People had already read King's article in the _Bulletin_. People had seen Casey heading for the _Bulletin_ office with blood in his eye. The news had spread. When the Irishman emerged he found waiting for him a curious crowd. His friends crowded around asking eager questions. Casey answered with vague but bloodthirsty generalities: he wasn't a man to be trifled with, and egad some people had to find that out! blackmailing1 was not a healthy occupation when it was aimed at a gentleman! He left the impression that King had recanted, had apologized, had even begged--there would be no more trouble. Uttering brags2 of this sort, Casey led the way to the Bank Exchange, a fashionable bar near at hand. Here he set up the drinks, and was treated in turn. His bragging3 became more boastful. He made a fine impression, but within his breast the taste of his interview with King curdled4 into dangerous bitterness. Casey could never stand much alcohol. The well-meant admiration5 and sympathy of his friends served only to increase his hidden, smouldering rage. His eyes became bloodshot, and he talked even more at random6.
In the group that surrounded him was our old acquaintance, Judge Edward McGowan--Ned McGowan--jolly, hard drinking, oily, but not as noisy as usual. He was watching Casey closely. The Honourable7 Ned was himself a fugitive8 from Pennsylvania justice. By dint9 of a gay life, a happy combination of bullying10 and intrigue11, he had made himself a place in the new city, and at last had "risen" to the bench. He was apparently12 all on the surface, but his schemes ran deep. Some historians claim that he had furnished King the documents proving Casey an ex-convict! Now, when he considered the moment opportune13, he drew Casey from the noisy group at the bar.
"All this talk is very well," he said contemptuously to the Irishman, "but I see through it. What are you going to do about it?"
"I'll get even with the----, don't you worry about that!" promised Casey, still blustering14.
This McGowan brushed aside as irrelevant15. "Are you armed?" he asked. "No, that little weapon is too uncertain. Take this." He glanced about him, and hastily passed to Casey a big "navy" revolver. "You can hide it under your cloak--so!" He fixed16 Casey's eyes with his own, and brought to bear on the little man all the force of his very vital personality, "Listen: King comes by here every evening. Everybody knows that, and everybody knows what has happened."
He stared at Casey significantly for a moment, then turned abruptly17 away. Casey, become suddenly quiet, his blustering mood fallen from him, his face thoughtful and white, his eyes dilated18, said nothing. He returned to the bar, took a solitary19 drink, and walked out the door, his right hand concealed20 beneath his long cloak. McGowan watched him intently, following to the door, and looking after the other's retreating form. Casey walked across the street, but stopped behind a wagon21, where he stood, apparently waiting. McGowan, with a grunt22 of satisfaction, sauntered deliberately23 to the corner of the Bank Exchange. There he leaned against the wall, also waiting.
For nearly an hoar the two thus remained: Casey shrouded24 in his cloak, apparently oblivious25 to everything except the corner of Merchant and Montgomery streets, on which he kept his eyes fixed; McGowan lounging easily, occasionally speaking a low word to a passerby26. Invariably the person so addressed came to a stop. Soon a little group had formed, idling with Judge McGowan. A small boy happening by was commandeered with a message for Pete Wrightman, the deputy sheriff, and shortly Pete arrived out of breath to join the group.
At just five o'clock the idlers stiffened27 to attention. King's figure was seen to turn the corner of Merchant Street into Montgomery. Head bent28, he walked toward the corner of the Bankers' Exchange, the men on the corner watching him. When nearly at that point he turned to cross the street diagonally.
At the same instant Casey stepped forward from behind the wagon, throwing back his cloak.
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1
blackmailing
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| 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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2
brags
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| v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的第三人称单数 ) | |
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bragging
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| v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的现在分词 )；大话 | |
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curdled
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| v.（使）凝结( curdle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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bullying
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| v.恐吓，威逼( bully的现在分词 )；豪；跋扈 | |
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intrigue
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| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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opportune
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| adj.合适的，适当的 | |
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blustering
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| adj.狂风大作的，狂暴的v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的现在分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
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irrelevant
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| adj.不恰当的，无关系的，不相干的 | |
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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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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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22
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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passerby
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| n.过路人，行人 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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