章节正文
with this boy, of whom we know nothing, except
from his own account. To my mind his story is a
most ridiculous invention."
"Mr. Pitkin, did any one enter your store just
after Philip left it to inquire after him?"
"No, sir," answered Pitkin triumphantly. "That's
a lie, at any rate."
"You will remember that Philip did not make the
assertion himself. This was the statement of the
thief who robbed him."
"Yes, of course," sneered Pitkin. "He told his
story very shrewdly."
"Mr. Carter," said Philip, "I can show you or any
one else the house in which I was confined in
Bleecker Street, and there will be no trouble in
obtaining proof of the fire."
"I dare say there may have been such a fire,"
said Mr. Pitkin, "and you may have happened to
see it, and decided to weave it into your story."
"Do you think I stole the money or used it for
my own purpose?" asked Philip pointedly.
Mr. Pitkin shrugged his shoulders.
"Young man," he said, "upon this point I can
only say that your story is grossly improbable. It
won't hold water."
"Permit me to judge of that, Mr. Pitkin," said
Mr. Carter. "I wish to ask YOU one question."
"To ask ME a question!" said Pitkin, surprised.
"Yes; why did you pay Philip in bills to-day?
Why didn't you give him a check, as usual?"
"Why," answered Pitkin, hesitating, "I thought
it wouldn't make any difference to you. I thought
you would be able to use it more readily."
"Did you suppose I would specially need to use
money instead of a check this week? Why break
over your usual custom?"
"Really, I didn't give much thought to the matter,"
answered Pitkin, hesitating. "I acted on a
sudden impulse."
"Your impulse has cost me two hundred dollars.
Do me the favor, when Philip calls next week, to
hand him a check."
"You mean to retain him in your employ after
this?" asked Mrs. Pitkin sharply.
"Yes, I do. Why shouldn't I?"
"You are very trustful," observed the lady, tossing
her head. "If this had happened to Lonny
here, we should never have heard the last of it."
"Perhaps not!" responded the old gentleman
dryly. "When a young gentleman is trusted with
a letter to mail containing money, and that letter
never reaches its destination, it may at least be
inferred that he is careless."
It will be remembered that this was the first knowledge
Mrs. Pitkin or her husband had of the transaction referred to.
"What do you mean, Uncle Oliver?" demanded
Mr. Pitkin.
Mr. Carter explained.
"This is too much!" said Mrs. Pitkin angrily.
"You mean to accuse my poor boy of opening the
letter and stealing the money?"
"If I was as ready to bring accusations as you,
Lavinia, I should undoubtedly say that it looked a
little suspicious, but I prefer to let the matter rest."
"I think, Mr. Pitkin, we had better go," said Mrs.
Pitkin, rising with dignity. "Since Uncle Oliver
chooses to charge his own nephew with being a
thief----"
"I beg pardon, Lavinia, I have not done so."
"You might just as well," said Lavinia Pitkin,
tossing her head. "Come, Mr. Pitkin; come, my
poor Lonny, we will go home. This is no place for
you."
"Good-evening, Lavinia," said Mr. Carter calmly.
"I shall be glad to see you whenever you feel like
calling."
"When you have discharged that boy, I may call
again," said Mrs. Pitkin spitefully.
"You will have to wait some time, then. I am
quite capable of managing my own affairs."
When Mr. Pitkin had left the house, by no means
in a good humor, Phil turned to his employer and
said gratefully:
"I don't know how to thank you, Mr. Carter, for
your kind confidence in me. I admit that the story
I told you is a strange one, and I could not have
blamed you for doubting me."
"But I don't doubt you, my dear Philip," said Mr.
Carter kindly.
"Nor I," said Mrs. Forbush. "I feel provoked
with Lavinia and her husband for trying to throw
discredit upon your statement."
"In fact," said Mr. Carter humorously, "the only
one of us that suspected you was Julia."
"Oh, Uncle Oliver!" exclaimed Julia, in dismay.
"I never dreamed of doubting Phil."
"Then," said Mr. Carter, "it appears that you
have three friends, at least."
"If," said Phil? "you would allow me to make up
part of the loss, by surrendering a part of my
salary----"
"Couldn't be thought of, Philip!" said Uncle
Oliver resolutely. "I don't care for the money, but
I should like to know how the thief happened to
know that to-day you received money instead of a
check."
Without saying a word to Phil, Uncle Oliver called
the next day on a noted detective and set him to
work ferreting out the secret.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE FALSE HEIR.
In the suburbs of Chicago, perhaps a dozen
miles from the great city, stands a fine country
house, in the midst of a fine natural park. From the
cupola which surmounts the roof can be seen in the
distance the waters of Lake Michigan, stretching
for many miles from north to south and from east to
west, like a vast inland sea.
The level lawns, the greenhouses, the garden
with rare plants and flowers, show clearly that this
is the abode of a rich man. My readers will be
specially interested to know that this is the luxurious
and stately home of Mr. Granville, whose son's
fortunes we have been following.
This, too, is the home of Mrs. Brent and Jonas,
who, under false representations, have gained a foothold
in the home of the Western millionaire.
Surely it is a great change for one brought up like
Jonas to be the recognized heir and supposed son of
so rich a man! It is a change, too, for his mother,
who, though she dare not avow the relationship, is
permitted to share the luxury of her son. Mrs.
Brent has for her own use two of the best rooms in
the mansion, and so far as money can bring happiness,
she has every right to consider herself happy.
Is she?
Not as happy as she anticipated. To begin with,
she is always dreading that some untoward circumstance
will reveal the imposition she has practiced
upon Mr. Granville. In that case what can she expect
but to be ejected in disgrace from her luxurious
home? To be sure, she will have her husband's
property left, but it would be a sad downfall and
descent in the social scale.
Besides, she finds cause for anxiety in Jonas, and
the change which his sudden and undeserved elevation
has wrought in him. It requires a strong mind
to withstand the allurements and temptations of
prosperity, and Jonas is far from possessing a strong
mind. He is, indeed, if I may be allowed the
expression, a vulgar little snob, utterly selfish, and
intent solely upon his own gratification. He has a
love for drink, and against the protests of his
mother and the positive command of Mr. Granville,
indulges his taste whenever he thinks he can do so
without fear of detection. To the servants he
makes himself very offensive by assuming consequential
airs and a lordlybearing, which excites
their hearty dislike.
He is making his way across the lawn at this
moment. He is dressed in clothes of the finest
material and the most fashionable cut. A thick gold
chain is displayed across his waistcoat, attached to
an expensive gold watch, bought for him by his
supposed father. He carries in his hand a natty
cane, and struts along with head aloft and nose in
the air.
Two under-gardeners are at work upon a flowerbed
as he passes.
"What time is it, Master Philip?" says one, a boy
about a year older than Jonas.
"My good boy," said Jonas haughtily, "I don't
carry a watch for your benefit."
The gardener bit his lip, and surveyed the heir
with unequivocal disgust.
"Very well," he retorted; "I'll wait till a gentleman
comes this way."
A flush of anger was visible on the cheek of Jonas
despite his freckles.
"Do you mean to say I'm not a gentleman!" he
demanded angrily.
"You don't act like one," returned Dan.
"You'd better not be impertinent to me!" exclaimed
Jonas, his small gray eyes flashing with indignation.
"Take that back!"
"I won't, for it's true!" said Dan undauntedly.
"Take that, then!"
Jonas raised his cane and brought it down
smartly on the young gardener's shoulder.
He soon learned that he had acted imprudently.
Dan dropped his rake, sprang forward, and seizing
the cane, wrenched it from the hands of the young
heir, after which he proceeded to break it across his
knee.
"There's your cane!" he said contemptuously, as
he threw the pieces on the ground.
"What did you do that for?" demanded Jonas,
outraged.
"Because you insulted me. That's why."
"How can I insult you? You're only a poor
working boy!"
from his own account. To my mind his story is a
most ridiculous invention."
"Mr. Pitkin, did any one enter your store just
after Philip left it to inquire after him?"
"No, sir," answered Pitkin triumphantly. "That's
a lie, at any rate."
"You will remember that Philip did not make the
assertion himself. This was the statement of the
thief who robbed him."
"Yes, of course," sneered Pitkin. "He told his
story very shrewdly."
"Mr. Carter," said Philip, "I can show you or any
one else the house in which I was confined in
Bleecker Street, and there will be no trouble in
obtaining proof of the fire."
"I dare say there may have been such a fire,"
said Mr. Pitkin, "and you may have happened to
see it, and decided to weave it into your story."
"Do you think I stole the money or used it for
my own purpose?" asked Philip pointedly.
Mr. Pitkin shrugged his shoulders.
"Young man," he said, "upon this point I can
only say that your story is grossly improbable. It
won't hold water."
"Permit me to judge of that, Mr. Pitkin," said
Mr. Carter. "I wish to ask YOU one question."
"To ask ME a question!" said Pitkin, surprised.
"Yes; why did you pay Philip in bills to-day?
Why didn't you give him a check, as usual?"
"Why," answered Pitkin, hesitating, "I thought
it wouldn't make any difference to you. I thought
you would be able to use it more readily."
"Did you suppose I would specially need to use
money instead of a check this week? Why break
over your usual custom?"
"Really, I didn't give much thought to the matter,"
answered Pitkin, hesitating. "I acted on a
sudden impulse."
"Your impulse has cost me two hundred dollars.
Do me the favor, when Philip calls next week, to
hand him a check."
"You mean to retain him in your employ after
this?" asked Mrs. Pitkin sharply.
"Yes, I do. Why shouldn't I?"
"You are very trustful," observed the lady, tossing
her head. "If this had happened to Lonny
here, we should never have heard the last of it."
"Perhaps not!" responded the old gentleman
dryly. "When a young gentleman is trusted with
a letter to mail containing money, and that letter
never reaches its destination, it may at least be
inferred that he is careless."
It will be remembered that this was the first knowledge
Mrs. Pitkin or her husband had of the transaction referred to.
"What do you mean, Uncle Oliver?" demanded
Mr. Pitkin.
Mr. Carter explained.
"This is too much!" said Mrs. Pitkin angrily.
"You mean to accuse my poor boy of opening the
letter and stealing the money?"
"If I was as ready to bring accusations as you,
Lavinia, I should undoubtedly say that it looked a
little suspicious, but I prefer to let the matter rest."
"I think, Mr. Pitkin, we had better go," said Mrs.
Pitkin, rising with dignity. "Since Uncle Oliver
chooses to charge his own nephew with being a
thief----"
"I beg pardon, Lavinia, I have not done so."
"You might just as well," said Lavinia Pitkin,
tossing her head. "Come, Mr. Pitkin; come, my
poor Lonny, we will go home. This is no place for
you."
"Good-evening, Lavinia," said Mr. Carter calmly.
"I shall be glad to see you whenever you feel like
calling."
"When you have discharged that boy, I may call
again," said Mrs. Pitkin spitefully.
"You will have to wait some time, then. I am
quite capable of managing my own affairs."
When Mr. Pitkin had left the house, by no means
in a good humor, Phil turned to his employer and
said gratefully:
"I don't know how to thank you, Mr. Carter, for
your kind confidence in me. I admit that the story
I told you is a strange one, and I could not have
blamed you for doubting me."
"But I don't doubt you, my dear Philip," said Mr.
Carter kindly.
"Nor I," said Mrs. Forbush. "I feel provoked
with Lavinia and her husband for trying to throw
discredit upon your statement."
"In fact," said Mr. Carter humorously, "the only
one of us that suspected you was Julia."
"Oh, Uncle Oliver!" exclaimed Julia, in dismay.
"I never dreamed of doubting Phil."
"Then," said Mr. Carter, "it appears that you
have three friends, at least."
"If," said Phil? "you would allow me to make up
part of the loss, by surrendering a part of my
salary----"
"Couldn't be thought of, Philip!" said Uncle
Oliver resolutely. "I don't care for the money, but
I should like to know how the thief happened to
know that to-day you received money instead of a
check."
Without saying a word to Phil, Uncle Oliver called
the next day on a noted detective and set him to
work ferreting out the secret.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE FALSE HEIR.
In the suburbs of Chicago, perhaps a dozen
miles from the great city, stands a fine country
house, in the midst of a fine natural park. From the
cupola which surmounts the roof can be seen in the
distance the waters of Lake Michigan, stretching
for many miles from north to south and from east to
west, like a vast inland sea.
The level lawns, the greenhouses, the garden
with rare plants and flowers, show clearly that this
is the abode of a rich man. My readers will be
specially interested to know that this is the luxurious
and stately home of Mr. Granville, whose son's
fortunes we have been following.
This, too, is the home of Mrs. Brent and Jonas,
who, under false representations, have gained a foothold
in the home of the Western millionaire.
Surely it is a great change for one brought up like
Jonas to be the recognized heir and supposed son of
so rich a man! It is a change, too, for his mother,
who, though she dare not avow the relationship, is
permitted to share the luxury of her son. Mrs.
Brent has for her own use two of the best rooms in
the mansion, and so far as money can bring happiness,
she has every right to consider herself happy.
Is she?
Not as happy as she anticipated. To begin with,
she is always dreading that some untoward circumstance
will reveal the imposition she has practiced
upon Mr. Granville. In that case what can she expect
but to be ejected in disgrace from her luxurious
home? To be sure, she will have her husband's
property left, but it would be a sad downfall and
descent in the social scale.
Besides, she finds cause for anxiety in Jonas, and
the change which his sudden and undeserved elevation
has wrought in him. It requires a strong mind
to withstand the allurements and temptations of
prosperity, and Jonas is far from possessing a strong
mind. He is, indeed, if I may be allowed the
expression, a vulgar little snob, utterly selfish, and
intent solely upon his own gratification. He has a
love for drink, and against the protests of his
mother and the positive command of Mr. Granville,
indulges his taste whenever he thinks he can do so
without fear of detection. To the servants he
makes himself very offensive by assuming consequential
airs and a lordlybearing, which excites
their hearty dislike.
He is making his way across the lawn at this
moment. He is dressed in clothes of the finest
material and the most fashionable cut. A thick gold
chain is displayed across his waistcoat, attached to
an expensive gold watch, bought for him by his
supposed father. He carries in his hand a natty
cane, and struts along with head aloft and nose in
the air.
Two under-gardeners are at work upon a flowerbed
as he passes.
"What time is it, Master Philip?" says one, a boy
about a year older than Jonas.
"My good boy," said Jonas haughtily, "I don't
carry a watch for your benefit."
The gardener bit his lip, and surveyed the heir
with unequivocal disgust.
"Very well," he retorted; "I'll wait till a gentleman
comes this way."
A flush of anger was visible on the cheek of Jonas
despite his freckles.
"Do you mean to say I'm not a gentleman!" he
demanded angrily.
"You don't act like one," returned Dan.
"You'd better not be impertinent to me!" exclaimed
Jonas, his small gray eyes flashing with indignation.
"Take that back!"
"I won't, for it's true!" said Dan undauntedly.
"Take that, then!"
Jonas raised his cane and brought it down
smartly on the young gardener's shoulder.
He soon learned that he had acted imprudently.
Dan dropped his rake, sprang forward, and seizing
the cane, wrenched it from the hands of the young
heir, after which he proceeded to break it across his
knee.
"There's your cane!" he said contemptuously, as
he threw the pieces on the ground.
"What did you do that for?" demanded Jonas,
outraged.
"Because you insulted me. That's why."
"How can I insult you? You're only a poor
working boy!"
- account [ə´kaunt]
vi.说明 vt.认为 n.帐目 (初中英语单词) - impulse [´impʌls] n.推动(力)；冲动；刺激 (初中英语单词)
- retain [ri´tein] vt.保持；保留；留住 (初中英语单词)
- accuse [ə´kju:z] vt.谴责；控告，告发 (初中英语单词)
- opening [´əupəniŋ] n.开放；开端 a.开始的 (初中英语单词)
- undoubtedly [ʌn´dautidli] ad.无疑地，确实地 (初中英语单词)
- dignity [´digniti] n.尊严，尊贵；高官显贵 (初中英语单词)
- charge [tʃɑ:dʒ] v.收费；冲锋 n.费用 (初中英语单词)
- nephew [´nevju:, ´nɛfju] n.侄子；外甥 (初中英语单词)
- pardon [´pɑ:dən] n.&vt.原谅；饶恕；赦免 (初中英语单词)
- whenever [wen´evə] conj.&ad.无论何时 (初中英语单词)
- capable [´keipəbəl] a.有能力；能干的 (初中英语单词)
- employer [im´plɔiə] n.雇佣者，雇主 (初中英语单词)
- detective [di´tektiv] n.侦探 a.侦探的 (初中英语单词)
- western [´westən] a.西的；西方的 (初中英语单词)
- supposed [sə´pəuzd] a.想象的；假定的 (初中英语单词)
- luxury [´lʌkʃəri] n.奢侈(品)；享受 (初中英语单词)
- disgrace [dis´greis] n.耻辱 vt.玷辱；贬黜 (初中英语单词)
- anxiety [æŋ´zaiəti] n.挂念；渴望；焦虑的事 (初中英语单词)
- wrought [rɔ:t] work 的过去式(分词) (初中英语单词)
- selfish [´selfiʃ] a.自私的，利己的 (初中英语单词)
- expensive [ik´spensiv] a.费钱的，昂贵的 (初中英语单词)
- visible [´vizəbəl] a.可见的；明显的 (初中英语单词)
- sprang [spræŋ] spring 的过去式 (初中英语单词)
- insult [in´sʌlt, ´insʌlt] n.&vt.侮辱；损害 (初中英语单词)
- ridiculous [ri´dikjuləs] a.荒谬的；可笑的 (高中英语单词)
- decided [di´saidid] a.明显的；决定的 (高中英语单词)
- specially [´speʃəli] ad.专门地；特别地 (高中英语单词)
- destination [,desti´neiʃən] n.目标地 (高中英语单词)
- suspicious [sə´spiʃəs] a.可疑的，多疑的 (高中英语单词)
- saying [´seiŋ, ´sei-iŋ] n.言语；言论；格言 (高中英语单词)
- inland [´inlənd, in´lænd] a.&n.内地的 ad.在内地 (高中英语单词)
- stately [´steitli] a.庄严的，雄伟的 (高中英语单词)
- relationship [ri´leiʃənʃip] n.关系；联系；亲属关系 (高中英语单词)
- mansion [´mænʃən] n.大厦；宅第；官邸 (高中英语单词)
- solely [´səulli] ad.唯一；单独；完全 (高中英语单词)
- positive [´pɔzətiv] a.确定的 (高中英语单词)
- offensive [ə´fensiv] a.冒犯的 n.进攻 (高中英语单词)
- bearing [´beəriŋ] n.举止；忍耐；关系 (高中英语单词)
- hearty [´hɑ:ti] a.热忱的；强健的 (高中英语单词)
- fashionable [´fæʃənəbəl] a.流行的，时髦的 (高中英语单词)
- gardener [´gɑ:dnə] n.园艺家；园林工人 (高中英语单词)
- learned [´lə:nid] a.有学问的，博学的 (高中英语单词)
- triumphantly [trai´ʌmfəntli] ad.胜利地；洋洋得意地 (英语四级单词)
- trying [´traiiŋ] a.难堪的；费劲的 (英语四级单词)
- chicago [ʃi´kɑ:gəu] n.芝加哥 (英语四级单词)
- withstand [wið´stænd] vt.抵抗，经得起 (英语四级单词)
- vulgar [´vʌlgə] a.粗俗的；大众的 (英语四级单词)
- improbable [im´prɔbəbəl] a.未必有的 (英语六级单词)
- resolutely [´rezəlju:tli] ad.坚决地；果断地 (英语六级单词)
- downfall [´daunfɔ:l] n.落下；垮台 (英语六级单词)
- gratification [,grætifi´keiʃən] n.满意；喜悦 (英语六级单词)
- lordly [´lɔ:dli] a.高贵的；高傲的 (英语六级单词)
- waistcoat [´weskət, ´weiskəut] n.背心，马甲 (英语六级单词)
- haughtily [´hɔ:tili] ad.傲慢地，高傲地 (英语六级单词)
- contemptuously [kən´temptjuəsli] ad.蔑视地；傲慢地 (英语六级单词)
文章标签:名著
章节正文
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