A feeble scream answered the sonorous6 whistle, and the engines stopped for a few minutes as a tug7 steamed out from the wharf8. She brought a dozen passengers besides a number of mailbags, and when she cast off the screw throbbed9 again and the liner forged ahead. It was with mixed feelings that Andrew watched the city drop behind and the white thread of Montmorency Falls disappear behind a long green island. Be[Pg 316]yond it the river widened, the shores were falling back, and dusk was creeping across the oily water. Open sea was still far away, but Andrew felt that he had parted from Canada, and though he was going home with his work successfully done, the thought filled him with wistful regret. In spite of many hardships and difficulties, he had been happy in the northern wilds, and happier with Geraldine by the Lake of Shadows. He meant to come back when he had finished his fight for Allinson's and he thrilled as he wondered how Geraldine would welcome him. She had given him a gracious farewell and her sincere good wishes; but she had with gentle firmness prevented his making any direct appeal. This he determined10 should not be the same again. When he returned she should hear him out; but there was still much to be done before he could prove his right to claim her, for the possibility of ignominious11 failure confronted him.
Before the next few weeks had passed he might be beaten and discredited—jeered at as a rash fool who, undertaking13 a task beyond his powers, had brought disaster upon those he meant to benefit and wrecked14 an honored firm. But apart from such considerations, he knew that he had turned his back upon the strenuous15 life of the wilderness16. Even if he returned to the lode17 for a month or two, he would travel by well-marked roads, surrounded by some degree of civilized18 comfort. There would be no more of the zest19 of the unknown trail; the charm of the lonely North would be broken by the crash of machinery20 and the voices of busy men.
The dinner bugle21 broke his reverie, and when he was leaving the saloon a steward22 gave him a letter the tender had brought. Recognizing Carnally's writ[Pg 317]ing, he opened it eagerly in a quiet corner of the smoking-room, and as he read it he felt a faint envy of his comrade who was using pick and powder in the wilds. This, however, gave place to more practical considerations. Carnally related the jumpers' defeat, which he described as Mappin's last attempt to trouble them. The claims, he said, were safe from any fresh attack, and there was a marked improvement in the ore as they opened up the lode. He thought Andrew could devote himself to his English business with undisturbed confidence.
Andrew realized that the latter would need all his attention, and during the short voyage he had little to say to his fellow-passengers. Revolving23 schemes in his mind, he found weak points in all of them, for it was a serious problem he had to attack. He could see several ways of regulating the Rain Bluff24 Company's affairs, if Leonard would agree, and he could bring charges against his brother-in-law which would cost him his relatives' support; but this course was not admissible. Leonard must be deprived of all control over Allinson's but it must be done without suspicion being cast upon the integrity of the firm. That would be difficult. Then Florence's position required thought. Andrew wished the unraveling of the matter had been left to somebody else with more tact25 and acuteness, but it was his duty and he must do the best he could.
On landing he traveled straight to London, and after taking a room at a hotel went on foot to the Allinson offices. It was a sultry day with rain at intervals26; the streets were miry, and smoke thickened the listless air. As he walked eastward27 along the Strand28 the roar of traffic jarred on his ears and he noticed the streaky grime on the wet buildings; but it was the intent, pallid[Pg 318] faces of the passers-by that impressed him most when he approached the city. Some were pinched and hungrily eager, some were gross and fleshy, but the steady, direct frankness of the Canadian glance was missing, and there was a more marked difference in the movements of Andrew's city countrymen. All were in a hurry, bolting into and out of dingy29 offices, but they had not the free virile30 grace of the men who followed the lonely Canadian trails. Nor had they, so far as their expressions hinted, the optimistic cheerfulness that is common in the West.
Though he was glad to be at home, Andrew was sensible of a faint depression. The people he saw about him were those he would henceforward work among; he must change the drill and canoe paddle for the pen, and breathe the close air of offices instead of the fragrance31 of the pines. Had the option been his, he would have turned away from the city; but, as the head of Allinson's, he was not free to choose. Doggedly32, as when he had followed the frozen trail on a morsel33 of food, he held on eastward past the Law Courts.
At the office he learned that Leonard was away at a German health resort, but would be back in a few days, and that Florence was staying at Ghyllside. Andrew was sorry for Florence and felt guilty when he thought of her. Though she had always taken her husband's view and refused to consider him a person of any importance, she was his eldest34 sister. Had she been less prejudiced, she might have helped him to come to some understanding with Leonard which would have prevented a direct conflict, but he feared he could look only for opposition35 and bitterness. Next he learned that the Rain Bluff shareholders36' meeting, which he had suggested, had been fixed37 for an unexpectedly[Pg 319] early date. He surmised38 that Leonard, having his plans ready, meant to get them adopted before his own were prepared.
Summoning Sharpe, the elderly chief accountant who had served his father, Andrew spent some hours with him, mastering so far as possible the state of the firm's affairs. With a few exceptions, they were prospering39; there was no doubt that, in a sense, Leonard had done his work well. In particular, the returns from foreign ventures were excellent, and though Sharpe could not tell him precisely41 how the profits had been made, Andrew with wider knowledge on some points could guess. He feared that a full explanation would not redound42 to the honor of the firm. He knew of lands to which Allinson's money had been sent, where the high interest was wrung43 out of subject races with fiendish cruelty.
At last, when the electric lights were burning in the lavishly-decorated office, Sharpe closed his books.
"I think that is all I can tell you, Mr. Allinson," he said. "On the whole, I venture to believe you must find our position eminently44 satisfactory. The one weak point, if I may say so, is the Rain Bluff mine. You will have seen that the shares are quoted down."
"I've noticed it. What's the reason? The directors wouldn't let any information that might have a depressing effect leak out."
"There has been some selling," Sharpe answered with a shrug45. "It's possible that things have been kept too close. A little encouraging news given to the press now and then goes a long way, but silence tends to uneasiness." He hesitated. "I suppose I must not ask about the Company's prospects46 until you have met the Board?"
[Pg 320]"You have been investing?"
Sharpe admitted it.
"I bought in the open market, with no favor shown. The firm has treated me liberally, but I may have to make room for a younger man by and by, and I had two boys to start. One at law, the other as surgeon; but they are only beginning to stand on their own feet, and it was a drain. What was left went into the Rain Bluff. I felt I was safe in a venture organized by us."
He looked at Andrew eagerly, but for a few moments the latter mused47. It was, he thought, such men as this old servant, patient, highly trained toilers, who would have been hardest hit by the failure of the mine. When he answered, his expression was unusually grave.
"I think I can say that you have no cause for anxiety."
"Thank you," said Sharpe. "Your assurance is a great relief. I wonder whether I may mention that you have your father's manner; it was his habit to make a curt48 statement without an explanation, but it always carried weight. You remind me of him strongly, though I never noticed the resemblance until to-day."
"You have paid me a sincere compliment," said Andrew quietly.
He spent the evening studying figures in his hotel, with no thought of the attractions the city had to offer, and the next day he proceeded to call on as many of the Rain Bluff directors as he could find in their offices. They were city men, ignorant of any but the financial side of mining, and he saw that the first two regarded him as an inexperienced meddler49. These, he thought, had been given a hint by Leonard, though he did not question their honesty. Another insisted on talking[Pg 321] about Canadian sport, with the fixed impression that he had really gone out to shoot and fish, and Andrew abandoned the attempt to undeceive him. The fourth, however, heard what he had to say with close attention.
"To divulge50 this news would bring about a dangerous crisis," he warned Andrew. "I must strongly urge you to consult with Hathersage and defer51 any mention of new arrangements until after the meeting."
"Then I should have you gentlemen united against me."
"You do us injustice," Rahway protested. "On some of the points involved our judgment52 is necessarily better than yours, and we would no doubt insist on following it, but you will not find us neglectful of the real interests of the Company."
"Grave language, Mr. Allinson."
"It's warranted. You must submit a report to the shareholders. Is it prepared?"
The director handed him some sheets of paper which Andrew studied with rising indignation.
"I recognize Hathersage's work!" he exclaimed. "There's no hint of the difficulties that confront us. He wrote this?"
"It's a draft I have just received from him."
"And after what I've told you about the mine, you think it should stand?"
Rahway looked disturbed. "With a few exceptions, I must say that I do. You are new to these matters, and don't realize how undesirable54 it is that we should make our troubles public. Give us time to consider and mature fresh schemes, and, if matters are really so serious as they seem to you, we may find some judi[Pg 322]cious remedy. Undue55 haste can only have disastrous56 results."
Andrew lost his patience.
"You want to tinker with the situation, to keep the shareholders in the dark, while you try to patch up a tottering57 concern? It's an impossible course! The truth must be faced boldly and the Company reorganized from the start!'
"If that is so, it must be done by the directors, with great caution. I must beg you not to force our hands."
"Well," replied Andrew, "I have nothing more to say. I shall attend the meeting and do what seems advisable."
He left the office, convinced that he could take only a bold, independent course, for no help could be expected from the men he had called on. Leonard's influence over them could not be combated. He thought they might honestly doubt that the state of affairs was as serious as he had represented; but if they were convinced of this, their chief desire would be to keep the mine going long enough to save their credit, and to make disclosure gradually. He was glad he had told them nothing about the richness of the Graham lode and that the claims on it were held under his personal control. On reaching his hotel, he wrote to the directors he had not been able to see, though he did not expect much result from this, and the next morning he left for his home.
Though he had a cordial welcome, he did not explain his plans to his relatives, and Florence seemed to regard him with suspicion. A week later Leonard came down to take her home, and asked for a private interview after dinner on the night of his arrival. Andrew went[Pg 323] with him to the library and waited calmly until he began.
"We must understand each other," Leonard said. "I hear you have found the lode. Will you tell me your plans?"
"Not to begin with. I want some information about yours first. No doubt Mappin cabled you news of our discovery?"
"He did. I might retort that you have seen my colleagues and tried to gain them over, in my absence, instead of waiting for my return; but that is not an important matter. What is it you wish to know?"
Andrew's voice was quietly steady as he asked the test question upon which their future relations turned:
"Do you mean to submit the report to the Rain Bluff shareholders as it stands?"
"Yes," Leonard answered curtly58, and Andrew knew that there could be no compromise. It was now a trial of strength; one of them must be driven off the field.
"Knowing it to be misleading?" he said. "Very well; I can't prevent its issue. I suppose you have heard that your confederate has been beaten in what must be his last attempt to thwart59 me?"
"I heard that an attempt had been made to jump the Company's claims."
"My claims," said Andrew.
"The Company's, I think. You were our representative when you found them."
"We'll let that go; it's not a point that's likely to be raised."
As the question of the ownership of the claims seemed to be of importance, Leonard looked puzzled.
"Oh, well," he said, "I've told you that, if needful, Mappin must be sacrificed."
[Pg 324]"That is not what you told him. You must have meant to trick one of us or play false to both."
"I can't tolerate such words!"
Leonard lost the indulgent air he had so far assumed, and Andrew, leaning forward with elbows on the table, fixed his eyes on him.
"We'll drop all disguises. You have plotted against me ever since I went to Canada, and I'm showing you more consideration than you deserve in speaking of these things in private instead of before the family. It is for Florence's sake I'm doing so." He raised his hand. "Let me finish! You would have ruined the Rain Bluff Company sooner than allow me to reorganize it; you conspired60 with Mappin to starve me and my friends to death."
Leonard sat back in his chair with a harsh laugh.
"That is ridiculous! If we are to talk the matter out, try to be calm. I'll admit that I would have been glad to prevent your wasting the Company's time and money on an absurd adventure, and gave Mappin a hint to that effect. If he went farther, for his own ends, I'm not responsible."
"I'd like to believe that you speak the truth. Apart from this, you have persuaded the directors that my suggestions are not to be considered seriously and what's worse, you have from the beginning prejudiced my relatives against me. It's your doing that they think me a fool."
A smile crept into Leonard's eyes.
"It looks as if you mean to force a quarrel," he said.
"In a sense, you're right. We can't go on as we have been doing."
"Very well. What do you suggest?"
"In the first place, I ask for your resignation from the[Pg 325] Rain Bluff Board. That shouldn't be difficult; you have been selling your shares."
Leonard considered for a minute.
"I might agree. Three of the directors must retire, and the Company isn't likely to prosper40 if you get control."
"I understand your reasons. The concern has got into trouble, for which I'm to be held responsible, and you clear out because you find it impossible to curb61 my recklessness. You expect to save your credit in that way."
"Have it so, if you like," said Leonard coolly.
His answer convinced Andrew that Leonard did not know of the richness of the lode. Andrew thought he had honestly disbelieved in it, and Mappin, who had informed him of its discovery, which had not yet been widely mentioned in the Canadian papers, might not have made him understand its importance. Indeed, it was possible that Mappin meant to throw over his English confederate.
"I have another demand to make. I want your consent to a dissolution of your partnership62 in Allinson's."
Leonard started and his face grew hard; though it seemed impossible that Andrew, whom he had genuinely looked down on, should urge the matter.
"This is too much!" he exclaimed. "Have you lost your senses?"
"I think not. You have betrayed the trust my father had in you; you have started Allinson's on a downward course. That you have, with the exception of the Rain Bluff speculation63, so far made money for the firm does not count, because you can't continue doing so. There's a code of business morality; they are not fools in the city, and your methods would be found out.[Pg 326] Then the reputation we trade upon would be gone. But enough of this. Put your price on your position and I'll pay it if possible."
"No!" he answered. "I hold my place! You cannot get rid of me!"
"Is that your last word?"
"Yes! I've tried to be forbearing, but you push me too hard. It has come to an open fight, which may as well begin at the shareholders' meeting. I shall not resign from the Board."
"It was bound to come," said Andrew. "We know how we stand."
Leonard rose.
"Florence and I leave to-morrow! There is no train to-night."
"That must be as you wish," responded Andrew, as he went out.
Half an hour later Florence found him on the terrace. Her face was flushed and her eyes were angry.
"Andrew," she cried, "do you mean to persist in this madness? Shall I try to make peace with Leonard before it is too late?"
"I'm sorry it's too late already. I can't think he sent you."
"No; I came because I felt I must. Can't you see that you are bent65 on ruining yourself and bringing discredit12 on the firm?"
"I think not; but it's a point on which we can't agree. I can't blame you for taking Leonard's side."
"Oh," she cried, "try to be sensible! Think how Leonard has developed the business and earned the money that you have spent. Try to remember all you owe to him."
[Pg 327]A queer smile crept into Andrew's eyes. He knew what he owed to Leonard, but Florence must not guess. She should keep her faith in her husband, if she could.
"At the worst, he would leave the firm with a very much larger capital than when he joined it, and there are, no doubt, other firms which would welcome him."
Florence turned upon him with a mocking laugh.
"But Leonard is not going to leave the firm! Tell me, for one thing, why you wish him to?"
It was far from Andrew's intention that she should ever learn.
"Well," he said slowly, "our views are so different on almost every point that it's impossible we should get on. I'm very sorry, Florence, but you can't mend the matter. The split was inevitable66."
"I'm forced to. Don't say any more, Florence. I suppose the thing must trouble you. Forgive me, if you can."
"I'll try, when you have found out your folly," she said, and left him.
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1
wharves
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| n.码头，停泊处( wharf的名词复数 ) | |
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warehouses
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| 仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 ) | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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sonorous
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| adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇 | |
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tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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ignominious
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| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
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discredit
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| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
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13
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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lode
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| n.矿脉 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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bugle
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| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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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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fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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doggedly
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morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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eldest
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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shareholders
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| n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 ) | |
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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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surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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prospering
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| 成功，兴旺( prosper的现在分词 ) | |
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prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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redound
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| v.有助于；提；报应 | |
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wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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meddler
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| n.爱管闲事的人，干涉者 | |
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divulge
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| v.泄漏(秘密等)；宣布，公布 | |
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51
defer
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| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
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52
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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53
radical
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| n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的 | |
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undesirable
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| adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子 | |
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55
undue
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| adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的 | |
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56
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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57
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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58
curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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59
thwart
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| v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的) | |
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60
conspired
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| 密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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61
curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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62
partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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63
speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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64
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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66
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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67
immature
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| adj.未成熟的，发育未全的，未充分发展的 | |
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