. He was breathless and stuttering with excitement. King was alone, but an open door into an adjoining office permitted two witnesses to see and hear.
"What do you mean by that article?" cried Casey in a strangled voice.
King turned slowly, and examined his visitor for a moment.
"What article?" he inquired at last.
"That which says I was formerly19 an inmate of Sing Sing!"
King gazed at him with a depth of detached, patient sadness in his dark eyes.
"Is it not true?" he asked finally.
"That is not the question," retorted Casey, trying again to work himself up to the rage in which he had entered. "I do not wish my past acts rated up: on that point I am sensitive."
A faint smile came and went on King's lips.
"Are you done?" he asked still quietly; then, receiving no reply, he turned in his chair and leaned forward with a sudden intensity20. His next words hit with the impact of bullets: "There's the door! Go! Never show your face here again!" he commanded.
Casey found himself moving toward the open door. He did not want to do this, he wanted to shoot King, or at least to provoke a quarrel, but he was for the moment overcome by a stronger personality. At the door he gathered himself together a little.
"I'll say in my paper what I please!" he asserted, with a show of bravado21.
King was leaning back, watching him steadily22.
"You have a perfect right to do so," he rejoined. "I shall never notice your paper."
Casey struck himself on the breast.
"And if necessary I shall defend myself!" he cried.
King's passivity broke. He bounded from his seat bristling23 with anger.
"Go!" he commanded sharply, and Casey went.
收听单词发音 |
1
strenuously
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| adv.奋发地，费力地 | |
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2
gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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3
supervisor
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| n.监督人，管理人，检查员，督学，主管，导师 | |
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4
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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5
adept
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| adj.老练的，精通的 | |
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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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7
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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8
touchy
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| adj.易怒的；棘手的 | |
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9
apropos
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| adv.恰好地；adj.恰当的；关于 | |
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10
justifiable
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| adj.有理由的，无可非议的 | |
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provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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12
inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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ballot
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| n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票 | |
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supervisors
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| n.监督者，管理者( supervisor的名词复数 ) | |
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15
justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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16
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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17
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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18
gutter
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| n.沟，街沟，水槽，檐槽，贫民窟 | |
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19
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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20
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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21
bravado
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| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
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22
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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23
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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