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When the World Shook-Part2_H.Rider Haggard(1856-1925)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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bad turn. Again I could follow my own ideas in life and perhaps



work good in the world, and live in such surroundings as

commended themselves to me. It was as clear as daylight, but--how



to make the money?

I had some capital as the result of my father's death, about



?,000 in all, plus a little more that my two books had brought

in. In what way could I employ it to the best advantage? I



remembered that a cousin of my father and therefore my own, was a

successful stock-broker, also that there had been some affection



between them. I went to him, he was a good, easy-natured man who

was frankly glad to see me, and offered to put ?,000 into his



business, for I was not minded to risk every thing I had, if he

would give me a share in the profits. He laughed heartily at my



audacity.

"Why, my boy," he said, "being totallyinexperienced at this



game, you might lose us more than that in a month. But I like

your courage, I like your courage, and the truth is that I do



want help. I will think it over and write to you."

He thought it over and in the end offered to try me for a year



at a fixed salary with a promise of some kind of a partnership" target="_blank" title="n.合伙关系">partnership if

I suited him. Meanwhile my ?,000 remained in my pocket.



I accepted, not without reluctance since with the impatience of

youth I wanted everything at once. I worked hard in that office



and soon mastered the business, for my knowledge of figures--I

had taken a first-classmathematical degree at college--came to



my aid, as in a way did my acquaintance with Law and Literature.

Moreover I had a certain aptitude for what is called high



finance. Further, Fortune, as usual, showed me a favourable face.

In one year I got the partnership" target="_blank" title="n.合伙关系">partnership with a small share in the



large profits of the business. In two the partner above me

retired, and I took his place with a third share of the firm. In



three my cousin, satisfied that it was in able hands, began to

cease his attendance at the office and betook himself to



gardening which was his hobby. In four I paid him out altogether,

although to do this I had to borrow money on our credit, for by



agreement the title of the firm was continued. Then came that

extraordinary time of boom which many will remember to their



cost. I made a bold stroke and won. On a certain Saturday when

the books were made up, I found that after discharging all



liabilities, I should not be worth more than ?0,000. On the

following Saturday but two when the books were made up, I was



worth ?53,000! L'appetit vient en mangeant. It seemed nothing

to me when so many were worth millions.



For the next year I worked as few have done, and when I struck

a balance at the end of it, I found that on the most conservative



estimate I was the owner of a million and a half in hard cash, or

its equivalent. I was so tired out that I remember this discovery



did not excite me at all. I felt utterly weary of all wealth-

hunting and of the City and its ways. Moreover my old



fastidiousness and lack of perseverance re-asserted themselves. I

reflected, rather late in the day perhaps, on the ruin that this



speculation was bringing to thousands, of which some lamentable

instances had recently come to my notice, and once more



considered whether it were a suitablecareer for an upright man.

I had wealth; why should I not take it and enjoy life?



Also--and here my business acumen came in, I was sure that

these times could not last. It is easy to make money on a rising



market, but when it is falling the matter is very different. In

five minutes I made up my mind. I sent for my juniorpartners,



for I had taken in two, and told them that I intended to retire

at once. They were dismayed both at my loss, for really I was the



firm, and because, as they pointed out, if I withdrew all my

capital, there would not be sufficient left to enable them to



carry on.

One of them, a blunt and honest man, said to my face that it



would be dishonourable of me to do so. I was inclined to answer

him sharply, then remembered that his words were true.



"Very well," I said, "I will leave you ?00,000 on which you




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