The contrasting pictures presented by Cowperwood and Stener at this time are well worth a moment’s consideration. Stener’s face was grayish-white, his lips blue. Cowperwood, despite various solemn thoughts concerning a possible period of incarceration1 which this hue2 and cry now suggested, and what that meant to his parents, his wife and children, his business associates, and his friends, was as calm and collected as one might assume his great mental resources would permit him to be. During all this whirl of disaster he had never once lost his head or his courage. That thing conscience, which obsesses3 and rides some people to destruction, did not trouble him at all. He had no consciousness of what is currently known as sin. There were just two faces to the shield of life from the point of view of his peculiar4 mind-strength and weakness. Right and wrong? He did not know about those. They were bound up in metaphysical abstrusities about which he did not care to bother. Good and evil? Those were toys of clerics, by which they made money. And as for social favor or social ostracism5 which, on occasion, so quickly followed upon the heels of disaster of any kind, well, what was social ostracism? Had either he or his parents been of the best society as yet? And since not, and despite this present mix-up, might not the future hold social restoration and position for him? It might. Morality and immorality6? He never considered them. But strength and weakness — oh, yes! If you had strength you could protect yourself always and be something. If you were weak — pass quickly to the rear and get out of the range of the guns. He was strong, and he knew it, and somehow he always believed in his star. Something — he could not say what — it was the only metaphysics he bothered about — was doing something for him. It had always helped him. It made things come out right at times. It put excellent opportunities in his way. Why had he been given so fine a mind? Why always favored financially, personally? He had not deserved it — earned it. Accident, perhaps, but somehow the thought that he would always be protected — these intuitions, the “hunches” to act which he frequently had — could not be so easily explained. Life was a dark, insoluble mystery, but whatever it was, strength and weakness were its two constituents7. Strength would win — weakness lose. He must rely on swiftness of thought, accuracy, his judgment8, and on nothing else. He was really a brilliant picture of courage and energy — moving about briskly in a jaunty9, dapper way, his mustaches curled, his clothes pressed, his nails manicured, his face clean-shaven and tinted10 with health.
In the meantime, Cowperwood had gone personally to Skelton C. Wheat and tried to explain his side of the situation, alleging11 that he had done no differently from many others before him, but Wheat was dubious12. He did not see how it was that the sixty thousand dollars’ worth of certificates were not in the sinking-fund. Cowperwood’s explanation of custom did not avail. Nevertheless, Mr. Wheat saw that others in politics had been profiting quite as much as Cowperwood in other ways and he advised Cowperwood to turn state’s evidence. This, however, he promptly13 refused to do — he was no “squealer,” and indicated as much to Mr. Wheat, who only smiled wryly14.
Butler, Sr., was delighted (concerned though he was about party success at the polls), for now he had this villain15 in the toils16 and he would have a fine time getting out of this. The incoming district attorney to succeed David Pettie if the Republican party won would be, as was now planned, an appointee of Butler’s — a young Irishman who had done considerable legal work for him — one Dennis Shannon. The other two party leaders had already promised Butler that. Shannon was a smart, athletic17, good-looking fellow, all of five feet ten inches in height, sandy-haired, pink-cheeked, blue-eyed, considerable of an orator18 and a fine legal fighter. He was very proud to be in the old man’s favor — to be promised a place on the ticket by him — and would, he said, if elected, do his bidding to the best of his knowledge and ability.
There was only one fly in the ointment19, so far as some of the politicians were concerned, and that was that if Cowperwood were convicted, Stener must needs be also. There was no escape in so far as any one could see for the city treasurer20. If Cowperwood was guilty of securing by trickery sixty thousand dollars’ worth of the city money, Stener was guilty of securing five hundred thousand dollars. The prison term for this was five years. He might plead not guilty, and by submitting as evidence that what he did was due to custom save himself from the odious21 necessity of pleading guilty; but he would be convicted nevertheless. No jury could get by the fact in regard to him. In spite of public opinion, when it came to a trial there might be considerable doubt in Cowperwood’s case. There was none in Stener’s.
The practical manner in which the situation was furthered, after Cowperwood and Stener were formally charged may be quickly noted22. Steger, Cowperwood’s lawyer, learned privately23 beforehand that Cowperwood was to be prosecuted24. He arranged at once to have his client appear before any warrant could be served, and to forestall25 the newspaper palaver26 which would follow it if he had to be searched for.
The mayor issued a warrant for Cowperwood’s arrest, and, in accordance with Steger’s plan, Cowperwood immediately appeared before Borchardt in company with his lawyer and gave bail27 in twenty thousand dollars (W. C. Davison, president of the Girard National Bank, being his surety), for his appearance at the central police station on the following Saturday for a hearing. Marcus Oldslaw, a lawyer, had been employed by Strobik as president of the common council, to represent him in prosecuting28 the case for the city. The mayor looked at Cowperwood curiously29, for he, being comparatively new to the political world of Philadelphia, was not so familiar with him as others were; and Cowperwood returned the look pleasantly enough.
“This is a great dumb show, Mr. Mayor,” he observed once to Borchardt, quietly, and the latter replied, with a smile and a kindly30 eye, that as far as he was concerned, it was a form of procedure which was absolutely unavoidable at this time.
“You know how it is, Mr. Cowperwood,” he observed. The latter smiled. “I do, indeed,” he said.
Later there followed several more or less perfunctory appearances in a local police court, known as the Central Court, where when arraigned31 he pleaded not guilty, and finally his appearance before the November grand jury, where, owing to the complicated nature of the charge drawn32 up against him by Pettie, he thought it wise to appear. He was properly indicted33 by the latter body (Shannon, the newly elected district attorney, making a demonstration34 in force), and his trial ordered for December 5th before a certain Judge Payderson in Part I of Quarter Sessions, which was the local branch of the State courts dealing35 with crimes of this character. His indictment36 did not occur, however, before the coming and going of the much-mooted fall election, which resulted, thanks to the clever political manipulations of Mollenhauer and Simpson (ballot-box stuffing and personal violence at the polls not barred), in another victory, by, however, a greatly reduced majority. The Citizens’ Municipal Reform Association, in spite of a resounding37 defeat at the polls, which could not have happened except by fraud, continued to fire courageously38 away at those whom it considered to be the chief malefactors.
Aileen Butler, during all this time, was following the trend of Cowperwood’s outward vicissitudes39 as heralded40 by the newspapers and the local gossip with as much interest and bias41 and enthusiasm for him as her powerful physical and affectional nature would permit. She was no great reasoner where affection entered in, but shrewd enough without it; and, although she saw him often and he told her much — as much as his natural caution would permit — she yet gathered from the newspapers and private conversation, at her own family’s table and elsewhere, that, as bad as they said he was, he was not as bad as he might be. One item only, clipped from the Philadelphia Public Ledger42 soon after Cowperwood had been publicly accused of embezzlement43, comforted and consoled her. She cut it out and carried it in her bosom44; for, somehow, it seemed to show that her adored Frank was far more sinned against than sinning. It was a part of one of those very numerous pronunciamientos or reports issued by the Citizens’ Municipal Reform Association, and it ran:
“The aspects of the case are graver than have yet been allowed to reach the public. Five hundred thousand dollars of the deficiency arises not from city bonds sold and not accounted for, but from loans made by the treasurer to his broker45. The committee is also informed, on what it believes to be good authority, that the loans sold by the broker were accounted for in the monthly settlements at the lowest prices current during the month, and that the difference between this rate and that actually realized was divided between the treasurer and the broker, thus making it to the interest of both parties to ‘bear’ the market at some time during the month, so as to obtain a low quotation46 for settlement. Nevertheless, the committee can only regard the prosecution47 instituted against the broker, Mr. Cowperwood, as an effort to divert public attention from more guilty parties while those concerned may be able to ‘fix’ matters to suit themselves.”
“There,” thought Aileen, when she read it, “there you have it.” These politicians — her father among them as she gathered after his conversation with her — were trying to put the blame of their own evil deeds on her Frank. He was not nearly as bad as he was painted. The report said so. She gloated over the words “an effort to divert public attention from more guilty parties.” That was just what her Frank had been telling her in those happy, private hours when they had been together recently in one place and another, particularly the new rendezvous48 in South Sixth Street which he had established, since the old one had to be abandoned. He had stroked her rich hair, caressed49 her body, and told her it was all a prearranged political scheme to cast the blame as much as possible on him and make it as light as possible for Stener and the party generally. He would come out of it all right, he said, but he cautioned her not to talk. He did not deny his long and profitable relations with Stener. He told her exactly how it was. She understood, or thought she did. Anyhow, her Frank was telling her, and that was enough.
As for the two Cowperwood households, so recently and pretentiously50 joined in success, now so gloomily tied in failure, the life was going out of them. Frank Algernon was that life. He was the courage and force of his father: the spirit and opportunity of his brothers, the hope of his children, the estate of his wife, the dignity and significance of the Cowperwood name. All that meant opportunity, force, emolument51, dignity, and happiness to those connected with him, he was. And his marvelous sun was waning52 apparently53 to a black eclipse.
Since the fatal morning, for instance, when Lillian Cowperwood had received that utterly54 destructive note, like a cannonball ripping through her domestic affairs, she had been walking like one in a trance. Each day now for weeks she had been going about her duties placidly55 enough to all outward seeming, but inwardly she was running with a troubled tide of thought. She was so utterly unhappy. Her fortieth year had come for her at a time when life ought naturally to stand fixed56 and firm on a solid base, and here she was about to be torn bodily from the domestic soil in which she was growing and blooming, and thrown out indifferently to wither57 in the blistering58 noonday sun of circumstance.
As for Cowperwood, Senior, his situation at his bank and elsewhere was rapidly nearing a climax59. As has been said, he had had tremendous faith in his son; but he could not help seeing that an error had been committed, as he thought, and that Frank was suffering greatly for it now. He considered, of course, that Frank had been entitled to try to save himself as he had; but he so regretted that his son should have put his foot into the trap of any situation which could stir up discussion of the sort that was now being aroused. Frank was wonderfully brilliant. He need never have taken up with the city treasurer or the politicians to have succeeded marvelously. Local street-railways and speculative60 politicians were his undoing61. The old man walked the floor all of the days, realizing that his sun was setting, that with Frank’s failure he failed, and that this disgrace — these public charges — meant his own undoing. His hair had grown very gray in but a few weeks, his step slow, his face pallid62, his eyes sunken. His rather showy side-whiskers seemed now like flags or ornaments63 of a better day that was gone. His only consolation64 through it all was that Frank had actually got out of his relationship with the Third National Bank without owing it a single dollar. Still as he knew the directors of that institution could not possibly tolerate the presence of a man whose son had helped loot the city treasury65, and whose name was now in the public prints in this connection. Besides, Cowperwood, Sr., was too old. He ought to retire.
The crisis for him therefore came on the day when Frank was arrested on the embezzlement charge. The old man, through Frank, who had it from Steger, knew it was coming, still had the courage to go to the bank but it was like struggling under the weight of a heavy stone to do it. But before going, and after a sleepless66 night, he wrote his resignation to Frewen Kasson, the chairman of the board of directors, in order that he should be prepared to hand it to him, at once. Kasson, a stocky, well-built, magnetic man of fifty, breathed an inward sigh of relief at the sight of it.
“I know it’s hard, Mr. Cowperwood,” he said, sympathetically. “We — and I can speak for the other members of the board — we feel keenly the unfortunate nature of your position. We know exactly how it is that your son has become involved in this matter. He is not the only banker who has been involved in the city’s affairs. By no means. It is an old system. We appreciate, all of us, keenly, the services you have rendered this institution during the past thirty-five years. If there were any possible way in which we could help to tide you over the difficulties at this time, we would be glad to do so, but as a banker yourself you must realize just how impossible that would be. Everything is in a turmoil67. If things were settled — if we knew how soon this would blow over —” He paused, for he felt that he could not go on and say that he or the bank was sorry to be forced to lose Mr. Cowperwood in this way at present. Mr. Cowperwood himself would have to speak.
During all this Cowperwood, Sr., had been doing his best to pull himself together in order to be able to speak at all. He had gotten out a large white linen68 handkerchief and blown his nose, and had straightened himself in his chair, and laid his hands rather peacefully on his desk. Still he was intensely wrought69 up.
“I can’t stand this!” he suddenly exclaimed. “I wish you would leave me alone now.”
Kasson, very carefully dressed and manicured, arose and walked out of the room for a few moments. He appreciated keenly the intensity70 of the strain he had just witnessed. The moment the door was closed Cowperwood put his head in his hands and shook convulsively. “I never thought I’d come to this,” he muttered. “I never thought it.” Then he wiped away his salty hot tears, and went to the window to look out and to think of what else to do from now on.
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incarceration
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| n.监禁，禁闭；钳闭 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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obsesses
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| v.时刻困扰( obsess的第三人称单数 )；缠住；使痴迷；使迷恋 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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ostracism
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| n.放逐；排斥 | |
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immorality
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| n. 不道德, 无道义 | |
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constituents
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| n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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jaunty
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| adj．愉快的，满足的；adv.心满意足地，洋洋得意地；n.心满意足；洋洋得意 | |
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tinted
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| adj. 带色彩的 动词tint的过去式和过去分词 | |
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alleging
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| 断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 ) | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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wryly
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| adv. 挖苦地，嘲弄地 | |
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villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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toils
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| 网 | |
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athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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ointment
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| n.药膏，油膏，软膏 | |
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treasurer
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| n.司库，财务主管 | |
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odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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prosecuted
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| a.被起诉的 | |
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forestall
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| vt.抢在…之前采取行动；预先阻止 | |
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palaver
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| adj.壮丽堂皇的；n.废话，空话 | |
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bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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prosecuting
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| 检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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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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arraigned
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| v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 )；控告；传讯；指责 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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indicted
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| 控告，起诉( indict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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indictment
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| n.起诉；诉状 | |
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resounding
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| adj. 响亮的 | |
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courageously
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| ad.勇敢地，无畏地 | |
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vicissitudes
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| n.变迁，世事变化；变迁兴衰( vicissitude的名词复数 )；盛衰兴废 | |
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heralded
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| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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bias
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| n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见 | |
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ledger
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| n.总帐，分类帐；帐簿 | |
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embezzlement
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| n.盗用，贪污 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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broker
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| n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排 | |
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quotation
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| n.引文，引语，语录；报价，牌价，行情 | |
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prosecution
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| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pretentiously
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emolument
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| n.报酬，薪水 | |
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waning
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| adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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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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wither
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| vt.使凋谢，使衰退，(用眼神气势等)使畏缩；vi.枯萎，衰退，消亡 | |
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blistering
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| adj.酷热的；猛烈的；使起疱的；可恶的v.起水疱；起气泡；使受暴晒n.[涂料] 起泡 | |
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climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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speculative
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| adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的 | |
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undoing
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| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
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pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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