the financier-第101部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　ever　steal　anything。　　Get　something　to　do！　Don't　steal；　do　you　hear？　Don't　touch　anything　that　doesn't　belong　to　you！　Don't　come　back　here！　If　you　do；　I'll　send　you　to　the　penitentiary；　sure。〃

〃Yassah！　No；　sah；　I　won't；〃　replied　Ackerman；　nervously。　　〃I　won't　take　nothin'　more　that　don't　belong　tuh　me。〃

He　shuffled　away；　after　a　moment；　urged　along　by　the　guiding　hand　of　a　bailiff；　and　was　put　safely　outside　the　court；　amid　a　mixture　of　smiles　and　laughter　over　his　simplicity　and　Payderson's　undue　severity　of　manner。　　But　the　next　case　was　called　and　soon　engrossed　the　interest　of　the　audience。

It　was　that　of　the　two　housebreakers　whom　Cowperwood　had　been　and　was　still　studying　with　much　curiosity。　　In　all　his　life　before　he　had　never　witnessed　a　sentencing　scene　of　any　kind。　　He　had　never　been　in　police　or　criminal　courts　of　any　kindrarely　in　any　of　the　civil　ones。　　He　was　glad　to　see　the　negro　go；　and　gave　Payderson　credit　for　having　some　sense　and　sympathymore　than　he　had　expected。

He　wondered　now　whether　by　any　chance　Aileen　was　here。　　He　had　objected　to　her　coming；　but　she　might　have　done　so。　　She　was；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　in　the　extreme　rear；　pocketed　in　a　crowd　near　the　door；　heavily　veiled；　but　present。　　She　had　not　been　able　to　resist　the　desire　to　know　quickly　and　surely　her　beloved's　fate　to　be　near　him　in　his　hour　of　real　suffering；　as　she　thought。　　She　was　greatly　angered　at　seeing　him　brought　in　with　a　line　of　ordinary　criminals　and　made　to　wait　in　this；　to　her；　shameful　public　manner；　but　she　could　not　help　admiring　all　the　more　the　dignity　and　superiority　of　his　presence　even　here。　　He　was　not　even　pale；　as　she　saw；　just　the　same　firm；　calm　soul　she　had　always　known　him　to　be。　　If　he　could　only　see　her　now；　if　he　would　only　look　so　she　could　lift　her　veil　and　smile！　He　didn't；　though；　he　wouldn't。　　He　didn't　want　to　see　her　here。　　But　she　would　tell　him　all　about　it　when　she　saw　him　again　just　the　same。

The　two　burglars　were　quickly　disposed　of　by　the　judge；　with　a　sentence　of　one　year　each；　and　they　were　led　away；　uncertain；　and　apparently　not　knowing　what　to　think　of　their　crime　or　their　future。

When　it　came　to　Cowperwood's　turn　to　be　called；　his　honor　himself　stiffened　and　straightened　up；　for　this　was　a　different　type　of　man　and　could　not　be　handled　in　the　usual　manner。　　He　knew　exactly　what　he　was　going　to　say。　　When　one　of　Mollenhauer's　agents；　a　close　friend　of　Butler's；　had　suggested　that　five　years　for　both　Cowperwood　and　Stener　would　be　about　right；　he　knew　exactly　what　to　do。　　〃Frank　Algernon　Cowperwood；〃　called　the　clerk。

Cowperwood　stepped　briskly　forward；　sorry　for　himself；　ashamed　of　his　position　in　a　way；　but　showing　it　neither　in　look　nor　manner。　Payderson　eyed　him　as　he　had　the　others。

〃Name？〃　asked　the　bailiff；　for　the　benefit　of　the　court　stenographer。

〃Frank　Algernon　Cowperwood。〃

〃Residence？〃

〃1937　Girard　Avenue。〃

〃Occupation？〃

〃Banker　and　broker。〃

Steger　stood　close　beside　him；　very　dignified；　very　forceful；　ready　to　make　a　final　statement　for　the　benefit　of　the　court　and　the　public　when　the　time　should　come。　　Aileen；　from　her　position　in　the　crowd　near　the　door；　was　for　the　first　time　in　her　life　biting　her　fingers　nervously　and　there　were　great　beads　of　perspiration　on　her　brow。　　Cowperwood's　father　was　tense　with　excitement　and　his　two　brothers　looked　quickly　away；　doing　their　best　to　hide　their　fear　and　sorrow。

〃Ever　convicted　before？〃

〃Never；〃　replied　Steger　for　Cowperwood；　quietly。

〃Frank　Algernon　Cowperwood；〃　called　the　clerk；　in　his　nasal；　singsong　way；　coming　forward；　〃have　you　anything　to　say　why　judgment　should　not　now　be　pronounced　upon　you？　If　so；　speak。〃

Cowperwood　started　to　say　no；　but　Steger　put　up　his　hand。

〃If　the　court　pleases；　my　client；　Mr。　Cowperwood；　the　prisoner　at　the　bar；　is　neither　guilty　in　his　own　estimation；　nor　in　that　of　two…fifths　of　the　Pennsylvania　State　Supreme　Courtthe　court　of　last　resort　in　this　State；〃　he　exclaimed；　loudly　and　clearly；　so　that　all　might　hear。

One　of　the　interested　listeners　and　spectators　at　this　point　was　Edward　Malia　Butler；　who　had　just　stepped　in　from　another　courtroom　where　he　had　been　talking　to　a　judge。　　An　obsequious　court　attendant　had　warned　him　that　Cowperwood　was　about　to　be　sentenced。　　He　had　really　come　here　this　morning　in　order　not　to　miss　this　sentence；　but　he　cloaked　his　motive　under　the　guise　of　another　errand。　　He　did　not　know　that　Aileen　was　there；　nor　did　he　see　her。

〃As　he　himself　testified　at　the　time　of　his　trial；〃　went　on　Steger；　〃and　as　the　evidence　clearly　showed；　he　was　never　more　than　an　agent　for　the　gentleman　whose　offense　was　subsequently　adjudicated　by　this　court；　and　as　an　agent　he　still　maintains；　and　two…fifths　of　the　State　Supreme　Court　agree　with　him；　that　he　was　strictly　within　his　rights　and　privileges　in　not　having　deposited　the　sixty　thousand　dollars'　worth　of　city　loan　certificates　at　the　time；　and　in　the　manner　which　the　people；　acting　through　the　district　attorney；　complained　that　he　should　have。　　My　client　is　a　man　of　rare　financial　ability。　　By　the　various　letters　which　have　been　submitted　to　your　honor　in　his　behalf；　you　will　see　that　he　commands　the　respect　and　the　sympathy　of　a　large　majority　of　the　most　forceful　and　eminent　men　in　his　particular　world。　　He　is　a　man　of　distinguished　social　standing　and　of　notable　achievements。　　Only　the　most　unheralded　and　the　unkindest　thrust　of　fortune　has　brought　him　here　before　you　todaya　fire　and　its　consequent　panic　which　involved　a　financial　property　of　the　most　thorough　and　stable　character。　　In　spite　of　the　verdict　of　the　jury　and　the　decision　of　three…fifths　of　the　State　Supreme　Court；　I　maintain　that　my　client　is　not　an　embezzler；　that　he　has　not　committed　larceny；　that　he　should　never　have　been　convicted；　and　that　he　should　not　now　be　punished　for　something　of　which　he　is　not　guilty。

〃I　trust　that　your　honor　will　not　misunderstand　me　or　my　motives　when　I　point　out　in　this　situation　that　what　I　have　said　is　true。　I　do　not　wish　to　cast　any　reflection　on　the　integrity　of　the　court；　nor　of　any　court；　nor　of　any　of　the　processes　of　law。　　But　I　do　condemn　and　deplore　the　untoward　chain　of　events　which　has　built　up　a　seeming　situation；　not　easily　understood　by　the　lay　mind；　and　which　has　brought　my　distinguished　client　within　the　purview　of　the　law。　　I　think　it　is　but　fair　that　this　should　be　finally　and　publicly　stated　here　and　now。　　I　ask　that　your　honor　be　lenient；　and　that　if　you　cannot　conscientiously　dismiss　this　charge　you　will　at　least　see　that　the　facts；　as　I　have　indicated　them；　are　given　due　weight　in　the　measure　of　the　punishment　inflicted。〃

Steger　stepped　back　and　Judge　Payderson　nodded；　as　much　as　to　say　he　had　heard　all　the　distinguished　lawyer　had　to　say；　and　would　give　it　such　consideration　as　it　deservedno　more。　　Then　he　turned　to　Cowperwood；　and；　summoning　all　his　judicial　dignity　to　his　aid；　he　began：

〃Frank　Algernon　Cowperwood；　you　have　been　convicted　by　a　jury　of　your　own　selection　of　the　offense　of　larceny。　　The　motion　for　a　new　trial；　made　in　your　behalf　by　your　learned　counsel；　has　been　carefully　considered　and　overruled；　the　majority　of　the　court　being　entirely　satisfied　with　the　propriety　of　the　conviction；　both　upon　the　law　and　the　evidence。　　Your　offense　was　one　of　more　than　usual　gravity；　the　more　so　that　the　large　amount　of　money　which　you　obtained　belonged　to　the　city。　　And　it　was　aggravated　by　the　fact　that　you　had　in　addition　thereto　unlawfully　used　and　converted　to　your　own　use　several　hundred　thousand　dollars　of　the　loan　and　money　of　the　city。　　For　such　an　offense　the　maximum　punishment　affixed　by　the　law　is　singularly　merciful。　　Nevertheless；　the　facts　in　connection　with　your　hitherto　distinguished　position；　the　circumstances　under　which　your　failure　was　brought　about；　and　the　appeals　of　your　numerous　friends　and　financial　associates；　will　be　given　due　consideration　by　this　court。　　It　is　not　unmindful　of　any　important　fact　in　your　career。〃　　Payderson　paused　as　if　in　doubt；　though　he　knew　very　well　how　he　was　about　to　proceed。　　He　knew　what　his　superiors　expected　of　him。

〃If　your　case　points　no　other　moral；〃　he　went　on；　after　a　moment；　toying　with　the　briefs；　〃it　will　at　least　teach　the　lesson　much　needed　at　the　present　time；　that　the　treasury　of　the　city　is　not　to　be　invaded　and　plundered　with　impunity　under　the　thin　disguise　of　a　business　transaction；　and　that　there　is　still　a　power　in　the　law　to　vindicate　itself　and　to　protect　the　public。

〃The　sentence　of　the　court；〃　he　added；　solemnly；　the　while　Cowperwood　gazed　unmoved；　〃is；　therefore；　that　you　pay　a　fine　of　five　thousand　dollars　to　the　commonwealth　for　the　use　of　the　county；　that　you　pay　the　costs　of　prosecution；　and　that　you　undergo　imprisonment　in　the　State　Penitentiary　for　the　Eastern　District　by　separate　or　solitary　confinement　at　labor　for　a　period　of　four　years　and　three　months；　and　that　you　stand　committed　until　this　sentence　is　complied　with。〃

Cowperwood's　father；　on　hearing　this；　bowed　his　head　to　hide　his　tears。　　Aileen　bit　her　lower　lip　and　clenched　her　hands　to　keep　down　her　rage　and　disappointment　and　tears。　　Four　years　and　three　months！　That　would　make　a　terrible　gap　in