the financier-第15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！
the principal。 The interest goes to him。〃
Cowperwood understood。 All these city and State officials speculated。 They had a habit of depositing city and State funds with certain bankers and brokers as authorized agents or designated State depositories。 The banks paid no interestsave to the officials personally。 They loaned it to certain brokers on the officials' secret order； and the latter invested it in 〃sure winners。〃 The bankers got the free use of the money a part of the time； the brokers another part： the officials made money； and the brokers received a fat commission。 There was a political ring in Philadelphia in which the mayor； certain members of the council； the treasurer； the chief of police； the commissioner of public works； and others shared。 It was a case generally of 〃You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours。〃 Cowperwood thought it rather shabby work at first； but many men were rapidly getting rich and no one seemed to care。 The newspapers were always talking about civic patriotism and pride but never a word about these things。 And the men who did them were powerful and respected。
There were many houses； a constantly widening circle； that found him a very trustworthy agent in disposing of note issues or note payment。 He seemed to know so quickly where to go to get the money。 From the first he made it a principle to keep twenty thousand dollars in cash on hand in order to be able to take up a proposition instantly and without discussion。 So； often he was able to say； 〃Why； certainly； I can do that；〃 when otherwise； on the face of things； he would not have been able to do so。 He was asked if he would not handle certain stock transactions on 'change。 He had no seat； and he intended not to take any at first； but now he changed his mind； and bought one； not only in Philadelphia； but in New York also。 A certain Joseph Zimmerman； a dry…goods man for whom he had handled various note issues； suggested that he undertake operating in street…railway shares for him； and this was the beginning of his return to the floor。
In the meanwhile his family life was changinggrowing； one might have said； finer and more secure。 Mrs。 Cowperwood had； for instance； been compelled from time to time to make a subtle readjustment of her personal relationship with people； as he had with his。 When Mr。 Semple was alive she had been socially connected with tradesmen principallyretailers and small wholesalersa very few。 Some of the women of her own church； the First Presbyterian； were friendly with her。 There had been church teas and sociables which she and Mr。 Semple attended； and dull visits to his relatives and hers。 The Cowperwoods； the Watermans； and a few families of that caliber； had been the notable exceptions。 Now all this was changed。 Young Cowperwood did not care very much for her relatives； and the Semples had been alienated by her second； and to them outrageous； marriage。 His own family was closely interested by ties of affection and mutual prosperity； but； better than this； he was drawing to himself some really significant personalities。 He brought home with him； sociallynot to talk business； for he disliked that ideabankers； investors； customers and prospective customers。 Out on the Schuylkill； the Wissahickon； and elsewhere； were popular dining places where one could drive on Sunday。 He and Mrs。 Cowperwood frequently drove out to Mrs。 Seneca Davis's； to Judge Kitchen's； to the home of Andrew Sharpless； a lawyer whom he knew； to the home of Harper Steger； his own lawyer； and others。 Cowperwood had the gift of geniality。 None of these men or women suspected the depth of his naturehe was thinking； thinking； thinking； but enjoyed life as he went。
One of his earliest and most genuine leanings was toward paintings。 He admired nature； but somehow； without knowing why； he fancied one could best grasp it through the personality of some interpreter； just as we gain our ideas of law and politics through individuals。 Mrs。 Cowperwood cared not a whit one way or another； but she accompanied him to exhibitions； thinking all the while that Frank was a little peculiar。 He tried； because he loved her； to interest her in these things intelligently； but while she pretended slightly； she could not really see or care； and it was very plain that she could not。
The children took up a great deal of her time。 However； Cowperwood was not troubled about this。 It struck him as delightful and exceedingly worth while that she should be so devoted。 At the same time； her lethargic manner； vague smile and her sometimes seeming indifference； which sprang largely from a sense of absolute security； attracted him also。 She was so different from him！ She took her second marriage quite as she had taken her firsta solemn fact which contained no possibility of mental alteration。 As for himself； however； he was bustling about in a world which； financially at least； seemed all alterationthere were so many sudden and almost unheard…of changes。 He began to look at her at times； with a speculative eyenot very critically； for he liked herbut with an attempt to weigh her personality。 He had known her five years and more now。 What did he know about her？ The vigor of youththose first yearshad made up for so many things； but now that he had her safely。。。
There came in this period the slow approach； and finally the declaration； of war between the North and the South； attended with so much excitement that almost all current minds were notably colored by it。 It was terrific。 Then came meetings； public and stirring； and riots； the incident of John Brown's body； the arrival of Lincoln； the great commoner； on his way from Springfield； Illinois； to Washington via Philadelphia； to take the oath of office； the battle of Bull Run； the battle of Vicksburg； the battle of Gettysburg； and so on。 Cowperwood was only twenty…five at the time； a cool； determined youth； who thought the slave agitation might be well founded in human rightsno doubt was but exceedingly dangerous to trade。 He hoped the North would win； but it might go hard with him personally and other financiers。 He did not care to fight。 That seemed silly for the individual man to do。 Others mightthere were many poor； thin…minded； half…baked creatures who would put themselves up to be shot； but they were only fit to be commanded or shot down。 As for him； his life was sacred to himself and his family and his personal interests。 He recalled seeing； one day； in one of the quiet side streets； as the working…men were coming home from their work； a small enlisting squad of soldiers in blue marching enthusiastically along； the Union flag flying； the drummers drumming； the fifes blowing； the idea being； of course； to so impress the hitherto indifferent or wavering citizen； to exalt him to such a pitch； that he would lose his sense of proportion； of self…interest； and； forgetting all wife； parents； home； and childrenand seeing only the great need of the country； fall in behind and enlist。 He saw one workingman swinging his pail； and evidently not contemplating any such denouement to his day's work； pause； listen as the squad approached； hesitate as it drew close； and as it passed； with a peculiar look of uncertainty or wonder in his eyes； fall in behind and march solemnly away to the enlisting quarters。 What was it that had caught this man； Frank asked himself。 How was he overcome so easily？ He had not intended to go。 His face was streaked with the grease and dirt of his workhe looked like a foundry man or machinist； say twenty…five years of age。 Frank watched the little squad disappear at the end of the street round the corner under the trees。
This current war…spirit was strange。 The people seemed to him to want to hear nothing but the sound of the drum and fife； to see nothing but troops； of which there were thousands now passing through on their way to the front； carrying cold steel in the shape of guns at their shoulders； to hear of war and the rumors of war。 It was a thrilling sentiment； no doubt； great but unprofitable。 It meant self…sacrifice； and he could not see that。 If he went he might be shot； and what would his noble emotion amount to then？ He would rather make money； regulate current political； social and financial affairs。 The poor fool who fell in behind the enlisting squadno； not fool； he would not call him thatthe poor overwrought working…manwell； Heaven pity him！ Heaven pity all of them！ They really did not know what they were doing。
One day he saw Lincolna tall； shambling man； long； bony； gawky； but tremendously impressive。 It was a raw； slushy morning of a late February day； and the great war President was just through with his solemn pronunciamento in regard to the bonds that might have been strained but must not be broken。 As he issued from the doorway of Independence Hall； that famous birthplace of liberty； his face was set in a sad； meditative calm。 Cowperwood looked at him fixedly as he issued from the doorway surrounded by chiefs of staff； local dignitaries； detectives； and the curious； sympathetic faces of the public。 As he studied the strangely rough…hewn countenance a sense of the great worth and dignity of the man came over him。
〃A real man；
