pgw.uneasymoney-第32部分

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　to　Lord　Dawlish。'
　'Oh；　yes；'　said　Elizabeth；　and　was　about　to　invite　him　to　pass　the　barrier；　when　he　began　to　speak　again。
　'You　know；　I　want　to　explain　that　letter。　Wrote　it　on　a　sudden　impulse；　don't　you　know。　The　more　I　have　to　do　with　the　law；　the　more　it　seems　to　hit　me　that　a　lawyer　oughtn't　to　act　on　impulse。　At　the　moment；　you　see；　it　seemed　to　me　the　decent　thing　to　doput　you　out　of　your　misery；　and　so　forthstop　your　entertaining　hopes　never　to　be　realized；　what？　and　all　that　sort　of　thing。　You　see；　it　was　like　this：　BillI　mean　Lord　Dawlishis　a　great　pal　of　mine；　a　dear　old　chap。　You　ought　to　know　him。　Well；　being　in　the　know；　you　understand；　through　your　uncle　having　deposited　the　will　with　us；　I　gave　Bill　the　tip　directly　I　heard　of　Mr　Nutbe's　death。　I　sent　him　a　telephone　message　to　e　to　the　office；　and　I　said：　〃Bill；　old　man；　this　old　buster〃I　beg　your　pardon；　this　old　gentleman〃has　left　you　all　his　money。〃　Quite　informal；　don't　you　know；　and　at　the　same　time；　in　the　same　informal　spirit；　I　wrote　you　the　letter。'　He　dammed　the　torrent　for　a　moment。　'By　the　way；　of　course　you　are　Miss　Elizabeth　Boyd；　what？'
　'Yes。'
　The　young　man　seemed　relieved。
　'I'm　glad　of　that；'　he　said。　'Funny　if　you　hadn't　been。　You'd　have　wondered　what　on　earth　I　was　talking　about。'
　In　spite　of　her　identity；　this　was　precisely　what　Elizabeth　was　doing。　Her　mind；　still　under　a　cloud；　had　been　unable　to　understand　one　word　of　Mr　Nichols's　discourse。　Judging　from　his　appearance；　which　was　that　of　a　bewildered　hosepipe　or　a　snake　whose　brain　is　being　momentarily　overtaxed；　Nutty　was　in　the　same　difficulty。　He　had　joined　the　group　at　the　gate；　abandoning　the　pebble　which　he　had　been　kicking　in　the　background；　and　was　now　leaning　on　the　top　bar；　a　picture　of　silent　perplexity。
　'You　see；　the　trouble　is；'　resumed　the　young　man；　'my　governor；　who's　the　head　of　the　firm；　is　all　for　doing　things　according　to　precedent。　He　loves　red　tapewears　it　wrapped　round　him　in　winter　instead　of　flannel。　He's　all　for　doing　things　in　the　proper　legal　way；　which；　as　I　dare　say　you　know；　takes　months。　And；　meanwhile；　everybody's　wondering　what's　happening　and　who　has　got　the　money；　and　so　on　and　so　forth。　I　thought　I　would　skip　all　that　and　let　you　know　right　away　exactly　where　you　stood；　so　I　wrote　you　that　letter。　I　don't　think　my　temperament's　quite　suited　to　the　law；　don't　you　know；　and　if　he　ever　hears　that　I　wrote　you　that　letter　I　have　a　notion　that　the　governor　will　think　so　too。　So　I　came　over　here　to　ask　you；　if　you　don't　mind；　not　to　mention　it　when　you　get　in　touch　with　the　governor。　I　frankly　admit　that　that　letter；　written　with　the　best　intentions；　was　a　bloomer。'
　With　which　manly　admission　the　young　man　paused；　and　allowed　the　rays　of　his　eyeglass　to　play　upon　Elizabeth　in　silence。　Elizabeth　tried　to　piece　together　what　little　she　understood　of　his　monologue。
　'You　mean　that　you　want　me　not　to　tell　your　father　that　I　got　a　letter　from　you？'
　'Exactly　that。　And　thanks　very　much　for　not　saying　〃without　prejudice；〃　or　anything　of　that　kind。　The　governor　would　have。'
　'But　I　don't　understand。　Why　should　you　think　that　I　should　ever　mention　anything　to　your　father？'
　'Might　slip　out；　you　know；　without　your　meaning　it。'
　'But　when？　I　shall　never　meet　your　father。'
　'You　might　quite　easily。　He　might　want　to　see　you　about　the　money。'
　'The　money？'
　The　eyebrow　above　the　eyeglass　rose；　surprised。
　'Haven't　you　had　a　letter　from　the　governor？'
　'No。'
　The　young　man　made　a　despairing　gesture。
　'I　took　it　for　granted　that　it　had　e　on　the　same　boat　that　I　did。　There　you　have　the　governor's　methods！　Couldn't　want　a　better　example。　I　suppose　some　legal　formality　or　other　has　cropped　up　and　laid　him　a　stymie；　and　he's　waiting　to　get　round　it。　You　really　mean　he　hasn't　written？
　'Why；　dash　it；'　said　the　young　man；　as　one　to　whom　all　is　revealed；　'then　you　can't　have　understood　a　word　of　what　I've　been　saying！'
　For　the　first　time　Elizabeth　found　herself　capable　of　smiling。　She　liked　this　incoherent　young　man。
　'I　haven't；'　she　said。
　'You　don't　know　about　the　will？'
　'Only　what　you　told　me　in　your　letter。'
　'Well；　I'm　hanged！　Tell　meI　hadn't　the　honour　of　knowing　him　personallywas　the　late　Mr　Nutbe's　whole　life　as　eccentric　as　his　will…making？　It　seems　to　me'
　Nutty　spoke。
　'Uncle　Ira's　middle　name；'　he　said；　'was　Bloomingdale。　That；'　he　proceeded；　bitterly；　'is　the　frightful　injustice　of　it　all。　I　had　to　suffer　from　it　right　along；　and　all　I　get；　when　it　es　to　a　finish；　is　a　miserable　hundred　dollars。　Uncle　Ira　insisted　on　father　and　mother　calling　me　Nutbe；　and　whenever　he　got　a　new　craze　I　was　always　the　one　he　worked　it　off　on。　You　remember　the　time　he　became　a　vegetarian；　Elizabeth？　Gosh！'　Nutty　brooded　coldly　on　the　past。　'You　remember　the　time　he　had　it　all　worked　out　that　the　end　of　the　world　was　to　e　at　five　in　the　morning　one　February？　Made　me　stop　up　all　night　with　him；　reading　Marcus　Aurelius！　And　the　steam…heat　turned　off　at　twelve…thirty！　I　could　tell　you　a　dozen　things　just　as　bad　as　that。　He　always　picked　on　me。　And　now　I've　gone　through　it　all　he　leaves　me　a　hundred　dollars！'
　Mr　Nichols　nodded　sympathetically。
　'I　should　have　imagined　that　he　was　rather　like　that。　You　know；　of　course；　why　he　made　that　will　I　wrote　to　you　about；　leaving　all　his　money　to　Bill　Dawlish？　Simply　because　Bill；　who　met　him　golfing　at　a　place　in　Cornwall　in　the　off　season；　cured　him　of　slicing　his　approach…shots！　I　give　you　my　word　that　was　the　only　reason。　I'm　sorry　for　old　Bill；　poor　old　chap。　Such　a　good　sort！'
　'He's　all　right；'　said　Nutty。　'But　why　you　should　be　sorry　for　him　gets　past　me。　A　fellow　who　gets　five　million'
　'But　he　doesn't；　don't　you　see？'
　'How　do　you　mean？'
　'Why；　this　other　will　puts　him　out　of　the　running。'
　'Which　other　will？'
　'Why；　the　one　I'm　telling　you　about。'
　He　looked　from　one　to　the　other；　apparently　astonished　at　their　slowness　of　understanding。　Then　an　idea　occurred　to　him。
　'Why；　now　that　I　think　of　it；　I　never　told　you；　did　I？　Yes；　your　uncle　made　another　will　at　the　very　last　moment；　leaving　all　he　possessed　to　Miss　Boyd。'
　The　dead　silence　in　which　his　words　were　received　stimulated　him　to　further　speech。　It　occurred　to　him　that；　after　that　letter　of　his；　perhaps　these　people　were　wary　about　believing　anything　he　said。
　'It's　absolutely　true。　It's　the　real；　stable　information　this　time。　I　had　it　direct　from　the　governor；　who　was　there　when　he　made　the　will。　He　and　the　governor　had　had　a　row　about　something；　you　know；　and　they　made　it　up　during　those　last　days；　andWell；　apparently　your　uncle　thought　he　had　better　celebrate　it　somehow；　so　he　made　a　new　will。　From　what　little　I　know　of　him；　that　was　the　way　he　celebrated　most　things。　I　took　it　for　granted　the　governor　would　have　written　to　you　by　this　time。　I　expect　you'll　hear　by　the　next　mail。　You　see；　what　brought　me　over　was　the　idea　that　when　he　wrote　you　might　possibly　take　it　into　your　heads　to　mention　having　heard　from　me。　You　don't　know　my　governor。　If　he　found　out　I　had　done　that　I　should　never　hear　the　last　of　it。　So　I　said　to　him：　〃Gov'nor；　I'm　feeling　a　bit　jaded。　Been　working　too　hard；　or　something。　I'll　take　a　week　or　so　off；　if　you　can　spare　me。〃　He　didn't　object；　so　I　whizzed　over。　Well；　of　course；　I'm　awfully　sorry　for　old　Bill；　but　I　congratulate　you；　Miss　Boyd。'
　'What's　the　time？'　said　Elizabeth。
　Mr　Nichols　was　surprised。　He　could　not　detect　the　connexion　of　ideas。
　'It's　about　five　to　eleven；'　he　said；　consulting　his　watch。
　The　next　moment　he　was　even　more　surprised；　for　Elizabeth；　making　nothing　of　the　barrier　of　the　gate；　had　rushed　past　him　and　was　even　now　climbing　into　his　automobile。
　'Take　me　to　the　station；　at　once；'　she　was　crying　to　the　stout；　silent　man；　whom　not　even　these　surprising　happenings　had　shaken　from　his　attitude　of　well…fed　detachment。
　The　stout　man；　ceasing　to　be　silent；　became　interrogative。
　'Uh？'
　'Take　me　to　the　station。　I　must　catch　the　eleven　o'clock　train。'
　The　stout　man　was　not　a　rapid　thinker。　He　enveloped　her　in　a　stodgy　gaze。　It　was　only　too　plain　to　Elizabeth　that　he　was　a　man　who　liked　to　digest　one　idea　slowly　before　going　on　to　absorb　the　next。　Jerry　Nichols　had　told　him　to　drive　to　Flack's。　He　had　driven　to　Flack's。　Here　he　was　at　Flack's。　Now　this　young　woman　was　telling　him　to　drive　to　the　station。　It　was　a　new　idea；　and　he　bent　himself　to　the　Fletcherizing　of　it。
　'I'll　give　you　ten　dollars　if　you　get　me　there　by　eleven；'　shouted　Elizabeth。
　The　car　started　as　if　it　were　some　living　thing　that　had　had　a　sharp　instrument　jabbed　into　it。　Once　or　twice　in　his　life　it　had　happened　to　the　stout　man　to　encounter　an　idea　which　he　could　swallow　at　a　gulp。　This　was　one　of　them。
　Mr　Nichols；　following　the　car　with　a　wondering　eye；　found　that　Nutty　was　addressing　him。
　'Is　this　really　true？'　said　Nutty。
　'Absolute　gospel。'
　A　wild　cry；　a　piercing　whoop　of　pure　joy；　broke　the　summer　stillness。
　'e　and　have　a　drink；　old　man！'　babbled　Nutty。　'This　wants　celebrating！'　His　face　fell。　'Oh；　I　was　forgetting！　I'm　on　the　wagon。'
　'On　the　wagon？'
　'Sworn　off；　you　know。　I'm　never　going　to　touch　another　drop　as　long　as　I　live。　I　began　to　see　thingsmonkeys！'
　'I　had　a　pal；'　said　Mr　Nichols；　sympathetically；　'who　used　to　see　kangaroos。'
　Nutty　seized　him　by　the　arm；　hospitable　though　handicapped。
　'e　and　have　a　bit　of　bread　and　butter；　or　a　slice　of　cake　or　something；　and　a　glass　of　water。　I　want　to　tell　you　a　lot　more　about　Uncle　Ira；　and　I　want　to　hear　all　about　your　end　of　it。　Gee；　what　a　day！'
　'〃The　maddest；　merriest　of　all　the　glad　New　Year；〃'　assented　Mr　Nichols。　'A　slice　of　that　old　'eighty…seven　cake。　Just　the　thing！'
　
　25
　Bill　made　his　way　along　the　swaying　train　to　the　smoking…car；　which　was　almost　empty。　It　had　e　upon　him　overwhelmingly　that　he　needed　tobacco。　He　was　in　the　mood　when　a　man　must　either　smoke　or　give　up　altogether　the　struggle　with　Fate。　He　lit　his　pipe；　and　looked　out　of　the　window　at　Long　Island　racing　past　him。　It　was　only　a　blur　to　him。
　The　conductor　was　asking　for　tickets。　Bill　showed　his　mechanically；　and　the　conductor　passed　on。　Then　he　settled　down　once　more　to　his　thoughts。　He　could　not　think　coherently　yet。　His　walk　to　the　station　had　been　like　a　walk　in　a　dream。　He　was　conscious　of　a　great；　dull　pain　that　weighed　on　his　mind；　smothering　it。　The　trees　and　houses　still　moved　past　him　in　the　same　indistinguishable　blur。
　He　became　aware　that　the　conductor　was　standing　beside　him；　saying　something　about　a　ticket。　He　produced　his　once　more；　but　this　did　not　seem　to　satisfy　the　conductor。　To　get　rid　of　the　man；　who　was　being　a　nuisance；　he　gave　him　his　whole　attention；　as　far　as　that　smothering　weight　would　allow　him　to　give　his　whole　attention　to　anything；　and　found　that　the　man　was　saying　strange　things。　He　thought　that　he　could　not　have　heard　him　correctly。
　'What？'　he　said。
　'Lady　back　there　told　me　to　collect　her　fare　from　you；'　repeated　the　conductor。　'Said　you　would　pay。'
　Bill　blinked。　Either　there　was　some　mistake　or　trouble　had　turned　his　brain。　He　pushed　himself　together　with　a　supreme　effort。
　'A　lady　said　I　would　pay　her　fare？'
　'Yes。'
　'Butbut　why？'　demanded　Bill；　feebl