SLOWLY the weeks passed. Strictly1 Mrs. Vimpany kept her promise.
When she heard from Iris2 the letter was always sent to Hugh, to be returned after he had read it. Events in the lives of the newly-married pair, many of which pointed3 to the end that Mrs. Vimpany saw and dreaded4, were lightly, sometimes jestingly, related by the young wife. Her blind belief in her husband, sincerely asserted in the earlier part of the correspondence, began to betray, in her later letters, signs of self delusion5. It was sad indeed to see that bright intelligence rendered incapable6 of conceiving suspicions, which might have occurred to the mind of a child.
When the latest news from Paris followed, in due course, Mountjoy was informed of it by a note from Mrs. Vimpany expressed in these terms:
“My last letter from Iris is really no letter at all. It simply encloses a circular, with her love, and asks me to send it on to you. If it is in your power to make inquiries7 in the right quarter, I am sure you will not hesitate to take the trouble. There can be little doubt, as I think, that Lord Harry8 is engaged in a hazardous9 speculation10, more deeply than his wife is willing to acknowledge.”
The circular announced the contemplated11 publication of a weekly newspaper, printed partly in English, and partly in French, having its chief office in Paris, and being intended to dispute the advantages of a European circulation with the well-known Continental12 journal called “Galignani’s Messenger.” A first list of contributors included names of some notoriety in the literature of England and the literature of France. Speculators who wished to know, in the first place, on what security they might reckon, were referred to the managing committee, represented by persons of importance in the financial worlds of London and Paris.
Being in a position to make the inquiries which Mrs. Vimpany had suggested, Hugh received information which verified the statements contained in the circular, and vouched13 for the good faith of those persons who were concerned in directing the speculation. So far, so good.
But, when the question of success was next discussed, the authorities consulted shook their wise heads. It was impossible to say what losses might not be suffered, and what sums of money might not be required, before the circulation of the new journal would justify14 the hope of success. This opinion Hugh communicated to Mrs. Vimpany; Iris was informed of it by that day’s post.
A longer time than usual elapsed before any further news of Lord Harry and his wife was received by Mountjoy. When he did at last hear again from Mrs. Vimpany, she forwarded a letter from Iris dated from a new address, in the suburb of Paris called Passy.
From motives15 of economy (Iris wrote) her husband had decided16 on a change of residence. They were just established in their new abode17, with the advantages of a saving in rent, a pretty little garden to cultivate, and purer air to breathe than the air of Paris. There the letter ended, without the slightest allusion18 to the forthcoming newspaper, or to the opinion that had been pronounced on the prospects19 of success.
In forwarding this letter, Mrs. Vimpany wrote on the blank page as follows: “I am sorry to add that some disquieting20 news of my husband has reached me. For the present, I will say no more. It is at least possible that the report may not be worthy21 of belief.”
A few days later the report was confirmed, under circumstances which had certainly not been foreseen. Mr. Vimpany himself arrived at the hotel, on a visit to Mountjoy.
Always more or less superior to the amiable22 weakness of modesty23, the doctor seemed to have risen higher than ever in his own estimation, since Hugh had last seen him. He strutted24; he stared confidently at persons and things; authority was in his voice when he spoke25, and lofty indulgence distinguished26 his manner when he listened.
“How are you?” he cried with a grand gaiety, as he entered the room. “Fine weather, isn’t it, for the time of year? You don’t look well. I wonder whether you notice any change in me?
“You seem to be in good spirits,” Hugh replied, not very cordially.
“Do I carry my head high?” Mr. Vimpany went on. “When calamity27 strikes at a man, don’t let him cringe and cry for pity — let him hit back again! Those are my principles. Look at me. Now do look at me. Here I am, a cultivated person, a member of an honourable28 profession, a man of art and accomplishment29 — stripped of every blessed thing belonging to me but the clothes I stand up in. Give me your hand, Mountjoy. It’s the hand, sir, of a bankrupt.”
“You don’t seem to mind it much,” Mountjoy remarked.
“Why should I mind it?” asked the doctor. “There isn’t a medical man in England who has less reason to reproach himself than I have. Have I wasted money in rash speculations30? Not a farthing. Have I been fool enough to bet at horse races? My worst enemy daren’t say it of me. What have I done then? I have toiled31 after virtue32 — that’s what I have done. Oh, there’s nothing to laugh at! When a doctor tries to be the medical friend of humanity; when he only asks leave to cure disease, to soothe33 pain, to preserve life — isn’t that virtue? And what is my reward? I sit at home, waiting for my suffering fellow-creatures; and the only fellow-creatures who come to me are too poor to pay. I have gone my rounds, calling on the rich patients whom I bought when I bought the practice. Not one of them wanted me. Men, women, and children, were all inexcusably healthy — devil take them! Is it wonderful if a man becomes bankrupt, in such a situation as mine? By Jupiter, I go farther than that! I say, a man owes it to himself (as a protest against undeserved neglect) to become a bankrupt. If you will allow me, I’ll take a chair.”
He sat down with an air of impudent34 independence and looked round the room. A little cabinet, containing liqueurs, stood open on the sideboard. Mr. Vimpany got up again. “May I take a friendly liberty?” he said — and helped himself, without waiting for permission.
Hugh bore with this, mindful of the mistake that he had committed in consenting to receive the doctor. At the same time, he was sufficiently35 irritated to take a friendly liberty on his side. He crossed the room to the sideboard, and locked up the liqueurs. Mr. Vimpany’s brazen36 face flushed deeply (not with shame); he opened his lips to say something worthy of himself, controlled the impulse, and burst into a boisterous37 laugh. He had evidently some favour still to ask.
“Devilish good!” he broke out cheerfully. “Do you remember the landlady’s claret? Ha! you don’t want to tempt38 me this time. Well! well! to return to my bankruptcy39.”
Hugh had heard enough of his visitor’s bankruptcy. “I am not one of your creditors40,” he said.
Mr. Vimpany made a smart reply: “Don’t you be too sure of that. Wait a little.”
“Do you mean,” Mountjoy asked, “that you have come here to borrow money of me?”
“Time —— give me time,” the doctor pleaded: “this is not a matter to be dispatched in a hurry; this is a matter of business. You will hardly believe it,” he resumed, “but I have actually been in my present position, once before.” He looked towards the cabinet of liqueurs. “If I had the key,” he said, “I should like to try a drop more of your good Curacoa. You don’t see it?”
“I am waiting to hear what your business is,” Hugh replied.
Mr. Vimpany’s pliable41 temper submitted with perfect amiability42. “Quite right,” he said; “let us return to business. I am a man who possesses great fertility of resource. On the last occasion when my creditors pounced43 on my property, do you think I was discouraged? Nothing of the sort! My regular medical practice had broken down under me. Very well — I tried my luck as a quack44. In plain English, I invented a patent medicine. The one thing wanting was money enough to advertise it. False friends buttoned up their pockets. You see?”
“Oh, yes; I see.”
“In that case,” Mr. Vimpany continued, “you will not be surprised to hear that I draw on my resources again. You have no doubt noticed that we live in an age of amateurs. Amateurs write, paint, compose music, perform on the stage. I, too, am one of the accomplished45 persons who have taken possession of the field of Art. Did you observe the photographic portraits on the walls of my dining-room? They are of my doing, sir — whether you observed them or not I am one of the handy medical men, who can use the photograph. Not that I mention it generally; the public have got a narrow-minded notion that a doctor ought to be nothing but a doctor. My name won’t appear in a new work that I am contemplating46. Of course, you want to know what my new work is. I’ll tell you, in the strictest confidence. Imagine (if you can) a series of superb photographs of the most eminent47 doctors in England, with memoirs48 of their lives written by themselves; published once a month, price half-a-crown. If there isn’t money in that idea, there is no money in anything. Exert yourself, my good friend. Tell me what you think of it?”
“I don’t understand the subject,” Mountjoy replied. “May I ask why you take me into your confidence?”
“Because I look upon you as my best friend.”
“You are very good. But surely, Mr. Vimpany, you have older friends in your circle of acquaintance than I am.”
“Not one,” the doctor answered promptly49, “whom I trust as I trust you. Let me give you a proof of it.”
“Is the proof in any way connected with money?” Hugh inquired.
“I call that hard on me,” Mr. Vimpany protested. “No unfriendly interruptions, Mountjoy! I offer a proof of kindly50 feeling. Do you mean to hurt me?”
“Certainly not. Go on.”
“Thank you; a little encouragement goes a long way with me. I have found a bookseller, who will publish my contemplated work, on commission. Not a soul has yet seen the estimate of expenses. I propose to show it to You.”
“Quite needless, Mr. Vimpany.”
“Why quite needless?”
“Because I decline lending you the money.”
“No, no, Mountjoy! You can’t really mean that?”
“I do mean it.”
“No!”
“Yes!”
The doctor’s face showed a sudden change of expression —— a sinister51 and threatening change. “Don’t drive me into a corner,” he said. “Think of it again.”
Hugh’s capacity for controlling himself gave way at last.
“Do you presume to threaten me?” he said. “Understand, if you please, that my mind is made up, and that nothing you can say or do will alter it.”
With that declaration he rose from his chair, and waited for Mr. Vimpany’s departure.
The doctor put on his hat. His eyes rested on Hugh, with a look of diabolical52 malice53: “The time is not far off, Mr. Mountjoy, when you may be sorry you refused me.” He said those words deliberately54 — and took his leave.
Released from the man’s presence, Hugh found himself strangely associating the interests of Iris with the language — otherwise beneath notice — which Mr. Vimpany had used on leaving the room.
In desperate straits for want of money, how would the audacious bankrupt next attempt to fill his empty purse? If he had, by any chance, renewed his relations with his Irish friend — and such an event was at least possible — his next experiment in the art of raising a loan might take him to Paris. Lord Harry had already ventured on a speculation which called for an immediate55 outlay56 of money, and which was only expected to put a profit into his pocket at some future period. In the meanwhile, his resources in money had their limits; and his current expenses would make imperative57 demands on an ill-filled purse. If the temptation to fail in his resolution to respect his wife’s fortune was already trying his fortitude58, what better excuse could be offered for yielding than the necessities of an old friend in a state of pecuniary59 distress60?
Looking at the position of Iris, and at the complications which threatened it, from this point of view, Mountjoy left the hotel to consult with Mrs. Vimpany. It rested with her to decide whether the circumstances justified61 his departure for Paris.
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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iris
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| n.虹膜，彩虹 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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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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delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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continental
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| adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的 | |
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vouched
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| v.保证( vouch的过去式和过去分词 )；担保；确定；确定地说 | |
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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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disquieting
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| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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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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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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strutted
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| 趾高气扬地走，高视阔步( strut的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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bankruptcy
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| n.破产；无偿付能力 | |
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creditors
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| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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pliable
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| adj.易受影响的；易弯的；柔顺的，易驾驭的 | |
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amiability
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| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
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pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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quack
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| n.庸医；江湖医生；冒充内行的人；骗子 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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memoirs
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| n.回忆录；回忆录传( mem,自oir的名词复数) | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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diabolical
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| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
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malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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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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outlay
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| n.费用，经费，支出；v.花费 | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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