第 1 节
作者:风格1      更新:2021-09-29 13:03      字数:9322
  Vera; The Medium
  by Richard Harding Davis
  Part I
  Happy in the hope that the news was 〃exclusive〃; the Despatch
  had thrown the name of Stephen Hallowell; his portrait; a
  picture of his house; and the words; 〃At Point of Death!〃 across
  three columns。 The announcement was heavy; lachrymose; bristling
  with the melancholy self…importance of the man who 〃saw the
  deceased; just two minutes before the train hit him。〃
  But the effect of the news fell short of the effort。 Save that
  city editors were irritated that the presidents of certain
  railroads figured hastily on slips of paper; the fact that an
  old man and his millions would soon be parted; left New York
  undisturbed。
  In the early 80's this would not have been so。 Then; in the
  uplifting of the far West; Stephen Hallowell was a national
  figure; in the manoeuvres of the Eastern stock market an active;
  alert power。 In those days; when a man with a few millions was
  still listed as rich; his fortune was considered colossal。
  A patent coupling…pin; the invention of his brother…in…law; had
  given him his start; and; in introducing it; and in his efforts
  to force it upon the new railroads of the West; he had obtained
  a knowledge of their affairs。 From that knowledge came his
  wealth。 That was twenty years ago。 Since then giants had arisen
  in the land; men whose wealth made the fortune of Stephen
  Hallowell appear a comfortable competence; his schemes and
  stratagems; which; in their day; had bewildered Wall Street; as
  simple as the trading across the counter of a cross…roads store。
  For years he had been out of it。 He had lost count。 Disuse and
  ill health had rendered his mind feeble; made him at times
  suspicious; at times childishly credulous。 Without friends;
  along with his physician and the butler; who was also his nurse;
  he lived in the house that in 76; in a burst of vanity; he had
  built on Fifth Avenue。 Then the house was a 〃mansion;〃 and its
  front of brown sandstone the outward sign of wealth and fashion。
  Now; on one side; it rubbed shoulders with the shop of a man
  milliner; and across the street the houses had been torn down
  and replaced by a department store。 Now; instead of a sombre
  jail…like facade; his outlook was a row of waxen ladies; who;
  before each change of season; appeared in new and gorgeous
  raiment; and; across the avenue; for his approval; smiled
  continually。
  〃It is time you moved; Stephen;〃 urged his friend and lawyer;
  Judge Henry Gaylor。 〃I can get you twice as much for this lot as
  you paid for both it and the house。〃
  But Mr。 Hallowell always shook his head。 〃 Where would I go;
  Henry?〃 he would ask。 〃What would I do with the money? No; I
  will live in this house until I am carried out of it。〃
  With distaste; the irritated city editors 〃followed up〃 the
  three…column story of the Despatch。
  〃Find out if there's any truth in that;〃 they commanded。 〃The
  old man won't see you; but get a talk out of Rainey。 And see
  Judge Gaylor。 He's close to Hallowell。 Find out from him if that
  story didn't start as a bear yarn in Wall Street。〃
  So; when Walsh of the Despatch was conducted by Garrett; the
  butler of Mr。 Hallowell; upstairs to that gentlemen's library;
  he found a group of reporters already entrenched。 At the door
  that opened from the library to the bedroom; the butler paused。
  〃What paper shall I say?〃 he asked。
  〃The Despatch;〃 Walsh told him。
  The servant turned quickly and stared at Walsh。
  He appeared the typical butler; an Englishman of over forty;
  heavily built; soft… moving; with ruddy; smooth…shaven cheeks
  and prematurely gray hair。 But now from his face the look of
  perfunctory politeness had fallen; the subdued voice had changed
  to a snarl that carried with it the accents of the Tenderloin。
  〃So; you're the one; are you?〃 the man muttered。
  For a moment he stood scowling; insolent; almost threatening;
  and then; once more; the servant opened the door and noiselessly
  closed it behind him。
  The transition had been so abrupt; the revelation so unexpected;
  that the men laughed。
  〃I don't blame him!〃 said young Irving。 〃I couldn't find a
  single fact in the whole story。 How'd your people get it
  pretty straight?〃
  〃Seemed straight to us;〃 said Walsh。
  〃Well; you didn't handle it that way;〃 returned the other。 〃Why
  didn't you quote Rainey or Gaylor? It seems to me if a man's on
  the point of death〃  he lowered his voice and glanced toward
  the closed door  〃that his private doctor and his lawyer might
  know something about it。〃
  Standing alone with his back to the window was a reporter who
  had greeted no one and to whom no one had spoken。
  Had he held himself erect he would have been tall; but he stood
  slouching lazily; his shoulders bent; his hands in his pockets。
  When he spoke his voice was in keeping with the indolence of his
  bearing。 It was soft; hesitating; carrying with it the courteous
  deference of the South。 Only his eyes showed that to what was
  going forward he was alert and attentive。
  〃Is Dr。 Rainey Mr。 Hallowell's family doctor?〃 he asked。
  Irving surveyed him in amused superiority。
  〃He is!〃 he answered。 You been long in New York?〃 he asked。
  Upon the stranger the sarcasm was lost; or he chose to ignore
  it; for he answered simply; 〃No; I'm a New Orleans boy。 I've
  just been taken on the Republic。〃
  〃Welcome to our city;〃 said Irving。 〃What do you think of our
  Main Street?〃
  From the hall a tall portly man entered the room with the
  assurance of one much at home here and; with an exclamation;
  Irving fell upon him。
  〃Good morning; Judge;〃 he called。 He waved at him the clipping
  from the Despatch。 〃Have you seen this?〃
  Judge Gaylor accepted the slip of paper gingerly; and in turn
  moved his fine head pompously toward each of the young men。 Most
  of them were known to him; but for the moment he preferred to
  appear too deeply concerned to greet them。 With an expression of
  shocked indignation; he recognized only Walsh。
  〃Yes; I have seen it;〃 he said; 〃and there is not a word of
  truth in it! Mr。 Walsh; I am surprised! You; of all people!〃
  〃We got it on very good authority;〃 said the reporter。
  〃But why not call me up and get the facts?〃 demanded the Judge。
  〃I was here until twelve o'clock; and  〃
  〃Here!〃 interrupted Irving。 〃Then he did have a collapse?〃
  Judge Gaylor swung upon his heel。
  〃Certainly not;〃 he retorted angrily。 〃I was here on business;
  and I have never known his mind more capable; more alert。〃 He
  lifted his hands with an enthusiastic gesture。 〃I wish you could
  have seen him!〃
  〃Well;〃 urged Irving; 〃how about our seeing him now?〃
  For a moment Judge Gaylor permitted his annoyance to appear; but
  he at once recovered and; murmuring cheerfully; 〃Certainly;
  certainly; I'll try to arrange it;〃 turned to the butler who had
  re…entered the room。
  〃Garett;〃 he inquired; 〃is Mr。 Hallowell awake yet?〃 As he asked
  the question his eyebrows rose; with an almost imperceptible
  shake of the head he signaled for an answer in the negative。
  〃Well; there you are!〃 the Judge exclaimed heartily。 〃I can't
  wake him; even to oblige you。 In a word; gentlemen; Stephen
  Hallowell has never been in better health; mentally and bodily。
  You can say that from me  and that's all there is to say。〃
  〃Then; we can say;〃 persisted Irving; 〃that you say; that
  Walsh's story is a fake?〃
  〃You can say it is not true;〃 corrected Gaylor。 〃That's all;
  gentlemen。〃 The audience was at an end。 The young men moved
  toward the hall and Judge Gaylor turned to the bedroom。 As he
  did so; he found that the new man on the Republic still held his
  ground。
  〃Could I have a word with you; sir?〃 the stranger asked。 The
  reporters halted jealously。 Again Gaylor showed his impatience。
  〃About Mr。 Hallowell's health?〃 he demanded。 〃There's nothing
  more to say。〃
  〃No; it's not about his health;〃 ventured the reporter。
  〃Well; not now。 I am very late this morning。〃 The Judge again
  moved to the bedroom and the reporter; as though accepting the
  verdict; started to follow the others。 As he did so; as though
  in explanation or as a warning he added: 〃You said to always
  come to you for the facts。〃 The lawyer halted; hesitated。 〃What
  facts do you want?〃 he asked。 The reporter bowed; and waved his
  broad felt hat toward the listening men。 In polite embarrassment
  he explained what he had to say could not be spoken in their
  presence。
  Something in the manner of the stranger led Judge Gaylor to
  pause。 He directed Garrett to accompany the reporters from the
  room。 Then; with mock politeness; he turned to the one who
  remained。 〃I take it; you are a new comer in New York
  journalism。 What is your name?〃 he asked。
  〃My name is Homer Lee;〃 said the Southerner。 〃I am a New Orleans
  boy。 I've been only a month in your city。 Judge;〃 he began
  earnestly; but in a voice which still held the drawl of the
  South; 〃I met a man from home last week on Broadway。 He belonged
  to that spiritualistic school on Carondelet Street。 He knows all
  that's going on in the spook world; and he tells me the ghost
  raisers have got their hooks into the old man pretty deep。 Is
  that so?〃
  The bewilderment of Judge Gaylor was complete and; without
  question; ge