章节正文
In that brief moment Mr. Raynor had decided to
reveal the secret to Phil, and trust to his gratitude
for a suitableacknowledgment. In this way he
would revenge himself upon Mrs. Brent, who had
treated him so meanly.
"I have been wishing to see you, for I have a
secret of importance to communicate," said Mr.
Raynor.
"If it relates to my parents, I know it already,"
said Phil.
"No; it is something to your advantage. In
revealing it I make Mrs. Brent my enemy, and shall
forfeit the help she is giving me."
"If it is really of advantage to me, and I am able
to make up your loss to you, I will do it," said Phil.
"That is sufficient. I will trust to your honor.
You look like a boy who will keep a promise though
not legally bound."
"You only do me justice, Mr. Raynor."
"Then cast your eye upon this paper and you will
know the secret."
"Is it a will?" exclaimed Phil, in surprise.
"Yes, it is the will of the late Gerald Brent. By
it he bequeaths to you five thousand dollars."
"Then he did not forget me," said Phil, more
pleased with the assurance that he had been remembered
than by the sum of money bequeathed
to him. "But why have I not known this before?"
he asked, looking up from the will
"You must ask that of Mrs. Brent!" said Mr.
Raynor significantly.
"Do you think she suppressed it purposely?"
"I do," answered Raynor laconically.
"I must see her. Where can I find her?"
"I can only say that her letters to me are mailed
in Chicago, but she scrupulously keeps her address
a secret."
"Then I must go to Chicago. May I take this
paper with me?"
"Yes. I advise you to put it into the hands of a
lawyer for safe keeping. You will not forget that
you are indebted to me for it?"
"No, Mr. Raynor. I will take care you lose
nothing by your revelation."
The next morning Phil returned to New York.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
AT THE PALMER HOUSE.
It may be readilysupposed that Phil's New
York friends listened with the greatest attention
to his account of what he had learned in his
visit to Planktown.
"Your step-mother is certainly an unscrupulous
woman," said Mr. Carter. "Doubtless she has left
your old town in order to escape accountability to
you for your stoleninheritance. What puzzles me
however, is her leaving behind such tell-tale evidence.
It is a remarkable oversight. Do you think
she is aware of the existence of the will?"
"I think she must be, though I hope not,"
answered Phil. "I should like to think that she had
not conspired to keep back my share of father's
estate."
"At any rate, the first thing to do is evidently to
find her out, and confront her with the evidence of
her crime--that is, supposing her to be really culpable."
"Then you approve of my going to Chicago?"
said Phil.
"Most emphatically. Nay, more--I will go with
you."
"Will you indeed, sir?" said Phil joyfully. "You
are very kind. I shrank from going alone, being a
boy ignorant of business."
"A pretty shrewd boy, however," said Mr. Carter,
smiling. "I don't claim much credit, however, as I
have some interests in Chicago to which I can attend
with advantagepersonally. I am interested in a
Western railroad, the main office of which is in that
city."
"When shall we go, sir?"
"To-morrow," answered Mr. Carter promptly.
"The sooner the better. You may go down town
and procure the necessary tickets, and engage sleeping-berths."
Here followed the necessary directions, which need
not be repeated.
It is enough to say that twenty-four hours later
Phil and his employer were passengers on a lightning
express train bound for Chicago.
They arrived in due season, without any adventure
worth naming, and took rooms at the Palmer House.
Now, it so happened that in the same hotel at the
very same moment were three persons in whom
Phil was vitally interested. These were Mrs. Brent,
Jonas, otherwise called Philip Granville, and Mr.
Granville himself.
Let me explain their presence in Chicago, when,
as we know, Mr. Granville's house was situated at
some distance away.
Jonas had preferred a petition to go to Chicago
for a week, in order to attend some of the amusements
there to be enjoyed, alleging that it was awfully
dull in the country.
Mr. Granville was inclined to be very indulgent,
to make up for the long years in which he had been
compelled practically to desert his son. The petition
therefore received favor.
"It is only natural that you should wish to see
something of the city, my son," he said. "I will
grant your request. We will go to Chicago, and remain
a week at the Palmer House. Mrs. Brent, will
you accompany us?"
"With pleasure, Mr. Granville," answered that
lady. "It is not dull here for me, still I shall no
doubt enjoy a little excitement. At any rate, I
shall be best pleased to be where you and your son
are."
"Then so let it be. We will go to-morrow."
One secret wish and scheme of Mrs. Brent has
not been referred to. She felt that her present position
was a precarious one. She might at any time
be found out, and then farewell to wealth and
luxury! But if she could induce Mr. Granville to
marry her, she would then be secure, even if found
out, and Jonas would be the son of Mr. Granville,
though detected as a usurper. She, therefore, made
herself as agreeable as possible to Mr. Granville,
anticipated his every wish, and assumed the character,
which she did not possess, of a gracious and
feminine woman of unruffled good humor and
sweetness of disposition.
"I say, ma," Jonas observed on one occasion,
"you've improved ever so much since you came
here. You're a good deal better natured than you
were."
Mrs. Brent smiled, but she did not care to take
her son into her confidence.
"Here I have no cares to trouble me," she said.
"I live here in a way that suits me."
But when they were about starting for Chicago,
Mrs. Brent felt herself becoming unaccountably depressed.
"Jonas," she said, "I am sorry we are going to
Chicago."
"Why, ma? We'll have a splendid time."
"I feel as if some misfortune were impending
over us," said his mother, and she shivered apprehensively.
But it was too late to recede. Besides, Jonas
wished to go, and she had no good reason to allege
for breaking the arrangement.
CHAPTER XL.
A SCENE NOT ON THE BILLS.
Phil was in Chicago, but that was only the first
step toward finding those of whom he was in
search. Had he been sure that they were in the
city, it would have simplified matters, but the fact
that Mrs. Brent directed her letters to be sent to
that city proved nothing. It did not make it certain
that she lived in the town.
"We are only at the beginning of our perplexities,
Philip," said Mr. Carter. "Your friends may
be near us, or they may be a hundred miles away."
"That is true, sir."
"One method of finding them is barred, that of
advertising, since they undoubtedly do not care to
be found, and an advertisement would only place
them on their guard."
"What would you advise, sir?"
"We might employ a detective to watch the post-
office, but here again there might be disappointment.
Mrs. Brent might employ a third person to
call for her letters. However, I have faith to
believe that sooner or later we shall find her. Time
and patience accomplishes much."
"Were you ever a detective, sir?" asked Phil,
smiling.
"No, Philip, but I have had occasion to employ
them. Now how would you like to go to the theater
this evening?"
"Very much, sir."
"There is a good play running at McVicker's
Theatre. We will go there."
"Anywhere will suit me, Mr. Carter."
"Young people are easily satisfied," he said.
"When they get older they get more fastidious.
However, there is generally something attractive at
McVicker's."
It so happened that Philip and his employer took
a late dinner, and did not reach the theater till ten
minutes after the hour. They had seats in the
seventh row of orchestra chairs, a very eligible portion
of the house.
The curtain had risen, and Philip's attention was
given to the stage till the end of the first act. Then
he began to look around him.
Suddenly he started and half rose from his seat.
"What is the matter, Philip?" asked Mr. Carter.
"There, sir! look there!" said the boy, in excitement,
pointing to two persons in the fourth row in
front.
"Do you recognize acquaintances, Philip?"
"It is my step-mother and Jonas," answered
Philip eagerly.
"It is, indeed, wonderful!" said Mr. Carter, sharing
reveal the secret to Phil, and trust to his gratitude
for a suitableacknowledgment. In this way he
would revenge himself upon Mrs. Brent, who had
treated him so meanly.
"I have been wishing to see you, for I have a
secret of importance to communicate," said Mr.
Raynor.
"If it relates to my parents, I know it already,"
said Phil.
"No; it is something to your advantage. In
revealing it I make Mrs. Brent my enemy, and shall
forfeit the help she is giving me."
"If it is really of advantage to me, and I am able
to make up your loss to you, I will do it," said Phil.
"That is sufficient. I will trust to your honor.
You look like a boy who will keep a promise though
not legally bound."
"You only do me justice, Mr. Raynor."
"Then cast your eye upon this paper and you will
know the secret."
"Is it a will?" exclaimed Phil, in surprise.
"Yes, it is the will of the late Gerald Brent. By
it he bequeaths to you five thousand dollars."
"Then he did not forget me," said Phil, more
pleased with the assurance that he had been remembered
than by the sum of money bequeathed
to him. "But why have I not known this before?"
he asked, looking up from the will
"You must ask that of Mrs. Brent!" said Mr.
Raynor significantly.
"Do you think she suppressed it purposely?"
"I do," answered Raynor laconically.
"I must see her. Where can I find her?"
"I can only say that her letters to me are mailed
in Chicago, but she scrupulously keeps her address
a secret."
"Then I must go to Chicago. May I take this
paper with me?"
"Yes. I advise you to put it into the hands of a
lawyer for safe keeping. You will not forget that
you are indebted to me for it?"
"No, Mr. Raynor. I will take care you lose
nothing by your revelation."
The next morning Phil returned to New York.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
AT THE PALMER HOUSE.
It may be readilysupposed that Phil's New
York friends listened with the greatest attention
to his account of what he had learned in his
visit to Planktown.
"Your step-mother is certainly an unscrupulous
woman," said Mr. Carter. "Doubtless she has left
your old town in order to escape accountability to
you for your stoleninheritance. What puzzles me
however, is her leaving behind such tell-tale evidence.
It is a remarkable oversight. Do you think
she is aware of the existence of the will?"
"I think she must be, though I hope not,"
answered Phil. "I should like to think that she had
not conspired to keep back my share of father's
estate."
"At any rate, the first thing to do is evidently to
find her out, and confront her with the evidence of
her crime--that is, supposing her to be really culpable."
"Then you approve of my going to Chicago?"
said Phil.
"Most emphatically. Nay, more--I will go with
you."
"Will you indeed, sir?" said Phil joyfully. "You
are very kind. I shrank from going alone, being a
boy ignorant of business."
"A pretty shrewd boy, however," said Mr. Carter,
smiling. "I don't claim much credit, however, as I
have some interests in Chicago to which I can attend
with advantagepersonally. I am interested in a
Western railroad, the main office of which is in that
city."
"When shall we go, sir?"
"To-morrow," answered Mr. Carter promptly.
"The sooner the better. You may go down town
and procure the necessary tickets, and engage sleeping-berths."
Here followed the necessary directions, which need
not be repeated.
It is enough to say that twenty-four hours later
Phil and his employer were passengers on a lightning
express train bound for Chicago.
They arrived in due season, without any adventure
worth naming, and took rooms at the Palmer House.
Now, it so happened that in the same hotel at the
very same moment were three persons in whom
Phil was vitally interested. These were Mrs. Brent,
Jonas, otherwise called Philip Granville, and Mr.
Granville himself.
Let me explain their presence in Chicago, when,
as we know, Mr. Granville's house was situated at
some distance away.
Jonas had preferred a petition to go to Chicago
for a week, in order to attend some of the amusements
there to be enjoyed, alleging that it was awfully
dull in the country.
Mr. Granville was inclined to be very indulgent,
to make up for the long years in which he had been
compelled practically to desert his son. The petition
therefore received favor.
"It is only natural that you should wish to see
something of the city, my son," he said. "I will
grant your request. We will go to Chicago, and remain
a week at the Palmer House. Mrs. Brent, will
you accompany us?"
"With pleasure, Mr. Granville," answered that
lady. "It is not dull here for me, still I shall no
doubt enjoy a little excitement. At any rate, I
shall be best pleased to be where you and your son
are."
"Then so let it be. We will go to-morrow."
One secret wish and scheme of Mrs. Brent has
not been referred to. She felt that her present position
was a precarious one. She might at any time
be found out, and then farewell to wealth and
luxury! But if she could induce Mr. Granville to
marry her, she would then be secure, even if found
out, and Jonas would be the son of Mr. Granville,
though detected as a usurper. She, therefore, made
herself as agreeable as possible to Mr. Granville,
anticipated his every wish, and assumed the character,
which she did not possess, of a gracious and
feminine woman of unruffled good humor and
sweetness of disposition.
"I say, ma," Jonas observed on one occasion,
"you've improved ever so much since you came
here. You're a good deal better natured than you
were."
Mrs. Brent smiled, but she did not care to take
her son into her confidence.
"Here I have no cares to trouble me," she said.
"I live here in a way that suits me."
But when they were about starting for Chicago,
Mrs. Brent felt herself becoming unaccountably depressed.
"Jonas," she said, "I am sorry we are going to
Chicago."
"Why, ma? We'll have a splendid time."
"I feel as if some misfortune were impending
over us," said his mother, and she shivered apprehensively.
But it was too late to recede. Besides, Jonas
wished to go, and she had no good reason to allege
for breaking the arrangement.
CHAPTER XL.
A SCENE NOT ON THE BILLS.
Phil was in Chicago, but that was only the first
step toward finding those of whom he was in
search. Had he been sure that they were in the
city, it would have simplified matters, but the fact
that Mrs. Brent directed her letters to be sent to
that city proved nothing. It did not make it certain
that she lived in the town.
"We are only at the beginning of our perplexities,
Philip," said Mr. Carter. "Your friends may
be near us, or they may be a hundred miles away."
"That is true, sir."
"One method of finding them is barred, that of
advertising, since they undoubtedly do not care to
be found, and an advertisement would only place
them on their guard."
"What would you advise, sir?"
"We might employ a detective to watch the post-
office, but here again there might be disappointment.
Mrs. Brent might employ a third person to
call for her letters. However, I have faith to
believe that sooner or later we shall find her. Time
and patience accomplishes much."
"Were you ever a detective, sir?" asked Phil,
smiling.
"No, Philip, but I have had occasion to employ
them. Now how would you like to go to the theater
this evening?"
"Very much, sir."
"There is a good play running at McVicker's
Theatre. We will go there."
"Anywhere will suit me, Mr. Carter."
"Young people are easily satisfied," he said.
"When they get older they get more fastidious.
However, there is generally something attractive at
McVicker's."
It so happened that Philip and his employer took
a late dinner, and did not reach the theater till ten
minutes after the hour. They had seats in the
seventh row of orchestra chairs, a very eligible portion
of the house.
The curtain had risen, and Philip's attention was
given to the stage till the end of the first act. Then
he began to look around him.
Suddenly he started and half rose from his seat.
"What is the matter, Philip?" asked Mr. Carter.
"There, sir! look there!" said the boy, in excitement,
pointing to two persons in the fourth row in
front.
"Do you recognize acquaintances, Philip?"
"It is my step-mother and Jonas," answered
Philip eagerly.
"It is, indeed, wonderful!" said Mr. Carter, sharing
- suitable [´su:təbəl, ´sju:-]
a.合适的，适当的 (初中英语单词) - revenge [ri´vendʒ] vt.报复 n.报仇；报复 (初中英语单词)
- advantage [əd´vɑ:ntidʒ] n.优势；利益 (初中英语单词)
- advise [əd´vaiz] vt.忠告；建议；通知 (初中英语单词)
- readily [´redili] ad.乐意地；容易地 (初中英语单词)
- supposed [sə´pəuzd] a.想象的；假定的 (初中英语单词)
- account [ə´kaunt] vi.说明 vt.认为 n.帐目 (初中英语单词)
- stolen [´stəulən] steal 的过去分词 (初中英语单词)
- remarkable [ri´mɑ:kəbl] a.值得注意的；显著的 (初中英语单词)
- existence [ig´zistəns] n.存在；生存；生活 (初中英语单词)
- evidently [´evidəntli] ad.明显地 (初中英语单词)
- approve [ə´pru:v] v.赞成；同意；批准 (初中英语单词)
- ignorant [´ignərənt] a.无知的，愚昧的 (初中英语单词)
- procure [prə´kjuə] v.获得；完(达)成；实现 (初中英语单词)
- employer [im´plɔiə] n.雇佣者，雇主 (初中英语单词)
- otherwise [´ʌðəwaiz] ad.另外 conj.否则 (初中英语单词)
- situated [´sitʃueitid] a.位于；处于....境地 (初中英语单词)
- excitement [ik´saitmənt] n.兴奋；骚动；煽动 (初中英语单词)
- scheme [ski:m] n.计划；阴谋，诡计 (初中英语单词)
- farewell [feə´wel] int.再见 n.&a.告别 (初中英语单词)
- wealth [welθ] n.财富，财产 (初中英语单词)
- therefore [´ðeəfɔ:] ad.&conj.因此；所以 (初中英语单词)
- agreeable [ə´gri:əbəl] a.适合的；符合的 (初中英语单词)
- gracious [´greiʃəs] a.和蔼可亲的；任慈的 (初中英语单词)
- beginning [bi´giniŋ] n.开始，开端；起源 (初中英语单词)
- undoubtedly [ʌn´dautidli] ad.无疑地，确实地 (初中英语单词)
- detective [di´tektiv] n.侦探 a.侦探的 (初中英语单词)
- patience [´peiʃəns] n.忍耐(力)；耐心；坚韧 (初中英语单词)
- running [´rʌniŋ] a.奔跑的；流动的 (初中英语单词)
- attractive [ə´træktiv] a.有吸引力；诱人的 (初中英语单词)
- decided [di´saidid] a.明显的；决定的 (高中英语单词)
- assurance [ə´ʃuərəns] n.保证；自信；信任 (高中英语单词)
- learned [´lə:nid] a.有学问的，博学的 (高中英语单词)
- inheritance [in´heritəns] n.继承(物)；遗传；遗产 (高中英语单词)
- confront [kən´frʌnt] vt.(使)面对；正视 (高中英语单词)
- shrewd [ʃru:d] a.精明的；狡猾的 (高中英语单词)
- personally [´pə:sənəli] ad.亲自；就个人来说 (高中英语单词)
- petition [pi´tiʃən] n.请愿 vt.向...请愿 (高中英语单词)
- misfortune [mis´fɔ:tʃən] n.不幸；灾祸 (高中英语单词)
- finding [´faindiŋ] n.发现物；判断；结果 (高中英语单词)
- advertisement [əd´və:tismənt] n.(做)广告；宣传 (高中英语单词)
- orchestra [´ɔ:kistrə] n.管弦乐队 (高中英语单词)
- chicago [ʃi´kɑ:gəu] n.芝加哥 (英语四级单词)
- joyfully [´dʒɔifuli] ad.高兴地，快乐地 (英语四级单词)
- precarious [pri´keəriəs] a.不安定的；危险的 (英语四级单词)
- acknowledgment [ək´nɔlidʒmənt] n.承认；鸣谢 (英语六级单词)
- legally [´li:gəli] ad.合法地 (英语六级单词)
- indebted [in´detid] a.负债的；感恩的 (英语六级单词)
- palmer [´pɑ:mə] n.朝圣者；变戏法的人 (英语六级单词)
- emphatically [im´fætikəli] ad.强调地；断然地 (英语六级单词)
- shrank [ʃræŋk] shrink的过去式 (英语六级单词)
- recede [ri´si:d] vi.后退；收回 vt.交还 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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