And so, of all the influences which might have come to Clyde at this time, either as an aid or an injury to hisdevelopment, perhaps the most dangerous for him, considering his temperament1, was this same Green-Davidson,than which no more materially affected3 or gaudy4 a realm could have been found anywhere between the two greatAmerican mountain ranges. Its darkened and cushioned tea-room, so somber5 and yet tinted6 so gayly with coloredlights, was an ideal rendezvous7, not only for such inexperienced and eager flappers of the period who were to betaken by a show of luxury, but also for those more experienced and perhaps a little faded beauties, who had athought for their complexions8 and the advantages of dim and uncertain lights. Also, like most hotels of its kind, itwas frequented by a certain type of eager and ambitious male of not certain age or station in life, who countedupon his appearance here at least once, if not twice a day, at certain brisk and interesting hours, to establish forhimself the reputation of man-about-town, or rounder, or man of wealth, or taste, or attractiveness, or all.
And it was not long after Clyde had begun to work here that he was informed by these peculiar9 boys with whomhe was associated, one or more of whom was constantly seated with him upon the "hop-bench," as they called it,as to the evidence and presence even here--it was not long before various examples of the phenomena10 werepointed out to him--of a certain type of social pervert11, morally disarranged and socially taboo12, who sought toarrest and interest boys of their type, in order to come into some form of illicit13 relationship with them, which atfirst Clyde could not grasp. The mere14 thought of it made him ill. And yet some of these boys, as he was now informed--a certain youth in particular, who was not on the same watch with him at this time--were supposed tobe of the mind that "fell for it," as one of the other youths phrased it.
And the talk and the palaver15 that went on in the lobby and the grill16, to say nothing of the restaurants and rooms,were sufficient to convince any inexperienced and none-too-discerning mind that the chief business of life forany one with a little money or social position was to attend a theater, a ball-game in season, or to dance, motor,entertain friends at dinner, or to travel to New York, Europe, Chicago, California. And there had been in the livesof most of these boys such a lack of anything that approached comfort or taste, let alone luxury, that not unlikeClyde, they were inclined to not only exaggerate the import of all that they saw, but to see in this suddentransition an opportunity to partake of it all. Who were these people with money, and what had they done thatthey should enjoy so much luxury, where others as good seemingly as themselves had nothing? And wherein didthese latter differ so greatly from the successful? Clyde could not see. Yet these thoughts flashed through theminds of every one of these boys.
At the same time the admiration17, to say nothing of the private overtures18 of a certain type of woman or girl, whoinhibited perhaps by the social milieu19 in which she found herself, but having means, could invade such a regionas this, and by wiles20 and smiles and the money she possessed21, ingratiate herself into the favor of some of themore attractive of these young men here, was much commented upon.
Thus a youth named Ratterer--a hall-boy here--sitting beside him the very next afternoon, seeing a trim, well-formed blonde woman of about thirty enter with a small dog upon her arm, and much bedecked with furs, firstnudged him and, with a faint motion of the head indicating her vicinity, whispered, "See her? There's a swift one.
I'll tell you about her sometime when I have time. Gee22, the things she don't do!""What about her?" asked Clyde, keenly curious, for to him she seemed exceedingly beautiful, most fascinating.
"Oh, nothing, except she's been in with about eight different men around here since I've been here. She fell forDoyle"--another hall-boy whom by this time Clyde had already observed as being the quintessence ofChesterfieldian grace and airs and looks, a youth to imitate--"for a while, but now she's got some one else.""Really?" inquired Clyde, very much astonished and wondering if such luck would ever come to him.
"Surest thing you know," went on Ratterer. "She's a bird that way--never gets enough. Her husband, they tellme, has a big lumber23 business somewhere over in Kansas, but they don't live together no more. She has one ofthe best suites24 on the sixth, but she ain't in it half the time. The maid told me."This same Ratterer, who was short and stocky but good-looking and smiling, was so smooth and bland25 andgenerally agreeable that Clyde was instantly drawn26 to him and wished to know him better. And Rattererreciprocated that feeling, for he had the notion that Clyde was innocent and inexperienced and that he would liketo do some little thing for him if he could.
The conversation was interrupted by a service call, and never resumed about this particular woman, but the effecton Clyde was sharp. The woman was pleasing to look upon and exceedingly well-groomed, her skin clear, hereyes bright. Could what Ratterer had been telling him really be true? She was so pretty. He sat and gazed, a vision of something which he did not care to acknowledge even to himself tingling27 the roots of his hair.
And then the temperaments28 and the philosophy of these boys--Kinsella, short and thick and smooth-faced and alittle dull, as Clyde saw it, but good-looking and virile29, and reported to be a wizard at gambling30, who, throughoutthe first three days at such times as other matters were not taking his attention, had been good enough to continueHegglund's instructions in part. He was a more suave31, better spoken youth than Hegglund, though not soattractive as Ratterer, Clyde thought, without the latter's sympathetic outlook, as Clyde saw it.
And again, there was Doyle--Eddie--whom Clyde found intensely interesting from the first, and of whom he wasnot a little jealous, because he was so very good-looking, so trim of figure, easy and graceful32 of gesture, and withso soft and pleasing a voice. He went about with an indescribable air which seemed to ingratiate him instantlywith all with whom he came in contact--the clerks behind the counter no less than the strangers who entered andasked this or that question of him. His shoes and collar were so clean and trim, and his hair cut and brushed andoiled after a fashion which would have become a moving-picture actor. From the first Clyde was utterlyfascinated by his taste in the matter of dress--the neatest of brown suits, caps, with ties and socks to match. Heshould wear a brown-belted coat just like that. He should have a brown cap. And a suit as well cut and attractive.
Similarly, a not unrelated and yet different effect was produced by that same youth who had first introducedClyde to the work here--Hegglund--who was one of the older and more experienced bell-hops, and ofconsiderable influence with the others because of his genial33 and devil-may-care attitude toward everything,outside the exact line of his hotel duties. Hegglund was neither as schooled nor as attractive as some of theothers, yet by reason of a most avid2 and dynamic disposition--plus a liberality where money and pleasure wereconcerned, and a courage, strength and daring which neither Doyle nor Ratterer nor Kinsella could match--astrength and daring almost entirely34 divested35 of reason at times--he interested and charmed Clyde immensely. Ashe himself related to Clyde, after a time, he was the son of a Swedish journeyman baker36 who some years beforein Jersey37 City had deserted38 his mother and left her to make her way as best she could. In consequence neitherOscar nor his sister Martha had had any too much education or decent social experience of any kind. On thecontrary, at the age of fourteen he had left Jersey City in a box car and had been making his way ever since asbest he could. And like Clyde, also, he was insanely eager for all the pleasures which he had imagined he sawswirling around him, and was for prosecuting39 adventures in every direction, lacking, however, the nervous fearof consequence which characterized Clyde. Also he had a friend, a youth by the name of Sparser40, somewhatolder than himself, who was chauffeur41 to a wealthy citizen of Kansas City, and who occasionally managed topurloin a car and so accommodate Hegglund in the matter of brief outings here and there; which courtesy,unconventional and dishonest though it might be, still caused Hegglund to feel that he was a wonderful fellowand of much more importance than some of these others, and to lend him in their eyes a luster42 which had little ofthe reality which it suggested to them.
Not being as attractive as Doyle, it was not so easy for him to win the attention of girls, and those he did succeedin interesting were not of the same charm or import by any means. Yet he was inordinately43 proud of suchcontacts as he could effect and not a little given to boasting in regard to them, a thing which Clyde took withmore faith than would most, being of less experience. For this reason Hegglund liked Clyde, almost from thevery first, sensing in him perhaps a pleased and willing auditor44.
So, finding Clyde on the bench beside him from time to time, he had proceeded to continue his instructions.
Kansas City was a fine place to be if you knew how to live. He had worked in other cities--Buffalo, Cleveland,Detroit, St. Louis--before he came here, but he had not liked any of them any better, principally--which was afact which he did not trouble to point out at the time--because he had not done as well in those places as he hadhere. He had been a dishwasher, car-cleaner, plumber's helper and several other things before finally, in Buffalo,he had been inducted into the hotel business. And then a youth, working there, but who was now no longer here,had persuaded him to come on to Kansas City. But here:
"Say--de tips in dis hotel is as big as you'll git anywhere, I know dat. An' what's more, dey's nice people workin'
here. You do your bit by dem and dey'll do right by you. I been here now over a year an' I ain't got no complaint.
Dat guy Squires45 is all right if you don't cause him no trouble. He's hard, but he's got to look out for hisself, too-dat'snatural. But he don't fire nobody unless he's got a reason. I know dat, too. And as for de rest dere's notrouble. An' when your work's troo, your time's your own. Dese fellows here are good sports, all o' dem. Dey'reno four-flushers an' no tightwads, eider. Whenever dere's anyting on--a good time or sumpin' like dat, dey're on-nearlyall of 'em. An' dey don't mooch or grouch46 in case tings don't work out right, neider. I know dat, cause Ibeen wit 'em now, lots o' times."He gave Clyde the impression that these youths were all the best of friends--close--all but Doyle, who was a littlestandoffish, but not coldly so. "He's got too many women chasin' him, dat's all." Also that they went here andthere together on occasion--to a dance hall, a dinner, a certain gambling joint47 down near the river, a certainpleasure resort--"Kate Sweeney's"--where were some peaches of girls--and so on and so forth48, a world of suchinformation as had never previously49 been poured into Clyde's ear, and that set him meditating50, dreaming,doubting, worrying and questioning as to the wisdom, charm, delight to be found in all this--also thepermissibility of it in so far as he was concerned. For had he not been otherwise instructed in regard to all this allhis life long? There was a great thrill and yet a great question involved in all to which he was now listening soattentively.
Again there was Thomas Ratterer, who was of a type which at first glance, one would have said, could scarcelyprove either inimical or dangerous to any of the others. He was not more than five feet four, plump, with blackhair and olive skin, and with an eye that was as limpid51 as water and as genial as could be. He, too, as Clydelearned after a time, was of a nondescript family, and so had profited by no social or financial advantages of anykind. But he had a way, and was liked by all of these youths--so much so that he was consulted about nearlyeverything. A native of Wichita, recently moved to Kansas City, he and his sister were the principal support of awidowed mother. During their earlier and formative years, both had seen their very good-natured andsympathetic mother, of whom they were honestly fond, spurned52 and abused by a faithless husband. There hadbeen times when they were quite without food. On more than one occasion they had been ejected for nonpaymentof rent. None too continuously Tommy and his sister had been maintained in various public schools.
Finally, at the age of fourteen he had decamped to Kansas City, where he had secured different odd jobs, until hesucceeded in connecting himself with the Green-Davidson, and was later joined by his mother and sister who hadremoved from Wichita to Kansas City to be with him.
But even more than by the luxury of the hotel or these youths, whom swiftly and yet surely he was beginning todecipher, Clyde was impressed by the downpour of small change that was tumbling in upon him and making asmall lump in his right-hand pants pocket--dimes, nickels, quarters and half-dollars even, which increased andincreased even on the first day until by nine o'clock he already had over four dollars in his pocket, and by twelve, at which hour he went off duty, he had over six and a half--as much as previously he had earned in a week.
And of all this, as he then knew, he need only hand Mr. Squires one--no more, Hegglund had said--and the rest,five dollars and a half, for one evening's interesting--yes, delightful53 and fascinating--work, belonged to himself.
He could scarcely believe it. It seemed fantastic, Aladdinish, really. Nevertheless, at twelve, exactly, of that firstday a gong had sounded somewhere--a shuffle54 of feet had been heard and three boys had appeared--one to takeBarnes' place at the desk, the other two to answer calls. And at the command of Barnes, the eight who werepresent were ordered to rise, right dress and march away. And in the hall outside, and just as he was leaving,Clyde approached Mr. Squires and handed him a dollar in silver. "That's right," Mr. Squires remarked. No more.
Then, Clyde, along with the others, descended55 to his locker56, changed his clothes and walked out into thedarkened streets, a sense of luck and a sense of responsibility as to future luck so thrilling him as to make himrather tremulous--giddy, even.
To think that now, at last, he actually had such a place. To think that he could earn this much every day, maybe.
He began to walk toward his home, his first thought being that he must sleep well and so be fit for his duties inthe morning. But thinking that he would not need to return to the hotel before 11:30 the next day, he wanderedinto an all-night beanery to have a cup of coffee and some pie. And now all he was thinking was that he wouldonly need to work from noon until six, when he should be free until the following morning at six. And then hewould make more money. A lot of it to spend on himself.
因此，在当时所有可能对克莱德产生……不管是对他的发展有利也好，有害也好……影响的因素中，如果考虑到他的脾性，其中对他危害性最大的，也许就数这一家格林－戴维逊大酒店了，因为在美国两大山脉(落基山脉和阿巴拉契亚山脉之间的地区，亦即泛指整个美国。)中间，哪儿也找不到一个在物质生活上比这里还要奢靡无度，或则粗俗无味的地方了。这里咖啡茶室，一律陈设软椅，光线虽然暗淡，仿佛有点儿阴沉沉，但到处点缀着各色彩灯，令人赏心悦目，依然不失为一个理想的幽会之地。当时不但那些毫无经验。却又急于调情取乐的时髦女郎一见这种豪华景象就为之心醉神迷了，而且连那些经验丰富。
也许姿色渐衰的美人儿，一想到自己的容颜，何妨不好好利用一下那些摇曳不定的幽暗灯光呢。再说，这家大酒店，如同绝大多数大酒店一样，总是顾客盈门，他们都是一些热衷名利而又野心勃勃的男人，尽管他们年龄。职业各不相同，却都认为:
在热闹有趣的时刻，如果说不是一天来两次的话，至少也得有一次来这儿抛头露面，以便为自己树立声望，表示他是上流社会名人，或是豪放不羁，或是拥有巨富，或是情趣高雅，或是善于博取女人欢心的男人，或则干脆说，他就是以上种种特点皆备于一身的人。
克莱德来这里工作不久，这些跟他一起共事。与众不同的侍应生，其中有好几个经常跟他一块儿坐在那条被他们叫做"跳凳"上的，就告诉他说，甚至还有某一种社会败类，一些道德腐败。被社会遗弃的女人，也在这里出没无常，她们一心只想挑逗与勾引他们这些侍应生，进而同她们发生不正当的关系。其实，他来了没有多久，他们就把这一现象的各式各样的实例都指给他看了，至于那究竟是怎么回事，开头克莱德还闹不明白。所以，他只要一想到这事，就觉得恶心。可是后来有人对他说，有好几个侍应生，特别是不跟他在一块值班的某一个年轻的侍应生，据说全都"上了钩"(这是另一个侍应生形象化的说法)。
仅仅是大厅里和酒吧间闲扯淡那一套，更不用说餐厅和客房里的场面，就足以使任何一个既没有经验。又没有判断是非能力的人相信:
对于任何一个有了一点儿钱，或则一点儿社会地位的人，一生中最要紧的事情，莫过于上剧院。
看球赛，或是去跳舞。开汽车兜风。设宴请客，或是到纽约。欧洲。芝加哥。
加利福尼亚去玩儿。既然舒适享受或高雅情趣在这些侍应生昔日的生活中付之阙如，至于奢华无度，那就更谈不上了，因此，他们如同克莱德一样，不仅喜欢把他们在本店所见到的一切加以夸大，而且认为好象这种突然时来运转，使他们自己也有分沾这一切的好机会了。这些有钱人，究竟是什么样的人?
他们干了些什么，就应该享受如此奢侈无度的生活?
而那些看起来同他们一模一样的人，干吗就一无所有呢?
这些后一种人，与那些飞黄腾达的人之间差别干吗会有如此之大呢?
凡此种种克莱德都想不通。不过，这些想法在每一个侍应生心里都曾经一闪而过的。
与此同时，这里议论得最多的，就是他们所赞赏的那一种女人(或者年轻姑娘)，她也许囿于自己身处的社会环境，可是因为有钱，就可以闯入这样一个花天酒地的大饭店，凭借她所具有的诱惑。微笑和金钱等手段，居然博得这里年轻人中一些小白脸的欢心，更不必说她们私下求婚的风流轶事了。
比方说，转天下午跟克莱德坐在一起值班。那个名叫拉特勒的年轻小伙子……是酒店大厅的侍应生……看见一个约莫三十岁。衣着整洁。身段苗条的碧眼金发美人儿，身上披着裘皮大衣，胳臂上偎着一头小狗，走了进来。拉特勒先是轻轻地用胳膊肘推推克莱德，随后冲美人儿那边点点头，低声说:
"看见她了吗?
叫人上钩，她可真是个快手。哪天有空，我就把她的事讲给你听呗。嘿，什么事她干不出来!
""那她怎么啦?
"克莱德急于知道她的底细，便开口问道，因为他觉得她美极了，简直太迷人了。
"哦，没有什么，不过嘛，打从我上这儿干活算起，她已经跟这儿八个人都搞过了。她迷上了多伊尔，"……这是指大厅的另一个侍应生，这时克莱德早已注意过他，觉得:
论文雅。风度和仪表，此人可以说深得切斯特菲尔德(切斯特菲尔德(１６９４—１７７３):
英国政治家与作家，此人在英国常常作为讲究礼仪而又风流的典型人物。)的三昧，堪称当今青年人的楷模……"可是没有多久，现在呢，她却跟别人搞上了。""是真的吗?
"克莱德大吃一惊地问，心里却在纳闷这种好运道会不会也落到自己头上来。
"千真万确，"拉特勒接下去说。"她就是这一号人……永远不会嫌多的。听人说，她的丈夫在堪萨斯那边做很大的木材生意，不过，他们早就不住在一块儿了。她在六楼开了一套最讲究的房间，不过多半是不住在那里的。这是女茶房告诉我的。"这一个拉特勒，个儿又矮又胖，不过长得倒还漂亮，脸上总是带笑，说话圆滑，待人殷勤，而且也很讨人喜欢，克莱德一下子就给他吸引住了，恨不得跟他多拉点交情。拉特勒也回报了他这种感情，因为他觉得克莱德很天真，又缺少经验，所以，他也很乐意为他略尽微劳。
他们正说着话，忽被传唤人的铃声打断了，后来再也没有提到那个放荡不羁的女人，不过，刚才这一席话，却给予克莱德很大的影响。这个女人的外貌很讨人喜欢，打扮也非常讲究，她的肌肤洁白如玉，一双眼眸老是亮闪闪。拉特勒刚才告诉他的话，难道说是真的吗?
她多漂亮!
他坐在那里，两眼凝视着，面前浮现出一个朦朦胧胧。使他神经末梢也为之呵痒的幻象，其意义甚至连他自个儿都不愿意招认呢。
再说说那些侍应生的脾性和人生观吧……那个金塞拉，个儿矮胖粗壮，脸蛋也很光滑，只是克莱德觉得他有一点儿迟钝，不过模样儿还算好看，而且孔武有力，赌起钱来，听说简直神极了。开头三天，他倒是甘心情愿，把他所有业余时间，全都用来点拨赫格伦的新徒弟克莱德。倘若与赫格伦相比，他就是一个温文尔雅。善于辞令的好后生，不过，克莱德觉得，他比不上拉特勒那样吸引人，也没有后者那样富于同情心。
还有那个多伊尔……埃迪。多伊尔……克莱德一开头就发觉他特别有趣，而且对他产生了嫉妒心理，因为他长得非常好看，身材匀称，举止潇洒飘逸，声音柔和悦耳。他有一种难以名状的风度，凡是同他打过交道的人，一下子都会喜欢他……不论是柜台里的职员也好，还是那些进门来向他问这问那的客人也好，都是如此。他的皮鞋和衣领整洁齐正，梳着最时髦的发型，搽过油，一溜光滑，活象一位电影明星。克莱德一开头就被他那衣饰方面的审美情趣所完全倾倒了……一套特别精致讲究的棕色衣帽，同时还配上棕色的领带和短袜。
克莱德心里想，他自己也应该穿上那样一件配上棕色腰带的外套。他应该有一顶棕色帽子。而且还应该有一套缝制得那么精致。那么迷人的衣服。
首先向克莱德介绍本店工作概况的那个年轻人……赫格伦，同样对他产生了一种与别的侍应生所给予他的影响并非毫无联系，而又迥然不同的影响。赫格伦在侍应生中要算是年龄较大。经验较为丰富的一个，对其他侍应生的影响也比较大，因为他对自己酒店里本职工作以外的一切事情，都持乐乐呵呵。满不在乎的态度。赫格伦的教育程度和模样儿都不如其他小伙子，可是他具有强烈的贪婪和冲劲的脾性……加上他在花钱和玩乐时又慷慨大方，还有他的勇气。
体力和胆量，都是多伊尔。拉特勒或是金塞拉所望尘莫及……他的气力和胆量，有的时候几乎完全丧失了理性……这一切使克莱德对他特别感兴趣，特别着了迷。据他后来对克莱德说过，他父亲是个瑞典佬，烤面包师傅，好几年前，在泽西城把他母亲遗弃了，就让她听天由命去。因此，奥斯卡和他妹妹玛莎都没有受过很好基本教育，也没有结交过什么体面的朋友。他实在出于无奈，就在十四岁那年，搭上货车车皮离开了泽西城，打从那起，一直独自在外谋食。他也同克莱德一样，几乎丧心病狂似的急于投入自以为就在身边的一切欢乐的漩涡中去，并且准备进行任何探险活动，可是他却缺少克莱德所特有的那种害怕后果不堪设想的心理。此外，他还有一个朋友，名叫斯帕塞，年纪比他稍微大些，是给堪萨斯城里一个富翁开汽车的，有时偷偷地把车子开出来，捎上赫格伦到附近各处兜风去。这种交情，尽管说起来有悖常规，而且也不正大光明，可是赫格伦总觉得此人真是了不起，比周围这些人之中的某一些人有能耐得多;他给这个人的形象添上了一种在他们看来跟他们所感受到的实际情形大相径庭的光彩。
赫格伦不象多伊尔那样讨人喜欢，他要博得女人的青睐，也就不那么容易了。有些女人果然被他勾引住了，却远不是那么妖艳动人，可他对类似这样艳遇还是特别沾沾自喜，并且经常大肆吹嘘。克莱德由于缺乏经验，对赫格伦的话也就特别信服。因此，赫格伦几乎一开头就喜欢克莱德，觉得这个小青年也许是他的忠实听众了。
赫格伦看见克莱德时常紧挨自己身旁，坐在长条凳上，于是就继续点拨他。
开导他。只要你懂得怎样生活的话，堪萨斯城……就是个好地方。从前，他曾经在布法罗。克利夫兰。底特律。圣路易各大城市谋生过，不过，他对哪一个地方都没有什么好感，主要是……他当时不愿意说穿了的一个事实……因为他在那些地方都不如在这儿有奔头。他洗过碗，擦过汽车，做过管子工的助手，也还干过不少其他的活儿，后来，终于在布法罗干上了饭店这一行。随后，有一个也在饭店干活的年轻人(如今此人已不在这儿了)，奉劝他来堪萨斯城。可是，来到此地后又如何呢:
……"嘿，先说说这家酒店小费……可真不少，你上哪儿也得不到这么多，拿〔那〕我心里很明白。最主要的一点……是在这儿做事的人可好呀。你待大〔他〕们好，大〔他〕们也待你好。我上这儿已一年多了，我可没发过牢骚。斯夸尔斯拿〔那〕个小子挺不错，只要你不给他惹麻烦就得了。他这个人是铁面无情的，可他也得替他志〔自〕个儿着想……拿〔那〕是不用说的。可是，他从来都不是无缘无故把人开革掉的，拿〔那〕我也是很清楚的。至于说别的希〔事〕嘛，拿〔那〕也再简单都没有啦。你的活儿一干完，你的时间就归你自己的了。这儿的伙计们，都是好的，个个都是乐乐呵呵。大〔他〕们既不是吹牛大王，叶〔也〕不是大财迷。哪儿要是有什么……比方说，晚会呀，以及类似拿〔那〕样玩意儿……大〔他〕们就来了……差不离个个都来。要是希〔事〕儿不顺当，大〔他〕们既不唠唠叨叨，也不会哭鼻子。拿〔那〕个我心里都很清楚，意〔因〕为我跟大〔他〕们在一块待过，已有好多回了。"他给克莱德留下这样一个印象:
这些年轻小伙子，都是最好的朋友……也可以说是知己……只是多伊尔除外。其实，此人只是有点儿孤芳自赏，可也还说不上是自高自大。"追他的女人简直太多了，说穿了就这么回事。
"可有时候，他们哪儿都去玩，他们一块儿上舞厅，他们一块儿来到河边某个地方聚餐。赌钱，他们一块儿又到某个名叫"凯特。斯威尼"的寻欢作乐的场所……那儿有一些漂亮女人……以及诸如此类的地方。象这样一大堆信息，从来也没有灌进过克莱德的耳朵，如今却使他陷入沉思。梦想。怀疑。忧虑，乃至于扪心自问，真不知道从这一切之中能不能发现什么明智。魅力和乐趣，也不知道他自己能不能参予其间。因为他从自己生活中接受的教育，可不是这个样子呀!
此刻他洗耳恭听的所有这一切，既使他大喜过望，可又不免产生极大怀疑。
再说那个托马斯。拉特勒吧。乍一看，人们就会说，此人未必会伤害他人，从而成为冤家对头。他身高不过五英尺四英寸，胖乎乎的个儿，乌油油的头发，橄榄色的肌肤，眼睛象一泓碧水那么透亮，而且又是非常和蔼可亲。克莱德后来才知道，此人也是贫苦家庭出身，因此不论在社会地位和物质利益方面，他从来也没有得到过任何好处。不过，他自有办法，使这些年轻人个个喜欢他……简直喜欢到这样程度，就是说几乎每一件事都要跟他商量。他是威奇塔人，最近才迁居堪萨斯城。他母亲是个寡妇，主要依靠他和妹妹赡养。他们俩还处在幼年发育时期，就亲眼见过他们心爱的。秉性善良而又富于同情心的母亲遭到负心丈夫的摈斥和虐待。有时候他们连饭都吃不上。不止一次，他们因为付不出房租，都给撵了出去。汤姆和妹妹不论上哪一所公学，就读时间都长不了。
后来，到了十四岁的时候，他便偷偷出走，来到了堪萨斯城，干过各式各样的零活，最后才算踏进了格林－戴维逊这家大酒店;随后，他母亲和妹妹就从威奇塔迁居堪萨斯城，跟他住在一块儿。
不论是大酒店的奢华气派，或是他很快就混熟了的这些年轻人，克莱德固然印象很深，可是，克莱德觉得印象更深的，莫过于那有如大雨倾盆而下的零星外快……这些子儿扔在他右裤口袋里，早已积成一小堆了……有十美分银币，有镍币，有二十五美分银币，甚至还有半块美元银币。即使在头一天，这些零钱就在不断增加，到九点钟，他口袋里已有四块多钱;到十二点下班时，他已经有六块半钱了……等于他往昔一周间的进项。
得了这么多钱，他当时心里明白，只要给斯夸尔斯先生一块美元就得了……赫格伦关照过，不必多给。仅仅是一晚上有趣的……是的，愉快。迷人的工作，剩下来的五块半美元，就全归他自个儿的了。他简直不敢相信这是真的。说实话，这听起来很荒唐，好象在讲《一千零一夜》里阿拉丁的故事(《阿拉丁和神灯》是《一千零一夜》中一名篇，叙述主人公穷孩子阿拉丁终于找到了一盏神灯。由于神灯有求必应，阿拉丁因此一下子富了起来。)。可是，到了这第一天十二点正，不知哪儿锣声堂堂响……接下来是一阵脚步声，出现了三个年轻人……一个是来接替写字台跟前巴恩斯的，另两个是听候领班吩咐的。在巴恩斯一声令下，换班的八个人便站了起来，列队齐步往外走了。在过道外，解散以前，克莱德走到斯夸尔斯先生身旁，交给他一块银元。"那敢情好，"斯夸尔斯先生说了一声。别的就什么也没有说。随后，克莱德就跟众人一块，下了楼，来到自己的更衣柜，换好衣服，出了大门，走到了黑黝黝的大街上。一阵幸运的感觉，以及为了未来的幸运而意识到的责任感，使他惊喜若狂，以致浑身上下有些抖抖索索……甚至于头昏目眩了。
只消想一想:
如今他终于真的找到了这样的一个职位。也许每天他都挣得到这么多钱哩。他开始回家转，头一个念头就是要好好睡一觉，转天早上才能精神抖擞地上班去。继而一想，转天去酒店上班，可以迟至十一点半以前，于是，他就踅进一家通宵营业的经济小饭馆，喝一杯咖啡，吃了一点馅儿饼。这时，他心里一个劲儿想的，是第二天他只要从中午起一口气干到六点为止，打那以后，就可以一直歇到转天清晨六点。那时，他又可以挣到更多的钱，于是就有许许多多的钱，供他自个儿花了。
收听单词发音 |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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avid
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| adj.热心的；贪婪的；渴望的；劲头十足的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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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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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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complexions
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| 肤色( complexion的名词复数 )； 面色； 局面； 性质 | |
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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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phenomena
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| n.现象 | |
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pervert
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| n.堕落者，反常者；vt.误用，滥用；使人堕落，使入邪路 | |
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taboo
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| n.禁忌，禁止接近，禁止使用；adj.禁忌的；v.禁忌，禁制，禁止 | |
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illicit
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| adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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palaver
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| adj.壮丽堂皇的；n.废话，空话 | |
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grill
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| n.烤架，铁格子，烤肉；v.烧，烤，严加盘问 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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overtures
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| n.主动的表示，提议；（向某人做出的）友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 )；（歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的）序曲，前奏曲 | |
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milieu
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| n.环境；出身背景；(个人所处的)社会环境 | |
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wiles
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| n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 ) | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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gee
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| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
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lumber
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| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
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suites
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| n.套( suite的名词复数 )；一套房间；一套家具；一套公寓 | |
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bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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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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tingling
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
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temperaments
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| 性格( temperament的名词复数 )； （人或动物的）气质； 易冲动； （性情）暴躁 | |
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virile
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| adj.男性的；有男性生殖力的；有男子气概的；强有力的 | |
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gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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suave
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| adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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divested
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| v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
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baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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jersey
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| n.运动衫 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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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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sparser
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| adj.稀疏的，稀少的( sparse的比较级 ) | |
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chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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luster
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| n.光辉；光泽，光亮；荣誉 | |
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inordinately
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| adv.无度地，非常地 | |
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auditor
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| n.审计员，旁听着 | |
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squires
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| n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 ) | |
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grouch
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| n.牢骚，不满；v.抱怨 | |
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joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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limpid
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| adj.清澈的，透明的 | |
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spurned
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| v.一脚踢开，拒绝接受( spurn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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shuffle
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| n.拖著脚走，洗纸牌；v.拖曳，慢吞吞地走 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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