the financier-第107部分
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onal uprisings which so shocked the political leaders generallywho had to be looked after in a friendly way。
Desmas was quite aware； of course； of the history of Cowperwood and Stener。 The politicians had already given him warning that Stener； because of his past services to the community； was to be treated with special consideration。 Not so much was said about Cowperwood； although they did admit that his lot was rather hard。 Perhaps he might do a little something for him but at his own risk。
〃Butler is down on him；〃 Strobik said to Desmas； on one occasion。 〃It's that girl of his that's at the bottom of it all。 If you listened to Butler you'd feed him on bread and water； but he isn't a bad fellow。 As a matter of fact； if George had had any sense Cowperwood wouldn't be where he is to…day。 But the big fellows wouldn't let Stener alone。 They wouldn't let him give Cowperwood any money。〃
Although Strobik had been one of those who； under pressure from Mollenhauer； had advised Stener not to let Cowperwood have any more money； yet here he was pointing out the folly of the victim's course。 The thought of the inconsistency involved did not trouble him in the least。
Desmas decided； therefore； that if Cowperwood were persona non grata to the 〃Big Three；〃 it might be necessary to be indifferent to him； or at least slow in extending him any special favors。 For Stener a good chair； clean linen； special cutlery and dishes； the daily papers； privileges in the matter of mail； the visits of friends； and the like。 For Cowperwoodwell； he would have to look at Cowperwood and see what he thought。 At the same time； Steger's intercessions were not without their effect on Desmas。 So the morning after Cowperwood's entrance the warden received a letter from Terrence Relihan； the Harrisburg potentate； indicating that any kindness shown to Mr。 Cowperwood would be duly appreciated by him。 Upon the receipt of this letter Desmas went up and looked through Cowperwood's iron door。 On the way he had a brief talk with Chapin； who told him what a nice man he thought Cowperwood was。
Desmas had never seen Cowperwood before； but in spite of the shabby uniform； the clog shoes； the cheap shirt； and the wretched cell； he was impressed。 Instead of the weak； anaemic body and the shifty eyes of the average prisoner； he saw a man whose face and form blazed energy and power； and whose vigorous erectness no wretched clothes or conditions could demean。 He lifted his head when Desmas appeared； glad that any form should have appeared at his door； and looked at him with large； clear； examining eyesthose eyes that in the past had inspired so much confidence and surety in all those who had known him。 Desmas was stirred。 Compared with Stener； whom he knew in the past and whom he had met on his entry； this man was a force。 Say what you will； one vigorous man inherently respects another。 And Desmas was vigorous physically。 He eyed Cowperwood and Cowperwood eyed him。 Instinctly Desmas liked him。 He was like one tiger looking at another。
Instinctively Cowperwood knew that he was the warden。 This is Mr。 Desmas； isn't it？〃 he asked； courteously and pleasantly。
〃Yes； sir； I'm the man；〃 replied Desmas interestedly。 〃These rooms are not as comfortable as they might be； are they？〃 The warden's even teeth showed in a friendly； yet wolfish； way。
〃They certainly are not； Mr。 Desmas；〃 replied Cowperwood； standing very erect and soldier…like。 〃I didn't imagine I was coming to a hotel； however。〃 He smiled。
〃There isn't anything special I can do for you； is there； Mr。 Cowperwood？〃 began Desmas curiously； for he was moved by a thought that at some time or other a man such as this might be of service to him。 〃I've been talking to your lawyer。〃 Cowperwood was intensely gratified by the Mr。 So that was the way the wind was blowing。 Well； then； within reason； things might not prove so bad here。 He would see。 He would sound this man out。
〃I don't want to be asking anything； Warden； which you cannot reasonably give；〃 he now returned politely。 〃But there are a few things； of course； that I would change if I could。 I wish I might have sheets for my bed； and I could afford better underwear if you would let me wear it。 This that I have on annoys me a great deal。〃
〃They're not the best wool； that's true enough；〃 replied Desmas； solemnly。 〃They're made for the State out here in Pennsylvania somewhere。 I suppose there's no objection to your wearing your own underwear if you want to。 I'll see about that。 And the sheets； too。 We might let you use them if you have them。 We'll have to go a little slow about this。 There are a lot of people that take a special interest in showing the warden how to tend to his business。〃
〃I can readily understand that； Warden；〃 went on Cowperwood briskly； 〃and I'm certainly very much obliged to you。 You may be sure that anything you do for me here will be appreciated； and not misused； and that I have friends on the outside who can reciprocate for me in the course of time。〃 He talked slowly and emphatically； looking Desmas directly in the eye all of the time。 Desmas was very much impressed。
〃That's all right；〃 he said； now that he had gone so far as to be friendly。 〃I can't promise much。 Prison rules are prison rules。 But there are some things that can be done； because it's the rule to do them for other men when they behave themselves。 You can have a better chair than that； if you want it； and something to read too。 If you're in business yet； I wouldn't want to do anything to stop that。 We can't have people running in and out of here every fifteen minutes； and you can't turn a cell into a business office that's not possible。 It would break up the order of the place。 Still； there's no reason why you shouldn't see some of your friends now and then。 As for your mailwell； that will have to be opened in the ordinary way for the time being； anyhow。 I'll have to see about that。 I can't promise too much。 You'll have to wait until you come out of this block and down…stairs。 Some of the cells have a yard there； if there are any empty〃 The warden cocked his eye wisely； and Cowperwood saw that his tot was not to be as bad as he had anticipatedthough bad enough。 The warden spoke to him about the different trades he might follow； and asked him to think about the one he would prefer。 〃You want to have something to keep your hands busy； whatever else you want。 You'll find you'll need that。 Everybody here wants to work after a time。 I notice that。〃
Cowperwood understood and thanked Desmas profusely。 The horror of idleness in silence and in a cell scarcely large enough to turn around in comfortably had already begun to creep over him； and the thought of being able to see Wingate and Steger frequently； and to have his mail reach him； after a time； untampered with； was a great relief。 He was to have his own underwear； silk and wool thank God！and perhaps they would let him take off these shoes after a while。 With these modifications and a trade； and perhaps the little yard which Desmas had referred to； his life would be； if not ideal； at least tolerable。 The prison was still a prison； but it looked as though it might not be so much of a terror to him as obviously it must be to many。
During the two weeks in which Cowperwood was in the 〃manners squad；〃 in care of Chapin； he learned nearly as much as he ever learned of the general nature of prison life； for this was not an ordinary penitentiary in the sense that the prison yard； the prison squad； the prison lock…step； the prison dining…room； and prison associated labor make the ordinary penitentiary。 There was； for him and for most of those confined there； no general prison life whatsoever。 The large majority were supposed to work silently in their cells at the particular tasks assigned them； and not to know anything of the remainder of the life which went on around them； the rule of this prison being solitary confinement； and few being permitted to work at the limited number of outside menial tasks provided。 Indeed； as he sensed and as old Chapin soon informed him； not more than seventy…five of the four hundred prisoners confined here were so employed； and not all of these regularlycooking； gardening in season； milling； and general cleaning being the only avenues of escape from solitude。 Even those who so worked were strictly forbidden to talk； and although they did not have to wear the objectionable hood when actually employed； they were supposed to wear it in going to and from their work。 Cowperwood saw them occasionally tramping by his cell door； and it struck him as strange； uncanny； grim。 He wished sincerely at times since old Chapin was so genial and talkative that he were to be under him permanently； but it was not to be。
His two weeks soon passeddrearily enough in all conscience but they passed； interlaced with his few commonplace tasks of bed…making； floor…sweeping； dressing； eating； undressing； rising at five…thirty； and retiring at nine； washing his several dishes after each meal； etc。 He thought he would never get used to the food。 Breakfast； as has been said； was at six…thirty； and consisted of coarse black bread made of bran and some white flo
